said Teresa Montoya, the owner of a hair salon housed in a downtown Houston office building. A shapely, motherly woman with a kind smile and long, highlighted, dark hair, Montoya paused for a moment, before continuing. “Ana was all dressed up, like she always was, in a long, flowing skirt, a sexy top, and big heels. She had this air about her. I thought immediately, she had something special about her.” “Is there a Teresa here?” Ana asked, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Why is that?” Teresa answered. “I heard if I want to be successful in my business, I have to meet this lady,” Ana replied. “What?” Teresa responded, drawing out the vowel with a slight laugh in her voice. Later, Teresa would say that it was Ana’s confidence that grabbed her. “I wanted to get to know her.” During that first encounter, Ana had a pedicure in Montoya’s salon, and they talked. From that day forward, the women became the best of friends. Partly it was timing; Montoya had just lost someone close to her to cancer, and she felt a void.
