Once You'Ve Touched the Heart by Iris Bolling Read Free Book Online Page B

about his mom. Either way it did not matter why he was coming—he was coming. She checked herself out in the mirror. Looking nice mattered to her now. One man mattered.
    Ashley had taken a lot of time to teach Tracy how to dress and how to carry herself. Tracy had the “it” factor, that certain something every man looks for in a woman, but she was clueless to it. Tracy looked at her reflection in the mirror. The black, sleeveless, mock turtleneck dress she wore was fitting in the right places; black three-inch heels, sheer stockings and a red blazer, which was on the back of her chair. She was presentable, she thought. Her hair was worn straight, falling right at her shoulders.
    The change in Tracy’s appearance was not by choice. Ashley came out of her room one Saturday morning, turned to Tracy, who was in the kitchen, and threatened, “If I see you in a ponytail one more day I’m going to strangle you with it. Come on, you’re going with me today.”
    “Going with you where?” Tracy asked.
    “To see Penne.”
    “Who is Penne?”
    “My hairstylist.”
    At first sight, Penne screamed, “Girl, you need help, quick, somebody call 911.” Penne got hold of Tracy and she was changed forever. Sensing Tracy was a little uncomfortable, Penne did not go overboard, as he had a tendency to do. However, he knew the girl had serious “what if” potential. He closed his eyes, put his free spirit back into his inner box and went to work on Tracy. He did a relaxer, a cut, a wrap, and then used a flatiron to bump her hair out. When Ashley saw the results, she turned to Penne and said, “Girrrrrl, what a little relaxer and a flat iron can do….” She gave Penne a high five. Penne responded, “Girl, a sista got the gift and I had to use it.” They both fell out laughing. Tracy looked in the mirror and could not believe it was her. She actually looked okay; no, better than okay, she looked good. From that day on Tracy took a little more time getting dressed in the morning. With a new wardrobe, she discovered a new person. Tracy had a little more pep in her step when she went out the door now. She knew the new her was working. She started getting all kinds of attention from men. But at the moment, that little confidence was all going out of the window, because he was walking through the door.
    “Tracy?” Jeffrey said as he looked around the opened door.
    “Hi, Jeffrey.” Tracy extended her hand and he hesitated for a moment.
    “Hello, Squirt Two, it’s been a while.” JD smiled.
    “Yes, it has been,” she responded with a smile.
    “You’ve changed a little,” JD said, but her smile still had the same effect on him.
    “I hope that’s a good thing,” she replied nervously.
    Brian stepped in the door behind JD. Noticing him, Tracy spoke. “Hello, I’m Tracy Washington,” and she extended her hand.
    “Hi, Brian Thompson,” he replied in a deep voice and shook her hand.
    “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Thompson.”
    “Oh, Brian, please,” Brian replied pleasantly.
    JD glared at Brian.
    “Excuse me for a moment,” Tracy said as she left the room.
    Both men watched as she walked across the room and out. They stared at the closed door for a moment. “DAMN,” they both breathed simultaneously.
    “Man, what is wrong with you, you didn’t introduce us. That was rude, and you didn’t say she was a dime,” Brian stated.
    A dime, she’s a whole damn dollar bill , JD thought, but before he could respond to Brian, Tracy came back in the room.
    “I’m sorry. I wanted to make sure we were not disturbed. You sounded so serious on the phone. Please have a seat,” Tracy said and pointed to the two chairs in front of her desk. “How may I help you?”
    JD and Brian looked at each other as Tracy watched them. Neither of them wanted to approach the subject with her now. However, JD had to, for Ashley.
    Tracy spoke first. “Jeffrey, you have never been a man who had to search for words. Come on, it can’t be that