Fresh Ice by Rachelle Vaughn Read Free Book Online

inmates.” She shuddered and changed the subject with a shrug of her shoulders. So, Miri trained you?”
    At the sound of Miri’s name, a wave of emotion took Sarah by surprise. “Yes she did.”
    “ Miri’s great, isn’t she? She used to work here a long time ago and then moved her school down south after a bad breakup. At least that’s what I heard anyway. Her and Peach are still, like, best friends.”
    “ Miri is amazing. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here.” If it weren’t for Miri, Sarah would be face down on the floor with Dwight’s boot heel grinding into her spine.
    Peach r ushed back onto the floor and skidded up to Sarah. “Sarah!” She exclaimed and clapped her hands together with delight. “I’ve got someone very special coming in for an appointment with you. You can call it a test run if you want, but I’d like to see exactly where your skill level is at. Miri assures me you graduated with flying colors--pun intended!--but I’d like to see so for myself.”
    “Sure. Of course.” Sarah couldn’t expect Peach to hire her without ever seeing first hand if she could do hair or not.
    “ You know, I’ve never hired anyone without even meeting them first. But I trust Miri’s judgment and she spoke so highly of you that I knew I couldn’t go wrong.”
    “Thanks for taking a chance on me , Peach.”
    “ Oh, we’re glad to have you, sugar. Maeve will be here any minute, so go ahead and start setting up your station.”
    After Peach left, Destiny leaned over and whispered to Sarah. “Maeve is super nice but she’s very particular about her hair. Just do exactly what she says and you’ll be fine. I’ll be right here if you need me.”
    “Thanks.” Sarah said and sat her backpack down. She pulled open the bottom drawer of her station and stowed her purse inside. Then she plugged in her blow dryer and flat iron and laid out her combs and brushes. When everything was in its place, she looked up at her reflection in the big mirror and thought about everything she’d endured in order to get here.
    Oh, here came the butterflies again. Big ones with quick, powerful wings. Luckily, she hadn’t eaten breakfast so they didn’t have anything to bump into.
    Before Sarah had a chance to dwell on her nerves, Peach came back with a middle-aged woman in tow. “Sarah, I’d like you to meet my sister, Maeve.”
    Maeve was a taller version of Peach with lighter, strawberry blonde hair and the same plump figure.
    Sarah smiled and shook Maeve’s hand. “Hello, Maeve. It’s so nice to meet you.”
    Wow. Peach’s sister, huh? No pressure whatsoever.
    “Maeve, this is Sarah,” Peach introduced. “She’ll be taking care of you today.”
    Maeve cast Sarah a skeptical look and plunked down into the chair. “Hello, Sarah.”
    “You’re in good hands, Sis ,” Peach said with confidence. “Sarah comes highly recommended by Miri.”
    Maeve’s features relaxed a little. “That’s a relief. Miriam is good people. It just better not be like the last time I played guinea pig. That horrible woman gave me a mullet and I cried for weeks.”
    “Oh, no, we wouldn’t do that to you,” Sarah reassured her.
    “Good,” Maeve said with a harrumph.
    Maeve seemed semi-satisfied and Peach scurried off so Sarah could continue with her consultation. “So, what do you have in mind today?” Sarah asked.
    “Well, I’d like a trim . Just a trim,” Maeve specified. “And a little off the sides where it gets frizzy. And that’s it .”
    “Okay,” Sarah said in an extra cheery voice she’d practiced for just this sort of occasion. “We can do that. Now let’s get you shampooed.”
    After a shampoo and a soothing scalp massage, Sarah led Maeve back to the chair and went to work. She took a deep, calming breath because her hands would be worthless with scissors if they were shaky and she remembered everything Miriam had taught her. Her mentor’s voice echoed between her ears. You can do this, Sarah.