Sesilia_Ahern_PS_seni_sevirem-ing

“Don't worry, love, whenever you make an appointment I have the staff trained to pencil it infor half an hour later. Colin!” he yelled, clicking his fingers in the air. Colin dropped everythingand ran.“God, are you taking horse tranquilizers or something? The length of your hair already, and Ijust cut it a few weeks ago.”He pumped vigorously on the chair, raising Holly higher. “Anything special tonight?” he asked,attacking the chair.“The big three-oh,” she said, biting her lip.“What's that, your local bus route?”“No! I'm the big three-oh!”“Of course I knew that, love, Colin!” he yelled again, snapping his fingers in the air.With that, Colin appeared from the staff room behind Holly with a cake in his hand, followed bya row of hairdressers joining Leo in a chorus of “Happy Birthday.” Holly was dumbfounded.“Leo!” was all she could say. She battled the tears that were welling in her eyes and failedmiserably. By this stage the entire salon had joined in and Holly was just overwhelmed by theirshow of love. When it was over everyone applauded and normal business resumed.Holly couldn't speak.“Christ Almighty, Holly, one week you're in here laughing so hard you practically fall off yourchair and the next visit you're crying!”“Oh, but that was just so special, Leo, thank you,” she said, drying her eyes and giving him ahuge hug and a kiss.“Well, I had to get you back after you mortified me,” he said, shrugging her off, uncomfortablewith the sentimentality.Holly laughed, remembering Leo's surprise fiftieth birthday party. The theme had been “feathersand lace” as she recalled. Holly had worn a beautiful tight-fitting lace dress and Gerry, who wasalways game for a laugh, had worn a pink feather boa to match his pink shirt and tie. Leoclaimed to have been excruciatingly embarrassed, but everyone knew he was secretly delightedwith all the attention. The next day, Leo had rung every guest who had attended the party andleft a threatening message on their machine. Holly had been terrified to make an appointmentwith Leo for weeks after that in case he butchered her. Word had it that business was very slowfor Leo that week.