Page 80 of The Love Shack

For the longest time, they chatted about everything while Lark worked on her hair, first applying the base color. As the color processed, they each had a cup of coffee and a few cookies.

At one point, Erin came to the door with a question, then seemed totally intrigued by the work in progress. Soon after she left, Whitley showed up “just so she could get a look.”

Lark felt downright popular.

Apparently, Berkley did, too, but she smiled and said, “This is so different for me. I was always pleasant to customers, but I didn’t really do friends.”

“Do?” Lark asked.

“I was antisocial.”

“No way.”

“It’s true.” After the briefest hesitation, Berkley shared her heartbreaking background, telling her all about Chad Durkinson and his wife, Sabrina.

And Lawson. Wow. Lark had known there was more than a spark there. Apparently, it was a full-blown wildfire.

“So,” Lark asked, while checking the color, “you and Lawson are now together?” When Berkley didn’t reply, she leaned around to see her face. The happiness, the glow, was answer enough. “I see you enjoyed yourself.”

“It was...” Berkley softly exhaled. “Unlike anything I thought possible.”

“That good, huh?” Lark had missed this, chatting with a girlfriend, sharing secrets. “I’m not surprised. Lawson looks like a guy who’d know how to do things right.”

“What about you?” Berkley asked, as Lark urged her up so she could wash her hair. “Any stupendous sex in your life right now?”

“Maybe if I can win over Oliver.”

With a startled laugh, Berkley stuck her head into the sink, and for the next couple of minutes, they were silent as Lark washed and conditioned her hair. After wrapping a towel around Berkley’s hair, Lark urged her back to her chair.

Immediately, Berkley asked, “So you like Oliver?”

“I took one look and I’ve been thinking of him nonstop ever since.” She sighed. “There’s a superhot man under that buttoned-up facade. I can feel it.”

Finding that hilarious, Berkley laughed some more. “Does he know how you feel?”

“If he’s paying attention, he does. I’ve practically thrown myself at him.” Lark combed out her hair and began to snip. “Can I tell you something, Berkley? Something really private?”

“I’d be honored if you did.”

Seconds ticked by while Lark struggled with the truth. “The reason I came here is because I had a miscarriage.”

Berkley twisted around, gazing up at her with eyes full of sympathy. After a moment, she said, “I’m so sorry.”

“Me, too.” Nudging Berkley back around, Lark continued shaping her hair. “I hadn’t known I wanted a baby. I was in a semi-serious relationship, but we’d never discussed marriage, definitely not kids.” She heaved a sigh, still confused by her own emotions.

After doing hair for so long, she could practically work by instinct alone, so baring her soul didn’t hinder her progress. “At first, when I found out I was pregnant, I was devastated. Scared, worried, unsure what to do. I love my parents, but they’re pretty old-fashioned and I knew they wouldn’t be happy with the news. It was even worse than that, though.”

“Worse how?”

“They made assumptions on how I’d handle things, and when I didn’t immediately agree, they were furious. My mother claimed I’d ruin my life, my dad said I was too young. I understood their sentiments, and I know they were only thinking about me and my happiness.” Emotion lowered her voice. “My mother said I washerbaby, that she loved me and wanted more for me. I was twenty-three then, not fifteen. I felt like it had to be my decision, not anyone else’s.”

Berkley was quiet a moment before asking, “And the baby’s father?”

“He was okay at first, understanding and supportive, because he assumed we’d do certain things, and that’d be that. He offered to pay half the bill and thought that was generous.” Her stomach knotted as she remembered that awful confrontation. “I wanted time to think about it.”

“You deserved that,” Berkley assured her.

“He told me I was being selfish, thinking only of myself when it involved him, too. I agreed, but... It didn’t change my indecision.”

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