I must have slept passed my alarm, because the ringing of my phone was what woke me up. I slipped from the bed and stumbled to the kitchen to answer.
"Hello?," I answered groggily.
"Oh, Caroline! Hello! It's Janna Lewis, so glad you answered, I was worried I was gonna have to send the sheriff up to check on you," she then cackled at herself.
"Haha," I faked some laughter. "Nope, sorry, just asleep."
"Darlin', it's 10, gotta get up and start the day."
"Yeah, you're right," I yawned.
"Well anyway, I hear from a lil' birdie that you made the acquaintance of my son."
Oh shit...
"Uh, Yeah, I did meet Jeremy."
Janna cheered," I told you he was a catch, didn't I? I'm sorry to hear he took you out on the god awful machine. I told him he needs a respectable car, not some motorcycle, but he never listens. I'll tell you what, he might finally get rid of it now."
"Mhmm," I wasn't really listening as Janna was talking.
"... So I thought today would be perfect, I have an opening at 1."
"What?"
"For your appointment, darlin'. 1 sounds alright?"
Oh she means the salon. Shit, last thing I need is to get see her today after going on a date with Jeremy.
"Well, I have a lot to do today."
"That's why you have to wake up earlier darlin', your wastin' the best part of the day sleepin' in like this."
"Yeah, yeah, I guess you're right."
"So, I'll see you at 1! God bless," she sang and then hung up.
I hung the phone up," Fuck," I said out loud. I went and took a long hot shower and changed into some old clothes before heading out to see my garden, it was still just dirt rows, no sprouts yet. I read that weeding early on is the most crucial so the plants can grow, after I was done I went to see Blossom and Peppermint. Blossom nuzzled me and gave a happy whinny while Peppermint stay in the back of her stall.
"Thomas," I called out as I left the little barn.
"Yeah?," he answered coming out from the shed.
"I have to run into town... need anything?"
He shook his head as he pulled out some old rusted equipment," Oh wait... some raspberry tea," he smiled.
I rolled my eyes," You wish," and headed around the front to my car.
I parked in front of the salon, I was early but I liked being early to things, being in town gave me some opportunities. I could go check out the library, I got out of the car and headed west down main street, took a left on first avenue and got there in 5 minutes. I walked in and the cool air hit me, a drastic contrast from the humidity outside. I felt instantly welcomed, being surrounded by books always did that for me. I saw Mary sitting at the front desk and walked over.
"Hello, miss, is there anyway I can get a library card?," I joked.
She looked up and smiled," Well, I'll be... of course you can little lady."
"This is quite the nice library you have here."
"Well, we all work hard to keep it that way," she handed me a laminated card. "You come to town just for that? I could have brought one to you."
"No, I have a appointment with Janna."
Mary chuckled," She gets everyone to come to that salon."
I looked around the library and sitting at one of the tables was Bryce, the one that was my cousin not the biker with slick fingers. Next to him was a young boy, I recognized him from the picture that used to be at my house. That must be his son.
"What's Bryce doing here?," I asked Mary and she looked to where I saw him.
"Oh Bryce Maxwell always brings his son in when he comes to stay. They love to read together, his little boy reminds me so much of Tommy, but I'd never tell him that."
"Why not? That's a compliment."
She smiled," Sweet of you to say, but if I do tell him that, then it... it would become an issue of me calling the child autistic."
I blinked slowly," Really?"
"Mhhhm," Mary nodded," I made that mistake before."
I had completely forgotten that Thomas was autistic until Mary brought it up again. In all the time Thomas and I have spent together, nothing really stood out as him being different then any other guy I had met.
"Mary, do you have any books about autism? Anything I could check out."
She was quiet for a moment," Yes, we do... and you want them because?" She seeemed suspicious about my intentions.
"Maybe it has some good information in there, something I could learn about."
Mary nodded," Sure, I can show you," she came out from behind the desk and we walked to the back of the library. Bryce looked up as we passed and gave me a small head nod and I waved. "They're here in the medical section," she pulled one off the shelf. "This one was most helpful to me when Tommy was a boy."
"Thank you, Mary. I'll return it soon," I made my way to the front so she could check me out.
"Caroline," Bryce stood up.
"Hey," I walked over to them, Mary took the book the desk.
"Uh, this is my son, Garrett," he gestured to the boy at the table.
The child had bright blonde hair, very similar to Bryce.
"Hello," the little boy smiled to me, he had crooked teeth and bright eyes.
"Hi," I smiled back.
"Garrett, this is your grandma's friend. She's the one who lives in her house now."
"Are you taking care of Debby?," he asked me.
He meant Debra, the sweet little goat.
"Of course, she's doing great. You're always welcome to come by and see her."
Garrett smiled widely," Thank you, ma'am."
I looked to Bryce," He's a very sweet boy."
For the first time since really meeting him, I saw Bryce smile as he looked down at his son. "Yeah, he's a good kid."
"It was great to see you again," I told him.
Bryce nodded," Yeah, we'll have to get Kurtis and Savannah together and do something."
My heart fluttered at the idea," That's be great!," I said a bit too enthusiastically.
"Daddy, can I go see Debby today?," Garrett asked.
"Well, maybe not today, son," he sat back beside him. "But if Ms. Caroline says it's okay, we can head up tomorrow before your mama comes to get you?"
Garrett nodded and turned to me," Can I come up Ms. Caroline?"
"Of course, come by anytime tomorrow."
"Thank you," Bryce nodded and I went to check out my book.
"You plannin' on comin' over for dinner again?," Mary asked me handing me the book.
"I would run across the state for another meal like that," I told her.
She chuckled," Well, hows about Sunday?"
"Sunday sounds amazing. Thank you again Mary. I have to run or I'll be late," I told her as I headed out the door.
I dropped the book off at my car and went into the salon, Janna grabbed me immediately.
"Oh Darlin' there you are, I was worried you went back to sleep," she laughed at her own joke and sat me in a chair. "So you have some beautiful loose curls," she said while she played with my hair. "I love this color, like a strawberry blonde almost."
"Thanks."
"So what I want to do is straighten these curls, see what you look like on the other spectrum. I'll wash it, blow dry and straighten it all."
"I... I don't know. I've never straightened my hair before."
"Nonsense, it's gonna look amazing."
"Janna never takes no," some one woman told me with a giggle.
"And did I tell ya'll this fine lady in my chair went out on date with my son last night."
The salon exploding with questions and cheering.
"Now settle down, ya'all, don't scare her," Janna winked at me in the mirror. "Let's wash and you can tell us all about it."
"Uh.. he picked me up and when we got there I..."
"Where did he take you," another stylist asked.
"Uh, to a bowling alley."
A few people snickered and something mentioned that was a typical Baxter thing to do.
"When we got there, I pretty much threw up and had to go home." They all moaned for me in symphony.
"That's too bad, sweetheart."
"Next time will be better."
The warm water on my hair felt nice so I just let them all talk.
"Actually now that I think of it, Jeremy should be comin' by soon. He has to drop off my fourth of July decorations." I sat up quickly, but Janna pushed my head back under the water, and for second I thought I was gonna drown. "Don't move so much, darlin'," she told me. "Besides, don't you worry, I'll have you lookin' like new by the time he comes."
Fuck fuck fuck... I really don't want to see him.
Janna took me back to the chair and started to blow dry my hair while she brushed it out, I had never seen my hair look so outrageous and poofy. My small soft curls were fried and dry.
And I look like a lion.
"I think you and Jeremy are such a cute couple," some woman beside me told me.
"Well, we aren't dating," I told her.
"Aw, that's so sweet. Like taking it slow and steady."
"My Jeremy knows how to treat a lady," Janna told us.
"He was a gentlemen," I told her.
"So are you guys gonna go out again," she asked me eagerly leaning over the handle of where she sat.
"Uh.. I... I guess we'll wait and see," I didn't know what to say to her while the man's mother had a fistful of my hair.
Thank god the conversation shifted and the ladies started to gossip about some girl so I could zone and not think about what she was doing to my hair. I only came back when I heard Mary's name.
"They told me that she called in to the library all last week, sayin' Tommy was having fits again."
What? Thomas was with me all last week? Maybe she means at night, but then she wouldn't need to call in?
"Doesn't Tommy work up up to your place, Caroline?," Janna asked.
"Uh, yeah, he comes by sometimes and helps."
"Oh bless your heart," the customer grabbed my wrist. "You are true christian woman."
"Thomas is really helpful," I told them. "He does most of the work, actually."
"He did for John too, until he almost killed all his livestock," the stylist scoffed.
"Thomas would never do that," I gritted my teeth.
"Well, I think it's very well and kind of you to help Tommy out like that, I know Mary had been leavin' him up at the house all day alone. Lord knows what he's done to destroy it."
These woman have no idea what they are talking about, I clenched my fists tightly.
"Mary hasn't come by in a while for her hair, has she?"
Janna thought for a second," Not in the last few months," Janna paused. "Which is strange, she used to have a standing appointment."
"I thought she's been coming," the customer entered in the conversation. "Her hair is always looking perfect."
"Maybe she has a new stylist," I offered.
Janna scoffed," Not another good salon unless you get to Nashville."
"Oh my dear, Janna, that is lookin' beautiful" the beautician complemented her work on my head. I looked in the reflection, I couldn't see much since she was working on the back.
"I knew it would just be stunning, this color and her face. Straight hair is gonna change your life," she smiled to me.
I was wrapped in my own thoughts, Mary called in to work? She said it was Thomas, but he came everyday... except for that Saturday... but I don't think the library is even open on weekends. I mean, it's not my business if she called in just because she didn't want to go. I mean, having a child is the best excuse... but Mary seems to love her job. She loves the library, so I don't think she'd call in just because she didn't want to go to work.
Janna had moved to the front of my head, I could now see the difference, my once soft sweet daytime curls had disappeared. My hair laid flat, like 100% straight, not one defiant curve could be seen. I reached up and pulled on a strand, it was smooth, like silk and fell back perfectly into place when I let it go.
This is so weird, I looked into my reflection. I didn't recognize myself, having straight hair made my face look even thinner, almost like I was skeleton. As Janna finished, she started to spray some fruity stuff and brushed it all out again.
"There you go," she leaned over me. "Oh, you look gorgeous!"
"Wow, it looks amazing," the other customer told me.
"Jeremy won't be able to resist," another whistled.
Oh god... I need to get out of here.
"How much do I owe you," I asked Janna.
"Oh darlin', no charge. First time is free, but now hat I've got you hooked on the look, you'll come back for more," she chuckled.
"Well thank you, it's... it's beautiful," I told her and the sound of a revving engine jarred my attention. I saw a green motorcycle pull up behind my car and fear gripped me. "Well, thank you again. I have to go grab some groceries."
"Well, hold up darlin'. Jeremy just came," she saw him out the window.
Shit
The door opened and the jingle for the bells made me nauseous, I looked to the floor. Why does it feel like this?
"Hello my little baby boy," Janna went up to her son and pinched his cheeks.
"Hey mama," he gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you so much," she took the box from him that was almost overflowing with red, white and blue.
"Hello Jeremy," the ladies of the salon sang.
"Good afternoon ladies, everyone's lookin' good," he looked around and he had to do a double take when he saw me. "Caroline?"
"Hey," I nodded.
"Wow," he stepped closer. "You look... beautiful," he seemed to struggle for the word.
"Thank you."
Janna came up and thumped her son," So I hear you did not ask this lovely woman on a second date."
"Ow mama," he rubbed his arm. "I didn't get the chance."
Oh god, why is this happening
Janna motioned to me with her head and Jeremy took the hint.
"Uh," he cleared his throat. "I had a great time last night, and I really am sorry about the bike."
"A great reason to get rid of the darn thing," Janna told him.
"Mama," he was frustrated with her interrupting him. "I...," he looked back to me. "I would love to take you out again."
Of course he's doing this in front of everyone and his mother! I CAN'T SAY NO!
I plastered a smile on," That sounds fun."
"Can I take you out next Friday?"
"Friday it is," I shuffled around the both of them. "I have to run and grab some groceries," I excused myself.
"You should invite her to the 4th of July!," Janna suggested.
"Oh... what day is that?," I asked.
Janna smiled," 4th of July is this Sunday, silly goose."
Sunday? I'm going to Mary's.
"I'm busy on Sunday."
"All day? Darlin' you have to stop by the park, at least for lunch. I'll be fun."
I looked between the too of them," Sure, Sunday it is. But I'll have to leave before the fireworks."
"I understand," Janna nodded.
"You've never invited me to your place for the 4th of July," one beautician bickered.
"It's Jeremy's date!"
Just let me out!
"So I'll see you Sunday?," Jeremy smiled.
"See you then," I finally got out the door. I didn't have the energy for shopping so I drove home. I parked the car in the driveway and hit my head on the steering wheel.
What the fuck... that was awful. I hit my head again and accidentally honked the horn, I jumped back. Of course, I climbed from the car. Thomas came jogging around the right side of the house.
"Caroline?"
"Oh, sorry, it was... an accident," I told him but Thomas gaped at me. " What?"
He pointed to me," Your hair!?"
Oh right, I rolled my eyes," I don't want to talk about it," I went into the house.
Thomas followed me inside," So you went to Janna's salon, huh?"
"Shut up, Thomas," I told him and he laughed. I moaned," Does it really look that awful," I went into the bathroom to look in the mirror. "I think it looks horrible!"
"It's... different," Thomas came and leaned on the door.
I gave him a side eye," That doesn't tell me anything."
"Well, I have a surprise for you, maybe that will cheer you up."
I picked up another section of hair," I don't know... this is... this is hard to top."
"Come on," he nodded and lead me into my bedroom.
"OH!," I gasped as I saw the vanity sitting on the wall opposite of my bed. "Oh Thomas! It's amazing!"
He smiled," Does it outweigh your hair?"
I pretended to contemplate it all," It does... ," then I sat on my bed. "But it doesn't make up for everything that happened today."
"Uh oh," Thomas grinned," What else could have happened?"
"Oh just take a guess," I fell back onto the bed.
"You got into an accident?"
"I wish."
"You ran into Andy."
"NOT FUNNY!"
Thomas chuckled," I give up."
"Well," I sat up. "While I was getting this master piece done," I gestured to my head sarcastically. "Guess who comes in? Jeremy Lewis! And guess what Janna has him do... Ask! Me! On! Another! Date!," I fell back again.
"Oh... yikes," Thomas grimaced. "And you said yes again?"
"How do I tell him no in front of his mom!"
"Good point. Maybe it'll be better?"
"It won't... I just... Jeremy is not the guy for me. Sometimes you just know."
"Well, maybe on this date, make him realize your not the girl for him."
"That is exactly what I need to do. I also saw your mom, which was nice. She invited me over for the 4th of July."
Thomas nodded silently, "Should be a fun time," he said while spacing off.
