Chapter Two
“WhatamIgoing to do about this?”
I hold my hand out to my friend. I got my ring finger tattooed with a diamond a year after we got married. I always thought I wanted an amazing engagement and wedding band, but after a year of stabbing myself, snagging on things and almost losing it, I decided to put the set somewhere safe and get a tattoo instead.
“It’s cute. Do you really think people are going to assume you got it as a wedding ring?”
“Probably not, but I know what the meaning of it is.”
I look down at my hand, cursing myself for getting it in the first place. What was I thinking? Tattoos aren’t new to me. I have thirty of them, but I’ll never get one so meaningful again.
“Can’t you go back to the guy who did it?”
“That was years ago and in a different state.”
“What about whoever did the others?”
“He’s Rick’s best friend.”
“Oh, yeah. That probably won’t work.”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, then I’ll take you to my guy.”
” Is he good?”
“Yes, he’s good. He’s done all of mine.”
“Can you make me an appointment for me?”
“I’ll text him right now!”
“Thank you, Kelly. I’m going to head upstairs. I’m exhausted.”
“Okay, I’ll let you know what he says,” she says, and I give her a nod.
I go up to my new room. It’s the complete opposite of mine. I tend to lean towards darker colors. Reds and black. My new room is white and gray. I instantly feel out of place when I walk in.
I’m not sure how long it will take me to get on my feet. I only work a part-time job at the local diner, and that pays minimum wage. I won’t be able to afford my own place right away.
A friend of mine told me I can deliver food. She does it whenever she wants a little extra fun money, but it can be a steady income. I guess the average pay is like twenty dollars an hour, which is almost double what I make now.
I’m not sure about handling other people’s food, though. And I would have to go the to the bigger city. What if I get lost, and I can’t find an address or I drop something? What if my car breaks down, and I have people’s food with me? What if I can’t even find the place they ordered food from?
I can’t think about it anymore tonight. I knew this was coming. Every time I got my tarto cards read and made my intentions clear about what I wanted to know, they always told me the same thing. Big change. And if this isn’t a big change, then I don’t know what the cards were referring to.
I will say, though, I am glad we never had kids together. I can’t imagine the strain this puts on a family. It’s bad enough I had to leave my two cats, my books, and my plants behind. All my creature comforts. Maybe I can get a shelf to put in here and bring my plants over. I need something steady in my life right now, and I know I can keep them alive and maybe even propagate some and start new growth.
Afterthreedaysof lying around––only getting up to go to work, shower, and eat what little I can––I decide it’s time to tell my mom. She has been texting me, and I’ve been giving her short, sweet answers. Letting her think everything is okay. That I’m just busy with work.
“Good morning, Hun,” Kelly says to me as I come downstairs. “I made waffles. You want some?”
“I would love some.” My smile spreads across my face. I let the smell of syrup invade my senses.
“You seem to have a little spunk in your voice this morning. Any plans?”
“I’m going to talk to my mom.”