“I heard Estelle Hayslip had her breasts done,” I heard Meredith’s client tell her.
“I got to touch them,” Marci’s client said. “They feel real and very perky.”
Yes, all was right in my world again. Well, until ten minutes after four o’clock whenheshowed up with his kids to meet his mother. I had to admit, his spawns were adorable. I just hoped that they took after their mother in the personality department because Laura Sampson was one of the sweetest persons I had known in high school.
I was putting the finishing touches on Delaney’s hair when Billy and his brood showed up. Even though I knew it was a possibility, I was still rattled to see him in my salon. Luckily, I had nerves of steel when wielding a straightening iron, or any other hot styling tool, and didn’t singe Delaney’s ears or neck. I felt Billy’s eyes on me the entire time, but I completely ignored him.
“Asshole alert! Asshole alert!” Savage’s word choices sometimes amazed me and made me want to kiss his feathered face. I mean, did that bird know his shit or what?
The clients in the salon burst into laughter and I refused to look over to gauge Billy’s reaction.
Delaney surprised me by saying, “I love that crazy bird.”
“Yes, well, I do apologize for the language your grandchildren just heard.” I didn’t mind Savage’s potty mouth most of the time, but I didn’t necessarily want kids leaving my salon repeating his filthy language. I tried leaving him upstairs during the day when I first brought him home, but he had separation anxiety so bad that he pecked raw spots beneath his wings. I hated seeing him so distressed and his beautiful feathers laying in the bottom of his cage. I carried him down to work with me every day since then and he’d become an instant sensation with my clients.
“I’ll talk to them when we get in the car.” She raised her brow skeptically and added, “But I’m sure they’ve heard far worse in movies or even songs these days.” Lord only knew what they’d heard come from their own father’s lips, but I bit my tongue to keep from saying that.
I put my straightener down and looked down at her. Delaney had her back to the mirror the entire time I dried then styled her hair. I loved the big reveal moment and hers was a big one. I should’ve been nervous, but I had a strong feeling she was going to love the new look. “Are you ready for the big reveal?”
“You look amazing, Mrs. Sampson,” Meredith said.
“You really do, Mom.” Billy’s praise surprised me, but I didn’t allow myself to even think about it.
“I’m so excited,” she said. “Turn me around, Joshua.” Delaney used her stern high school voice that always made me snap to attention when I was a teenager.
“Yes, ma’am.” I turned her around without further delay and watched the wonder and surprise cross her face as she touched her hair.
“My God! I look ten years younger,” she said in awe.
“At least,” I replied smugly.
“You’re amazing.” Yeah, well, I’d heard her son say that to me a time or two, but for obviously different reasons. “Isn’t he amazing, Billy?” I was so proud of myself for not allowing the groan to pass my lips or a grimace to form on my face. I decided I would develop a poker face if it was the last thing I did.
“He’s something, all right.” I wasn’t exactly sure what the hell he meant, but like with his praise just before, I chose to ignore it.
“Well, I must get home and show this to Edward. He won’t believe it’s me.” She rose from her chair once I removed her cape and continued to look at herself even longer. “Miracle worker.” Her next action shocked the hell out of me. She snatched me to her and hugged me tight enough to cut off my airway and my circulation.
“Turn loose of him, Mom. He’s starting to turn purple.”
“Oh, you,” she said, waving her hand dismissively at Billy. She turned back to me once more and said, “Thank you for your honesty, Joshua.”
“You’re very welcome, Mrs. Sampson. I’ll see you in eight weeks, right?”
“You can bet on it.”
I turned away and started to clean up the mess on the floor while she paid and greeted her grandchildren. I could feel Billy’s focus on me at times, but I continued to ignore him. There was nothing I had to say to him and nothing I wanted to hear from his lips. Delaney called out a goodbye on her way out the door and I took my first relaxed breath since she arrived.
I went to the kitchen area and made myself a coffee then prepared to shut the salon for the day. I locked the front door after the last client left and asked everyone about their plans. Meredith had dinner and shopping plans with her mom and Chaz had mysterious plans he didn’t talk much about. He seemed happy enough so I didn’t press him for more details, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t curious. Marci had a dinner date with some guy she met online and we teased her the entire time we cleaned up the salon.
I had intended to lock the back door once everyone left for the night, but I got busy getting the deposit ready for Monday and forgot. I locked the deposit in the small safe I kept in the supply closet and returned my empty coffee cup to the kitchen. I heard the back door open when I was washing the dirty coffee cups, but thought nothing of it. Despite the rising body count in recent months, Blissville was a safe place to live. Unwanted people didn’t just walk into homes or businesses. I turned, expecting to see Gabe’s handsome, smiling face but found Billy Sampson standing in my kitchenette instead.
“Hello, Josh.” His smile and tone of voice were friendly, but the predatory look in his eyes was that of a man who expected to pick up where we had left off ten years prior.
“What do you want?” I asked, but I already knew.
He laughed arrogantly then asked, “Is that any way to treat an old friend?” Billy swaggered a few steps toward where I stood frozen. “You can’t think of a better way to say hello? Those plump lips were made for much better things than asking stupid questions.”
His complete and utter arrogance snapped me to life. I couldn’t believe the gall of that man. He actually thought I’d be so happy to see him that I’d drop to my knees and blow him. Fury flowed through my veins and I resolved to send that douche nozzle packing with no doubt about his place in my life. I was reminded of who I had become, despite the shit he kicked in my face when we were younger.
