Nancy Thompson - Beauty Shop Tales

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Avril Carson had to try.Because the hairdresser-turned-actress (turned hairdresser) had left little Sago Beach, Florida, with her whole life in front of her and the man she'd loved by her side. Now she'd come back, with his ashes in an urn, and not even the chance of a child in her future. But she had a sneaking suspicion there was one in her late husband's not too-distant past…And as for romance– well, those days were behind her. Or were they? For Max Wright was pursuing her with a vengeance that made her feel things she thought she'd never feel again. Maybe it was time to practice some beauty shop magic on herself…

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Well, not the metallic variety anyway.

Yeah. It pretty much boils down to what you see is what you get, despite all the happy spins the Hollywood script-writers have dreamt up. Because let’s face it, Sago Beach is about as far removed from Hollywood as you can get. Since there aren’t writers lurking behind the sets of our lives to script us off the ledge of emotional suicide, nobody was a bit surprised when Dani called in sick Monday morning.

“Not a problem, hon,” Mama said. “Avril will handle your appointments—on a temporary basis. ’Til you feel strong enough to come back to work…Of course we won’t say anything to anyone…Right…No, now Dani, whatever’s said will come from you. It’s not our place to be tellin’ your private business….”

Never mind that she’d already told Lonnie Sue and Gilda the entire story, justifying it with, “We’re like family here. So y’all need to know what’s going on with Dani.”

I get the sinking feeling word will spread just like in the old Fabergé organic shampoo commercial from the late seventies where everyone tells two friends and they tell two friends and so on and so on….

Poor Dani. Nothing like having the entire town take a front-row seat while the intimate details of your marital problems unfold center stage.

Mama cradles the phone between her ear and her shoulder and opens the register. As she counts money into the drawer, she nods and says things like, “Right,” and “Umhm,” and “You poor dear.”

I wonder how she can count and listen at the same time.

Gilda, Lonnie Sue and I pretend we’re not listening. They’re tiding up their stations. I’m setting up all the things I’ll need to get started, which is not much—scissors, combs, brushes, blow dryers, flat irons and curling irons. Everything that fit into one suitcase.

I sold my supply of bleach, foil, color and other expendables to the owner of the last salon I worked in, figuring I could restock once I got here.

The bulk of my belongings are on a truck making the cross-country pilgrimage to join me. I sold the car and some of the larger pieces of furniture. I suppose getting rid of the hair dye didn’t really lighten the load much, but it seemed the thing to do at the time.

You know, one step closer to making a fresh start. When the furniture gets here, I’ll put it in storage. At least for the time being, until I get a place of my own. But for now it feels kind of nice to travel light.

“You don’t suppose Dani caught Tommy with that King girl, do you?” asks Lonnie Sue.

Both she and Gilda stop what they’re doing and look at me.

The ugly scene of two nights ago replays in my mind and a pang for what Dani must be suffering unfurls inside me. Sometimes I miss Chet so badly it’s a physical ache. But seeing how Dani is suffering, I realize at least I still have the sanctity of our marriage to cling to. I don’t know which is worse, to loose your love to death or to another woman. Suddenly talking about Dani behind her back doesn’t seem right.

As I bend to plug in a curling iron, I say, “I have no idea who that King girl is.” Instead of looking at them, I check to make sure the button is turned to Off. Then I look through my purse for my lipstick.

“That’s Jimmy and Bobbi Nell King’s girl. Oh, what was her name…?” In the mirror, I see Gilda’s lips tighten into a thin line and I gather there’s no love lost there. “I guess you wouldn’t know her, seeing how they only lived here a couple or three years. They moved after Mary West caught her husband in a compromising position with that girl.”

I think Gilda means to lower her voice, but all she manages to do is duck her head and say in a loud stage whisper, “Seems she has a thing for married men. Was this gal with Tommy a short redhead?”

I shake my head, relieved when Mama hangs up the phone and Gilda and Lonnie Sue turn to her expectantly.

“Well, that was Dani. She’s going to take some vacation time.” Mama straightens a stack of appointment cards on the desk as she speaks, her eyes averted. Then she plucks a purple feather duster from a drawer and sweeps it around. A nervous gesture that makes me think Mama doesn’t want to gossip about it, either.

“Well, who can blame her?” says Lonnie Sue. “After this, let’s hope she finally dumps the no good jackass. It’s been a long time coming. When she came in here with that black eye, I almost went after him.”

Still holding the duster, Mama puts her hands on her hips and shakes her head. “Now look, we need to be respectful of Dani’s situation. I’m sure I don’t have to ask you to be discreet.”

Gilda and Lonnie Sue snort and tsk, pulling faces that suggest Mama has cut them to the quick. I put the cap on my lipstick tube, put it back in my purse. Proud of Mama for doing the right thing.

“All rightie then. Avril, I suppose you heard me tell Dani you’d take her appointments today. It’ll give you a chance to get acclimated.”

She flips the sign on the door to Open and unlocks the dead bolt, admitting Maybell Jennings, who’s wearing a red headscarf tied beneath her chin.

“Mornin’ Ms. Maybell.” Gilda motions her client over and pats the chair.

“Well, howdy-do girls.” Maybell hefts herself into the chair with an oomph and pulls off the scarf, revealing a head full of small gray mesh rollers with pink picks poking out at all angles.

“Just a comb-out today, honey. Hope you got lots of gossip because I’m hungry for it this morning. So dish it up, sweet and juicy.”

Gilda shoots Mama a guilty look. Mama raises her brows at her in a don’t-you-dare warning that I remember so well from when I was growing up. Gilda gives Mama an almost imperceptible nod of understanding before she starts removing the rollers from the older woman’s hair.

Apparently satisfied, Mama walks back to the desk. “Avril, your first client is Marge Shoemaker, but she’s not due in for another hour and she’s always at least a half-hour late—”

The chime on the door sounds. My stomach lurches when I see Max Wright, my cowboy airplane seatmate, standing there with his black hat in his hand.

IT’S SUCH A Catch-22, small-town life. At times like this, I realize I have a love-hate relationship with it. I love being part of the fabric in the patchwork quilt that is a community. Still, I hate the way everyone knows your business—sometimes before you do.

Max stands in the doorway, silhouetted by the morning sun. Every gaze in the room is fixed on him. Especially Lonnie Sue, whose face lights up as she locks in on him like a homing device on a target.

Man at eleven o’clock. BeepBeepBeepBeepBeepBeepBeepBeep.

Target locked.

“Well, Avril, look who’s here to see you,” Mama says before Lonnie Sue can launch herself. “It’s Max, isn’t it?”

All heads swivel from him to me. I stand there like a dolt, not knowing what to say other than, “What are you doing here?”

It sounds wrong. Snippy. I want to explain to him that it’s not that I’m unhappy seeing him standing there. In my mother’s salon. Knowing he’s come all this way. I suppose surprised is a better way to put it. I’m surprised. And a little uncomfortable. Embarrassed by the palpable waves of glee radiating off my mother. But before I can utter a word, Gilda says, “I don’t suppose you’re here for a haircut, are you, darlin’? If so, Avril can take you now. Can’t ya, hon?”

A grin tugs at Max’s lips. He runs his free hand through his hair. I force myself to hold his gaze.

“Actually, I’ve come to see if Avril would like to have a cup of coffee with me sometime.”

“She’s free right now.” Lonnie Sue shoves me toward Max. I stumble and whack my hip on the chair at my station.

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