I check myself one more time in Heaven’s bedroom mirror. It took us a few hours, but we are sufficiently made over. I turn and look at Heaven sitting on the edge of her bed. She’s looking at me with the funniest scowl on her face.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I laugh.
“I’m not looking at you like anything. I want out of this,” she says, her frown growing deeper. I snort and walk over to the bed.
“I have the perfect nickname for you,” I say.
“What? Fashion victim?”
“No, stop.” I laugh. “I’m calling you Cutie ’cause you look so freaking cute when you make that face.”
She makes a grumbling noise then stands up. “You ready?”
“Yeah, let’s do it.” I have to stop myself from kissing her again. I’m wearing a ton of makeup and no setting spray for starters, and then there’s the small issue of just how scrambled my head is. I keep thinking about Rhys and the boys before him. I’m shocked that I didn’t realize I was gay sooner. I’m a little sad that I sat through all thoserelationships being so unhappy because I thought it was what I was supposed to do.
I feel so different with Heaven. I never want to stop touching her or kissing her. It feels amazing, but sometimes a good thing can be a lot to process. I follow her back down to the second floor. She stops at the next set of steps and yells down into the kitchen.
“Are you ready?!”
“We’re ready. Come on down,” I hear Dr.G say. She and Dr.Campbell arrived while we were still mid process, but we forced them to wait downstairs until we were ready for the final reveal. Heaven all but stomps down into the kitchen and I’m right behind her trying not to laugh. The looks on their faces when they see us are absolutely priceless. I start my little presentation.
“Doctor. Doctor. We give you, a makeover. Heaven is wearing a floral maxi dress and white canvas sneakers from Old Navy,” I say.
“And I’m returning all of it,” Heaven adds.
“Turn around.” She grunts, but she does a little twirl. “We decided on a wash-and-go, styled half-up, half-down, and accented with this lovely white bow. For the face, we went with light mascara, just a hint of sun-kissed blush, and a clear lip gloss. Keeping it light. Keeping it fresh.”
“Very nice,” Dr.Campbell says, offering a polite little clap. “Heaven, how do you feel?”
Heaven spins back around and I almost die at the look on her face, like she’s winding up for one hell of a tantrum.
“I look like I get on the internet and lie about being a trad wife,” she says.
“Heaven!” Dr.G gawks while Dr.Campbell busts out laughing.
“It is giving sister-wife realness, but you look very nice,” he says. “Okay, you gotta walk us through Saylor’s very drastic change.”
It’s my turn to pose, so I point a hip out. Heaven clears her throat then turns and looks at me.
“Basically, we cleaned out the Vans store in the mall. Baggy black Vans tee with a classic ‘Off the Wall’ logo, Vans curbside relaxed chinos—what was the color?” she asks me.
“Otter,” I say with a nod. “But, like, definitely khaki.”
“And we finished the look with the classic black-and-white-checkered slides. Oh, and soft matte lipstick in the shade Copenhagen, and Very Black eyeliner. Really makes the hazel in her eyes pop.” I feel myself blushing and stop myself from kissing Heaven on her cheek.
“Very nice,” Dr.G says. “So, walk me through what we did with the hair. And please tell me Mrs.Ford knows you dyed it. That’s dye, right? Not that rinse-out wax?”
“It’s dye and she doesn’t know,” I confess. “But it was all my idea.” My hair is a deep burgundy and I absolutely love it. I asked Heaven to slick it back in her signature side part/bun combo, and I am now silently suffering because my hair is so tight. No wonder she’s so grumpy all the time. I have no idea how she lives like this.
“Is there dye all over your bathroom?” Dr.G asks with a wince.
“Nope,” Heaven says confidently. She was very careful.
“Okay, I can live with that. Warren, I think this is another box checked off the bingo card.”
“I think you are correct. Ladies, I appreciate your continued dedication to the challenge.” Dr.Campbell comes around the island and gives us both a firm handshake, and I have to admit, summer projects where I feel like I get an A on every assignment are kind of my jam.
“Let’s get a few pictures and then I’ll drive Saylor home,” Dr.G says. “Heaven, you’re coming with us because I need Cristine to see both of you, live and in color.”