“More gorgeous than yours?”
I smiled at her.“More gorgeous than mine.It was black and glossy.Like a raven’s wing.Like yours, actually.”
“Your tattoo,” she said in understanding, taking my left arm and turning it over so she could see the ink.“It’s a raven feather, isn’t it?You got it for Aubrey?”
I nodded.“We all live through hard things.You just have to decide how you’re going to handle stuff when it happens.”
Pouffant was Huckleberry Hill’s only salon.It catered to the septuagenarian crowd.However, they took walk-ins and because it was mid-morning on a weekday, they weren’t busy.
Eloise Cranston—one of Muddy’s best friends—owned the salon.She sat in a vacant stylist’s chair, but she perked up when Lenni and I entered.
“Hi Eloise,” I said with a smile.“We were wondering if you had an appointment opening.”
“I don’t,” Eloise said.“I can barely see, what with the cataracts.I’m getting surgery next week.Ginny’s available, though.”
A young woman with a stylish haircut popped out of the back.“Someone taking my name in vain?”
“Me,” Eloise said.“Wyn needs a haircut.”
“Not me.”I looked at Lenni.“Take off the hat.”
With a sigh, Lenni removed her wool cap.
Eloise squinted.“Oh my.”
“Lenni needs some magic,” I said to Ginny who looked to be a few years older than me.
Ginny smiled.“I’m something of a hair magician.Come on over to my chair and let’s see what I can do for you.”
While Ginny got Lenni situated, I took a seat.
“Cataracts aside,” I said, “how are things going with you?”
“Can’t complain.”Eloise smiled, gesturing with her chin to Lenni.“What happened there?”
“She thought she could cut it herself.”There was no way I was going to air Lenni’s dirty laundry to Eloise.She was sweet, but her heart was as big as her mouth.
My phone chimed and I pulled it out of my pocket.
Poet
Come bother me at the bookstore.
Me
We’ll be over in about an hour.I’ve got Lenni for the day.I’ll explain later.
Poet
everything okay?
Me
Sorta.
I shoved my phone back into my pocket and watched Lenni’s face light up with laughter at something Ginny had said.
“So,” Eloise began, “you staying in town for a while?”
