Chapter 72 Georgia
Georgia
Despite the natural closure that came from the Good Hair Days meeting and all its confessions, I struggled to sleep that night.
I should’ve been light of guilt and heavy with exhaustion from carrying it for so long, but one thing kept nagging in the
back of my head.
Misty Prince.
Now that the noise of my secrets and the issues between us Louise women have been quiet, it’s All-Star Cuts yammering all
night long.
I text the ladies early the next morning and ask them to meet at June’s. I arrive first and pop open the overstuffed supply
closet. After a few minutes of digging, I uncover the Goldilocks brand box they sent, and I snag a stray box cutter from nearby
and slit it open. Inside, products of all varieties are stacked together—precisely what I wanted.
I pull out my phone and text Tina.
Got any of those big wicker baskets you used for the church raffle? Could you bring one?
Yes ma’am, Tina replies. Not sure what on earth you’re up to, Peach, but I guess I’m a part of it.
Before long, Cece pulls up with Junie, whom she stopped for on her way. Tina arrives moments later toting the basket. I take
it gratefully and begin loading it with Goldilocks supplies.
Cece crosses her arms and looks at me. “Care to let us in on what we’re here for?”
I stop my hands and stand straight. In my hurry I forgot I hadn’t yet explained. “Sorry.” I pull in a breath. “We have one
final wrong to right—so to speak.”
“Another? I’m starting to think this family has a lifetime of skeletons we’re responsible for,” Junie says.
I shrug. “I think it’s the last big one. Misty Prince and All-Star.”
Junie scoffs. “We don’t owe them a thing!”
Tina raises her brow.
Every one of us knows the connection between Misty and All-Star and the beef with Mama since my confrontation with Misty.
Including Junie.
She groans. “Fine. But I’m not happy about it. What’s even the plan?”
“We’re going over there to All-Star, and we’re going to deliver a gift basket of our Goldilocks products. I don’t know if
Misty will be there, but if she’s not we might have to trek over to the McMansion again.” I stifle a shudder. I may understand
the feud and I may want to put it to bed, but I would still prefer to keep my distance from Misty and her overgrown residence.
“Anyway, this is where we start.”
“A peace offering,” Tina says. “Great idea.”
Cece grunts.
“I’ll take that as agreement,” I say as I toss the last few items in the basket. “Who’s driving?”
We end up piling into Cece’s Jeep, perhaps fittingly since it’s what we took on our first jaunt to All-Star to unload the roaches.
The ride is quiet, and after winding through the woods, we pull into the parking lot.
A few cars are parked in front of All-Star, and among them is Misty’s hulking SUV.
We file out of the car silently and head for the entrance.
Halfway there, Junie whispers from gritted teeth, “Anyone having second thoughts?”
Tina giggles and swats in Junie’s direction. “Can you imagine if we took off now? We’d reignite this thing like a bonfire.”
“It’s the right thing to do,” Cece says, though her tone suggests she’s not enjoying it.
I keep my eyes trained forward and march to the door. Inside, I’m met with the familiar smell of a hair salon, fragrant and
warm, and the receptionist looks up at me with a smile.
“Good morning.” Her eyes go to the basket in my hand. “How can I help you?”
I raise it slightly in a hugging motion. “Is Misty here by chance?”
The receptionist nods and lifts the phone to her ear. “Just a moment, and she’ll be right out.”
I hear the clopping of high heels before I catch sight of Misty’s signature blonde blowout. I can tell the moment she lays
eyes on me because her step falters. Her eyes are pressed into a squint as she approaches, and she crosses her arms slowly
as she stops beside the receptionist’s desk.
“Louises,” she says. “And to what do I owe this pleasure?”
“Hi!” I jump in with a sweetness I have to work for. Really, I just know the women at my sides are holding in their comments—Pleasure? Your face sure says something else—and I want to block any opportunity they might have to deliver them.
“What is it that y’all need?”
I raise the basket. “I—we”—I take a step back to put myself in line with the others—“brought this for you. To say sorry for the misunderstandings,
for my coming to your house, all the things.”
Misty’s face softens as she pauses. Her eyes flit quickly to the awning outside and back.
“Honestly, I didn’t know about any of the stuff with our mama and yours. Not that any of us is responsible for that, but I
understand why you don’t like us.” I hold out the basket. “This is for you, some of the products we have for your use. It’s
all great quality stuff.”
Misty takes the basket and looks it over. There’s a hint of suspicion remaining in the way she appraises it, but she’s not
scowling like she would’ve been weeks ago.
“Thanks,” Misty says. “If I’m honest, I’m sort of ready to be done with it all.”
“We are too,” I say.
Junie and Cece nod along beside me in agreement.
“Definitely,” Tina says. “Not a great use of anyone’s time.”
A quiet moment follows, Misty’s eyes locked on mine. I pull an unsure flat smile. And when she mirrors me, I know it’s the
best version of a peace treaty we can manage.
We say our goodbyes quickly, and I shepherd my women out of the hair salon before we can make a misstep that might tank our
freshly minted truce. We load back into the Jeep, and as we drive away, Tina sighs. “Your mama would be proud of you for doing
that.”
I smile to myself. I believe her.
I glance into the back seat at Junie. She pulls a face that gets a stern look from Tina. “You’re right,” Junie says. “But
you know it wouldn’t be a sincere olive branch if we enjoyed having to do it.”
“The girl speaks the truth,” Cece calls from the driver’s seat.
“Fair,” I say. “It still counts. Even if we have a bit of an attitude about it.”