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in and cleared his throat. "You are all set on our end. The new security pin is what you requested and the authorized names have also been changed with a passcode for each person. I just need you to sign this paper and you'll be good to go." He handed my father the paperwork and I watched him sign everything. He waited for the man to leave before he turned to talk to me again. "Now, we just need that locksmith to get done and you will be all set, sweetie. I know I will sleep better at night knowing that this is taken care of. I can't believe that man kept us apart for all those years. You let me get my hands on him and there won't be any court date to attend. I will bury that son of a bitch so far down that they will never recover the bones."
    "Dad!"
    "I'm sorry, I just hate what he's done. He not only hurt you, but he stole from us both. This salon has been yours from day one, but you don't have a penny saved. I know there is money somewhere. I've got some people I know looking into him. We're going to figure this out and when I do, I will nail his ass to the wall."
    I could sense my father's blood boiling as he spoke of Rick. My dad was upset about the business and the money, where all I wanted was to be free of him. If there was money out there for me somewhere, I would love that, but it just wasn't my first priority. "Dad, at the end of the day, I'm happy now and that is all that matters to me. We can make more money."
    He walked up and unexpectedly hugged me. "You're right. We can make more money. I just wish you had it all along. I worked my whole life to provide for my family. I don't want you to have to live with other people."
    I pulled away from him and tapped him on his chest. "We can talk about this another time. I'm sure Conner has a plan. He always does."
    The locksmith took another hour to finish, but as he left, I was holding new keys to my salon. Aside from a couple women wanting to have their hair done, I hadn't gotten any threatening phone calls. I convinced my father that I was going to be fine thirty minutes after my first client came in. When he left, I felt both relieved and regretful. The sense of security that he offered had left the building and I was all on my own.
    By the time lunch came around, I had cut three clients hair and done a color treatment on one of my regulars. When the phone rang suddenly, I jumped before walking over to answer it.
    Hello?
    I could hear someone breathing...
    Hello? Is someone there?
    Still nothing...
    I hung up the phone and it rang back instantly. I was almost afraid to answer.
    Hello?
    Blaze, it's me. Can you hear me? My phone is bein' stupid.
    Did you try to call me a second ago?
    Yeah, could you hear me talkin' to you?
    No! I got all scared it was a crank call.
    Sorry, babe. I was callin' to check on ya, not scare ya.
    It's fine. I'm fine. The locks are changed and the alarm codes are all reset. It's been quiet.
    Alright, I better get back to this fence we're reparin'.
    Okay, I'll see you around five then?
    I might get there earlier if I can. See you in a bit, Blaze.
    We ended the call as another customer came in. It was a little old lady that knew more town gossip than I could ever possibly remember. She sat her floral purse down on the chair beside her and got comfortable. "It's about time you reopened. I was thinking that I would have to go back to that Sally woman's establishment. Did you know she has five children by all different men? That's not very Christian if you ask me."
    I hadn't asked her, nor did I even want to know. "I'm open for business. We had some electrical problems and had to close until the repairmen could get in to fix them. The weather didn’t make it easy on them."
    Sure, it was a total lie, but I didn't want Mrs. Mouth to alert the news or print it in the church bulletin. My business was private.
    "Well, do you remember how I like things or do I need to explain it?" What a little white headed spitfire she was.
    "I remember. You just sit