“One day some woman is going to break your heart. She’s going to use you, and then discard you as if you’re nothing. After that, maybe you’ll finally be housebroken.” And with those lovely words she turned and strutted off.
* * *
The thing Danetta loved most about Houston was the subtropical weather. They were ten days into February and it was sixty-one degrees. As Danetta got out of the car at Adorable Hair and Nails, she left her jacket in the car and allowed the cool breeze to move her forward. Ryla, Marlene and a few other workers in the salon were standing outside holding balloons in their hands. As she approached, they each let go of the strings, and the balloons floated heavenward. “What’s up with the balloons?”
“Girl, we are celebrating the end of that tired ponytail you wear almost every single day,” Ryla said.
“Whatever,” Danetta said, as she walked into the salon. “I like my ponytail. It’s quick and easy.”
“And unattractive,” Marlene countered.
“Did I come here to be insulted or to get my hair done?” Danetta asked.
“Girl, just sit yourself in Marlene’s chair so we can tell you how this is going to go,” Ryla said, as she grabbed Danetta’s arm and guided her to the shop chair.
Danetta sat down. “Now what do you have up your sleeve?”
Ryla grinned as she looked at Marlene and then back to Danetta. “Here’s the deal. I’m paying, so I don’t want to hear any complaints.”
Danetta shook her head. “I can’t let you pay for my hairdo. I’ve got this.”
“Oh no. I know how cheap you are—”
Danetta held up a hand. “Frugal...not cheap.”
“Okay, Ms. Frugal. I’m paying because you are getting a cut and color. You’re also getting your nails done, a pedicure and that bush you call eyebrows waxed. I’m going to drop Jaylen off at my mom’s, and then I’ll be back, so don’t try to chicken out of anything,” Ryla said, as she pulled the keys out of her purse and headed toward the door.
“Ryla already picked the style and color that she thought would look best on you. So, the question is, do you trust your girl or not?” Marlene asked.
Danetta looked at her reflection in the salon’s mirror. She was tired of her ponytail also, but just didn’t know what hairstyle she wanted. “Since I have no idea what hairstyle will look best on me, I guess I’ll have to trust her.”
“Yea!” Marlene clapped her hands like a giddy schoolgirl. “Let’s get this party started.” She pulled the rubber band from around Danetta’s ponytail and threw it in the trash. She then put a cape around Danetta and a plastic bag with holes in it on her head.
As Marlene began pulling strands of Danetta’s hair through the holes in the plastic bag, Danetta scrunched up her face. “That doesn’t feel so good. Why do you have to pull my hair through those tiny holes?”
“Girl, haven’t you ever had highlights before?”
“What’s that?”
“Danetta, Danetta, Danetta, what am I going to do with you?” Marlene asked while shaking her head. Then she began to explain, “I’m going to put this golden-bronze color in your hair. Since your hair is a dark brown, this color is going to lighten your hair up quite a bit, so we’re not going to do a full head of color. I’m pulling the strands of hair through the holes, because I’m only going to color the hair on the outside of the bag. All the rest of your hair will mostly remain the same color. But the colored strands will highlight your hair in a dramatic way.”
It took all the strength Danetta had to stay glued to her seat. She wasn’t sure if she could handle anything dramatic. And what would her clients say when she showed up at work with golden-bronze highlights?
“You look nervous, hon. What’s up? Speak now, before it’s too late,” Marlene warned.
“This just seems like such a drastic change all at once,” Danetta admitted.
“From what Ryla told me, it sounded as if you were looking for a change. Is that right?”
No, that’s not right, Danetta wanted to scream. She wanted a man, not a new hairdo. But maybe Ryla didn’t think she’d be able to get a man unless she made a drastic change to her appearance. Plus, she did ask for Ryla’s help. She leaned back in her seat. “Yeah, I guess that’s right.”
For the next few hours, Danetta moved from one salon chair to the next, getting color, a cut, a French manicure, a pedicure and her eyebrows waxed. When Ryla walked back into the salon, she did a double take as she stared at the vision in front of her.
“Danetta, girl, you are smokin’ hot.”
Danetta touched her hair as she glanced in the mirror, then she moved her head from side to side. The cut was an improvement from the ponytail she’d been sporting. It brought out the intensity in her eyes. Danetta didn’t just look like another pretty face, the style was boardroom savvy and she liked that. But she wondered if the cut was too much about business and not enough about her as a woman. “You don’t think she cut off too much of my hair?”
“The layered look fits you. And your hair is not short at all. It’s shoulder length.”
“Yeah, but my hair used to flow down my back. I thought men liked women with long hair?”
Ryla received the bill and then paid the receptionist. She turned back to Danetta and said, “Trust me, you still have enough hair to make any man happy.”
“What about the highlights? Do you think it’s too much? Should I get it toned down a bit?” Danetta peered in the mirror. She didn’t know if she could get use to the shimmery color that caught the sunlight every time she moved her head.
“Don’t change a thing,” Ryla argued. “You’ll see just how much this new ’do suits you, once we get everything else in place. Now come on, we’ve got some shopping to do.”
“Shopping? Oh no, Ryla. You know I hate shopping,” Danetta complained. “I wanted you to come over to my house and help me mix and match some outfits in my closet.”
“Girl, we are going to throw some of those tired, old, granny clothes in the trash. Now, come on. You can ride with me, and then I’ll bring you back to get your car when we’re done.”
Danetta hesitated. “I’m not so sure I need to go this far.”
“Look, you’ve got the dinner cruise coming up. And take it from me, girlfriend, upgrading your wardrobe will be like bringing the honey to the bee,” Ryla said while snapping her fingers. “And anyway, the dinner cruise is an old-school event, and I know you don’t own anything from the ’70s or ’80s.”
“I’m going to wear this flower-child dress I wore to a costume party a few years ago.”
“Look, Danetta,” Ryla said firmly. “Every one of your clients purchased an extra ticket to give to a business associate of their choice. Simply put, your future husband could be attending this event. And since I’m the party planner this year, I refuse to let you attend this event in a flower child’s dress.”
Ryla worked full-time at an energy company as director of the marketing department. However, a year ago she started a party planning business on the side. So, Danetta decided to help her friend out by providing her with some business. For the past four years, she and Marshall had been hosting a Valentine’s Day event for their clients. The event also served as an annual fundraiser, from which the proceeds went to the local charity of Danetta’s choice. This year, Destiny Home for Girls would be receiving the funds collected.
Every year, Marshall arrived with a beautiful goddess on his arm. Since Danetta hadn’t been asked on a Valentine’s date in years, she normally brought Surry or Ryla so that they could