Page 43 of Proof

“Same reason you’re nervous. We’re insecure.”

“Yes, you mentioned that the other day. Must be in our DNA.” He finally smiled.

Luna took the empty plate, turned, and walked toward the showroom. “Don’t forget the boutonniere. Turquoise.” She chuckled. True, she was nervous, and that strange feeling hadn’t left her. Was it the old memories? No, because she’d had that sense of discomfort before she saw the dresser. Maybe the tablet would help. She sat behind her easel, shut her eyes, and began to draw. When she felt she was finished, she opened her eyes and saw a stick figure of a boy holding hands with a stick figure of a man. Chris and Carter, perhaps? Well, that wouldn’t be unusual. She heaved a big sigh. Granted, she felt less of a sense of foreboding than she had earlier that week, but there was something in the air. Something wasn’t quite right. She looked at Wylie, who was sitting at her feet. “Do you have any clues you could share?”

He put his head down and covered his eyes with his paws. “You’re not helping.” She leaned over and gave him an affectionate rub. She spotted Chi-Chi opening her shop. She was wearing a beautiful yellow kaftan with matching yellow ribbons woven in her braids. “Yellow ribbons!” Luna jumped up and grabbed her laptop. She sent an email to Brendan’s last known address, quoting one of the lines from Blazing Saddles in the hope it would trigger a response. She waited patiently as Chi-Chi walked across the atrium, followed by Ellie. When the two women entered the café, Luna closed her laptop and began to make their coffee. “Good morning, my beautiful friends.”

“E. káàrò!” Chi-Chi smiled. She looked like a big helping of sunshine. “Good morning.”

“And a fine good morning to you! You look lovely.” Luna smiled back. “Ellie, you too are looking lovely. I especially like your shoes.” Luna pointed to Ellie’s saddle shoes. Ellie’s wardrobe was simple but stylish. Even when she was sitting on the floor of her office, she looked put-together. Maybe it was her white, blunt, chin-length haircut that gave her a sophisticated air. Not a lot of women could pull it off. Luna pulled her braid around to the front. “I’ve been thinking of cutting this off.”

Both Chi-Chi and Ellie asked, “Why?” at the same time.

“It’s a little dated.” Then Luna looked at Chi-Chi’s long hair. “Not yours. You do so many different things with yours. Mine is either pulled back with a headband, in a ponytail, or a braid. I feel like I’m boring.”

“Are you saying you’re thinking of a makeover?” Ellie tilted her head.

“I’m not sure, but I think my odd mood might be because I’m in a rut.”

“You? Rut? Hardly,” Ellie protested.

“Seriously. I’ve had this same Boho look for fifteen years. Maybe more.”

“Was there something in that dresser that is making you feel passé?” Ellie asked as she pulled out a chair.

“You have such beautiful hair.” Chi-Chi took hold of Luna’s braid. “It would be a shame to cut it.”

“I’m finding a few gray hairs. I dunno. Maybe something to freshen it up.” She pulled her hair from Chi-Chi’s hand and scrutinized it.

“I would suggest you wait a few days before you do anything drastic,” Ellie urged.

“Huh.” Luna wasn’t known for waiting and wanted to take a pair of scissors to her hair immediately. “Maybe I’ll make an appointment at the salon next week. I don’t want to shock Chris.”

“Good idea. Why don’t you ask him what he thinks?” Ellie said.

“Ask Chris what he thinks about my hair?” Luna balked. “What do men know about hair, except when they are losing their own?”

Chi-Chi and Ellie laughed. “That doesn’t seem to be Chris’s problem. At least not yet,” Ellie added.

Luna’s eyes brightened. “What if I go to a wig store and try a few on? This way, I’ll have an idea of what I like and what looks good on me.”

“Now that sounds like an excellent idea,” Chi-Chi said.

“Sometimes I’m smarter than I look.” Luna chuckled. “But right now, I’m not thrilled with how I look.”

“Perhaps I should help you with your makeup today. And we can do something interesting with your hair,” Chi-Chi offered.

“For instance?” Luna was intrigued.

“What if I do gypsy braids instead of this?” Chi-Chi picked up the end of Luna’s hair again.

“Gypsy braids?” Luna asked.

“It’s a mixture of box braids and loose tendrils. A slightly undone look,” Chi-Chi suggested. She pulled her phone from the hidden pocket in her kaftan and searched for photos until she found a style she thought would look good on Luna. “Like this.”

“I like it. And I like that ombre coloring too,” Luna said, referring to the gradient change from medium brown to brownish blond.

“Do not get ahead of yourself or me. Let us start with the braids. But I do agree. The colors would look nice with your complexion.”

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