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Chapter One
Lexi
It’s a Summer sister tradition that on the first Saturday of each month, the six of us get together. We take turns picking the location or activity, anything from margaritas and a movie to wine and painting classes at the small gallery uptown. One thing, though, is as certain as the sun rising over the Chesapeake Bay every morning: there will be alcohol involved.
Always.
Pumpkins and turkeys and wooden signs about being thankful cover every wall and flat surface inside the salon I call home five days a week. Thanksgiving looms in just a few weeks, and I’m not even close to being in the holiday spirit. My life is a mess, of that I’m sure, and I just can’t seem to get it together enough to care about the one holiday where you focus on all that you’re thankful for.
Sad, isn’t it?
Like many nights, I’m surrounded by laughter. Two of my sisters, Abby and Jaime, each sit at my side, our feet soaking in warm, fragrant water in pedicure chairs. Meghan and Payton both sit at one of the manicure desks, while AJ has her shoulders worked over at the massage table. Of course, it wouldn’t be a sisters’ night without booze. Tonight, we’re each holding red solo cups with fruity rum and pineapple juice concoctions. They’re yummy and provide just enough buzz to take my mind off the drama in my life.
But we don’t need to go there yet.
Tonight, we’ve taken over Hair Haven. I’m one of four stylists at the busiest salon in town. Home is Jupiter Bay, a small, friendly place in Virginia along the Chesapeake Bay, where everyone knows you and your business. During the summer months, we become a tourist trap with easy access to beaches, waterfront condos, and hotels to make your stay more comfortable.
You heard me mention my sisters, and damn, there are a lot of us. Six, to be exact. The oldest is Payton. At thirty-three, my eldest sister has finally found her happiness. She lives with her boyfriend, Dean, and his six-year-old daughter, Brielle. Payton plays with flowers all day at the flower shop she owns, Blossoms and Blooms, while Dean is an accountant at one of the best accounting firms in town. They’ve started the adoption process, and I’m so excited for Payton to officially become Brielle’s mom. Earlier in the year, she informed us all that she was diagnosed with PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, and her chances for conceiving a child naturally was slim to none. She’s keeping her head up, though, and focusing on what she has, instead of what she doesn’t.
Next comes Jaime. At thirty-one, she works at Addie’s Place, a local nonprofit organization that helps kids who are less fortunate with after-school care. They do everything from homework to movies, to just playing outside. It’s a great organization that many of us didn’t even really know about until she delivered flowers there one afternoon and fell in love with the place. Jaime’s engaged to Ryan, a construction contractor, and their wedding plans for this spring are in full swing.
Third in line is AJ, or Alison Jane as her birth certificate states. She teaches math at the junior high and is the cheer coach. At twenty-eight, AJ’s been through her fair share of frogs and remains single. It’s not that she hasn’t tried to find her Prince Charming. I think she’s looking in all the wrong places. You know, bars and beach parties. Like me, AJ likes the bad boys, and usually finds herself disappointed or with a broken heart.
Then there’s Meghan. Oh sweet, brokenhearted Meghan. Earlier this year, Meg lost her fiancé in a car crash. It was devastating for her, as well as our entire family, who all loved Josh from the moment we met him. He was pure goodness and treated her like she walked on water. Watching her grieve the loss has been especially hard in light of what’s happening on my home front. I actually had the wedding, have the house and husband, and don’t want any of it anymore.
Meg will be okay; I know it. She has the love and support of her family who will make sure that she gets up every day and smiles as much as she can. That’s our goal: to wipe away the tears and replace them with more smiles.
Finally, there’s Abby. She’s my twin, older by six minutes. We may look the same, but we’re as different as night and day. Abby’s quiet, shy, reserved, and I’m, well, not. She’s dating her best friend, Levi. (It’s about damn time.) These two have been pussyfooting around it for so long, we all thought they’d never get their heads out of their asses.
Abby is an editor for a major publishing house in New York and works from home. I used to be jealous of the friendship they’ve had since we were ten years old, but not anymore. Abby and Levi have been in love with each other before they knew what love was, and while their time with each other would take her away from me, I realized that their relationship was inevitable. Like the sun setting and the stars shining. They fought it; Lord help us all, they fought hard. But in the end, their love was too powerful.
Abby is my best friend. My other half. The six of us are all close, but nothing compares to the bond Abby and I share. It probably comes from sharing such tight living quarters for almost nine months.
In a way, I’m still jealous of her. Not in a vindictive or petty way, but more out of love. She found her soul mate, the person she’s going to spend the rest of her life with. No, that doesn’t mean Levi slid a ring on her finger–yet. But it’s coming. Even though they’ve only been a couple for a few months, it’s happening sooner rather than later. My jealousy stems from the fact that I thought I had found that. I believed I was marrying my best friend, the person I was going to grow old with, have babies with, and rock in chairs on the front porch with when we were old and gray.
I was wrong.
“When are we going dress shopping?” AJ asks Jaime.
“Right after the new year. There’s no way I’m interested in battling the holiday shoppers right now,” Jaime replies with a groan as Ella, our newest stylist, massages the soles of her feet. “That feels so wonderful. Will you come home with me and do this every night?”
“Kinky. I didn’t realize Ryan was into that kinda thing,” I quip with a smile. The alcohol definitely makes me feel no pain.
“Not that kinda thing. I don’t share my toys, Lex.” Jaime laughs.
“Neither does Abby,” AJ says with a mischievous grin. I knew someone would bring it up. We’ve been teasing her about Levi’s penis piercing since we found out about it last month. We make sure to embarrass her as much as humanly possible.
And for the record, no I’m not really interested in seeing it. Even though I might tell her I am, he’s like my brother and that would just be gross. Throw in the fact that we found out about it from our Grandma, and you’ve got a story legends are made from.
“Here we go,” Abby groans, her feet soaking in the tub and her back being massaged by the chair.
“Seriously, Abs. We just want details about it. It’s not every day you find out someone has an Apa,” Payton chimes in, her fingernails drying beneath the lamp.
“Agreed. I did some research on them after that night and wouldn’t mind seeing one in the flesh. They look interesting online.” Everyone stops and stares at Meghan. Even Barb, the salon owner, who’s painting her nails a dark shade of red, stops, her mouth hanging open.
“I’m not having my boyfriend show you his penis, even for the sake of education, Meggy,” Abby giggles, slurping another drink dry.
“Who needs a refill?” I holler, pulling my feet from the hot water. All of my sisters, as well as my three co-workers, each respond with some form of yes. Drying my feet off on the towel, I head towards our break room and mix another pitcher of Malibu and pineapple juice.
