pte

r

irthday," I said, opening my

ench asked, staring at t

ike a giant canvas with a drawing on it, and it com

s going to

g it'll give her something

looks like a Jackso

shut the bag. "I'm jus

a sma

. "Yeah,

cking my arm to catch my a

er's tall figure lounging by the street. "Oh my God, yes it

p!" Trench whispere

Trench a

l estate agent,

own then. I get it.– His sister's sick, anyone would

s staying in town? Is he buying an apartment nearby? I bit my lip. My imagined d

ch's hand on my sh

on. "I'm perfectly fine. I was just thinking about ho

't have the keys to the salon, rememb

began, turning around, b

away from him. Besides, Thea

cheeks flushing slightly at

, his umber hair billowing in the sunny December morning. His tan overcoat was open, revealing his

id in his deep voic

ing in on his emerald gaze. "Wha

on her feet behind him. She pressed her hands together, her face scrunched up in a proud smirk. "We at Bishop &

mine. "She's got her nose all the way in your ass,"

ve me a cursory lo

s heat up. "Tha

I haven't slept in

all

trying to put my work in order so

nville, then?" I asked, the pit

ng his hands into his pockets. "It'l

y seem to l

aid, cocking h

should be excited to move back into a town

me, they like t

e a diff

gave me a sly smile that

e me a muted glare. "Mr. Forester and I are really quite busy a

rsing. "It was nice to see you aga

at him with what felt

rench said, pointedly. He jumped, as if

guys around." He walked away with Trudy chattering non-stop b

visible," Trench commented. "

p," I snap

t even se

my confused reactions towards Kenon my face.

e asked, waving he

ha

r fa

ha

eyes at me. "Hunter. Do you

tion. "I don't know wha

rtain someone's ba

t forgotten." I

ing to tell him

hink about. My pace quickened as I felt that familiar pi

r pitifully. She knew my question w

the longer you wait, the m

you're

efore?" she demanded. I looked up at

have told him. But I didn't, and I couldn't do it for the years a

t pick up your phone

one was beginning

n't the smartest decision not to tell him, but I was

st don't think a perfectly decent man shoul

think so,

om him yesterday, and even now, when you know

her. "Maybe this

op waiting for momen

ething?" I asked, unable to un

u could have had his help all along,

t you think I purposefully orchestrated thi

her hands on her hips. "You're sti

aid, throwing my hands in the air. "I don't kno

otshot would want to be tied down in Susanville with a baby, so maybe that's why you didn't try. But he's gonna live here no

supportive friend into a

rted acting l

to me. "I think I'm going to go get the key by myself,"

I didn't slow down, but I kept an ear out to see if she followed.

asn't

. The keys fumbled in my hands as I jammed them in absentmi

problem was that the things she was saying to me were the exact thoughts that kept me awake at ni

lked down the hallway, heading straight into the living room. The glow of the television illu

I told you not to sit so

sheepish. "Sorry, Mom.

aid, rummaging around in my drawer

king her

e," I said, huff

t –

ea

e with you

ainst the d

leep, and

Rudol

lready

't sure I wanted him to see Thea just yet.

londe lock away from her face, "

usy, sweetie. Mayb

mping her feet. "Take me

no be

th giant, watery green

tiny coat off the rack and scribbling a not

ncing around excitedly.

the house. She tottered along behind me, her thick navy coat making her sunny blonde hair

me, I would tell him the truth. But I wasn't ready to mention it myself, and that was the state of things as they were. I had no time to act foolish and bro

et. I breathed a sigh of relief when the salon's rusty red sign came into view. I scooped Thea up in my arms and rushed towa

tmas time customers and of course, Ingrid. She gave me a muted look when she saw

et go of my hand and ran toward her aunt, who scooped her up and swung her

ngrid," she said, t

look

pen, letting the people trail inside. Thea shoved herself out of Ingrid's arms and raced t

made some rather awkward eye contact.

"She wante

t if Ken

sign that says 'I'

That blonde hair is exactly like hi

imace. "Maybe I'm hoping her hair wil

o me, but one of our customers called from the back, "Hey, ca

hristmas

wn's most iconic "professional party thrower" – I think they liked to call themselves socialites. The only reason we didn't

the customers were looking for. Even for Sundance night, the list was quite long, an

couldn't quite place him. The woman, however, I recognized instantly. Amalia Forester's skinny and weakened face was framed by the same silken blonde locks

re because recognition crossed his face when his eyes met min

I'm

. I remember

ked me, grinning

d, grinning back. "How ar

forward. "I'm doing great,

n up to Amalia without me even noticing and was now bouncing

as me!" she yelped, clapping

"Aw, she's just adorab

Thank you," I

hair," Amalia said, shrugging.

she was asking us to do. I threw

ely, her eyes like

u want it

of

nted to offer her a word of comfort, but I wasn't sure if t

ulled her backward. "Hey

wn to see Thea's large blue eyes staring

She's a frie

their arms gesturing more and more as the conversation prog

es

hy

mplified an explanation of the emotional trauma of going through cancer, and I chose to deflect the quest

I told her. "You'll unde

tight in her hands. I felt bad for subverting her questions, but I didn't want to cause long-la

ia were still having. I navigated my way between them, and t

r, we're going to de

ecide. It's just... You're not the first person I know who's come h

s together. "Why don't I tell you the reason why I

odd

ost of the time I can hold myself together, and I have, all these days. But you know what makes me feel really sick?" She stuck her fingers into her blond

coming out, but it was the most disheartening sight I h

understand if this is what you want to do. I just didn'

"I already do. This is happening.

at least t

He wants me to prete

I raised my hands in the air, as though I were trying to offer them some invisible conso

harply, her face crumpled in an a

t, grim look of su

and sat down. I pulled the shavers out of the closet and connected them to the switch board. The buzzing sound the

t to do this?" I aske

es, yes I do. Shave

kull. Her hair fell off easily in thin blonde wisps onto the floor. The colour was exa

anding in front of a mirror, a razor in his hands, held high against his hair. He threw Amalia

!" she

inuing to shave off bits of his h

y around her chair as I went around her head, cleaning and trimming out all the sunny bl

straightened in her seat, her eyes glued to the person she saw in the mirror before her. I ge

ng at her form in the mirro

own on the chair next to her. His head w