Page 52 of Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon
Currently Erin has a bare forehead so clearly a fringe has not appealed to her recently, if ever, but as Trudy studies her face she can see that Josie is right: it would suit a fringe, and the long bob would frame her face in an attractive way.
‘Good girl.’ This time she says it aloud, partly so Erin can hear. ‘You’re right.’
Now Erin looks a little nervous.
‘What do you reckon, Erin? Long bob and a sweeping fringe? Like Di after she had Harry.’
The princess had grown her hair long for a little while then cut it short again after the media made a fuss. But Trudy probably wouldn’t be the only hairdresser who kept photos of that brief period where they got to see how that famous cut looked when it grew out. It was hair history, so she had felt moved to document it.
‘Can we take a little bit off first and see what it looks like?’ Erin says, and as her eyes meet Trudy’s once more, there is fear in them and Trudy feels for this woman who is trying to do something here – support her daughter, perhaps, and move beyond what’s comfortable for her in order to do so – yet doesn’t appear to be ready for it.
‘Sure. Josie will brush out your hair, then we’ll see what we’re dealing with.’
She has time for a quick ciggie before she settles in for what she thinks may be an afternoon of negotiation, and when she returns Josie is looking tense but Erin is smiling, so Trudy picks up her scissors and makes a start.
While she’s trimming the ends Erin makes a face as if she’s in pain.
Trudy stops and looks at her in the mirror. ‘Everything all right, pet?’
‘Oh. Yes. I’m just worried you’re going to take too much.’
‘Gently, gently.’ Trudy puts on the smile she uses when a client is overreacting and she would like them to stop. It’s almost beatific, that smile. She learnt it from the nuns at her primary school. ‘You do want a new style, though?’ she goes on.
‘Mm-hm.’ Erin nods then smiles herself.
‘So can I start to shape it?’
‘All – all right.’ Erin glances toward Josie, who has been floating around them for the past minute or so.
‘Honestly, Mum, she’s the best,’ Josie says.
Erin presses her lips together. ‘Go ahead,’ she says to Trudy, who starts to snip with more purpose.
‘Thank you,’ Erin says quietly after a couple of minutes have passed.
‘For what, pet?’
‘For looking after my girl.’
Their eyes meet in the mirror.
Trudy smiles knowingly. ‘I think she’s pretty good at looking after herself.’ She wonders just who Erin thinks her daughter is, because the Josie at the salon is capable and responsible. So she decides to say it.
‘She is great with clients. And I wouldn’t trust just anyone with my clients, because I’ve been here a long time.’
Erin seems quietly pleased, her smile small but persistent. ‘That’s good,’ she murmurs. ‘We did raise her to have manners.’
‘It’s more than manners.’ Trudy winks at Josie, whose eyes are wide. ‘She has a talent for putting people at ease. Believe me, I’m rapt she’s here.’
Erin nods but only looks at her daughter in the mirror for a second. Almost as if she doesn’t want Josie to see that she’s proud. She is, though – Trudy can tell.
When Trudy has finished giving Erin the long bob, she calls Josie over. ‘What do you think, pet?’
Josie breaks out in a grin. ‘I love it! Mum?’
Erin pats the underside of her hair. ‘Yes, it’s good.’ She nods. ‘Very good.’
Trudy waves off payment but Erin insists, then she watches as Josie walks her mother outside. There’s no hug or kiss; just a pat on the shoulder from mother to daughter. It’s an odd formality given that Josie lives at home, but it’s not for Trudy to judge someone else’s family.
