Read Online Love Letters: A Rose Harbor Novel by Debbie Macomber - Free Book Online
Authors: Debbie Macomber
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be disappointed in him, and that wasn’t possible. It simply wasn’t possible.
Seeing that Tom was going out of his way to make sure he looked his best for her, Ellie decided she should do the same. Grabbing her purse, she headed down the stairs once again. The woman she’d met on the bus from the airport, Martha, had mentioned that her daughter owned a beauty salon on the main street running through Cedar Cove. Ellie had worn her hair straight and parted down the middle from the time she was in grade school.
She’d taken this first leap toward independence … and that gave her courage to take an additional step and then another. Her heart beat hard and strong. It felt good to venture beyond what she’d always known and always done.
Jo Marie remained busy in her kitchen, implementing the suggestions Ellie had given her. She stood on the step stool, placing taupe shelf-liner paper on the cupboard’s flat surface, although Ellie thought the current liner didn’t look old or worn in the least. In fact, it looked almost new.
“I’m going out for a while,” Ellie told the innkeeper.
“Are you meeting Tom?” Jo Marie asked.
“Not quite yet. He’s still at work. I thought I’d walk down to Harbor Street. There’s a hair salon there … the lady I met on the bus mentioned that her daughter owned it.”
“Marilyn?”
“Yes, that’s Martha’s daughter’s name.”
“She’s fabulous. The salon is across the street from the bakery and next to the Veterans of Foreign Wars post; you won’t be able to miss it.”
Ellie was glad to hear it. Her sense of direction wasn’t the best. “Do you know if Marilyn takes walk-ins, or should I call and make an appointment first?”
Jo Marie bit into her bottom lip. “I’ve always made an appointment, but I believe she takes walk-ins as well.”
“I guess I’ll find out.”
“If you need to wait, do it. Marilyn’s worth it.”
“Thanks. I will.” Ellie started to leave and then stopped. “I was thinking of changing my hairstyle.”
“Change it how?” Jo Marie asked, cocking her head to one side as if looking at her with fresh eyes. “It suits you the way you wear it now.”
“I’m looking for sexy,” Ellie explained with a soft laugh. “Alluring and glamorous.”
“You’re all that and more already.”
The innkeeper’s words were sincere and took Ellie by surprise. She thanked her and then headed out the door. She walked down the very hill she had climbed shortly after her arrival. She’d crossed Harbor Street then and gone directly toward the waterfront, exploring the park and strolling along the marina, admiring the overflowing hanging flower baskets that lined the sidewalk. The wire-framed baskets were a colorful arrangement of summer flowers in yellow, red, and white. On this second trip onto Harbor Street, instead of heading toward the marina, she went left and down the city walkway.It didn’t take her long to find Marilyn’s, the hair boutique the woman on the bus had mentioned.
The salon was bustling. It seemed every chair was filled, every seat taken. Ellie almost turned around and walked out—clearly, Marilyn did a lively business and it wasn’t likely she had an opening, especially on Friday afternoon on such short notice—but the receptionist looked up just then and caught Ellie’s eye.
“Can I help you?” the blond woman asked, her smile warm and welcoming.
“I’m in town … meeting a friend, and I wondered if by chance there was an opening for this afternoon.”
“Are you looking for a haircut or a shampoo and set?” the receptionist asked.
“Actually, I’m not sure.” Ellie’s fingers went to her hair, pulling it forward as if the thick locks would offer a suggestion. “I’ve worn my hair exactly like this since I was in third grade. What I’m looking for is a new look.”
“Well”—the other woman placed her pencil sideways in her mouth and stared at the computer screen—“Marilyn would be
Seeing that Tom was going out of his way to make sure he looked his best for her, Ellie decided she should do the same. Grabbing her purse, she headed down the stairs once again. The woman she’d met on the bus from the airport, Martha, had mentioned that her daughter owned a beauty salon on the main street running through Cedar Cove. Ellie had worn her hair straight and parted down the middle from the time she was in grade school.
She’d taken this first leap toward independence … and that gave her courage to take an additional step and then another. Her heart beat hard and strong. It felt good to venture beyond what she’d always known and always done.
Jo Marie remained busy in her kitchen, implementing the suggestions Ellie had given her. She stood on the step stool, placing taupe shelf-liner paper on the cupboard’s flat surface, although Ellie thought the current liner didn’t look old or worn in the least. In fact, it looked almost new.
“I’m going out for a while,” Ellie told the innkeeper.
“Are you meeting Tom?” Jo Marie asked.
“Not quite yet. He’s still at work. I thought I’d walk down to Harbor Street. There’s a hair salon there … the lady I met on the bus mentioned that her daughter owned it.”
“Marilyn?”
“Yes, that’s Martha’s daughter’s name.”
“She’s fabulous. The salon is across the street from the bakery and next to the Veterans of Foreign Wars post; you won’t be able to miss it.”
Ellie was glad to hear it. Her sense of direction wasn’t the best. “Do you know if Marilyn takes walk-ins, or should I call and make an appointment first?”
Jo Marie bit into her bottom lip. “I’ve always made an appointment, but I believe she takes walk-ins as well.”
“I guess I’ll find out.”
“If you need to wait, do it. Marilyn’s worth it.”
“Thanks. I will.” Ellie started to leave and then stopped. “I was thinking of changing my hairstyle.”
“Change it how?” Jo Marie asked, cocking her head to one side as if looking at her with fresh eyes. “It suits you the way you wear it now.”
“I’m looking for sexy,” Ellie explained with a soft laugh. “Alluring and glamorous.”
“You’re all that and more already.”
The innkeeper’s words were sincere and took Ellie by surprise. She thanked her and then headed out the door. She walked down the very hill she had climbed shortly after her arrival. She’d crossed Harbor Street then and gone directly toward the waterfront, exploring the park and strolling along the marina, admiring the overflowing hanging flower baskets that lined the sidewalk. The wire-framed baskets were a colorful arrangement of summer flowers in yellow, red, and white. On this second trip onto Harbor Street, instead of heading toward the marina, she went left and down the city walkway.It didn’t take her long to find Marilyn’s, the hair boutique the woman on the bus had mentioned.
The salon was bustling. It seemed every chair was filled, every seat taken. Ellie almost turned around and walked out—clearly, Marilyn did a lively business and it wasn’t likely she had an opening, especially on Friday afternoon on such short notice—but the receptionist looked up just then and caught Ellie’s eye.
“Can I help you?” the blond woman asked, her smile warm and welcoming.
“I’m in town … meeting a friend, and I wondered if by chance there was an opening for this afternoon.”
“Are you looking for a haircut or a shampoo and set?” the receptionist asked.
“Actually, I’m not sure.” Ellie’s fingers went to her hair, pulling it forward as if the thick locks would offer a suggestion. “I’ve worn my hair exactly like this since I was in third grade. What I’m looking for is a new look.”
“Well”—the other woman placed her pencil sideways in her mouth and stared at the computer screen—“Marilyn would be
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