Messy Love(79)

MARISSA


I wiped at the guy’s knuckle to remove the surplus of ink and the blood that oozed from where I was working on the letter C in block letter, the last letter from the tattoo that represented the client’s son’s name. I kept my eyes riveted to my work while Kam and the guy talked. They were old friends, but where Kam put his love of tattoos to work, the man seemed content in coming to be Kam’s billboard display while working at an auto-body-shop out of Atlanta.

The tattoo was simple even if sometimes knuckles could be a bitch to work on, but it helped me shed the sadness that permeated me completely for close to three weeks. Three weeks since that morning at Wyatt’s place.

As his name flashed through my mind, I winced. Pushing through the throbbing pain in my chest and the lead that weighed down my stomach, I lifted the tattoo machine to the raised skin and finished the shading of the C. I took extra long just because I needed that time to fight the prickles in my eyes and be fully composed before I faced my boss and mentor.

“Alright, Arthur. It’s all done,’’ I said and wiped out the ink and blood, staring critically at my work. Once I was happy with the result, I straightened up on my stool and glanced at Kam to get his approval.

“Nice, Marissa. For once I bet my girl isn’t going to be bitching when I get home with a new tat. She always says I spend too much money on them, but this is about our little guy.’’

Kam nodded and winked at me. I smiled brightly, but while I was happy, the smile on my face wasn’t as genuine as it should be considering my apprenticeship would be over soon. Finally.

When my phone vibrated in my pocket, I ignored it at first. I had to clean my station, throw away the gloves in the disposal and then cash in Arthur, but when it vibrated again immediately after, my frown slammed down again.

“What’s up?’’ Cam asked when I failed to answer when both men addressed me. His annoyance was clear as day, but I didn’t let it get to me. Not when my phone was silent again and started vibrating a third time in a row.

“My phone keeps ringing. I…’’

“Yeah, yeah. Answer it,’’ he cut me off with a wave and snatched the cleaning supplies from my hands. I apologized to Arthur who smiled, and I grabbed my phone from my pocket. When Jamie’s name flashed on the screen, my stomach rolled over.

“Jamie?’’ I said in a whisper as soon as my phone was to my ear.

His loud breathing and his wife’s complaint in the background gave my heart a start.

“Shit, why didn’t you answer earlier?’’

“What’s going on?’’ I blurted louder, catching Kam and Arthur’s attention and a surreptitious look from Jade and Sophie from the front desk.

“You need to get to the hospital. Aimee’s water broke. Shit!’’

“What?’’ I heard Aimee’s feeble voice ask.

“I forgot your suitcase! I forgot the fucking suitcase!’’ Jamie said and cursed at length loudly, his voice going an octave higher, something that never happened.

“Alright, you need to calm down,’’ I said and paced the main room of the tattoo parlor, weaving between the stations.

“Yeah, I know. Wait,’’ he replied with a choked voice as I heard the car’s motor get louder as he gained speed. “Julia said she got the suitcase. How did I miss it? I’m losing it, Mar. You have to come to the hospital. Now.’’

“Of course. Just… Listen, Julia needs you to stay calm. She’s the one with a watermelon-sized human she’s about to push out of her body. You’re only the one who will get a bruised hand while you try and support her through all of this. Breathe and be there for her. Got it?’’

“Got it. But hurry, Mar.’’ He hung up, but not before I heard him take a deep breath, the same way our dad had told him to when he was a wild teenager quickly riled up.

I put my phone in my jeans pocket and smiled at Kam. “That was my brother. I’m going to be an aunt.’’

“Oh shit!’’ Arthur exclaimed and then laughed cheerfully, apparently still on his baby high from his first-born last week. “Is he a mess of nerves. I was going insane when Carly went into labor. She had to be the one holding my hand.’’

I nodded and gave a quiet laugh as I walked back to Kam and Arthur. “He’s out of his mind and begged me to join them at the hospital. They’re on their way right now. I hate to do this, Kam, but—''

“Don't say more. You go. Family is the most important thing. Once you’ve welcomed that baby, you get your ass back here. Keep me posted and bid Jamie and Aimee my congratulations.’’

“Thank you,’’ I blurted and gave my mentor a spontaneous hug before waving to Arthur and quickly recounting the new development to Sophie who squealed loudly and jumped on the spot behind the front desk just as her three o’clock client arrived for a daith piercing.

“Call me!’’ she yelled after me as I dashed out with my purse in one hand and my car keys in the other.

I was about to be an aunt. A tiny human being was about to make his first appearance in the world, take his first breath and burrow his way into many people’s life before he could open his eyes. But even though this day was for celebration, there was this nagging emotion pulling me down. It stopped me from bouncing to my car. It tainted my smile and dulled the sparkles in my eyes.