Jack

It’s been years since I watched the girl of my dreams take her last breath. I’ve spent every day since hunting down every enemy I could find overseas before finally heading home. The two medals I received pale in comparison to what I was really after. Every life I took I hoped it would somehow bring hers back, but reality caught up to me in the end.

The day I got home, Mom was over the moon. I tried to play it cool but no way my best friend was going to let me get away with it. Ryder was always the mushy kind. The kind of friend that made it ok to cry sometimes. Like when my dog died in ninth grade. I tried to act tough, but Ryder found me up in our treehouse and said he wasn’t leaving until I let it all out. That was the day I knew Ryder would always have my back. Unfortunately, the past few years even he couldn’t get me to let go of the pain. Today’s the first time since then that he hasn’t hesitated before smiling his big goofy grin at me. He knows I’m still having a rough time. I’ve told him so in my letters. This time he rushes up for a hug anyways. I had been home on leave before, but I shut everyone out each time. I decided this time would be different. It was time to let the past go and find a new purpose.

It seems like just yesterday I was strapping on my gear, getting ready to head out for another day of war. I never thought the nightmare would end. I never thought I’d wakeup again with a smile on my face. Yesterday I became co-owner of Relic Tattoos and today is my first day running the show without my best friend. He fell in love with our former receptionist, Sadie, and now they’re somewhere in Bali celebrating their honeymoon. I couldn’t be happier for them and their little girl, Ivy. She’s my other best friend and the best niece a guy could hope for. She just started preschool and I get the pleasure of getting her up and there on time the whole week. It’ll be interesting to say the least.

I woke up fifteen minutes early thinking that would give me enough time to get Ivy ready. I was wrong…very wrong. First of all, no one mentioned the crazy hair she wakes up with or that the struggle to untangle her cute little red curls would make her slightly less adorable. Somewhere between her juice spotted dress and my coffee-stained shirt we managed to make it out of the house fully dressed. Luckily Ryder pre-installed her seat into my car because we’d never made it anywhere otherwise. By the time I got her dropped off I was an hour late opening the shop and there were three clients patiently waiting. Ryder, or rather, we have the only tattoo shop in town so waiting was pretty much the only option. The fact that people in this town are all so friendly is why they waited patiently. Nevertheless, this was not a good start to my first day as co-owner.

Around 11, I got a call from Ivy’s school. After everything I forgot about her lunch. So, I close the shop for lunch and bring her a kid’s meal from the nearest drive thru. “Jack Jack”, she screams as she runs down the hall. “Are you having lunch with me?” “Well, I guess I am, Ladybug.” We sit down at a tiny table in the lunchroom and although I tend to look big in most chairs, this is ridiculous. I feel like a clown. The look on my little bestie’s face is totally worth it though. A couple minutes later I hear a voice behind me. “Excuse me. I thought you might prefer this chair.” I stand and turn to face her. She takes a small step back either intimidated by my size, my tattoo covered skin, or both. I’m not surprised. I look like someone who just got out of prison rather than the army. But then she looks up and smiles. I never thought a simple smile could make my heart beat again but there it was. I realize I’m staring and look away. “Ooh Uncle Jack this is my teacher Ms. Katy.” “Ms. Katy can you have lunch with us?” “Actually, it’s almost the end of lunch but you and your uncle can finish up if he doesn’t mind walking you to class.” Ivy turns to me and gives me the puppy eyes. “Well what kind of man would I be to say no to that face.” I squeeze her little cheek and she giggles. After she finishes eating, Ivy leads me down to her classroom. As I quietly open the door. I hear her teacher reading to the class. I bend down and hug Ivy goodbye then she skips over to her spot on the carpet. Before I can turn to leave, I’m again mesmerized. I catch myself though and then with a shake of my head I’m out the door.