When their food came, it gave her even more reason not to talk, and she ate without really tasting it, just concentrating on getting enough food in her belly to take away that empty feeling.
The waitress swung back by with Ruby and Peanut’s dessert—little bowls of peach cobbler—and brought one for Cathy on the house.
“Enjoy,” she said, and topped off their drinks.
Cathy managed to eat just enough of it to be polite, and then excused herself to go to the ladies’ room while they were still eating.
She made it inside before she came undone and cried until her eyes were almost as red as her hair. She knew they would notice. Hopefully, they would not remark about it.
When she came out of the ladies’ room, Peanut and Ruby were waiting for her in the lobby.
“Sully said your meal was on the house,” Ruby said. “Want to follow me to the shop?”
Cathy nodded, then paused at the register on their way out.
“Thank you for my meal,” she said.
“You’re welcome,” Sully said. “Glad to have you.”
Cathy got in her car and headed for the Curl Up and Dye.
Peanut dropped Ruby off at the back of the salon.
“Something’s wrong,” he said. “She seemed okay until they started talking about the shooting.”
“I noticed,” Ruby said. “I’ll find out. Don’t worry. The hair salon is a better confessional than the one at the Catholic church.”
Peanut smiled. “I know that’s the truth. I’ll see you at home tonight.”
Ruby waved, then jumped out and went in the back just as Cathy walked in the front.
“I’ve got her,” she said as Vera put down her sandwich and started to go greet Cathy. Ruby sailed past them, then led Cathy back. “Girls, this is Cathy Terry. Cathy, my stylists, Vesta and Vera Conklin, and manicurist, Mabel Jean Doolittle.”
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Vesta said.
“Ditto,” Vera said.
“Welcome to Blessings,” Mabel Jean said.
“It’s a pleasure to meet all of you,” Cathy said.
“Okay…introductions are over. Sit, child,” Ruby said.
Cathy plopped down in the stylist chair at Ruby’s station, while the women finished eating their lunch.
Ruby whipped out a cape and fastened it around Cathy’s neck, then turned her toward the mirror. When Cathy saw herself in the mirror, she kept thinking, But for the grace of God, I would be lying dead in a parking lot, not sitting here in this chair, and broke into tears again.
Ruby put her arms around her.
“What’s wrong, sugar? You’re among friends here, and whatever we hear in this place goes no further.”
Cathy kept shaking her head and then wiping her eyes with the tissue Ruby gave her.
“I’m sorry I’m making such a scene,” she said.
“Are you sick?” Ruby asked. “Can I call someone for you?”
“I was at the mall,” she said. “The shooters walked in just ahead of me. When I saw them pull up their masks and pull out their guns, I ran. They shot at me three times.” Then she pointed at her shoulder bag with the bullet hole hanging on a hook at Ruby’s station. “The only thing they hit was my purse. They turned around and ran inside, and I called 911.”
“Oh my God!” Ruby said. “And all those two biddies did during lunch was drag out the gossip they’d heard about it. I’m so sorry.”
“I just keep thinking about the gunshots I heard. I knew people were Christmas shopping, and I knew there were people dying. I can’t stop thinking about it.”
Ruby just kept hugging her, then finally patted her on the shoulder.
“Come with me to the shampoo station. A good scalp massage is relaxing. And you can tell me how you like to wear your hair after we get back in the chair.”
Cathy got up and followed. When the warm water began flowing through her hair and onto her scalp, she closed her eyes.
“It’s gonna be okay,” Ruby said.
And by the time Ruby had her hair trimmed and styled, Cathy was feeling better.
“Thank you for everything,” she said. “And thank you for not telling anyone. I’ve had enough drama in my life the last few weeks to last the rest of my life. I just don’t want to be attached to anything else…however random.”
“We understand,” Ruby said. “Your story is safe with us. Go home and call that handsome boyfriend of yours. We all saw the video. We saw him come to your rescue in a most heroic way. I’m thinking he would be good for what ails you.”