LOVE IN THE BAKING

PEACOCK FEATHERS

"Goodness gracious. Is it my lucky day?"

"Hello, Adele."

"Hello, Callum; how have you been?" Adele greeted Callum like an old friend, bursting the pressure bubble growling in the man's stomach.

Callum sketched a furtive smile, "Good, and you?"

"Great, still single, still mingling. How about you?"

"I've," callum, slid a hand in his hair. "I've met someone."

"Oh, that's great," Adele said, but callum could read deception in her gaze. He knew going to her salon was double or nothing take in the misinterpretation box. He regretted not calling beforehand and booking like a regular customer.

"I bet you want to make yourself as pretty as a daisy for her," Adele teased.

"You guessed it; I thought you could help me. You said I could pop by," Callum reminded her.

"Of course, Fabrizo will take care of you after his appointment. In the meantime, would you like a Hydrafacial?"

"A hydro-what?" Callum asked.

Adele's eyes lit up as she explained, "It's a skincare session. That cleanses your skin profoundly. I just got my certificate."

"I'm not sure." Callum hesitated. He wasn't one for beauty parlors or esthetics. For Callum, having a good wash was essential; anything else was superfluous.

"Come on, Callum; you'll look ten years younger," the woman said, dragging Callum to the back of the salon.

"Sit here," Adele ordered.

Callum did as asked, and Adele leaned back in the chair. She cleaned his face with a few pads and then turned on a facial steamer that released vapors.

"You've got to take care of your skin, too, you know. This treatment does wonders. I wish I had known about it a few years ago." Adele looked down at him, "Relax, Callum," she said, covering his eyes with cooling pads.

The man had little to say. He let Adele proceed with what sounded and felt like a facial vacuum.

"So, where did you find this lucky lady?" Adele was curious. She wanted to know what type of woman could interest Callum and what this woman had that she didn't.

Callum reflected for a second. He couldn't say Thandie was an Oppo match. Yet again, he couldn't tell she wasn't and didn't see himself saying, "Well, she's my neighbor. I've liked her for quite a long time. I was hoping her husband would hit the bucket or they'd divorce."

No, he couldn't say that because it wasn't true. He never wished for Thandie to suffer through a divorce or any form of grief. He just happened to get lucky.

"We met on Oppo."

"Lucky you. I've given up. It's too much energy, endless talks, and dates. It's just too long and expensive. Look at youㅡyou're doing this and getting a haircut. You'll probably buy an outfit. Imagine if you did it every single time without forgetting the activity for the date. Oppo could at least give vouchers for restaurants or cinemas."

Callum thought it wouldn't be a dating app but a government-funded dating service in that case. At the same time, the man couldn't contradict Adele. Depending on who one dated, it could be an expensive venture.

Callum felt lucky to have had a limited number of outings. He already had the clothes; all he needed was a fresh haircut.

The man wished he could say something to cheer Adele up, but he didn't see what he could say.