Joy in the Journey

by Diane Greenwood Muir

  "You're fine," the girl said, sending a glance Polly's way. "Sorry I missed you yesterday. I had stuff going on."

  "That's okay. We had fun with Nonni." Polly looked around.

  "She isn't in yet," Mina said. "She has some late appointments, so she'll be here around noon. Shall we get started?"

  "Are you planning to do what Sal recommended?" Polly asked.

  "I don't know. You tell me."

  Polly looked at her friend, who sported a Cheshire cat grin.

  "You know I'm right," Sal said.

  "Do it," Polly said. "Is that the last decision I have to make?"

  Mina waited until Polly settled in the chair before wrapping the cape around her. "You'll be fine," she said, patting Polly's shoulder.

  "So, Mina," Sal said. "Kind of a big deal finding a dead body in your new place. Do you think that's going to help or hurt your business?" She flinched and sent a look to Gia. "You okay?"

  "Sorry. I missed a knot there."

  Sal frowned.

  "So far," Mina said, "it's been great for us. People want to know what's going on, so they come in for cuts and manicures. We've been really busy. I wouldn't have asked for that to happen, but since it has, I'll sit back, make the appointments and keep us moving forward."

  "When will they let the contractors back in?" Sal asked.

  "Mr. Sturtz stopped in yesterday to go over a couple of things." She tapped Polly. "You and your daughter just missed him."

  "You were in yesterday, too?" Sal asked. "My lord, girl, what kind of crazy are you up to these days?"

  "Hush," Polly said. "I didn't talk to Henry much last night. He got home late and the boys were all over him to play with them."

  "He said they'll be done soon. I'd love to be ready to go before Mother's Day, but that might be pushing it. I'd kinda hoped to have it open for prom, but there's no way. We'll just cram everybody in here and move them through as fast as possible. It's going to be an all hands on deck couple of days."

  "Who's Rebecca going with?" Sal asked.

  Polly shrugged. "She's only a sophomore. I don't think she's planning to go."

  "Barrett Evans is going, isn't he? Aren't they dating?"

  "No," Polly said with a laugh. "They dated, but they're just friends."

  "Marnie says he really likes her."

  "They're friends," Polly reiterated.

  "Got it. Mina, do you believe in hauntings and ghosts?"

  "Because some poor man was murdered in the salon?" Mina asked. "No way. I feel really bad for him, but I don't think he has any family around either. That's so sad."

  Sal brought her hand up to the side of her face. "A little close with the scissors there, Gia. I'm kinda partial to that ear."

  "I'm sorry. I'm not completely over what I had yesterday, I guess. Sorry."

  "No one on your staff was connected with him?" Polly asked.

  Mina looked at her in the mirror. "Not that I know of. Everything I've heard is that he didn't have any family. I guess he knew a lot of women." She chuckled. "You wouldn’t believe the gossip floating around. If the stories are even half true, that man was as bad as Wilt Chamberlain."

  When no one responded, she leaned forward. "Wilt Chamberlain? Basketball player for the Lakers in the seventies?"

  "The nineteen seventies?" Sal asked. "Are you a vampire or something? Please don't tell me you were alive back then."

  Mina laughed. "My dad loves the Lakers. Lifelong fan. Anyway, Wilt Chamberlain was a huge star. And when I say huge, not only was he amazing, but he was over seven feet tall and weighed about two seventy-five. He was amazing. But he boasted about having twenty thousand women in his lifetime."

  "That's exhausting," Polly said. "How did he have the energy to play basketball?"

  "Haha. Good question. Maybe men like Wilt and this Keenan Baxter have something extra."

  "I can't imagine being one of his harem," Sal said. "Why would you date a man whose stuff was out there for all the women to play with?"

  "Sal," Polly said, laughing.

  "Well. I wouldn't have anything to do with it. That's just gross."

  "Maybe he was a nice guy," Gia said quietly.

  "He'd have to have been something to get that many to pay attention to him. It's not like this is a big city here. People talk."

  "I met a friend of his yesterday," Polly said. "He's going to work at Sycamore House. He liked Keenan Baxter and says he'll miss him. I wish we knew what happened, though."

  "Me too," Mina agreed. "Why would they use my shop? I mean, I know that it's empty unless there are guys in there working, but wow. And who would have done that to me?" She chuckled. "Sorry. Like it's important that they did it to me. The poor guy is dead."

  Polly smiled at her. "Henry says that there were quite a few people with access to that building. Since the back door faces a field, no one would see who is coming or going. That restaurant is opening next month, but they don't have that much going on in there all the time."

  "And it's at the other end of the strip," Mina said. "There's been so much activity in the salon the last two months, nobody would pay any attention."

  "Do your girls have access to the place?" Polly asked.

  Mina shook her head. "I have a couple of keys, but the only person who’s been over there is Nonni. She was there when they unloaded the chairs. Remember, Gia? Man, it was crazy that day. I'm going to be so glad when we're in and everyone has their stations set up and we can focus on clients again. This back and forth stuff is making me nuts."

  "Are you going to do a grand opening?" Sal asked.

  "Yeah, Nan is putting together the plan. She wants us to advertise all over the region." Mina shook her blond head. "Makes my head hurt. I'm glad she's my friend or I'd think she's crazy. So far, she's been right about everything. I could never have pulled this move off if she hadn't been on my side. Maybe in a couple of years, but not right now. Is she working for you, Polly?"

  "A little," Polly said. "She's done some consulting work with Jeff and Stephanie."

  "That's a girl who needs to spend time here," Sal said. "She's so cute, but that hair of hers is blah."

  "Sal," Polly scolded. "Stop it."

  "Am I wrong? I love her, but she needs a serious upgrade to the new century. She got stuck in the nineties."

  "She isn't even that old."

  "Her hair is."

  "Be good. I'm not kidding. Be good."

  Mina chuckled.

  "Do bad hairstyles make you crazy?" Polly asked.

  "I try not to let it. People have to do what they have to do. Sometimes it's about not having the money, sometimes it's about being afraid to try new things …"

  Sal coughed loudly.

  "I'm trying," Polly protested. "Leave me alone. You are really getting pushy these days."

  "Sorry. I'll be good."

  Mina continued. "Sometimes people are so used to how they look they can't imagine trying anything different."

  "Maybe you need one of those facial scanner things so we could look at ourselves with different hair styles," Sal said.

  "That would be fun," Gia said quietly. She really was quieter than Polly thought. Most of the young people working here were outgoing and gregarious, some even quite flamboyant.

  When Gia and Mina walked away, leaving the two alone, Sal reached across to Polly. "I'm glad you're here today. It's fun hanging out with you."

  "How are you. Really?"

  "Okay. Every day that passes gets me a little further from the worst pain of it. I still cry a lot. Poor Mark doesn't know how to help, but at least he tries. The boys are wonderful. It's like they know that I need extra love."

  "I haven't made enough of an effort this week," Polly said. "I'm so sorry."

  "Don’t worry. I know you’re busy and the worst of it is passed. It isn't like you can make this go away."

  "But I can put my arms around you and tell you that you're not alone."

  Sal shrugged. "I know I'm not. Last week I fe
lt like I was."

  Polly took her hand and they smiled at each other in the mirror. "I can't imagine going through that."

  "I couldn't either before it happened. After how easy I got pregnant with Alexander and Theodore, I figured I was safe. Guess that isn't always true."

  "Are you telling your mother what happened?"

  Sal frowned at her. "Absolutely not. I don't need her insincere crap flung at me. She'd just tell me about a daughter of one of her close friends who wasn't able to get pregnant and had miscarriage after miscarriage and then had to go through all sorts of medical procedures. On and on. Such a comfort she would be."

  "I'm sorry."

  "It's okay. Kathryn calls me every day." Sal smiled. "She’s so amazing. How did I get lucky to have a mother-in-law like her? I know how busy she is, but when she calls, it's like she has all the time in the world to listen to me freak out."

  Polly cringed and sighed. "I'm glad you have her."

  "I didn't say that to make you feel guilty. I never expected to have a mother figure like her in my life and then I met Mark and he brought this amazing family with him."

  "What about Lisa? Does she know?"

  Lisa and Dylan Foster lived in Bellingwood. She was Mark's sister and ran a dance studio in town. Dylan owned Pizzazz Pizza across the street from the coffee shop.

  "Not yet. She and Dylan have been talking about having children. I really don't know where they're at with the whole process. After they got back from Europe last summer, I thought they were trying, but nothing has happened yet. If they're having trouble, I don't want to make her think about my problems."

  "I will try to be better about calling you," Polly said. "But you can call me any time. You know that, don't you?"

  "Yeah. Last week I was so out of control. It's like I wanted you to just sense there was something wrong. Then you found that dead guy and I knew that your life was going to be crazy busy, like it always gets when something like that happens. I got mad that you wouldn't have time for me when I needed you."

  "Honey, I always have time."

  Sal chuckled. "I know that. Like I said. Out of control. That was me. I'm getting back to normal."

  "Okay." Polly squeezed Sal's hand and dropped it as the two stylists came back to them.

  Mina was holding the box from Sweet Beans. "Do either of you want anything?"

  Polly smiled and shook her head. When Sal waved her off, Mina handed the box to Gia. "Make sure the other girls know we have treats."

  Gia nodded and walked away with it.

  "What is Henry going to say when he comes home tonight and sees this?" Mina asked Polly.

  "He doesn't have any idea what I am doing," Polly replied. "He'll either fall down in a faint or maybe he'll ravage me."

  Sal laughed out loud. "Vote for ravaging. Every day."

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Polly looked at herself in the car mirror one more time before going in to Marie's house. She never spent this much time checking herself out, but she couldn't help it. The girl who looked back at her was so different. Polly loved the new look, though it still surprised her. There was so much beautiful color and it bounced as she moved.

  Now for the first hurdle. Cassidy wasn't comfortable with change and this would be a big one for her. As Polly got out of Cat's car, she groaned. Bill Sturtz emerged from the shop and headed straight for her. Cassidy wasn't the first hurdle, Bill would be.

  "Can I help you?" he asked with a smirk. "We don't generally entertain strangers in the house."

  "I was hoping to have a few minutes with your lovely wife. I have a set of encyclopedias in my trunk that would do your home a world of good," Polly retorted.

  Bill chuckled. "You went and got yourself all de-aged. Looks pretty good for a daughter-in-law. What is that, purple in there?"

  "Some."

  "You little rebel, you. Come in and show Marie. Maybe we can talk her into doing something wild and crazy." He held the door as they went inside, then called out, "Marie, we have a visitor here to sell you some snake oil type of thingie."

  Polly swatted at his arm. "It's just me, Marie. Don't leave what you're doing."

  She came into the kitchen, did a short double-take, then smiled. "Polly, that is absolutely beautiful. You must be thrilled."

  "I'm happy." Polly floofed her hair. "It feels so soft."

  "It always does after they color it," Marie said.

  "How would you know that?" Bill asked.

  Marie smiled at him. "Just one of my many secrets. Cassidy and Molly are putting puzzles together in the living room. Come on in." She pushed Polly ahead of her and when they rounded the corner into the living room, Cassidy looked up.

  Her eyes grew wide and she jumped to her feet. "Mommy," she cried as she ran to Polly.

  Polly picked her up and the little girl put both hands on either side of Polly's head. "Pretty."

  "You like that?"

  "Pretty hair."

  "That's a lot of words, little girl," Polly said. "Thank you. Are you ready to go home? I want to show the boys my new haircut."

  "Pretty hair," Cassidy repeated, patting at Polly's hair.

  Molly had come over to stand at Polly's feet. "Me see."

  Putting Cassidy back on the floor, Polly said, "Help Grandma with your coat." She sat on the coffee table to allow Molly access.

  "That's pretty," Molly said, reaching up to touch the colors.

  "Thank you, honey. Did you have fun this morning?"

  Molly nodded. She ran to the other side of the room and came back with a stack of flash cards. Putting them beside Polly, she pointed. "Try."

  "You're learning your letters?" Polly picked up the flash cards and held up the top card.

  "Dee," Molly said. "Dog."

  "Very good." Polly held up another.

  "Zee. Zebra."

  "That's terrific."

  Cassidy and Marie had come back in and when Polly held up the next card, Cassidy rushed forward and said, "Bee. Ball."

  "You're doing great, too, honey." They worked with letter and word flash cards at home with Cassidy, hoping to break through her speaking barrier. She was fine with one word at a time but refused to string words together into a complete sentence, or even a short thought. Five and a half months was all the time Polly had left. It had to happen before school started.

  "The girls are learning," Marie said. "It's fun to have them together. Things get a little competitive."

  "That's probably good for both of them." After a quick hug for Molly, she stood up and took Cassidy's hand. "It's time to go home. Tell Molly goodbye and tell Grandma thank you."

  Cassidy waved at Molly and said "Bye," then put her arms up for a hug. Marie bent over and hugged the little girl. "Thank you," Cassidy said.

  "You're welcome. Thanks for coming to play with us."

  Polly got Cassidy into her car seat and they waved good-bye as she headed out of the parking lot. Rats. She should have asked Bill to not say anything to Henry. Welp, that was one surprise she wouldn't have to worry about.

  When they got home, the dogs were playing outside and rushed to greet them. Polly was thankful that at least the animals in her life wouldn't be taken aback by her new look. Why had she even done this? If there was one thing she hated, it was being stared at and talked about, even if it was for a good reason. She was much happier in the background. She chuckled. Most people wouldn't believe that about her since she'd made such a splash in Bellingwood when she arrived. The day she hired Jeff to be at the front of her business had been the best day of her life. When she could step away from the spotlight, it landed where it belonged. On the businesses and people who worked for her.

  She opened the door and the two dogs dashed inside as she held Cassidy back. Once they were safely out of the way, she and Cassidy went in and took off their coats. No one was in the kitchen, which was surprising. People were always in and out of the kitchen as they moved around the house. She did love this room. It was spacious and com
fortable, the perfect place for her family to gather.

  Cassidy headed for the foyer.

  "Are they in there?"

  Before the little girl pushed the door open, she pressed her ear to the wooden door, then nodded. Polly followed her.

  "Polly!" Elijah yelled as he chased a car down the raceway on the steps. Then he stopped. "Whoa, Polly. What did you do?"

  All four boys, Cat, and Hayden turned to look at her.

  "Just a little something-something," Polly said, turning so they could take in the whole effect. "What do you think?"

  "You're so …" Noah looked for the right word.

  "Cool!" Elijah said. "You look so young."

  The boys surrounded her as they looked up. She finally went down on a knee so they could get closer to it.

  "Do you like it?" she asked JaRon.

  He nodded and didn't say a word as he stared at her.

  "What about you, Caleb?"

  He tentatively put his hand out, then drew it back.

  "You can touch my hair. It's really soft." Polly smiled as the boys all patted her head.

  "You are the coolest mom," Elijah said. "Nobody else looks as good as you."

  "I love you, too," Polly said with a laugh. "Now go play. Include your sister."

  And without another thought, the four went back to what they'd been doing.

  Cat walked over. "That's a nice cut. Are you happy with it?"

  "I am," Polly said. "It feels strange knowing that I've done something so different, but what's life if you can't have some fun? What are your plans for lunch?"

  "The boys want spaghetti without sauce." Cat shook her head. "I'll never understand that, but if that's what they want, I can easily drop spaghetti in boiling water. I've already cut up carrots and cauliflower."

  "Perfect. Where's Rebecca?"

  "She was in the kitchen last I knew." Cat took out her phone. "Yeah, I asked her to text me if she went over to Cilla's house." She showed the message to Polly. "They were talking about doing something with Kayla. Maybe going uptown. If she left the neighborhood, she was going to come home first."

  "Perfect. Do you need me?"

  Cat looked up at the boys on the landing as they held their cars in place. Hayden started a countdown and the race was on. "They're playing outside this afternoon. The ground has dried up enough that it's not gooey out. I told them that if they spent a half hour in their rooms after lunch, they could invite their friends over and we'd do some races and games in the back yard."