One and Only

Chapter Fifty-two

****Tissue Alert****

Three weeks later Diana and Desai decided to take a girl's day. Tom was ecstatic. He knew his wife and mum needed a day together without the children.

"Go and don't worry my love. I got this. I'll have them worn out and ready for naptime in no time!" He kissed her as he placed a hand on their baby bump. "You take care of yourself and this little girl."

"Oh, you agree it's a girl now?"

"Well, considering that Catherine has assured me that she is going to have a sister, and now that I've seen the ultrasound pictures, I have to concede that you are carrying another precious daughter. And I can't disagree."

"I love you. Is there anything you would like for us to bring back?"

Diana spoke up, "There's very little ice cream left. Tom, what kind do you want?"

"Don't –" Tom began but was cut off as Desai said, "Do I ever?" she asked Thomas as he opened his mouth. "I love you, Thomas. The kid's lunches are –"

"I know. Now go. Have fun!"

He had given them a shortlist of things to pick up and Desai added a few more then she and Diana had headed to the salon while she ordered the groceries, called, and told Thomas that she had decided to have them delivered.

It was now four hours later and Desai sat pushing the vanity mirror back up then pulling it down again as she looked at herself. "Good thing you were with me," she said to Diana as they headed back home after visiting the salon. "He's going to shit a gold brick, mum. He's going to do more than just yell at me. He's probably going to turn me over his knee and –"

"Desai," Diana laughed. "You make it sound as if he's going to spank you! Desai, I will explain to him what happened."

She shook her head. "That won't happen, mum, he won't even give you the chance. I know him. He is going to yell at me like I'm some child who has broken something precious of his. I just know he will or he'll give me that look – you know the one – the one that says more than any words he would ever utter and walk off sulking for a month, but that won't happen," she said with a shake of her head. "I couldn't get that lucky," she nodded, "But, I know. He's gonna scream at me before he even lets me or you explain anything."

Diana looked at her daughter-in-law's hair or rather the lack thereof. The stylist got the wrong patron or the patron wrong, at any rate, Desai's once down to her thighs hair was almost nonexistent.

The stylist, salon manager, and owner had apologized profusely but that wouldn't give Desai her hair back. Or remove the pictures that they both knew would be splattered over the rags and internet.

"Maybe I should get a wig?" Desai offered nervously as they came upon the gate. "We have time. Just turn around and we'll go get one."

Diana once again looked at Desai's head. "That wouldn't help, sweetheart. It wasn't your fault. I'll tell him what happened. He's not going to yell at you."

Desai knew better, she had seen Thomas angry before, but this would be the second time he would see her with her hair literally shorn off.

Ten Minutes Later

"You have to get out of the car, love," Diana said calmly.

"He's gonna kill me!"

Not while I'm here, Diana thought. "Come on. He's not going to be that bad. I will explain before he gets the first word out of his mouth. Come on, love."