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whispered. “I keep thinking about Aunt Melba lying on the floor.”
    Indigo squeezed her hand. “Think about the fact that God saved her.”
    They entered the foyer and found Rachelle sitting at the reception desk, handling a call. “Yes, you can come in today and see Eboni or Carlotta. Both of them are filling in for Melba until she returns, and both of them do great work. I’ve let them take care of my hair over the past few weeks and I’ve been pleased.”
    She jotted a note on her pad and typed something in the file she had open on the salon’s desktop computer. “Okay—I’ve put you down to see Eboni at the same time Melba had you on the books. I’ll be here and will look forward to seeing you then.”
    Rachelle hung up and smiled at her cousins.
    “Hey, ladies,” she said. “It has been busy this morning! That was the mayor’s wife. She’s used to only Melba touching her hair, but she’s willing to give Eboni a try, if Eboni will take her in the private room in the back to wash and style her. I tell you, I didn’t realize how much coddling and ego massaging this business requires!”
    The three of them laughed.
    Indigo raised an eyebrow. “You mean to tell me you don’t get these kinds of requests at your optometry office? It’s all customer service, you know.”
    Rachelle raised her palms upward and widened her eyes. “You are absolutely right, and I guess since I don’t do the scheduling in my office, I’ve had no clue about what all is involved. Looks like I need to give my receptionist, Melinda, a raise in another six months.”
    Rachelle laughed again and rose from the seat behind the reception desk. She came around and hugged Yasmin. “You aren’t hanging out with Taryn today?”
    “Yes, ma’am, we’re getting together,” she said. “Cousin Gabe said he’ll take us to the mall later, so we can meet some friends at the movies. But Mama made me come here with Indigo first, so I could help clean up or do whatever needs to be done.”
    Rachelle smiled at Yasmin, who was a thinner, fairer-complexioned version of Indigo.
    “Fortunately for you, Aunt Melba uses a cleaning service, so this place is spic and span. What I do need help with is rescheduling the clients who decided not to come in today but want to make appointments with Eboni or Carlotta over the next two weeks.
    “I have a list of women who need to be called back. I’m also trying to get a handle on what bills need to be taken care of. I have the key to the business files, and I want to make sure everything has been paid, including Carmen’s wages, and that I collect the two stylists’ rental fees on time.”
    Rachelle lowered her voice and leaned toward her cousins. “They missed paying the first month they were here because Melba had the stroke, but I need to collect that fee and this month’s as well, without ruffling their feathers, especially since they’re taking on Melba’s clients. Any advice?”
    Indigo shrugged. “I don’t know about that one. Ask Mama and Daddy and see what they say. Aunt Melba might have some thoughts about it too.”
    “I don’t want to upset her by telling her that we let a month lapse,” Rachelle said. “This place is her baby. She doesn’t need to start fretting that we aren’t doing things right.”
    Indigo smirked. “Believe me, she already is. If she could have climbed into my car, she’d be here now, telling you what to do. She’s trying not to worry, but I can tell that she wants to be in the loop. And truth be told, she should be. I can’t wait until she’s a little stronger.”
    Indigo walked around the desk and plopped in the cushioned chair Rachelle had vacated. The phone rang and she answered on the second ring.
    “Hair Pizzazz, how may I help you? Just a moment.”
    She put the caller on hold and looked toward Rachelle.
    “Aunt Melba never did braids. This person wants to know if someone can braid her hair into a single ponytail.”
    Rachelle shrugged. “I’ll