Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

Brynlee arrived at her salon, a bounce in her step. But a prickling unease swept over her as she unlocked the door and stepped inside. Instead of the familiar the scent of hair products and calming lavender fragrance, the unmistakable smell of damp and mildew tickled her nose.

Her heart dropped to her toes as she took in the glossy sheen of water that had pooled on the floor near the reception desk. Panic rose within her as she ventured deeper into the salon to assess the extent of the damage.

"Oh no, no, no.” Her stomach twisted into a tight knot as she reached the massage room and found the carpet soaked. Damn.

The water damage seemed to be the worst at the back of the salon, and she moved from room to room, carefully inspecting the pipes and water valves. She finally found the culprit in a leaky valve under the bathroom sink.

The small vanity was saturated with water, and everything inside was ruined. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she blinked them away as she pulled her phone from her purse, hands shaking. Clearing her throat, she fired off a quick text to all of her stylists, explaining the situation and asking them to cancel all appointments for the day. Next, Brynlee contacted her own clients, apologizing profusely and explaining the unexpected closure.

With the immediate concerns addressed, she knew she needed to act quickly to mitigate the damage. She called her landlord, Mr. Pollard. However, instead of sympathy, she was met with hostility.

"This is your responsibility," the landlord snapped over the phone. "You should have been more careful. It's not my problem."

Frustration and anger welled up in Brynlee as she tried to reason with the unyielding landlord. "I have renter's insurance. I'll contact a plumber, but I need your permission to bring him in.”

After what seemed like an eternity of arguing, the landlord reluctantly agreed, leaving Brynlee seething with a mix of emotions. She wasted no time in contacting her insurance company and scheduling a plumber to assess the damage.

Brynlee returned to the bathroom and began to pull saturated rolls of toilet paper and paper towels from underneath the sink, then tossed them in the trash. The vanity would need to be replaced, and she did a quick check online to see if the local hardware store had anything in stock.

She’d just finished arranging a pick up for later this afternoon when the plumber arrived—a middle-aged man named Mr. Henderson, recommended by a friend of Brynlee's father. He greeted her with a reassuring smile as he entered the salon, toolbox in hand. "Let's take a look at this leak," Mr. Henderson said.

His calm tone and professional demeanor put her slightly at ease. There was a lot to fix, but he seemed confident that he could take care of it. Brynlee directed him to the bathroom, where he immediately began inspecting the area around the sink and toilet.

"Here we go," he murmured, pointing to a valve under the sink. "I can fix this right away," Mr. Henderson assured her, kneeling down to work on tightening the valve.

Brynlee nodded, her mind already racing with plans to call a restoration company. "Thank you, Mr. Henderson. Please let me know if you need anything else."

As Mr. Henderson worked, Brynlee stepped outside to make arrangements with a local restoration company recommended by her insurance provider. They promised to dispatch a team as soon as possible to begin drying out the salon and assessing the extent of the damage.

Returning to the salon, Brynlee couldn't help but feel a wave of exhaustion wash over her. The initial shock and adrenaline were wearing off, replaced by a sense of resignation tempered with determination. She knew this setback would be challenging, but she was determined to overcome it and reopen her beloved salon as soon as possible.

As Mr. Henderson finished tightening the valve and assured her it was secure, Brynlee thanked him profusely. "I really appreciate you getting here so soon.”

He nodded with a reassuring smile. “My pleasure, Ms. Layne. Looks like everything is good to go, but don’t hesitate to call me if you notice anything else.”

“I will, thank you.”

She closed up after Mr. Henderson, then slumped agasint the door. As she turned back to the salon, the reality of the damage hit her like a sucker punch. The carpet in the massage studio was soaked through, the fibers bloated and discolored where water had pooled. Cabinets in the adjacent laundry room showed signs of swelling and water stains were slowly crawling up the walls in several places.

Brynlee's frustration and helplessness welled up again as she surveyed the scene. She knew that fixing the leak was just the first step—the real challenge lay in dealing with the aftermath. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she reached for her phone and dialed the number of a local restoration company she had researched earlier.

"Hello, this is Brynlee from Blissful Beauty,” she began, her voice trembling slightly with fatigue and emotion. "I had a water leak and need immediate assistance with cleanup and restoration."

The voice on the other end of the line was professional and reassuring. "Of course, Brynlee. We understand how stressful this can be. We'll send a team over right away to assess the damage and start the cleanup process."

Relief washed over Brynlee as she thanked the representative and hung up. She moved quickly to gather all the linens and towels that were now damp from the water, loading them into her car to take home and wash. Tears stung her eyes as she handled each item, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on her shoulders.

Within the hour, the restoration company arrived with a team of technicians equipped with industrial-grade wet vacuums, fans, and dehumidifiers. Their efficiency and expertise were a stark contrast to Brynlee's feelings of despair. They immediately set to work, assessing the extent of the water damage and formulating a plan to mitigate further harm.

"Brynlee, we're going to start by extracting as much water as possible," one of the technicians explained kindly, noticing her distress. "Then we'll set up drying equipment to prevent mold and further damage to your salon."

Brynlee nodded gratefully, feeling a small glimmer of hope as she watched the team get to work. They moved swiftly and methodically, focusing on salvaging what they could and minimizing the impact of the water damage.

As they worked, Brynlee stepped back, feeling a mixture of gratitude and exhaustion. She couldn't have managed this crisis alone, and seeing professionals take charge gave her a sense of reassurance. The hum of the drying equipment and the rhythmic sound of water being extracted became a background symphony to her thoughts.

Throughout the cleanup process, Brynlee assisted where she could, handing over damaged items and answering questions about the salon's layout and any potential hazards. Each moment brought a renewed sense of determination—to rebuild, to overcome, and to reopen her cherished salon.

By the time the sun began to set, the restoration team had made significant progress. The worst of the water had been removed, and the drying equipment hummed diligently to finish the job overnight. Brynlee stood in the doorway, watching the technicians pack up their equipment and offering heartfelt thanks for their hard work.

"Thank you all so much," she said sincerely, her voice wavering with emotion. "I don't know what I would have done without your help today."

The team leader smiled warmly. "It's our pleasure, Brynlee. We're here to make sure your salon gets back to normal as quickly as possible."

After the restoration team had finished for the day, Brynlee sat in her office amidst the drying machines, feeling drained and overwhelmed. The immediate cleanup was underway, but the reality of the damage was sinking in. The cabinets in the laundry room were irreparably swollen and discolored from the water, and the carpet in her beloved massage studio was beyond salvage.

With a heavy sigh, Brynlee pulled out her phone and began researching replacement options. She found a local supplier who could deliver new cabinets by the end of the week, but installation wouldn't be possible until the following Monday. It was a delay she couldn't afford, but the earliest available date left her no choice.

Next on her list was replacing the water-damaged computer in the reception area. She needed it to manage appointments, process payments, and communicate with clients. The thought of another expense added to her mounting worries about finances.

Feeling the weight of the day pressing down on her, Brynlee decided to take action where she could. She locked up the salon and drove to a nearby store to purchase a few storage shelves. It wasn't an ideal solution, but it would serve as a temporary measure to store towels and supplies until the new cabinets arrived.

Upon returning to the salon, Brynlee made arrangements for the carpet replacement. She found a reputable flooring company willing to install new carpet the following day. It was a relief to know that at least one major aspect of the restoration process would be resolved quickly.

As the day stretched into evening, Brynlee worked tirelessly to address the immediate needs of her salon. She fielded calls from concerned clients, reassured her stylists that they would be back in business soon, and tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos.

By the time she locked up the salon for the night, exhaustion had settled deep into her bones. She sat alone in the quiet salon, surrounded by the faint hum of drying equipment and the scent of disinfectant, reflecting on the unexpected turn of events.

With a heavy heart, she packed up her belongings and headed home, thoughts swirling with plans for the days ahead.

Tomorrow would bring more challenges—dealing with insurance claims, coordinating repairs, and reassuring clients. As she closed the door behind her, she hoped that tomorrow would bring a fresh start.