And a merry A Christmas to you too, Mrs Fortescue!' Josephine waved goodbye to her last customer and turned over the 'closed' sign.
'Who'd have thought,' she addressed herself in the mirror opposite, 'so many people would want a new hairdo on Christmas Eve?'
'Good for Jo-Jo's business,' her reflection replied, 'but it does mean it's already...'
Josephine glanced up at the wall clock.
Oh, Heavens! Nearly 2.30pm.
'You work too hard!' her mother had cautioned the previous evening. 'Businesswoman of the Year is no use if you miss your new niece's first Christmas!' 'So they've definitely decided on Carol?' Josephine had asked.
Her mother had mockgroaned. 'They keep insisting she's a Christmas baby. The sixteenth of December is Christmas week, I suppose.' 'At least they didn't pick Noelle,' Josephine had laughingly pointed out.
Now she chuckled, scrawling a note for the assistant who would come in early, after the Boxing Day bank holiday.
'And then it all starts again, she observed, straightening the various bottles of lotions and potions, before turning off all the lights.
'Hurtling towards the all-handson-deck of New Year's Eve.
Josephine gave her own, close-cropped blonde hair a quick tidy, and blew herself a kiss in the mirror.
'Right, you, on your way!' she instructed herself. 'It'll be dark before you're home.
In the staff area behind the salon, two bags were ready to be scooped up for her car, the first containing clothes for the long weekend, and the second a flask of hot water and mint tea bags for the journey, and her pre-wrapped presents.
Josephine ran a tender finger along the New baby! wrapping paper, within which nestled a super-soft blanket for her brother's infant daughter. With it was the tiny hat which her own inexpert hands had stumbled over many evenings in the company of crochet made simple videos.
Esta historia es de la edición December 19, 2023 (Double Issue) de Woman's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición December 19, 2023 (Double Issue) de Woman's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
10 OF THE BEST Buys for CHARITY
Look great and support Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October
How to HAGGLE
Save those £££s by plucking up the courage to negotiate
Your wellbeing
LATEST HEALTH SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR MIND AND BODY
Here to help
LET COUNSELLOR KEREN LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD
Good to GLOW
Plant your bulbs now for a lovely bright start to spring
Painted VASES
Prettify empty jars and bottles with this quick craft project
Escape to OXFORD
Delve into the city's rich cultural heritage for a wonderful weekend
Sail through menopause WITHOUT WEIGHT GAIN!
Middle-aged spread may seem inevitable - but it really doesn't have to be
Woodland wonders
When you go down to the woods, you'll find a whole new world teeming with life
'We should all be dancing'
Singer and actor Toyah Willcox on overcoming adversity, ageing and Strictly Come Dancing