Page 60 of Proof

“Ooh, baby. You can say that again!” Gail roared.

Luna laughed. “Ha! Yes, there are things we would undo if given the opportunity.”

“Ah. Historical revisionism. If only.”

“Politicians do it all the time!” Luna pointed out.

“Well, that is true.”

“How about historical eraserism?” Another new word for Luna’s dictionary.

“I like that. Can I use it?” Gail chuckled.

“Be my guest.”

“And you be my guest.”

“That’s fair.” Luna took a breath. “I have to make a few phone calls to clear the decks. How about I get back to you tomorrow or the day after?”

“Perfect. This is going to be . . . So. Much. Fun. How about we plan it around the solstice? We’ll get up and watch the sunrise from Bell Rock. Like we did when I first moved here.”

“Fantastic! And your other mission will be to book us a spot at that fabulous spa on Oak Creek.”

“Where we went in the hot tub? And it was forty degrees outside?”

“That’s the place! My treat!” Luna offered.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know I don’t have to. But I want to. It’ll be an early birthday present.”

“Fab! Okay, sweetcakes. I gotta run. Check in when you have a date, and we’ll nail everything down. Love you!”

“Love you too!” Luna ended the call. She felt a sudden burst of energy and a total mood shift. She sent Chris a text, asking if he had a minute to talk. She didn’t like to interrupt him when he was at work. She included No rush so he wouldn’t think it was an emergency. He responded he’d call within the hour.

In the meantime, Luna began to check online for hair salons. Chi-Chi did her own hair and cut Luna’s when she needed an inch or two removed to freshen the ends, so there wasn’t anyone around who could recommend a salon. Maybe Ellie. She buzzed her via the walkie-talkie. “Hey, Ellie, can you recommend a good salon?”

“Of course, dear—Les Cheveux. Ask for Felipé. And please be sure to pronounce it with an accent over the last E,” Ellie instructed, with a bit of a giggle.

“Thanks, Ellie. I shall call them and ask for Felipé.” Luna had been sporting the same hairstyle since college. And her granny dresses needed an update, as well. She went to the Les Cheveux website and checked out their extensive gallery of styles and color. She gravitated to the ombre style again. The one she particularly liked started as a warm brown at the roots and continued for about three inches, then gradually turned to a lighter brown, and then a brownish blond at the end. She would have to cut her hair in order for it to look right. She pulled her long braid around and measured about a foot, maybe more. It was going to be drastic, for sure.

Instead of being nervous about cutting her hair, Luna was excited. For some reason, she felt as if she were getting a fresh start. Not that she needed one, but all the change in Chris’s life would invariably impact hers. She noted the photo and phoned the salon. She crossed her fingers in the hope they would have an opening before she chickened out. Fortunately, they had a cancellation for later that day, and Luna scooped it up. She began to browse through a few retail websites to see how she could change up her wardrobe. The hippy-dippy bohemian look was so last decade. Several, in fact.

Luna jumped when her phone rang. “Hey!” she greeted Chris.

“Hey, dollface. What’s up?”

“Ellie asked me to go to Sedona to scout out Native American art at Tlaquepaque.”

“That sounds like fun. Sedona is right up your alley,” Chris replied.

“Yes, it is. I’m going to stay with Gail.”

“Someone better notify the authorities,” Chris chided.

“Very funny,” Luna remarked. “I wanted to see what your schedule was like so I can plan accordingly.”

“I just got out of a meeting with the director. I have to go to a special training lab for two weeks and am waiting for Evan to get back to me to see if he has any idea how soon we’ll get a hearing.”

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