Page 26 of Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon
‘Tired,’ Anna says, plopping down in the chair and openingNew Idea, which has another cover of The Princess of Wales and that hairstyle. The last blonde who caused that much fuss was Marilyn Monroe. Or Agnetha from ABBA.
‘Oh?’ Trudy is intrigued, because that’s more intel than Anna usually shares. Typically she says ‘Fine’.
‘Two kids, work, no help.’ Anna smiles tightly then holds up the magazine. ‘Just need a little respite.’
‘Sure,’ Trudy says, understanding. But theno helpthing is interesting: the last time Trudy heard, Anna had a husband. Which doesn’t mean she had help, obviously – they’re not all like Laurie was – but it’s a curious thing to say. Still, Trudy won’t push. Some customers are like dogs, panting all over you with their news, and others are like cats, taking their time to decide if you’re worth inhabiting the same planet as them. Anna is definitely a cat.
‘How’s work, pet?’ Trudy says. She knows Anna is a seamstress, and that some of her clients have given her work, but not much else.
‘Fine. I’m mostly mending. Some alterations.’
‘She makes things too,’ Ingrid says, smiling at Trudy in the mirror. ‘Really lovely dresses.’
Anna looks surprised.
‘Dresses?’ Trudy prompts. ‘I can’t even sew on a button properly. I can’t imagine making a dress.’
Anna shrugs. ‘It’s easy once you know how.’
‘She creates her own designs,’ Ingrid says proudly and again Anna looks as if she’s never heard those words before.
‘They’re not that good,’ Anna mumbles.
‘Darling, they are!’
‘If you say so.’
‘I know so.’ Ingrid beams. ‘Mothers know, don’t they, Trudy?’
‘We do,’ Trudy agrees.
‘Thanks, Mama,’ Anna says distractedly, then she leafs through the magazine.
Ingrid frowns then her face relaxes.
‘The usual?’ Trudy asks and Ingrid nods.
By the time she’s finished Ingrid, Evie has arrived, and at that point the salon starts to resemble a bus exchange. Clientsin, clients out, hairdressers moving around like conductors taking tickets. The bustle is good. The bustle keeps Trudy going. Without it she’d have too much time to think.
An hour later Sam is there and tending to Bobbie, a client who had left to follow Jane but called to book in with ‘the new gentleman’. Clearly word’s got around about young Sam, and if he’s bringing clients to the salon, she’s all for it.
‘Hello, pet,’ she greets Bobbie, trying to keep a straight face because the woman’s hair, previously dyed red, is now brown with huge stripes of blonde. It’s not a look Trudy recognises, nor one that is flattering – are they meant to be streaks? Jane was always good at streaks.
Trudy didn’t check to see what Bobbie’s booked in for but she hopes it’s a colour – although Sam will need a few hours to fix this mess.
Josie ushers Bobbie to Sam, who acts as if the woman is the best thing he’s seen all day. Trudy has no idea where he finds the enthusiasm, but she loves him for it.
‘Darl!’ he says. ‘That’s quite the look. Are we keeping it or moving on?’
Bobbie sits with a thud. ‘Moving on,’ she says, then glances Trudy’s way. Trudy smiles as warmly as she can, although she’s enjoying this situation far more than she should. Not that she wants Jane to fail. Not much.
Going to check the book – because if Sam’s fixing that mess his next client or two will need to be reassigned – Trudy spies Evie gazing wistfully at the back of Sam’s head. Evie glances across and notices that Trudy has seen her, and she quickly looks away, her cheeks pink.
Trudy knows that look. She’s seen it on countless girls and women talking about the men they love. Their eyes change and their lips part and no matter how many times Trudy sees it, she thinks it’s sweet. Not on Evie, though. On Evie it’s trouble.
She’s well aware Evie needs a little bit of romance, shall we say, but she doesn’t believe Evie will get that with Sam. He’s not the romancing type – not with ladies. Trudy worked that out pretty quickly because she has been, as Laurie might say, around the traps. But Evie, it seems, hasn’t a clue, given the way she’s looking at Sam, and Trudy’s not going to be the one to tell her, because even though they’ve known each other for a while, they’re not close. Not in the way of discussing potential suitors. Evie would probably tell her to mind her own business if she said anything, and vice versa. Or ‘vicky versa’. Laurie used to say that too.
Trudy is worried for Evie, though, because if she’s already that far gone, any extrication will be painful. This phase of wanting someone – it’s too early to call it love – is like being brainwashed, and nothing Trudy could say would persuade Evie differently. This will just have to play out, and Trudy will have to watch, and be ready to catch Evie when she falls.
