Vera did Barb Holland’s hair, and Vesta knew Barb would be coming in to get it done special before the funeral, whenever that was.

The fact that Niles had caused his own demise made it even harder for Vesta to think about. He’d always been so full of himself, but he’d been a good customer and a friend, and she was going to miss him.

When her cell phone rang, she quickly blew her nose, cleared the tears from her throat, and answered. “Hello.”

“Hey, Vesta, it’s me.”

“Oh hi, Ruby. What’s up?” she asked.

“I’m about to put in an order to the beauty supply in Savannah. Do you or Vera need anything?”

“Oh…I do for sure. I’m out of the little permanent papers, and I need two Easy Wave perms. Also, some of that shampoo we use for the lavender-haired ladies in town.”

“Oh, right! I need that, too. Thanks for the reminder. How about Vera?” Ruby asked.

“Wait a sec and I’ll ask.” Vesta jumped up from the sofa and hurried into the kitchen and handed her sister the phone. “It’s Ruby. I’ll tend to the popcorn,” she said.

Vera nodded and took the phone. “Hi, Ruby. You’re up late.”

“I know. I’m about to get online and put in an order at the beauty supply in Savannah. Do you need anything?”

“Yes, I do,” Vera said, and began naming off products, while Vesta stood at the microwave, waiting for it to ding and stealing a quick sip of her sister’s Coke.

The microwave went off. Vesta took out the bag of popcorn, tore it open, and dumped it in a bowl, then poured herself a glass of Coke as well, and waited for Vera to get off the phone.

Seconds later, Vera ended the call, turned around and dropped the phone in the pocket of Vesta’s bathrobe, and picked up her drink.

“Let’s hurry,” she said. “Our movie is about to start.”

“I know, but I’m not in much of a movie mood,” Vesta said.

“Why? What’s wrong?” Vera asked.

“Tomorrow morning would have been Niles’s appointment day. I’m just sad that he’s gone and Barb is now a widow.”

Vera paused. “Oh. I hadn’t remembered that. I guess Barb will be making a special appointment now before the funeral.”

Vesta nodded. “That’s what I was guessing.”

Then Vera took the bowl of popcorn out of Vesta’s hands.

“Come on. We planned on watching that movie, and so we’re gonna watch it,” Vera said.

Vesta frowned. “But it will make me cry, and I don’t like to cry.”

“It’s good for your energy and your chi to release emotions,” Vera stated firmly, and sailed out of the kitchen with her drink in one hand and the popcorn in the other.

Vesta glared at her twin. She’d been the bossy one when they were little, and nothing about her personality had changed.

“I still don’t like to cry,” Vesta muttered.

* * *

Ruby had just finished entering everyone’s orders. As soon as she hit Send and printed off a copy of what they’d ordered, she logged out and went to bed.