Page 20 of Big Deal Sweetheart

Outside the guest room, silence met her. “Nana?” she called.

In the kitchen a note was pinned to the refrigerator. She had to read it twice before she grasped what she was seeing. “Nana is staying the night with a man?”

She picked up the house phone and dialed the number her Nana had been kind enough to leave. On the third ring, her Nana’s laughing voice answered. “Darling, what are you doing home?”

Nova pulled the phone away from her ear and looked at it like it was a foreign object, then put it back to her ear. “Where else would I be, Nana? I’ve taken a shower and thought for sure you’d be home any moment. I didn’t think to check the kitchen until just now. Color me shocked to see your note.” She had known the injury was better and that her Nana was going to be returning to work on Monday, but she still hadn’t thought the older woman would be...with a man.

“Well, you see. Me and Harold had a little misunderstanding. And well, your mom thought I needed someone to stay with me. I didn’t have the heart to tell her differently. Then there’s the salon, and I couldn’t really work so you were really perfect. You know I hate to let my clients down, and you are an amazing stylist, just like your Nana. You’re not upset with me, are you?” Her Nana didn’t sound as chipper now.

“Of course, I’m not. So, does that mean you don’t need me anymore?” She tried not to sound as excited by that prospect. However, sticking around Sweetheart and possibly running into Keifer was about as appealing as a root canal.

“You don’t have to leave just because I’m not...there. What about your date?”

“Nana, it wasn’t a date. I told you that.” She didn’t know how to explain to her Nana that what she and the man she wasn’t naming had done, was clearly a colossal mistake. “Besides, this way I can get home and get things ready for New York Fashion Week. You know that big thing I’m part of,” she teased.

“Oh, darling, I hope I didn’t mess things up for you?” Nana Nell sounded contrite.

“Nana, I had everything done and ready to roll. I still have over three weeks, and my partner is more than equipped to handle things until I returned next week. However, since you don’t need me, I can go back early and work on some new designs that I came up with.” She had no such thing that could be done in that timeframe, but she wasn’t above a little white lie.

“I just can’t believe you were a stylist, and now you’re having your own runway show at fashion week. I can’t wait to see all your creations.”

“You don’t need to travel right now, Nana. I’ll have more, and you can come to the next one.” Nova didn’t correct her Nana in regard to her being a stylist, not when she hated the thought of her Nana missing her first big show. Only picturing the older woman with her tennis-ball-laden cane while trying to get around New York didn’t sit well with her.

“Nonsense. I will be there with bells on, and my Harold will be with me. Luckily this old fart and I set things right. When will you be leaving?”

“I’m going to see if I can get a flight out this evening or first thing in the morning.” She closed her eyes, tears falling from them.

“Oh dear, I won’t get to see you before you leave,” Nana cried.

“You’ve seen me every day for a week. Besides, I’ll be back in a few months with mom and dad. You go on and do Nana things with your guy. I don’t want to know what they are, but have fun doing them. Your clients are all good until you come back Linny said. Your salon is amazing, Nana.” It was, too. She was so proud of her Nana.

“You’re just like your father, full of it.” Nana’s sniffle filled the line.

“It’s why my mother married him. Ok, I’m gonna get off here and see if I can get a flight out. Love you, Nana Nell.”

“Love you to the stars and beyond, my sweet Nova Leigh.”

More tears fell from her eyes, unchecked, which she was glad the older woman couldn’t see. Her mother said on the night she was born, that her Nana had been outside the delivery room and saw a shooting star as she stared out one of the windows. When they’d explained they were naming her Nova, her Nana had smiled, saying that was a fitting name, since I was the bright new star in their lives, just like a super nova.

She hung up then hurried back to her room so she could get her cellphone. Within minutes, she was able to secure a flight out at the asscrack of dawn. Instead of staying at her Nana’s house and worrying about traffic into Denver, she decided she’d leave right then and chill at the airport. She wasn’t running away from what happened, rather running to her real life. That was her story, and she was sticking to it. After she dried her hair so it wouldn’t freeze in the cold, she french-braided it, ensured she had all her things, and left a little note for her Nana. The tradition her mother had started years ago had been one she continued. Anytime they visit one another, they always leave a note.

Dear Nana Nell,

Thank you for your hospitality and letting me be your stylist-fill-in-extraordinaire. Although your shoes are mighty big, I hope I did you proud. I will say your clients are some of the best I’ve ever encountered, but I wouldn’t have expected anything less, since they’re friends of the bestest Nana in the world. One day, I hope I can be half the woman you and my mom are, but until then, I’ll continue to be a student of yours. When I look up to the sky and see the brightest star, I’ll know that’s you and mom watching over me, and when you look up and see the little one behind it, know that’s me in your shadow. Thank you for being my guiding light. You’ll always outshine me, and one day, I hope to shine for my children too.

Love you always,

Nova Leigh

She looked down, watching as one of her tears smudged a corner of the letter. The cellphone dinged with a message telling her the Uber had arrived. She did a quick sweep of the house, making sure everything was secured and then she walked out the door.

“NELL’S DUE BACK NEXTweek and doesn’t have any clients until then. I had a message from Nova on the machine, so I’m pretty sure she’s not coming in again, either. Is there something I can do for you?”

“No, thank you. I was just going to tell her how much I appreciated her for taking care of my daughter’s hair the other day,” he said, lying through his teeth.

“Ah, such a lovely girl. I’m glad Nova was able to change her mind about dying her hair black. It was sheer genius to suggest the subtle blue under the blonde if I do say so myself. I really would’ve had to tackle her to the floor. I don’t even want to think about how I’d have had to have explained to Nell why her granddaughter and I were tussling in the salon. Trust me, Nell is a sweet woman, but if anyone hurts her granddaughter, they should be prepared for the wrath of...well, it’s best to not find out,” the woman said with a laugh.

“Ah, yes, I can only imagine. Well, thank you again, and please convey my thanks to Nova when you see her.” He hung up without waiting for a reply.

---