Page 73 of Entranced
The hotel’s exclusive and expansive beauty salon offered everything from a wash and set to something exotically—and terrifyingly—termed body wrapping.
Mel hadn’t had the courage for that one, but she was getting the treatment from head to toe—and every inch between.
She arrived moments before Linda and, falling back on her established persona, greeted the woman like an old friend.
During leg waxing—which, Mel discovered quickly enough, did hurt—they discussed clothes and hairstyles. Smiling through gritted teeth, Mel was glad she’d boned up for hours the night before with fashion magazines.
Later, while whatever pungent glop the beautician smeared on her face hardened, Mel chatted about how much she was enjoying living in Tahoe.
“Our view of the lake is incredible. I really can’t wait until we get to know more people. I love to entertain.”
“Jasper and I can introduce you around,” Linda offered as the pedicurist buffed her toenails. “Being in the hotel business, we know just about everyone you’d want to know.”
“That would be marvellous.” Mel chanced a look down and tried to look pleased, rather than horrified, that her toenails were being painted fuchsia. “Donovan mentioned to me that he met Jasper on the golf course at the club. Donovan just loves playing golf,” she said, hoping it trapped him into spending hours on the green. “It’s more a passion than a hobby.”
“Jasper’s the same way. I can’t work up an interest in it myself.” She began to chat about different peopleshe wanted Mel to meet, and about how they might get together for tennis or sailing.
Mel agreed animatedly, wondering if a person could actually die of boredom.
Her face was scrubbed clean, and cream was slathered on. Some sort of oil was squirted all over her hair, and then plastic was wrapped around it.
“I just love being pampered this way,” Linda murmured. They were both lying back in soft chairs, having their hands massaged and their nails done.
“Me, too,” Mel said, and prayed they were nearly finished.
“I suppose that’s why this job suits me. Most of the time I work nights, so my days are free. And I can make use of all the hotel’s benefits.”
“Have you worked here long?”
“Almost two years now.” She sighed. “It’s never dull.”
“I imagine you meet all sorts of fascinating people.”
“The high-powered sort. That’s what I like. From what you were saying the other day, your husband doesn’t sound like small change.”
Mel would have grinned, but she settled for an indulgent smile. “Oh, he does very well. You could say that Donovan has the magic touch.”
They were rinsed, their scalps were massaged—Mel actually found it quite enjoyable—and it was nearly time for the finishing touches. She realized that if Linda didn’t probe soon she would have to find an opening to bring up the subject herself.
“You know, Mary Ellen, I was thinking about what you told me the other day.”
“Oh.” Mel feigned discomfort. “I’m so sorry about that, Linda, dumping on you that way, and so soon after we’d met. I guess I was feeling a little lost and homesick.”
“Nonsense.” Linda waved her glorious nails. “I think we just hit it off, that’s all. You were comfortable with me.”
“Yes, I was. But I’m more than a little embarrassed to think that I bored you with all that business about mypersonal life.”
“I wasn’t bored at all. I was touched.” Her voice was smooth as silk, with just the right touch of sympathy. Mel felt her hackles rising. “And it made me think. Please tell me if I’m getting too personal. But have you ever considered private adoption?”
“You mean going through a lawyer who works with unwed mothers?” Mel gave a long, wistful sigh. “Actually, we did try that route once, about a year ago. We weren’t quite sure it was right. It wasn’t that the money was a problem, but we were concerned about the legality, and the morality. But it all seemed perfect. We even went so far as to have an interview with the mother. Our hopes were very high. Too high. We picked our names and window-shopped for baby things. It really looked as if it was going to happen. At the last minute, she backed out.”
Mel bit her lower lip, as if to steady herself.
“That must have been dreadful for you.”
“We both took it very hard. To get that close and then … nothing. We haven’t discussed trying that way again since.”
“I can understand that. But, as it happens, I do know of someone who’s had a great deal of luck placing babies with adoptive parents.”
