Page 91 of Free to Breathe
I smile, even as I shake my head slightly. I don’t want to shift the scissors too much. Even as I hack away at the last braid, I announce to the room at large.
“This one’s for the fight of my life.”
* * *
The salon fillswith the smell of Chinese food and wine. Where there were tears earlier, I hear laughter. Keene and Caleb quickly left to get their children. Before Gail sat me down in the chair to fix what’s left of my hair, I spent time cuddling them. I’m not sure they understand who I am without the masses of hair they normally shove in their mouths, but hopefully they’ll have the chance to get used to me. Now they’re being passed between their fathers and uncles. My brother and my sisters are absorbed in my transformation.
I stick to cucumber water as Gail uses magic to trim what’s left of my thick tresses. I now understand why she kept the hair surrounding my face out of the braids. Slightly longer in the front, the longer bangs frame my heart-shaped face, adding an almost pixie element to the cut.
Holly’s taken pictures during this part of the process, more for herself than anyone else. As for me, there’s no way I’ll ever forget feeling as beautiful as I do right now because of the rightness of everything ricocheting inside of me.
Colby hasn’t been far from my side. Every time I catch sight of him from the corner of my eye as Gail turns me one way or the other, the tidal wave of his love washes over me.
“Absolutely beautiful, Corinna. Take a look,” Gail finally announces.
“You’ve always been beautiful,” Colby says without moving a single inch. The smile he gives me steals my breath even as it promises me air.
“When I see myself through your eyes, I understand that,” I tell him softly.
“Hallelujah!” Holly cries, throwing her fist in the air.
We all laugh, but I still accept the large mirror from Gail so I can see the front and the back of my new hairdo.
A hush comes over the room as I touch the back of my neck where there used to be a mane of hair. “Here, let me get the cape off so you can get the full effect.” Gail quickly removes my black cape. The low V-back shirt I’m wearing displays the antique key I had tattooed to remember so many things.
Now it reminds me of nothing but that I was never forgotten across time or space.
“Why didn’t I do this sooner?” I wonder aloud as I touch my short hair. My eyes look enormous in my face, even without makeup. I have to admit, “I look sexy as hell.”
Colby growls. “Again, like that’s anything new.”
Raucous laughter spreads around the room. Keene snickers. “Are you just getting the memo on that, Cori?”
Wow. I turn to Gail. “Are you sure you won’t let me pay for anything more than dinner? This deserves something. Anything. Please?”
Gail waves me off. “It was our honor to be a part of this. Between the hair and your donation, you’re going to make some kids really happy.”
“Hold up,” Caleb intercedes. “What donation? You have to pay to donate your hair, Cori?”
“No. I’m sponsoring a child through the program so they can get a wig made,” I tell my brother-in-law. I’m not immune to the swift glances around the room.
“Not without us, you aren’t,” Cassidy says. “And I speak for all of us.” Phil, Em, Holly, and Ali all agree.
“I’m in,” Jason adds. “Too many of my patients are without the funds for this kind of assistance.”
Caleb and Keene just smile at Colby. “You don’t even have to ask. I was going to dump a check in the box before Gail sealed it up,” Colby admits.
“How much per child?” Keene asks.
“About fifteen hundred.”
“Why don’t we make an even fifteen kids happy. Caleb, you good with that?”
Caleb strokes his jaw back and forth. “You know who might be interested in this? Our newest client. He might want to contribute as well. Colby, what’s your take?”
Colby freezes for a second before he relaxes. “Nice, Caleb. Very nice. Make it an even fifteen and add the extra donation to his bill. I’ll let him know when Corinna and I talk with him later.”
I’m baffled. “We’re talking with one of your clients later?”
