exasperated.
Luke held his hands up in the air as if he had just been
caught red-handed. “Okay, fine!” He said, surrendering to his seven year old.
“Don’t forget, you’re going home with Aunt Sam today, and then I will pick you
up after work.”
“Okay, oh and it’s Friday! Pizza night!” She exclaimed
reminding him of their weekly ritual.
“It’s a date.” He confirmed with a smile as he watched
her open the door. He hesitated for a moment, wanting to get out of the car and
help her out, but stopped himself because she claimed it would be too
embarrassing. She jumped out of the car and when she landed firmly on her two
feet, Luke sighed relieved. “I love you.” He called out before she could shut
the door.
“I love you too.” She whispered before slamming the door
shut.
He ignored the car behind him that honked for him to pull
away and looked after Ava until she made her way safely into the school. The
horn honked again and with a smile he pulled away from the school.
Friday’s were usually a day full of routines for Luke,
who was he kidding, his whole life was one big routine. There wasn’t a day of
the week he didn’t have mapped out. However, Friday’s was the day he went to
his late brother’s tattoo shop. He had been delegated the responsibility so,
once a week he made his way over to the shop and checked on everything. He was
certain the shop would be up to par, it always was. When Jake had died, his
good friend and right hand at Riverdale Ink, Pete DeSantis had agreed to run
the tattoo parlor for the Lanza’s. Everyone in the family agreed that Pete was
best suited for the job. He worked beside Jake for years watching him grow his
business. It was the right decision because Pete was undyingly loyal to
Riverdale Ink and even with its owners passing the business was still striving.
Luke pulled up into the spot in front of Riverdale Ink.
It was still early and the shop didn’t open until noon, but Pete would be there
for Luke’s and his weekly meeting. He stepped inside the place and like every
time before something inside of him ached. The bell chimed letting his presence
be known as he glanced around, noticing everything was just as Jake had wanted. Not a thing was altered, except he wasn’t in
the first booth wiggling his eyebrows at the first person who walked through
the door. He made his way towards Jake’s station, it was clear to see no one
had used any of his equipment. On the counter sat some of the sketches that Jake
had been working on, and on top of the pile sat the drawing Jake had tattooed
to his chest. There was no mistaking the beautiful women staring back at him in
the form of black and white. She was the woman who haunted his dreams. Luke
lifted the piece of paper, realizing he was probably the first person to ever
touch anything in his brother’s area since his passing. How fitting, he
thought, as he stared down at the drawing of Cara.
“He was one talented son of a bitch.” Luke heard Pete say
from behind and quickly placed the sketch back in its rightful spot. “I still
can remember how he pleaded with me to make sure when I inked him I captured
her just as he drew her.”
Luke turned around to face Pete, who stood just outside
of the cubicle. “My brother was a perfectionist when it came to his work.”
Pete nodded in agreement as Luke stepped out of Jake’s
station and they walked towards the lounge area in the front of the shop. There
was no office in the shop because there was no need for formalities Jake had figured.
They each took a seat on the black leather couches.
“We had a decent week.” Pete said, handing Luke a manila
envelope. “The spreadsheets are all in there, along with the credit