Chapter 9 – I’ll sing for you, if you want me to

Shane ran her fingers through her client’s hair and frowned. The scissors snapped into her right hand as she shifted her weight on her left leg, clearing her throat and trying hard to focus on her job.

Her client – a young woman with a sparkling, brand new wedding ring on her finger – looked at her through the mirror with adoring eyes, but Shane didn’t notice. Her mind was wandering again, and there was a dull, bittersweet pain into her chest and Shane was feeling all the things that she was feeling knowing well what their names were but refusing, stubbornly, to say them out loud.

It was all about Carmen. Carmen’s smile, Carmen’s voice, Carmen’s hands and the way they touched Shane – Carmen’s body – Carmen’s everything.

Shane felt weird – but in a good way.

She had no idea how to step out of that sudden spiritual condition, and after all she didn’t want to. After the train wreck that had been Jenny, she felt the need of purify her own soul and Carmen seemed… Carmen was –

“…Perfect…”, Shane muttered, and the client looked up, a wide grin spreading on her lips.

“Really? Oh, thanks Shane”, she chirped.

Shane winced and gave her a shallow smile, removing the towel from her shoulders and stepping back.

“You’re welcome. John is waiting for you at the cash desk – have a nice day”.

The young woman stood up slowly, as disappointment crept on her face – but just slightly, just beneath the surface of her moisturized skin. She had probably hoped that Shane would ask her out, in spite of her wedding ring, in spite of everything. The woman would have gladly accepted – in spite of Shane’s reputation or maybe because of Shane’s reputation.

That didn’t happen. The woman watched as Shane turned her back to her and started to clean up her equipment.

She walked away without a word.

Shane heard her leave and rested her palms on the marble surface of the counter. She closed her eyes, but re-opened them immediately sensing someone entering the room.