Page 112 of Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon
Anna glances over to where Sam is throwing his head back with laughter at something a client has said. ‘Does he know?’
Evie shakes her head. ‘Not unless Oliver has told him.’
‘I bet he hasn’t. When a man is serious about a woman he keeps his mouth shut until he’s sure about what’s going on.’
‘Really?’
For some reason Evie doesn’t know these sorts of things about men. Oh, that’s right: the reason is that she hasn’t had that much experience with them.
‘Men are gossips, don’t get me wrong – but my brothers didn’t breathe a word about the women they ended up marrying before they were well into the relationships. Unlike other girlfriends. Couldn’t shut them up about those.’ She pauses. ‘It’s like they’re superstitious or something. And they say women are weird!’
Evie nods and puts a cape on her friend. ‘Wash and blow-dry?’ she asks.
‘Um … how much time do you have?’
‘Why?’
‘Do you have time to do a colour?’ Anna’s smile is bright and hopeful.
A colour usually requires notice, but Evie can hardly say no. Doesn’t want to, in fact. She has a cut coming in about half an hour, which she can fit in while Anna’s colour is taking. Then one more client in for a wash and blow-dry but Trudy might be able to help. Mainly because Trudy knows about the dinner tonight and will support Evie trying to get away on time.
‘What do you have in mind?’
Anna holds her gaze in the mirror. ‘I’d like to know whatyouhave in mind.’
Evie thinks about this. Typically the clients have their own ideas for their hair, even if Evie doesn’t agree with them. One lady wanted to go russet even though it really didn’t suit her skin tone, which Evie gently told her; once it was done she blamed Evie for the fact she looked sallow, and Evie then had to spend another hour fixing the colour with more chocolatey tones. However, she’d prefer the clients make their own decisions as opposed to her having to do it. Choosing a colour for a client is a lot of responsibility. Especially when she knows the client well.
She swallows and looks at Anna’s brown hair, which is an average sort of brown, nothing remarkable about it. Which can be good: it’s kind of like a blank slate. But a woman who’s had an average hair colour her entire life usually doesn’t want to stand out. Which means your options, as her hairdresser, are limited to mildly enhancing the average colour.
Except she doesn’t think that’s what Anna wants. A woman who didn’t want to stand out would not have kicked her husband out of the house.
‘You could go blonde,’ Evie says.
Anna’s eyes widen. ‘Ooh. Really?’
‘Sure,’ she says with a shrug. ‘It would suit you. Your eyes are blue and the blonde would make them pop more.’
‘You mean … blonde like Lady Di?’
‘Diana isquiteblonde,’ Evie says, picking up some strands of Anna’s hair. ‘I’m thinking we start with some highlights and see how you like them. Then if you want to go blonder we can do it gradually. It’s better for your hair if we don’t go too hard too fast.’
‘I trust you,’ Anna says in such a way that it makes Evie smile. They didn’t know each other even a few months ago. Now here’sAnna saying she trusts her. Not that long ago, in the grip of her fantasies about Sam, Evie didn’t even trust herself.
‘Thank you,’ Evie says. ‘I’ll do my best.’
‘I know.’ Anna smiles then sits further back in her chair. ‘Let’s do it.’
They chat while Evie does the streaks, and after Sam’s seen his client out the door he comes over.
‘Going blonde – I thoroughly approve,’ he says with a wink to Anna in the mirror.
‘Says the man with the darkest hair in town.’
He pats his layered head of hair. ‘I may get streaks one day. Summer’s coming.’
‘Then I’ll do them for you,’ Evie says with a smile.
‘Wouldn’t want anyone else,’ Sam says, then he quickly kisses her cheek before moving away.
