This Time Next Year(89)

‘Well, I’m so pleased you’re feeling better about everything,’ said Minnie.

‘My GP also started me on a course of anti-depressants, but I don’t think that’s what’s making the difference to my mood. I think it’s more likely to be the litter picking.’

‘Well, you’re feeling better, that’s the main thing,’ said Leila.

They arrived at the hair salon, which was tucked away down an unassuming side street. ‘Hair by Clare’ was run by two ladies who were both in their eighties and both, unsurprisingly, called Clare. Leila had known them for years and was a regular client. Walking into the salon felt like stepping back in time. The walls were covered in old prints of vintage cosmetic adverts; there was a gramophone in the corner playing jazz music, and two of those old-fashioned-style hairdryers, with large pink plastic helmets. Even the magazines laid out on the coffee table were from a different era, and the two Clares wore vintage pink and grey smock shirts over their clothes. Fleur was already there. She was scrolling through her phone with one hand and holding a flowery teacup in the other.

‘At last,’ she said, looking up as they came in.

Leila hugged both of the Clares, and then turned to introduce everyone.

‘So Fleur you’ve met. Bev, Minnie, this is Claire and Clare. One with an “i” and one without.’

The Claire with an ‘i’ wore glasses and had neat brown hair set into a wave. The Clare without had grey hair styled in a short bouffant bob.

‘So, how did you decide whether Hair by Clare should have an “i” in it or not?’ Minnie asked.

‘Don’t mention the name,’ said Leila dramatically, shaking her head.

‘It’s a long story … ’ said Claire.

‘ … involving a great deal of sherry, and a game of gin rummy,’ laughed Clare.

‘Which I won,’ said Claire. ‘There used to be an “i” on the sign, you can see the gap where it used to hang. This old crone pulled it down with her stick one day. I watched her do it, then she blamed it on pigeons. Pigeons my arse!’

‘It was pigeons. Don’t listen to a word of it,’ said Clare, shaking her head, and they all laughed.

‘So what are we doing for you lovely ladies today?’ asked Claire.

‘Well, I’m getting married in December, as you know, and I wanted my bridesmaids to go a little fifties in the hair department. We thought we’d have a trial, make sure they can pull it off,’ said Leila.

‘I don’t want too many weird chemicals on my hair,’ said Fleur, firmly.

‘Don’t worry, the chemical hallucinations usually stop once the hairspray dries,’ Clare said, revealing a mouthful of crooked teeth as she grinned. Fleur narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

Minnie perched next to Leila on one of the button bar stools by the counter, and they watched the Clares set to work on Bev and Fleur’s hair. Minnie was feeling nauseous. She hadn’t slept properly all week. The situation with Quinn had cast a cloud over everything and the effort it took to appear fine was exhausting. Leila had planned this day out weeks ago. Minnie wanted to be upbeat and enthusiastic for her friend, but she felt like curling into a ball on the floor.

‘Hey, you OK?’ asked Leila, reaching out to put her arm around Minnie.

Minnie clenched her teeth and gave Leila a beaming smile.

‘Sure, of course. Sorry, just tired.’

Sometimes she wished her friend didn’t know her so well. Sometimes, she just wanted to pretend to be fine, and for Leila to just pretend right along with her.

‘Still nothing from Quinn?’ Leila asked.

‘Have I missed something happening with love twin?’ asked Fleur, her eyes darting up to look at Minnie.

‘Nothing, let’s not—’ Minnie protested weakly.

‘Minnie has liked this guy for ages,’ Leila explained to the Clares, ‘and then finally they got it on and now he’s gone quiet on her.’

‘Oh dear,’ said Claire, giving Minnie a sympathetic look through the mirror.

‘They kissed last Sunday, and now he’s fully Charlie Chaplined her,’ said Leila.

‘Charlie Chaplined?’ asked Bev.

‘Gone silent,’ said Leila.

‘Well, not totally silent. He has sent me a text,’ said Minnie, shifting her weight awkwardly on the stool.

‘What did the message say?’ asked Clare.

‘Some bullshit about a busy week and maybe he’d see her at the ponds sometime. They swim together,’ Leila explained.

Clare screwed her face up into a grimace.

‘Maybe he really is busy,’ said Bev, giving Minnie a long, sympathetic look.

‘Maybe he’s married,’ said Fleur with a shrug.

‘He’s not married, Fleur,’ said Minnie irritably.

‘Maybe he’s a secret agent then’ said Fleur, ‘he could be working undercover for the Russians. You can’t form attachments if you’re a spy.’

‘Maybe he’s a homosexual,’ said Clare. ‘My first husband was a homosexual.’

‘He and Minnie have become friends and I doubt he’s ever started a relationship with a friend before. He’s scared of intimacy,’ said Leila.

‘You want my advice?’ asked Claire.