Free Finger Lickin' Dead by Riley Adams

her. She’s taken off for the spa today. Wanted to do something nice for herself, you know. She’s over at the Chic Clique Spa.”
    “Even better!” said Flo. “I didn’t much feel like catching up with her while she exercises, but telling her how sorry I am while I get my nails done sounds like a great plan.”
    Lulu said sadly, “I don’t think you need any beautification effort. You look perfectly put together to me.” Lulu looked at Flo’s carefully styled bouffant, unchipped nails, and cute outfit.
    “Honey, there’s always more work that can be done!” said Flo.
    Lulu looked a little doubtful. “Well, I did want to talk to her and see how she’s getting on. I don’t know about a spa, though. That’s not something I’ve ever done.”
    Flo’s mouth dropped. “You haven’t gone to a spa?!”
    “No. I mean . . . I’ve gotten my nails done at NailPro, but that’s just for special occasions. Not an everyday thing.”
    Tommie hooted. “I have a feeling you’re about to get indoctrinated into the finer things in life, Miss Lulu.”
    “I just didn’t know I knew anybody who hasn’t gone through the primping process, Lulu. I can’t spend as much time or money over there as I’d like to, but I’m all about getting a nice facial, or getting a pedicure or manicure. And some times, when I’m really stressed out from the wedding planning? I even go get myself a massage. Not the long ones because they’re too expensive, but the fifteen minute ones still do a ton of good when your neck is all twisted up in knots,” said Flo.
    “I bet those weddings do get stressful,” said Tommie with a whistle. “Sometimes someone will call me up to do some baking for one. I’ll do some cakes or some tea sandwiches or something like that. But dealing with those brides is some kind of stress. They’re little ego monsters, they are.”
    “See, you shouldn’t have told me you do weddings, Tommie!” Flo gave a wide grin. “Now that your secret is out, I might get in a pinch and have to give you a call. And things do get pinched sometimes, believe me. You wouldn’t believe the caterers who just don’t show up for a reception. No call, no nothing! Just didn’t feel like crawling out of the bed that morning, I guess.”
    Lulu could tell Flo was starting to get worked up again. “Come on, Flo. Let’s check out the Chic Clique. Sounds like you have some stress that needs to be worked out, too.”
     
     
    Lulu had, at first, felt just a little bit uncomfortable going into the spa. She’d originally thought she was just going over to Evelyn’s to share some ribs with her friends. She smoothed her bright floral dress selfconsciously. With her carelessly twisted-up hair bun, hit-and-miss approach to makeup application, and fondness for happy-looking print dresses, she felt just a little bit shabby when the glamorous young women at the reception desk greeted them.
    But Lulu had to hand it to the staff at the Chic Clique Spa. They knew how to make you feel like a queen. The heavily made-up receptionist beamed at Lulu and Flo. “How are you ladies today? Having a special day out?”
    Flo sashayed up like she went to Chic Clique every day of her life. And Lulu was starting to think that maybe she did. Come to think of it, Flo always did look just perfectly turned out. Lulu thought she just spent a lot of time on her appearance in the morning, but maybe she came to places like these every once in a while.
    “We are having a special day, actually,” she said with a quick smile for the receptionist, whose gilded nametag said “Brittany.” “We’re here meeting a friend of ours, too. Evelyn Wade.”
    “Oh! Mrs. Wade. Yes, she’s one of our favorite guests. She’s just finishing up a treatment, I think. I’ll check and see where she is now. And ladies, we are running a special for our guests today on salt glows. I know that’s what Mrs. Wade started out with today.” Brittany noticed Lulu’s confused frown.