Hunting Sawyer

Moxie

Tessa twisted my hair up into a net cap before bringing out a basket full of wigs. We had entirely too much fun trying them all on. But we landed on a platinum blonde one with chunky black sections underneath. It was cut blunt at the shoulders with bangs straight across my forehead. It changed my entire look and made me feel edgy. It gave me the balls I needed right now.

Tessa then got to work on my makeup. I’d never worn much other than mascara, but she gave me the full treatment to go with my new edgy look. She taught me to blend eye shadows, contour my face, and wing my eyeliner. My breath hitched in my throat for a moment as a memory of my mother flashed through my mind. She was leaning over our dingy bathroom counter, teaching me how to suck in my cheeks as she applied her blush. I remember my young self mimicing the motion and thinking about how exciting it would be to wear makeup.

Makeup I couldn't ever afford. A luxury I'd only admired on others. So my inner child was wiggling in excitement having a chance to play dress up now.

When Tessa swung me around to admire my new look in the mirror, I audibly gasped. I looked nothing like myself with this hair, this makeup, and these clothes. Maybe I actually had a chance here?

My hand instinctually dropped to my belly hidden under the apron.

“I know you’re pregnant Sawyer. But I want you to work here and stay here until we can get you away from this place, safely. You parents were good people. Joe is a good person. And the fact that you’re a product of good people means you just need a little kindness, too.”

I bit back the tremble in my lip and I hugged her. She hugged me back, petting the pin straight blonde hair on the back of my head. She showed me around the salon and gave me instruction on where she needed help. Sweeping, checking out, booking appointments, general cleaning, and shampooing.

But internally, I was bouncing up and down. Because I never had the chance to care about cosmetics, I'd never offered it a thought outside of that memory with my mother. But the little I’d learned so far in the few hours I’d been in this salon had lit a fire in me. I was desperate to learn more.

And so it began. I’d given up hope on the items I’d left abandoned in Joe’s side room. Tessa shared her own clothes and food. Whatever tips I made I knew I would give to her for her trouble. I’m sure it wouldn’t be much compared to the tips I made at the bar, but I was safer. Even just a brisk walk away from the bar I once called my safe haven…. I was safer here.

Tessa got me set up in the basement. There was a cot and a small wardrobe, but it was mostly storage for the salon upstairs. But it was safe… for now. And while that sense of safety should be enough for me to rest, I slept fitfully, Blake's piercing green eyes peeking through every crevice of my dreams.

Blake’s cronies expected me to be several towns over by now. Oh, the irony at the fact that I was just a mere block away from where they lost me. Ironic, yet dangerous.

I woke up early and got to cleaning the shop before Tessa came down. She lived in an apartment right above the salon. I’d been up and working for at least two hours before I heard her light footsteps making their way down the stairs. I had tried to recreate the makeup look she tested on me yesterday, but I added a little pop of fuchsia pink over the center of my eyelid for a little more drama. I’d put on the wig all on my own.

Tessa emerged from the bottom of the stairs with a plate of toast and jam in one hand and a basket of clothing balanced on her hip. She put her cargo down on the front desk, which I had just finished wiping down, before pinching my chin between her thumb and forefinger and tilting my face from one side to the other, inspecting my work.

“Hmm.. very good. Add two more bobby pins here,” she tugged at the wig at the base of my neck, “and darken the contour here” she traced the underside of my cheekbones, “and it’d be damn near perfect. You’re smart Sawyer, and you learn quick. You’re going to be just fine, Love.” She patted my belly softly before passing me the basket.

It was stacked high with clothing, all black and appropriate for the salon. I gave her a look of thanks and she shot me a wink. She had dark almond-shaped eyes that held a sparkle amidst a permanent look of sadness. Her ringlets framed her painted face perfectly and she went over to the mirror to finish her own makeup look before the salon opened for the day. She nodded toward the toast and signaled for me to take the clothes down to the basement. Her shop was clean and organized, there was no clutter.

“Tessa, thank you again…” I started, the emotion threatening to surface.

She held up her hand, stopping my words, but spun on her heel and leaned against the countertop, holding the marble edge firmly in her grip. I saw her take a deep breath as she closed her eyes, not meeting my gaze.

“My husband was taken from me, Sawyer, by whatever dark force is circulating out there. My daughter Eloise snuck out shortly after he disappeared, determined to find him. She never came home. She was about your age… That was three years ago.” The silence hung between us as I let that information soak in.

These were her daughter’s clothes. I traced my fingertips over the top of the soft fabrics that held so much meaning to her.

“Tessa….” I started, but she shook her head and held up her hand to stop me again, but I needed to be heard. “No.” I took a breath to find my words. “I know what it’s like to lose everything. To lose everyone. To sit at the bottom of the deepest grief and not know how to move on. I am so sorry that you had to experience that same pain. But I hope I can repay at least an inkling of the kindness that you have shown me.”

“When you’re a good person, good things will find you. Even when life f*****g sucks sometimes.” We both smiled through sad eyes and I carried the basket down to my new quarters. I’d used Tessa’s phone to call the drugstore and let them know I wasn’t able to work there any longer. The manager said he would keep me on backup if I ever wanted to pick up shifts, that way I could keep my discount. I tried to refuse, but he raved about my work ethic and how he would hope I’d reconsider and come back to work for him soon.

It made me feel slightly good about myself. That people were recognizing my work. That I was slightly seen. That amidst all the bad, there was a little ray of goodness. When I emerged from the basement again, her first client had already arrived. A frail little woman with dyed hair and thin eyebrows.

“Oooh, Tessa did you finally get some help around here?” She cooed in a shaky voice.

“Mmhm. This is my new apprentice,” Tessa smiled at me and I returned the gesture. “This is Moxie.” She winked. “She’s my niece and just came in from out of town.”