Darcy sat in the chair at the salon, waiting on her hairdresser.
"Darcy? You're here for a cut?" Lainey asked.
"That I am." Darcy smiled nervously. She was well known for her gorgeous black locks. She had only had trims for years. "I need a change."
She had read somewhere that a woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life. Darcy could certainly use a change. It was coming upon Christmas and her heart had been broken for far too long.
She walked out of the salon feeling a hundred pounds lighter. Her hair skimmed her shoulders and there was a skip in her step as she pranced herself across the street to open her pub. She tied on her apron and admired herself in the mirror. She smiled and oh it felt so genuine. For the first time in a long time.
She was singing to herself and didnt even hear a customer come in.
"Wow." She jumped and turned around.
"Oh. Hello. Welcome. I didn't hear you come inside." She smiled.
"You have a beautiful voice." He said and flashed her a devastating smile.
"Thank you. Well, what can I get you?" She asked as he seated himself at the bar. "We are serving lunch now."
He looked over the menu but couldnt keep his eyes off of Darcy. "I'll have whatever you recommend."
"Okay. Coming up." She smiled at him.
When he left, he left a huge tip and his number on the napkin. Darcy smiled wistfully before crumbling up the paper and tossing it in the bin.
"Are you crazy?" One of her waitresses asked. "That guy is a ten!"
Darcy laughed. The girl was right. The man was charming as could be. But, she wasn't quite ready to find someone. Getting over Fergal and moving on were two very different things.
I haven't stopped thinking about you Has it really been this long?
Two years and an ocean between us And I don't know where it all went wrong I know I coulda kissed you harder And yeah, you coulda followed through Shoulda talked a little bit softer But we meant every "I love you"
Thousands of miles away Fergal just ended a call with his mother. She wanted him to come home for Christmas. They had always been able to travel to him for the holiday, but this year his dad's health was not the best.
He would have to go home. That meant possibly seeing Darcy. He meant to do that. He wanted to apologize. She hadn't excepted any of his calls. He'd gave up weeks ago. But, in person she wouldnt be able to run away.
The plan was set and Finn was set to arrive in Ireland on the 21st. Even if Darcy wanted nothing else to do with him, he had to speak his peace. He had to clear the air between them.
Darcy walked into her mother's house ready to show off her new hair, but her mother was sleeping so she made herself busy picking up. She checked her mother's answering machine and her heart stopped when she heard the first message.
"Hello . This is Fergal Devitt. Uh, this message is for Darcy. I don't mean to bother you, but would you be willing to tell her I'll be in town on the 21st and I'd love to see her."
It felt like he was going to say more, but she heard the line go dead and jumped when the machine beeped. She stood shaking for a moment, and then pulled herself together.
He was coming back?
I don't know what this is or what it isn't But it feels like we've got unfinished business Cause we left blood the on the tracks Sweat on the saddle Fire in the hills A bullet in the barrel Words never said in a story that didn't end Looks like you're on the mend and I'm on the bottle We folded our hands with money on the table Tried moving on, but I keep coming back again To what could've been...
What could've been...
She heard her mother's voice emerging from the bedroom.
"Take your coat off in the house, Darcy." She chided.
She shook herself out of the stunned fog, "I can't stay, mom. I just came to show you my new hair!" She smiled and shook her head back and forth.
"Do you like it?"
Her mother smiled sweetly and reached out the touch the shorter locks. "You're beautiful as always." She kissed her daughter's cheek. "I love it."
Darcy made her mother a pot of tea and They said their goodbyes. Her mother watched her leave and stared after her as she went, wondering when she would be ready to tell her.
Darcy got home and shed her coat, and her pretense.
Her hand went to her stomach and the little bump that was beginning to show.
Thank you to anyone still keeping up with this story! If you're still here, please leave a review :)
Lyrics from What Could Have Been by Gone West.