DEAR ABBY: I've been doing my mother-in-law's hair for the last seven years. I became very busy with clients and had her double-booked in between clients because she wasn't a paying customer. She felt "shuffled around" and decided to text me, telling me she will go to another hairdresser.
I'm hurt and don't understand why she wouldn't communicate this to me directly so we could have worked something out. What's the best way to handle this? -- HAIRDRESSER IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR HAIRDRESSER: Talk with her directly. Tell her you received her text and the snub wasn't intentional. One would think she'd realize you were doing her a favor by working her in, but if she can't understand that, then perhaps it's better she see another stylist. Accept it and move on.