4. Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Kai
I pulled Matilda into the parking lot of Shear Perfection just before one and sat inspecting the building. It was an older, updated house and was next to a small strip of stores on one side and an old drugstore, Orlinda Valley Drugs, on the other.
I walked through the door and was greeted by the heavy ammonia smell of hair products mixed with fresh-brewed coffee. It’s a smell only women would see as relaxing and comforting as it burned my nose. The sounds, though, were relaxing. A low murmur of conversation along with the buzz of hair dryers.
“Hi there, hon. Can I help you?” I was greeted by a woman, maybe late twenties or early thirties, with black hair which had dark blue tips.
I caught her eyes as they floated down, then back up. I had to hide a smirk. I was always amused when I caught a woman staring. “I talked with Trevor, from Jerry’s Pub. I’m supposed to be meeting Diane and Kaye.” I put on my best poker face and acted like I was clueless and didn’t catch her gazing at me, but standing there in the salon, I felt like a fish out of water. This was nothing like anywhere I’d ever been. Give me the chaos and dirt of a garage, or the loud cacophony of a construction site any day. But a hair salon?
“Diane, this is . . .” The woman with the black and blue hair shot her brows up in a questioning look.
“Kai,” I finished for her.
Her eyes bulged, pushing her brows up a bit higher.
I ticked up my brow up to match hers and held her gaze. The look she was giving me was intense, like she expected me to break out in dance or something. What was that was about ?
I didn’t get a chance to ask because three ladies, one with pieces of her hair wrapped in foil, walked toward us.
A middle-aged woman with dark hair put out her hand. “Hi there, Kai.” I shook her hand. “Thank you for coming so quickly. I’m Diane, and this is Kaye.” She gestured to the woman to her right with shoulder-length blonde hair. “We own the salon.”
“And I’m Tonya,” the one with foil in her hair stated. “Their nosy friend.” She held out her hand, and I shook it as Tonya’s gaze flicked down quickly, then back up, just like the first woman. Then she nodded.
Talk about feeling scrutinized and judged. For a small town that had been so welcoming, the women in this salon had a way of making me feel like a piece of meat.
“Ignore her,” Kaye said, pushing Tonya out of the way. I chuckled at the look Tonya threw at Kaye. “Follow me. I’ll show you what’s going on.”
We walked into a back room that turned out to be a small kitchen, likely the break room. Kaye, Tonya, Diane, and the one with colorful hair followed. Do they all really need to be a part of this?
“Would you like a cup of coffee? It’s fresh,” Diane asked.
“Thank you. I think I will.” I filled a mug with coffee. It smelled amazing, and one mouthful told me it was much better than what I drank at the crappy hotel I was staying in just outside of town. I couldn’t decide what was worse, the coffee or the lobby it was brewed in. My taste buds and insides thanked me for the amazing, rich coffee flavor seeping through my blood. I could almost feel the caffeine taking effect. “This is great. Thank you, Ms. Diane.”
Diane brushed away the gratitude. “Don’t thank me yet. You haven’t started anything.”
The lady with the silver foil in her hair, Tonya if I remembered correctly, leaned on the counter.
I squirmed a little as she looked me up and down again. It wasn’t the first time I had the older ladies intrigued. “So, ladies. Maybe I should introduce myself correctly. I’m Kai Lawson, and just got into town. I’m working with a construction company, currently on a site in Nashville, so I’m looking for extra work at night and on weekends.” I sipped my coffee and started to relax. “I’ve had years of experience and love doing little fix-up jobs around houses and small businesses.”
“Well, Kai Lawson, I’m Tonya McKendry. It sounds like you have the experience needed to fix up this shithole.”
“Watch it, T. The owners of this shithole could leave your color in too long and fry those lovely locks of yours. Then where would you be?” Kaye replied.
“Looking my age, I guess.”
“Exactly.”
Tonya rolled her eyes. “If you weren’t one of my oldest friends, I wouldn’t keep putting up with your abuse. Anyway.” She turned her full attention toward me again. “So, you think you’ll be able to fix up this sh—I mean amazing hair salon?”
“Better.” Kaye winked at her.
I chuckled. Tonya might have been a little off, but there was something about her that made her fun. “Well, if this is how it’ll be, at least it won’t be boring around here. But first I need to see what you need done.”
“Follow us.” I did as instructed and trailed after Diane and Kaye through a side door, and we spent some time looking at the room and discussing what they wanted done. I took measurements and asked questions. It really was a simple job. Pulling out some old shelving, adding additional plumbing, and electricity possibly, then putting up walls and stations.
“I think what you’re asking will be relatively straightforward. Not a problem at all.”
“Do you often do whatever women ask of you?” Tonya asked in a sultry voice.
I was in the middle of swallowing coffee and choked, spitting some out of my mouth.
“Tonya! Don’t scare the man off already. We need him to stick around,” Diane yelled as she slapped Tonya across the arm.
“It’s good. Trust me.” I held up my hand and tried to get control of my coughing fit. “Keep the coffee coming, and I’ll be here forever. The coffee where I’m staying is a close cousin to mud, which shouldn’t surprise me since the motel could use a total overhaul.”
“Where are you staying?” Diane asked as she mopped up the bit of coffee I spewed on the floor. I tried to take the mop from her, but she brushed me off and made quick work of cleaning up.
“I’m staying at the motel at the edge of town.”
Tonya stepped away from the counter, a horrified look on her face. “Motel 256?”
“Yeah, that’s it.”
Her eyes went wide as saucers, and she shared a glance with Diane and Kaye and a head gesture.
I had no clue what was going on between them. It seemed as if they were communicating without words. When you were friends as long as they seemed to have been, I guess you could. I wouldn’t know anything about that as I never had good friends growing up, and lately I hadn’t been in one place long enough to set down roots and make friends. Someday I really hoped that would finally come to an end.
Diane spoke up. “You know, we have a small office space with a single bed we turned into a couch. We don’t use the room anymore. You’re more than welcome to use it. It’s clean, and you’d have full use of the kitchen.”
Did she just invite me to stay here? They don’t know anything about me. I’m all for small towns being friendly and everything, but that’s a little bit crazy. “I don’t know. I don’t want to put you out.”
“You won’t. Just think about it.”
“Thanks. I will. If you don’t mind, I’ll take some time, write up a plan of action, and make a list of everything I’ll need and get a quote for you before I leave today. It looks pretty simple. If you agree with what I write up, I could start as early as tomorrow. As soon as you close, I can start demoing.”
“That sounds great. Take your time, and if you have any questions, just let us know,” said Diane.
“We would be happy to help you with anything you might need,” Tonya said. “And welcome to Orlinda Valley.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.” I went back to the room and started to take notes and make lists. It didn’t take long for me to get into the groove of what I was doing and lose track of time. Before long, I knew where the electric would need to be moved to and planned out the new plumbing. The most difficult part would be tapping into the existing plumbing. That wasn’t my strength, so I’d have to find a reliable and local plumber to help.
It was a while later, and the salon was surprisingly quiet, when I finally finished. I walked out of the back room. The only ones there were Diane and Kaye.
“Hey. So, how’d everything go?” Diane asked.
“Everything went just fine, ma’am. I don’t think it will be hard at all to do what you need done.”
“Handy and mannerly. No wonder Tonya was at her best today.” Kaye faced me. “Excuse our friend. She’s never had a filter, and her mouth tends to run as quickly as a river after a hard rain.”
These ladies were a lot of fun. I’d enjoy working near them. Their banter between each other was sure to keep me entertained. “Not a problem.” I laid my notes on the counter. “I have here a list of materials I’ll need, and a quote I put together. I will send you my references, and as soon as you okay things, I can get started.”
Diane swiped away his words. “We don’t need any of that. Just give us the quote and let us know how you want us to pay. We don’t need your references.”
They sure were trustworthy. I really needed the job and the extra money it would bring in to get things at the new property going quicker. “Great. Then once I get the wall down and everything pulled out, I’ll be able to start the build. If I can get in here tomorrow, it really shouldn’t take too long.”
The bell over the door announced a customer. I turned automatically. A man entered with a young child. Kaye walked around the counter and scooped up the little boy just as he propelled himself at her. She planted many kisses all over his face and made him squeal like a pig. “Kai, this adorable little one is James, Tonya’s grandson. James, say hi to our new friend Kai.”
James narrowed his eyes. I was more uncomfortable because of this little boy and his gaze than from all the adults who gave me the same scrutinizing stare all day long.
“Please excuse him. He’s not great with strangers. I’m Bryson, James’s father.” Bryson poked James in the stomach, making him wiggle free from Kaye’s hold.
He walked over to the bucket with suckers and opened and closed his hand. “Pweese?” His brown eyes were large and wide as he pushed out his lips and placed his hands in a praying gesture at Kaye. I may not have been into kids, but he sure was a cute one and already knew how to play the women.
“Of course, handsome,” Kaye answered as she plucked a sucker from the bucket and handed it to James.
Bryson chuckled and glanced at the plans on the counter. “I guess you’re the one they hired to do the upgrades?”
I leaned on the counter and started to explain to Bryson the plans, then led him into the back room. “It really shouldn’t be difficult or take long. The hardest part will be adding the plumbing. I’ll be looking for someone local and dependable to help me out. I’ll have to do that after hours, or on a Sunday, so the women don’t lose business.”
“It looks good. You seem to know what you’re doing, and I’ll get you Blake’s number. He’s the best plumber in Orlinda Valley.” Bryson’s eyes bored into me.
“Yeah, I’ve done my share of remodels over the years.” Why did it seem like Bryson was giving me the third degree before I took his little sister to prom instead of doing work which was like second nature? “Is there a problem?” I held Bryson’s gaze.
I watched as he sucked in his cheek and shook his head. “Nope. I think everything’s good. Sorry if I seemed a little rude, but you know, you just came into town and are doing work for my mother’s friends who are like family. Just making sure everything’s on the up and up.”
“Is Ms. Kaye your mother?” I asked.
Bryson chuckled. “No. My mom’s Tonya. Their loud-mouthed friend. She was here today. She’s always here, so you probably met her.”
I couldn’t forget Tonya. “Yeah, I met your mom. She’s a hoot.”
“That’s one way to describe her.” Bryson’s gaze was frozen on mine.
I knew he was just looking out for the women. I totally understood. If I had a mother I was close to, and some strange man showed up from out of town to do work for her or her friends, I’d be suspicious of him as well. “I promise I’m on the up and up. I’m a certified electrician for the state and currently work for Warren Construction. If you want to check on my background, feel free to call them.” I turned to gather my supplies. “I’ll be back tomorrow to start demoing the room.” I reached my hand toward Bryson. “It was nice meeting you.”
“You too, man.” Bryson returned the handshake, then turned to leave but stopped. “You know, there’s a group of us going over to Jerry’s, the pub just down a bit. It has great food and beer, and the first round of a cornhole competition is tonight. If you don’t have any plans, you should join us.”
Yeah, I didn’t have any plans, and I needed to eat. Hanging with people I didn’t know, though, was not quite my thing. Just at that time, my stomach let out a deep rumble. Well, again, I needed to eat, and eating at Jerry’s two times in a day didn’t seem like a bad thing. “Sure, why not. I’ll run back to the motel to clean up a bit and meet you there in about what, forty-five minutes?”
“Sounds good. What motel are you staying at?”
“According to Diane and Tonya, the nasty one on the edge of town. Shouldn’t surprise me any. It’s a shithole.”
“Ugh. I can’t believe that place still rents out rooms.” The face Bryson made gave me another reason to possibly accept Diane’s offer to stay here for a little while.
“Yeah, well . . .” I shrugged. “It’s cheap. Diane did offer me the small backroom here.”
“You should take it. It might be small, but it’s clean. Just lock the door. My mother can be a little creepy at times, and you never know what she’ll do.”
I laughed. I could see that. I turned to Diane. “Ms. Diane. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll take you up on your offer of the room. As long as it doesn’t put a burden on you or anything.”
“Oh, please. No burden at all. And just call me Diane.”
I drove back to the motel, showered with my slides on because who knew when the shower had seen a sponge or soap last, threw my things into my bag, and checked out early. Thank you, Diane and Kaye.
I drove back to town to the pub. Meeting new people would be a good thing. It was time to step out of my comfort zone, and making friends would be a good first start.