Page 18 of Dance in the Light
“What? Oh, my tat? Do you like it? I designed it myself.”
“How’d you get a tattoo artist to agree to do this to you? You’re not eighteen yet.”
“Close enough.” She shrugged, skirting around the answer. “I provide my artwork to a parlor in trade for the tats.”
“Tats—as in plural? Gabby, I knew you were an artist, but I didn’t realize it extended to your body.”
“Got something against tattoos?”
“No. I don’t. It just came as a shock.” Great, now I could add worries about my two younger siblings to the top of my list.“It’sbeautiful, really. With your talent, I hope you’re applying to art schools for college.”
“Oh, I’m not going to college. Here, tie the straps in back.” She pointed to the minuscule threads of the backless garment with one hand, while holding it up to her chest in front.
I obliged and suddenly realized the full fears and worries our parents must have possessed about us. “Then what will you do, stay in this small town and continue to work at the ice cream cone factory?”
“Well, Levi has offered me a position at the tattoo parlor as soon as I turn eighteen, so—” she yelped. I might have pulled the threads too tight.
“Levi? I think Ryan and I should meet him. And could you really see yourself sticking people with needles all day? No, thank you.”
“No, I’d be the artist in residence there. I could never do the actual application. Oh my gosh,” she exclaimed, turning around in the mirror to view the halter. “I love this. It’s mine. Let’s dig into the rest of the closet and see what we find.”
I couldn't believe how my baby sister had almost grown up. But with no parents around, Marcie living in Boston, and how busy Megan and Robbie were with their kids, who was looking after Gabby and Daphne?
If I lived here, the two girls could stay with me, and I could watch over them. My next breath caught in my throat. What was I saying?
Was this another sign? More reasons to stay? Despite my vow to Mom to leave this small town and never come back, with every day that passed, and with each kiss from Ryan, I was findingmy heart leaving New York City, mile by mile, and tracking right here to Glendale Falls.
THIRTEEN
AFFAIRS OF THE HEART
CINDY
Ryan finally repaired my car, even though I didn't complain about how long it took. It turned out, in this small town, I didn’t need a car much to get around. And Ryan seemed always glad of any reason to drive me here and there as needed.
It was a joke between us he’d drug his feet on the repairs, just in case I decided to leave town again. “No car, no leaving,” he’d whisper while kissing that sensitive spot he was an expert at finding under my earlobe.
I’d laugh with him, and only a tiny part of me worried, like a wild animal whose freedom was being stripped away bit by bit.
I quickly put those thoughts aside, though, as the Hale house clean up was coming along, almost restored to its previous farmhouse beauty, and maybe a tad better. Through the bathroom repairs, Ryan talked Kevin into letting him expand it, stealing more room from Marcie’s old bedroom closet.
Mom would have liked the little improvements, I believed, although daily I squashed any notions of also ripping out the walls between the kitchen, dining and living rooms to make amore open, inviting space. It wasn’t really my house, after all; I lived here on borrowed time.
Kevin Kerrigan allowed me to live here rent-free for a few months, so that meant my savings remained intact. I could probably talk him into letting me live here a few more months beyond that even. At some point, though, I’d need to think about a more permanent solution for my life. Like next steps for my career, where to live . . .
For now, Ryan and I were having too much fun with each other again, as if we’d turned back the clock hands and pretended New York City and my time there never existed.
Yes, finally I could admit how much Ryan had found his way deep into my heart—where he’d been living the entire time, anyway. We just hadn’t talked openly yet about things like hearts and souls and forever.
When Gabby dropped me off at Ryan’s auto shop to pick up my car, I found him swaying inside with Rose in his arms. The view of him with a baby was another reason for staying. More and more, I fantasized he might be the father to my child one day.
He hadn’t heard me come in behind him. With ruby cheeks and half-closed eyes, Rose’s body hung limp on him and didn’t appear well.
Ryan juggled her while listening to the police scanner.
“All units, please be advised there’s a big accident on the highway. Fire crews and ambulances have been called. Tow trucks needed as well.”
“Shit,” he muttered.
