Chapter 6
2911 Words
Jake POV
“Okay let’s go over this again; we need to check the quarterly reports again. This can’t be right” I groan at the people around the table and we all look it over again. I’m so tired and worn out the numbers are swimming on the pages. I rub my eyes with the balls of my hands, shaking my head I blink a few times before taking the pages again
“March, it’s in March” Ava says and I page to March
“Oh thank God, good eye Ava” I breathe out and she smiles
“Thank you sir”
“Okay, good work guys. I think we should call it a day. You did good” I say as they stand. They all greet me, and leave. I gather my things when a throat clears and I look up
“Was there something else Ava?” I ask as she walks over, her hips swaying in the tight suit
“No sir, just wanted to know if you needed anything” she says stopping in front of me
“No I’m fine thanks” I give her half a smile
“You look so tired” she says tracing the bags under my eyes lightly
“Well, going home now” I say stepping away
“Can I do anything else?” she asks, her voice dropping an octave
“Like?”
“Oh I don’t know, get you a snack or maybe a coffee… maybe…” she trails off as her finger traces my pecks, then my abs and her eyes dart to my crotch and I clear my throat stepping back
“No thank you Ava, I will just be heading home” I say, trying my best to let this woman know she’s not welcome in my space
“Well whenever you need it, just let me know” she whispers in my neck and steps back, winking as she glides out the door. Oh hell no, not this again. She’s not the first woman to flirt with me at work, don’t get me wrong she’s very beautiful but I have no interest in flings, and definitely not with one of my employees. That is a disaster waiting to happen. I run my hands over my face as I get into the car.
“Saturday, finally” I breathe out the next morning when I finally wake up. I stretch out and head to the kitchen, finding mom in the kitchen making pancakes
“Hey beautiful” I say kissing her head
“Morning my favorite boy” she says and I chuckle pouring a cup of coffee
“I’m your only” I say and she giggles
“True”
“Sleep okay?” she asks and I nod
“I slept, not sure how long but I feel better than I have when I went to bed” I say and she plates my breakfast and I take a seat
“Oh yum” I say rubbing my hands together, pouring chocolate syrup over the stack and then cutting a few bananas up and she giggles again
“I swear, where you get your food fetishes are beyond me” she giggles and I shrug
“I just know what’s good” I smile taking a big bite
“The lawyers were here yesterday” she says and I gesture for her to continue
“They said she has a good chance of settling this. Her neighbor gave them some evidence, they said it’s damning for Leroy” she says and I groan at his name
“Good, hopefully he will get what’s coming to him” I say and she nods
“God” she heaves and I look at her
“You okay?” I ask and she nods, sitting down but I can see she’s sad
“I just wish she spoke up. Why didn’t she say anything? I feel like I failed” she says and I stand, leaving my half eaten pancakes and wrapping her up in a hug from behind
“No” I say into her hair, she grips my arm
“This is on him. I don’t know why she didn’t tell us, but don’t ever think you failed. You are the best mom in the world” I say and she giggles
“How would you know? I’m the only one you have” she says and I round on her looking at her intently
“That’s how I know. I can’t compare you to anyone because you are exceptional, I would know I ran the numbers” I say and she laughs
“So serious, but still so kind” she says cupping my cheek
“Learnt from the best” I say, kiss her head and sit back down finishing my breakfast
“Thanks mama that was amazing” I say and she takes the plate but I wave my finger in her face
“Nope, sit I got this” as I wash the dishes I have a brilliant idea
“Hey mom”
“Yeah hon”
“I have a great idea” she turns to me
“Okay hear me out”
Dawn POV
“Thank you for having us Lou” I say kissing her cheek as we walk into her home for Thanksgiving dinner
“Think nothing of it dear, just put that in the kitchen” she says and I nod making my way to the kitchen. I hear her giggle as I turn the corner and I can’t help but smile. They’re so happy, and heaven knows they both deserve it, she’s been alone for years since her daughter passed away from caner. I place the salad and pie in the kitchen before looking out the window. She breeds with horses, and they are magnificent
“Oh that looks delicious” she says and I turn smiling
“I might not be as good a cook as mom, but I can hold my own” I say and she smiles
“Well, let’s eat shall we?” she says and pulls the turkey from the oven
“Wow” I breathe out as the delectable aroma floods the kitchen
“Looks wonderful Lou” Pops says as we take our seats at the massive table. Pops says grace and then we take turns giving thanks. He’s first, then Lou and finally it’s my turn
“I am thankful to be here” away from him. They smile
“I am very thankful that you two have each other” she blushes a bit “But I am mostly thankful for my family. I wouldn’t be here if not for you” I say looking at Pops and he nods looking at his plate. Mom does that too, when she wants to cry
“Thanks pickle” he says clearing his throat and we start eating. After the biggest meal I’ve had in months I sit back rubbing my over full stomach
“Wow Lou, that was amazing thank you so much” I say and she smiles
“My pleasure. That pie was great too, thanks Rory” she says and I nod taking the plates
“I’ll clean up, you two relax” I say walking to the kitchen. I hear them chat and laugh as I clean up the dishes, then the kitchen and pack the left overs away
“There all done” I say and she smiles up at me from the couch
“You going home for Christmas?” she asks but I shake my head
“Oh no, I will be spending it here”
“That’s wonderful” she says and I nod
“Yeah, hey why don’t you join us? If you don’t have other plans” I say and her eyes light up
“I’d love to” she says and I nod
“Well it’s getting late, we better head home” Pops says and I nod standing. We greet her and drive back home. The wind is freezing, but fresh and clean as we exit the truck, the snow crunching under our feet we walk to the house, Colt jumps up to the door
“Patience buddy” I chuckle as we open the door and he bolts for the rug in front of the fireplace to get warm
“I have to check on the herd, make us some cocoa” Pops says and I nod smiling
“Sure thing Pops” I say happily busying myself with the cocoa. When he gets back he’s covered in snow
“Started up again” he says shaking out his jacket
“Here” I hand him his cup and we sit down in front of the fireplace
“So, you thought it over?” he asks and I nod
“I did. And if that is your wish Pops I will be honored” I say and he wraps his big arm around my shoulders pulling me in for a side hug
“Nothing would make me happier pickle” he says kissing my head
“Your greying” he says and I laugh
“No, it’s my natural hair color” I say and he frowns
“You ladies and your strange beauty treatments” he says and I snort, almost choking on my cocoa
“It’s not a treatment it’s to look beautiful” I say but he shrugs and gets up
“Same thing. Never understood why you need to make a fuss over somethin’ the good Lord made beautiful to start off with” he says washing his cup
“It’s to be flawless” I say batting my eyes
“Never saw the need to fix somethin’ if it ain’t broken” he says and I just smile shaking my head
“We can’t all be perfect like you Pops” I kid and he chuckles
“Just lucky I guess. But if that is what you’re supposed to look like then who are we to argue?” he asks and I ponder it for a moment
“I never thought of it. We’re so busy trying our best to impress the world that we forget that we need to accept what we were given I guess” I say and he nods, pride shining in his eyes
“Now you get it pickle” he kisses my forehead and turns to the stairs
“Night pickle”
“Night Pops” I say and listen to his heavy footsteps trudge up the steps. Maybe I should do something about this, I wear a hat most days but it is starting to look bad. I pull out my phone a drop Millie a text. We have become friends quite quickly since we came here
“Hey Mill! Listen is there someone that understand hair color around here?” I hit send and almost instantly there’s a reply
“Hi Dawn! Yup, when do you want to go?”
“Well not tomorrow, maybe Tuesday?”
“Great! I’ll text you the time and we can drive there together”
“Perfect! Good night Millie”
“Night Dawn” I place the phone down and look out the window, watching the snow fall
“Amazing” I smile heading to bed. Tuesday rolls around and I drive to town, pick Millie up and she directs me to the salon. It’s nothing like the one’s I’m used to, not shabby or anything, but plain and quaint. A friendly woman rounds the counter but stops dead in her tracks when she realizes who I am. I never tire of the reaction
“You’re… Millie that’s… oh my Lord” she gasps and I giggle
“Hi I’m Dawn” I say extending my hand. She blinks a few times before slowly placing her hand in mine
“I’m such a big fan” she says as the smile returns to her face
“Thank you”
“Lillian, breathe” Millie says and she giggles
“Yes of course. Sorry I just, this is such an honor” she says ushering me to a chair and I take a seat
“Millie, lock the door please, and close those blinds” Lillian says and Millie walks away
“No it’s-“
“Nonsense, Millie said to make sure you are alone, I get why” she smiles running her hands through my hair
“Thanks Lillian” I say and she nods
“So, root touch up I assume?” but I shake my head
“No, I would like to go back to my natural color please” I say and she nods, combing through my hair inspecting it
“Natural curls?”
“Yes”
“Keep the length?”
“I don’t know”
“Okay, let’s do the color and then we can decide on the cut” I nod and she walks to the back
“Oh look” Millie hands me the phone and I freeze at the article
“Is Dawn Farrow missing?” a picture of me, luckily at the film festival at the beginning of the year, plastered all over the front page
“Dawn Farrow, is likely recovering in a rehabilitation center after it became known that she is struggling with alcohol addiction” I read out load and groan
“That’s not true” I say and Millie takes the phone
“Yeah, you’re at the ranch” she says and I look at her
“Well yeah, but I am not an alcoholic” I say and their eyes go wide
“Those are all lies, damn i***t lied to cover his own ass” I grunt and they look at me expectantly
“He was screwing around, I caught them, in bed, and well it all turned into a mess after that” I say and Lillian speaks up
“That asshole” she says and I nod
“Oh yeah. I just wanted to leave, he grabbed me through the window and it happened so quickly. I still feel guilty about ruining his leg though” I say but this time Millie speaks up
“Should’ve been his balls” she says and we burst out laughing
“Couldn’t have said it better myself Mill!” I laugh and she blushes shrugging
“I knew something was off about that story. I mean you were constantly in the public eye, never showing any signs of abuse” Lillian says while applying whatever it is to my hair
“Yeah never” I say but she doesn’t know how true her words are. I always made sure to cover all the bruises, the make-up artists gave me awesome concealer to cover it up with, they also thought it was because of stunts. We chat, laugh and drink way too much caffeine while Lillian fixes my hair. Finally its rinsed and now I have to decide if I want to cut it or not
“Okay so, as a professional, I have a few suggestions” Lillian says and lays out three different styles in front of me
“This is practical, fun and easy. Wash and wear, but its short” she says pointing to the one on the left. It’s a short curly bob style, it looks good
“This is a little shorter than your current length, but it will be layered so that it’s easier to manage” she says and I nod
“This one is my personal favorite and it would look amazing on you actually” she says and I look at the medium length hair
“It’s also easy, wash and wear. But you can style it if you like, or just tie it up” she says and I smile
“I like it, let’s do it” I say and they smile in agreement
“Awesome! Oh wow I still can’t believe, Dawn Farrow, famous actress is in my salon” she squeals and I giggle
“I won’t tell anyone I swear” she says and I nod
“Thanks Lillian” I say and she goes to work, locks of hair falling around the chair as the scissors glide through my hair. With every piece she cuts I feel lighter, as if it’s a part of me that needs to be removed
- Writer
