The Best Laid Plans by Amy Vastine Page A

confident tone made Emma feel less nervous.
    She opened one eye and then the other. Her hand reached up in search of phantom hair. Instead, the back was cropped close while the front was left a little longer. Holly showed her how she could get cute barrettes and pin the bangs back to dress it up.
    Not since she was a baby had her hair been this short. It was shocking. She felt tears prick at the corner of her eyes. Immediately, she understood how brave her mother had been to shave it all off before it fell out. Hair was part of a woman’s identity. People didn’t refer to certain days as good or bad hair days without reason. Hair affected all aspects of life, from work to romance. Cutting it this short was sure to make a statement. She just didn’t know if it would be a good or bad one.
    Maureen’s hands gripped her daughter’s shoulders. “Please don’t cry. You look beautiful, sweetheart.”
    Emma placed her hand on top of her mom’s. “I’m okay. It just caught me off guard. I love it, Holly. It looks fabulous,” she said to reassure the nervous stylist.
    “The fabulousness is all you. Not everyone can pull off this look. You completely own it, though,” Holly said.
    Emma turned her head from side to side, checking her new hairdo from all angles. The longer she stared at it, the better it looked. She caught her mom’s eye. “Like mother, like daughter.”
    * * *
    “S O , TELL ME all about the wedding plans. What have you and Kendall come up with so far?” Maureen asked when they got to lunch.
    “I’m still narrowing down a few things for her. I don’t want to overwhelm her with too many choices. This city has so many options. I’m beginning to think I should have gone into the wedding business instead of nursing. What a racket!”
    “I hope your sister has been appreciative of all your hard work.”
    “Kendall thanks me every time we talk about it. I think I’ll have everything figured out soon now that Charlie has given me the last of Max’s wishes.”
    “Oh, I bet those were good,” Maureen said with a laugh.
    “Max doesn’t want anything too extravagant. I think he was worried I would get carried away or something. He sent Charlie to spy on me.”
    “Charlie’s adorable. I like him.”
    Did everyone have the same opinion of this man? He certainly had a way with people. Emma wasn’t oblivious to his charms, either. She smiled at the memory of him talking his way into free ice cream. She had a hard time saying no to him lately. Luckily, the things he wanted to change were doable.
    “Has he been helpful?” Maureen asked.
    “Surprisingly, he has. At first, I didn’t think he would be, but he’s come up with a few good ideas. My only worry is he wants me to check out this coworker of his who runs a side catering business.” Charlie had somehow gotten her to agree to a taste testing next week at his friend’s house. If the food wasn’t good, she would go back to her choice, friend or no friend. “I’m not too sure we want to go with someone who doesn’t do this full-time.”
    “If there’s one thing men know about, it’s food. I’m sure you two will get it all figured out.”
    Emma got her mom up to speed on the other wedding plans. Maureen loved the idea of incorporating the boys into the ceremony and approved of the colors Kendall had chosen so far.
    “It’s going to be beautiful. It’s a wonderful thing you’re doing for your sister. She’s lucky to have you.”
    “I’m just doing the legwork and narrowing down the choices from a million to two or three. It keeps me busy on my days off and allows her to have final say on everything.”
    Maureen got misty-eyed. “It makes me so happy that you girls take care of one another the way you do. You have no idea how that matters to me and your father. It’s always been very comforting to know you’ll have each other when Dad and I aren’t around anymore.”
    Emma hated when her mom talked like that. She knew her parents