Nina flicked her watch over and looked at the time. She pointed to her hair. 'I just need to get this done, go home, and get ready for our Colin to arrive.'
'Well, good luck for today and congratulations. I’ll see you later.’
'Yep, thanks, Millie.’
‘Where the party is concerned, everything is ready,' Millie said. ‘Our Nancy is in charge and has assigned us all roles.’
‘Good to hear I’ve been told not to worry about a thing.’
'Nope, you don’t worry about anything at all. Just worry about marrying our Robby and having a wonderful day.'
'Thanks, right, I’ll get on and get myself there.'
A few minutes later, after stopping and talking to somebody else and being congratulated by someone she knew who often came into the deli, Nina pushed open the door to Beauty by Bianca and was immediately surrounded by a tranquil feeling. Essential oils pumped around the room, New Age yoga music came from behind the desk, and everything seemed to calm via its neutral palette of white and cream. As every time Nina had been to the place, she felt as if she was a little bit grubby and doing something wrong. The difference to her first visit when Birdie had treated her to a few treatments, however, was that she’d learned to love everything that went on in Beauty by Bianca. The place was a dream.
Not long after she’d stepped in, Nina was lying on the bed in Bianca’s consultation room, more or less in the dark, under a thick layer of crisp sheets and fluffy blankets. The whole room was lit by flickering candles and scented with essentialoils. Bianca quietly padded around the room and whispered, 'Okay, just a treat for you this morning. Nothing that might set anything off with your skin, and I’m going to do a massage that will make you feel amazing.'
Nina nodded and whispered back, 'Thank you. You know how much I love it.'
'I do, and I know how different your face feels now.' Bianca laughed quietly.
‘You’ve literally unlocked my face.’ Nina whispered back. She smiled as she remembered when Birdie had first persuaded her to go to Beauty by Bianca. Then, she’d been completely apprehensive and concerned about how it was going to go. But after she’d undressed and laid down, about ten minutes in she’d floated off to another place. She’d realised at the time, as stress had seemed to pour out of her jaw, that since Andrew had died, she hadn’t looked after herself and never really had anyone touch her at all. As Bianca has massaged, pushed, pulled, and pummelled her face, years of grief and tenseness had been released. It had been a long time coming.
Since that first visit via the kindness of Birdie, Beauty by Bianca was part of Nina’s regular self-care, not that she liked those words at all, but she intended never to let herself get in the same state she had been in before ever again. Five minutes in, and Bianca’s magical hands worked on the sides of Nina’s face. Half an hour in, Bianca and another beauty therapist were massaging her neck and shoulders.Best pre-wedding treatment ever,Nina thought to herself as she revelled in the bliss of it all.
Later on, with her hair done and make-up in situ, Nina walked out of Beauty by Bianca as if she was floating just above the top of the pavement. She had been in two minds about whether or not to have a facial on the morning of her wedding, having read all sorts about it not being a good idea. Bianca had said it was poppycock and had assured her she knew her skinand everything would be fine. As she walked away from the salon, she knew she’d made the right decision. She felt relaxed, happy, stress-free, her hair was done, make-up on, and she was good to go. Bianca had worked her magic, as she always did, and Nina nodded to herself at a good decision executed well.
As she strolled through the streets of Lovely Bay in the direction of the harbour, she went over one of the smaller greens, crossed to the other side of the road, and made a detour to go over another green lined with beautiful trees. She smiled as she looked up at the weather. It really had turned out to be a gorgeous day. About ten minutes later, she was just getting to the harbour when her phone rang with a call from her mum.
'Hi, Mum,' she said with a bright tone in her voice.
'Hello, darling, how are you? I’m just coming back from the hairdresser. How was your time at the beauty therapist, darling?'
'It was good. I feel great. And how does your hair look?'
'Yes, it looks nice.’
‘How are you, Mum? Are you okay? Is everything good with you?'
'Yes, everything is fine with me. We’re excited. We are ready to go at this end. I’ve just put my outfit on. I was just checking in to see that you’re okay.'
'Yes, I’m good. I have had a lovely peaceful morning.’
‘Darling, itisfunny that you wanted to spend the morning on your own, but then again, you are a bit odd. You always were.'
Nina rolled her eyes. She’d heard that so many times; in fact, her mum possibly said it to her every time she spoke to her. She was used to it now. Shelikedbeing a bit odd. 'Yeah, Mum, I just wanted to have a nice quiet morning on my own and think about things. You know?'
'Not really, darling, but there we are. You do you, as they say. I hope you’re going to have a beautiful day.'
'Thanks, Mum. I appreciate that.’
‘I’m so happy for you, darling. You’ve been through so much, and it’s all worked out well.'
'Thanks.’
‘So, you’re sure you’re okay to be on your own while you get ready? Will you be okay getting into the dress on your own?'
'Yes, I’m fine.’
