Marcelle waved that off. “I don’t consider it a crime. I put the hex on the tourist. Delphine takes it off.”

“For forty bucks,” Lisa explained.

Marcelle put her hands in Lila’s hair, getting a feel for the texture. “And the tourist gets an authentic bayou experience. We all win. And the fact that Delphine and I have been through all sorts of ups and downs over the years is another reason why I had to hire Sera. Like I said, she’ll be good in a year or two. Until then there’s going to be some awfully big hair for you white girls in the parish. You’re welcome. I’ll be right back, Miss Lila. You remember this when my next checkup comes ’round. I’m the reason you won’t walk out of here looking like a pageant reject.”

She sashayed away.

Lila turned on her sister. “Traitor. After everything I’ve done for you, this is what I get.”

Lisa had the good sense to wince. “Sorry. There are only the two of them working today, and Marcelle is the best. Sera . . . Sera is very enthusiastic. I let her do my nails a couple of weeks back and I had claws. Actual claws. I couldn’t work my phone or drive until I managed to get those fake nails off. I’m trying to support her because she’s really gotten her shit together in the last year. Being a single mom in a small town is rough.”

She could only imagine. “I think being a parent anywhere is rough.” It had been three days since the accident and that first night with Armie in her bed, but it already felt like the world had changed. “I’m worried about Noelle.”

Lisa turned her chair toward her. “What’s going on? I thought she liked you. You seemed to get along fine the other day.”