Page 34 of The Wife
My current client is Jess, a twenty-something medical student home from university for the holidays.
‘Straight please. I can never get it as smooth as you do, so I’m going to take advantage of your skills.’ Jess has thick brown hair that tends to go frizzy. She’s a sweet girl; I’ve been cutting her hair since she was a kid.
‘Straight it is.’ I pick up my comb and unhook the hairdryer.
Jess sighs. ‘But looking at that weather, I’m not sure if there’s any point.’ We simultaneously turn to look through the plate-glass window at the relentless rain. ‘I’m supposed to be going to a party tonight.’
‘You can borrow a brolly if you like.’
‘Thanks, I’ve got one, but it won’t make much difference – that rain is flying sideways. Never mind.’
I’m about to say something sympathetic, but as I’m looking out at the rain, a woman stops and stares into the salon window. She’s standing beneath a black umbrella and wearing a raincoat with the hood pulled up. I catch her eye and I freeze, my breath stopping in my throat. It’s Dina!
I barely have time to blink before she’s moved on, out of my view. This time, I don’t hesitate. I drop the hairdryer, and mumble a half-formed, ‘Sorry,’ to Jess, and race outside.
The freezing air shocks me for a moment, takes my breath and makes me shiver. I’m wearing black jeans, ballet pumps and a black chiffon top, and I’m soaked within seconds. But I ignore my discomfort, frantically glancing left and right in the hope that this time I’ll find her. The high street isn’t busy, but there’s no one around who looks vaguely like the woman I just locked eyes with. Maybe she went into a shop. How will I find her? I head up the road a little way, opening shop doors and glancing in, before moving on.
My teeth chatter as icy rain slides down my face. People are openly staring at me – the mad woman wearing inappropriate clothing in a freezing rain storm.
‘You’ll catch your death, dear.’ An elderly lady puts a hand on my arm as her umbrella strains against the wind. ‘Are you all right?’
‘I’m okay. I’m trying to find my sister. Have you seen anyone who looks a bit like me? She’s got an umbrella and her hood’s up.’ I realise I sound slightly manic and that these last two points apply to ninety-nine per cent of the people out today.
The woman shakes her head. ‘Sorry, no. You need a coat, dear. You’re shivering.’
‘I’ll be fine.’ But even as I say the words, I know what I’m doing is ridiculous. At this rate, I’ll make myself ill, and it’s clear that even if that was Dina, I’m not going to find her like this. Meanwhile, poor Jess is back in the salon still waiting for her blow-dry, and I’m not sure how I’m going to explain the soggy state I’m in.
The woman shakes her head and moves on down the road, occasionally glancing back at me. I’m still looking up and down the street in the hope of spotting Dina when my gaze lands on Jennifer, who’s leaning out of the salon doorway beckoning me back inside, her blonde hair being tugged from perfection by the gusting wind. I give one last cursory glance around me before jogging back down the road, heavy with disappointment. I can’t believe I let my sister elude me for a second time.
‘I’m so sorry.’ As I reach the shop porchway, I shiver out an apology to my boss.
‘What on earth are you doing out here?’ she cries with a worried frown. ‘You’re soaked through. You’re gonna get ill. And you just left your client sitting there. If there’s a problem or emergency, you should have told me!’
‘Honestly, I’m really sorry, Jen. I’ll finish her blow-dry now.’
‘Er, I don’t think so, babe. Have you seen yourself? You need a set of dry clothes. I’ve asked Lily to take over for you – it’ll be good practice for her. Told your lady that you’re not feeling very well. You can go round the back, and I’ll let you in that way. Here…’ She hands me a thick parka and an umbrella.
‘I can’t put this on, I’ll get it wet.’
‘Don’t worry, it’s been in lost property for a month.’
‘Okay, thanks.’ I pull it on, luxuriating in its thickness. I take the umbrella and make my way quickly around the block, battling the wind and rain, until I reach the salon’s back entrance. Jennifer has already unbolted the gate, and I close it behind me before hurrying across the bare yard towards the warmth of the staffroom.
Jennifer opens the door as I approach and stands back to let me in. ‘God, Zoe, look at the state of you. You’re absolutely drenched. Here.’ She hands me two large black towels and a bundle of clothes. ‘Not sure if they’ll fit you, but at least they’re dry.’
‘Thank you,’ I reply sheepishly.
My boss rolls her eyes. ‘Get changed, and I’ll be back in a sec so you can tell me what all that was about.’
She returns to the salon and leaves me alone. I strip off all my wet clothes and let them fall in a dripping puddle onto the floor by my feet. I wrap one towel around my body and the other around my head. Then I examine the bundle of dry clothes – black jeans, a salon T-shirt and a salon sweatshirt – the uniform the juniors wear. After I’m reasonably dry, I pull on the clothes. The fit isn’t too bad except for the jeans, which are way too long, but they’re fine after I roll them up a few times.
Jennifer comes back into the staffroom as I’m gathering up my wet things from the floor and stuffing them into a plastic carrier bag.
‘Well?’ She raises an eyebrow. Jennifer is a lovely employer, but she can be quite scary when she’s cross.
I tell her about having twice seen a woman who I think might be my sister.
‘Wow.’ Jennifer motions to me to sit down at the table as she does the same. ‘That’s…’
