Chapter 26 Junie
Junie
Junie is inside the shop, finishing up a trim on Ms. Luanne, as the garage sale buzzes in the background. Ms. Luanne loves
to keep her short bob precise and perfect, so Junie sees her regularly.
“So they’ve just kinda left y’all stranded on the build? I tell you, some of the contractors these days . . .” Ms. Luanne
says.
“It’s a bit more complicated than that.” Junie goes on to explain the rest in broad strokes.
“Well, me and the rest of the ladies at the church would be glad to host a fundraiser for you.”
Junie smiles. “That’s very kind. I’m a bit set on doing this myself, but I might end up taking you up on it.”
Junie pulls the cape from her shoulders, and Ms. Luanne climbs out of the hair chair.
“Just as I like it.” Ms. Luanne pats her hair from the bottom. “Make sure to call if you change your mind about help.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
As Miss Luanne pushes out of the door, another visitor grabs it before it can close all the way.
A mother and her child, about eight or nine years old, walk in.
“How can I help you?” Junie asks.
The woman looks around and takes in the half-demolished interior.
“We were just at All-Star Cuts and they said they wouldn’t take my son, so I wanted to see if you could cut his hair.”
Junie doesn’t want the jock’s secondhand clients, and she should be more careful about seeing strangers, but her curiosity
wins out. “Really? I thought they had tons of openings.”
The woman shrugs. “I thought so too, but they took a look at us and suggested we come here.”
“You’re not a friend of Misty Prince, are you?” Junie asks with a suspicious squint.
The woman rolls her eyes. “The opposite, in fact. She’s the reason I got a fine from the HOA for my tree growing a branch
into another neighbor’s yard. It wasn’t even her yard! My neighbor couldn’t have cared less.”
The whole All-Star setup strikes Junie as weird, but after the kid stops scratching at his head, Junie directs him to the
chair. It’s a quick appointment: wet, comb, and trim. She works quickly because something about this doesn’t feel right, and
it’s probably because Junie’s breaking licensing regulations with these newcomers from whom she’s not sure she can expect
discretion.
The mom smiles and hands Junie cash. “You’re fabulous,” she says. “Thank you for this. We’re doing family pictures tomorrow,
and I’m hoping for a decent set.”
“No problem,” Junie says. “We’re always here. Y’all regulars at All-Star Cuts?”
What Junie hopes to hear is some nitty-gritty ugly stuff.
“Not after this.” The woman smiles. “They weren’t ugly about sending us on our way, but I didn’t like it either. All the chairs
were open, so I didn’t quite believe they didn’t have fifteen minutes for a boy’s cut.”
“I might have to agree,” Junie says. “And thanks for being patient with our construction here.”
“No worries.” The mom waves as they exit.
Junie crosses her arms, feeling better about the situation. She’s found a new client, and if All-Star wants to turn away paying
customers, June’s will welcome them with open arms.
The door swings back open and Ms. Sherry, fellow church lady and bestie to Ms. Luanne, steps inside.
“Saw Luanne on her way out,” Sherry says. “Now, we really are serious about helping out if you want. All of us love this place . . .”
Junie appreciates these women. Truly. But she just really wants to do this on her own—well, with the Good Hair Days ladies.
“Thanks, Ms. Sherry. Come on over and take a seat.”
Junie’s phone chimes in her pocket, and while her client gets comfortable, she reaches in and pulls it out.
It’s her email.
And her genetic testing results are in.
She types a frantic text to Eddie, telling him to meet her later at the Clementine.
Then she pulls in a deep but discreet breath and looks to Ms. Sherry in the mirror in front of them. “Same as usual today?”