Page 71 of No Place Like Home
I cleaned behind every chair and in every corner. It always amazed me where hair could hide, filling the little cracks and crevices of thesalon. Always trying to stay just out of reach so they could lay around a little longer, never seen and maybe forgotten.
It was a lot like the lies I’d told myself for years, and the lies I’d made my friends believe. Lies about how I didn’t need love. Lies about how love wasn’t worth it. It wasn’t important. Lies about how I was good by myself. I didn’t need anyone. If I just told one small lie at a time, it wouldn’t hurt anyone—yet over time they built up a wall around me, and letting anyone in who I could trust became difficult.
Great, Summer, I thought as I finished sweeping.You’re comparing your life to the cracks and corners in a salon. Great metaphor.Kora and Darlene’s teacher-hearts would be proud.
I chuckled and turned the music up louder. Soon, I lost track of time as I washed towels, organized shelves again—which I’d done last week and didn’t really need to do this soon—and other small repetitive tasks that comforted me. I was on the phone with our sales rep ordering more stock when the back door opened.
“Hey, Summer. Are you here?” Kaye’s voice carried through the kitchen into the office. I muted the phone. “We brought lunch.”
“I’m placing our restock order, Kaye. Be out in a minute.”
She poked her head in. “Did you see the note I left about the color I needed?”
I tapped my pad. “On my list.”
“You’re awesome, Summer. Tell Jasper hi.”
I relayed the message, finished the order, and clicked off my phone. I laid my hands flat on the table and leaned back to take in a deep breath. I entered the new products I ordered on our inventory spreadsheet and walked into the kitchen. Kaye and her husband, Charles, and Diane and her husband, Tom, were sitting at the roundtable in the corner, bags of my favorite food on the counter—barbecue.
“We knew you’d be here,” Charles said, “so we brought lunch. Grab a sandwich and some macaroni and cheese and eat with us.” He held his sandwich high in the air. It was overflowing with barbecue and looked mouthwatering.
I fixed my sandwich, piled macaroni and cheese on my plate, and sat at the table. “Don’t you guys work?”
Charles swallowed a bite of his sandwich. “Yes, but not today. I took some extra days because of the wedding.”
“Yep, we had Skylar,” Tom said. “And had to get her to kindergarten this morning.”
Charles winked at me. “You must have had a fun time Saturday. No one heard from you at all Sunday. We went by Tonya’s to see Nigel before he went back to Florida, and you didn’t answer when we came knocking.”
They came knocking? I’d had no clue. It could have been when I was in the bathtub with my earbuds in to drown out the world. I took in a deep breath to calm the knots that started to pull tightly in my gut. “I was probably relaxing in the tub, or in bed. I had my earbuds in most the day and was enjoying a day to myself. It was an exhausting week.”
I took a large bite of the sandwich. “Damn, this is delicious. I think I forgot to eat yesterday. I’m starving.” I washed my bite down with Diet Coke. “Thanks.” I made eye contact with the men and smiled.
“Anything for you, Summer. You know that,” Charles said.
I continued eating and didn’t miss the wordless conversation going on around the table. I narrowed my eyes. What the hell wasgoing on? This wasn’t just about bringing lunch by. I was missing something.
Tom stood and took some of the trash on the table to the trash can. “Why don’t you women come by Charles and Kaye’s house when you’re done here?” He looked at Charles and lifted his brow.
Charles got up quickly. “Yep, you ladies do whatever you need to do here. We’ll see you at the house. Have some stylist time, girl time, whatever you need. I’m sure there’s some wine in the fridge. Enjoy a glass and we’ll see you soon.”
The men kissed their wives, gave me hugs, and left the hair salon. They were not as slick as they tried to be. Lunch was a cover for getting the women here to talk to me. About what, I didn’t know. But I could probably guess.
I made another sandwich. I knew I was hungry, and this barbecue and the fried pickles were the best. They even put holes in the box of the fried pickles so the fried goodness wouldn’t get soggy in its own steam. I popped one in my mouth. It was heavenly. I continued eating and ignored Diane and Kaye, which was difficult.
They kept glancing between each other, then back to me. “Kora made the most stunning bride,” Kaye finally said, “and, Summer, you looked breathtaking in that dress.”
Diane agreed. “Absolutely. It was the perfect wedding and a perfect setting. The Warfields sure know how to put on a party.”
“It’s got to be easy when you have that spread and endless money to make things happen. Leila struck it rich when she fell for Adler. And not just because he’s loaded.” Kaye sighed happily. “He’s the entire package. Rich, sweet, and good looking. I can’t wait to see that baby.”
“I know,” Diane beamed. “And the best part is, when the baby’s born, I’m staying with them to help them out. Take care of Skylar and get her to school.”
I listened to their conversation. It seemed strained and a bit forced. I wiped my fingers on my napkin, finished the last of my drink, and threw my trash in the can. Things became quiet as I cleaned. Eerily quiet. I felt eyes on my every move.
That’s when it hit me. They knew about the conversation I had Saturday night.
Darlene and Lilly were close and I’m sure what I told Darlene was eating away at her. With Kora out of reach, she probably talked to Lilly, and I’d bet my left tit Lilly talked to Kaye and Jamison. I leaned on the counter, my back to them.
