7
After a really good night’s sleep, Joy felt fully revived and ready for the day ahead of them.
She even offered to drive the RV to Tulsa.
But Miranda seemed refreshed too, insisting that unless Joy was determined to drive, she was happy to take the wheel.
And Joy didn’t protest. Mostly she was relieved.
It seemed that Miranda had really gotten the driving bug. And that was probably for the best.
“What a delightfully beautiful morning,” Joy declared as the RV rolled down the highway. Everything was still damp from yesterday’s rainstorm, glowing in the sunlight. “The world has been washed clean.”
“It’s so mild out,” Miranda said. “Hard to believe this is December.”
“I remember how worried you were that I’d get trapped in a blizzard out here,” Joy teased. “Not today.”
Miranda chuckled. “And probably not tomorrow either. But at least it gave me a good excuse to come along. So who are we visiting in Tulsa?”
“Well, it’s actually a small town just outside of Tulsa.
” Joy reached for her red and green notebook, flipping to the Tulsa page and skimming the email she’d printed out.
“A woman named Danielle entered the contest for her friend Lizzie. They’re both hairdressers and both in their forties.
Lizzie survived ovarian cancer about ten years ago, but it recurred this fall.
She’s just completed chemotherapy treatments and feeling very discouraged about life in general.
Lizzie owns a hair salon and Danielle works for her.
Danielle thought that decorating the salon might cheer her up during the holidays. ”
“Sounds like she can use some cheer.”
“Yes. I hope this lifts her spirits.”
“I noticed you gave Delores a check,” Miranda said with hesitation. “I don’t mean to be nosey, but it did make me curious. Was that part of the contest?”
“Not exactly. At least I didn’t specify that on my website.
But I did say there would be decorating and prizes.
The prize for the nursing home was that I covered the expenses for the Christmas tree and the party and such.
But because Delores and Hillary were in such bad straits .
. .” She smiled to herself. “And because I could afford it . . . well, it seemed right to bless them financially.”
“It was very generous of you. And it was obvious that Delores really appreciated it. She was literally dancing with joy.” Miranda chuckled.
“Yes, that was fun—to see her reaction.” Joy closed the notebook.
“In the case of Lizzie, I have another plan. According to Danielle, Lizzie’s health insurance is covering her treatments, and thanks to Danielle’s diligence, the beauty salon is doing relatively well.
So besides the decorating, which will be fun since I packed lots of pink things, I’m giving Lizzie and Danielle a gift certificate for five days at a spa in Tucson, plus airfare.
To be used whenever Lizzie feels up to it. ”
“Oh, that’s perfect. Something to look forward to.”
“I thought so.” Joy nodded. “George sent me to a spa like that on my sixtieth birthday. It was thoroughly enjoyable.”
“Now tell me about these pink decorations,” Miranda probed. “Where did you get them? I can’t imagine you using pink decorations in your house.”
Joy laughed. “I was going through a phase of sorts.” As Miranda drove, Joy told her about the Christmas when she’d decided to decorate everything in the house in shades of pink.
“Both of the boys were grown and out of the house—in college and working—and neither of them were able to come home that year.” She thought for a moment.
“I suppose it’s what they call ‘empty nest syndrome’ nowadays, but I don’t think they had a name for it back then.
It was the early eighties. You probably don’t remember that era much, but it was all about shoulder pads and big hair, and colors like pink, fuchsia, mauve, and magenta were all the fashion. ”
“I do remember that era. My mom did the master bedroom in mauve wallpaper—with lots of big roses and trailing vines. It made my dad feel sick just to go in there. They had it changed a couple years later.”
“Exactly.” Joy nodded. “Anyway, I suppose I was feeling out of sorts that my boys weren’t coming home. Or maybe I was having mother’s remorse over the fact that I never had a little girl—you know, a child I could dress up in rosebuds and pink.”
Miranda laughed. “You would not have enjoyed me as a child then. I hated pink. That was my little sister—she was a real girlie girl.”
“The funny thing was that I’d never really cared much for pink either.
But for some reason I went nuts for everything pink that Christmas.
I had pink angels and purple glass balls and, well, all sorts of silly frilly stuff.
George thought I’d lost my mind at first. Imagine all that fluff in our modern home.
I have to say that when it was all said and done, it did look rather interesting.
I actually kept the pink theme for a couple of years.
But then I packed it all up and stuck it in the attic along with all my other Christmas decorations, thinking I might pull it out again . . . but I never did.”
“It sounds perfect for a beauty salon,” Miranda declared.
“I sure hope Lizzie likes it. I did ask Danielle if Lizzie liked pink and she assured me that she did.”
With the help of Miss Moore’s electronic directions, Miranda got them to the beauty salon around noon. But before they went into the salon, they ate a quick lunch in the motor home, using this time to discuss the plans for the rest of the day.
“We should have plenty of time to get the decorations up and get to the RV park before dark,” Joy said as they finished their lunch.
“That’ll be good.” Miranda started cleaning up the lunch things.
“I suppose we should get started then.” Joy looked at her watch with a tired sigh.
“Why don’t you just sit there a bit,” Miranda suggested. “I’ll get the decorations unloaded and everything ready to go.”
“But I—”
“No arguing, please.” Miranda shook her finger at Joy.
Joy just smiled. “You are a treasure, dear.”
While Joy had a little rest, Miranda sorted and unloaded items. Finally, with everything ready, Miranda placed a cookie plate in Joy’s lap. “All ready to go?”
“You bet.” Joy eagerly got to her feet.
Miranda picked up a box and together they walked up to the beauty salon.
“Lazy Girl Hair Salon,” Joy read aloud as they walked up to the building.
“Interesting name.” Miranda set down the box and opened the door for Joy.
“It’s you!” exclaimed a tall blonde woman as she rushed toward Joy. “I recognize you from the photo on your website. Christmas Joy has come to the Lazy Girl.”
Joy smiled as she held out the cookie plate. “Are you Lizzie?”
“No, I’m Danielle. Lizzie won’t be in until 3:30.”
“Perfect. We should have the decorating completed by then.” Joy set the cookie plate on the counter, then turned to Miranda. “You know the drill by now.”
Miranda nodded eagerly. “You put together your plan and I’ll deliver the goods.”
Danielle sent a young woman out to help Miranda, then gave Joy a quick tour of the facility.
“It’s a lovely salon,” Joy told Danielle. “So clean and inviting.” She pointed to a sign by the front counter. “But why is it called Lazy Girl? Clearly the people who work here are not lazy. Everything is neat as a pin.”
Danielle smiled. “When Lizzie was little, her dad called her Lizzie Girl. Her baby brother misunderstood and thought he was calling her Lazy Girl. I think it’s because the dad had a La-Z-Boy recliner.
Anyway, Lizzie’s little brother always called her Lazy Girl after that.
But let me tell you, Lizzie is anything but lazy.
Even during her first bout with cancer she was energetic.
But this time, well, it’s taken a lot out of her. ”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Anyway, when Lizzie opened this salon nearly twenty years ago, she named it the Lazy Girl. Our clients love it.” Danielle pointed to a comfy-looking plum-colored chair in the waiting area. “And as you can see we have a fair amount of recliners available. We call them our lazy girls.”
Joy laughed. “I might have to try one of them out before we’re done.”
“I hope you’ll make yourself at home.”
After about an hour of directing the decorating crew of Miranda and Danielle and other hairdressers when they were between appointments, Joy did try out a lazy girl chair. And when she woke up, it was to a gentle nudge on her shoulder.
“Lizzie will be here any minute,” Miranda quietly told Joy. “We thought you’d want to see her face when she walks in.”
Joy blinked and sat up, staring in wonder at the transformed beauty salon. “Oh, my word! It looks absolutely beautiful!” As she walked around looking at everything, she could hardly believe those were her same decorations from the eighties. They looked completely at home here.
“Isn’t it wonderful?” Danielle said when Joy stopped in the reception area.
“It’s perfect,” Joy told her. “You girls did a great job.”
“Here comes Lizzie now.” Danielle pointed to the glass door.
Joy looked out to see a pretty petite woman with her head wrapped in a lavender scarf coming in. She got all the way into the reception area before her blue eyes grew large. “What on earth?” She looked all around in wonder. “What happened here?” she asked Danielle.
Danielle quickly introduced Lizzie to Joy, explaining the Christmas Joy website and contest.
“So that’s what the big RV is all about.” Lizzie shook her head as Danielle proceeded to walk her around, showing her everything. “It’s so beautiful.”
“You really like it?” Joy asked.
“I don’t like it. I love it.” Lizzie hugged Joy. “Thank you so much.”
Now they were back in the reception area, and Joy reached for the cookie plate she’d left on the desk. Slipping a card from her purse, she set it on top. “This is for you, Lizzie. And Danielle too.”
Lizzie broke into grateful tears after she saw the contents of the envelope. “I don’t know what to say—how to thank you. This is so amazing!”
Joy hugged her again. “Just get well. That’s all we want—just to see you healthy and whole, Lizzie. You obviously have a lot of people who love and depend on you.”
“And we hope you have a very merry Christmas,” Miranda added cheerfully.
“Yes,” Joy agreed. “Merry Christmas to you!”
“Now we hate to decorate and run,” Miranda said apologetically, “but we’d like to get to the RV park and be settled before dark.”
More thanks and hugs were shared before Miranda herded Joy out of the salon and into the RV. “Sorry to be so pushy, but it’s getting late.”
“Thank you, dear,” Joy told her. “You were quite right to get us moving along.”
“Hopefully there will be someone at the RV park to help us hook up and whatnot,” Miranda said as she turned on the GPS and pulled into the street.
It took about twenty minutes to find the RV park, but Miranda got the motor home parked out in front of the registration office with no problems. “You wait here,” Miranda said as she went outside. “I’ll see if I can find someone.”
Joy wanted to protest this, to say this was her responsibility, but at the same time she just felt so tired.
Instead she just waved a hand and leaned back in the chair, taking some deep breaths.
She didn’t like feeling tired and useless like this.
But it had been a long day. She probably just needed another good night’s rest.