Most people in Royal were all for it, but there were a few who were still fighting it even though it was a done deal. Before Alex disappeared, he had told Mia all about the TCC meeting in which the decision had been made to go ahead with the facility. Naturally, it had been Beau Hacket and his cronies, like the Gordon brothers, who had argued against it. Mia thought if Beau and his bunch had their way, everyone would still be driving wagons hitched up to horses. The man hated change of any kind and didn’t care who knew it.
But bullies hadn’t been able to stop progress, and the day-care center was nearly ready to open.
“Since everyone in town is talking about nothing else these days,” Amanda said, “yeah. I know.”
“Well, I was thinking,” Abby said, “that we should have a launch party, so to speak. You know, sort of an open house, to let everyone come in to see what we’ve done.”
“That’s a great idea,” Mia said. “I know I’d love to see it.”
“Thanks!” Abby smiled at Mia, then turned back to Amanda. “But we’ll need food and that’s where the diner comes in. I know you and Pam do catering and I’m thinking small sandwiches, potato salad, some vegetable platters…”
“We can do that, absolutely,” Amanda told her. “Do you want to go over the menu and what you’ll need now?”
“Oh, no. I’ve got a million things to do,” Abby told her with a quick glance at her watch. “But I’d love it if we could talk it all over tomorrow sometime.”
“That’s perfect. Pam and I will be here all day, so come whenever it’s convenient for you.”
Abby bent to give Amanda a quick hug. “Thanks. Now, I’ve really gotta run. See you, Mia!”
And she was gone.
“Abby’s pretty much a force of nature, isn’t she?”
Amanda agreed. “She’s always in high gear, that’s for sure. Now,” she said, “let’s get back to the fun stuff. Shopping.”
Mia laughed and took a sip of her tea. “I’m glad you think it sounds fun. I have no idea where to go or what to buy.”
Amanda clapped her hands together, then scrubbed her palms. “I, on the other hand, know just where to go.”
“Dave suggested Houston.”
“Of course he did.” Amanda waved that suggestion aside. “Men don’t know anything. We don’t have to go into the city. All we have to do is head down the street to Monica’s shop.”
“Monica?”
Amanda laughed a little. “Monica Burns. She’s on the outskirts of town and she has this darling dress shop. Monica carries great stuff you won’t find in department stores. Really different, really gorgeous.”
“Why have I never heard of her before?”
Amanda cocked her head to one side. “Shop often, do you?”
Mia laughed. “Okay, no.”
“Have to warn you, though,” Amanda added, “she’s pricey.”
Pricey. Well, that’s the kind of stuff she had to have and, thanks to Dave, she could afford it.
“Oh!” Amanda leaned over the table and lowered her voice. “You know what else we should do?”
“I’m almost afraid to ask. You look way too eager.”
“That’s because this is a brilliant idea,” Amanda told her. “We should go to the day spa. Get the works.”
“The spa?” Mia’s voice defined the hesitation she felt over that plan. Saint Tropez was a local, upscale hair salon and day spa. Mia had never actually been inside—frankly, even if she could have afforded it, she would have been too intimidated to go in. She wasn’t exactly the mani-pedi kind of girl, after all, and she hadn’t gone for a haircut in years.
“You don’t have to sound so horrified. I didn’t suggest a trip to a torture chamber.” Amanda shook her head and smiled.
“You might as well have,” Mia admitted.
Her friend sat back and gave her a long look. “You said yourself you have to look the part of Dave’s fiancée.”
“Yes…”
“Well, sweetie,” Amanda said gently, “that’s going to take more than new clothes.”
Mia laughed. How could she help it? “Thanks very much.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. I just… Okay, take your hair, for example.”
She lifted one hand to the knot at the back of her neck. Her hair was neat and tidy. What else did she need, really? “What’s wrong with my hair?”