Page 17 of Time for Change

BJ holds my gaze for a few seconds before returning her attention to my wrist. We remain silent as she completes her work, adding just a touch of shadow to the sunshine to give it more depth than the moon. It looks as if its literally rising off my arm.

“What do you think?” BJ asks, sitting up and wiping it off.

Tears fill my eyes once more. “It’s better than I could have imagined.”

She smiles widely. “Well, you had a great design to start with. I just completed your vision.”

All I can do is stare at it. It’s truly a beautiful piece of art, and I can’t believe it’s mine.

“I’ll get it wrapped up, but first, do you mind if I take a picture for our social media pages?”

“Uhh.” I find myself hesitating. Not that my mom or anyone from my old life is looking for me, but I don’t want them to find me because of a tattoo.

“It would just be of your wrist,” she starts, sitting up and stretching her back. “But if you’d rather not, that’s fine too. Amanda keeps our social media presence active, so she’s always posting pictures of pieces we’ve done.”

Well, that doesn’t sound so bad. “Sure, I don’t mind.”

BJ grins, pulling her phone from the back pocket of her jeans and snapping a few pictures of my new ink. “I’ll send these to Amanda after I’m done wrapping you up.”

She spends the next few minutes going over care instructions, telling me Amanda will have a printed copy for me when I check out up front. She lifts the armrest on the chair for me and takes a step back while I stand up for the first time.

“Stevie. That’s such a unique name. You don’t hear that too much for females.”

I can’t help but snort. “It was terrible growing up. Everyone teased me,” I tell her.

She grins and shakes her head. “Yeah? You should try Billie Jean. By my freshman year, I was a walking sexual reference that made everyone giggle.”

“Ugh, I’m sorry,” I reply, trying not to laugh but failing. “Billie Jean, as in…”

“Yep. Dear ol’ Mom was an MJ fan. Let me guess? Nicks?”

“Uh huh. My earliest memories included the songs ‘Landslide’ and ‘Rhiannon’ on repeat.” I leave out the part about watching my mom do drugs on the kitchen table while the music was playing.

BJ snorts. “I guess it could have been worse. You could have been named Madonna or Cher.”

A bubble of laughter flies from my mouth, and I realize I’m truly enjoying myself. “True.”

Just as she goes to say something, her cell phone rings. BJ glances at the screen, and asks, “Do you mind if I answer this quickly?”

“Of course not,” I insist, turning my attention to the photographs on her wall while she takes the call.

“Hello?” I hear her answer. “Just finishing up with a client.” There’s a brief pause. “It’s probably in the closet in his room.” Another pause. “Okay, good,” she replies with a laugh. “We would have to call out for a search party.” Pause. “No, it’s fine. I’m almost done here, so I’ll be home soon.” Pause. “Love you too.”

She hangs up the phone, and despite me trying not to listen to her conversation, it’s hard when you’re the only two people in the room.

“Sorry about that. My husband couldn’t find our youngest son’s favorite stuffed animal. Ever since he started walking a few weeks ago, he hides his dinosaur on his shoe rack by his dino slippers,” BJ says with a little laugh.

“Aww, how old is he?” I ask, truly interested in hearing more about her life and ignoring the longing I feel welling in my chest.

“Just turned one on Monday, and his older brother is six and such a bossy little thing.”

There’s a smile on my lips, and I know I should probably go so she can head home to her family. I reach for my bag and slip it onto my shoulder. “Well, thank you. I love my tattoo.”

“I’m glad,” she replies, pushing her small cart to the side so it’s out of the way. “Happy to do your first piece, and just think of me when you’re ready for a second.” She sends me a wink as we step into the small hallway and return to the front room.

“I’ve heard they’re addictive,” I find myself saying as we step up to where Amanda and a tattoo-covered man are waiting.

Everyone laughs as the large, handsome man smirks and says, “We’d be out of business if it wasn’t.”

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