The Hairdresser Diaries (28 page)

Jessie fell opening the door and I laughed so hard I almost peed myself. Kelly ran for the bathroom she had to pee so badly.

Inside the room, we heard a loud thump in the bathroom and ran to see what happened. I opened the door to see Kelly sitting on the floor by the toilet. “What happened?” I asked.

“I fell off,” she said. The three of us fell to the floor laughing. “It’s not funny you guys, help me up before I pee on the floor.”

We helped her up and then left her to her own defenses. I struggled to get my top off. It took so much work I decided to just leave everything else on and sleep like that.

Cole had snuck in the room sometime around noon. I didn’t know, Peyton told me. She said he saw me passed out face down on the bed wearing only a bra and my skirt and I still had the purple wig on. He was afraid to ask and didn’t want to wake me. He handed Peyton an envelope to give me when I woke up.

I finally got up around one-thirty and asked the girls what happened to my shirt. None of them knew. I shrugged and sat down at the table by the window. The girls scanned through the pictures to help them remember what they forgot from last night.

“Here,” Peyton said handing me an envelope. “Cole dropped this off.”

“When?” I asked.

“A little over an hour ago.”

“Why didn’t he come in?”

“He did and saw you and said he didn’t want to wake you.”

“Oh god, I can’t imagine what he was thinking.”

“He just laughed and told me to give that to you when you got up.”

“What is it?” Jessie asked. I shrugged and opened it. Inside there was a note and a puzzle piece. I read the note to myself before I read it out loud.

“It’s not a ‘Dear John’ letter is it?” Peyton asked.

I rolled my eyes. “Wouldn’t it technically be a ‘Dear Jane’ letter?” Jessie said.

“It’s neither assholes.”

“What does it say?” Kelly asked.

I began to read it aloud. “It says,

“I thought I’d surprise you and send you on a treasure hunt. Inside is a puzzle piece with a clue on where to find the next one.

There are nine clues all together. Once you find them all, follow the directions to complete the puzzle. Don’t put it together until you have all the pieces.

Love Cole.”

“Oh my god, that is so sweet,” Kelly gushed.

“I wonder what the treasure will be,” Jessie asked.

“Maybe it’s a ring!” Peyton said excited.

“Shut up,” I told her.

“What’s the first clue?”

I looked at the puzzle piece and read it out loud. “Pull me hard, wait and see, triple cherry, shout with glee.”

“Sounds dirty,” Peyton said wiggling her eyebrows.

I ignored her and read it over again trying to figure it out. “It’s a slot machine,” I said.

“There are millions of them, how do you know which one.”

“They’re all different. You just have to find the ones that you need three cherries to win.”

“Come on let’s go,” Peyton yelled pulling me off the chair.

“Hold on, I’m not dressed and we have the spa thing today with Kristi.”

“They left over an hour ago. They said we could do what we want and just meet up with them for dinner,” Kelly said.

“Come on then.” Peyton yanked me again.

“I still need a shower.”

“You can shower later.”

“Will you at least let me put some clean clothes on?” I asked.

“I guess,” she sighed plopping down on the bed.

We all got dressed and went downstairs to find the next clue. We split up and walked up and down looking for any slot machine that had three cherries.

“I found it!” Peyton screamed from two rows over. All the casino guests turned and looked at her. We hurried over to where she was and I opened the next clue.

Underneath where the palm trees sway

You’ll find me buried behind the clay

We all looked at each other trying to figure out the clue.

“There are palm trees at the pool,” Kelly suggested.

We headed there next. “What’s the next part of the clue?” they asked.

“You’ll find me buried behind the clay. Whats made of clay? A statue?” I recited while thinking out loud.

“Over there!” Jessie pointed to a gray statue of a cherub in front of a palm tree. I looked behind the statue.

“I don’t see anything,” Peyton said.

“It said ‘buried’ remember.” I brushed away some of the dirt and saw some white sticking out. I pulled at it, but it was in too deep so I dug it out and it was the next clue.

I opened it up.

If you follow my direction

You’ll move with great perfection

To the place of sparkly lights with reflection

“Sparkly lights with reflection? Sounds like a disco ball,” I said.

“Do any of the clubs in the hotel have a disco ball in them?” Jessie asked.

“You’re asking me?” I raised my eyebrows at her. “How about we ask the bartender over there?”

We walked over to the bar and asked the bartender if any of the clubs in the hotel had a disco ball in them. He said there was one on the second floor in the Moonlight Lounge.

We headed back into the hotel and got in the elevator. “This is so exciting,” Peyton babbled. We found the club and looked around wondering where it could be.

“Move with great perfection,” I said to myself. Then I blurted out, “The dance floor.”

“Look,” Kelly said pointing to a white envelope taped down in the middle of the dance floor. “The next clue.”

Stand in line

Don’t fall behind

Pick up your feet

To the steady beat

“Stand in line, don’t fall behind,” I repeated.

“A chorus line! Where do they have the shows at?”

We found a directory outside the club listing all the shows that were performing this weekend. It was down the hall. We managed to slip inside while they were still prepping for the show and, looking around, we wondered where it could be.

“Maybe one of the dancers?” Kelly suggested. I walked up to the dancers who were practicing on stage and asked them if they have seen a white envelope.

The one girl smiled and walked off stage and came back with it. “You’re a very lucky girl,” she said. I smiled and thanked her.

Inside was a key along with the next clue.

1, 2, 3

I’m like a tree

Branches stretched far out wide

In a place I cannot hide

I hold the key to the lock

Must get to me before five o’clock

“Something that maybe closes at five?” Jessie said.

What the hell in Vegas closes, and at five?

Key to a lock, branches stretch far out wide?

“I think Branches mean there’s more than one.”

“That helps,” I mumbled in a sarcastic tone.

“Branches more than one, key, closes at five.” I thought over and over to myself.

“Why don’t we go out on the strip and maybe something will hit us,” Jessie suggested. We followed her out and walked up and down the strip.

“Cannot hide, so it’s in plain sight and there’s more than one,” I said, thinking out loud.

“I got it!” Kelly shouted. “It’s a bank.”

“How do you figure?”

“Closes at five, branches, bank branches. Key, lock, safety deposit box.”

“Good job Kelly,” I patted her on the back. “But which one?”

“Hide. Cannot hide. Look over there at the sign.” Peyton pointed across the street. There was a sign above the bank. It read: Cannot hide these great prices. We ran across the street and into the bank. It was almost five o’clock.

“Okay now what?” Jessie asked.

“123, the number of the deposit box.”

“Where?”

“Let’s ask.” I walked over to a teller behind a desk and told him I was to retrieve something from box number ‘123’.

He smiled at me and said, “You must be Tatum.” I wasn’t surprised at all he knew who I was. He walked into the back room and retrieved a metal box with the number 123 on it. I handed him the key and he opened it up and handed me the envelope. I smiled and said thank you and read the next clue.

Hip hop, bop, and rock

Different times on the clock

Have a seat

And enjoy a treat

“Different times on a clock, a clock store?” Kelly scratched her head.

“No, it doesn’t match have a seat and enjoy a treat,” I said.

“I think that part means a restaurant,” Jessie said.

“A restaurant where different times are on the clock, hip hop…Hard Rock Café! They have clocks set from all around the world.”

We hurried over to the Hard Rock Café. We had a seat at the bar figuring this was the treat he was talking about. It would be if he really knew me and he did. The bartender handed me an envelope.

I prefer the peace and quiet

So let’s not start a riot

Keep this between you and me

And have a cup of tea.

The next one we knew had to be back at the hotel. We finished our drinks at the Hard Rock and walked back. We ran into Kristi and the girls on our way in.

“How was the spa?” I asked.

“Great, you guys must go. What have you been doing all day?”

“Cole sent me on a treasure hunt. Each clue I find is a puzzle piece that I have to put together at the end.”

“That is so sweet. I wish nick would do something like that for me.”

“Maybe spending the weekend with Cole will rub off on him a little,” I suggested.

“I wish. Really, when you guys are done you should head over to the spa. They have this wonderful meditation room, that’s private, and they serve you tea and…”

“That’s it!” Peyton shouted cutting Kristi off. “The meditation room!”

“Well I guess we will be going there after all,” I said.

Kristi and the other girls said goodbye and I told them we’d see them at dinner.

Our next destination: The Spa.

They only let one person in the meditation room at a time. So I went in and looked around and underneath a bench was the envelope.

At half past ten

Go around the bend

Open the door

To room 204

Inside was a key to room 204. I didn’t need the girls to figure this one out. I came out and told the girls this was the last one.

“You have all nine?” Peyton asked.

I counted them up, confused, and said, “No, this is only eight.”

“What does that one say?” I showed them the puzzle piece.

“The last piece is probably in the room let’s go.”

“Wait! It says at half past ten and I believe the last piece I get on my own.”

Peyton frowned.

“How about since we’re here and I can’t get the last clue till ten-thirty, let’s enjoy some pampering.”

They nodded in agreement and the first thing we did was get massages. Then we all got manicures and pedicures. It was definitely nice to have someone else do my nails and toes for once.

After two hours at the spa we headed back to our room to get ready for dinner. It was already getting late and we were supposed to meet the girls for dinner in twenty minutes. I did a real quick shower and only half dried my hair. We were about fifteen minutes late, but the girls were still waiting for a table.

Shortly after our arrival we were seated. We sat down and ordered and tried to remember some of last night. I told Kristi not to worry; we had plenty of pictures to remind ourselves. She bowed her head with slight embarrassment.

We all enjoyed a lovely dinner and by the end everyone split off into their separate ways. Some girls went to gamble, some sightseeing, and others went to bed having had enough excitement for one weekend. I went back to my room to change, fix my hair, and pick up the puzzle pieces and room key. I only had enough time to run my fingers through my hair and change.

I grabbed the puzzle pieces and key and walked down the hall to room 204.

I opened the door and stepped into a dimly lit room. The only light was from candles that were lit up on the balcony. I looked around the room as I slowly made my way to the balcony. The room was huge, with a king size bed, fire place, kitchen, and a bathroom with a tub big enough to fit four people. I took everything in, amazed at how beautiful this room was.

When I got to the balcony the last envelope was on the table. I sat down on the love seat and opened it up.

Once the puzzle’s complete

Peel off the paper sheet

Look to the fire

And there you’ll find your true heart’s desire

I pulled all the pieces out of my bag and started to put them together. Each piece had a design of a different flower on it and in the middle, the biggest piece of all, had a heart with an arrow through it. I stared at the puzzle for a moment then remembered the last piece said peel off the paper sheet. The middle piece had the one corner slightly sticking up. I picked at it and it peeled off and underneath it said:

Will you marry me?

I gasped and covered my mouth with my hands. Through the curtains I saw an orange light glowing in the room. I took a moment to collect myself and stepped back into the room where Cole was now standing by the fireplace. I walked slowly over to Cole as he played with a little black box on the mantle , his back turned to me. I put my hand on his shoulder and he turned around as a tear escaped from the corner of my eye. He bowed his head looking defeated.

I reached up and touched his face forcing him to look at me. “Yes,” I said.

His eyes opened wide with surprise. “Yes?” he questioned.

“Yes,” I repeated nodding my head and smiling. He lifted me and spun me around cheering.

“What, you thought I’d say no?”

“With you Tatum, anything is possible.” I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hit him or kiss him. “That’s why I love you so much, you keep me on my toes.”

Definitely kiss.

He pulled me over to the couch and sat down and handed me the ring box.

“I was going to do the whole traditional down on one knee, but you’re very untraditional and special and someone like you deserves something original.” I kissed him again before I opened the box. He was right. If he did the whole one knee thing I probably would have been like, please get up. Not one for doing things ‘the right way.’