“I love Avery. You know I do, but at the same time, I’m so glad I never bowed to societal pressure and had one of my own. I wouldn’t have been good at it. I know that.”

“And I have an enormous amount of respect for you for knowing that and refusing to give on it. I wish everyone took the decision that seriously and had the backbone to go against convention if that’s what was right for them.”

“I will admit that the constant harping of older women got to me some when I was in my twenties. Not that I ever came close to relenting on my stance, but I did come close to punching a few for their smug ‘you’ll change your mind’ comments. Or my absolute favorite, ‘you’ll never know real love unless you have a child.’ What kind of bullshit is that?”

“The kind said by a very narrow-minded person. You know how to love and you are loved. I love you to pieces. And you’re the most generous person I know.”

“To you. Because you’re my other half. And to Avery, because she’s part of you.”

“Regardless. You’re an awesome woman, Halcyon. I always wished I could be more like you.”

“Now’s your chance. Fling all the rules out the door. It’s time for a rebirth.”

“I think you’re right.”

Halcyon rose from her stool and headed for the refrigerator. “To kick off this Era of the New Marina, we’re going to eat cheese and crackers. And raspberries. I bought some yesterday. They weren’t even on sale.”

“You’re such a bad girl.”

Halcyon smiled. “I saw Preston LeDoux eyeballing them and there were only four boxes left. So I bought every one of them.”

Marina laughed. Preston was Chastity’s father and had been on Halcyon’s shit list ever since he’d hit on her at the town Christmas gala while his very pregnant wife was giving out punch.

“I guess Chastity comes by her ‘skills’ genetically,” Marina said as she remembered. “I’m surprised no one has called Preston on his crap.”

“He learned his lesson with me and he takes all his extracurricular business to New Orleans now. I heard he’s got a couple of women on tap over there. Do you really think there’s that much legal work in Last Chance that requires business trips to New Orleans? Complete with overnight stays?”

“Really? And his wife doesn’t know?”

“I’m sure she does. We usually do, no offense. But as long as she doesn’t catch him in her bed with one of them, then she can continue her weekly pedicures and her shopping trips to NOLA and her expensive champagne drinking habit.”

“No! Why don’t I hear about any of this? I’m a hairstylist. We’re supposed to know everything that goes on.”

“People aren’t going to talk about the LeDoux in the salon, not when Preston’s sister owns the place. She’d run tattling to big brother and then he’d sue everyone. He loves to sue people.”