The Mother Road by Jennifer AILee

Author:Jennifer AILee
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781426713125
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Published: 2011-11-24T23:00:00+00:00

29

There's no end to the array of hair colors lining the drugstore shelves. I pick up a box and hold it next to Lindsay's face.

"No," I say, shaking my head. "Too orange."

"What about this one?"

"Closer."

She puts it back and picks up a box marked "Champagne Blonde." "This?"

I wrinkle my nose. "Too yellow."

"This is ridiculous." She plunks the box back on the shelf and walks down the aisle.

"Where are you going?" I call after her.

"To find a baseball cap. I'll just put one of those over my head. Or maybe a paper bag."

I trot up to her, grab her wrist, and pull her back to the hair-color section. "Don't give up now. You'll feel a lot better once we've got you all touched up. You'll see."

"Okay, but let's find something quick. I'm starving."

"Agreed." I look back at the shelf, tapping my index finger against my lip. "What we need is a color that matches your personality as well as your skin tone."

She picks up a box and thrusts it at me. "How about this one?"

Surprisingly, she's picked one that's nearly identical to her natural hair color. "That will definitely work. I just thought you'd want something a little more . . . exciting." I point at one labeled "Red Red Wine." "Like that."

She sighs and wags her head. "That would have been perfect for the old Lindsay."

Withholding the laugh that fights to get out, I take the hair color from her and read the name. "So the new Lindsay prefers 'Toffee Blonde'?"

"Yes. Because the new Lindsay just realized that once the baby comes, she's probably not going to have the time or energy to keep her roots touched up. I need a low-maintenance 'do."

A kernel of pride pops within me. Whether she knows it or not, my sister is exhibiting signs of maturity. This calls for a celebration. I jiggle the box in front of her. "Great choice. Let's pay for it and go get some dinner."

When we get to the register, she reaches for her wallet, but I hand the cashier my credit card first. In response to Lindsay's questioning look, I just shrug. "Don't say I never bought you anything."

"Thanks, Sis."

The softness around her eyes, the lift of her lips, and the total absence of sarcasm are well worth the nine and change I pay for the hair color. Above and beyond.

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