The Yellow Rose Beauty Shop (Cadillac, Texas #3)(66)

“I’m sure it will keep me from going insane.” He marched her backward across the floor until the back of her knees hit the bed. “Turn on some music to mute the sound.”

“I can be very quiet.”

“But I can’t. Not with you in my arms.”

“I feel like a naughty teenager.”

“I just feel like I’ve got the woman I love in my arms.”



Nancy followed the girls into the shop on Wednesday morning. She brought two loaves of banana bread, a plastic container of chicken salad, and a loaf of fresh homemade bread. “Thought y’all might like something other than takeout for dinner today. We’re on countdown starting today. It is ten days until we get this ball over with, then the sign can come down off the church and I can plan Stella’s birthday party. What do you think, girls? A fish fry or a steak cookout. We’re already sick to death of the idea of barbecue, so I’m not fixing that the week after the ball.”

Stella clapped her hands like a little girl. “Thanks, Mama. That all looks scrumptious and I want steak and one of your cream-puff cakes for my birthday cake.”

“I brought some tomatoes to go with all that and I’ll be glad to bring something to the party if you’ll invite me.” Rosalee followed Nancy into the shop.

“Of course you are invited and Agnes should be out of the rehab place, so you can bring her along, too,” Nancy said.

Stella adjusted the thermostat, turned on the lights, and headed toward her station to do some minor cleanup before her first client arrived that morning. Rosalee trailed along behind Nancy to the back room and came out with a chunk of banana bread.

“Your mama is making a pot of coffee,” she said. “From the looks of them dark circles under your eyes, Stella Joy, you done stayed up too late last night, so the caffeine might be just what you need.”

“We stayed up and watched Steel Magnolias to see if Agnes is like Ouiser. You been to see her?” Stella glanced in the mirror. Yes, she did have dark circles, but they were so worth the night she’d had.

“Of course I have seen Agnes. I go every day before she goes to therapy. I’m surprised that she hasn’t bitched about going. But she loves it because she gets to show Violet up in the therapy sessions. She’s doin’ so good they’re already sayin’ she won’t have to stay the whole time. And Stella, when I first saw that movie, I asked Agnes if they’d interviewed her for the character.” Rosalee cackled.

“What did Agnes say?” Piper caught the last part of Rosalee’s comment.

“She said that of course they did and asked her to play the part but she was too busy keeping Cadillac on its toes,” Rosalee answered.

“I don’t doubt it for a minute. Now why do you have dark circles under your eyes, Stella Joy?” Nancy turned her attention to her daughter.

“If she wouldn’t play that music so loud, she could probably sleep better,” Piper said. “It was going at two o’clock when I got up to raid the refrigerator. Oh, I forgot to tell you, I got the last piece of banana bread, so it’s a good thing that Nancy brought more today.”

Stella picked up all the brushes to run through the sterilizer. “I like music. It helps me sleep.”

“We called it sex in my day,” Rosalee said. “Who was in the bed with you that you had to cover up the noise with music?”

“Really!” Piper almost choked on the banana bread. “Was there a man in your bedroom?”

“Well, shit! I gave up Boone to stay with y’all and you get sex?” Charlotte shook her finger at Stella.

“Quit grinning and talk,” Nancy demanded.

“I’m not saying a word.” Stella felt the heat of a deep crimson blush crawling up her neck all the way to her face.

Rosalee winked at Stella. “Looks like we need to leave Stella alone with her secret, but darlin’ girl, the whole town is snoopin’ around tryin’ to find out who is puttin’ that smile and that blush on your face.” She turned toward Nancy and said, “Tell me more about these god-awful rules Heather has made up for the ball. Did she really say it was going to be an annual affair?”

Nancy nodded. “She did. Why?”

“Anyone want to bet me five dollars that this is a onetime-only shindig?”

“Not me,” Nancy said. “Not when Agnes has passed the torch to Stella.”

“Well, damn. I withdraw my offer. If Stella is going to take Heather down, then it’s a onetime thing for sure.”

A cold shiver inched its way down Stella’s spine. They were sure enough putting a lot of pressure on her. “What makes you so sure?” she asked.

“Age and experience,” Rosalee said. “And speaking of music, why didn’t you just go in there and turn the music down after Stella was asleep, Piper?”

“The door was locked,” Piper said.

“Aha! I knew it.” Nancy slapped her thigh. “You did have a man in your bedroom, didn’t you? Even though I disagree with the way you young people go about things, I might get a son-in-law before your biological clock runs completely out of power yet.”

“One never knows,” Stella teased.

“I’m going down to Ruby’s now and get my nails done. Had my toenails done last week and they ain’t chipped yet. But I want pretty fingernails for Sunday when I go to Tansy’s for Alma Grace’s party. Y’all are all going, right?” Nancy asked.