Chapter 1
Annie reached down and picked up a blue, latex glove from behind a potted shrub. She thought maybe the landscaper dropped it. Unlocking the door to her beauty shop, she went inside and tossed the glove in the nearest trashcan before vigorously washing her hands. Glancing down, in the glint of light, she noticed footprints all over the floor. This room was well overdue for a thorough cleaning.
Chimes on the door jingled, alerting Annie to someone’s presence. A short, squatty woman with a splash of gray curls came inside. She didn’t stand any taller than five feet, but took up more space tha n she needed.
“Good morning, Mrs. Bushmiller.” Mrs. Bushmiller was one of the beauty shop’s neighbors. She nosed into everyone’s business, which could be a good or bad thing depending on the situation.
“Morning, but it isn’t such a good one for me. Mitzi had me up at four AM barking. I don’t know what got into her! By the time I crawled out of bed to look outside, whatever had her attention was gone and she settled back in. At least she fell back asleep,” she said sarcastically. “I on the other hand wasn’t so lucky.”
“I’m sorry it was a rough night. Can I help you with something?” Annie walked across the floor, the rubber of her soles squeaking on the tile. She reached down to pat Mitzi , Mrs. Bushmiller’s dog, and gave her a scratch on the soft fur behind her ears. “Rough night, doggy?”
“I have the number of the groomer I was talking about the other day. I figured I’d drop it off while I thought of it. I’m heading back to bed.” She gave a wave and turned to leave. She wasn’t wasting any time.
“Oh, thanks.” Annie took the card with the number on it. Her dog, Pip, had gotten into some mischief, and while she gave him a bath this time, she realized bathing squirmy dogs was not her thing. She’d much rather pay a groomer. It was kind of ironic that she was in the business of shampooing, cutting, and grooming herself; but most people sat still. Pip, her over-hyper ball of fur was far from a good client.
Going back to wash her hands again, she finished cleaning up and then went to glance at a resume that was dropped off just as she was leaving the day before. She gave it a once over. The woman, Jamie, had worked at a competing salon that was only open for the busy season. And being a beach town in New Jersey, the busy season only lasted through the summer.
Unfortunately, with the vacation season ending , there was less work available, and those who wanted to stay scrambled to find work at a business that was open year round. She tucked the resume in the drawer for future reference.
Sandy Beach Island was a seasonal resort area off the coast of New Jersey. The small barrier island, which ran no more than twenty miles in length, saw a busy summer, but the swell of crowds died down once school started and the cooler weather swept in. Vacationing families filled the rental houses and then scattered at the end of the season.
Annie glanced at the clock. Her first appointment would be arriving shortly. Charlotte, one of her favorite clients and a dear friend, was due in at nine. Then Trish, her co-partner in crime and style, would be in to prep for Patsy, the cranky, chronic complainer.
“Morning, Sunshine,” Charlotte crowed as she walked into the shop. “I brought donuts,” she sang in a sunny voice.
“Hey Char.” Annie went to greet her friend and thank her for the donuts. “You know I’m trying to lose weight,” she whined before fingering a jelly donut.
“Annie, you’ve lost sixty pounds. You look great. Don’t let that jerk rent space in your head,” she cautioned.
Annie nodded. Charlotte was right. Ever since her husband, now ex-husband, told her he was embarrassed by the way she looked, and that’s why he’d been sleeping with his secretary, she’d let his words torment her. Two bites of the donut were all that she’d allow herself. It was the
Annie reached down and picked up a blue, latex glove from behind a potted shrub. She thought maybe the landscaper dropped it. Unlocking the door to her beauty shop, she went inside and tossed the glove in the nearest trashcan before vigorously washing her hands. Glancing down, in the glint of light, she noticed footprints all over the floor. This room was well overdue for a thorough cleaning.
Chimes on the door jingled, alerting Annie to someone’s presence. A short, squatty woman with a splash of gray curls came inside. She didn’t stand any taller than five feet, but took up more space tha n she needed.
“Good morning, Mrs. Bushmiller.” Mrs. Bushmiller was one of the beauty shop’s neighbors. She nosed into everyone’s business, which could be a good or bad thing depending on the situation.
“Morning, but it isn’t such a good one for me. Mitzi had me up at four AM barking. I don’t know what got into her! By the time I crawled out of bed to look outside, whatever had her attention was gone and she settled back in. At least she fell back asleep,” she said sarcastically. “I on the other hand wasn’t so lucky.”
“I’m sorry it was a rough night. Can I help you with something?” Annie walked across the floor, the rubber of her soles squeaking on the tile. She reached down to pat Mitzi , Mrs. Bushmiller’s dog, and gave her a scratch on the soft fur behind her ears. “Rough night, doggy?”
“I have the number of the groomer I was talking about the other day. I figured I’d drop it off while I thought of it. I’m heading back to bed.” She gave a wave and turned to leave. She wasn’t wasting any time.
“Oh, thanks.” Annie took the card with the number on it. Her dog, Pip, had gotten into some mischief, and while she gave him a bath this time, she realized bathing squirmy dogs was not her thing. She’d much rather pay a groomer. It was kind of ironic that she was in the business of shampooing, cutting, and grooming herself; but most people sat still. Pip, her over-hyper ball of fur was far from a good client.
Going back to wash her hands again, she finished cleaning up and then went to glance at a resume that was dropped off just as she was leaving the day before. She gave it a once over. The woman, Jamie, had worked at a competing salon that was only open for the busy season. And being a beach town in New Jersey, the busy season only lasted through the summer.
Unfortunately, with the vacation season ending , there was less work available, and those who wanted to stay scrambled to find work at a business that was open year round. She tucked the resume in the drawer for future reference.
Sandy Beach Island was a seasonal resort area off the coast of New Jersey. The small barrier island, which ran no more than twenty miles in length, saw a busy summer, but the swell of crowds died down once school started and the cooler weather swept in. Vacationing families filled the rental houses and then scattered at the end of the season.
Annie glanced at the clock. Her first appointment would be arriving shortly. Charlotte, one of her favorite clients and a dear friend, was due in at nine. Then Trish, her co-partner in crime and style, would be in to prep for Patsy, the cranky, chronic complainer.
“Morning, Sunshine,” Charlotte crowed as she walked into the shop. “I brought donuts,” she sang in a sunny voice.
“Hey Char.” Annie went to greet her friend and thank her for the donuts. “You know I’m trying to lose weight,” she whined before fingering a jelly donut.
“Annie, you’ve lost sixty pounds. You look great. Don’t let that jerk rent space in your head,” she cautioned.
Annie nodded. Charlotte was right. Ever since her husband, now ex-husband, told her he was embarrassed by the way she looked, and that’s why he’d been sleeping with his secretary, she’d let his words torment her. Two bites of the donut were all that she’d allow herself. It was the
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