Page 31 of Beauty and the Grease
“Thatistragic.” She focuses on the photo. “You two look so happy. No wonder he looks at you that way.”
“Looks at me what way?”
“With longing. I sensed it but couldn’t connect the dots. I figured old high school crush or boyfriend even. But married? Marriage is a different story.”
“He called me his wife.”
“Naturally.”
“No, this weekend. When he told off his boss. This cretin was trying to shame him and brought me into it. Chase said,that was my wife.”
Annabelle presses a hand to her chest, still clutching the photo. “He loved you, Jenny. This is all very intriguing.”
I don’t know about intriguing. “Are you upset I didn’t tell you?”
She looks at the photo again. “This must be incredibly hard to talk about. Especially if the annulment wasn’t your choice. Thanks for trusting me enough to share.”
Tears overtake me. “I don’t want to see him when he comes for his car.”
Annabelle lunges for a hug. “We’ll make a plan. This stays with me. I won’t tell a soul.”
“Kara will know as soon as you see her.”
“That girl can read me like a text message. I don’t know how she does it.”
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My funk of a mood continues through the week, so I throw myself into work. Gina and Ameriel stopped by and fawned over the salon in person. Gina asked to run my social media—her idea, and for free. Annabelle and I are working on a plan to pay her together to promote the total experience of our auto shop and salon. Gina can work remotely whileshe’s running her household and caring for her kids. If it works out, it’s a win-win.
Despite Chase’s now-repaired car in my sightlines, I manage to avoid thinking about him. In fact, I’m so busy not thinking about him, I’m shocked when he finally shows up.
It’s the girl I notice first. She’s lanky and all limbs, with dark blond hair wrapped in a messy bun. She has Chase’s exact eyes and nose. The boy is more filled out, with angular shoulders and the same shaggy hair many of the teen boys have in Derby. She’s in the salon, flipping through a hair magazine, one of the wilder ones with styles from high-end hair shows, while her brother stands beside her, occupied by his phone.
It’s them. I know it instantly. I see them through Chase’s eyes. At pizza night with Chase, getting carted around by their mother, on family vacations in tropical places. There’s a whole life I don’t know wrapped up in those kids.
“Jenny?”
Chase’s voice comes from the doorway leading from the salon into the auto shop. Annabelle is busy with a customer—so much for our plan.
I tear my eyes from his spawn and plaster on a smile. “Is your car ready?”
He doesn’t answer, turning from me to the salon waiting area, then back to me. “Did you meet them?”
I want to say,“Meet who? What, those kids I knew were yours?”I only manage to shake my head no.
He moves toward me. “I didn’t plan on bringing them, but schedules changed. Since I’m not working and the kids are off from school this week…”
“You don’t have to explain.”
“We all came in together,” he went on anyway, “but I needed to wash my hands in the bathroom—sorry, you said not to explain.”
Neither of us speak. Neither of us move. We’re acting like very mature adults right now.
I don’t want anything to do with Chase. Not if I want to stay the woman I’ve become. An independent business owner who isn’t defined by any man. Especiallythisman.
“Dad? Can I get my hair like this?” Emma squeezes into the space between him and the wall, angling the magazine toward him.
Chase can’t hide his confusion. “Um, that’s a question for your mother.”
