Chapter 28 - Part 2

                                    

                                          
"It's beautiful." Jessica's hand touched her newly cut hair as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Gina's face held a wide smile.
"You are beautiful," Gina corrected.
Normally she would have disagreed, but this time she actually felt it. When she had decided to take Gina up on the offer to do her hair, she had never believed it would have such a dramatic effect on her.
Gina had added some foils with a lighter brown and cut her hair to shoulder length, taking off some of the weight. She ran her hand through her hair. It felt so much lighter than it had before and was so silky soft she couldn't stop touching it.
"This is all you," she murmured, still getting used to the slightly different reflection of herself staring back.
"And that's what makes you more beautiful." Gina shook her head slightly.
"What?"
"You don't see it." 
Her words made her feel warm inside. "Thank you for this. You don't know how much I needed it."
"You're very welcome."
From the time she left the salon she felt lighter than she had in ages. She was still smiling from ear to ear when she went to pick up Charlie to view the apartment she was interested in again.
The first time she had viewed it she had loved it, but she wanted to take Charlie with her to check it out to make sure there wasn't something she missed before she signed the lease.
He was waiting outside the house when she arrived. He got in the passenger side and looked a little stunned when she waited for his reaction to her hair.
"Wow." His eyes lingered on her.
"Not too dramatic?" 
He shook his head. "It suits you."
Slowly, she was building up her confidence in herself and in her choices. 
When she pushed the gas and they began their way to the apartment, Charlie began with all the reasons she shouldn't move.
"Why incur the extra cost when you don't have to?" he questioned.
She sighed. "I need my independence."
He clamped his mouth shut and stared out the window. She knew he was annoyed he couldn't sway her to agree with him.
"I want to take you to the apartment to make sure there isn't something I missed. I'm not asking you for your permission, Charlie."
His frown deepened when she pulled up in front of the apartment block. It was face brick, and not very attractive from the outside.
"This isn't the best area, Jess," he said, getting out of the car.
She rolled her eyes. "No apartment is going to measure up, is it?"
"Show me, then," he relented.
She was excited when the agent opened the door to the apartment. It was clean, with white, painted walls: an open canvas for her to decorate however she wanted. This would be hers. She wouldn't have to ask anyone for their approval or opinion.
Charlie followed behind her. His expression was difficult to read but she couldn't wipe the smile off her own face. She could see so much potential she wanted to move in straight away.
Charlie remained quiet as he moved from the small living room to the tiny kitchen that, despite its size, had everything she needed. The bathroom only had a shower and the sole bedroom was big enough only for a double bed, but she didn't mind.