My daughter didn’t cry when Clara combed her curls. She didn’t cry when the pink cape closed around her neck, or when Clara called her “Princess” and turned the sitting chair once to make her laugh.

She cried when the scissors opened.

It was such a low noise, but Olivia reacted as if someone had approached a match of her skin.

“No! “”, she shouted, putting both her hands on her hair. “Mom, please, no! »

All the women in the salon turned around.

I got up. “Liv, honey, everything is fine. Clara only cuts the entangled tips. »

“Mom, please, no! »

Olivia shook her head. “No! Dad won’t recognize me! »

Clara froze, the scissors still in her hand.

My throat has tightened.

My husband, William, had been dead for three years.

Olivia was a year old when we lost him.

“No! Dad won’t recognize me! »

Clara lowered her scissors and turned to me. “Allie, what if we waited a bit? »

I have acquiesced.

***

In the car, I asked him a few questions.

“You can tell me anything and everything, Liv. And we can do it over an ice cream if you want. »

“Mom? »

“Yes, my dear. »

“Are you angry because I didn’t cut my hair? »

I turned around. “No, my dear. I just need to understand. Why wouldn’t Dad recognize you? »

She remained silent.

“Grandma Patty said it’s because of my curls that Dad will find me. »

The living room door opened behind us. Clara went out with my purse.

“Call me later,” she said.

“I will do it. Thank you very much. »

***

At home, Olivia rushed into her room.

I followed her and sat down while she lined up three dolls.

“Liv, why do you think Dad will come back? »

“Call me later”

She kept her eyes on the dolls. “Because that is the case. »

“To Grandma’s. »

“Grandma Patty told you that Dad was coming to see you? »

Olivia nodded her head.

“She said you were going to ruin everything. »

“Dad loved you very much,” I said carefully. “But he is dead. You remember? »

“No. Grandma says you’re just saying this because you don’t want me to wait for her. »