Bernice nodded, and he exited the room. Lucy smiled at him from her seat, red pen in hand as she searched the rentals section of the local newspaper. Bernice called out a few moments later, and he reentered the room. Bernice’s jaw was set in grim determination as Seth picked up the nontoxic permanent marker and took his seat on the stool. It was no big deal for him to be in a room with body parts exposed, but he knew it was difficult for Bernice and definitely for her husband. He placed an open binder in front of Hugh on the end of the table and indicated the photos of nipples he’d tattooed in the past.
“Hugh, tell me which is closest to the colors you’re used to. I can adjust them if need be. Bernice already decided on a semipuckered appearance and wanted to leave the color selection to you, since you’d be seeing them on a regular basis.”
While Hugh peered at the book, Seth worked on marking the placement for the nipples, drawing the points of the compass on her exposed flesh. “I have a marksman’s sniper grid on my boobs,” Bernice noted with a chuckle.
Seth winked at her and said, “I’ll be right back.”
Without further comment, he left the room to give them time to breathe and for Hugh to have a private moment with her to determine if the placement was right for him as well as her. Bernice had appreciated it during the consultation when he’d mentioned that he would do that. The whole point was for her to reclaim that womanly part of her that had been lost, and this was one more step toward healing. She still had chemo to get through, and recapturing some of what she’d lost in surgery would go a long way toward healing and beating cancer.
He hoped that, although Jayne hadn’t struggled with breast cancer, that at some point in the years during which she’d battled with Hodgkin’s lymphoma that she’d encountered technicians and medical professionals that had done what they could to help her preserve her dignity and help her feel like she’d been more than just another appointment to them.
Bernice’s cheeks were rosy, and she seemed happier and more relaxed when he returned five minutes later. Hugh appeared more relaxed, too, and not as uncomfortable with Seth in the room with her topless. His smile for his wife was loving and genuine. After a minor adjustment to the placement, he got her comfortable on the table and began the work as the rock music played in the background.
Two hours later, Bernice and Hugh Collins walked out of Seth’s workroom, paid the bill, and stepped out into the August sunshine. It might have seemed like a minor thing, two small tattoos, but as he glanced up and witnessed Hugh gently embracing and kissing his wife right there on a downtown Divine sidewalk, Seth knew it was momentous to them.
“You’re a pretty great guy.”
Gazing out the window, he replied, “Why do you say that?”
“Because that hardly looks like the same woman who walked through that door just a few hours ago. You’re like…hero material or something.”
Scoffing and rolling his eyes, Seth peered over her shoulder at all the circles on the classified section of the newspaper. “You find a place to live yet?”
“Ready to get rid of your roommate?”
“No, but she enjoys beating on walls in the middle of the night,” he replied, poking her ribs and making her jump from the stool to avoid more tickling.
“Keep it up, moron. I’m telling Mom.”
Jayne could hear her phone ringing from inside her purse on Seth’s kitchen counter. She hurriedly dried her hands and reached for it.
“Hello?”
Lucy’s voice came over the line. Judging from the background noise, she must’ve been driving. “Hey, just checking to see if you got in the house okay.”
“Thanks for leaving the key under the potted plant for me. Are you sure you don’t want to join us for supper? I’m making more than enough.” She’d planned to surprise Seth and Lucy with supper that evening and had called Seth’s sister to find out what he liked and if she’d leave the house key where she could find it.
“Nah, I have rentals to check out this evening, so I can—you know—
sleep
at night.”
A gleefully wicked giggle bubbled up inside Jayne. Seth had been right. Lucy hadn’t given her a hard time about the previous night’s pyrotechnics, but she’d overheard Lucy teasing the hell out of Seth when she’d turned off the shower that morning. “I’m glad you like Divine enough to move here. Sorry for your disrupted sleep.”
“Don’t worry about it. I love giving Seth a hard time about it. I’m glad to see him so happy and…settled. He’s smiled more since he’s met you than he has in the last three years combined. You’ve been good for him.”
“Thanks. I could say the same thing about him. Good luck apartment hunting.”
“Seth just left the studio so you should see him in less than five minutes.”
After ending the call, Jayne went back to washing the green leaf lettuce for a salad to go with the lasagna she’d made. She was removing the pan and turning off the oven when the doorbell rang. She ran for the door, ready to jump Seth the moment she saw him, wondering what he’d done with his house key.
She yanked open the door. “Did you—”
The words stuck in her throat and turned to ash as she came face-to-face with one of the most ethereally beautiful women she’d ever seen. She was every catwalk model’s ideal. At least six feet tall, long, board-straight black hair, and darkly lined gray-blue eyes. Her lips were full and pouty, her coloring and facial structure dramatic, probably from Nordic roots. Her skin tone was a light olive, the kind of skin Jayne had always envied because it tanned so easily. She was clad casually, but had on extremely high and probably very expensive heels, which may have accounted for her height. The brunette eyed her up and down, and then her face relaxed into the barest hint of a scowl, her lip almost curling.
On her hip sat a baby, who was twisting around, looking behind the woman and making cooing sounds. At that point, Jayne noticed the woman’s arms, which were sleeved in tattoos nearly identical to Seth’s. A painfully cold chill swept over her skin and tightened the muscles in her shoulders and neck until she was sure she’d have a headache later. If this woman had stood side by side with Seth, they would’ve been bookends.
Just then, the black-haired baby, a boy, judging by his clothing, turned and made eye contact with Jayne. Piercing blue eyes, black arching brows, and high cheekbones. The mirror image of Seth. Seth’s son. He gurgled and grinned, then glanced at the woman and grew still. Wary.
“Is Seth at home?” Her accent was definitely Texan, but she spoke with a frosty air that hinted at education in a loftier environment. “I need to speak with him privately.” Emphasis on the last word as though making sure Jayne understood. A cab waited at the curb.
“No, but he should be here any moment.”
The throaty roar of Seth’s Harley sounded from up the block, and Jayne wasn’t sure if she was relieved or not. Knowing a small piece of their history, Jayne couldn’t find it in her heart to correct her lapse in not inviting Tamar into Seth’s house.
Tamar turned at the sound, but the baby, who appeared to be about a year old, kept his gaze on Jayne. He seemed to be eyeing her hair and then he smiled at her. Her face was frozen, or she might’ve returned his smile. As if she were listening through a tunnel, over the sound of her own breathing, she could hear the rhythmic thud of Seth’s boots on the hot cement drive. He came around to the front walk and froze when he looked up and saw Tamar on his doorstep.
Regally, she turned to him and sighed. “Can I come in please? We need to talk.”
No “Hello,” no “Surprise!” Instant hatred for Tamar ripped through Jayne as she took in the utter, complete shock on Seth’s face when he looked from Tamar to the baby. She watched as he grew even paler. He had no idea. Seth shifted his gaze beyond them and made eye contact with Jayne. The pleading in his eyes touched her heart. She didn’t know what Tamar was up to, but she was sure that Seth was just as surprised as she was.
Breaking the spell, Tamar stamped one elegantly shod foot. “Hello! Visitor on your doorstep!”
Jayne started as though she’d been shocked, turned, and walked like an automaton to the kitchen counter. Tamar followed her in and stood in the entryway as Seth passed her. Jayne placed her phone in her purse and searched for her keys with trembling hands. Before she made a fool out of herself, she had to get out of there. She wanted to gouge Tamar’s eyes out for doing that to Seth.
Seth’s hand was tentative on her lower back as he whispered, “I didn’t know she was coming, Jayne—I had no idea that she…”
Jayne looked up at him, not turning her face so Tamar could see her expression. She softened her voice. “I know you didn’t, Seth. I’m going to give you some privacy for…whatever it is she wants to say. I just took the lasagna out of the oven and there’s lettuce and sliced tomato for a salad. I’ll…I’ll call you later.” She stroked his chest, letting him know this was a strategic retreat and nothing more.
He clasped his fingers with hers. “I didn’t know you were making supper. I’m sorry.”
“It was supposed to be a surprise.” Behind them, Tamar very loudly cleared her throat. “We definitely got a surprise, didn’t we?”
“Yeah. I’ll call you, when I know what…”
What she wants? What you’re going to do?
“I understand, Seth.” She glanced once again at the supremely confident woman waiting expectantly and had never felt dumpier. The adorable baby seemed incongruous in her arms. “Call me.”
Seth kissed her temple and walked her to the door. She kept walking, putting one foot in front of the other, and made it to her car. She hit the Bluetooth button on her steering wheel and put the car in reverse, just barely missing the rear end of the cab waiting on the curb as she backed out of the driveway.
Tears were streaming down her cheeks, her nose was running, and she wasn’t even sure why as a soft voice answered on the other end. “Hello?”
“Grace? Can I come over?”
* * * *
“Good. Maybe now I can get two intelligent words out of you,” Tamar murmured snottily as she dropped a rather bulky diaper bag on the floor and settled herself with the air of a queen on the couch, the baby still in her arms. The boy seemed unsure of how to act, as though he was gauging the atmosphere around him, waiting for a cue. “Is that your girlfriend? She’s…cute.” The way she said it left no doubt in Seth’s mind what she’d really meant.
Mindful of the wary look in the baby’s eyes, which troubled him, he modulated his tone. “You could’ve called before you showed up.”
“I text messaged you. I wasn’t exactly sure when I’d be in town, and you never replied to my message. Seth, we can skate around the issue all night, but I have a cab waiting outside.” Seth’s heart nearly froze at those words. She planned to just show up out of the blue, say whatever she had to say, and then waltz off with his son, just like that? The hammering in his chest felt hollow and faulty as he made hesitant eye contact with the child again. The boy popped his thumb into his mouth, and Seth saw the barest hint of a smile in his eyes. His heart dropped in his chest. This was going to kill him.
“What happened with your plan to make millions? Henri didn’t pan out like you thought he would?”
“At first yes, but then my parents somehow got wind. Daddy hired some private investigator and found out about Henri’s more…inventive moneymaking plans. They cut me off.”
“What about your trust fund?”
“Gone.” She said the word as though there was sour, bitter fruit in her mouth. He remembered being entranced by that mouth, aroused by those hands, and enthralled by those arms, branded in ink to mirror his own. Nothing about her attracted him now.
“So why are you here, Tamar? Were you hoping I’d take you back?”
Memories intruded, of the nonchalance with which she’d turned her back on him when the security guard had stopped him from interrupting the taping of the gang bang video. He also recalled the shock on Jayne’s face when he’d found them facing each other on the doorstep. He’d understood why she’d taken off, but he needed her right now. Needed her quiet strength.
A rather prissy frown bent Tamar’s lips. “I don’t have any illusions about that, Seth. I know we’re finished. I’m really in a hurry.”
“I thought you were on birth control pills.”
Tamar shrugged and pursed her lips. “I guess they didn’t work.” It was more likely she hadn’t taken them regularly. “Look, I’ve decided to get back to what I wanted to do in the first place, so I’m off to Japan, to pick up where I left off with tattoo art. You know I’ve always been interested in perfecting my style.”
Her words didn’t jive with her actions in Europe, and he peered closely at her. There was an edge of uncertainty that he’d almost missed.
“What are you not telling me, Tamar?” He’d spent enough time with her to know when she was holding something back. The child hadn’t settled into her arms or tried to get down, to explore, the way any other child that age would do.
She looked him in the eyes. “Do you want him? Obviously, he’s yours.” She said it dismissively, as though it didn’t matter at all. “I can’t deal with him anymore.”
Seth bit his tongue, wishing that she wouldn’t talk about the baby as though he wasn’t right there. He could tell the boy was smart, as he watched their faces. “What do you mean, do I want him?”