50 Harbor Street - Debbie Macomber [38]
His question went unanswered and there was an uncomfortable silence.
“Oh—yes, I’m sorry,” Gloria said. “I’d like that.”
Linnette’s face fell, but she recovered quickly. With a strained smile, she ushered her parents toward the interior of the clinic. “Come on, Mom and Dad. I’ll give you a personal tour.”
Corrie wasn’t fooled. She could sense trouble brewing between Linnette and her new friend over the handsome Dr. Timmons.
Fifteen
Cecilia liked Rachel Pendergast right away. They talked for a few minutes before the beautician seated her and draped the plastic cape around her. Rachel had a friendly, down-to-earth manner that Cecilia found appealing. Ian had suggested she introduce herself to Warrant Officer Nate Olsen’s girlfriend, so she’d scheduled an appointment. Cecilia was due for a haircut, anyway, and wasn’t opposed to trying out a new shop, especially one with such a good reputation.
Rachel turned the chair around so Cecilia faced the mirror. She combed through Cecilia’s thick hair and ran her fingers from beginning to end.
“How much would you like cut off?” she asked, meeting Cecilia’s gaze in the mirror.
“About an inch,” she said, “and I’d like you to trim my bangs.” Cecilia guessed she and Rachel were close to the same age; perhaps Rachel was a few years older. It was hard to tell.
“When’s your baby due?” Rachel asked, leading Cecilia to the shampoo sink.
“March fifteenth.” The date was embossed in her mind as she mentally counted the days before she would hold her son in her arms.
“Is this your first baby?” Rachel asked conversationally.
Cecilia hesitated. The question always stopped her cold. And it was always accompanied by pain as she faced the memory of losing Allison. “No,” she whispered, trying to speak normally. “Our daughter died shortly after she was born.”
“I’m so sorry.” Rachel placed a comforting hand on Cecilia’s shoulder and squeezed gently.
Not wanting the other woman to think she’d taken offense, Cecilia offered her a reassuring smile. “You didn’t know. It’s a question I get asked often enough. You’d think I’d have a standard response by now. I should.” Except Cecilia didn’t know what that response should be. “It’d be easier to tell everyone this is our first baby, I suppose,” she said, thinking out loud, “but I can’t make myself do it. Allison was part of me and Ian, and I refuse to pretend she never lived.”
“You said exactly the right thing,” Rachel told her. She busied herself by turning on the water and leaning Cecilia back so that her neck rested in the curve of the shampoo bowl.
Rachel worked the shampoo into Cecilia’s wet hair with strong fingers, massaging her scalp. Her touch relaxed Cecilia as she lathered her hair, rinsed and then repeated the process.
By the time Rachel had washed out the cream rinse and placed a towel over her head, Cecilia had started to consider having her hair cut much shorter than she’d been wearing it. Over the years she’d had it styled a number of ways. Ian, however, preferred her hair shoulder-length, so that was how she kept it. Maybe she could have two inches cut off—make the change in increments.
“You have wonderful hair,” Rachel commented as she guided Cecilia back to her station.
“It must be the vitamins,” Cecilia said lightly. “The only times I’ve had hair and fingernails like this are when I’m pregnant.”
Rachel directed Cecilia into the chair. She combed out and sectioned her hair, twisting each section and securing it with a clip. “Do you know if you’re having a boy or a girl?”
“Boy,” Cecilia said, smiling at the thought of her husband’s happiness when she’d told him what she’d learned. “The first ultrasound said a girl, but in the most recent one, the baby looked very much like a little boy. I know Ian will be thrilled with either—I will, too.” She rested her hand on her stomach, already loving this baby so much. She