Page 28 of Six Steps to Happiness
Ronnie cringed as she recalled bumping into Jack outside the hair salon. Picturing the contents of her handbag strewn all over the place, she’d obviously missed seeing it lying there. Not sure she’d ever forget the absolute horror written on Jack’s face that day, she felt embarrassed that he’d seen her in such a bouffant state. Although, on a positive note, at least Nick hadn’t tried to get her into trouble again.
“Thank you,” she said, reaching out to retrieve the notebook. “It’s kind of you to return it.” As her hand inadvertently touched his, she quickly pulled back, sure something electric passed between them.Static, she silently insisted as she rubbed her palm. On account of her bristly head.
“No worries. I was in the area and had a spare five minutes, so I thought why not drop it in.”
“I hadn’t even noticed it had gone,” Ronnie said. “I mean I would have done. Eventually. Like when I needed it for work.” Realising she was waffling, she flicked through its pages, glancing at sketch after sketch of handbag design ideas as a means of shutting herself up.
“They’re very good,” Jack said, taking a step forward. “I hope you don’t mind but I had a quick browse. You’re really talented.”
Ronnie smiled. Personally, she didn’t find any of them worth developing further. But two compliments in one day,incredibleandtalented,she could handle that. She placed the notebook down on the dining table. “Can I get you a drink? A tea? Or coffee?” Under the circumstances, it was the least she could do. “To say thanks.”
“I would if I could.” He indicated to his uniform. “But I should get back to work.”
“Of course.” Her degree of disappointment surprised her. “Sorry.” Ronnie indicated to the door. “I’ll see you out, shall I?”
She began following Jack down the hall, realising the man’s physique was equally as impressive from the back. Her eyes lit up at the sight of his rather firm-looking rear. However, she found herself forced into a standstill, almost bumping into him again when he suddenly turned to face her. She flushed red as she quickly lifted her gaze and, hoping he hadn’t noticed, told herself to focus.
“I was just wondering…” Jack suddenly appeared nervous.
“Yes?”
“If you’d consider maybe going…”
Ronnie’s heart rate quickened. Was this man really about to ask her out? Remembering how she’d misread the nosebleed situation at the gym, she tried and failed in her insistence not to get too excited. Staring at him in anticipation, he stared back.
Ronnie jumped as the front door flew open, interrupting the moment; Bea’s bangles and bracelets jangling as she and Willow rushed in from the street.
19
Looking from Jack to her daughter and then her mother-in-law, Ronnie couldn’t believe it. Talk about bad timing.
Bea came to a sudden standstill, her eyes narrowing as she looked up at Jack. “What’s going on? Why are you here?” She turned to Ronnie. “Please don’t tell me you’ve been up to more mischief.”
“Mum?” Willow said, Ronnie’s lack of hair clearly coming as a bit of a shock.
“Oh my word,” Bea said, suddenly clocking it too.
Jack smiled at the sight of them, both standing there open-mouthed and trance-like. Obviously amused by Ronnie’s new guests, he had to squeeze passed them to get to the door. “Ladies,” he said to the unresponsive women, pausing to give Ronnie one final look and a wink before making his exit.
While Willow and Bea continued to gawp, Ronnie almost swooned. She couldn’t believe Jack might have been on the verge of asking her out on a date. What would she have said if he had? Her shoulders slumped as he disappeared from view. She supposed she’d never know.
She growled at her daughter and mother-in-law for their interruption, an act that brought them out of their reverie. Turning, Ronnie stomped back to the kitchen, leaving them no choice but to follow her.
She sat down at the table, waiting for the onslaught of questions about to ensue.What was she thinking? Why would she do that to herself? Was she having a mid-life crisis? A nervous breakdown even?
Ronnie had known shaving her head would invite comments. Instead of appearing confident to the wider world, most people would see her as aggressive and confrontational. Or at the other end of the scale, worthy of pity, because she must have some sort of condition or god-awful disease. The fact of the matter was, getting rid of her hair had been liberating, each cut of the scissors and swipe of the razor making her feel that bit lighter and freer. It felt like an emboldening, a means of taking control. Moreover, it forced people to look her in the eye, to really see her. She smiled to herself. If she’d read the situation right, PC Jack Shenton haddefinitelytaken notice.
Her daughter and mother-in-law took the seats opposite, spellbound once again.
“I know we suggested a restyle, but this is something else,” Bea said.
“It’s certainly different,” Willow replied.
“And I have to say, it’s not exactly a look many people can pull off.”
“Not many people would want to.”
Bea put a hand up to her chest. “I can’t believe how much younger she looks.”
