Marissa asked Kelly to step away from the chair.

For the first time, the stylist looked uncertain.

“You’re treating me like I attacked her.”

“I’m asking you to stop working while we establish what happened.”

Nora wanted to stand, but she could not bring herself to remove the cape. Seeing the hair against it made the damage real. Taking it off would mean accepting that the appointment was over and she had to leave like this.

Marissa crouched beside her.

“Would you like some water?”

Nora nodded.

“Is there someone you want to call?”

“My fiancé.”

Her voice cracked on the word.

Kelly exhaled loudly.

“Oh, come on.”

Marissa stood.

“Enough.”

Nora called Ben with both hands around her phone.

He answered immediately.

“Trim complete?”

She tried to speak, failed, and covered her mouth.

“Nora?”

“She cut it.”

There was a pause.

“What do you mean?”

“Much shorter. One side. I told her not to.”

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“Where are you?”

She gave him the address.

“I’m coming.”

“You don’t have to leave work.”

“I’m coming.”

After the call, Kelly spoke from beside the reception desk.

“She’s making her fiancé rescue her from a haircut.”

Nora turned toward her.

“You don’t get to embarrass me for being upset about something you chose to do.”

Kelly’s face hardened.

“You wanted bargain maintenance and a bridal consultation. Those aren’t the same service.”

“I wanted the service I booked.”

“You brought pictures. You talked about your wedding. You expected everyone to care.”

Tessa looked down at the tablet.

Marissa’s expression changed from concern to something far more serious.

Nora stared at Kelly.

“Yes,” she said quietly. “I expected the person holding scissors near my head to care about what I asked.”

Kelly opened her mouth, then closed it.

Marissa guided her toward the staff room.

As the door shut, Nora finally began to cry.

Nobody told her to stop.