The Maverick Pride Tales - Chapter 123: Chapter 123

“Welcome to Jessica’s Closet,” a redhaired woman with an infectious smile came running at them once they entered the small boutique.
“Uncle Uzzi? OMG! Does Elissa know you are here?” The beautiful woman embraced Uncle Uzzi, tucking her hand in his elbow while they exchanged pleasantries.
“Of course she does. Do you think I’d invade Maverick Point without letting the Nari know?”
“Oh, it’s hardly an invasion,” Jessica replied and turned to Annalia. “Who’s this? Are you a new client?”
“Well, sort of⁠—”
“Yay! You are going to love Uncle Uzzi. He’s like everyone’s uncle, so easy to talk to and simply charming.”
“Yes, he truly is. My name is Annalia Reese, but you can call me Anna or Lia, either is fine,” she replied, offering her hand to the vivacious female.
“Miss Jessica, we are here for your expert advice. Anna here needs a fresh look, and she is interested in some of Gretchen’s new line of makeup,” Uncle Uzzi grinned wickedly.
“I see, well, let’s get you booked for a complete makeover with Gretchen,” she started, taking a glance at Anna’s wildly frizzy curls.
“Though, honestly, I flove your hair. It is so wild,” Jessica said and from her expression Annalia believed the woman.
“I’ll see if Pam is free, she does wonders with curly hair.”
“Um, just a trim—” Annalia called out, but Jess was already on the phone.
She closed her eyes, counted to three, and decided to go with it. What could be the harm in allowing herself to be pampered for a weekend? Even if the date was shit, she’d have a haircut and some cool new clothes. Even better, she’d made a friend or two.
“So, when is it?”
“What?” she asked, dropping the sheer red panties with matching thing she was holding up onto the floor.
Get a hold of yourself, Anna.
“When is the date, silly?” Jessica asked and laughed.
She smiled and bent down to retrieve the panty and bra set, adding it to a shopping bag she’d gone to get for Annalia. She did not know why she was so embarrassed. This was a clothing store and the last time she checked, underwear still fell under that category. Besides, it wasn’t like she’d been caught doing something naughty.
“Oh, duh me,” Annalia replied. “Eight o’clock tonight. But because of the long drive and the impending weather, Uncle Uzzi insisted I stay at a cabin for the whole weekend.”
“Oooh, nice!”
It was nice to have a little winter getaway. A quiet cabin with a view of the thick pine forest sounded superb. And Uncle Uzzi had assured her that if the date did not work out, she was free to enjoy her stay in the picturesque wintry setting free of any further entanglements.
That sounded especially great to Annalia. After making the move from Florida, she had not had the chance to relax or make friends. So far, everyone she met in Maverick Point was kind, and according to Uncle Uzzi, they were good people.
It was prettier here too. The city she’d moved too was flush of slush and winter mush, as she called the snowy dirt mixture. Busy New Jersey roads seemed doomed to dwell in the muck during snowy season.
Anna loved the look of the snow frosted trees and pretty forests on the drive down. It was exactly the kind of inspiration she needed for the new Ice Battles game’s winter fantasy landscapes she was working on. Using specialized graphic design software to make real 3D snow, among other things was a lot more difficult than it seemed.
She could do with a little inspiration. Of course, Annalia was there for more than the scenery. She was there to go on a date with a Shifter. A real, live, honest to kisses Shifter! Goosebumps popped up all over her arms as she imagined what her date would be like.
Would he like her? Would he be kind? What if he wanted to, er, come home with her? Was Anna ready for that step?
Yes, please, her inner voice practically screamed.
Okay, so maybe her dry spell had been long enough. She’d never been promiscuous, but she would not say no to sex. That was if she liked him, of course. And provided he liked her. She wasn’t a slut or anything.
Sheesh. No kidding. I had three sexual partners in thirty years.
After an hour of trying on clothes, she was finally ready for her hair appointment. Anna sighed and bit her lip. Her credit card was going to cry if she used it again, but only one more stop, she promised the little piece of plastic.
Truthfully, shopping had been fun—especially without Sandra. Guiltily, she pulled out her phone and checked to see if her sister read the message, she had sent the night before telling her she would be out of pocket for the weekend. It had been seen, but there was no reply. Of course not.
Ugh. Oh well.
Annalia was not going to play this game with her older sibling anymore. If Sandra wanted a relationship with her, she would have to grow up and work on one with her. Not leave it up to Anna to run after her like a little lost puppy.
Speaking of, she thought with a smirk and chased after Uncle Uzzi as he walked to the salon next door. Her arms were filled with bags, having bought everything from new underwear and body cream to a stylish winter coat, strappy high heels, and a pair of sturdy boots.
“Hello Pam! How is osito?” Uncle Uzzi greeted a pretty brunette with a hug and a smile before turning to Annalia. “You are in good hands, Annalia. Pam is the best. Now, I have an errand to run, but I will be back to collect you soon,” Uncle Uzzi told her and said goodbye.
She had one moment’s hesitation before sitting in the salon chair the woman indicated.
“Hi Annalia, I’m Pamela,” the very lovely, very pregnant brunette introduced herself with a kind smile as she started running her hands through Anna’s hair. “Let’s see what we got to work with. So, how long have you known our Uncle Uzzi?”
“Hi Pam, my name’s Annalia. We just met, but he’s great,” she smiled.
“Anna-Leah? Am I saying that right?”
“Yes, but it is spelled A-n-n-a-l-i-a,” she told her.
“Great name! I am making a list since my husband and I, and our son Paulie, can’t seem to agree on one for this little bundle,” she replied and nodded at her protruding belly.
“Congrats, is it a girl?”
“We don’t know yet. Twins,” she practically yelped.
“That is exciting. Say, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“Is everyone here beautiful?
“Ha ha ha! You’re funny.” Pamela laughed, ignoring her question. “Hmm. Your hair is good, but I think you could use a trim and a conditioning treatment.”
“Can you blow it out? I kind of have a date tonight,” she bit her lip again.
“Absolutely. Did Uncle Uzzi set you up?”
“Yep.”
“Well, then, we better get to work. This could be a life-changing event,” Pamela said.
The woman must be teasing her, but butterflies began to build inside her stomach. Pam was kind and friendly. Settling into the salon chair, closing her eyes as the stylist worked her magic, she allowed herself to float.
The buzzing of her cell phone caught her attention, and when Pam excused herself for a potty break, Annalia grabbed the thing. It was Sandra. Looked like her big sis had finally deigned to reply. Probably the thought of Annalia going on a weekend retreat bugged the shit out of her, but wait, that was not kind. The least she could do was open the text messages.
I can’t believe you went all the way to Jersey, Annie. Don’t you think it’s time you stopped being selfish? Glenn Jr. has gold practice in the afternoons and no one to take him. There are papers needing signatures and the work you left behind is really piling up. How irresponsible can one person be?
Now, if you are ready to stop this ridiculous tantrum, I can find my way back to forgiving you and let you come home again. But this offer is not open ended, Annie. You owe me and Glenn.
-Sandra
Annalia blinked back the tears that burned her eyes. Her sister was always doing things like that. She’d been making her sign these papers for years concerning Glenn’s business and them being her guardians, and the loan papers for school.
The last packet she’d signed before leaving had been super long and complicated. Annalia hadn’t even had a chance to look it over. But she trusted Sandra, and now that she was finished with graduate school and running her own business, Anna had one more payment to make before they were paid back in full. Glenn had insisted she sign the last round of papers before she moved to New Jersey, and she’d done it to keep them all on friendly terms.
But calling her by that godawful nickname, Annie, and saying she was selfish were the last straw. One payment left, then she wouldn’t owe them a thing. Shaking her head, Anna dropped the phone back into her purse. She was going to studiously ignore her condescending big sister until then.
All she wanted to do was work on her graphic designs and be happy. Why did Sandra always have to try to make her feel guilty for that? She was thirty-years old. Not a child anymore. She wanted her own life, and her own chance to find happiness. What was wrong with that?
“Nothing at all, honey,” Pamela replied sympathetically, and Annalia blushed. She’d spoken aloud.
Shit on a shingle.
She really hated to air her dirty laundry, but she supposed that was a side effect of hair salons.
“You know it is. We’re like therapists, but better because we make you look good too,” Pamela went on.
Dang it. Anna realized she’d spoken aloud again. The beautiful woman winked before continuing in an easy going manner that put Annalia immediately at ease.
“Look, your big sister means well, I’m sure, but we all have a right to happiness and love. Now, you take it from someone who owes her own happiness to Uncle Uzzi, you are in excellent hands.”
“I sure hope so.”
“I know so,” she answered. “Now, what do you think?”
Pamela spun the salon chair around, and Anna gasped. Her mass of wild brown curls was completely transformed into a glossy, sleek blow-out that curled around the ends like a 1950s glam girl.
“Oh damn, is that really me?”
The look emphasized her big, brown eyes, bringing attention to her full lips and high cheekbones. Her face was a little round, but she was a bigger girl. Her Italian heritage shown in her straight nose and olive-tone skin.
“Yes, it is you.” Pamela smiled and patted her belly.
“Hey guuuurrrrrrlllllll!” Marion, another stylist, came running over and high-fived his co-worker. “She’s got you looking fine as hell! Way to go, Pam!”
“Thanks, Marion. I used that gloss you suggested.”
“Well, that’s fine and good. But you know Miss Annalia here came in with those gorgeous locks, honey. You just made ‘em shine.”
“Truth,” Pam agreed.
“Thank you, both. I love it.”
Annalia was all smiles as she left with her bags and new hairstyle. Uncle Uzzi sent the car back for her, complete with his hunky driver. He’d introduced himself as Hank and placed her bags in the trunk.
Anna was a little shy of him. He was big and strong. A Shifter according to Uncle Uzzi, but she was still a little wary of the whole idea that the supernatural existed.
Even the old matchmaker confessed he was not entirely human. He was, in his words, a Witch descended from the goddess of love, herself. Annalia was just blown away. Still, every instinct told her to trust these people, so she did.
Smiling to herself, she enjoyed the quiet ride to the rental cabin. It was short and pretty. The entire town of Maverick Point, even the beautiful mountain in the background, seemed to have been bathed in a blanket of snow and ice. Like the scene inside a snow globe. She hardly noticed the car had stopped when Hank held her door open.
“Miss?”
“Oh, thank you,” she said and allowed him to help her from the vehicle.
Hank carried her bags to the porch, and she waved goodbye. Annalia had just enough time to rest and take her inhaler before she got dressed. She felt exhilarated and anxious all at the same time. Maybe not anxious, maybe it was just anticipation at tonight’s date.
Who knew shopping could be so much fun? Certainly, it never was in her experience. Then again, Sandra had always been there to let her know what a woman with her figure should and should not wear.
Sigh.
Well, if her sister could see the racy, sexy, and surprisingly comfortable choices she’d made, she would probably drop dead on sight.
Ouch. That was mean.
Anna bit her lip as mixed feelings filled her. She was sure Sandra loved her—in her own messed up way. Still, leaving Florida and getting away from the nagging negativity that was her sister was the best thing she’d ever done for herself.
She’d taken a leap of faith today and trusted a total stranger about things she’d only ever read about in those naughty little romance books she was addicted to.
But for the first time, Annalia felt excited about something other than work. She was finally going for the things she wanted out of life, and yes, it was scary as fuck, but that would not stop her. Uncle Uzzi was right.
Here we go. Time to start living.