12

Priscilla

After work I drive home still in a daze from the day spent with Beth Fay Swanson. She’s not terrible, but she does create tension. Fortunately, she seems to amuse Mandy, so at least I don’t have to worry about upsetting the rest of my staff. Mandy hovers over her like a vulture, making sure she says the right things on the phone and understands our system. I’ve asked Mandy to train her on some of the finer points so she’ll know what to do when we travel together. The mere thought of that sends a shiver of regret down my spine.

I get to my townhouse and head straight to the kitchen, where I down a glass of water and grab a box of melt-in-your-mouth butter crackers. Lunch today was interesting but not very filling, so I’ve been starving all afternoon. No wonder Mandy’s getting so skinny.

Before I have a chance to open my laptop, my cell phone rings. I look at caller ID and see that it’s coming from the office. Lord, please don’t let there be another problem with Beth Fay.

“Hey, Priscilla. That new girl’s a trip, isn’t she?”

I laugh. “I guess that’s one way of putting it.”

“She’s actually okay, once you get past her nervousness. I can sorta see myself in her . . . but just a little bit. She’s feeling the same way I did when I first started.”

“But you didn’t sell my story to the tabloids.”

“I thought you might still be thinking about that. Priscilla, you really need to let go of that issue, or you’ll never be able to work with Beth Fay. I think she feels really bad about calling that reporter, but look at it from her perspective.”

“She needed money.” I clear my throat and add, “And she wanted her ten minutes of fame?”

“Oh, trust me, she didn’t even think of fame. Her mortgage was a month overdue, and she has to come up with the money to buy her son’s books for college this fall. People do all kinds of things when they’re desperate, and the opportunity was right there under her nose. I don’t think she would’ve done that under normal conditions.” She clears her throat. “She’s also a committed Christian, which is ramping up her guilt and making her act a little odd at times.”

Since when did Mandy start caring enough about other people to see all this? “You learned all this about her today?”

“Yes, I did, and you would’ve too if you’d spent more time with her.”

Now I’m the one feeling the guilt. “I’ll have to correct that tomorrow.”

“Actually, tomorrow is what I’m calling about. Sheila just called and asked if you could go to the Piney Point salon to approve some construction details on the addition.”

“I’ll be there in a couple of weeks.”

“That’s a problem because the construction company you wanna go with is booked tight. They just had a cancellation, so they were able to work you in this week.”

“Oh.” Piney Point is a solid two-hour drive, and I already have enough to keep me busy before I go for the reunion. “Can’t they fax or e-mail me the plans?”

“She wants you there to talk to the contractor.”

I’ve always been able to count on Sheila to handle anything that comes up, so it must be important for me to be there. I let out a deep sigh. “Okay, I’ll call her back.”

“Have a good night, Priscilla.”

“Mandy, have I told you lately how much I appreciate you?”

She laughs. “Yes, but it’s always nice to hear.”

“Well, I do appreciate you. A lot. And now I want you to put down the phone, get your things, and go home. It’ll all be there tomorrow, and I don’t want you to burn out.”

“G’night, Priscilla. Have a safe trip to Piney Point.”

Rather than leaving now and risk upsetting Mother who seems agitated every time my plans change, I decide to drive to Piney Point early in the morning and return as soon as my work is done there. I call the Piney Point salon with the hope of Sheila still being there. And she answers the phone, her voice sounding more strained than usual.

“I’m so sorry you’re having to take time out of your oh-so-busy schedule, but the new owner of the tub and spa company refuses to talk to anyone but you.”

“Sheila!”

“I’m sorry, Priscilla.” She took a deep breath. “It’s just that I’m exhausted and a tad frustrated. I shouldn’t take it out on you.”

“I understand.” I pause. “Who is this person again?”

“It was Luke Manning from Hattiesburg, but he recently sold his company, and the new owner has a whole different set of rules. When their assistant called and told me you had to be here, I tried everything I could think of to get them to change their mind. I even said we might have to go shoppin’ for another contractor.”

“Shouldn’t we do that anyway, now that Luke is out of the picture? The reason we chose his company was his expertise with tubs and spas.”

“He’s still in charge of managing the project since he’s the one with the contractor’s license, so I think it’s best to stick with them.” I can hear the frustration in her voice, so I don’t press.

“What time will they be there?”

“Early in the mornin’. I’m so sorry, Priscilla. If you wanna come stay at my place, I can clear off the guest bed.”

“I appreciate that, but I’ll wait until morning to drive over.”

“The offer stands for tomorrow night too.”

Sheila has a heart of pure gold. Her husband is a plumber, and he’s managed to do quite a bit of work for the salons in Piney Point and Hattiesburg, and he refuses to take payment for more than the cost of materials. The only way they let me show my appreciation is to pad Sheila’s quarterly bonuses . . . and I do.

After I get off the phone with Sheila, it rings again. This time it’s Tim.

“Mind if I come over? I got somethin’ I need to give ya.”

I explain what’s going on with the salon, but he’s still emphatic about wanting to see me. “Okay, but not for long. I have to get up early in the morning.”

Less than five minutes later, Tim is standing at my door, thrusting a bouquet of flowers toward me. “Here. I figure you need these.”

I laugh as I take the flowers. “Come on in, Tim. Want something to drink?”

He narrows his eyes with a dubious look. “Do you have real sweet tea?”

“Yes, I believe I do.”

I pour two glasses of tea and put the bouquet into a vase with water before sitting down at the kitchen table with Tim. It feels cozy to be here with someone who has accepted me for who I am deep down rather than my public persona that seems to grow bigger and more unreal by the day.

“So what’s on your mind?” I ask.

He sips his tea and shakes his head. “I don’t know what’s goin’ on, Priscilla, but it seems like everything keeps changin’ and gettin’ weirder by the day.”

“True.”

“Stuff I never dreamed of happenin’ is smackin’ me in the face every time I turn around. I mean, look at me havin’ to make a decision about movin’ to New York and becomin’ CEO of a big ol’ beauty supply company. And havin’ my picture in a magazine that millions of people read.” He gives me a weary look. “And you. I don’t know why we thought it would be a good idea for you to hire that stalker lady.”

I smile. “According to Mandy, she’s not so bad.” I explain what Mandy said, and he listens with rapt attention.

“That’s all well and good, but there had to be another way. What if she didn’t see us that night? What would she have done?”

“Maybe it’s all part of God’s plan for us to be there and for her to do what she did.”

Tim scrunches up his face. “Now that I done got myself all Christianed up, thanks to you”—he offers a goofy smile—“I see a lot of what you always talked about, but this is a stretch.” He looks at me with a half grin. “You have to admit that, Priscilla.”

“Maybe.” I shrug. “But we’re in this situation, and I plan to do whatever it takes to make the best of it. Don’t forget, Mandy seems to like her.”

“I reckon she must be okay then, since Mandy don’t like many people.”

Tim doesn’t have to come out and say this, but I know he dated Mandy for a few months. Things were awkward around the office after they stopped seeing each other, but time passed, and they learned to deal with each other on a professional level again. Mandy informed me back then that all Tim ever talked about was me, so she brought up all her old boyfriends. Even though I haven’t dated much, I know that’s not a good move for any kind of relationship.

Since Tim obviously has something important to discuss with me, and it’s getting late, I change the subject. “So what’s on your mind, Tim? Why did you need to see me tonight?”

He leans forward enough to access his hip pocket and pulls out a folded but wrinkled sheet of paper. “When Mandy told me you was goin’ . . . I mean were goin’ to Piney Point, I thought I’d have you deliver somethin’ to Laura.”

I hadn’t planned to visit Laura, but I can’t turn Tim down on anything he asks me to do. After all, he continues to save the day at my class reunions.

“It’s a list of things she needs to do before I get there this year.” He holds my gaze. “It is still okay with you if I go this year, isn’t it?”

“Yes . . . yes, of course it’s okay. It’s better than okay. I think you’re one of the most important people at all my reunions.”

He shakes his head, but I can tell he’s pleased. “Naw, that’s not true, but I do like to help out.”

I hold up the paper as I stand. “I’ll give this to Laura. I’m sure she appreciates everything you do.”

Tim finishes his tea, and I walk him to the door. “Drive carefully, Priscilla, and remember that speed trap in Magee.”

“I’ll be careful.” I stand on my tiptoes and give him a kiss on the cheek before I close the door behind him.

My eyes pop open a half hour before my alarm is set to go off, so I get out of bed and start getting ready for the day. I pack a small bag, just in case something goes wrong and I have to stay overnight, although I fully intend to come back to Jackson, even if I finish late.

Rather than let my mind take over, I listen to music all the way to Piney Point. The salon has just opened when I arrive, and Sheila is standing behind the reception desk.

She looks up. “Hoo boy, you didn’t waste any time gettin’ here this mornin’, did you? You musta got up with the chickens.”

“You said the contractor will be here early, and I don’t want to keep anyone waiting. So what’s the deal? I thought everything was settled with the spa expansion.”

“Yeah, I thought so too, but I couldn’t sway Luke when he called and said the new owner insisted on talkin’ to you.” She glances up at the wall clock. “They should be here in about a half hour.”

That gives me just enough time to walk through the salon and say hi to everyone. I know about half the hairdressers, and they all give me a warm greeting and a hug. Some of the newer ones appear nervous that I’m in the building, so I just tell them I’m happy they’re there and keep moving.

“Where’s Chester?”

Sheila points to the back. “Ever since the facials got so popular, he spends most of his time in the back room.”

Before going back there, I pull Sheila into the break room that’s much nicer than the old one. The salon had become so popular we had to add hairdressers, and there wasn’t much room in our previous location.

Once we’re in the break room, Sheila pours both of us cups of coffee and sets them on one of the round tables. “Have a seat. Want a pastry?”

“I better not.” After she sits down adjacent to me, I lean toward her. “So how are things around here?”

“Hunky-dory.” She grins. “I mean it, Priscilla. All the hairdressers are happy to be workin’ for you, and customers love the braggin’ rights that come with your Ms. Prissy Big Hair fame.”

“Did you see the tabloid—?”

A knock sounds at the door, and we both look up. One of the newer hairdressers is standing there, looking nervous.

“Whatcha need, Melanie?” Sheila asks.

“That construction guy is here, and he says he has an appointment with Pris . . . Ms. Slater.”

“Please call me Priscilla.” I give her the warmest smile I can manage. “Why don’t you send him on back here?”

“Okay.” She disappears quickly.

“Want me to leave, or should I stick around?” Sheila asks.

“Stay, please.”

I hear men’s voices as they get close to the break room. Sheila and I both glance up in time to see Luke Manning standing in the doorway. “Ladies,” he says as he tips his head. “Priscilla, I’m sorry I had to interrupt whatever business you got goin’ up in Jackson, but Maurice here . . . ”

The sound of Maurice’s name and the sight of his face as he steps from behind the door makes my ears ring and my blood boil. “What—?”

“Is that any way to welcome an old friend?” He walks into the break room like he owns the place and opens his arms for a hug.

I cringe and manage to squirm away from his embrace. As much as I’d like to cancel this addition, I’ve promised it to my employees and customers, so I have to go through with it. “Let’s get on with this, Maurice. I don’t have all day.”

Luke looks back and forth between Maurice and me, and I see the transformation as he realizes there’s something else going on. “Priscilla, you can count on me to make sure everything goes well.” He shoots a brief glance at Maurice. “I’ll do the final inspection when it’s over.”

I smile at Luke and nod. “Thank you.”