Earth

The Mirror Mirror Hair Salon

Year of 2254 April

Twelve years later

Ava stared at her cold coffee. Her break was almost over, not that she cared. It was on days like today—overcast, the scent of rain in the air—the loss of her fiancé, Billy, brought her down hard. She drew in a shuddering breath, trying to not remember the fated night the policemen knocked on her door. Fred Munroe, her unofficial surrogate father, had peered over their shoulders, his face shadowed. His presence alone told her it was bad news.

Chills racked her body when she'd opened her front door to their dour faces, the rain pouring down around them, blue lightning striking in the distance. As dread squeezed like a tight fist around her heart, she ushered them inside. She recalled offering them coffee. Thankfully, they'd declined. Her hands had trembled. Performing the mundane task would have been beyond her. Fred had led her to the couch and sat beside her, his fingers gripping hers to lend her his strength. Despite her quivering bottom lip, she'd smiled, glad he was with her.

Gathering her courage, she'd uttered one word. "Billy?"

"I'm sorry, Angel." His voice was hoarse with emotion, and tears glistened in his dark green eyes.

"It happened quickly, Ava." Sheriff Sutherland wrung his hat in his hands. "He lost traction in the rain and collided with the big oak tree at Grayson Intersection."

Ava winced as she returned to reality, downing her cold coffee before washing her cup and leaving it on the drying rack. After the sheriff's statement, she'd lost all control—of her life, of her memories, of her heart. The weeks after were hell, and in a daze, she'd gotten through it. During that time, she'd lived more in her happy place than in the real world. Her surrogate sisters had supported her. Organizing the funeral, canceling the wedding arrangements, and ensuring she ate and slept a little. They didn't leave her alone, taking turns to stay with her. Even Fred had hung around. She'd cried more on his shoulder than anyone else's. Four years had passed. Time didn't heal all wounds.

"Why don't you go home early, Ava, sweetheart?" Her boss, Annie, wrapped an arm around her shoulders for a gentle squeeze. "You have no clients this afternoon, and I can see how the weather is affecting you."

"I have to get over him." Ava squared her shoulders. "Besides, what will I do at home? Cry?" Her heart constricted, and she shoved the familiar pain aside. Borderline desperate, she dialed Taylor, one of her adopted sisters. "Good afternoon, Ms. Montgomery. The Mirror Mirror Salon is running a promotion on blue hair dye..." Ava forced a chuckle and ignored Annie's deep sigh.

"Blue? What kind of a blue?" Taylor squealed.

"Lagoon blue. Ombre style with your platinum blonde locks would look stunning."

A shuffling, and other muffled noises almost drowned out Taylor's voice. "And will you shave the side like I've been begging you to?"

Ava slumped. "Yes." She slapped the mute icon just as Taylor screamed.

"I'm so there. I'm leaving now." A car door slammed.

Ava tapped the wall-mounted screen, ending the call, and grinned at Annie. "It seems I have a customer."

Her boss strolled away, shaking her head.

Ava shrugged and readied her station. Ten minutes later, Taylor burst through the salon's doors. The short, petite woman wore leggings, fuzzy bunny slippers, and a baggy T-shirt with oil paint on it in various stages of drying.

"You could've changed first," Ava teased. With Taylor, she'd fast learned to spread protective sheeting over the salon chairs.

"Are you insane? And have you change your mind?" Taylor rushed forward and came to an energetic halt next to Ava, bouncing on her toes. "Show me this lagoon blue."

Ava pursed her lips to hide her laughter and held out the sample.

Taylor stroked the faux hair. "It is a pretty blue."

"So, is that a yes?" Ava arched a brow.

"It's a hell yes." Taylor jumped up and down before sliding onto a plastic-covered chair in front of a wash basin.

Ava pumped up the chair, raising Taylor's shoulders to the porcelain basin's edge. "Got any news for me?" she asked as she wet Taylor's long platinum locks.

"I sold another two paintings."

"Oh, that's wonderful. Shall we celebrate this weekend?" Ava soaped Taylor's hair, massaging her scalp in the process before rinsing out the shampoo.

"Just as long as there are no romances. They depress me." Taylor offered an exaggerated pout.

"Deal." Ava added conditioner and massaged Taylor's scalp. "Where?"

"I think it's supposed to be at Vicky's house this time." Taylor's eyes widened, and she cupped her hand over her mouth. "But Melissa told me Jack had an accident about an hour ago."

Ava stiffened. She forced a smile. "Again?"

Jacqueline or Jack, another sister, was always getting hurt in some way. Courtesy of West Haven being a small town, they knew it the moment it happened. The town had two claims to fame, the Law Enforcement Training Academy where Jack worked and the Heavenly, Vicky's bakery.

"What happened this time?" Ava rinsed off the conditioner and patted Taylor's hair dry. With long strokes, she combed it, gentling her movements when she encountered snags.

"Bruised a few ribs."

Ava swallowed a sigh of relief. "Steve will try to use this, you know." She met Taylor's twinkling chocolate brown eyes.

"He can try. She won't budge on the height thing," Taylor tutted. "I mean, what is he, an inch shorter?"

"I don't know. For me, I don't find his baby curls attractive." What Ava wanted was a man, someone tallish, broad-shouldered, and not blond, like Steve or...Billy.

"Regardless, this town doesn't offer a lot in the way of men."

Ava frowned. "So, she should just settle?"

"Of course not. But she could get laid."

"Taylor?" Ava grinned while giving her a certain look. Taylor was as much a virgin as Jack was.

"I'm in love. Jack has no such excuse." Taylor followed Ava to the leather chair.

Ah, to be in love. She had loved Billy. The wedding arrangements had put a strain on their relationship, but she hadn't worried about it. Not until that fateful night. Only one reason explained why Billy was at the Grayson Intersection—Clarissa.

The woman had the nerve to show up at the funeral, and despite Jack, Taylor, and Vicky's anger, Ava hadn't minded. Clarissa had cried more than Ava had. Maybe she hadn't loved him enough? Maybe she could've been a better girlfriend, fiancé?

If he hadn't chased after that...nympho, he wouldn't have died. There was truth to that. Spinsterhood lay in her future. Maybe she should start gathering a few stray cats?

"Except I'm allergic," she muttered.

"To cats? You sure are. Remember that time you brought one home? It's the pinkest I've ever seen you." Taylor's sweet laughter served as the distraction Ava had needed.

As the storm raged outside, they giggled like silly schoolgirls. It was a pleasant way to while away the time. Taylor's hair came out lovelier than Ava had imagined. Even the shaving of her head on one side didn't irritate Ava as much as she thought it would. Taylor had a lovely shaped skull, with no scars, or dents. And the style suited her artistic friend. Even Annie stopped by to take photographs.

Taylor bounced with happiness. "Thank you for this, Ava. I feel so inspired. I'm rushing home to get my ideas down before they flitter away. Wanna come over later?"

"And watch you mumble as you smear paint on a canvas? No, but thanks." Ava smiled to soften her words as she folded the plastic sheeting. "I thought I'd drop by Heavenly to see what Vicky is up to."

"I bet you Antoine has her mumbling or screaming." Taylor laughed.

"He's like a child in a man's body." Ava grinned, picturing the pompous elderly French man who worked at Heavenly.

"Yip, always entertaining." Taylor kissed Ava on the cheek and squeezed her hand. "My door is open anytime, you know that, right?"

Ava flashed a genuine smile as she waved at Taylor through the shopfront.

"Now will you leave?" Annie folded her arms across her chest, Ava's bag and coat dangling from her fingers.

By the time Ava arrived at the bakery, the sun was hovering low in the sky, indecisive as to its destination. With a sigh, she yanked the door open and entered. The delicious aromas of cinnamon, apples, sweet confectionary, icing sugar, and chocolate greeted her. Vicky, all bounce and excitement, rushed toward her. Ava wondered if she would ever feel like that again. Climbing out of bed every morning had its challenges.

Vicky wore her chef's whites with a white double-breasted jacket that hugged her curves and houndstooth-patterned, blue and white leggings. She had tweaked the standard uniform for comfortability, and she was without the hat. Her rich, red-gold hair curled in a tight bun on top of her head, and her brown eyes sparkled.

"Hey, gorgeous, how was your day?" She wrapped her arms around Ava, surrounding her with a strong cinnamon aroma.

Drawing in a deep breath, Ava leaned back to grin at her friend. Taller than Vicky and Taylor who hovered at five-foot-four or five, she was nowhere near as tall as Jack. Ava was a mere five-foot-nine against Jack's six-foot-two.

Vicky ushered Ava to a table upon which sat a slice of her award-winning apple pie. With extra ice cream, just the way Ava liked it.

"You spoil me." Ava sat and tugged the plate closer. "I'm getting fat."

"Nonsense, you'll just jog further tonight." Vicky dropped into the opposite seat to watch Ava mumble and groan over each bite.

Ava was of medium build, not petite like Vicky and Taylor, not muscled like Jacqueline. Even though Ava was taller, she carried more weight on her frame. If she didn't run every day, she piled on the curves. There was also the sense of freedom she felt when she jogged like she didn't have a care in the world. Her current sanctuary. "I'm not running tonight. Playing cricket with the kids."

The idea of introducing the orphaned kids to cricket bubbled excitement from her belly to her chest. Once a week, she'd spend an evening at the local orphanage. They all did since they were orphans themselves. But Ava was far more dedicated. Vicky took cookies and sometimes baked with them. Jack taught them self-defense, which only upped the stakes among the boys. Taylor did painting lessons which most of the boys avoided since it was a girl thing to do. But nothing compared to the days when Michel 'Mich' Dunois visited them. Jack's astronaut older brother was handsome with his white-gold hair and sky-blue eyes. The boys hero-worshipped him. The girls all wanted to marry him. His visits were rare since he was off-world most of the time.

Vicky gasped. "Cricket? Are you sure?"

"Yes, it looked interesting. Last week we tried croquet. That was fun until Tommy whacked Mikey in the foot with the mallet." Ava laughed at Vicky's wide eyes. "It was a free-for-all after that. We have a new addition, as well. This time, a baby. The cities keep sending these abandoned children instead of arresting the birthing violations." Ava's breath shuddered out, a sense of helplessness numbing her arms.

"Heard about Jack?" Vicky waved a dismissive hand. "Of course, you have. Steve managed to get her to Fred's." She huffed, "He tried again."

"Knew he would, the idiot." Ava rubbed her stomach. "What's on the cards for you tonight?"

"I have a wedding cake to bake. Ms. Elise Barnard is finally marrying Ernest." Vicky flashed Ava a sassy grin. "The old woman wants a traditional fruit cake with marzipan. I tried to tell her, with a cake like that, I'd need more prep time, you know, to allow the brandy to soak in."

Ava paused, mid-wipe of her mouth with the paper napkin. "Oh no, how long have you had?"

"Four weeks. I added extra brandy to compensate, and hopefully, speed up the process." Vicky's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Each bite should suck the breath right out of her."

"Ernest will love it," Ava said.

They were the oldest dating couple in West Haven. He'd harangued Elise to marry him since her sixteenth birthday. She was seventy-two now and had agreed, at last. Now that was persistence. She'd once asked Ernest why he hadn't just found himself someone else. His response had stayed with Ava all these years.

"Dearest Ava, she infuriates me, yet I still want to be near her. It may be an obsession, but I always know when she is near with my heart melting when she smiles. If that's not something to fight for, then what is?" His eyes had misted with tears, and Ava's heart had swelled at the sight. What had hurt was that she hadn't felt this for Billy, not even a bit.

"Are we at Jack's tomorrow?" Vicky asked.

"I think so." Ava pushed her chair back and rose. "Thanks for the energy boost, Vicky."

"Sounds like you'll need it tonight." Vicky pulled Ava into a hug. "See you tomorrow."

Ava waved as she left, a smile on her lips. The best part was that she was still smiling by the time she reached the orphanage.