Minding Frankie - Maeve Binchy [131]
“Got a good tip, then?” he asked.
“Someone asked me to put fifty euro on a horse at ten to one.”
“God, that must be a great horse,” Dingo said wistfully. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you were to drop the name to me. I mean it won’t shorten the price or anything. I have only ten euro, but it would be great to have a hundred. Great altogether.”
Lisa told him the name of the horse but warned him, “The source is not entirely reliable, Dingo. I’d hate to see you lose your money.”
“Don’t worry,” Dingo reassured her. “I have a very sharp mind.”
Lisa felt out of place in the betting shop, and the presence of Dingo made it worse.
“Where are you off to now?” Dingo asked when the transaction was over.
“I’m going to see Anton,” Lisa said.
“I’ll drive you there,” Dingo offered.
“No, thank you—I need a walk to clear my head and I’ve got to get my hair done too.”
These were perfectly ordinary things to do, but Dingo noticed that Lisa announced them as if they were matters of huge importance. He shrugged.
Women were very hard to understand.
Katie sighed when Lisa came in. Yet another demand for a quick fix. The salon was already full. Had she ever heard of the appointment system?
“I need something, Katie,” Lisa said.
“It will be half an hour at least,” Katie said.
“I’ll wait.” Lisa was unexpectedly calm and patient.
Katie glanced at her from time to time. Lisa had magazines in her lap, but she never looked at them. Her eyes and mind were far away.
Then Katie was ready. “Big date?” she asked.
“No. Big conversation, actually.”
“With Anton?”
“Who else?”
“You’d want to be careful, Lisa.” Katie was concerned.
“I’ve been careful for years and where has it got me?” Lisa looked, without pleasure, at her reflection in the mirror. Her pale face and wet hair showed up the dark circles under her eyes.
“We’ll make you lovely,” said Katie, who seemed to have read her thoughts.
“It would help if I looked a bit lovelier, all right.” Lisa smiled very weakly. “Listen, I want you to cut it all off. I want very short hair, cropped short all over.”
“You’re out of your mind—you’ve always had long hair. Don’t do anything reckless.”
“I want it short, choppy, a really edgy style. Will you do it or do I have to go to a rival?”
“I’ll do it, but you’re going to wake up tomorrow and wish you hadn’t done it.”
“Not if you give me a good cut, I won’t.”
“But you said he liked you with long hair,” Katie persisted.
“Then he’ll have to like me with short hair,” Lisa countered.
It was achieved in two hours: a full makeup, a manicure and a new hairdo. Lisa felt a lot better. She offered to pay, but Katie waved it away.
“Don’t say anything to Anton in a temper. Say nothing that you don’t want to stand over. Be very careful.”
“Why are you telling me this? You don’t like Anton. You don’t think he’s right for me,” Lisa asked in confusion.
“I know. But you like him and I like you a lot, so I want you to be happy.”
Lisa kissed her sister. It was a rare thing to happen.
Katie felt it was unreal. Lisa, always so prickly and distracted, had actually put her arms around her, hugged her and kissed her on the cheek.
What next?
Lisa walked purposefully towards Anton’s. This was a good time to catch him. The afternoons were easier and less fussed. All she would have to do was get rid of Teddy and hunt April off the premises if she was there, then she would talk to Anton properly.
Teddy saw her coming in but didn’t recognize her at first.
“Fasten your seat belt,” he hissed at Anton.
“Oh, God, not today, not on top of everything else …” Anton groaned.
When Lisa came in, she looked well and she knew it. She walked confidently and had a big smile on her face. She knew they were looking at her, Anton and Teddy, registering shock at the difference in her. The short hair gave her confidence; it was much lighter than before, still golden and silky. She smiled from one to the other, turning her head so that they could get a good view of her and her changed look.
“Teddy,