Page 19 of Pierced Pages
In a lot of ways, Lila had saved her. Danielle still had her mother for help back then, but she was a college student with a baby. Predictability and routines had helped them both function and thrive in those early years. And difficult as it had been to finish school with a baby, Lila returned order to Danielle’s life, and she never missed those chaotic days she left behind.
But now? Lila was older now. Maybe they could start shedding at least some of that orderly blanket Danielle had wrapped them in.
And it was just earrings. It wasn’t like she was going to upend their lives by piercing her ears. It was past time to try something new again.
Danielle left the meat to brown for a second and reached for her phone. She found the text she was looking for and stared at the name for a second.
Who was she kidding? This was never about the earrings. Not really. Because she could go anywhere else if being around Morgan was a problem.
But she didn’t want to go anywhere else.
Hey, Morgan! Danielle, from Melanie and Kim’s thing. I’d like to get my ears pierced after all, so I was wondering if the offer todo that still stands? I mean, I’ll pay you. Just wondering if you’ll do it?
She quickly sent the text, then slid her phone away on the counter, immediately regretting every single word, the length of her rambling, and the idea in the first place.
Those were too many words. Too many sentences.
Oh, gosh, should she have written all of that in full sentences? She was an English teacher. That was about as informal as she got most days.
She didn’t have to second-guess herself for long. After hearing the ding, Danielle reached for her phone on the counter and read the reply.
Sure. Least busy at night. Like 7 to close at 8. I’ll be there tonight through Saturday.
Saturday is great!
Weekends were easier to swing than weekdays. And it wasn’t like she had anywhere to go on a Saturday. She was sure she could get Gerri or Melanie to watch Lila. Assuming Danielle’s budding social butterfly wouldn’t have sleepover plans.
See you then
Danielle slid the phone away again and put her hands over her mouth.
Why was this such a big deal? It certainly wasn’t about the piercing itself. No, it was the woman doing the piercing that had Danielle’s insides in knots.
But she needed to get that under control. Lila still needed a lot of her time. Just keeping them both fed and the house moderately clean was more than she could handle on top oflesson plans and grading papers and all the other things in their lives.
Even if that wasn’t true, Morgan had already made it clear she wasn’t interested in a relationship.
She was still going to go Saturday night. Absolutely. But she needed to stop thinking about Morgan.
She needed a distraction. Something new and different in her life that wasn’t a beautiful woman.
Wait.
There was another offer.
She grabbed her phone one more time, but this time she texted Melanie
Still thinking about that book club? I’m in!
Chapter 9
Morgan
The client held the mirror and moved her face around to examine Morgan’s work. The woman’s fluffy red bangs peeked out beneath a colorful fabric headband, while the rest of her curly hair framed her head in a bob that looked cute on her youthful face.
When she was satisfied, the woman handed the mirror back.
“Looks great!”
