Lifted Up by Angels by Lurlene McDaniel

only women in there.”
    “The salon is unisex. For both men and women,” she explained. “We could talk to a stylist. Look through some books. Then you could decide.”
    He licked his lips nervously. “No one will laugh at me?”
    “No way. It’s their business to make people happy with their haircuts.”
    “We could talk to one …,” he said hesitantly.
    Leah caught his arm. “It might cost some money. I mean, more than you think it’s worth.”
    “I have money.”
    “Then let’s go talk to them.”
    An hour later, Ethan’s thick blond hair had been washed, cut and dried into a sleek newstyle. It was still conservative, but it looked modern, not home-done, like his original cut. His expression throughout the process was one of stoic resignation. He never even closed his eyes during the shampoo portion. “Relax,” the stylist told him.
    But when it was over and he saw himself in the mirror, Leah saw a grin creep out around the corners of his mouth. She thought he’d never looked more handsome, but she knew flattery would only embarrass him. Once they were out in the mall, she said, “I like it. Do you?”
    “Yes. But back home, I will be teased by my friends.”
    “If they don’t have anything better to do than tease you about a haircut, then tell them to get a life.”
    Ethan grinned. “I will tell them.”
    Leah looked at her watch. “It’s almost nine. I think we’d better start back.”
    In the car, Ethan said, “Today was fun, Leah. I liked being with you. I liked the adventure.”
    She thought it odd that he’d consider a visit to a hospital and a mall adventurous. Then she reconsidered. He’d probably never spent a whole day doing things that didn’t revolvearound his family or farmwork. The Amish probably thought that shopping without a specific purpose was frivolous. “Anytime you want another adventure, tell me,” Leah said. “I liked being with you today too.”
    It was after midnight when they turned onto the Longacre property. “Stop the car here,” Ethan said. “I will walk the rest of the way to the house.”
    Leah turned off the engine. “Good thinking. We don’t want to wake anybody up.” She asked, “You won’t get in trouble, will you? With your father, I mean.” She hadn’t forgotten their raised voices the day she’d stopped by to tell Ethan about her doctor’s appointment.
    “If you are asking if Papa is angry at me for leaving today, the answer is yes.”
    Leah winced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make him mad at you.” She played with her fingers in the dark. “I know he doesn’t like me.”
    “That is not true. He has not forgotten your kindness to Rebekah when you were in the hospital together.”
    “Okay, so he tolerates me. But he doesn’t like your hanging around with me.”
    “He has reasons,” Ethan said, not bothering to deny that Leah’s observation was correct.
    “Such as?”
    Ethan didn’t answer, and the silence stretched into a long, awkward minute. “I cannot say. But it is not
you
as a person, Leah.”
    His refusal to tell her was infuriating. Still, she was determined not to nag him. “Look, I know you get up at five-thirty. And I’ve got to go to work in the morning also.”
    “Leah, I am not keeping a secret to make you angry, or because I do not care about you,” he said, as though sensing her feelings.
    “You don’t owe me any explanations, Ethan. I am English and you are not. I guess in your father’s mind, that’s reason enough.” She started the engine. “I hope you don’t catch too much flak about your hair.”
    Ethan opened the car door and stepped out into the weak pool of light cast by the car’s interior lights. “Wait,” he said, before she could pull away. He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a small package. “This is for you. I told you I was going to buy you a present.”
    “When did you buy it? We were together the whole day.”
    “That is a secret. Open it.”
    She took a small