Breath Of Life

“Oh yeah. As my friend Ollie says, I make monsters.”

“That’s cool and creepy at the same time,” Summer drawls from the chair where I’m adding a base to her chocolaty skin.

I laugh. “Yeah, I get that a lot.”

“So you work a lot on movie sets?” Abby asks. The tall blonde it the next in cue.

“As much as I can. I want to break into movies one day, but until then I have to pay the bills. I’m lucky to get to do what I love, so I’ve no complaints.”

“Have you met a lot of actors?” Amanda asks.

“I have, mostly up and comers.”

The topic shifts to me and I answer their questions as I apply foundation and set it with translucent powder, or bake as some like to call the process.

“It must make dating hard. All the traveling and odd work hours,” Amanda observes as she gets in the chair.

“It does, but you can make it work. My best friend is a makeup artist, too, and she and her husband are madly in love. It’s kind of sickening, but she deserves it.”

Amanda laughs. “What about you?”

“Me?”

“Yes, Ms. Gore Ambassador. Is there someone special in your life?” Amanda asks.

It’s the same question every bride asks me. When you’re in love, you think the rest of the world should be, too. The reality is, some of us never find the one. My mind flashes to Ollie—the only man I’ve been around recently.

“Nope. I haven’t found that one yet. But I’m hopeful.”

“Oh, your story has to be as interesting as you are. I bet you met him on a set,” Brittany says dreamily.

Their optimism amuses me. After the last month I had, I do not feel like the glass is half full.

“You never know. Look up for me,” I say as I line her bright eyes with a pencil.

The girls are a breath of fresh air, and I’m kind of sad to say good-bye when I finish the final stroke of my brush on Amanda’s lips.

“Perfection, darling,” I say as I hand her a large mirror.

“Oh my God.” She places a hand on her chest. “I cannot believe that is me.”

“I just helped what was inside come out a little more.” I give her a wink.

She turns her head slowly to the left and right, adjusting the mirror to take it all in. My heart swells with pride. I love helping someone see the beauty inside of them they’ve overlooked. I don’t think people need makeup, but I believe accentuating our best features

can change the way we feel about ourselves. And who doesn’t like to play dress up every now and then? Besides, we all need a boost and a pick me up from time to time. There are days I don’t think I could go outside without frightening folks if it wasn’t for concealer.

“This is a twenty-four-hour non-smudge. You won’t need to apply anymore or worry about it transferring to anything, okay?”

She nods and I reach in my bag, removing an unopened box with a tiny bow. “That being said, I want you to have something to remember this day from me.”

“You are so sweet, Quinn. Thank you for everything,” she exclaims, opening the box and removing a tube of lipstick that matches the one she’s wearing.

“Are you kidding me? You guys are a blast. This felt more like a girl’s day out than a day at work. You ladies rock so hard. If you ever need me to do your makeup for a special day, please don’t hesitate to call.”

I finish saying my good-byes and move to the door feeling lighter than I have in days. I make the choice to put Detective Kunes and the D.A.C. out of my mind and ride out the streak of happiness that came into my life unexpectedly.

I’M BARELY IN THE APARTMENT when my phone rings and Ollie’s name flashes on the screen.