“Oh wow.”
“I know. I didn’t see this wrinkle coming. My hands are shaking so badly, it’s a wonder I can sit still enough for you to cut my hair.”
“What’re you going to do?”
“I’m meeting Dan at Rebecca’s after this to talk about it.”
“Have you told Paul?”
“Not yet. I want to talk to Dan first and see what he thinks I should do.”
“I’m so sorry you’re dealing with such a stressful situation.”
“Thank you for letting me dump it all over you.”
“That’s what I’m here for, along with cuts and color.”
Hope laughed. “You’re part therapist.”
“The woman who taught me everything I know about this business always said we were therapists as well as beauticians. What’s your gut telling you to do?”
“I guess I have to let him see Ethan so we can be done with it.”
“Perhaps you should let Ethan decide. He’s old enough to make that call, isn’t he?”
“Yes, I suppose he is. I’m preconditioned to want to protect him from this stuff, but you’re right. It should be up to him.”
“I have no doubt you’ll figure it out and do what’s best for him.”
“Thanks for letting me air it out. I was losing it when I came in.”
“You hid it well.”
“Thinking about this stuff stirs up all the PTSD from when it first happened.”
“I understand that.”
“I guess you would,” Hope said, her gaze meeting Cindy’s in the mirror.
One of the benefits of living in Dallas had been that no one there knew her family’s story. On Gansett, everyone knew. Cindy had found more comfort in that than anything else, but she’d been programmed by her father to be embarrassed about people knowing their business.
“I hope it’s okay to say that,” Hope added.
“It is what it is, you know?”
“I sure do, but everyone here is so thrilled to see your mom remarried to Charlie.”
“No one deserves it more than they do.”
“We all do. I hope this island spins its magic for you the way it did for your mom and me and so many others.”
Cindy smiled at her. “I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”
Hope slidinto a booth at Rebecca’s and accepted a coffee from the owner. “Thank you, Rebecca.”
“Just you?”
“I’m meeting Dan Torrington.”