Irrepressible You by Georgina Penney

Just leave. Please. My customer’s here. You need to go.’ She nodded towards Terry Nelson’s white Jaguar, which had just pulled up at the kerb out front. Maybe God had been listening after all, she thought, ignoring the combined relief and apprehension currently causing her hands to shake. She hid them behind her back and kept her expression calm.
    Liam’s expression turned stubborn. ‘What’s he here for? I’ll wait.’
    ‘A shave, and no, you can’t wait. I told you, I’m closing up shop after. Just go,’ Amy said, the faint plea in her tone making her furious with herself.
    ‘What’s in it for me?’ Liam demanded.
    Amy’s words were cut off when Terry opened the shop door, ducking his head as he came through and calling out his usual greeting in cheerful, booming tones. ‘Hello young lady, do you have time for me?’
    ‘Liam,’ Amy said softly.
    ‘Am I interrupting?’ Terry’s sharp gaze took in the scene and his bushy salt and pepper brows beetled.
    ‘No, Terry. I’ve got your cake and coffee here,’ Amy said with forced cheer, feeling her knees wobble with relief when Liam stood up.
    ‘She’s all yours, mate. I just dropped in for a chat. She’s a piece of work, isn’t she?’ His proprietorial expression made Amy’s skin feel one size too small.
    ‘The very best,’ Terry replied warmly.
    ‘Bye, Liam.’ Amy suppressed a flinch when he brushed past her, his eyes clearly communicating that he knew full well she wouldn’t make a scene in front of a client.
    Nodding to Terry, he fished his keys out of his pocket and jangled them as he sauntered out the door, leaving the scent of cheap aftershave hanging in the air like a bad memory.
    Aware of Terry’s quietly watchful presence, Amy stomped the adrenaline coursing through her system into submission and refreshed her smile. ‘So where are you whisking your lovely wife off to this evening?’
    Amy only allowed her professional face to slip twenty minutes later as she waved Terry off. Giving in to the tension wracking her body, she gripped the back of the barber’s chair and squeezed her eyes tightly shut as the sick feeling left over from being in Liam’s presence crawled through her system on a thousand scurrying legs.
    ‘Amy?’ Myf’s soft call came from the salon next door.
    ‘Coming, m’love.’ Amy opened her eyes, taking stock of her appearance in the mirror. She grimaced. During the past few hours her lipstick had faded and the curls in her hair had begun to fall as flat as she felt. She’d have to fix those and soon. Ben was due in under thirty minutes–if he was the punctual type.
    She took one last look around the barber shop to make sure everything was ready for Monday morning before making her way next door. The rest of her staff had gone for the day, leaving Myf curled up in one of the beauty salon’s pink leather chairs reading a Marie Claire .
    As always, Myf projected a lovely aura of serene confidence and acceptance that enveloped Amy the minute she walked into the room, making everything seem just that little bit more manageable.
    In direct contrast to Amy’s polished appearance, Myf radiated earth mother chic in recycled clothing splendour. Her wild fro of tight marmalade curls framed her narrow features and, as usual, she wasn’t wearing any make-up. She didn’t need to. Myf was perfect as she was, with her abundance of freckles, dark cinnamon brows and eyelashes, and incredible almost-black eyes.
    ‘Hey.’
    ‘Hey, sweetie. You want a coffee? Or are you still doing that vegan detox thing?’ Amy tottered on tired feet to the back of the salon to make a cappuccino. She was tempted to tell Myf about Liam’s visit but held off. She had never told anyone about Liam’s ongoing harassment. If she was honest, her silence wasn’t only because of her fears Jo would find out; she was also deeply ashamed to admit she had effectively allowed someone to stalk and bully her for nine years. Myf would never judge her