A touch of YaYa

  ‘Damnit! He’s already at Lilia’s waiting on me!’ Darbi squeals as she reads Brian’s text on her iPhone.  

  ‘Just a couple more pins.’  Blake murmurs softly as her brow wrinkles in concentration- her nimble fingers putting the finishing touches on Darbi’s soft romantic hairstyle.

  ‘There!’ Blake announces as she backs away from her station- a proud smile gracing her face.

  ‘It’s perfect! Oh Thank you Blake!’ Darbi gushes as she admires her reflection.

  ‘Shit! I have got to hurry!’  She exclaims as she peers into the thick  gold frame mirror perched in front of Blake’s station - pursing her full lips dramatically as she quickly applies her rich red Chanel VITALITÉ lipstick -then rotates to face her friend , a sexy smile gracing those sultry red lips.

  ‘How do I look?’  Darbi asks as she gracefully rotates her curvy physique with one hand sitting on her hip and the other delicately raised in the air- showcasing an exquisite satin floral Tom Ford wrap dress accentuating her curves with a delicate red bow secured just above her right hip.  The danty hem skimming just above her knee, a scandalous slit exposing the tanned skin of her upper right thigh. Finishing the impeccably composed outfit is a pair of simple red bottom black patent leather lou bouton heels.  Her soft salt and pepper hair was lightly curled- one side pulled up with a garnet and ruby gemstone encrusted antique barrette that made the perfect statement piece; a pool of sparkling scarlet embers embraced by her velutinous ashen hair. A simple pair of Tiffany diamond stud earrings and matching necklace -both a recent anniversary present from Brian -lay delicately against her tawny skin.

  ‘Exquisite!’   Blake declares as she marvels at the intricate 14 karat gold metal lattice detail and firey red stones on the vintage piece of jewelry. Each gemstone delicately anchored with a danty gold twirl that ended with a petite gold leaf that glinted under the salon lights.

  ‘Damn I love that barrette. YaYa had such good taste.’  Blake smiles as she admires her long-time friend. 

  ‘She was definitely Au fait with glam. It belonged to her grandmere Bonnette; a gift from her first husband who passed away a few years after they married.  It was YaYa’s favorite piece to play dress up with as a kid.’  Darbi murmurs as she lightly fingers the family heirloom- her thoughtful eyes replaying memories from long ago.

  ‘Every time I wear it, I feel like I’m channeling my YaYa Bonnette and all of her wisdom.  I can still hear her talking as we chop the holy trinity- that’s what we call onions,celery and bell peppers back home- the amazing aroma of toasted spices and cooking vegetables filing my nose while helping her prep all the ingredients for her famous gumbo.’ Darbi reminisces; a nostalgic look in her olive green eyes.

  ‘She’s the reason I cook and am who I am today.  The reason I opened Cafe Orleans.  All those years of unconditional love and advice that seemed so stifling back then.  My only interest was the next parade on bourbon street or the hot bartender at the local speakeasy.’ She chuckles as she continues,  ‘ She would announce ‘C’est tout. Fini!’ as she lifted the hefty cast iron lid and smelled her mouth watering concoction that had been simmering for hours.  Did you know she was the only one who saw right through my first husband’s facade?  Everyone else , including me, was fooled by the charm, the good looks, the money; but not YaYa.  Fon chock Fils putain! Nothing but a show off.  Struttin around like a fat turkey on thanksgiving, But I see da evil on him Char, ya heard me.  He got that darkness in him.’  Darbi scrunches up her face to mimic her YaYa’s look of contempt as she recites the wise woman’s angry rant.

  ‘She was the one who set up you and Brian too, right? I vaguely remember you telling me that she was part of the Hurricane Katrina lawsuit that Brian’s firm from New York City was handling and knew immediately that you two were meant for each other?’  Blake asks as she begins cleaning her polished black station- putting away hot tools and combs, sweeping hair and wiping the station top with the floral scented cleaner Blake loves.

  ‘Yup.  All of the hot shot New York attorneys involved had to have one on one interviews with each plaintiff participating in the lawsuit and Brian was assigned YaYa.  By the end of the interview she got Brian to agree to have lunch with her- under the guise of needing more legal advice.  Then she called and invited me to the same lunch without mentioning either of us to the other.’  Darbi laughs as she gathers the makeup spread accross Blake’s travel tray.

  ‘We both showed up at the little bistro in the French quarter beyond confused.  But we agreed to sit down at one of the outside tables and ordered roast beef po-boys- my recommendation due to him having no clue what Louisiana delicacy to try since he was a city boy and all.’ Darbi chuckles as she continues, ‘We compared stories and By the time the food arrived , we realized what YaYa had done.  We were laughing so much that we both decided she was a wise woman and would give it the rest of our lunch to see if she was right.  Guess it’s safe to say she was.’  Darbi smiles appreciatively. 

  ‘Je t’aime  YaYa.’  Shemurmurs as tears and love glisten in her eyes.

  ‘I’ll never grow tired of your stories of that amazing woman.  Such strength and gumption.’  Blake gently voices as she grips her friends hand,  ‘but you’re going to smear your makeup with those tears! Now come on! YaYa wouldn’t want you in here crying about her… she would want you to celebrate with Brian.’ She pointed out to her friend.  

  ‘But You have to get all the way to Brooklyn! So you have to leave now!  Brian has been waiting forever!’ Blake laughs as she directs Darbi towards the doorway.  

  ‘Have an amazing date in the City with your silver stallion- the man that YaYa chose for you.’ Blake winks affectionately as she rushes Darbi out the salon doors to her waiting Uber driver; the tintinnabulation of the door bell sounding sweetly in the background.