Betsy wiped away a stray tear. "Not particularly. Baking with Mom is a pain, to be honest. We have different styles, as you may have noticed. But I do miss baking in general. The salon takes up so much of my time and then I'm exhausted by the time I get home and make dinner, clean up, the whole nine yards." She groaned in frustration.
"How did you end up with a salon anyway? You used to talk about opening a bakery on the island. Sugar-n-Spice needs a little competition. The island is just too big for one bakery."
Betsy covered her face with her hands. "I don't know! I don't know!" She threw her arms out in exasperation. "I got sucked in. But I'm making decent money now and we need it for Joey. He's going to need full-time care when he's older. I'd be crazy to walk away and start over."
"I guess Joe's not much of a helper."
"Look, I know he's a lot like Dad," said Betsy. "I'm not an idiot. Thankfully, we have Mom and Dad and Joe's parents around to help out. I couldn't do it all without help and I'm not ashamed of that."
Alexis gave her sister a light kick in the shin. "You think I would want you to be ashamed? Get over yourself. I get tired just thinking about your day because it doesn't end when you go home."
"Sandy Ventura was interested in partnering with me on the salon at one point, but I turned her down."
"Why?"
Betsy shrugged. "Didn't want to give away any control."
Alexis chuckled. "I guess we both got that trait from Mom." Her brow creased. "Why don't you consider it now? Let Sandy buy a percentage of the salon so that you can start another venture. Let Sandy run the day-to-day here."
Betsy eased out of the chair. "Sounds too complicated, not to mention expensive."
"No, it's really not," Alexis objected, her lawyer brain kicking in. "Let me draft some scenarios for you and then decide whether you want to move ahead."
"Draft your little heart out," Betsy agreed. "I'll take a look."
"Would you do me a favor in return?" Alexis asked sheepishly.
"Bartering, are we?" She crossed her arms. "What is it?"
"Would you do my hair in one of those pretty updos?" She pointed to a poster of a hair model on the wall.
"Now?"
"I'm going to a party and I'd like to look less corporate, more Christmas."
"Sounds like a good party. Sure, I'd do it even if we weren't bartering." She walked over to one of the chairs and patted the seat. "Hop in."