Rachel felt a lump growing in her own throat. She spoke before it threatened to cut off her voice entirely. “Can you excuse me for a moment? I’ll be right back.” She took the opportunity to give them some privacy and left them hugging each other, a few of the patrons watching, curious, but most still chatting and combing and cutting, oblivious. Rounding the corner, Rachel stopped near the lobby, blinking fast and tilting her head back, willing tears not to fall. Not here, not now. Nina Malden was waiting.

“There you are!” Nina slid her phone closed and tucked it back into her purse as Rachel returned. “I was thinking about calling out a search party.”

“I’m sorry,” she apologized, glancing at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were a little bright, but that was all. No other signs of grief. “We had a little scheduling snafu up front. The new girl isn’t working out so well.”

“Ugh, the help.” Nina shook her head and smiled at Rachel as if they shared something in common. “I know how it is.”

“Well, let’s get you shampooed, shall we?” She’d been in the business so long she never questioned using words like ‘shampoo’ or ‘condition’ as a verb. Nina’s hair was just as lovely as her daughter’s and Rachel washed it, trying to hurry, knowing Jake and Emma were waiting, but it wasn’t easy getting the sticky mass of mousse and hairspray and various other styling products out.

“I’m glad you could get me in today,” Nina remarked as Rachel squeezed the water out of her clean hair with a thick, fluffy white towel. “I’ve got a date tonight.”

“A date?” Rachel’s towel stopped abruptly. “Where are you and your husband going?”

“Didn’t I tell you?” Nina raised her eyebrows and lifted her left hand, waggling her fingers. “We’re divorced.”

Well, this was news. Rachel was stunned into silence.

“Has it been that long since I’ve been in? It’s been three months since it was final.” Nina followed her over to the styling station, taking a seat, smoothing her skirt.