Page 27 of The Love Audit
“She knows exactly how many awards she has,” Minnie murmured and sipped from her wineglass.
“… and was a professor docent at the Library of Congress when Eric worked in DC,” she concluded, ignoring Minnie’s interruption.
“I have several patents,” Eleanor added with a shrug. “Mostly for kitchen gadgets.”
“Pediatric neurosurgeon,” Jeannie chimed in and held up her martini glass.
“Computer programmer.” Michaela nodded.
“And you all gave up your careers for your husbands.”
“It’s a good thing you’re cute, honey, because you don’t listen worth a damn.” Minnie chuckled. “Nobody at this table has given up a thing. And we married men who wouldn’t ask us to.”
“Hell, when Lena, our first, was born, I was still in grad school,”Michaela said. “I was sure I’d have to quit school, but Geoffrey wouldn’t hear of it. He got a second job so we could hire a nanny and cheered so loud at my graduation they almost put him out.”
“David has always been supportive of my work,” Eleanor added.
“What about Derek, Jasmine?” Jeannie leaned toward me. “Is he supportive of your career?”
I thought about the question for a moment. In our current circumstance, Derek was completely unsupportive of my career. That was because we were competing for the same job, and my success meant his failure. Of course, that wasn’t an answer I could give. I thought back to the Derek I knew before. He was always supportive of my ideas and projects. He was also the only one willing to try my pineapple upside-down cake, and then he got on a roller coaster that no one else wanted to ride with me despite feeling sick. I thought of the Derek who stopped me from eating ribs made with malt because he remembered that I was allergic, and the one who insisted on massaging my sore feet. I knew that Derek and I were pretending to be married, but if we were married for real—a thought that made my chest tighten—I was sure he’d be the most supportive husband in the world… a world where we didn’t despise each other.
“He’s the best,” I answered and pasted on a smile to cover the internal ache I felt.
The ladies at the table smiled and nodded in approval. Much to my relief, the group returned to idle chatter about the town, and I listened with rapt attention.
“Now, you’re really getting the full experience today.” Eleanor smiled as we filed into the hair salon. The smell of shampoo and the rhythmic hum of hair dryers greeted us like an old friend.
“This is where the magic happens,” Kitanya declared with a dramatic wave of her hand.
The salon was buzzing with activity. Women of all ages were settled into chairs, chatting, laughing, and flipping through magazines. It was the heart of Miller’s Cove’s social network, disguised as a place for grooming.
“Oh, honey,” the hairstylist, a woman named Deirdre, sank her fingers into my tresses. “Look at this hair! I hope you’re ready for some compliments, because I’m about to give you all of them.”
I smiled awkwardly as her eyes widened. “All natural, too. You know how many people pay big money for curls like these?”
“I think she’s blushing,” Michaela teased.
“I’m just not used to so much attention on my hair,” I admitted, sliding into the chair. I wouldn’t mention this to Deirdre, but a large portion of my life was dedicated to straightening those curls.
“Well, get used to it.” Deirdre pulled out her tools. “These curls are the stuff of legends.”
Across the room, a hush fell over a corner of the salon as a woman with piercing eyes and sharp cheekbones entered. She held herself with an air of defiance, and her gaze scanned the room as if daring anyone to speak to her.
“Walker,” someone whispered.
“Oh, boy,” Eleanor muttered under her breath.
“What’s going on?” I glanced at the woman.
“That’s Belinda Walker,” Kitanya explained, her voice low. “The Walkers… well, let’s just say they’re not exactly beloved around here.” One of the founders of the town was named Joseph Walker, so it wasn’t much of a stretch to think that this person could be descended from him somehow.
“Why not?” I pressed.
Kitanya hesitated, then glanced at Eleanor, who gave a subtle shake of her head.
“It’s complicated,” Kitanya finally said.
“Very complicated,” Eleanor echoed.
