‘Yeah, that. Leave poor June alone. Did you see the face on her as she handed over her gold credit card, like she was hot shizz?’
‘I used to have a black one myself.’
‘Next time she makes me show her what an inch of hair looks like I’ll get the clippers out!’
‘Shall I destroy her customer card?’ I ask, fanning it in the air. I don’t suppose there’s much chance of her coming back, despite leaving with fabulous hair.
‘Oh, she’ll be back,’ Ivy mutters, staring out into the darkening street. ‘Said she wanted hair like Scarlet Johansen and I told her I could totally do that, seeing as I’d done her hair before.’
‘You did the blonde bombshell’s hair?’
She nods. ‘Last year. On location.’ She turns to look at me. ‘The movie’s out later this year.’
‘I know whatlocationmeans! How come you’ve never mentioned her?’ I thought I knew all the stars she’d worked with. Come to think of it, she didn’t mention Dylan Duffy, either. At least, not until Nat did.
Ignoring me, Ivy begins to tidy her work station. ‘We need to get a Saturday girl. Or a first year trainee. I think we might need more staff—’
‘You loved your job. I know you did. I just wish I knew why you’re back here.’ I push the morning’s mail into her hand as I pass, pulling out the sweeping brush from the cupboard.
‘I’ve just checked the Book-Face thing,’ says June as she breezes in. ‘There are lots of positive comments and reviews from this week. Oh, and Natasha says she’s just doing a wee bit of housekeeping and that she’ll be through soon. Was there any—why, whatever’s the matter, dearie?’
I look up from sweeping at June’s worried tone.
‘Here, sit yourself in yon chair, you’re looking awfully peely-wally.’ She holds the back of her hand to Ivy’s cheek, concern making avof her eyebrows. ‘Overworking yourself, no doubt. Fin, hen,’ she says, lifting her head. ‘Would you get her a glass of water?’
‘No, it’s fine.’ Ivy looks to be in a state of shock as she lifts her head from her correspondence, the fingers gripping the paper are almost bloodless. ‘It’s just a bit of a shock. I... I have to go back to the States.’
‘Why, whatever for?’ clucks June, smoothing Ivy’s hair away from her forehead.
‘A... contractual thing. Something I thought I could do from here,’ she adds quietly.
‘And you can’t. Sort it from here, I mean?’
Ivy’s mouth is grim as she shakes her head. ‘I’ll need to close the place until I get back.’
‘Nonsense,’ says June. ‘You’ll leave it to us. Didn’t you say you’d already interviewed a nice young man for a job?’
‘But if I’m not going to be here—’
‘We’ll be fine, won’t we, Fin?’
‘Of course. Whatever you need.’
‘But your job—’
‘It’ll be fine.’ Truth is, I’ve mainly been hanging out and hiding over there. ‘But will you be?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You look scared stiff, Ivy.’
‘Right,’ says Natasha, suddenly appearing by the side of Ivy’s chair. ‘Who do I need to kill?’
