“I remember her from the library. I used to wonder if she ever smiled.”
“She does,” Jessa confirmed. “When she talks about her husband.”
“Is he...”
“Dead? No. He’s very much alive. He just doesn’t get out much these days. But whenever the subject of Mr. Chen comes up in conversation Mrs. Chen’s lips curl at the edges. I don’t even think she knows she’s doing it. It’s like a reflex when the doctor taps your knee and you kick your leg. She can’t help it and they’ve been married for almost sixty-five years.”
“Wow.” Sixty-five years. Even if she had got married today, she’d have to live until she was ninety-seven years old to make it to sixty-five years.
Jessa ran her hands through Liv’s hair. “So, what are we thinking?”
Liv stared at her reflection in the mirror, then up at Jessa. The stylist’s makeup was flawless. Inky black cat eye with red lips. Liv would look like a clown if she’d tried to pull that off. She thought it might be best to leave it to the experts.
“I want to look like the best version of me. Work your magic.”
Jessa’s eyes lit with excitement. “How much time do you have?”
“The wedding is at five.”
Jessa studied Liv for a moment, her eyes narrowing. “I think we should do a cut and ombre.”
Liv had no clue what she was talking about but agreed anyway. “Okay.”
“Do you know what that is?”
“No. But I trust you. Completely. You’re the expert.”
“I wish all my clients were as agreeable.”
Liv sat as Jessa mixed a concoction and began applying goo to the ends of her hair with a brush before wrapping sections in tinfoil.
“Thanks for getting me in on such short notice,” Liv said as she glanced around the busy salon.
“Are you kidding me? When Chrissy told me about your…situation…I would’ve moved heaven and earth to fit you in. I hope you don’t mind me saying so, but you are a better woman than me going to your cousin’s wedding.”
Liv smiled.
“And then your ex showing up with a date.” Jessa shook her head. “I would be in jail right now if that had happened to me.”
“I almost got arrested the first night I was here.”
“You did?”
“Yep, by Chrissy’s brother-in-law. He um, thought I had stolen my grandad’s car and I thought he was a stripper.”
Jessa’s hands stilled mid foil fold and her eyes met Liv’s in the mirror. A wide smile spread on her face. “I have to know everything.”
Liv told her. Everything.
It was nice to have someone to talk to and Jessa seemed like someone Liv could be friends with. Writing was a very lonely job and the past year she hadn’t been out much. This weekend was turning out to be unexpected in the best ways possible.