‘Clearly. But we knew that the minute you allowed me to cut off all your hair and stick a fake nose ring in your nostril.’ They both laughed.
‘Actually, that reminds me. Can you recommend a hairdresser please?’
‘What, you don’t want me to cut it for you again?’
Sabrina smirked. ‘Just needs a little shaping on the ends, as opposed to it looking like it’s been chewed by Beethoven.’
‘Mortally wounded.’ Belle smiled. ‘But yes. There’s a salon called Giselle’s in Penrigan High Street, that’s where I go. And, despite being in the depths of Cornwall, the woman who runs it does seem to be able to do more than just a purple rinse or a wash and blow dry.’
That’s a shame– I was thinking of going a light mauve next.’ They both laughed. ‘I’ll get in there before I start work. Do I owe you two any money, by the way? I’m not sure what day would have been the last day of our…stay.’
‘Not at all. It’s been a pleasure having you here. I’ll miss popping by and although you haven’t been here long, I feel we’ve developed a nice little friendship.’
Sabrina grasped her hand. ‘Nice and little are not big enough words for what I feel our friendship has grown into. Thank you, Belle. Thank you so much, for being an absolute angel. For supporting me and for keepingmesecret and making me feel so at home. And… for helping me to trust again.’
They embraced.
‘Do you need any help packing the car?’
‘No, I’ve only got the two cases. I’ll put the key back in the key safe when I’m done. See you soon.’
Sabrina waved Belle off from the back door. Going back into the kitchen, she noticed the card with her name on it on the table and ripped it open. On the front a black and white photo of an empty windswept beach and the words:
The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.
RUMI
And inside,Keep Listening, Sabrina. There are rare people who will show up at the right time, help you through the rough times and stay in your best times. Those are the keepers.
With much love,
Belle, Isaac and Beethoven XX
And as Sabrina began to empty her clothes from the old pine wardrobe into her Louis Vuitton case, she realised that it had taken her a heartbreak and a six-hour drive to Cornwall to be lucky enough to have come across two of those very rare finds already.
Chapter Twenty
‘Idon’t mean to be rude, but can I ask who cut your hair previously?’ The willowy ebony-skinned hairdresser exclaimed as she lifted a section of Sabrina’s hair and started to paint bleach on to the roots.
‘Err. I usually have it cut in London, but I’ve been down here on holiday.
The fringe was getting on my nerves, so I had a go at it myself. Is it really that bad?’ Knowing full well it was, Sabrina smiled sweetly at the woman in the mirror.
‘Just the fringe, you say?’ the hairdresser laughed. ‘I’ll get the bleach on, you need to sit for half an hour, then I’ll get these ends tidied up, don’t worry.’
‘I love your colour.’ Sabrina wished she could be so brave at having such a close crop, but for now her pixie disguise would do.
‘Thanks. I’m going through the rainbow, a different shade each month.’
‘That’s fun.’ Sabrina took in the woman’s perfectly made-up face. Her full lips were shiny with a burgundy gloss. She lent in and took a sniff of Sabrina’s neck. ‘What’s that perfume you’ve got on? I love that.’
‘Jean-Paul Gaultier.Scandal, I think this one is. I loved the bottle.’
‘The one with the legs sticking out, isn’t it. I’ve put it on my Christmas list.’
‘That’s it.’
‘So, you’re on holiday down here, you say?’
