Page 59 of Hidden Nature

“We didn’t have anything but regular scissors, and this other tiny pair, but we sat down, and I snipped and combed and snipped. We were both very pleased and excited with the results, and… celebrated. So much so that nine months later, Sloan came along.”

That had a laugh bursting out so Sloan had to press a hand against her chest. “Oh, don’t do that! I’m not ready for that yet. OW!”

By the time Elsie wielded the hair dryer, and Drea finished up withher own mascara—deemed superior to Sloan’s—Sloan felt easy again. And resigned. However her hair looked, she’d live with it.

It couldn’t be worse than what she’d done herself.

“What do you think, Drea?”

“Well, I love it. And the makeup?”

“Excellent. Sloan, sit where you are. Drea, sweep up the hair, will you? I’ll go shake this towel out. Then we’ll do the big reveal.”

Sloan waited until Elsie stepped outside. “Drea.”

“I’d tell you if we needed an SOS to Aileen. We don’t. I can’t tell you if you’ll like it or not, and at some point, you’ll want a pro. But I really like the look. It’s hard to give this up.”

Drea lifted the tail of hair from the counter.

“I get it, but I not only really like the look, I’m coming down hard on this needs to be your look.”

Elsie came back. “Ready for the mirror?”

“Yes. And before I look, thanks. I was a mess, and you fixed it. So thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Now let’s take a look in the powder room mirror.”

“Don’t scream,” Drea warned. “You could pull another muscle.”

They went together, crowded into the powder room.

“God. I look like Tinker Bell.”

“Sexy Tink,” was Drea’s opinion as Sloan lifted a hand, brushed at the thick bangs.

It didn’t seem possible, but her eyes looked bigger, longer. It did lift her face, she had to admit. The short, sort of shaggy cut diminished some of the drawn look she’d gotten used to seeing in the mirror.

Maybe it seemed weird to have her hair cut above her ears on the sides, but it wasn’t bad.

“I think I like it. I hate to admit your mascara’s better.”

“I’ll send you a link.”

“I won’t have to spend time working it into a bun for work. It’s kind of a shock, but I think I like it.”

“We can still call Aileen.”

“No. I need to get used to it. I haven’t had short hair since middle school, so I need to get used to it. It’s a big change. I think… I think it feels good to make a big change.”

She breathed out, nodded.

“Thanks, both of you. You turned a low point into a high point.”

“Good. Drea, stay for dinner. Your dad’s making the beer pork chops and noodles. Let’s go top off our wine.”

While Sloan sat and her mother snipped, her father and cousin got a tour of the old Parker house.

Jonah, former high school quarterback and Dean’s right hand, had sandy hair under a Ravens ball cap. He had a good start on the beard he grew every winter, then shaved off in the spring.

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