CHAPTER TWELVE
LORI
Saturday morning, Lori awoke with a sense of excitement. She felt as though being on a date with Guy would close a loop that had remained open for the past few years.
Lori was happy she’d made an appointment to get her hair done. After visiting The Beach House Hotel and seeing how well-maintained some of the women there were, she developed a new awareness about maintaining her appearance.
Working with kids all day, she’d forgotten that jeans and tops that could be easily washed free of spit-up were fine for the job and hanging around home, but she needed something better to wear on an actual date.
Lori went through her closet and decided to make some thrifting trips in the next couple of weeks.
And she knew just the place to do it. Working those side jobs made such trips possible.
She pulled on her favorite sweatshirt and a pair of jeans to go to the beauty salon. Franco, her hair stylist, would be pleased to see her this early in the morning. He’d squeezed her into his busy schedule by making her arrive before his first appointment.
Before she left the house, Lori made herself a cup of coffee and toasted a slice of wheat bread.
She spread honey on the bread and ate it as she gazed outside.
The bird feeder she kept was now empty. No doubt, the goldfinches had feasted there.
For such small birds, they sure were piggy.
She’d try to remember to refill the feeder when she returned.
Driving through the town, Lori realized how much she loved it when she saw a neighbor lift her hand and wave.
She wanted to travel, especially after visiting Florida, but she knew her place was in this town, where she was known and loved.
Ellenton and its people had helped her through the worst time in her life. She’d always be grateful to them.
At Hair Designs, Franco greeted her with a kiss on each cheek and ushered her to his special section of the salon.
“How was Florida?” he asked, running his fingers through her hair as she sat in his chair. “I’ll put extra conditioner on to help with a little dryness. So, the trip?”
“The Beach House Hotel was absolutely gorgeous. I felt like royalty staying there,” gushed Lori. “It was a real treat.”
“You look fabulous, my dear,” he said, giving her a fatherly smile.
In his late fifties and with beautiful gray hair, he’d been doing this job all his life.
The salon he owned was extremely successful because he ran it like one of the top ones in New York City.
Clients were offered comfy robes, glasses of bubbling water, and top-notch service as he and his carefully selected coworkers did their work.
Franco stood behind her chair and studied her image in the mirror. “I think this time we should go a little shorter, enough to let the curls have a softness of their own.”
“Do whatever you think you should,” Lori said.
“A little color? Perhaps a faint touch of a lighter color to add to your brown for a little interest? I see the sun in Florida has done that in places,” said Franco.
Lori drew a deep breath. A new year meant changes. Now more than ever.
###
Two hours later, Lori left the salon feeling as if she’d left the old Lori behind. She was thrilled with the way her hair seemed to shine no matter where she turned her head. Curls hung softly around her face.
Sliding behind the wheel of her car, she knew it was time to go to her favorite thrift store to find the perfect outfit for tonight’s movie date with Guy.
For the first time in a long time, she was excited by the prospect of finding a few treasures for her nonworking wardrobe.
Nick used to laugh at the way she went bargain hunting, but she liked expensive things for a bargain price and was willing to take her time to find them.
ReNew was a store of carefully vetted items, many of which were on consignment from women in New York City’s upscale suburbs. It was an excellent resource for the shoppers who were willing to spend a little more money than usual.
Just as Franco made his salon upscale, ReNew was far from a usual thrift store. The carpeted interior and private dressing rooms were adorned with silk flowers and featured a spring-like floral aroma. The racks of clothes hung on padded hangers in sections by kind of item.
Lori was browsing in the sweater section when she heard two women talking in the dress section. “I want just the right dress to wear at the club. Guy might be there.”
“He’s very hot,” said the other woman. “It’s exciting to have him back in town.”
Lori peered around the rack of sweaters and saw her high school classmate, Cynthia Walters.
A tall, statuesque blonde, Cynthia had dated Guy briefly before Lori and Guy began going out.
Cynthia had always blamed Lori for Guy breaking up with her, but no matter how often Lori told her that wasn’t the case, Cynthia wouldn’t believe her. Needless to say, they were not friends.
Lori stayed where she was until Cynthia and her friend, a woman she didn’t know, left the dresses and went to check out. She didn’t want anyone to ruin her day.
Later, after finding a turquoise V-neck sweater and black designer jeans that could be dressed up or down, Lori headed home.
Weekends were usually spent on household chores and preparing for the upcoming work week.
She made a quick stop at her favorite grocery store and made just enough purchases to get through the next week.
After getting her hair done and getting her new outfit, she’d have to watch her spending for a couple of weeks until her next paycheck.
Lori was leaving the grocery store when she noticed Guy pulling into the parking lot in a low-slung, silver sports car.
He didn’t notice her as he sped into a parking space close to the front.
She was tempted to slow down and wait for him to get out of the car, but an automobile behind her beeped its horn for her to make her exit.
Back at home, she stripped her bed, put the sheets in the washing machine, and began to vacuum the downstairs rooms when Aurelia arrived.
“Got time for a cup of coffee?” she asked. “The girls are at ballet class, and I have a few minutes to catch up with you. Wow! What did you do to your hair? It looks fabulous. Did Franco style it?”
“Yes. He suggested adding a few highlights and lowlights for interest. I like it,” said Lori as she fixed two cups of coffee and handed a mug to Aurelia.
“Thanks,” said Aurelia, taking a sip of the hot liquid and sighing with satisfaction. “Flo told me you’re going out with Guy Phillips tonight. I’m proud of you for making all these changes. It’s healthy for you to step out of your comfort zone. ”
“I know,” said Lori. “We’ll see how things go. I’m trying. That’s all I’m going to ask of myself. Each step forward is a move in the right direction. But it doesn’t mean that I’m forgetting Nick.”
“Of course not,” Aurelia said, giving her a look of concern. “Nick will always be part of your life. And should be. You two were fantastic together.”
“You couldn’t say that better. Even Mom would be proud of you,” said Lori, and they laughed.
“Sorry, I can’t seem to get out of big sister mode,” said Aurelia. “I might need you to get into ‘Auntie mode’ if I can’t get the girls to stop bickering at one another.”
“You know I love my nieces. I’ll try to work something out with them next week.” Lori shook her head. “I can’t believe how fast they’re growing up.”
###
Later, after Aurelia left, Lori made a note to schedule a girls’ afternoon with Sarah and Lizbeth next weekend. Feeling unsettled, she decided to calm her nerves about her date by getting out one of her favorite romance novels.
###
Later still, Lori gave herself a last look in the mirror, brushed off her new jeans, tweaked her sweater to show off her turquoise jewelry, and headed into her living room.
She remembered how Guy used to be on time when they were dating.
She checked her watch. He’d told her he’d pick her up at six o’clock.
Lori looked out of the living room window and saw a silver sports car coming down the street toward her house. Smiling, she guessed he hadn’t changed in that regard.
Standing away from the window, she watched Guy emerge from the car and head up the front walk, wearing khakis, a collared shirt, and a navy sweater. It brought memories of dating him flooding back. Happy memories.
He still looked like a football player with his broad shoulders, muscled body, and easy gait. His hair was a little lighter, no doubt from living in such a sunny area. A winter in Ellenton might change that.
She went to the front door and opened it, greeting him with a smile.
His gaze traveled from her face to the rest of her body and back to her face. “You look beautiful, Lori.”
“Thanks. Come in while I get my jacket.”
He walked inside and looked around. “Nice.”
“The house needed fixing up when my husband and I bought it. Some of the downstairs has been worked on, but the upstairs still needs help,” said Lori. “We chose the house for the neighborhood. It’s a convenient location.”
He helped her with her jacket. “I’m in a condo while I wait to close on my house in The Highlands.”
“I remember your family used to live there. It’s in the best part of town,” said Lori.
“A little weird for me to return there, but, oddly enough, it felt like home,” he said.
“I wondered why you’d even return to Ellenton. From what I’d heard, it sounded like you loved California when you first moved there,” said Lori, as he helped her into his car.
“I did. My ex still lives there.”
“What about your parents? Are they still there?” she asked.
He shook his head. “My father died two years ago, and my mother moved to Palm Springs for the warmer weather. She loves the desert.”
“I’ve never been, but I’ve seen photos of that area. Gorgeous.”
He grinned. “You’re a hometown girl, I remember.”
“Oh, yes.” She laughed. “I still am.”