Page 8 of Happy Endings

Holding their weekly meetings among flourishing businesses run by scrappy Vietnamese refugees was fitting for the Boss Babes. The small strip mall in Falls Church was a hotspot frequented by the local Vietnamese American community and non-Viet people. Though the parking lot was huge, the center’s popularity meant driving in circles and following people to find a parking spot.

“Cheers to Auntie Trinh and Uncle Van!” Trixie was a frequent visitor to Eden Center, not just for food but when attending T?t for fireworks and lion dancing to celebrate the New Year. Spending time with Zoe’s family during festivals helped Trixie feel a little less homesick for her family.

She found comfort in the sameness of ph? restaurants, no matter where they were located. Utilitarian metal chairs with cheap vinyl cushions that scraped the linoleum floor when you pulledthem from under the table. Photos of idyllic prewar Vietnam hung on the walls. Depending on the owner’s religion, there may be a small ancestral shrine that held burnt incense sticks and an offering of fresh fruit. Oh, and there was always a small South Vietnamese flag somewhere in the restaurant, the golden yellow rectangle with three proud red horizontal stripes in the middle.

Trixie pulled a paper napkin from its holder and wiped where the small coffee filter had dripped onto the red gingham vinyl tablecloth. She grabbed a pair of melamine chopsticks from the tray in the middle of the table, next to a plate filled with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, jalapeños, and limes waiting to be dunked into steaming bowls of beef noodle soup. She’d eaten this almost every Sunday at her parents’ home. It was her ultimate comfort food.

“Now that my cranberry and vodka and I are reacquainted, let’s go around the table and update us on your business. Reina has already shared one of hers. Trixie, what are your wins for the week?” Josie ran a boudoir photography business. Not only was she a talented artist, but she was brilliant with numbers. With her warm brown skin and tall Afro, she could have easily been a model. Instead, she chose to stay behind the camera to capture her clients’ sensuality.

“No wins this week. The huge bachelorette party earlier this month put me at second place, but since then my sales have flatlined. Wedding season is mostly over, so no bachelorette shows for a while.” Trixie sighed. “Not only that, I’ve dropped back to third place.”

“Your win is that you kicked ass at the show,” Reina said. “That’s thirty more women who know how to pleasure themselves.”

“That show was pretty good,” Trixie admitted. But only if shedidn’t count running into Andre there. “A few women texted me some fireworks emojis after their packages arrived.”

“I say happy customers are a win.” Reina was always the cheerleader of their group. “You have to celebrate the small accomplishments, too.”

Growing up with overachieving siblings made it hard for Trixie to embrace minor achievements. No matter what she’d accomplished, her brother and sister got better grades and won more awards. Even chose the right careers. But hanging out with the Boss Babes never felt like a competition. They supported her when she was down and pushed her out of her comfort zone when she needed it. Like today.

“Are you on track to meet your sales goal this month?” Josie was a whiz at business planning and projecting sales. Her photography business was in such high demand, she had a two-month-long wait list.

“I’m far behind, based on the spreadsheet you helped me put together.” Trixie rubbed her forehead. “I’m running out of ideas on how to find new show hosts.”

“We could hold another event at Lucky Stiff.” Reina waggled her eyebrows. Her club had been voted DC’s top all-male burlesque club two years running.

“That was some night,” Zoe’s soft voice chimed in. With her short, sleek bob, she was the most stylish of the Boss Babes. That was no surprise, since she owned a boutique where she designed and sold plus-size lingerie.

They all laughed.

“Sweet Jesus.” Reina whistled. “My guys had a blast dressing up and serving cosmos to those wild women.”

“Girl, I couldn’t believe how many Jack of All Trades you sold!” Josie said. “Those were some happy ladies.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Reina agreed. “She sold a ton of those at Mama Hazel’s, too.” There were a few seconds of silence while each woman recalled her own experience with the rabbit vibe’s rumbly ears and rotating beads.

“When I’m trying to figure out why one negligee sells ten times better than another design, I look at customer reviews and what I did differently with it,” said Zoe, who designed a majority of the intimates in her boutique, Something Cheeky. “What happened at Lucky Stiff and Mama Hazel’s that was different from your other shows?”

“Let’s see—”

“Booze,” Reina interrupted Trixie. “My club has the best bartenders, but the margarita from Mama Hazel’s was perfect. Those gals were in great moods by the time Trixie started her presentation.”

“At the bachelorette parties I do in people’s homes, the maid of honor usually has a table set up with wine bottles and a few liquors for DIY cocktails,” Trixie added. “Not having to make your own drinks probably made the evening feel more special.”

“Don’t forget the food,” Reina added. “There was an all-you-can-eat soul food spread that was so to die for.”

“Good food always brings people together.” Zoe gestured to their table in her family’s restaurant. “And puts them in a good mood.”

“What if you re-created that big show? No bride-to-be needed,” Josie suggested. “Like a pop-up shop for your best customers?”

Zoe nodded. “Maybe you could do another one at—”

“No!” Trixie’s voice echoed in the mostly empty restaurant.Meeting after the lunch rush had yet another perk. No diners to disturb when she accidentally raised her voice. “I’m not going back there.”

“Back to Lucky Stiff?” Zoe’s face scrunched in confusion.

“No, the restaurant where the bachelorette party was held.” Trixie swallowed the panic in her throat. She didn’t want to see Andre ever again.

“I didn’t say you had to go back to that restaurant.” Josie eyed Trixie, then looked over at Reina. “What didn’t you tell us?”

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