“The decision isn’t irreversible. Hair can grow back.”
“Even if it takes ten years.”
I spun on my heel and led him to my bathroom. The scissors and ponytail lay on the counter.
He pulled out the vanity chair and pointed. Once I was seated, he spritzed my hair and began trimming. He was done in a couple of minutes.
I smiled at my reflection. “That looks pretty good.”
“Thank you. I didn’t have much to work with.”
I ran my fingers through it, over and over. They emerged quickly. And it was light. So light. “I really like this style.”
He nodded. “With this day’s wish over, I shall retire.”
“Hold on.” I didn’t want to be alone. No, it was more than that. I wanted to be around Grant. “The haircut only took a few minutes. Can we hang out for a while?”
“Certainly. Where?”
“My room.”
I flopped onto my papasan chair. He sat on the carpet, propped up by my bed, watching me with compressed lips.
So I would be in charge of this party. Whatever. “I understand the symbolism of changing my hair, but it isn’t an attempt to get over my brother’s absence.”
“Have you been to a counselor?”
Grant had been here four days. It was interesting that he’d waited until now to ask that huge question. It seemed to obsess everyone else. “I did for a while and stopped.”
“Why?”
“I don’t need her anymore.Her, Grant. Probably I need a therapist, but the one I had wasn’t helping me. And I can’t drum up the energy to find someone new.”
His eyebrow arched skeptically.
“Would you stop the attitude? I can’t be helped if I’m not ready to be, and I get harassed about it too much. My parents. Grandparents. Lacey. Mrs. Killen at the shop. I’m tired of brushing them off. The answer is the same. Asking me all the time doesn’t make me want to change. And now you. Could you drop it—and be a person I don’t dread to be around because you’re not going to ask uncomfortable questions?”
“That is fine. Naturally, the only way to guarantee a lack of uncomfortable questions is not to speak.”
“I’m okay with that. Do you like boats?”
“I do enjoy a boat ride. Why do you ask?”
“If we’re not speaking, we might as well have a good reason. My grandparents have a ski boat at their lake house. We could take it out.”
“I accept the invitation.” He stood, offered a hand, and pulled me from my chair. “And the noise will provide the perfect excuse not to converse.”
Status Report #4
Tuesday’s wish: Hair cut
Dear Boss,
Sara will likely regret that she cut her hair so radically, yet the new style does compliment her. The loss may be overshadowed by its ease of care.
Her lack of a professional therapist troubles me. I don’t feel adequate to be a replacement, but I shall do my best to fill the void temporarily.
Regards,
