I shudder thinking of the rage in his eyes the night he’d learned about my father. “No, I really don’t.” Then I remember the sex and the no falters for a minute.
Once inside the car, we crank the AC/DC and I’m transported to our high school years as we sing at the top our lungs with Bolton trailing us. We pull into the crowded lot and I can’t keep the smile off my face. I love helping with festivals. Kids have a special brand of magic. Everything is so new and exciting to them. I love doing volunteer work that involves those under the age of twelve. I hook my arm in Blue’s and lead her over to the heart of the festival where the booths are set up. I know the drill with tails. You ignore them so they can blend in.
“You brought back up, that’s smart, ‘cause she is on a warpath,” Rochelle whispers.
“Well, hello to you too, Sunshine,” I say.
“I’m serious. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her like this. You’d think you made a deal with the devil the way she carries on about your ruin and saving you.”
“Like I said. Carrie,” Blue quips.
“Shut it. What did you say back?”
“That it was your life, and you weren’t doing anything wrong. She told me I was too young to remember the damage they could inflict. This feels so personal. I’m half tempted to call up Dad.”
I cringe “I didn’t hear you say that.”
“There’s two sides to every story. Maybe it’s time we hear his.”
“I saw it,” I whisper.
“Through the eyes of a child too young to catch everything,” Rochelle replies.
“I can’t have any part of that.”
She frowns. “He’s our father.”
“My loyalty lies with the club.”
Rochelle nibbles the inside of her cheek. “Really?”
“There’s no half in and half out, Roch.”
“I guess not. Think on it anyway. Maybe talk it through with Skull. I need to head out. Rowan has a play date in a bit here.”
“Give my baby girl kisses from me.”
“I will. Mom is on her lunchbreak, but she’s working the ticket booth across the ways.”
“I’ll be fine. I brought Blue here with me.”
“I love being that middle child who runs interference,” Blue says.
“Have fun, ladies.” Rochelle gives us quick hugs, grabs her pure, and disappears into the crowd.
“Did she seem a little off to you?” I ask.
“Yeah, but the situation is heavy. That does different things to different folks.”
“I hope you’re right.” I shake my head to clear it. “Let’s get set up, munchkins will be pouring in wanting to get some ink soon.”
“Oh, are we opening up Ruthie’s Tat shop?”
“Oh yes, were you can get très chic master pieces.” I give her a crash course in the airbrush with stencils and we get out first customers trickling in. We started a steady flow as the festival traffic picked up, and my nerves disappeared.
“How much for a face tattoo?”
The voice makes my blood run cold.