An Invincible Summer (Wyndham Beach #1)(42)

“I’m not sure that applies,” Emma murmured just as Liddy said, “A distinct possibility.”

“Then you have your Celtic cross. Celtic knot. A Celtic spiral.” She glanced up at them. “Represents the three stages of a woman’s life. Maid, mother, crone.”

“You lost me at crone.” Maggie frowned and gestured for her to go on to something else.

“So call her the matriarch. It’s a beautiful tattoo, very popular. It’s a symbol of female power.” Nicole straightened up as the shop door opened. Seconds later her eyes widened.

“You probably should have led with matriarch.” Emma leaned over the desk for a better look.

“Tell me you’re still deciding,” Chris said as he walked toward the desk, an envelope in his hand.

“Oh. Hi.” Emma barely looked up from the catalog. “No, we haven’t decided yet. Nicole—this is Nicole. Chris, she’s going to do our tattoos.”

He reached beyond his mother to shake Nicole’s hand.

“Oh my God, you really are Chris Dean.” Nicole sounded as if she was going to need oxygen sometime soon.

He nodded. “And this really is my mom and her friends. I’m hoping you can help them out a little here.”

“I’m trying.” Nicole was clearly starstruck.

“Herding cats?” He raised an eyebrow and smiled.

“Not yet, but close.” Nicole smiled back and seemed to relax.

“So let’s see what we’ve got here.” Chris looked over his mother’s shoulder, then flipped a few pages. “Mrs. Flynn, anything jump out at you?”

“You mean, have I found something I want on my body from this day until the day I die?” Maggie shook her head. “Not yet.”

“Mrs. Bryant?” He turned to Liddy.

“I liked the ‘see no evil, hear no evil’ monkey thing, but your mother nixed it,” Liddy told him.

She pointed to the tattoo of the three monkeys, and he laughed. “You would each get one, though, right? You wouldn’t have all three monkeys on your . . . where are you getting this tattoo, anyway?”

“Inside left ankle,” Emma spoke up. “How about a feather? As in birds of a feather.” She held up the catalog.

“It looks more like a phallic symbol,” Maggie noted.

Emma held the book out at arm’s length. “Maybe. It’s been a while, though, so I’m not sure how accurate my memory is.”

Chris coughed. “Mom. Move on.”

They pored over several more pages before Maggie said, “Wait. Go back to the last page. I saw something . . .”

Emma flipped the page, turned it around. They all leaned closer.

Chris tapped on one image. “This one.”

“That’s the one I wanted to look at.” Maggie studied the image. There were three curlicues, their curves representing ocean waves. “I like it. Three waves, sailing on the sea of life together. The sea is eternal—there’s some quote about that, but I don’t remember what it is.”

“Good call, Mrs. Flynn. You grew up in a bay town together, and you’ve weathered life’s storms together.” Chris looked from his mother to each of her friends.

“I like it. It’s small enough to be discreet, and it’s pretty, and it has significance. But not on my ankle.” Maggie pointed to her inner left wrist. “Here. I want to see it whenever I want without pulling up my pant leg, rolling down my sock, or taking off my boot every time. Easier to pull up a sleeve.”

Liddy nodded. “I agree.” She held up the catalog. “This is what we’re celebrating with our tattoos, right? The fact that all our lives we’ve gone through all manner of shit together and yet we’re still rolling on together?”

“Mrs. Bryant,” Chris said, obviously amused, “one thing I always liked about you, you always put it right out there.”

“I like it. Waves on the same sea,” Emma agreed. “Good job, Maggie. You saved poor Nicole here an afternoon of the three of us going round and round and . . .”

Chris laughed and held up a hand as if to stop her flow of words. “Please. I’ve been there. This young woman has a business to run. So you’re set? This is it?”

Emma, Liddy, and Maggie nodded.

“Great. Glad that’s settled.” He handed Nicole the envelope. “As promised. Four front-row seats and backstage passes. I can’t thank you enough for accommodating my mom and her friends. I’ll give you a shout-out at the show tonight, in case anyone’s looking for a tattoo.”

“You might want to wait to see if I do a good job.” Nicole took the envelope with shaking hands. “You wouldn’t want to be remembered in Charlotte as the guy who gave everyone a bum rec on a tat.”

“I think you’ll do fine.” He turned and kissed first his mother—“Love you, Mom”—then Liddy and Maggie in turn. “Guys, it’s been great to see you. I’m glad you made it to the show. I’ve gotta go—I have an appointment in fifteen minutes, and I can’t be late. Nicole, thanks again. I’ll see you tonight.” He was almost to the door when he paused and turned back. “Hey, Mrs. Flynn, don’t forget to tell Nat I said any show, anytime. I’d love to see her again.”