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"Great," Bree says, hopping up with new energy. "Let's ditch the guys and find a place. We've passed at least three nail shops so far."
I stand, and Jonas's hand on the back of my head pulls me into him, tucking me into his side. He tilts my chin up with his forefinger. "Ok?"
I nod, and muster up a smile. He's been nothing but wonderful, but still, I'm overloaded.
He studies me, frowning, then looks at Bree. "I need festive toes too."
17
JONAS
Finding a nail shop isn't hard. And after a minute with the lady at the front counter, and a fistful of bills, Nick has the place cleared out. All the customers leave happily, mid-pedicure, five hundred dollar bills clutched in each of their fists.
"Close the doors," I ask...okay, order the woman at the front. She nods, and slides the glass doors at the front of the shop closed, blocking out the crowds in the halls. The tension in my neck and shoulders loosens as the comparative silence soothes me.
Zach stops next to me, and tucks his hands in his pockets. The nail ladies are busy filling little sinks attached to the chairs with water.
"Are you sure about this?" Zach asks, eyeing them. Declan's already flinging off his shoes, hopping on one foot to tug his socks off. Bree and Janey are laughing at him. My wife hasn't laughed in a long time, and the joy in her voice pushes any worries I might have far away.
"It will be fine. People do this all the time." I cross my arms over my chest. "Janey is smiling. Don't ruin it."
Zach doesn't look convinced, but I don't wait around, instead hurrying to yank off my shoes. I leave my socks on and slide into a spot right next to Janey. Declan and Zach go beside me, and Nick grabs a spot on the other side of Bree. A flurry of women are rushing around, gathering up color samples and pulling tools out of the sanitizer. At least we're not about to get an infection from dirty tools. That would make Christmas a little less merry. Besides, this place has a 4.5 average on over four hundred Google reviews.
And yes, of course, I checked.
I eye the basin of water at my feet, but can't quite bring myself to take off my socks. Janey shoots me a smile and sighs as she puts her bare feet in the warm water. Her nails have a bit of purple on them, chipped and grown out. It's obvious it's been a while since she was able to even paint them herself. I guess when you're given minutes to gather anything that matters, nail polish is low on the list.
Janey leans her head back with a sigh and looks at me. "You don't have to do this," she murmurs.
She gave me an out before we stepped into the mall. I don't like that she feels she has to give me another one. "Men get pedicures. How bad can it be?"
She shakes her head and plays with the little remote, groaning when it starts to whir. "It won't be bad. It's actually the most relaxing, wonderful experience. And here, you can turn on the massage chair."
So the massage chair is pretty nice. The hot water is good. Janey's nail lady is smiling and chatting while Janey looks through a wheel of colors. She and Bree make happy noises as they look at them.
"How did you make your chair go?" Declan asks, leaning over, trying to peer at my controls. I show him the power button, then with a hand on the top of his head, shove him back into his own chair. He fiddles happily, moaning when the butt airbags kick in.
Two very small women approach our chairs, their dark hair pulled back from their faces. They smile, nodding as they ask us little get to know you questions and point out manly colors. I guess they're manly colors. Dark blues, greys, blacks. I mutter responses to their questions, but I can't really focus on them. I hate this kind of interaction. When did getting to know people become the standard of service? I don't want to get to know people.
For the rest of my life, this woman's face, the way her eyes crinkle when she smiles, the shape of her hands, the sound of her voice...all of it will be with me. I'll be able to pull this memory up, and play it over, just as crisp and clear as now. My mental filing cabinet is filled with people I've met once.
It's so much easier to let my eyes track around the room or stay on the floor. But I don't think that's going to be an option today.
"Why do I have to have dark colors?" I ask, holding up the sample wheel.
"Yeah," Declan echoes. "I want the festive toes. What are festive toes?" He throws his arms out, wiggling his fingers until one of the ladies puts a colorful wheel in his hands.
Bree grins, "Christmas colors, sparkles, maybe a hand-painted Christmas ornament on your big toe. Christmas toes should make you smile when you look at them."
"Make me smile when I look at them. I have never smiled at my toes. I did not realize that was something to aspire to," I say.
Janey grins at me, eyes dancing. "Stick with me, husband. I'll teach you the ways of the pedicure."
The casual way she says husband catches the breath in my chest. All I can do is nod, and let her pick colors for me.
Conscious of Janey's eyes on me, I don't let myself react when my small lady, Florence, pulls my foot out of the water and checks it over. What exactly is she looking for? Then she checks the other.
Then the tools come out.
