Chapter 6

6:20 pm.

Between pacing and glancing at Mama Pearl every time she laughs at him because he is pacing, John is reading his watch. Time is speeding by and he's beginning to wonder if Joss will ever walk out from between those curtains. He so wants this date to go well that he is actually nervous. Joss being late does not seem to bode well for the smooth sailing evening he had envisioned for their first 'real' date.

His nerves had started to get to him so he had left the back to come to the front and do recon. No not recon, just to….ok, recon. Old habits. The shop was mostly empty now with just Mama Pearl in the front, Vicky who was cleaning up her station, a pacing John and in the back, Jenelle and Joss. Janelle had taken Joss to the back to do her make up.

"Boy, if you don't come over here and take a seat, by the time Joss gets out here you're gonna' owe Jenelle a new floor," Momma Pearl admonishes him. "'Cause your cutting' a grove inta this one. I know you want this to be a perfect evening, but it already is. You gave her something that she wanted and something she would never ask for herself. Best of all you're going to share it together. Now come over here and make my day. Tell me about you two."

He stops pacing and turns to look at Mama Pearl. John's willing to tell her somethings about them but not much. He proceeds to the proffered chair and takes a seat. Before he even gets started the snick of the rings holding the curtain on the bar across the door to the back draws his attention to Jenelle who has just entered from behind the curtains. She turns and sticks her face back through the opening in the curtains and whispers, "No Joss go back. I want to present you to John."

They could hear Joss's muffled voice protesting from behind the curtain. "Jenelle! You better hurry up I'm already late."

Jenelle closes the curtain and clears her throat. "Ahem. I'd like to present to you the incomparable, the inimitable and the most exquisite Ms. Jocelyn Carter." With a flourish and a fanfare Jenelle sweeps the curtains aside and Joss steps into the front room.

John wasn't the only one whose nerves had been on overdrive since Joss had finally realized that they were going on a real date. She was going to have to thank Finch for the tickets and the seat at the Princes table. Their first real date. That mantra had been running through her head all the while Jenelle was working on her. She knew this date was important to John because of all the arrangements he had to make for this one night.

He had packed everything she would need including her wedding rings. She usually didn't wear them because she was afraid they would blind people. Not really, but she knew that they would catch someone's attention and then the questions would start. Questions she couldn't or wasn't ready to answer. She loved her rings but was sure John had spent too much on them. He wouldn't tell her how much he paid for them. But when John asked why she rarely wore them she told him it was because she didn't want to damage them at work. So he brought her a small wedding band for, as he put it when he gave her the little blue velvet box, every day wear and tear. The ring he presented her on their wedding day for the right hand and the other for the left that way if she lost one she'd still have the other. He understood why she wasn't ready for the world to know about him yet.

With Mama Pearl's admonition to, "Show that man and the world that you love him and you're proud to be his every chance you get." ringing in her ears, Joss calmed the butterflies that had suddenly come to live in her stomach and walked through the curtain to start her first real date with her husband.

For the last time that night the shop is plunged into silence. As soon as Joss had emerged from behind the curtain John had sprung to his feet. He had stopped breathing at the first sight of Joss and now the long and deep sight that he expels breaks the silence of the room. The once over he gives Joss is gentle, loving and full of admiration. The structured up do in the back with the soft raised front of her hair shows off her lovely cheeks and accents her beautiful big brown eyes. The white form fitting dress with black lace appliques around the off the shoulders neck line and around the hem and short train of the dress compliments her in all the right spots and he is amazed that this woman, his best friend, his wife could be any more beautiful then she already was every day.

With no hair around her face and neck the chandelier earrings draw his eyes and they feast on her alluring neck. Her bare shoulders make his fingers twitch from wanting to touch her smooth, soft skin. She gently holds the bejeweled black clutch in her relaxed right hand. But what put the smile on his face was what was on her left hand as it caught and reflected the light. He had grabbed the box secretly hoping she would wear them this night for all at the gala to see. Right now, he was a happy man for that sparkle from her left hand meant she had opened the box he'd grabbed in haste and had chosen to wear her wedding and engagement rings.

Joss' eyes found John's and searched his gaze for his approval. She was afraid he might not like her look but from his tear limed eyes and the long sigh he blew out she knew she had hit it out of the park. John seemed to be glued to the floor for a moment then he moves slowly over to stand in front of Joss. He still seems to be speechless but he lets out a long low rumble from deep in his chest, raises his left hand and feather light, caresses Joss' cheek, pulls her close, flush to his body, leans down and captures her lips in a soft, light, sweet but lingering kiss. When they break the kiss Joss looks deep into John's eyes, reaches up and caresses his cheek. John leans into her hand, covers it with his own, closes his eyes and savors her touch, her love and once again they are the only people in the room. Joss lovingly watches John with misty eyes, smiles and listens as he opens his eyes and seems to be clearing his throat for the third time before he finally finds his voice.

"Joss, your hair is lovely." A long somewhat exasperated sigh escapes John. "I truly don't understand how you can be more breath taking then you are every day. But tonight….. I look at you, I see you and I don't know why someone like you, you're still here, still in my life. You make me, me…." As John loses, his words the tears that Joss has been holding at bay gently spill over her cheeks. John brushes them from her eyes and wipes her cheeks with his slightly trembling hand, leans down and with the passion he can't seem to express in words claims her lips again.

"Well hot damn Child!" Mama Pearl exclaims after the kiss doesn't seem to be stopping. And with that their spell is broken. They are flung back into the front room of the beauty shop – with an audience that is now laughing and awing at them.

Jenelle starts tut, tutting at John and shoeing him away from Joss.

"John you gotta' stop that. That's the second time in less than 2 hours you've brought tears to her eyes."

She makes a space between them and takes Joss' jaw in hand, moves her head side to side while examining Joss' face. Unhappy with what she sees there she gives John the stink eye.

"Look what you did to her makeup. Now I gotta fix her face." Shaking a finger in his face Jenelle upbraids John.

"If you wanna' go to this gala at all tonight, stop making her cry. Come on girl. Back to the back with you." As she ushers Joss to the back makeup station Janelle throws a serious side eye at John. Walking Joss through the curtain to the back of the shop Jenelle grouses over her shoulder to John as her voice fades away.

"She'll be ready in 5 minutes unless you got a mariachi band out there waitin' to serenade her or something else bawl worthy. Then she'll just start the waterworks again and you'll never get outta here."

Vicky has finished cleaning up her station and bids everyone in ear shot goodnight. The bell tinkles to express her exit and quiets. John hasn't stopped looking through the curtains to the back of the shop where Joss disappeared with Jenelle.

Mama Pearl's soft chuckle brings him back to his surroundings and he turns to face her.

"You got it bad boy."

John grins and chuckles his self. "Yes ma'am I do. And I'm glad there's no cure."

"Come on over here son and give me a hand up. Been sittin' too long and these old bones don't wanna' move right."

John walks over and helps her stand. It takes a bit but Mama Pearl gains her feet and starts to gather her stuff.

"I'mma' head on home now son. I gotta' cat that's not too happy with me right now 'cause I been gone to long and a dog whose back teeth are flotin' for the same reason."

She looks at John and smiles so gently and lovingly that he unconsciously returns it.

"It's been a pleasure meeting you son. Jocelyn has needed someone in her life for a long time now. Someone she can trust, love and who can love her back like she deserves. I'm glad to see that she finally found you. Now, give me a hug and make an old lady happy for a little while."

She grabs him and holds him in a surprisingly strong embrace. As they pull away from each other, John takes her hand and smiles.

"It's been a pleasure meeting you Mrs. Friedberg. I don't think I will ever be able to love Joss like she truly deserves but I'll keep trying my best to do so till my last dying breath. If you ever need anything just let Joss know and we'll take care of it for you."

He then leans in close to Mama Pearl and whispers, "And I already got my edgumacation about Joss' hair. I love her hair any way she wants to wear it. Natural, curly, straight, just not bald. But if she chose to wear bald I know I'd be fine with that too."

Mama Pearl is frowning at him. "But when you came in the shop you seemed surprised and asked about her hair."

"That's because one, I've never seen her with her natural hair before." John smirks as he's talking, "Because try as I might, she won't let me get it wet. And believe me I've tried. And two, I was late and time was flying by so I was expecting her to be almost finished at that point not just barely getting started.

With a slight tilt of her head Mama Pearl questions John. "You like to get her riled up by tryin' to get her hair wet?" John continues to smirk and then Mama Pearl laughs out loud seeing the twinkle in his eye. "Oh you sneaky boy. You like to get her all heated up then you can spend time cooling her down."

John dips his head and chuckles. "Speaking of time," as he looks at his watch. "I would like Joss to enjoy as much of the gala as possible. Which means we need to hit the road in about 2 mins."

"You mean you need to fly in about 2 minutes." And she cackles at her own joke as John shakes his head and scoffs.

Joss and Jenelle are on their way back from the back room where Jenelle has 'put her face back on' to Joss' satisfaction. Jenelle made her promise no more tears until the gala was over then she could cry her a river.

As they reemerge through the curtains Joss sees John smiling at Mama Pearl talking quietly with her and holding her hand. As soon as he hears her though he straightens up and walks over to Joss. He picks up the garment bag and removes a black cashmere coat with ¾ raglan sleeves that he helps Joss put on. She removes the black fur lined kid skin gloves from one of the coat's pockets and puts them on then picks up her clutch. She looks to John to let him know she's ready and sees him watching her intently. He reaches over to her waist and pulls her a little closer, then he pulls the belt a little tighter that's holding her coat closed. He stills and smiles. He looks deep in Joss' eyes and just smiles a full on happy, beatific, contented smile.

The light and love she sees in his beautiful blue eyes brings a smile in kind to Joss' lips. She coyly lowers her eyes and lightly pushes on his chest. "John, stop. I promised Jenelle I wouldn't cry any more until the gala is over. Come on we need to go."

As Joss excitedly moves toward the door John picks up his own black coat and white scarf and puts them on. Before he turns to catch up with Joss he thanks Jenelle for how she takes care of Joss and especially complements her on her work of tonight.

"Well John, I am a professional and obviously very good at what I do."

John smiles and nods his head in agreement with her and turns to catch Joss at the door so he can open it for her. As Joss is waiting John leans over and gives Mama Pearl another hug, and squeezes her hand. He opens the door and the bell laughs as they exit the shop for a wonderful evening together on their first real date.


Epilogue

Jenelle walks into the front of the shop after cleaning and closing the back. She comes through the curtains and sees Mama Pearl standing at the door of the closed shop.

"Mama P, you still here? Do you need me to walk you home?"

"Oh no baby. You know I just live three doors down. And I don't wanna' be any trouble."

"Mama P you know I love walking with you. Come on. Let me turn the lights off and we'll go."

Janelle hustles around turning off the last few things, helps Mama Pearl outside then locks the front door. It's gotten a little icy out since the sun set so Jenelle has the older woman take her arm to steady her steps. Three doors away doesn't give Jenelle much time to dish about what happened in the shop that day and about what was up with Joss and her new drool worthy guy. But she did tell Mama Pearl how happy she was for Joss because John seemed to be the one for her.

With a small sigh Mama Pearl. starts to climb her steps. It looks like someone has salted them so Jenelle is not too worried that Mama Pearl can't make it up them safely. But she will walk up them to the front door with her anyway…just in case. After waiting on the stoop for the old women to open her door Jenelle helps Mama Pearl inside her vestibule and turns to leave. A strong hand grips her arm and she turns to see what Mama Pearl wants.

"Thank you for walking with me tonight baby. And I agree with you that John seems like he's the one for Joss and I'm happy for her too. She deserves some happiness in her life. Hold on a minute before you go though. I got something for you." Mama Pearl then disappears into the darkness of her home.

Jenelle was curious about what it could be and hoped it was something to eat. Right then her stomach let her know it was in complete agreement with that hope seeing as she had not fed it since breakfast. Since she didn't think it would take long she stayed on the stoop and shortly heard Mama Pearl's footsteps returning.

"With it being such a crazy day and you short an operator I know you didn't get to eat. I got some greens and hot water cornbread here. Take it home and enjoy."

Jenelle's stomach thanked Mama Pearl almost as loudly as Jenelle did for the very welcomed food. As she turned to leave Mama Pearl stops her again.

"Hold on child I'm not done yet." She reaches into the pocket of the over coat she is still wearing and pulls out a wad of bills and sticks them out for Jenelle to take.

"This is from John. He said it's a little something for the wonderful way you take care of Joss and for the spectacular job you did today."

Jenelle reaches out and takes the cash. Her mouth flies open as she realizes that the bills are all hundreds and that it's at least $1000.00. With her mouth hanging open she looks at Mama P. in shock and protests.

"I, I, I can't take this. This is way too much for what I did today."

"Oh honey, let me explain. John said that's for, wait what's today? Oh, yeah Thursday." Mama Pearl turns to reenter her home as Jenelle seems to be stuck to the spot gapping at the money in her hand. "He said that's your tip for today and for when she comes in this Saturday, next Monday, probably next Friday, Saturday and any time in between."

Jenelle snaps out of it when she hears the old woman laughing. "And John said to tell you to expect to see Joss a lot in the future because…", through the peals of laughter and the closing door, as she turns to go into her house, Mama Pearl delivers the last part of John's message.

" he's very good at what he does too."


Finis-;-)

A/N: About the dress Joss wore. It took me a while to pick it. I was certain that's the one...until I saw her in that black number she wore this past week on the red carpet. I almost changed the dress, almost. Maybe I'll have her wear it that one in another story :-)

Thank you all for the reviews. Your comments helped me frame and write this story.