Vidal, Michele & Charles were at the airport to see me off. Michele begging Vidal to let her go with me. Charles tickled to death that I was getting away from Sunny, telling me that I’m going to fall in love with some rich handsome man, & never come back to America. And I’m sure Vidal was there to make sure that I board the plane.

The next morning I was awake at 5am. I didn’t get to my Mothers house the night before. When everyone heard that I was going to London for the Summer, the drinks started flowing like water, & a small party commenced.

My heart was beating so quickly in my chest. LONDON! ME!!
I was thrilled and frightened at the same time.
“Vidal”, was my voice cracking? “I can’t go to London?” It was a question, rather than a statement.
“Yes you can,CeCe. I’ve made all of the arrangements for you, your plane ticket is already ordered. You have to go get your passport tomorrow morning. I’ll do your clients for you, until you get to work. I want for you to leave this week-end.Beverly will meet you at the airport, show you around, introduce you to some key people, then fly here Monday. So you’ll have her for two days to help you to settle in. What are your concerns?”
Vidal come around from his desk and sat next to me on the couch. He took my hand in his, gave a gentle squeeze.
“CeCe, you are so talented,” His voice was low and gentle. “I want for you to have this training. It will be a huge stepping stone for you. What are you troubled about?”
“How long will I be there?” My mind was whirling. What about Sal?
“Can I bring Sal?” I couldn’t go months without seeing my son.
“You’ll be there for the Summer. London is wonderful in the Summer. I don’t think that you should bring him, but, you can if you must. Beverly will find a nanny for him.”
“Why do you want me to go? Who will manage this Salon?” The fear was taking hold. Vidal held my hand tighter.
“CeCe,” a chuckle rose from his chest, “Your my star stylist. Your terrific with hair coloring. I want for you to learn and develop more advanced techniques, so that you’ll be able to teach this staff, & we will be the best team in New York. I see very big things for you in this industry.”
” But, Vidal, I’ve told you several times, I’m going to law school. This is just my means to save money to pay for school.”
” Yes,yes, my dear CeCe.” He lite another cigarette. “I’m aware of your goals. I also know that your thinking of marrying that man. I’m thinking of a way that you can earn a lot more money, faster, go to school, and have your son live with you, WITHOUT, having to marry someone that your not in love with!”
I looked deeply into his eyes, and for the first time I saw the deepness of his friendship. There was genuine care in his eyes.
“Now, my girl,” he got up and walked to the desk, “Will you do this? Will you do this for yourself, your son, and, for me?”
There was a knock on the office door.
“Can I come in?”
It was Michele.
“Yes, come in Michele.” Vidal answered.
“Hey guys, are you joining us across the street?”
“We are coming right now.” answered Vidal has he winked at me. “Go ahead CeCe, I’ll close up. Meet all of you there in about half an hour.”
I stood up and walked to the door in a half daze. Michele asked if I was okay, & all I could do was nod my head. London. London! LONDON!!
“Well.” Michele was dying of curiosity. “Are you going to tell me? Do I have to stand on my head first?”
“I’m going to London next week.” Until I said those words, I didn’t believe I had heard Vidal right. I suddenly realized that I had decided that I would go. I had to go to my Mothers house & pack my son’s stuff tonight. I had to tell Sunny that I was going to London. I had so many things to prepare for.
“London?” Michele shrieked as she grabbed my shoulders & shook me. “How wonderful! Why? When & how long for?”
Michele’s burst of excitement allowed for my excitement to surface and suddenly I was laughing & crying at the same time. We were crossing the street when I remembered that I never cleaned up my station, and left most of my tip money in my drawer. I started to turn back, when Michele grabbed my arm, pulling me across the street.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I forgot my tips.”
“You don’t need them. I’ll pay for your food & drinks. You could pay me back tomorrow.”
“O’kay. Just go in my drawer tomorrow & take out what I owe you. I’m going for my passport in the morning. I have to get Sal & bring him also for his passport.”
“Your taking Sal? How wonderful? Can I come too?” She giggled like a little girl.

I was a warm early summer day in Manhattan. I felt exceptionally good today, went for my jog though Central Park, worked out at the gym for an hour, I felt like a new person. There were clients in the lounge waiting for Michele, Brad, & myself.
“Good Morning, everyone.” I yelled out with a wave of my hand.
“Agnes,” I walked into the employees lounge, “Would you mind getting me a cup of coffee, please?”
“Want it in here?”
“No, at my station,please,” As I slipped my smock over my dress, “And find out what my client is getting done, Shampoo her if it’s just a cut. Thank you Agnes”

As I walked out into the salon, Vidal gently reached out for my arm.
“Before you leave tonight, come to my office, CeCe!”
“Sure.” I continued to walk towards my client, who was now sitting in my chair. Her hair was being brushed by Agnes, but it wasn’t washed, so I knew that it was question & answer time. As I reached for my cup of coffee, I silently said a prayer that my Angels were there with me, as I did every morning when I arrived to work.
The day went by quickly & pretty much uneventful. All of us were busy all day, Josef & Brad did their catty bickering with each other all day, which kept clients & staff laughing constantly. Vidal spent most of his day in the office. He had cut back on the amounts of clients he would do a day, preferring to talk to business associates on the phone. He purchased a building in Queens recently, & was working with the contractors daily. Beverly was back in London, but would return to NYC, after school was out.
Michele had met a guy at Ammies about two months earlier, and she was head over heels in love. Maria, one of the manicurist got married last month, and announced that she was three months pregnant today. Of course Josef said something ‘nastily funny’ about that, which cause Maria to blush, & the whole salon to laugh out loud. I was ‘casually’ dating Sunny, which shocked everyone except Charles. Charles & I had become close friend since the incident with my shoulder. He knew that I was determined to get married now, & my reasons for this decision. He didn’t agree with me, which he stated often when we talked, but he was a good friend, & advised me when I needed him. Dating Sunny was comfortable. Not exciting, but, he was very kind & generous to me. I still never wore the bracelet, but Sunny never asked about it, which I was happy about. I assumed that he thought, at least I have it & in time, I would wear it.
All of us were cleaning up. We were planning to go across to the bar for burgers & drinks. I was starving, since I had to work though my lunch break. As I packed up my purse, Vidal stuck his head out of his office door.
“CeCe,” he called out. “Don’t forget, before you go.”
“Oh, I’ll be right in, Vidal.” I was walking to the lounge as I answered him.
“Is our CeCe in trouble?” Josef quirked around , almost like a ballerina, placing one hand on his hip.
“Possibly Josef. You never know with me.” I responded, with a twirl of my own, raising my hands above my head, imitating his motion.
“Oh, goodness,CeCe, you have no grace, it’s a good thing your pretty to look at girl!” reacting to my unbalanced twirl, & the both of us chuckled.

“What’s up Vidal?”
Vidal office was so pleasant. Very European style, but comfortable, & masculine.
“Have a seat,please,” He gestured with his hand to the sofa facing his desk. “I’ll be one second.”
I placed myself directly in the center of the sofa. This placed me directly in front of Vidal, so that when we spoke our eyes met straight on. I always disliked, when talking to a person, not to have direct eye contact. It was of my opinion, a deceitfulness in character, when engaged in conversation, the other party glances around your being, rather than talk directly to you .
Vidal closed the ledger.
“Good day today.”
“Yes,”
“CeCe, I’ve been thinking of this for awhile,” he reached for & lite a cigarette. I did the same thing & reached for the ashtray at the end of the sofa. ” discussed it with Beverly, & she agreed that I should speak with you about it.”
He was looking directly at me, those beautiful eyes, handsome face.
“What do you need?”
“I don’t need anything,” He smiled. I loved his smile. “I want to do something for you, & in return, you will be doing something for me, us, the salon.”
“For me?” I was intrigued, “What are you doing for me?”
“I want for you to go to London for the summer!”
“What?” I couldn’t believe what I heard
“Right,” His smile got bigger, “Beverly will there one more week. We want for you to go there, you will live in our flat, our servants are there all year, so you’ll have people to help you with anything you’ll need there. I’ve already spoken to associates of mine, & you will be training with some of the best stylist in London. How soon can you leave?”