leaving town with her husband and wants her nails done.”
Her mother laughed. “To make an appointment for 8:30 in the morning, it must be an emergency.”
Bailey heard the music through the radio. “Must be.” She watched her mother arrange the piles of hair and fashion magazines on the coffee table in the waiting area. Was this the right time? She couldn't keep singing in Jackson's band from her mother forever. “Mom, I need to tell you something.”
“We open soon Bailey. Can it wait?” her mother said.
Perhaps it wasn't the right time. Bailey swallowed despite her dry mouth. She couldn't hold it inside anymore. “Mom, I met someone.”
Her mother grinned. “You have?”
“We met… online.”
Her mother’s eyes widened. “I’m surprised.”
“It’s not that unusual,” Bailey said. Would her mother disapprove of him?
“Well…” Her mother folded her arms. “Do we need to run a background check?”
“I don’t think so.”
Her mother sighed. “I raised you to be responsible. Nowadays it doesn’t matter where you meet people. I taught you to look for character. Actions speak louder than words. Be careful and wise.”
“You’re not going to ask me about him?” Bailey asked. Her mother responded better than she thought.
“I will, so prepare yourself.” Her mother winked at her.
Bailey wrung her hands together. “Mom, there’s more. I've been... singing.”
Her mother pivoted to face her. She lifted a single eyebrow. “What?”
She took a calming breath. “The man I met, he's in a band.”
“You get that from your father.” Then Bailey's mother sat on the couch and folded her arms.
“Mom, I didn't mean to keep it from you.”
“So you’re not only seeing someone without my knowledge but you’re singing too?”
“I know how you feel about music,” Bailey said. She wouldn’t emphasize that she was a grown woman. She never won that argument.
“Do you?” Her mother fixed her stare at her. “I can't tell you what to do, but I saw what music did to me and your father.”
“But you said he quit.”
“Because he realized what was...” Her mother choked at her words. Her chin quivered.
“Was what? Would it be so wrong if I went for it? I never thought I could do it, but when I'm on stage, it's a different world.”
“Bailey...” Her mother then clasped her hands together and stared at the floor. “I'd rather not talk about this. You have a client, and I have a few items left in inventory before mine shows up.”
“I didn't mean to upset you,” Bailey said.
Her mother stood and walked over to her. She placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders. “There's so much I...”
Bailey raised her eyebrows. Did her mother want to say more? “What Mom?”
Her mother shook her head. “Not now.” She walked to the supply room without another word.