She’d noticed her subscriber list growing rapidly, and she became aware that people with no real interest in cutting hair were watching the channel for relaxation purposes. It was a fun YouTube channel, and now with her own shop she could do it more professionally.

Mack wiped her hands on a towel and began to massage Ewan’s shoulders and back. “You’ve been bulking up, bud,” Mack said.

“Yeah, I’ve been working on it. You coming back to the gym soon?”

“Aye, will be—I feel stronger than ever. There wasn’t much else to do in the big house I was staying at but to work hard in the gym.” Mack winked at Ewan. She didn’t want the customer Liam was working on to know she was referring to jail.

“That’s true. Any problems when you were there?” Ewan asked.

Mack eased Ewan forward and worked her way down his back. “Nae bother.” While in jail, she got no trouble from anyone because of who she was. She generally didn’t get involved in any of the petty squabbles in there, unless there was bullying going on.

She massaged his back for a minute or so and then moved on to his arms and hands. “How was that?”

Ewan rolled his neck from one side to another. “Amazing, man.”

All that was left to do was put some wax through his hair. Mack then held up a mirror so he could see the back of his sharp style.

“Brilliant—cheers, mate.”

“Glad you like it.” Mack washed her hands, then went to the till. Ewan paid and booked in for the next week.

“Thanks, bud,” Mack said.

“I’ll see you at the gym, Mack. Cheers.”

Once he was gone, she started to clear up her station. Mack was enjoying this simple life so far. It wasn’t for the money—as a Sharkey family member, Mack had received a share of the family business since she was eighteen—but it was rewarding, enjoyable work. Something that had always been a pastime was now her everyday job.

Once everything was cleared up, Mack grabbed her coat and said to Liam, “I’m just going to head to the bank. Keep your eye on Dexter. I won’t be long.”

Liam looked up from shaving his customer. “Aye, nae bother.”

It was now late afternoon after a busy day. “You be good, Dex.” Dexter barked in reply. “Good boy.”

When she left the shop she saw a long line of loud schoolchildren emerging from the door of Flora’s sweet shop.

When she walked past the shop window, she saw some teenage boys inside, throwing bags of sweets and chocolate bars around. Flora was behind the counter looking extremely distressed. Mack immediately pushed past the line at the door and into the shop. The children were laughing at the two older boys who were throwing around the chocolate bars.