When Rain Falls Read Free Page A

friend’s offer.
    Even though her own life seemed to revolve around being a mom and owner of Crown of Beauty Salon, she was still curious about the other side. That is, the sophisticated lifestyle her best friend lived as a high-profile defense lawyer.
    A fit of hacking interrupted Candace’s stream of thoughts. She realized, her one client who showed up on time that day had grown quiet. “Mrs. Roberts, is everything okay?”
    Fredricka Roberts talked to anyone who would listen. Most people couldn’t help but listen to the seventy-six-year-old. Feeling sheepish, Candace realized she’d lost focus on the woman’s conversation a few minutes before.
    â€œWell, honey, I was about to ask you the same thing.”
    â€œOh, I’m sorry. I have so many things going through my head today.”
    â€œThat’s okay, sugar. I appreciate you fixing me up at the last minute. My son sent tickets for a seven o’clock flight Saturday morning. Lord, have mercy. I’m getting too old to be flying around those clouds. God might decide to say, ‘Well, the old bat’s so close, I may as well take her on home with me.’”
    Grinning, Candace responded, “Mrs. Roberts, you need to stop. You got too much to offer us young things down here for God to take you yet.”
    â€œSugar, you are a sweetie pie. Life is scary enough on the ground. If someone decided he wants to terrorize me in the air, I may have to take him down.”
    Candace laughed as she adjusted the chair for her client’s lithe frame. As a result of her years with the Katherine Dunham Company, a modern dance company, the older woman probably could knock a terrorist off his feet with her strong, shapely legs.
    â€œSo, is your granddaughter going with you?”
    Mrs. Roberts’s smile faltered. “No, I can’t get that girl to go anywhere.”
    â€œWell, like you tell me, we have to be patient with these young‘uns and pray for God to do a work in their hearts.”
    â€œWell, you know what? God may not be through with me yet. Always something to bring Him to clean up.”
    Both women laughed.
    From behind her, Candace heard a voice. “Is that Miss Roberts, with her grown self, over there acting up?”
    After she grabbed a bottle of shampoo from the shelf, Candace turned and winked at her stylist, Beulah Samuels. “Ain’t she something else?”
    Beulah placed her hand on her round hips and shook her head. “I tell you, if I grow up to look like this woman, you couldn’t tell me anything.”
    â€œAh, now, Beulah, you are already in a class by yourself, Miss Thang.” That was for sure. Well into her fifties, Beulah wore a short, recently dyed platinum blond Afro with the finesse of a much younger woman. The colors blended well with her creamy, smooth complexion.
    â€œThank you, honey.” Beulah leaned in closer to Candace’s ear. “Honey, you okay? You’re not looking too good.”
    Candace grabbed the hose to rinse her client’s hair. She knew Beulah meant no harm, but now wasn’t the time. She should’ve known Beulah would eventually pick up on her lack of sleep. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Now, Tangie is the one you might want to worry about.” This morning must be the day for Divas Missing in Action. First, Pamela, a no-show. Now one of her stylists was almost an hour late. Yet again, somebody who didn’t know how to pick up the phone out of courtesy.
    Beulah frowned. “She is making this a habit. Don’t be too hard on her now.”
    Candace grunted. That was the problem. People tended to take her being nice as confirmation to do what they wanted. At this stage in her life, Candace could empathize with Tangie, being a single mom, but time was money.
    Beulah came back out the supply room with an armful of towels. “Candace, you got to take care of yourself, too.” She raised her