a relaxing massage, ofuro tub bath and then relaxation with hot stones. I was so relaxed that my body seemed to float. I should have suspected. It was too good to be true.
"Miss Walsh? Tsuki, our beautician, is waiting for you in the waxing room. At the end of the hall on your left.”
"In what room?” I ask, with an open mouth. I'm not so sure I want to go through a torture session.
"Waxing. Your friend scheduled a full waxing session for you.”
I'm gonna kill that bit... Damn it. I cannot swear at Mary, not after today. But still, what Jo did wasn't cool.
I thank the lady and follow her directions. I knock on the door and a short Asian lady welcomes me with a reassuring smile.
"Miss Walsh, welcome. You can take your clothes off behind that screen and put on your robe. When you're ready, lie down on the gurney.”
I go where she indicated and change clothes. Boy, I'm really nervous!
I lie down on the gurney and wait for my torturer, I mean, epilator.
"Rest assured. It won't hurt at all," she says calmly, as if talking to a child.
"All right," I answer, without being able to draw up a complete sentence out of shear fear. "I've never done this before.”
"Let's start the Brazilian waxing, okay?”
"Okay...”, but what is that? It can’t be a good thing. Something seems wrong. I barely finish my thought as she opens my robe and applies the wax. Hold on a minute and...
“OAHHHH!” I scream in pain. Holy shit! She pulled it! I’m gonna kill Jo with the utmost cruelty.
“Madam Tsuki, well done, thank you.”
“No, no, no way. We still have a lot of work,” she pushes me back to the gurney and I just feel like I’ve been condemned to the gallows.
***
I reunite with my ex-best friend again in the manicure room. When she sees me with a red face and walking in a funny sort of way, she starts laughing.
“You can stop laughing. Right now, I hate you.”
“My friend, don’t be like that. This was for your own good. See it as a gift. Next time Alan decides to lick you, he may want to do it somewhere else, right?
“Johanna!” I shout. There. Now I really look like a red bell pepper.
“What! Imagine that you take a chance on him! Even though you still have Danny up there... Gee, I can’t think of my brother licking anybody!”
“Jo! Where did you come up with this stuff? Who’s been licking you around?”
It’s her turn to go purple. Caught red-handed!
“Me? Stop being silly. So one can no longer make a treat for a friend without raising your suspicion.
Sit down as Mimi won't wait for you much longer.”
Mimi takes the cue and leads me to sit in the chair, handing me a suitcase full of colored glazes while she starts with my foot. After much fiddling, I choose a light pink.
"No way! You're not going to put that color on! If I let you paint the nails in pink, George will kill me.
"And what color would the madam suggest I paint my nails?” I ask, frowning.
"Lend me that.” She doesn't even wait. She gets the case out of my hand hard, making Mimi miss and get a steak off my foot. Oh, damn it. "Not this one...Neither that one... No...Here! Perfect!”
She extends a metallic red enamel, almost the color of a love apple.
"But it's so red.”
"Now you’re a new woman. Forget the pink and throw yourself in the red. You're going to look great in tonight’s dress. Don't come fighting, girlfriend. Take it.”
“All right.
I know it’s no use trying to argue.” I sit back on the chair while Mimi takes care of my feet. I try to relax by going over the songs for the show in my mind.
***
Once again and since Danny is away, I use his office as a makeshift dressing room.
This time around, I’m putting on an all-black glittering dress, with a back neckline so deep that I cannot wear a bra. My lingerie is nothing but thong panties in black lace which I bought while shopping with George. He just knew it. I needed a piece of lingerie that took care of my self-esteem.
High sandals and a pair of long earrings complement the look. Once again, my hair is loose, with large curls and the makeup enhances my eyes.
When I finish getting ready, I seize the emptiness of the room and think about my life. I need to toughen up and face Danny or just forget him for good. I know Alan’s very keen, but, though I like him, deep down, the guitar man of The Band doesn’t arouse that sort of feeling in me. Without mentioning that he’s even more of a womanizer than Daniel. The amount of women holding on for him at the end of each show is ridiculous.
I walk about the room, looking at the photos on the shelves, and I find a photo of us, when I was sixteen years old and Danny, nineteen. He was already quite tall at the time. It was when he came back from college for his first summer vacation. I spent the whole month stuck upon him like a piece of gum. He seemed to be happy with my presence. He kept hugging and cuddling me. Back then, I really thought something else was bound to happen. However, suddenly, he changed. He got more serious, farther and more... protecting, I think. I don't know what happened that summer, but something had changed in Danny's behavior toward me.
A knock on the door pulls me off my memories. I put the picture in place and I go and open it.
"Oh, you look beautiful!” George walks into the room, all excited. I smile at him because it's impossible not to smile when George is with me.
“Thank you. Is it time?”
"Ten minutes left. Do you want anything? Water? Champagne? Candy? Alan's licks?”
“George!” I scold him, but I'm interrupted by Rafe's entrance, who came to call me for the show.
I find it amazing that Rafe hasn't been hooked by anyone yet. He's a beautiful, serious, mature guy. That guy who takes responsibility. He's not a womanizer, quite the contrary. He’s got the "perfect guy" style. He and Jo would make a lovely couple, but should it cross Danny’s mind, it will be a problem. What a jealous man, hey?!
"Julie, you look beautiful. Are you ready?”
"Thank you, yes I am.” I smile and he gives me his arm as the perfect gentleman he is. We walk backstage and Rafe excuses himself to go talk to someone. I look forward and see Alan coming towards me and looking me up and down with a malicious expression.
"Do you want me to ask him if he wants
