Antoinnette watched with a subtle smile as Jasmine and Nelson left the salon to escort the newly recruited Tess to her job at the Irish Tea Shop. While dialing the McAllisters’ number, she reminded her team to use the quiet morning to prepare, tidying stations, restocking supplies, and ensuring every detail was polished for when customers arrived.
Antoinette: “It’s still early, and I have a few calls to make in my office, so let’s make certain we’re fully set for the day ahead.”
Mindy: “I will be busy soon enough, as I have a client scheduled to come in at any moment for a 60 minute Massage and Brazilian waxing…. Oh! … Speaking of which, she is coming in the door now.”
Customer: “Morning all. I have a 10 o’clock appointment with Mindy.”
Mindy: Smiling with an excited expression, “That would be me. Good morning. I will have you step into my ‘office’ and we will get you going straight away.”
Customer: “Thank you so much. I’ve been really looking forward to this.”
With Antoinnette and Mindy occupied for the time being, Oleg, Dio, and Renata were left to themselves, as they were pretty much ready. Oleg snapped open a magazine, while Dio proceeded to start a video chat with his fiancé. Renata, intrigued by Oleg’s reading choice, hovered nearby. After a moment, she fluffed her hair, edged closer, and finally perched her chin on his shoulder, attempting to spark a conversation.
Renata: “Watcha read’n Oleg?”
Oleg: “Uh.. Oh. Nothing serious. It’s just a men’s fashion catalogue.”
Renata: With a sligh giggle, “I was wondering why you had a magazine with good looking dudes in it.”
Dio: Overhearing “Good looking dudes? … I think I will join this conversation.”
Oleg: “Ok.. Ok… Try and control yourself Dio. I thought you had a video chat to attend to?”
Dio: “Carlos didn’t answer me, so I will speak to him later.” With curiosity in his voice, “So… What’s this about… hombres atractivos?”
Oleg: “Umm… Renata are you comfortable?”
Renata: “Oh yes! Quite.” As she still had her chin on his shoulder.
Oleg: “If you two must know. For many years now, I have had a dream to open my own barbershop and men’s fashion boutique one day. This magazine I am 
reading is actually a wholesaler called Salatore Swag. I read up on the their latest trends to stay in the know.”
Renata: “That sounds like an incredible dream. I’m sure that one day to you will achieve it.”
Dio: With a comical and joking tone to his voice, “If you ever get there, I might have to hit you up on a franchise opportunity.”
Oleg: “Why is that? You have a dream too señor?”
Dio: “¡Sí! … Actually, I do. My fiancé Carlos has space at El Conquistador back home where I could open my own salon. Maybe someday you could offer a few tips if I decide to branch into fashion.”
Oleg: “It might take some time – I’m not quite where I’d hoped to be. My mentor Frank, from Frank’s Barbershop, retired before I could save enough to make it happen, but I’m still holding onto the dream for someday.”
Dio: “I get it. I also need to save and get more experience before I can go home and live my dream.”
Oleg: “I do hope you get there one day. …Handshake?”
Dio: “You too señor… Hug?”
Renata: “Good grief you too!” She continues with a slight laugh. “Can’t you just do a fist bump?”
Dio/Oleg: Looking at each other.. “Fine!”
Dio: “So Señorita. What is your dream?”
Oleg: “Yes, Renata.” With a playful tone in his voice, and not really objecting to the attention, “While you give my shoulder a break, let’s here it.”
Renata: “Oh wow! I… Well… I… Well, here it is. I really want to go home, to the Bahamas. After my dad retired from his veterinary practice, he decided to return to our hometown, bringing my younger sister along. We’d parted on rather bad terms, and in the years since, our conversations have been very few and far between. One day, I hope to bridge that distance and mend things with him.”
With a satisfied and professional smile on her face, Antoinnette emerges from her office.
Antoinnette: “Everyone, the McAllisters were thrilled to have Tess join us. Now, it feels like our team is whole.”
Renata: “That’s excellent news, Miss A.”
Oleg: “Yes, quite.”
Dio: “Eso es fantástico!”
Unaware of their approach, the team’s focus dissolved the moment the salon door opened. There stood Jasmine and Nelson, arms stacked with tea trays.
Jasmine: “Hey everyone! We’re back with the tea. Did we miss anything?”
