“Yep,” I swipe a pepper from the salad before she sets it down. “Uncle Corey let me leave before my shift was up because we were slow.”
“Well,” she replies. “That’s nice of him.”
I know she loves Corey, but she doesn’t agree with him helping me fulfill my dreams. I think deep down she blames him for my love of tattoos. Even if I hadn’t spent my time at the shop as a child, I think I still would have loved them.
“Mh-hm,” I mumble, and quickly change the subject. “How have you and Dad been?”
She smiles with a little twinkle in her eye. I know they miss having me home, but I also know they are enjoying every second of being empty nesters. “Great.” She says. “My garden is finally starting to produce some vegetables. I actually have some to send home with you.”
“That’s awesome,” I exclaim. “Though, I don’t know why you worry. You’ve always been able to grow anything.”
She shrugs. “True, but it seems like summer is starting earlier every year and it ends up killing off my plants.”
It’s the price of living in Texas. I’ve never lived anywhere else, but geez…the weather could be a little more consistent.
“Where’s Dad?” I ask. “He’s usually in here as soon as the food is on the table.”
“He’s cleaning off the grill,” she rolls her eyes. “He is obsessed with keeping that thing clean.”
“Ah.” I shouldn’t be surprised. “Speaking of the devil.” I point toward Dad just walked in from the backyard.
“Only good things, I hope.” He walks straight toward me and wraps me up in a hug. “How are you, sweetheart?”
“I’m good.” I murmur into his shoulder, trying not to grimace at the slight dampness of his shirt from sweat.
I pull back and take a look at him. He seems more at ease than I’ve ever seen him. Alone time seems to be doing him and Mom some good.
“Can we eat now?” I ask. “Smelling all this food is making me hungry.”
Dad goes around and pulls Mom’s chair out for her. Chivalry isn’t dead. At least, not in this household. Seeing them still very much in love gives me hope that one day, when I’m ready, I’ll have someone to do the same things for me.
We pile food on our plates and I don’t even wait to dig in. The potatoes are the first thing on my agenda. I take a bit and nearly moan. They are soft but slightly crisp all at the same time. I taste a hint of basil. “Wow, Mom. These are really good.”
She grins, “Thanks. I’ve been on the computer looking for recipes.” I can tell she’s really excited about this. “I got this one from The Pioneer Woman.”
“It’s definitely a winner,” I shovel more in my mouth. “I want these every day.”
I’ve already cleared half my plate when I see Mom not so subtly signaling Dad. Uh oh, I guess they figure now is the time to harp on me for whatever reason.
“Charleigh,” Dad begins, waiting for me to look up. “Your mom and I have been talking. And, while we fully support you following your dream at the tattoo shop, we really think you should go back to school.”
They haven’t brought this up in a long time. Why now? I’ve finally done my first tattoo, and hope I’ll be doing more soon.
“I can’t do both,” I respond. “I told y’all that when I decided to take this path. It was too hard trying to get in all my hours as an apprentice and keep up with my schoolwork.”
“We know, honey,” Mom interjects. “But, it’s been two years and you still aren’t doing any tattoos.” Sighing, she continues. “We just don’t want you to keep down this road if it isn’t going to be a lucrative career for you.”
“That’s not true,” I argue. “I did a tattoo last weekend.”
“That’s one in two years, Charleigh,” Mom says feeling like she’s made a point.
“But, IknowUncle Corey is going to give me more clients. I can feel it in my gut.” I hear the whine creep into my voice, and I don’t want to sound like a bratty child. But…this is my dream. This is what I’ve worked so hard for the past couple of years. “It just takes time, like any other trade.”
Dad nods accepting the last part of my argument, at least. He steps in before Mom and I get into a fight about it again. “At least think about it.”
I nod. There’s nothing else I can do. I don’t want to disappoint them, but I’m not giving up who I am or what I want to appease them.
* * *