Love & Lies

Chapter Fifteen

"Dad and I really look forward to seeing you at Christmas.  You sound so good, love," Jessie's mom, Rose, said gleefully.  "You can just take things slow with work when you return home.  You deserve such happy success."

The comment made Jessie feel great, but at the same time she had her reservations about the thought of working with her label again in the months following her departure home.  Despite Jordan, New York was becoming a security blanket in a way even if being a songwriter on hiatus was no way to live.  "Thanks, Mum.  I will.  I am just a little apprehensive, but I have time," Jessie replied as she crossed her legs on the leather couch of the empty, private waiting room.

"I understand, but remember: you define your career on your own terms.  No matter what happens, Dad and I will always be proud of you," Rose replied.

Although thousands of miles away, Jessie's eyes could not help but water as she gripped her phone even harder.  "I really appreciate your support as always," she replied.

Before Jessie could say anymore, Lauren surfaced from the door across from her couch smiling.  Noticing she was on the phone, Lauren quietly walked onto the recently polished hardwood flooring in her flat sandals to patiently wait in front of a leather arm chair to the left.  "Mum, I'm sorry, but I have to get going.  Lauren just finished up so we are on our way to the salon," Jessie said.  

"Okay, lovey.  I love you and please take care of yourself. I will talk to you in a few days?" Rose asked.

"Yes, I will give you and Dad a call then.  Send him my love," Jessie replied.  "I love you, too.  Bye, Mum."

As Jessie placed her phone back in her gray Celine handbag, Lauren finally spoke up.  "Awh, Jess, you could have stayed on the phone with her," she said guiltily.

"Don't feel bad at all.  I was going to call her and my dad tomorrow, but figured I could do it now while I was waiting," Jessie insisted as she stood up.  "I got to talk to her for a good amount of time."

"I'm so sorry for the last minute change in plans.  I figured to send you here to wait in private rather than waiting at the nail salon for God knows how long," Lauren said.  "Luckily, it turns out we just had an extremely fixable hard drive issue and didn't lose anything.  Ready for some mani/pedis?"

Jessie nodded her head excitedly.  Although she did have that nail salon by her co-op, she had not been to it once given her on-and-off stance regarding having Brendan be there to accompany her in her own neighborhood so given everything that happened she was looking forward to some relaxing pampering time with a friend.  

"The place isn't at all far from this building, but do you want one of my guys to take us?" Lauren asked as they emerged into a hallway filled with autographed photos of Lauren's company's famous clients and a door leading to private offices and conference rooms.

Wanting to enjoy being an average person as much as possible for the time being, Jessie had no problem telling her she wouldn't mind walking.  "I went to this place on a lunch break once and love it even more than the one by my apartment complex," Lauren said as she began to open the translucent windowed door at the end of the hall.

Lauren's voice seemed to trail far away as Jessie glimpsed her own framed picture out of the corner of her eye.  Jessie's photographed eyes were wide like her open and British flag-painted lips and her personal message was signed with a heart by her name.  Jessie didn't have to close her eyes to immediately recall the great memories that accompanied the era of that photo.  She could just hear her Heartbeats chanting her name from all the way inside her dressing room as final preparations took place for that night's concert.  She could just feel the thrill of performing in every cell of her body as she danced around whatever venue's stage.  But little did her younger self know what was to come...