when we walk through the glass doors. She’s in her early fifties with graying brown hair and an ample bosom. She’s small and round with wide hips that she says bore her six children. She always has a smile and a hug for me, saying that I remind her of a young version of her late husband who lost his life over in Iraq, fighting for our country.
She wraps her arms around me as I lean down to give her a hug. Then she touches the side of my head lightly, where I’ve allowed my undercut to grow through enough to conceal the tatts on my skull, and she smiles as I start to roll down the sleeves of my dress shirt. Normally, I wouldn’t hide any of my tattoos from anyone. I’m proud of my profession, and the art I have on my body. And when Grams recognizes me, she’s always interested in talking about my art. But when she doesn’t, the tattoos can scare her, and that’s the last thing I want.
Avery stands by and eyes me curiously as I secure the cuffs around wrists, and Katie brushes out the creases on my shirt. “Perfect,” she says with a smile. Then she turns to Avery with an even bigger smile, and I can see her eyes take in the vibrant color of her hair, the piercing light blue of her eyes and the smooth perfection of her skin. Avery’s presence seems to affect everyone, but Avery seems completely oblivious to it.
“And who is this?” Katie asks, her eyes leaving Avery to return to me. “You’ve brought a girl with you? You have never brought a girl. Is this serious? Should I buy a new dress?”
I laugh and shake my head as Avery does the same. “This is Rusty,” I start before correcting myself, calling her Rusty has become a habit of late. “I mean, Avery. She’s Josh’s girl – remember I told you they were coming to stay with me?”
Her mouth forms an O shape. “Of course. I’m sorry, you just look so lovely together, I just assumed,” she says. “But you know what they say about assuming.” She laughs it off and Avery tells her it’s fine. I slip my arm around Avery’s waist again, telling Katie we’d see her on our way out, and I guide Avery toward my grandmother’s room.
“Grams?” I say quietly, as I push open the door and peer inside. She’s sitting by the window staring out – which isn’t a good sign. When she looks over at me, her face is blank for a moment before recognition dawns.
“Henry!” she breathes, holding out her hands for me to go to her (Henry is my uncle. I never got to meet him, but I’ve always been told I resemble him. He died in a hit and run car accident before I was even born).
A slight pang of disappoint hits me in the chest, before I smile at her and give her what she needs. “Hi mom,” I say, my hand shifting from Avery’s waist to her hand as I pull her gently into the room.
As I lean down to hug her, she looks at Avery and her eyes light up. “Oh! And you brought Natasha.” (I actually have no idea who Natasha is, but I nod and continue on.)
“How are you?” I ask her, pulling out a seat from the small table for Avery to sit on before grabbing one for myself.
“Oh, I’m fine. But they won’t let me walk to the store so I can buy supplies to make your graduation cake. I know how much you like cake. And Natasha, I was going to make chocolate cake – that’s your favorite too, right?”
Avery smiles and nods, then tightens her grip around my hand, reassuringly. “Yes. That is definitely my favorite,” she says, before engaging Grams into a brief conversation about finals and her plans for college. But I don’t really hear too much. I’m too busy looking at our entwined hands. I didn’t even realize I took a hold of her hand again…
She’s Josh’s girl…
Chapter 11
Avery
Dylan is really quiet on the drive back home, and I worry for him. It can’t be easy seeing someone you love and having them not recognize you.
“Your Grams is really nice, Dylan,” I say, turning to look at him as he focuses on the road.
He
She wraps her arms around me as I lean down to give her a hug. Then she touches the side of my head lightly, where I’ve allowed my undercut to grow through enough to conceal the tatts on my skull, and she smiles as I start to roll down the sleeves of my dress shirt. Normally, I wouldn’t hide any of my tattoos from anyone. I’m proud of my profession, and the art I have on my body. And when Grams recognizes me, she’s always interested in talking about my art. But when she doesn’t, the tattoos can scare her, and that’s the last thing I want.
Avery stands by and eyes me curiously as I secure the cuffs around wrists, and Katie brushes out the creases on my shirt. “Perfect,” she says with a smile. Then she turns to Avery with an even bigger smile, and I can see her eyes take in the vibrant color of her hair, the piercing light blue of her eyes and the smooth perfection of her skin. Avery’s presence seems to affect everyone, but Avery seems completely oblivious to it.
“And who is this?” Katie asks, her eyes leaving Avery to return to me. “You’ve brought a girl with you? You have never brought a girl. Is this serious? Should I buy a new dress?”
I laugh and shake my head as Avery does the same. “This is Rusty,” I start before correcting myself, calling her Rusty has become a habit of late. “I mean, Avery. She’s Josh’s girl – remember I told you they were coming to stay with me?”
Her mouth forms an O shape. “Of course. I’m sorry, you just look so lovely together, I just assumed,” she says. “But you know what they say about assuming.” She laughs it off and Avery tells her it’s fine. I slip my arm around Avery’s waist again, telling Katie we’d see her on our way out, and I guide Avery toward my grandmother’s room.
“Grams?” I say quietly, as I push open the door and peer inside. She’s sitting by the window staring out – which isn’t a good sign. When she looks over at me, her face is blank for a moment before recognition dawns.
“Henry!” she breathes, holding out her hands for me to go to her (Henry is my uncle. I never got to meet him, but I’ve always been told I resemble him. He died in a hit and run car accident before I was even born).
A slight pang of disappoint hits me in the chest, before I smile at her and give her what she needs. “Hi mom,” I say, my hand shifting from Avery’s waist to her hand as I pull her gently into the room.
As I lean down to hug her, she looks at Avery and her eyes light up. “Oh! And you brought Natasha.” (I actually have no idea who Natasha is, but I nod and continue on.)
“How are you?” I ask her, pulling out a seat from the small table for Avery to sit on before grabbing one for myself.
“Oh, I’m fine. But they won’t let me walk to the store so I can buy supplies to make your graduation cake. I know how much you like cake. And Natasha, I was going to make chocolate cake – that’s your favorite too, right?”
Avery smiles and nods, then tightens her grip around my hand, reassuringly. “Yes. That is definitely my favorite,” she says, before engaging Grams into a brief conversation about finals and her plans for college. But I don’t really hear too much. I’m too busy looking at our entwined hands. I didn’t even realize I took a hold of her hand again…
She’s Josh’s girl…
Chapter 11
Avery
Dylan is really quiet on the drive back home, and I worry for him. It can’t be easy seeing someone you love and having them not recognize you.
“Your Grams is really nice, Dylan,” I say, turning to look at him as he focuses on the road.
He
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