“You did?”
“Yeah, between your bestie and your fairy godmother, I felt pretty comfortable I picked the right one.”
She laughs, wrapping her arms around my neck. Char stares out at the big white flakes falling outside the glass windows onto the trees below. “I guess I’ll get to look forward to a lot of years, living inside this snow globe with you.” She shakes her head in awe at the picture-perfect sight. “Beautiful.”
Staring at my future wife, I answer, “Yes. Beautiful.”
EPILOGUE
CHAR
“What’sa girl gotta do to get a refill around here?” Betty shakes her empty highball glass as I place the last foil in her hair.
“Give me a minute, woman. I’ve got my hands full.” I laugh.
“Norma Jean! Be a doll and get me another Jack and Coke.”
“Comin’ right up, Miss Betty.”
Shaking my head, I meander over to the hair dryers and lift one. “Bring your bossy ass over here and sit under here while I work on Ellie’s hair.”
Ellie hands off one of the twins to Liz before scooping her sister out of the double stroller and passing her off to Margaret.
I get a little misty at the sight. If I thought To Dye For in Candy Cane Key was similar to Truvy’s place inSteel Magnolias, it had nothing on the Sycamore Mountain version. Seeing my favorite people surrounding me in my new salon feels surreal.
It’s so great to have my sweet friend Norma Jean here. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed her until she came to town. My old salon sidekick wanders over to my side. “Tomorrow’s your big day, Char.Ishould be doing your friends’ hair, not you.”
“Oh, it’s relaxing.” I laugh. “Well, except for this one.” I point my thumb over my shoulder at Betty. “Besides, I think it’s almost a requirement to work during your wedding weekend in Sycamore Mountain.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“When are you and that hot firefighter going to give me some fairy grandbabies?” Betty asks, dipping her chin in the direction of Ellie’s twins. They’re playing peek-a-boo with Liz and Margaret. “I’vegiven up waiting on Charlie. I think when he saw what a jezebel his mother turned into after raising him, it scared him celibate.”
“Oh my god.” I cackle.
“It’s probably not far from the truth.” Norma Jean snickers.
Wrapping my arm around her shoulder, I give her a shake. “It’s so good to have you here. I’ve missed you.” Norma Jean had stepped up to manage my old Candy Cane Key salon after I broke the news I wouldn’t be returning.
Once my stepfather was securely behind bars, I was able to board a plane with Dave and return to Candy Cane Key to meet with her, Liz, and Margaret. Norma Jean didn’t jump at the chance but seemed open to take over temporarily. She was blunt that she wasn’t sure this was the future she wanted, but it was fine for right now.
In all the years I’d known her, we’d never been the type to have deep and meaningful conversations. It was always lighthearted. Superficial. I wasn’t sure if this was because Norma Jean was guarded…or me.
“Well, don’t wear yourself out. You’ll be too exhausted tomorrow to enjoy your wedding,” Norma Jean adds.
“Life in a small town,” Ellie blurts. “When you have one baker, one florist, one salon owner, sometimes you have to do it yourself if you want it done right.”
“Well, at least you have Betty helping to cater the affair,” Liz says before blowing raspberries at a giggling Eva.
“How do you manage to spend so much time away from your restaurant?” Margaret asks Betty, her eyes never leaving Emma’s.
“I’ve got the boys running things. I just need to pop in unexpectedly once in a while to keep them guessing. I’d hoped to make this my summer retreat, to get a little break from the oppressive heat, humidity, and tropical storms. Not when the mountains are whistling with ice and snow.” She gives me a playful glare.
“I know, I know. But we wanted a snow-covered wedding. And New Year’s Eve seemed like the perfect time to celebrate starting a new life.”
“Oh, don’t listen to her. It’s going to be absolutely beautiful,” Margaret adds.
The bell jingles over the door, and Dave and Valerie walk in. There’s no containing my smile.
