Page 52 of Shar: A Woman Alone

Brother and sister? I musthave missed a switch in their relationship, because I had them pegged for morethan that.

Lira makes an appearance fromher room, and we all look guilty as hell for waking her up. “Either I’m lateup, it’s the wrong day, or you’ve all made a mess of your beds. Is that coffeefresh or warmed up from last night?”

“It’s freshly made,” I sayand look at her aghast. I’ve never heard Lira talk like that, ever, and she’sput up with some crap over the weeks.

Crack pours three mugs ofcoffee and then looks at me to see if I want one. “No, thanks. I haven’tprogressed to that stuff yet. When the salon’s been open a while, I’m sure thatit will be a staple part of my diet. Till then, I’ll stick to juice or milk inthe morning.”

Taking her mug of sugarlessblack coffee, Lira disappears back to her room. Seconds later, she’s back forcream and sugar. “It’s too early for all this stuff, and it’s my day off!” Asshe says this, Josie appears.

“Lira? I thought it was yourday off?” Standing there looking confused, Josie looks around at all of us.

“It is me. It is my day off.I’m going back to bed, so keep the noise down.” She shuffles off and we alllook at each other before Crack breaks the silence with a guffaw that couldwake the dead.

Shaking her head, Josie getsto work on preparing breakfast, and that’s no small task these days. The threeof us all wash our hands, then spend the next hour getting under Josie’s feetas we hinder more than help her. During this, Josie drops a bombshell. “Hey,Shar. Did you know Clarice left town after you threatened her?”

“What? She couldn’t just stayaway. She did a runner!” Shar looks shocked.

“Scary Shar! We’d better stayon your good side. I don’t want you running me outta town, pardner.” Crack wassupposed to sound like an old cowboy, I think, but it came out more Irish thananything.

Breakfast over and afterCrack leaves us to start his day, I grab Shar before she can escape and dragher to my room. “What’s happened with you and Crack? What’s with the ‘brotherand sister’ stuff? I thought you’d get with Crack or Sharp. I think the wholeclub thought it.”

“It wasn’t meant to be, Zara.We kissed, and it wasn’t there for any of us. Kissing Crack I felt was likekissing my brother, and he felt the same way. Sharp was nice, but no fireworks.It just wasn’t meant to be.”

I can see that Shar’sdisappointed that she hasn’t found her man here, and I truly believe we allthought that she would. “I suppose that means you’ll be leaving soon, then? Idon’t want you to move on, but I understand.” Shar takes my hand and gives me asad smile.

“I thought that when I camehere from the Raging Barons MC, I would find my forever home, too. Maybe I’mdestined to just keep wandering, always looking for that greener grass. I knowyou didn’t have the best start, Zara, but you’ve got the best possible supportanyone could wish for now.” Seeing my eyes tearing up has her taking a deepbreath. “You are a strong, confident woman and I know that you’ll be a successin anything you choose to do. I’ll always be on the end of the phone if youneed me, just like Mia will always be there, too. I don’t know where I’llfinally settle down, assuming I do, but you’ll always be welcome.”

Feeling my tears finallyrolling down my cheeks, I see her barriers burst too, and we lean on each otherand have a good cry.

Once we are over ourblubbering, we get cleaned up and Shar goes about her business. I never evenasked what she was up to today. Wandering through the clubhouse, I hear my namecalled and see Brawl beckoning me to Pres’s office. It’s never a good feelingbeing summoned there, and with Brawl present, I’m even more nervous.

Reaching the door, Brawlushers me in and then leaves. Phew, that’s one less worry. Perhaps thingsaren’t going to be as bad as my imagination would have me believe.

“Come in, Princess. Take aseat. How’s things in Zara World? More importantly, how’s things with Zara? Areyou bearing up under all this pressure?” Pres leans back and steeples hisfingers. He looks a little intimidating when he does that, and I might stealthat pose for my own meetings.

“Zara World? I like that,Uncle Sharp. I’m good as far as I know. I don’t know about pressure yet, butI’m starting to feel my nerves as opening day gets closer. Is that the same aspressure?”

“Nerves are okay, Zara. Theyshow that you are human and that you care. I’d be worried if you weren’tnervous at this stage.” Smiling at me, he leans forward and puts his hands onhis desk.

“I have to tell you I amextremely proud of the way you have gone about this whole venture. From theconception, business plan, initial visit to the shop, right down to letting goof that manager that had everyone fooled. You have been nothing short of aninspiration. I think you’ll do very well with the salon, and I don’t see itbeing your only venture into the business world, either. Give it a couple ofyears and I think you’ll be pressing for Shar’s title of ‘Business Consultantto the MC World’.”

I feel myself blushing at hispraise and think it’s a little farfetched, to be truthful. “I appreciate theconfidence, Uncle Sharp, but it’s not even open yet, never mind a success.”

“You’re looking at it allwrong, Zara. Once those doors open, you will have achieved an amazing resultfor someone your age. Regardless, if it fails at a later date, you will haveopened your first business and virtually single-handed, too. There has beenminimal input from either Shar or the MC. Apart from the capital that we andyour father put in, it’s all been your hard work and effort that has made itthis far.” Uncle Sharp looks very pleased, and maybe I should take some of hispraise on board.

“Thank you, Uncle Sharp. Ihadn’t thought about it like that. One of my stylists has offered to goshopping with me later, so I can get a work wardrobe. She always looks smartand professional, so I’m taking her up on that and see how that goes.”

“Oh? Which one would thatbe?” Uncle Sharps perks up as he asks me that.

“The one that you neverstopped ogling the whole time you were there. Taylor. She does always look sohot though, doesn’t she?”

“You are ahead of your years,Zara, but yes, she’s hot.” Uncle Sharp reminds me of a wolf from those cartoonsthat’s howling. “But between you and me? I wouldn’t mind getting my fingersburned.”

“Uncle Sharp! You’re so bad.Don’t let Shar or my dad hear you talking like that in front of me. They thinkI’m still a virgin, for heaven’s sake!” Getting up sedately from my chair, Itry to keep a straight face as I head for the door.

Hearing a crash followed by acopious amount of bad language, I turn and see Uncle Sharp trying to get out ofhis chair which has obviously gone over backwards. Not having any regard forthe consequences, I stand there and laugh until I’m going to burst.

As soon as he’s on his feet,he stalks over to me and I can’t do anything except bend over laughing, withtears streaming down my face for the second time today. Grabbing me, he standsthere and laughs with me until our faces ache with the strain.

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