Page 18 of Forever and Other Lies

Flipping the pages of the scheduling book on the counter, she picked up a pencil. Jayna had spent enough time in this salon to be familiar with the procedure. “Next week for a cut and color. How about Tuesday around two? I need your name?”

Speaking of old maids, she recognized that nasally voice instantly. “Can you spell that, please? O-P-H-E-L-I-E.” She messed up the spelling on purpose.

Ophelia sounded annoyed as she corrected Jayna.

“What, E-A? Oh, I-A. And what’s your last name? Metter?” She messed that up, too. “Sorry, Mettler, with two T’s?”

Ophelia snapped back with the correct spelling of her last name.

“Got it, Meddler.” Oh, this was too easy.

She caught Vanessa’s shocked expression and tried not to laugh.

“So, you said you wanted a cut and color? Did you want blue highlights or green?”

Oh, that got quite the reaction, along with a gasp from Vanessa.

“Are you sure? So maybe purple instead?”

She held the phone receiver away from her ear as the piercing voice intensified. “No, just your regular color, which is bright orange?”

Jayna smirked and raised both eyebrows at Vanessa. “Really ma’am, that’s not nice. There is no need to yell.” She paused and listened. “No, I’m not new. I’ve worked here for years.”

Now Ophelia was demanding to know her name.

“Uh, Jamie.” She threw her friend under the bus. “Yes, I still own my store. I just moonlight here sometimes. And you should really consider the purple highlights. Hello? Hello?”

Jayna hung up the phone. “Well, I guess Jamie will get an earful next time she runs into Lady O.”

“Jayna.” Vanessa had both hands on her hips and wore an exasperated expression. “I’ll be the one getting the ear full.”

“What? It was only the Meddler.” Her hands went up in the air. “Do you know how many times that woman got me in shit when I was a teenager?”

“It was probably well deserved,” Vanessa shot back.

“I have that day off. Can I come in and help? I could mix the hair dye for you.” A vision filled her mind of Vanessa spinning the chair around so Ophelia could see the finished cut and color. A bright vibrant green that would contrast well with the red of Ophelia’s shocked face.

“That is very tempting,” Vanessa couldn’t contain the laughter any longer. “But no. I run a professional salon.”

Vanessa pulled the cape from around Piper’s shoulders. The shy woman had a brand-new look.

“Wow, Piper. Seriously, wow!” Jayna whistled.

Normally, Piper kept her hair tied in a neat, low bun. Vanessa had cut in bouncy layers with angled bangs and added caramel lowlights to the light natural blonde. The schoolteacher was smoking hot. Or she could be if her wardrobe wasn’t so conservative.

Piper moved to the counter, pulling her wallet out of her purse.

“Do you have anywhere you have to be right now?” Jayna asked her.

“No, why?” Piper’s newly shaped brows furrowed.

“Do you have much credit on your credit card?” Jayna tapped the card in Piper’s hand.

“Yes.”

“Let’s go, hot stuff. Or almost hot stuff.” Jayna grinned.

“Go where?” Piper’s voice held a hint of terror.

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