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44
BRYNN
Brynn scanned the photographs of tattoos on the wall in the small room at Squid Ink as the tattooist and professional piercer, Cleo, finished up with Dani’s ears.
“Any fun plans for the holidays?” Cleo asked, adding the back to Dani’s last earring.
“We’re celebrating tonight with my stepdad and Yaya,” Dani informed her.
“I always preferred celebrating on Christmas Eve myself too.” Cleo smiled warmly. Her arms were covered in intricate tattoos with bursts of colors. Her fingers had little designs inked into her flesh. Her earlobes were stretched over large round pink discs. Dani had asked her about them, and she’d explained they were gauged. She had several other piercings in her ears, one in her nose, and every time she spoke, a glint of metal sparkled from her tongue.
Brynn was utterly fascinated by the woman with bright turquoise hair. To her, Cleo embodied a sense of freedom and confidence Brynn could only hope to possess one day. Being different than the norm was sure to garner looks and comments, or prejudgment from people. And to see someone embrace the truest expression of themselves bolstered Brynn’s spirit and fed her determination.
“I noticed you’ve done some work over scars.” Brynn pointed to the before and after photo on the wall of someone’s arm with several thin white lines.
Cleo’s eyes flicked from the picture to Brynn. “Yes. A lot of scar work depends on how fresh they are, or how deep the scar tissue goes.”
Dani’s eyes darted to the mirror Cleo held out to her. “I love them! It’s perfect. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” Cleo cleaned up her workspace as Dani slid off the chair.
Brynn looked closer at her daughter’s new piercings. “They look gorgeous.”
Dani hugged her. “I can’t wait to show Yaya. I’ll be in the waiting room with her, okay, Mom?”
“Alright.”
Dani darted out of the room towards the black leather couches where they’d first walked in.
“Did you have something you wanted covered up?” Cleo asked.
Brynn hesitated. A tattoo was permanent. And it would probably hurt. But if she could take her scars and make them into something that reminded her of how she’d survived rather than the traumatic event itself, to help her see the positive, then it would be worth it. The fact that a tattoo was one more “fuck you” to the Livingston clan was just a bonus.
She turned to Cleo, her shoulders straight and her chin held high. “Actually, yes.”
Later that evening, Brynn curled next to the fireplace with a cup of hot mulled cider with a dash of apple pie moonshine splashed in that Iris had insisted she try. Her belly warmed with each sip. Christmas music played softly through the speakers as the scent of their dinner wafted in the air, mixed with a hint of pine and the cinnamon and sugar cookies they’d baked earlier. Fat snowflakes flew down from the cloudy sky so thick it was like peering into a snow globe. Sparkling lights flickered from the tree they’d decorated together weeks ago with many presents stacked underneath it.
Would Aaron like his gift?
He sat beside her, his back to the couch before he wrapped his arm around her and tugged her closer, kissing her cheek. “Hey, beautiful. How are you doing?”
Dani and Iris’s laughter filtered in from the kitchen.
“I’m doing great. Looks like we’re getting a lot of snow. Do you think we’ll be able to get out of here in the morning?”
“Yeah. I have someone coming first thing to plow the driveway. It’s supposed to stop falling by midnight. The fresh powder will be great for sledding.”
“I’ve never been.”
“Well, we’ll remedy that tomorrow.”
His hand rubbed up and down her arm as she leaned against him. “You sure you’re okay spending Christmas at Hope? I know I asked, but if it’s important for you to stay here—”
She laid her hand on his thigh and gently squeezed. “It’s more than okay.” She pulled back to face him. “That place gave Dani exactly what she needed when we had nowhere else to go. Just like it gives all those teens a safe place. It’s more than a facility. It’s a family. It’s our family. I wouldn’t want to spend Christmas anywhere else.”
He leaned in and kissed her gently. “I love how much you get me.”
“I could say the same.”
