ChapterOne
ALYSSA
“I need itbig, Alyssa. Real big. Bigger than last time.” Mrs Brennan peers at me through her long eyelash extensions.
“Bigger?” I’m not sure what to say. Last time she could barely fit through the door of the salon when she left.
“Huge. It’s gotta last through that darn preacher’s neverending sermons without dropping an inch. And my dress has a wild print so real big hair will set it off. I need to be noticed by the committee.” She raises her eyebrows to make absolutely sure I’ve got the memo.
Dale swoops over. “We got you, Mrs Brennan! The higher the hair, the closer to God…isn’t that right?” He winks at me.
“You got it, Dale. That a new color?” She gestures a long sparkly nail at his hair.
“Yep, I got this look ready for the town fair. I want to get noticed too.” He runs his hand over his glossy violet waves, which are shaved on one side. Added to the sequinned T-shirt, fuschia pink lipgloss and stacked platform sneakers, he’ll definitely stand out.
I walk towards the back of the salon to get the tools I need to ensure Mrs Brennan leaves the salon with a style to make Marie Antoinette jealous. The buzz of the hairdryer and Miley Cyrus’sBangerzalbum blaring from the salon’s speakers are so familiar to me. Usually I love it, but today it’s giving me a headache.
Stacking the setting solution and the extensions I’ll need on the prep surface in the back room, I sit down for a second and run my hand over my forehead, yawning. Maybe I need some coffee?
As I gulp my coffee down, Dale comes in to grab a can of hairspray.
“You okay, Alyssa? You don’t seem like yourself today.” He rubs the top of my arm soothingly.
“Ah, I don’t know. I didn’t sleep too well last night.” I bend down to grab the section clips from the trays under the prep bench.
“Sister trouble?” Dale inclines his head as I stand up.
“Well, Maisie’s due back in town this week. Making a personal appearance at the town fair, no less. Sothatwill be fun.”
“Don’t stress. Maybe she won’t cause any drama this time. Didn’t you say she’d been working on her Zen or something?” Dale looks sympathetically at me. We went to school together so he knows exactly what my sister is like.
I laugh. “Miracles might just happen.”
“Think positive, darlin’. And send her my way if she starts being mean.” Dale walks back out to the front to see his next client.
I load up the beauty cart with everything I need to create Mrs Brennan’s coiffure. I’m not hopeful about Maisie’s recent crystals and yoga phase. My sister’s a pageant queen and lives from one triumph to the next. Failure - AKA second place - is met with crushing disappointment and a descent into existential crisis, complete with dramatic dumping of boyfriends or whipping up drama with neighbors, random strangers or - if we’re really unlucky - family.
Cindy, Dale’s rescue Chihuahua, walks over and looks at me, hopeful for treats. I scoop her up and she nestles into my chest. She had a bad start before Dale adopted her. She’s scared of other dogs and most people, so it takes a while for her to trust anyone. But once you’re accepted, she can’t get enough love. I give her a kiss and a dog treat, then pop her back down on the floor, where she runs over to her princess-themed dog bed.
Two hours later and Mrs Brennan’s hairdo is magnificent. It’s also lacquered into place with a ton of hairspray and multiple pins. She blows me a kiss as she leaves. My arms are aching as I grab the broom and start sweeping the salon floor.
Dale walks over and reaches out his hand. “Give that to me, Miss Lys. You got a bunch of good tips today, what are you gonna spend them on?”
“I want to do something for myself.” I hand him the broom. “I was watching some YouTube videos about self-care and I want to get in shape. I love being a curvy girl but I want to feel as healthy as possible. I’m on my feet all day and baking in the evening, so I need to be fit.”
“Girl, you are fit, as that English guy I dated used to tell me. That means you're hot, honey. But keeping in shape is always a good idea.” Dale sweeps up the hair clippings from the sparkly green salon floor.
“I’m not sure where to start. I’m not exactly the jogging type.” I grab my oversized sweatshirt from behind the counter. It’s windy outside and without all the customers in the salon, it feels like it’s getting colder. Spring is around the corner, but winter is still holding on.
“You don’t want to be running in this weather. I have the perfect idea. You know that new gym I take a detour past on my lunch break every day? On Whitwick Street? Three brothers own it, every last one of them gorgeous. They’re doing a discount deal until the end of January. I’m going to sign up next week once this darn injury heals.” He waggles his pinkie finger which is bandaged up from where he accidentally clamped it inside a straightening iron.
“Ah, I get it. I’m on a reconnaissance mission. Scoping out which brother is hottest before you arrive.” I grin at him.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about but…yes, you got it. I will need a full report tomorrow, soldier.” He gestures with the broom at the door.
I grab my coat and bag, give Cindy a pet goodbye, then head out into the cold. Dale’s right. Only the ridiculously fit or foolhardy would be outside running in this freezing weather. January’s the longest month to get through here in Darlinton. Christmas is over, the nights are dark and it seems like most people are huddling inside in front of screens.
Part of me wants to do exactly the same thing. I could head back home, pour myself a glass of wine and settle down in front ofEmily in Paris. Fantasize about meeting a handsome stranger and then wallow in a hot bath. Maybe make something from that new cookbook I got for Christmas.
