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Jacqueline sat in the waiting area and sipped coffee while a verbal skirround Fortunately, most of the shop’s elite clientele had already departed; otherwise, their ears would’ve been assaulted by the ongoing exchange between Alix and Desiree

Ninety minutes after they arrived, Alix flew to the front of the salon as if she’d just been released fronized her Gone was the tar-black hair with the eggplant-purple highlights Instead, Alix’s hair was a soft shade of broith a reddish tinge that was similar to the yarn she’d chosen for Paul’s scarf

"Alix," she said, coain, Desiree had performed a miracle Not only had she colored Alix’s hair but she’d styled it in a froth of curls

"I hate it," the girl cried as she ran her fingers through her hair, disarranging it "This isn’t me"

"No, my dear," Jacqueline said patiently, "this is a new you"

For a moment it seemed Alix was about to burst into tears "I look like…like one of the Brady Bunch," she ," she cried "I look like Greg fro silly," Jacqueline said sharply

"I’ absolutely no sense "I’"

"I know you meant well, but this just isn’t ratitude, Alix stor Jacqueline speechless

"Where did you everher head

"It’s a long story," Jacquelinenice for Alix, so kind to show her appreciation, and she’d failed

When she got back to the house, she discovered Reese in the kitchen getting a beer froe

"Are you okay?" he asked as she hurried past him to her own area of the house

Jacqueline was surprised at his question They hadn’t spoken, other than to exchange basic household inforht have pretended not to hear, but tonight she was hurt and confused, and couldn’t hide it

She didn’t kno her good intentions toward Alix could have gone so badly awry Sitting down at the kitchen table, she accepted the glass of wine Reese brought her and launched into an explanation of her adventure with Alix

"I just don’t knohat I did wrong!" Jacqueline said hopelessly

"How old is Alix?" Reese asked

Jacqueline wasn’t sure "Early twenties, I suppose"

"You were trying to make her into another you, Jacquie"

"I ry that Reese was so ready to find fault with her She should’ve known better than to confide in hiht She’d taken Alix to her salesclerk and her hairdresser She aze and slowly nodded "Perhaps I was"

"Next tiestions"

"Tammie Lee," Jacqueline repeated and automatically shook her head "She couldn’t do any better than ht have a few ideas"

"I suppose I could ask her," she said Her daughter-in-law ht not do better, but she certainly wouldn’t do any worse than Jacqueline had

CHAPTER 34

"Knitting goes with us, it caln

LYDIA HOFFMAN

W hen I didn’t hear from Dr Wilson’s office by the end of the week, I didn’t think anything of it Generally Peggy calls patients with their test results while the office is officially closed for lunch From experience, I knew that if I needed a prescription refilled, I needed to contact Dr Wilson’s office before eleven