Chapter 35

Steph and Kim started to wash and cut the different vegetables for the salad and wrapped the huge potatoes into aluminium foil to put them on the BBQ.

“We will get used to seeing you and Dad kissing and hugging.” Steph suddenly said. Kim looked up from cutting a cucumber.

“It takes just sometime; I guess…normally it was Mom.”

“I know. That’s why I wanted to…well;…keep it away from you guys until you know me a bit better. Seems your Dad sees it differently.” Kim explained.

“It’s ok…really…” Steph assured her and added red pepper to the salad bowl. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure. What do you wanna know?”

“Did you ever cut your hair?”

“Oh no, Steph not again!” Jon interjected when he entered the kitchen.

“What I can ask, right?” his daughter said a little snappy.

“Yes, you can….” Kim told her and gave Jon a stern look. “And the answer is…yes.”

“What?” Jon asked shocked.

“Really?” Steph smiled happily.

“Sure, when I was sixteen…I cut them this short.” Kim held her hand up to her chin.

“You gotta be kidding?” Jon stared at her. “Why?”

“Why?...because I wanted it. I was going to college, everybody already saw the Baby in me, I sure as hell didn’t want to look like one too…it was a big change in my life and my hair needed to follow.”

“I wanna do it too.” Steph said excitedly.

“No.” Jon answered. Kim looked at him surprised.

“I don’t think you should have any saying in that, Jon.” his mouth fell open, but Kim continued without paying any attention to it. She knew very well, it wasn’t Jon’s opinion that was counting in this, it was some else’s.

“What is your mother saying about it?”

“Well, she said it’s my decision, all she wants me to do, is go to her hairdresser.” Kim nodded.

“That’s a good idea…and honestly you should take your Mom with you. It helps a lot when questions about the cut or color come up. You have another opinion and she will make sure you will still look like a woman and not like a man.” Steph listened interested.

“That’s always very important when you cut your hair very short. You wanna look tough, but still feminine.” She pointed out.

“You’re right.” Steph said and turned to her Dad. “I really wanna do it.”

He sighed. “Baby you have such beautiful hair…”

“It will grow back Jon.” Kim said softly and pointed at her long tresses. He frowned. Now he had three women against him, shouldn’t at least Kim be on his side?

“I don’t get it…why do men want women to have long hair?” Steph asked suddenly a little frustrated. Kim bit her tongue and grinned at Jon, who stared at his daughter. He couldn’t tell her. No way!

“Well, Steph …” Jon looked at Kim with huge eyes, paling lightly. She wouldn’t right? Kim nearly laughed out loud. What the hell does he think I would do, she wondered.

“…it has something innocent…and well, the rest you will find out on your own in a couple years.”

“No, she won’t.” Jon said demanding. Kim shook her head and put the knife down.

“Could I talk to you for a second?” she asked and walked back into the living room. Jon followed her frowning. Steph watched the interaction between them lightly amused. It wasn’t any different from her parents, just like they had been together for years. Maybe she is good for him.

“Kim, don’t even start…I already had a real long talk with Dot about it and she didn’t convince me either.” He said a bit angry when they were alone. She looked at him for a second.

“Ok, if you don’t want my opinion or get involved in anything that has to do with your kids…” she said calmly and tried to walk back into the kitchen.

She wasn’t angry or mad, but they needed to define how much she should be involved when it came down to his kids. If he didn’t want her input and just wanted to talk with Dorothea about his kids, she had to live with it.

He stopped her. “That’s not what I said, Kim.

“Look Jon, she will do it…it’s just a matter of time. She is a very strong young woman, even when her mother would be against it, I’m pretty sure she would surprise you both with a new look one day….if you wouldn’t go so much against it, then she would maybe listen to some of the stuff you are saying.”

Jon sighed. “You really got her in the little time you are here.” Kim smiled.

“She’s a lot like you Jon…” he looked at her surprised. Normally the people were comparing her to Dot. “She knows very well what she wants and she will do anything to get there.”

Jon nodded and stared at one of the family pictures. Kim’s gaze followed his. Jesse and Steph were small kids on the photo. Maybe three and five years old. Softly Kim put her hand on his arm.

“She’ll always be your little girl…” he smiled sadly at her. “…age or hair cut won’t change it.”

He sighed and pulled Kim into his arms. “I know…there was just so much change going on in the last year…I guess I wanted to at least keep my kids the way they are. I know Dot would never get her a hair cut that looks terrible…and my baby will look great, she always does.”

“Yep, she got that from her Daddy, too.” Kim teased him. He looked down at her and smirked.

“You are really good for my ego.” He kissed her gently.

“I know, come let’s go back and tell Steph.” She took his hand in hers.

“Ok, ok.“ he sighed and prepared for a massive scream attack from his daughter.