Page 22 of Captivating Anika
Mondays are always tough.
Not that I sit still on my weekends—especially while I’m doing the work on my house—but I’m generally able to pace myself.
But on Mondays I have a tendency to try and get stuff done at home in the morning, and be on my feet in the salon all afternoon with barely any breaks.
Yesterday, Lindsey and Mom’s visit in the middle of the day provided a nice, forced break, but it meant I didn’t get everything done and ended up painting the rest of my bedroom this morning.
So, by the time I’m taking care of Sandra Yu—my last client for the day—my knees and hips are throbbing and I’m struggling to hold on to the blow-dryer.
“Are you okay?” the observant dentist inquires, studying me in the mirror.
I plaster a smile on my face. “You bet. I’m almost done.”
A few minutes later she is on her way after settling up her bill at the front desk, and I’m heading for my office and the bottle of ibuprofen I keep in my desk drawer. I moan as I take the weight off and sit down in my chair. Looking down, I catch sight of a pair of unsightly swollen ankles. Lovely.
Pulling open my bottom drawer, I kick off my Crocs and prop my feet up while waiting for Kim to be done with her client. Landon and Monique already left and Molly is on her way out the door as well, and I’m not about to let Kim close up by herself. Not with her no-good ex back on the street, restraining order or not.
I also haven’t really had a chance to talk to Kim and I’m hoping for an update. When I got here at noon, my first client was already waiting for me, so other than hearing the news Chris is out, I have no idea what’s going on.
To kill time, I log on to my computer to check emails and have a quick look at social media notifications. I’m not a fan of Facebook or Instagram, and I’m not touching TikTok with a ten-foot pole, so I’ve been thinking about handing those responsibilities off to Molly. She loves all social media. But until I carve out some time to physically hand her the reins, it’s a necessary evil I’ll have to deal with myself.
As usual, most of the email in my inbox is advertising I didn’t invite or newsletters I never signed up for. I don’t see anything pressing on my Facebook business page and when I hear the chime of the front door, I quickly sign off and shove my feet back into my shoes.
When I walk into the salon, Kim is straightening up her station.
“How are you doing?” I ask, turning around the chair at my station and taking a seat.
“Okay. A little nervous, I guess,” she admits.
“Understandable,” I commiserate. “So, get me up to date. What happened at the hearing this morning?”
“I wasn’t at the hearing, my lawyer went.” She smiles at me. “Thank you for that, by the way. Mel was incredibly helpful.”
“Oh, good. She referred you to someone?”
I’m glad. Kim may be a little nervous still, but she seems a lot more grounded today and not quite so beaten down.
“Actually, no,” she surprises me by saying. “After explaining what I need a lawyer for, she said she’d take my case pro bono.”
I bite off a smile. I had a suspicion Mel might be tempted to stand up for Kim. Lindsey’s mom may have given up her full-time practice recently, but she’s not the type to sit still for long. I know for a fact she still does legal work for the Arrow’s Edge MC, of which her husband is a member and her son-in-law is the new president.
I’m relieved she’s decided to represent Kim. Mel is not only a good woman, she’s an absolute ballbuster.
“I’m glad she was able to help out.”
“Yeah. She called me after the hearing. Apparently, my brother-in-law was in court and had hired a lawyer for Chris. Mel said the judge signed a restraining order before releasing him, but Chris was warned he would be hauled back to jail if he violated it.”
“Good. But you said you’re still nervous,” I prompt her. “Are you worried he’ll show up?”
I see her eyes well up. “I don’t know. Maybe? If he drinks. I don’t want to have another scene like that, it’s embarrassing.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that. He’s the one who looks bad, not you. Do you think you’d be more comfortable going somewhere else?”
She shakes her head. “I talked to Mel about that, but I can’t hide and basically let him control what is left of my life. She’s going to file for divorce for me too, but who knows how long it’ll be before this thing gets resolved or goes to trial. I can’t just pack up and leave my job, I have to live too.”
Good point. Added to that, she also has her mother in care here, and if Chris really wanted to get at Kim, all he’d have to do is keep an eye on the nursing home. You can’t expect Kim to stay away from her ailing mother for an indefinite period of time.
“Fair enough. And of course, the apartment is yours as long as you need it.”