“I don’t think I could have done it all without Autumn.”
“She certainly came in handy. Still irritated at her being the receptionist?” Mom asked.
I shrugged.
But I couldn’t help grinning.
True, I wasn’t the most enthusiastic about Autumn working full time in the salon as the receptionist, she had surprised me more than once with her ability to do the job and do it well.
We had been pretty successful at neutralizing the mess. At least we didn’t look like a horrible, 1-star salon anymore.
Whoever did that was a complete asshole. But according to everyone we’d been speaking to about it, odds were whoever did it was likely half-way around the world, and only did it because they could.
I took a drink of my now cold coffee in my new cup.
"I sure did enjoy visiting with Shaun last night. He's such a nice young man."
I rolled my eyes. Because right now I was pretty sure I was the one who was messed up. Like in all the ways last night.
He’d not been happy when he left.
Neither had I.
"I think he's a good man for you, Winter," Mother said as she closed up her notebooks and started gathering the paperwork up.
"That's nice," I muttered.
Mom paused and stared at me.
I didn't say anything.
She didn't either.
For a minute.
Then I started talking.
"I don't think he'll be around again."
"Why? Did we do something to offend him?"
I shook my head.
"So, what happened?"
"I happened, Mom."
And that was the gist of it. I happened.
"Winter, what did you do?"
I waved my hand, trying to brush off the question. "I don't have time for men. For new relationships or old ones."
"Old ones?"
“It doesn’t matter.”
"Winter."
