Shenanigans and vendettas were left at home or outside. I explain this in every salon meeting, though it had a lot to do with my sister’s personal shenanigans last summer.
I could still feel wax on the floor in the wax room whenever I went in there after Summer got into a fight with her high school nemesis. She swore it was cleaned up, but I don’t think so.
It may never get cleaned up.
Another scream echoed as I walked into the break room. I forced myself mentally back to my calm place and took in the scene.
And it looked like something out of a bad cartoon.
Audra, Summer, and our other nail technician, Grace, stood on the table.
“What in the hell are you--”
And then I saw it.
Rat.
Giant rat. In the corner. With huge eyes.
“Close the door, don’t let it get out!” Audra said.
It hissed. Grace squealed again.
Oh. Hell. No.
I glanced at Summer. “Get a trash can. Trap it.”
“I’m not picking that thing up!” Summer squealed.
“Turn the can upside down and cover it.” While I didn’t like it, I knew what needed to be done. “I’ll be back. And quit screaming. There are customers out there!”
“Sorry, Winter,” Grace said.
I waved my hand toward the door. “Just go, take care of your customers, Grace. I’m sure any time Miss Leola will be arriving.”
She nodded and darted out of the room.
“And don’t tell anyone!” I called after her.
I heard trash being rustled as I walked out, and I hoped Summer and Audra were getting a trash can on top of it so it didn’t run away. I pulled the door tight, just to be sure.
Part of me wanted to lock them in there, but the lock was on the inside of the break room.
Just because of the screaming.
My hands shook as I stepped out the back door, thankful for Summer’s stupid awning outside that at least kept the already fallen snow off the back door. I walked down the alley that ran along the back of Celestial Springs Salon, and all the other shops in the strip mall. The cold should have bothered me. The snow should have bothered me.
The snow on my designer shoes should have really bothered me.
It didn’t. I was too hyped up on anger at a goddamn rodent getting in my salon.
Because, seriously.
What the ever-loving-hell?
I didn’t have to go far.
I hammered on the door to the shop next to us.
