Page 66 of The Stolen Child

BEFORE

May 1979

Sally

Elite, Wandsworth, London

Nicola hammered a nail into the wall behind the reception desk. Then she picked up a black A4 frame and carefully hung it, ensuring it was straight. She took a step back to stand beside Sally, and together they admired the certificate proudly on display.

Sally Fox

City and Guilds Hairdressing Diploma

May 1979

Over the past three years, Sally had studied and worked so hard that the time had passed by in a flash. But finally she was done. And seeing the diploma, hanging beside Nicola’s certificates, made her heart swell with pride.

‘I’m so proud of you,’ Nicola stated, giving Sally’s arm another squeeze.

‘I can’t believe it,’ Sally said. ‘Seeing my certificate up on the wall beside yours feels like a dream.’

‘Where else would it go?’ Nicola asked.

‘I’d like to take a photograph of it. I’ll take it to Sister Jones at Sunshine House so she can see I did it. I caught that dream.’

‘She’ll be so happy for you – and rightly so, love. You have to send one to your mum too.’

Sally frowned, unsure if that was a good idea or not. Despite her best efforts, her relationship with her mother ran hot and cold. She’d only seen her half a dozen times since that first reunion in the autumn of 1976. Nicola had been more of a mother to Sally in that time than her own had throughout her entire life.

Nicola nudged her arm. ‘Now that you are fully qualified, I’ve decided it’s time to make some further changes around here. We’ve grown our clientele by over fifty per cent in the past couple of years. So I’m going to open six days a week, starting next month. I thought you could manage Mondays on your own, and then you could take Tuesdays off, where I’ll open up on my own. They are both typically quieter days.’

Sally’s mind raced with this news. Her dream was to give up her cleaning work and dedicate herself to hairdressing, but she wasn’t sure she could afford it, even with an extra day’s salary. Would her wages increase?

‘Of course, your wages will increase too,’ Nicola added as if she could read Sally’s mind. She paused, deliberately, to add drama.

Sally wanted to scream, ‘How much, how much?’ but managed to keep her mouth shut.

‘How does forty-eight pounds per week sound? Eight pounds per day, plus your tips are your own, as I always say.’

It sounded incredible to her. Sally began to laugh out loud, then grabbed Nicola round her waist, pulling her into a half dance and half hug of delight.

‘I thought that might make you happy. You tell that gaffer of yours that you are quitting. I’m sick of looking at you yawning every other day,’ Nicola teased. ‘And it’s time you got yourself a boyfriend too.’

‘Chance would be a fine thing!’ But a grin broke out on her face because Nicola was right. She’d had a few dates over the past couple of years, but they always fizzled out because she was never available for a second date.

‘This feels like a dream,’ Sally said with a sigh.

‘It’s no dream. Oh my days, I’ve not seen a soul work harder than you have. In three years, you’ve not let me down. The customers love you. You are a born natural, a wonder with those little hands of yours.’

Sally flushed with the praise, feeling giddy and light, ready to take on the world.

‘How about we close up for the day and head to the Grove for a lager and lime?’ Nicola asked.

Before Sally could answer, the bell sounded at the front door, and a broad man, with brown, shaggy hair walked in. He wore a black leather overcoat, a black turtleneck and black slacks. As Sally’s eyes gave him the once-over, she noticed he had cream leather loafers, which seemed in contrast to the rest of his outfit.

‘That’s the Old Bill, can tell by the cut of him,’ Nicola whispered to Sally. She moved towards the front desk. ‘Short back and sides, is it?’

The man smiled, and murmured a ‘not today’. Then he pulled out his badge, and flashed it in Nicola’s direction. ‘I’m Detective Sergeant Ian Baldwin.’