Holiday in Your Heart by Susan Fox Page A

nipped his face. He resisted looking back until he got to the street. When he turned, she was there, standing in the doorway, framed by light behind her. He raised his arm in a wave.
    She returned the gesture, then stepped inside and the door closed—a warm, kind woman retreating into her cozy home. Leaving him alone out here on the sidewalk on a snowy November night, with nothing to go home to but a lonely one-room apartment. And the hope that his ex-wife would agree to talk to him.
    * * *
    The next morning, Maribeth hung the clock sign on the door of Days of Your, indicating that she’d be back in an hour. Last night, she’d checked the online appointment calendar for Beauty Is You. Brooke only worked part-time now that she and Jake had little Nicki. Fortunately, Brooke had had a slot open at 10:30. Kate, the owner and other stylist at the salon, was booked at that time doing a perm with Carlotta Bowden. Elderly Mrs. Bowden was such a talker, there was no chance she and Kate would pay any attention if Maribeth talked to Brooke about Mo Kincaid.
    As she walked the three blocks to the salon, she wondered how her friend would react to the news about her ex-husband. She didn’t want to upset Brooke, and yet that was almost guaranteed to happen.
    The man had even messed up Maribeth’s own evening. She’d anticipated spending engrossing hours poring through online profiles and studying pictures of sperm donors. Instead, each time she gazed at a new photo, into her mind popped the image of a brown-skinned man with blue-green eyes that reminded her of river water. Somehow, none of the guys on the screen came close in terms of physical attractiveness and appeal.
    Not that her baby’s father had to be handsome, but Maribeth knew that looks mattered. If she could stack the deck in favor of having a boy or girl who was good-looking as well as healthy and intelligent, of course she’d do it.
    Maribeth pushed open the door to Beauty Is You, and the bell jingled. She pulled off her gloves and undid her coat.
    Brooke came toward her. “Good morning, Maribeth.” Brooke was in her midforties, but dressed in charcoal pants and a mauve sweater, with her wavy hair shining and a smile on her face, she looked easily ten years younger. Sobriety certainly suited her, as did having a sexy new husband and an adorable toddler. “Time for a trim?”
    They exchanged hugs.
    â€œHi, Brooke.” Maribeth smiled back, guessing that Brooke wouldn’t look so cheerful after hearing her news. “Yes, it’s getting heavy and flyaway.”
    â€œIt’s always a pleasure working with your lovely hair.”
    Brooke ushered her to a sink at the back, and Maribeth waved a greeting to Kate Patterson and Mrs. Bowden. The older woman was nattering on about her grandchildren while Kate wrapped her thinning white hair on rollers.
    Brooke enveloped Maribeth in a navy cape and tested the water temperature. Maribeth closed her eyes, luxuriating in sensations: the scent of lemongrass shampoo, Brooke’s deft fingers massaging her scalp, warm water pouring through her hair, and then a delicate whiff of coconut. “Bliss,” she murmured.
    â€œWe all deserve a little spoiling every now and then,” Brooke said as she wrapped a towel around Maribeth’s hair and urged her to sit up.
    â€œSo true.” She stood and followed Brooke to her station. Her friend was lucky to have a devoted husband who no doubt spoiled her more than every now and then—as, Maribeth was equally certain, Brooke also spoiled him. Life was supposed to be lived in pairs. Maribeth’s parents had been so happy together, and she’d always assumed that she’d find the same kind of deep, committed love.
    And she still would, one of these days. For now, she was taking charge of her own life and moving forward. An idea struck her. If she created a short list of potential sperm donors, she’d love to get her