Laura smiles at me and then tells our customers. “He’s been coming in daily to see her.”
“Ooooh,” Mabel says, smiling broadly. “And you know you like him?”
“I like him a lot.” I feel the prickle of a blush rise up my neck.
“And you already know what you don’t want in a man,” Laura says.
She’s lived through it all with me.
“I most certainly do.” I nod.
“It’s just a matter of time then.” Mabel gives a single bob of her head as if I’m as good as engaged.
Laura simply grins over at me.
“One step at a time,” I say. “Maybe I’ll arrange for him tomeet us at the park after Bordeaux Days. We can go from there.”
“Angie Clark,” Mabel says under her breath. “I do like the sound of that.”
I don’t say a thing. I like the sound of it too, but EJ and I only started dating a month ago. I might know what I want, but I’m not in a rush to get there—especially because the boys need time to catch up.
An hour later, Mabel’s hair is washed, dried and curled. I went with a lighter pink and it does look … well, a little like Lady Gaga and an Easter egg had a baby, and now that baby collects Social Security. But in a good way.
“I love it!” Mabel exclaims.
The front door to the salon swings open.
EJ walks through and my smile spreads at the sight of him.
“Hey, Angie,” he says, his eyes focused on me to the exclusion of everyone else in the salon.
“Hey,” I say back.
His gaze darts to my mirror and he takes in Mabel.
“Wow. That’s some pink hair, Mabel,” EJ says.
“You like it?” she asks.
“I think it’s amazing.”
Good save. Leave it to EJ to be diplomatic.
“That’s what I think,” Mabel says, eyeing herself in the mirror, fishing around in her purse and pulling out a tube of fuchsia lipstick. She smears that on her lips and smiles.
“Someone better take me to dinner!” she exclaims, standing and handing me a check.
I shrug. “I’d offer, but I have to get home to the boys.”
“Not you, dear,” Mabel smiles. “I’m thinking of a man in town. Only, I don’t know which one.” She pats me on the arm. “Keep us posted, Angie.”
“You know I won’t have to.”
She walks out past EJ, whispering something to him on her way.
“What did she say?” I ask him when the door shuts behind her.
“Oh, I can’t tell. It’s relationship advice.”
