Peppermint Kiss by Kelly McKain Page B

anything, Mum tapping her fingernails on the pay-as-you-go phone that never rang, and Saff flicking listlessly through a magazine.
    â€œI’ve got an idea,” I announced. They all looked up, surprised. I couldn’t stop grinning. “We’ll set up our own beauty parlour in the empty shop downstairs. I’ll create the products to sell, and use in our treatments – all natural and freshly home-made, of course. And we can do smoothies too, so it’s about looking after yourself on the inside as well. There must be business loans for this kind of thing. Mum, you and Saff can run it full-time, at least until your course starts, Saff. Grace can handle the budgets and accounts and all that stuff. Oh, and I’ve just thought, me and Summer can photograph the products and make a promotional leaflet as our Media project.”
    They were all just staring at me, like I was speaking Japanese.
    Finally Mum spoke. “Well, wow, Abbie. It’s a good idea but, I don’t know… With things as they are at the moment… Setting up a small business is a massive risk, especially in this climate when people just aren’t spending. Not that we’ve even got the capital to start up, and as if that pig landlord would let us use the shop! I know you’re trying to help, love, but it just sounds like chasing rainbows to me.”
    Chasing rainbows. That was one of Mum’s phrases. It meant chasing an impossible dream.
    But my dream wasn’t impossible, was it?
    â€œSurely anything’s possible, if you try hard enough?” I asked her. “That’s what you always told us when we were little.”
    Mum blinked at me. “I did used to say that, didn’t I?”
    â€œIt’s not chasing rainbows,” I said firmly. “It’s the beginning of a whole new adventure. It could bring us the pot of gold we need and be a proper new start. Not just surviving, but really living. Getting our lives back – not our old ones, but brand-new ones. It could make all our dreams come true.”
    â€œCool!” cried Saff. “Let’s do it!”
    â€œWe could look into the figures,” said Grace. “Maybe talk to the bank. There’s nothing to lose in that.”
    â€œAnd if we explain our plans to Mr. Vulmer and say we’ll have the money soon, maybe…” Saff added.
    We all looked at Mum. “Oh, I don’t know – maybe I am being too negative,” she said. “Things have been so easy, so comfortable, for the last few years. Bigger house, better car, smarter area, more time, more money. Not that I’m complaining, of course. But, when it all came crashing down, I didn’t know what to do. I used to be so capable. Maybe I’ve lost something since those times. You’re right, Abbie – nothing’s impossible.”
    I grinned at her. “Thanks, Mum.”
    â€œAnd besides,” she added, “they do say you should only start a business in an area you understand, and what I don’t know about spa treatments isn’t worth knowing!”
    â€œToo right – you’ve spent half your life in those places!” I teased.
    â€œErm, Abs—” Grace began, but Saff cut in, saying, “We could have cool pink uniforms and—”
    â€œAbs!” shrieked Grace, as the bathroom lit up brightly behind me. The hand towel had caught fire! Turns out Grace had been trying to tell me that my candle (home-made of course, uplifting jasmine and bergamot) looked a bit too close to it. We all screamed and dashed into the bathroom, where Mum flicked the burning towel into the bath water and snapped the light on.
    She looked cross for a moment but then she started to laugh. “I always said you’d set the world on fire, Abbie,” she gasped. “I just didn’t think you’d start with the bathroom!”
    Later on, when Liam popped round to fit the new bit of skirting board, I