“I have another in tenth grade, and my eldest graduated last year,” Lydia says, and I don’t miss the air of superiority she manages to rub in. “We’ve been a part of this school community for a long time, and we just love to welcome new members.” Lydia reaches into her designer handbag before extending a piece of paper to me. “There’s a camp coming up. It’s how we get the kids to solidify friendships that see them through high school. We try to get as many new parents to volunteer as we can to lead the children by example and show them how important a sense of community is to the school. I do hope we see your name on the sign-ups.”
“Oh, okay, yeah, I’m sure I could figure something out with my work.” I look down at the flyer she handed to me. South Trevally Nature Lodge. Two-day trip. Trail hikes, treetop ropes course, outdoor cinema. As much as I love stargazing, I’m not really one for the outdoors.
“Excellent. We’d love to see Aurora’s father as well.”
Cue the record screeching halt, becausewhat?
“Her who now?”
“See you both there.” Lydia waves a hand over her shoulder as she walks off with a pompous sway of her hips.
My left eye twitches. I’m no stranger to an array of looks when people realise I’m a single parent. Sympathy, because I must have it so hard. Pity, because he didn’t want to stick around. Judgement, because there’s only one of me, and my kid must be a wild, ill-mannered terror. Joke’s on them. I prefer doing it alone, and my daughter is kind, intelligent, and hilarious. Aurora’s never once made me feel like I don’t give her enough. I’ve never outright asked her how she feels about not having a dad, and she’s only ever asked once. It was her first year of school, and they weredoing Father’s Day crafts. I told her it was just the two of us. I couldn’t think of a better way to explain it to a five-year-old, and I’ve been too scared to bring it up again.The truth.
I look down at the paper in my hands again.Six hundred and fifty dollars?Jesus. At least I have a few weeks to save. I dipped into our savings to pay for the move, plus bond and advance rent for the new place. I wonder if any bachelor parties are coming up at The Matchbox. A private dancer always earns a higher rate. That should easily get me the extra cash I need without setting the savings back any further.
I put a reminder in my phone to check with Josie when I’m there on Friday for my next shift, then I stuff the flyer in my handbag and make my way to Parlour Tricks. I pull into my usual spot behind the building and make my way inside, still with ten minutes to spare before my shift.
I use the back door code, coming in through the staffroom, since we’re not open just yet.
Claire’s standing at the kitchen bench, making a coffee from her pink coffee machine. I’m not at all surprised she managed to find one in her favourite colour.
“Morning,” I say, as I cross to the wall of lockers on one side of the room. I keep my phone in my back pocket and pull my container of leftovers out before stuffing my handbag into one of the open compartments.
“Morning.” Claire’s groggy voice has me turning back to her in a hurry.
Her hair and makeup still look flawless, of course, but her golden brown eyes look tired.
“Are you good?” I ask, keeping my eyes on her while I put my lunch in the fridge.
Claire nods as she takes a sip from her coffee. With a groan, she says, “I got dicked within an inch of my life last night.”
“Oh.” I chuckle. “I thought something was wrong.”
Claire raises her eyebrows. “I had to sit leaning to one side the whole drive here. Does that sound wrong?”
We both move down the hallway, heading towards the main floor of the salon.
“I guess that’s a matter of perspective,” I say.
Claire hums as she takes another sip of her coffee, which looks like pure gasoline. “Lover Boy has already sent me two messages this morning, praising how incredible I am. I think you can take that as everything is going amazingly.”
Lover Boy is Claire’s boyfriend, Lee. Or Leif, if she’s the one talking to him. He comes into the salon often to say hello, and he’s the nicest guy you could meet. He has nothing but hearts in his eyes for Claire. It makes me happy to witness it.Real love.I hope Aurora meets a nice person when she gets older. I hope I made the right choice when we left. If she doesn’t do better than what I had, then it was all for nothing. I would have failed.
“I’m glad to hear he’s still treating you like a queen.” I smile as I approach the reception desk up front.
“He’s got a cousin.” Claire smirks as she opens up the rollers on the front window and unlocks the door.
I bark out a laugh. “Not for me, but I appreciate the thought.”
The computer is already on with our schedule up for the day. Claire and I have an almost full day, booked with facials, waxing, and tanning.
Another beauty therapist will start at nine-thirty to do the lash appointments, with the nail tech starting at ten.
“Have you met anyone interesting since you’ve been here?” Claire asks as she joins me behind the reception desk.
“You mean apart from you?”
“Aw, thanks, babe.” She nudges her shoulder against mine.
