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“I said, what are we doing today?”
“I don’t know,” I shrugged.
I’d only kept my appointment because I’d canceled on her once and couldn’t do it again. I also knew that even though I didn’t feel like it, I needed to keep my hair done.
“You? ‘Miss, I-always-have-pictures-and-ideas, don’t know what you want?’” Cam asked sarcastically.
Tears welled up in my eyes before I could stop them. Cam noticed them in the mirror.
“Whoa… Let’s go to the private shampoo bowl,” she rushed.
Whip-N-Fadebeauty and barber salon had a private area that the stylist used to perform services on women who were self-conscious about receiving services out in the open, especially the ones who were going through chemotherapy or had alopecia.
I felt stupid for breaking out into a cry for nothing, but I just couldn’t control it. I stood and followed Cam around the corner to the private area.
I’d never been in the private room, but it was decorated with black and white damask print wallpaper, a silver chair, shampoo bowl, and dryer. There was a hot pink and crystal chandelier in the center of the room.
“Have a seat and tell me what’s going on. First, you canceled on Saturday, which you haven’t done in the five years you have been coming to me then today you break down in an ugly cry. Who needs to get these hands?” Cam asked.
Cam had been my stylist for the last five years, and over that time we’d developed a friendship. She was a great listener, had great advice, and wasn’t shy about laying a chick out for disrespecting her. I’d talked through tons of situations with her.
“It’s just so stupid. I shouldn’t be crying, but I can’t stop.”
“Feeling how you feel is not stupid. What’s up?”
“I found out Kerem was having an affair.”
“An affair? No, that nigga didn’t! He admitted to it?”
“Yes, I found out last Friday and couldn’t pull myself out of the bed that Saturday to come in. That’s why I canceled. I’m sorry,” I said while wiping more tears.
“Key, please don’t cry!” Cam said while hugging me.
Her hug made me cry harder. I didn’t know the human body could produce so much water. If I kept up this pace, I was going to be permanently dehydrated.
Cam let me go and grabbed more tissues. She handed me some and used the others to wipe my face.
“Okay,” she pulled up a stool and sat on it in front of me. “So he cheated. Has he ever done something like this before?”
“No. Not that I know of. I used to be able to answer that question with an emphatic no, but now, I can’t put anything past him.”
I blew my nose into the tissue then rubbed my temples. Great, another headache.
“How did he react when you found out?” Cam questioned.
“He apologized. Then when we tried to talk the other day, I got so frustrated with him that I slapped him and he left. We haven’t spoken since.”
“Slapped him? Well, you do stupid shit, you get dealt with accordingly,” she shrugged. “He’s lucky that’s all you did to him.”
“Right.”
“You know I grew up in foster care, so I am always pro-family, but infidelity, from what my other clients have told me is one that is hard to get over. I know some women who walked away as soon as it happened and I know some who stayed and worked it out. Both seem to be happy with their choices. I can’t tell you to stay with a man that you can’t trust because trust is everything. I can’t tell you to leave either because I know you love him. I can and will support whatever decision you make, though.”
“I don’t know what to do. I used to always say that if he ever cheated on me, it would be over. I want to still believe that, but I am so confused. My head says leave, but my heart says to give him another chance. I don’t want to be that weak bitch that stays with a man just because he’s a man, you know?”
“If you were to stay with Reem, I’m sure that won’t be the reason. Do what you feel is best for you. No one is in your shoes so no one can tell you what you should do.”
“That’s the crazy part. I just knew that my sisters, mother, Bird, and everyone else in my life would tell me to drop him like a hot potato, but that hasn’t happened. Everyone has been very quiet. I went and spoke to a divorce lawyer, and even she said to give it some time.”
