Hair Calamities and Hot Cash.

by Gail Pallotta

  “Looks like you’re the only one waiting.” Ellie pointed over her shoulder. “Folks right behind us just left. It’s nice and cozy.”

  The insinuation in Ellie’s voice reminded me of how little happened in Triville and how fast news spread when something did. Philip and I would be the talk of the town for at least a week. I slapped myself on the cheek as I plunked down in the seat. I didn’t care. Philip stirred warmth that overshadowed the loneliness and sorrow inside me.

  He breezed through the doorway, waved, and zigzagged around several chairs to reach me. “I’m sorry I’m late. I was delayed at the garage.” Grinning, he took the seat across from me. “Lloyd’s ordering a part for the car. No telling how long it’ll take.” Joy rang in his tone.

  “Sounds as if you’re stuck here for a day or so.” I smiled as happiness erupted inside me.

  “Longer. Mr. Jacobsen’s visiting his daughter in Arkansas. My boss, George, wants me to stay put until he returns. Mr. Jacobsen will call your shop when he gets back.”

  “Why?”

  “For some reason, my cell phone doesn’t work in this area. He has your number because I called from Eve’s Clips. What could I say?” Philip searched my face. “I thought it’d be OK. I hope it won’t inconvenience you.” Philip’s voice sounded jittery.

  “It’s fine.”

  “I’ve checked out the sights and entertainment. Since I’ll be here a while...” He grinned big “...and you probably need a distraction from the repairs, let’s attend the piano concert tomorrow night on Blue Mountain.”

  Was he looking forward to another evening with me, or was he bored? Taking a message was one thing. Toying with my heart, another. What if going out with him again sent my already fragile emotions into a tailspin? I just met him, but it wasn’t as if I were going out with a stranger. I’d spent an entire day in a crisis with Philip. We were friends. I gave him my best smile. “OK.”

  He picked up the menus from behind the mustard and ketchup bottles and handed me one. “What’s good in here?”

  “Chili cheeseburgers.”

  Bonnie Sue sashayed over to take our orders. She stuck her hand on her hip then cut her gaze at me. “Why, hello, Eve. This must be the handsome guy that nearly got killed at your shop?”

  Bonnie Sue had green eyes with long lashes. Her auburn hair looked soft and touchable, the tips of it lying on the shoulders of her white uniform. The more men she went out with, the better she liked it. Her poor unsettled heart.

  “Philip Wells, this is Bonnie Sue Jeffers.”

  “Nice to meet you.”

  Bonnie Sue sidled over to Philip and stood so close her side touched his shoulder. “What can I get for you, good lookin’?” She winked.

  Heat crawled over my skin. Why should I care if Bonnie Sue flirted with Philip? Had this crazy day with its mix of disaster and newfound romance made me a little nuts?

  He scooted away from the edge of the seat.

  I couldn’t control my satisfied smile.

  “I’ll have a chili cheeseburger and...” He peered at me. “What to drink?”

  “Sweet tea, definitely. I’d like a chili cheeseburger too.”

  Bonnie Sue left as Lloyd pushed off his bar stool and ambled to our table.

  Philip stood and shook his hand, but Lloyd peered at me.

  “Why, I didn’t know you were a friend of Eve’s. I thought you got stranded in the shop.”

  Lloyd had no idea how I’d warmed up to a total stranger, but the earnest look in his eyes told me he wanted to correct his oversight. I fiddled with a napkin. “Ahh, that’s right. We met today.”

  “Any friend of Eve’s gets to use the Fix ‘Em and Loan ‘Em Garage and Car Rental freebie. Yes, siree. You bring that coupe back to me in the morning, and there won’t be any charge.”

  “That’s awfully nice of you, Mr. Rock, but I...”

  There was no need for Philip to protest. Once Lloyd made up his mind about something, it was as good as done.

  “Not a ‘tall. We take care of each other here in Triville. Ya’ll enjoy yer dinner now, ya’ hear.”

  Lloyd left and Philip shook his head. “I’ve never seen a place like Triville.”

  It had never occurred to me to compare Triville to another place, or its residents to other people, but Philip was different, more sophisticated and worldly. I could see him smooth talking his way into that ad on television about Make More Money, and I didn’t understand why they hadn’t used him.

  Bonnie Sue served our food, grinning at Philip and leaning way over when she set down his cheeseburger. “I hope you like every little bite of that.”

  Philip scooted even farther away from the edge of the booth. “Thank you. I’m sure I will.”

  Obviously, he wasn’t interested in her. I liked him even more.

  He bit into his entree and his eyebrows shot up. He swallowed and held out the burger. “This is delicious.”

  Customers jammed into the diner, their chatter filling the room. A man in the booth across from us put a quarter in the small juke box on his table, and a fifties tune blasted from it.

  I speared a French fry. “The potatoes are nice and crisp here.” My voice faded into the sound of people talking and the music.

  Philip leaned forward. “What?”

  My words were babble. I hadn’t been out with a man in so long I didn’t know what to say. Heat built up and spread to my neck. “It wasn’t important.” I spoke loud without screaming.

  We stopped trying to chat.

  My embarrassment over my lack of dating faded, and we finished eating.

  Philip trod to the front to pay, but returned and placed a five-dollar tip on the table. Such a generous gratuity would probably convince Bonnie Sue he was in love with her.

  We wandered outside and stood underneath the soft glow of lighting in the parking lot.

  “Can we go somewhere else? It was too noisy to talk in there.” Philip’s gaze moved along my face, his eyes pleading.

  I wanted to spend more time with this mysterious, handsome man I barely knew. A voice in my head told me getting involved with someone simply passing through town was like attaching a bomb to my already wounded heart. Yet, how much of it could I really give him? He’d only stay long enough to see Mr. Jacobsen. When he left my infatuation would fly away with the mountain breeze. I had nothing to lose. “I suppose we could sit in the park across the street.”

  He clasped my hand, and in my heart I skipped along like a kid, warmth surging through my veins. We sat on a bench facing the blue-tinted mountains that isolated and shielded Triville from the outside world. Veiled in night’s shadows, they towered around us. Occasional spotlights or a porch light cut into the dark halfway up one of them signaling signs of life.

  The gentle wind that cooled Triville’s evenings blew across my face as children behind us chattered, the swings squeaking. “Exactly what brings you to these hills to see Mr. Jacobsen? You seemed pretty upset this morning when you had to phone him because of the accident.”

  “Yeah. I was. Mr. Jacobsen wants to talk to someone from Make More Money in person about investing. He doesn’t own a computer because he doesn’t want anyone in cyber space snooping into his business. Phone conversations won’t work either. He has a land line and a cell phone, but doesn’t discuss business over either of them. He’s only available face to face. That’s why it’s so important for me to be here when he returns.”

  “From what I hear about him, he’s reclusive, but kind.”

  Philip nodded. “I’d say so, but I didn’t realize that this morning. I thought I’d lost the account because I couldn’t travel to his house. Between that and the car crash, I have to admit I was stressed out. You’ll probably never believe it, but they call me cool head at work because I’m never rattled.”

  I chuckled, but I could see that. Philip seemed like a guy who had lived a life that groomed him to say and do the most appropriate thing in any situation, definitely a cool character. “If I’d k
nown, I could’ve gotten a picture of you anxiously making those calls and sent it to them.”

  “You’re bad.” Philip planted a light tap on my arm.

  “I don’t believe you even heard me when I asked if you wanted coffee.”

  “Ahh, I have a one-track mind, especially in a disaster. I concentrate too intensely searching for a solution.” Philip locked gazes with me. “I appreciated your kindness today. I think the people coming in the shop did too. It’s interesting the way they’re all so connected to you.”

  I burst out laughing. “It’s not just me. All of Triville’s connected. We help each other out, but we know each other’s business. It’s easier to hold onto a greased pig than keep a secret in Triville. That’s how I know Mr. Jacobsen sometimes visits Mary Louise as long as a month.”

  Philip’s lips turned up on the corners. “So far, other than the wreck, it’s a fun place. I could stay a month. I might have to check with George, but I’d like to hang out in Triville.”

  My heart fluttered. Was he saying he wanted to spend time with me? More importantly, why did I care? Confusion cluttered my mind, and sweat popped out on my forehead. I swiped my brow.

  “George sends me out of town quite a bit to assess branch offices, hold seminars, or meet new clients, so he could easily pay a lot more for a hotel room somewhere else.”

  I nodded in agreement, but the excitement of being out with the second man I’d ever dated in my life plus the stress of the day caught up with me. My energy wilted like curled hair straightening in heavy dew. “I hate to leave, but a good night’s sleep will help me tomorrow when I start on the cuts and up-dos.”

  “I’ll swing by your place around six o’clock.”

  “Sounds good.” The words popped out of my mouth as though I was under a spell. Had I adopted a new philosophy? One date at a time with no thought for tomorrow. I couldn’t deny Philip tugged at my heart as no one had since Jordan. I shrugged my shoulders. Not much could happen in only a month, could it?

  4

  I stood barefoot on the beige carpet in the walk-in closet underneath the faint yellow glow of the small light. The school girls going to prom had nothing on me. I tingled with excitement as I dressed in a black skirt and jeweled knit shirt and twirled in front of the mirror. The doorbell rang, and I made tracks down the hall and answered.

  Philip pushed back a lock of black hair falling over his forehead and smiled. “You look gorgeous.” He leaned over, picked up a piece of paper, and handed it to me.

  You could be in for a permanent sleep.

  I’d convinced myself a bored kid wrote the first note. “Is someone threatening to...not again.” I shook inside.

  This wasn’t a youngster’s message to no one.

  Furrows creased Philip’s brow as he leaned over and peered at it. “I’m sorry I found it, but look. It has the same childlike lettering. It must’ve blown from the shop into the yard.” He put his arm around my waist. “Don’t worry. I believe it was the same boy or girl with nothing to do who penned the first one.”

  My jitters melted at his touch and reassuring words, and he guided me out. Oh, no. Lloyd’s ornery 1965 classic. Why didn’t he send Philip his newer loaner? I glanced at my coupe, but would it insult Philip if I suggested we take it?

  He already held the passenger door open, gesturing toward the seat as though it was Cinderella’s carriage. “Lloyd knows how to treat his customers. He refuses to charge me for this snazzy, black loaner vehicle.” Philip’s lips curved up. He eased into the driver’s seat and backed out. “I don’t have a map to Blue Mountain. Can you navigate?”

  Finding the place wasn’t the problem. “Sure. Who’s playing tonight?”

  “Jeffrey Combs, a music major from Western Hills College.”

  A classy evening. My heart swelled with pride for my little mountain community. Philip would see hillbillies weren’t only about Uncle Fudd and Bubba pickin’ and grinin.’ Strange. Why would I care what he thought?

  We rode through town past the shops and brick business offices, including Triville State Insurance Company, our tallest building at four stories. We started up the steep hill lined with oak and poplar trees when the classic car sputtered and bounced. I flew forward, braced myself when my hands hit the black vinyl dashboard, and looked at Philip. He’d probably never driven a car like this.

  His eyes widened as he gripped the steering wheel so tight his knuckles turned white. Poor guy. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. I’ve ridden in this contraption before. It moves along on a level street. We could go back and eat in town.”

  “Oh, no. The Blue Room sounds nice.” The vehicle surged and stalled. Philip floored the gas pedal. “How much farther? The last thing I need is another accident.” He clenched his jaw.

  Lloyd’s “freebie” was enough to make an auto mechanic nervous on a steep grade. The trees and foliage looked pretty much the same no matter where we drove on the road. But spotlights on the house on the route lit up the night, and I knew its location. “We’re a little over halfway there.” Wanting to encourage him, I tried to sound upbeat.

  “Good.”

  What could I say to make this trip easier, give him something besides the near stops of the old muscle car to think about? “How’d you become a stockbroker?”

  “My dad used to discuss stocks and bonds so often Wall Street permeated my dreams. When I graduated from college, I landed the job in New York City with Make More Money.”

  The car popped and crept as though it might die any second. Philip pressed his lips tight, squared his jaw, and floor-boarded it. The car lunged forward.

  I took a deep breath of relief. Philip was kind, and I suspected from his fine suit and expensive shoes, he was out of his culture zone. Driving the old car must’ve seemed awkward to him, but it appeared he intended to make the best of it. “It’s great you snagged the position you wanted and can enjoy the city. I’d never fit in there.”

  Philip cut those sexy eyes toward me. “With your personality you could connect with anyone anywhere.”

  I sucked in air and exhaled slowly to anchor myself to the car seat as my head floated toward the clouds.

  He kept talking as though he had no idea he’d sent me reeling. “I’m interested in moving to Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. George says he’ll consider letting me open a branch office there if I sign up Mr. Jacobsen.”

  “Mr. Jacobsen’s that important?” If he were, Philip might come back here to call on him. Silly me.

  “Yeah, he’s promised us a large investment and says he may increase it. His account would give our firm the boost it needs to expand.”

  “Make More Money already seems like a large company.” Philip must have been awfully smart if Mr. Jacobsen’s business meant that much and they chose him to handle the account.

  The car sputtered, bumped ahead and then ran smoothly.

  Philip loosened his grip on the steering wheel. “Hmm. This incline is leveling out. I guess we’ll be OK now. What? Oh, yes, it’s nice-sized, but a brokerage firm, or any other company, for that matter, can’t have too much business.”

  “Right.” I removed my hands from the dashboard as he pulled into a gravel lot on top of the mountain and parked in front of a tan stucco castle with a red roof.

  Patrons in long dresses and fine suits emerged from luxury vehicles and sports cars as Philip slipped out and opened my door. A loud squeak pierced the night.

  I gasped.

  He flinched then looked at me, and we laughed.

  In moments we entered a large room with a wall of screened casements. I couldn’t help but notice the hostess’s nicely-done French twist as she led us to a white, linen-draped table facing a baby grand piano.

  A cool breeze from an opened window blew across my face, and my shoulders relaxed. Peace and contentment replaced the boredom and sorrow that had nagged me like a headache ever since Jordan died.

  “It was worth the trip.” Philip pulled up a tan c
aptain’s chair and sat back as a waiter appeared.

  “How about spinach dip and two sweet teas?” Philip glanced at me.

  “Sounds good.” I’d forgotten how going out lifted my spirits. Until this moment, it hadn’t occurred to me that I needed to take a break from the shop and enjoy a change of scenery. Did a nice looking guy have to ram his car through the wall of Eve’s Clips for me to see that?

  The waiter nodded and returned with the order as the pianist took the stage and bowed.

  “The baby grand is made from spruce trees that grew on these mountains.” I leaned forward and whispered to Philip.

  “Very nice.”

  Jeffrey flipped up the tails on his black tuxedo and sat down. The room grew quiet, and the scrape of the bench echoed as he pulled it up. He placed his long fingers on the keyboard and opened with Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto Number One.

  The romantic melody and flickering candlelight sending soft hues across Philip’s finely chiseled features whisked me to a field of daisies touched by sweet sunlight where lovers met and dreams came true.

  The classical music ended and a round of loud applause erupted from the audience.

  Jeffrey took another bow then resituated himself. The soothing notes of a Ferrante and Teicher tune wafted through the room.

  Philip’s eyes glinted with fascination.

  Jeffrey concluded the first part of the concert with Debussy’s Clair de Lune then stood sporting a wide grin. “Thank you. I’ll take a brief intermission, but don’t go away.”

  Chatter and the sound of clinking glasses filled the room as the patrons stirred.

  “I think Jeffrey has a musical future,” I said.

  “I agree. I’m glad you’re enjoying the concert.” Philip stuck a chip in the spinach dip and popped it in his mouth. “Hmm. That’s good. Have some.”

  I reached for a serving as he sipped his tea. Moments such as these came and went with the blink of an eye, but I believed this one would etch a memory on my heart forever.

  “You know, Lloyd’s car reminds me of an old beater I owned as a teen,” he said.

  “What kind of car was it?”