Miss Lola.

Chapter 29.

"Mother? Is that you?"

"Yes, dear. It's your mother. Where are you?"

"Taking a shower. I'll be out in a few minutes."

"Take your time." I said and proceeded to the kitchen which was spic and span and sat my purse down on the marble counter.

It's nice to have Merlin here but the boy has almost eaten me out of house and home and I'm so happy that Gwen and Hayley are coming home tomorrow so that he can go to his own house and suck his own food down his throat like a human vacuum cleaner.

I'd only just stopped in to see if he needed anything, or if he'd messed up my kitchen before I headed to work and momentarily Merlin joins me in the kitchen.

He's dressed in a powder blue button down shirt, khakis and tan loafers.

"You going out today?" I ask, curiously eyeing his casual outfit.

"Yeah, umm...didn't Rhonda tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"She didn't tell you that our father will be in town today?" He asked with a frown.

"Have mercy! Was that today? Well let me call the news channel and make the announcement."

Merlin chuckled.

"You really can't stand him, huh?" He asked.

"What do you think, son? But anyway, I'm heading to work and I won't be home until late because Hollis is taking me out."

"Okay. Did you check on Miss Avis?"

I'd gone ahead and told Merlin about Ronald and Avis last night because unlike Rhonda, Merlin's mouth isn't hinged on both ends.

"She wasn't doing so hot when I dropped in on her this morning but I plan to visit her again later today. Probably on my lunch break."

"I still can't believe that Mr. Ronald left her. Miss Avis is a sweet woman."

"Yeah, just don't hand her a baseball bat." I mutter under my breath as I'm leaving.

The sun is shining and I feel about as bright as the sun because last night Hollis had mentioned marriage and I haven't said a word to my children yet because I'm still a little bit indecisive.

We haven't been dating that long, and I'm not sure that I'm ready to jump up and marry Hollis so soon.
He promised to take things slow but he's moving pretty quickly and that's thrown me off balance.

Or maybe it's just that I'm scared. It's like I told Avis this morning, I'm not very tough just hard headed and I'm not sure if Hollis is ready for all of that.

He's pretty hard headed himself and
can talk you into anything and I guess this attitude is what had made him such a successful car salesman but I'm not a potential customer. I'm the woman who he wants to marry.

I don't know what I want.

I'm as confused as a whore in church but the one thing that I'm clear on is my feelings for Hollis.

It's like I can't breath without him and maybe this is love either that or I've gone crazy.

When I arrive at the shop the "kids" are busily working and the atmosphere is cheerful and lightly scented with Lavender.

I'm ready when Nancy comes in for her hair and mani/pedi.

"You really worked wonders today." She said an hour and a half later as she's admiring her wavy lace front in the mirror. I'd painted her toes and fingernails shimmering pink.

"Why, thank you Nancy. Now we're even."

"Honey, I'd keep those babies for free if you really needed my help." Nancy said, giving her weave a final pat. I must admit that this wavy style looked good on her.

"Rhonda's been dropping them off on a regular basis." Nancy said. "I didn't know that the Bargain Barn kept such odd hours."

She was just digging for information which I wasn't about to give her. I'm too ashamed of my daughter right now but I suppose it's healthier to try and accept the situation.

It's not as if it's going to change.

Around ten fifteen, Hollis walked through the door, grinning and looking handsome in a pin striped suit and gold tie.

I was surprised, this was his first time visiting my Shop but I was pleased to see him too.

The kids stared when he sauntered over to my chair and sat down.

"I'd like a line up please."

"Well, I usually charge one hundred for a line up." I said and burst out laughing at the incredulous look on Hollis face.

"Your prices are too high for me, ma'am. I think I'll stick with my regular barber." He said.

"You do that." I said, playfully tapping the back of his head. "What're you doing here, Hollis?"

"Well, I was hoping to take you to lunch." He said.

My shamelessly eves-dropping staff prompted me to say, "Shall we discuss this in my office?"

Catching on, Hollis grinned and followed me to my small office and I closed the door.

"I'd love to have lunch with you, but I need to stop by Avis house to check on her first." I said, hoping that Hollis would understand.

"Avis is the lady who needs the divorce lawyer?" He asked.

"Yes, I gave her Jill's card but I don't know if Avis is gonna call her."

A pensive frown wrinkled my brow as I sat behind the desk.

"You're really concerned about Avis." Hollis observed.

"Yes, Avis is.. well she's very emotional and this is a lot for her to process."

Hollis perched on the edge of my desk, reached over and picked up my right hand and said, "I know you care about her, but this isn't your problem."

"Yes, I know that Hollis. But Avis is my friend. Did I ever tell you that she was my very first customer when I opened Hair So Lovely? And she's been coming faithfully every since. I guess I feel..indebted to her."

"That could be the case." He brought my hand to his warm lips and kissed each finger. My eyes went out of focus as my thoughts scattered.

"But like I've said, it's not your problem." He was poised to kiss my fingers again but I snatched my hand out of his seductive grasp.

"Stop doing that." I scolded him. "We have two more months to wait it out."

"Not if you marry me first." Hollis said.

"I'm still thinking about it."

"Well, don't think about it too long. I might not wait around forever."

And then Hollis chuckled, kissed my cheek and rose from the desk.

" Call me when you're done visiting your friend and I'll come and pick you up for lunch."

11/2/21
Edited 12/20/21.