Read Online Love Letters: A Rose Harbor Novel by Debbie Macomber - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Debbie Macomber
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the best one for the job, but I know she’s booked solid today. She wanted to leave a bit early this afternoon.”
Ellie knew the reason. “Her mother’s just arrived and she’s probably looking forward to visiting with her.”
The receptionist looked up, surprise written on her face.
“I met Martha on the bus driving in from the airport. She’s the one who mentioned Marilyn’s to me and suggested I stop by.”
“You know Martha?”
“Not really,” Ellie clarified. She didn’t want to give the wrong impression. “Marilyn’s mother sat in the seat across from me.”
The receptionist raised her index finger. “Let me talk to Marilyn a moment.” She left the area and walked over to one of the stylist’s stations. Marilyn was working on a woman who was having her hair colored. The woman in the chair had her hair sectioned off andsecured with large clips. Marilyn stood next to her, wearing rubber gloves and holding onto a squeeze bottle filled with the hair dye.
Ellie couldn’t hear what was being said, but whatever it was caused Marilyn to turn away and glance in Ellie’s direction. Ellie resisted the urge to hold up her palm and wave.
Marilyn said something to the receptionist, who nodded and then returned to Ellie. “She said she’ll do it.”
“She will?” Ellie felt like cheering.
“She needs to finish the color job on Mrs. Weaver first, and—”
“I’ll gladly wait,” Ellie said, cutting her off. Two of the chairs in the waiting area had been vacated by the time she finished at the reception desk. She claimed one and reached for a copy of
People
magazine, flipping through the pages. Halfway through a second gossip magazine, the receptionist returned.
“Marilyn is ready for you now.”
Surprised, Ellie looked up. “Oh.” It seemed hardly any time had passed. She replaced the magazine and then followed the other woman to the far end of the salon.
Marilyn was a petite woman with frosted brown hair and steel-gray eyes. “You must be Ellie,” she said, reaching for the plastic cape.
“I am.” She thought it was a nice touch for the receptionist to mention her name.
“I was telling the woman at the desk that I met your mother this morning on the bus from Sea-Tac Airport,” Ellie explained.
“Mom mentioned you.”
“She did?” Ellie didn’t bother to hide her surprise.
“I called at noon to check on them. Cameron, my son, was thrilled to pick her up. I wanted to make sure he hadn’t frightened Mom half to death. He only got his driver’s license recently,” she added. “Mom told me all about your chat.”
Ellie had appreciated the older woman’s words of advice. “Your mother is wise and wonderful.”
Marilyn smiled. “I think so, too. I’d hoped to leave a bit early today, but when I tell Mom I’m later than expected because you stopped by, she’ll understand.”
“She’s the one who mentioned your salon. She talked about you with real pride.”
Marilyn shook her head and grinned. “That sounds like Mom. You’d think I was the hair stylist to the stars to hear her speak.” She wrapped the plastic cape around Ellie’s shoulders and ran her fingers through her hair. Apparently, she liked what she saw. “Your hair is healthy, good and thick.”
“I know.” It sometimes took as long as twenty minutes to blow it dry.
“Monica said you’re looking for something new.”
“Yes, please.”
“You’d look great with an inverted bob.” Once more, Marilyn riffled her fingers through the hair at the back of Ellie’s head.
“I like that style … but I don’t know how it would be on me.”
Marilyn stepped back. “The nice thing about hair is that it grows. If you find you don’t like the cut, then give it a few weeks. My guess is that you’re going to love it.” She draped a towel over Ellie’s shoulders and led her to the shampoo bowl.
Forty minutes later, Ellie stared at her reflection in the mirror and couldn’t believe the difference a
Ellie knew the reason. “Her mother’s just arrived and she’s probably looking forward to visiting with her.”
The receptionist looked up, surprise written on her face.
“I met Martha on the bus driving in from the airport. She’s the one who mentioned Marilyn’s to me and suggested I stop by.”
“You know Martha?”
“Not really,” Ellie clarified. She didn’t want to give the wrong impression. “Marilyn’s mother sat in the seat across from me.”
The receptionist raised her index finger. “Let me talk to Marilyn a moment.” She left the area and walked over to one of the stylist’s stations. Marilyn was working on a woman who was having her hair colored. The woman in the chair had her hair sectioned off andsecured with large clips. Marilyn stood next to her, wearing rubber gloves and holding onto a squeeze bottle filled with the hair dye.
Ellie couldn’t hear what was being said, but whatever it was caused Marilyn to turn away and glance in Ellie’s direction. Ellie resisted the urge to hold up her palm and wave.
Marilyn said something to the receptionist, who nodded and then returned to Ellie. “She said she’ll do it.”
“She will?” Ellie felt like cheering.
“She needs to finish the color job on Mrs. Weaver first, and—”
“I’ll gladly wait,” Ellie said, cutting her off. Two of the chairs in the waiting area had been vacated by the time she finished at the reception desk. She claimed one and reached for a copy of
People
magazine, flipping through the pages. Halfway through a second gossip magazine, the receptionist returned.
“Marilyn is ready for you now.”
Surprised, Ellie looked up. “Oh.” It seemed hardly any time had passed. She replaced the magazine and then followed the other woman to the far end of the salon.
Marilyn was a petite woman with frosted brown hair and steel-gray eyes. “You must be Ellie,” she said, reaching for the plastic cape.
“I am.” She thought it was a nice touch for the receptionist to mention her name.
“I was telling the woman at the desk that I met your mother this morning on the bus from Sea-Tac Airport,” Ellie explained.
“Mom mentioned you.”
“She did?” Ellie didn’t bother to hide her surprise.
“I called at noon to check on them. Cameron, my son, was thrilled to pick her up. I wanted to make sure he hadn’t frightened Mom half to death. He only got his driver’s license recently,” she added. “Mom told me all about your chat.”
Ellie had appreciated the older woman’s words of advice. “Your mother is wise and wonderful.”
Marilyn smiled. “I think so, too. I’d hoped to leave a bit early today, but when I tell Mom I’m later than expected because you stopped by, she’ll understand.”
“She’s the one who mentioned your salon. She talked about you with real pride.”
Marilyn shook her head and grinned. “That sounds like Mom. You’d think I was the hair stylist to the stars to hear her speak.” She wrapped the plastic cape around Ellie’s shoulders and ran her fingers through her hair. Apparently, she liked what she saw. “Your hair is healthy, good and thick.”
“I know.” It sometimes took as long as twenty minutes to blow it dry.
“Monica said you’re looking for something new.”
“Yes, please.”
“You’d look great with an inverted bob.” Once more, Marilyn riffled her fingers through the hair at the back of Ellie’s head.
“I like that style … but I don’t know how it would be on me.”
Marilyn stepped back. “The nice thing about hair is that it grows. If you find you don’t like the cut, then give it a few weeks. My guess is that you’re going to love it.” She draped a towel over Ellie’s shoulders and led her to the shampoo bowl.
Forty minutes later, Ellie stared at her reflection in the mirror and couldn’t believe the difference a
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