“You keep telling yourself that, chica.” Coleta put her hands on her hips. “I know chemistry when I see it, and you two have it.”
“Is he the man Trish saw you with at the Christmas Lights ceremony?” Mrs. Linderman asked. “Because she got excited when she saw you there with him. She mentioned how handsome he is too, and you know her. Trish Johnson’s always had an eye for a good-looking man.”
“She ought to,” another customer added dryly. “She’s married enough of them.”
“Poor thing,” Mrs. Linderman said as she finally stepped toward the front counter. “It was bad enough for me to be widowed once. I can’t imagine burying four husbands.”
Merry couldn’t either. When she finished ringing up Mrs. Linderman, Merry was about to head to see what Alice wanted when Ellie stopped her.
“Would you really not want to own your own shop?” she asked.
“I like the idea of being my own boss because I’d get to help set the atmosphere and focus. It might be for me someday, but not until my son is a lot older. Alex already lost so much when Ray died. I won’t make him take second place to a business, not when I’ve got a perfectly good job here.”
“That’s a good point,” Ellie said, looking thoughtful. “But don’t close all doors at the possibility. Just in case an opportunity presents itself that would work for you.”
“Do you have something up your sleeve?” Merry asked, eyeing her friend.
“You know me.” Ellie grinned and turned to the counter to collect her next client.
“Let’s talk then if you find something.”
“I will,” Ellie called over her shoulder.
Merry tapped on the owner’s door and walked in when the woman bade her enter.
“Have a seat.” Alice indicated the chair on the other side of her desk. She very much modeled herself as a businesswoman and not just a hairstylist. Except for her brusque and overly critical manner, she did an excellent job teaching new hairstylists.
Knowing she hadn’t done anything wrong, Merry didn’t ask her boss what she wanted. Alice steepled her hands on the desk and sat silently for a few seconds. The only other time she’d done that was just before she’d broached something she knew Merry wouldn’t like.
So, Merry just sat expectantly and waited. She wasn’t going to make it easy on her boss.
“The nail painting was a great success on Saturday. I’ve received a number of calls about it, and our webpage has blown up with positive reviews.” Alice cleared her throat. “I know you’ve said you don’t wish to do it full time.”
“When you broached offering it as a service here last time, I told you then it’s an artistic thing for me. It’s a hobby and not a job. Besides, it’s hard on my back.” Merry explained about the pool injury. “I’d be happy to train the other stylists. It’d let you offer the service but not make one person carry all the weight.”
As Merry had continued to speak, Alice’s face grew red, a sure sign the woman was getting angry. If she thought an employee stood in the way of upgrading her salon, she could turn pigheaded. And mean. But there were other salons in Huckleberry Falls where Merry could work. If worse came to worst, she could open her own. But she hadn’t been kidding when she told Ellie she didn’t want to be the boss while her son was young. And she liked the location so close to the daycare center. The other shops in town were not nearly so conveniently located.
“I won’t do it full time.” Merry said the words calmly but firmly.
“Youwon’tdo it?” Alice leaned forward and rested her elbows on her desk. “I need employees who are team players. I thought I could count on you to be one of them.”
“Iama team player, and you know it, Alice. But within reason. You hired me as a hairstylist, not a nail artist. There are high school art students who could do it as a part-time job.” Merry stood. “I’ve got a client who should be here soon, and I still have to clean my station. Unless you intend to fire me.”
Merry left the owner muttering in her office. What was with her lately anyway? The salon was doing well. If not for Alice forever trying to turn the shop into an upscale place where only the rich and famous could afford to have their hair done, they’d probably be doing even better business.
Huckleberry Falls had a lot of wealthy residents, but most of them were only there for part of the year. Some people loved the winter months and the snow with all the outdoor activities it provided. Others preferred the summer, which received the highest number of visitors each year. But there were plenty of people in town who were just regular people, and they couldn’t afford a fancy haircut.
The afternoon passed slower than usual, probably because Merry kept glancing at Alice’s office door. Hopefully, the woman had contacted the high school to see if there were any kids who might be interested in some kind of internship.
“Yes, Merry has one opening.” The odd intonation in Coleta’s voice pulled Merry from her musings.
“Excellent,” a familiar male voice said.
Merry met Carlisle’s gaze and raised a hand in acknowledgment, though she refused to look at Coleta. Naturally, Merry’s cheeks went warm. All he’d done was smile that wonderful smile of his and take a seat.
She went back to brushing away the hair from Trish’s neck and shoulders. She sat there smirking at Merry through the mirror, her eyes shining with that same look of glee she’d worn at the lighting activity.
“How’s that?” Merry asked, holding out the mirror to the older woman.
