"Come with me, please!" She turned on her heel, ponytail swishing as she guided us through the salon floor. The shop was open, bright, and tidy. Black chairs faced big mirrors lined with gold trim. Cream-colored couches lined the walls where hair blowers were attached. Another room extended out the back with the words "spa" written on the wall.
"Okay, ladies, if you just follow through to our spa, we have you all set up with our lovely nail technicians. We also have a glass of bubbly waiting for you." The ladies cheered and quickly made a beeline for the door. The promise of free alcohol was probably more attractive to them than the actual spa experience.
"Sorry," I addressed the receptionist. "I'm not getting my nails done; I've just booked in for a trim?"
"Ah, yes, Grace," she nodded. She then gestured to one of the high-backed chairs. "Please take a seat. Dee will be with you shortly."
Ah, shit.
Dee was another in the "in" crowd, one of Jessica's minions. It was getting a little too incestuous in here for my liking. Well, too late to back out now. Might as well get it over with.
"Hi, Grace." A short, plump woman appeared behind me. She smiled softly and placed her hands on my shoulders. "It's been a while."
"Dee?" I sputtered.
Wow. I wouldn't have recognized her if not for the familiar lilt of her voice. She had a high-pitched tone that she had sometimes used to baby-talk the football players.
The woman before me had a brunette pixie haircut with blonde highlights throughout. I was so used to picturing her with long, ash-blonde hair. She had a fuller body and a rounder face than in her teens. She was a very pretty woman, and I was digging her new style.
Dee waved her fingers at me in the mirror. "Hi. Shall we get started?"
Okay, so I wasn't going to get an apology. Fine. I was getting too spoiled by them now that I was expecting them at every turn. At my nod, she ran her hands through my silky locks.
"I love your hair," she complimented. "I can tell you take good care of it. It's not dry and looks very healthy," she added. "You want a trim?"
"Yes," I stiffly replied, tensing up. I suddenly had a horrible vision of Dee "accidentally" giving me a buzz cut.
"Um, I usually have my hair shoulder length, but I've been so busy with work that I've neglected it, I'm afraid."
"No problem." Dee nodded as she smoothed the strands through her fingers, checking the length. "Can I put some waves in your hair? I know you're at a bachelorette party, and I think it would look fantastic if you're going out tonight."
I sat up a little straighter. An image of Harrison floated in my mind. "Yeah, you know what? Why not?"
Dee gave me a genuine grin through the mirror. "Great, let's get started. Can I get you a glass of bubbles while I work?"
I sipped my champagne while Dee worked in amicable silence, only chatting when she wanted to comment on my hair or a product she was using. I realized that I would never get an apology from Dee, and this was probably her way of making amends.
I was okay with that. I didn't need one and frankly didn't care. Dee had been cruel to me, yes, but she was an insignificant person in my life. Dee offering me champagne without malice and extending an extra-value service to my hairdo was as far as I wanted to go with her anyway.
"What do you think?"
I swished my head this way and that. I looked fantastic, if I did say so myself. My shoulder-length hair shimmered and was full of life. I shook my head again and watched the beachy waves move silkily around my face. My eyes looked brighter, my cheeks rosier.
"Dee, you're a miracle worker."
She grinned and squeezed my shoulders. "You're welcome. I'll be right back. You relax." She removed the cape from my body, brushed my shoulders, and walked off to clean up.
While she was gone, I ran a hand through my hair, smiling appreciatively as the strands bounced back into place. Say what you would about Dee, but the girl sure knew how to do hair. It was amazing what a simple trim did to someone's self-confidence. My mood was buoyed, and I felt fresh and ready to take on the rest of the night.
I thought of Harrison and wondered what he would think once he saw me. Would he even notice a difference? My stomach fluttered as I pictured his chocolate eyes sweeping my face, and I could just about see his jaw drop. Not that I needed or even wanted his attention and admiration. But, there was still that awkward, timid little girl inside me that reveled at the chance to stick it to my former bully. Make him confess that he not only wanted methen—butnow.
I was still admiring myself when a svelte blonde figure suddenly appeared behind me. I jolted as icy blue eyes met mine in the mirror. Talk about a jump scare.
My stomach dipped as I took in that familiar smirk—the same one that had haunted me all those years ago. All hope of Jessica having her Come to Jesus moment vanished. For a split second, that awkward and timid girl threatened to take over. But I pushed her down.
"Jessica." I eyed her cautiously, hoping no sharp scissors were within reach.
She gave me a tight smile that barely reached her eyes. "Why, Grace, as I live and breathe!" She cooed. "I heard you've graced our small town with your presence."
