Tameka's Smile by Zena Wynn Page A

gets out that you’re here, they’ll come running. Out of curiosity if nothing else,” she assured her. “Even if you aren’t as good as I suspect you are, they’ll come just to keep from driving so far. If you’re even better than I expect, we may even pull in folks from the surrounding areas.”
    She walked to her car and took out her sign, along with the business cards she printed. The cards she gave to Mona. The sign she put in the bottom right corner of the window, right next to the entrance. “I’ll be back tomorrow morning at ten. I probably won’t have any customers, but I’ll be here anyway. Do you have class tomorrow?”
    “No, tomorrow’s a free day. Why?”
    “Would you let me do your hair? I won’t charge you anything. I want to use you for advertising purposes,” Tameka said quickly, before she could get the wrong idea.
    “A free hairdo? Hell, yes. Just tell me when,” Mona exclaimed.
    She sighed in relief. “No, you tell me when. You know your schedule and you’re doing me the favor. I’ll await your convenience.”
    “I’ll be here when you arrive tomorrow. Let’s do it then.
    Ms. Lulu won’t mind. What are you going to do to me?” Tameka studied her face and hair. “Probably an updo this time. Something simple yet trendy. If you’re willing to be my model, I’ll do different styles at different times, maybe experiment some. Is that okay?”
    Mona’s eyes had grown big. “Do you know what you’re saying? You’re offering to be my personal hairdresser. For free!
    Shoot, yeah. I’m yours.”
    Tameka laughed at her excitement. It really wasn’t that big of a deal. “Alright. I’ll see you in the morning. Ms. Betty, Lulu, I’ll see you tomorrow. I need to get going.”
    “Okay, honey. Take care.”
    “Bye.”

    * * * *
Lulu turned to the others as the door closed behind Tameka.
    44

    ZENA WYNN
    “That girl is going to set this town on its ear and she has no idea.”
    “Not a clue,” Betty echoed.
    “Wait until the men realize there’s a new, young, pretty , unmated female in the area. They’re going to be all over her like fleas on a dog,” Betty’s customer commented.
    “This ought to be entertaining,” Lulu commented.
    “Let the games begin,” Mona intoned, and the others laughed.

    * * * *
Tameka went over to Colbyville and grocery shopped.
    Three stores later, she was ready to head home. She drove home feeling good about her future. The people she’d met so far were wonderfully friendly. She loved the house and surrounding acreage she’d inherited. She was happy now that she hadn’t listened to her parents and sold the property, sight unseen.
    When they’d heard from the probate lawyer that there was a large offer on the table for Momma E’s place, her father had dollar signs in his eyes. Her mother had joined in on the chorus to sell, sell, sell.
    Tameka told them all no. She owed it to Momma E’s memory to at least try to honor her final wishes, and her dearest wish was that Tameka would find the same happiness she had, living in the relative peace and quiet of the mountains.
    Momma E had met and married her second husband while on a cruise to Alaska. From all accounts, the two had been ridiculously happy together, despite their age difference. He was twenty years older, but in amazing physical condition. They’d had ten wonderful years together before he was tragically killed in a hunting accident. Though Tameka had spoken with him often, she’d never met him in person, being busy first with school, and later building her practice, which she’d eventually turned her back on. Another decision her parents thought her crazy for making.
    Shaking off those depressing memories, she concentrated on putting the groceries away. She had food to last another month, maybe less if Chad was going to be a regular for dinner.
    45

    TAMEKA’S SMILE
    Not liking the way her heart jumped at the thought of him, she fixed a quick meal of a turkey sandwich with all the