An Ink Hidden Heart

Chapter 1

      My eyes shot open at the sound of my sons screams reverberating off the walls of my room through the baby monitor. I look over to my clock to see it's only 3:15. Well that's a new time for him. I rush out of bed to make my way to his room. I never could get use to the sound of my 5 year old son screaming. Not screaming in pain but screaming as the night terrors take over his small body. I jog into his room to see him thrashing on his bed as screams and whimpers leave his mouth. I take long strides to get to the side of his bed as fast as I could. Bending down to take the small boy in my arms, he fights to get out of my arms as he is still screaming. I sit down on his bed as he keeps fighting me. There's nothing you can do really when his night terrors kick in. All you can do is rock him. I take my free hand to slowly stroke his face. His movements become slower as I keep rocking him. Then he just stops. This happens every time. You just have to rock him out of it. He rolls in to my side and he falls back to sleep. I stay there for a little bit to make sure he really is asleep. I place his sleeping body back in his bed and pull the covers over him. "Good night Jaxson." I whisper as I kiss his forehead, then walk out. Like always after he's done I go check up on his sister. I open her door to see her fast asleep. Goodness this girl can sleep through anything. Rubbing my face sleepily I walk back to my room and crawl into my bed, to hopefully get some more sleep before my alarm goes off at 6:30 a.m.
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      BEEP BEEP BEEP BE- I slam my hand down on the annoying alarm clock and shuffle out of my room yawning and stretching as I go and wake Renn up. I flip on her light. "Renn darling." I say. She groans out a "go away" and she pulls her blankets up to her chin and rolls over. I sigh. "We go through this every morning Renn. Get up come on." I practically groan. She opens an eye into a slit. "I hate school with a burning passion." She mumbles. I nod. "Now get your ass outta bed." I laugh and exit her room hearing her shuffle around for clothes and whatnot. I walk into to Jax's room and he's already up per usual. He's literally jumping on his bed this early in the morning. I shake my head. "Good morning Mommy!" He smiles brightly. I run and jump on his bed with him, and jump for a minute as he giggles uncontrollably. "Mommy, don't break my bed!" He laughs. I jump off and put my hands on my hips. "Jaxson Danes! Are you accusing me of being fat?" His eyes get big. "No! Mommy you're not fat." "Alright baby, go get dressed and be down in time for breakfast." He nods and goes to walk out when he turns around and pouts, "Can I go with you today? Can I? Pleassse?" I chuckle. "No baby not today. Maybe I'll take you on your birthday as a present?" Walking into my room I stop and look in the mirror. My tattoos standing out proudly against my skin, I have a bunch...ha guess it's just part of the job. My hair is a wreck! I groan, I can NOT be late today or I'll never hear the end of it from Aidan! After my shower my makeup is applied and I throw on some jeans, a white tank, with a blue cardigan and put my hair up with these fancy chopsticks I got for Christmas. Making my way downstairs, I get to cooking breakfast. I whip up some pancakes real quick, with some bacon to go along with it. Renn stumbles down the stairs first, and collapses in a chair at the "bar." "Could you put the plates and stuff on the table please?" I ask flipping a pancake. She nods, and sets the table, just in time for Jax to show up. He sits in his normal seat at the table with his stuffed dinosaur, Bubba. Renn follows. Setting the pancakes and bacon on the table I ask Jax what he wants to drink. "Milk please. wants his sippy cup by the way... please. Renn?" "The same as Jax." She says piling her plate up. I pour myself coffee and the two rascals their milk. I place "Bubba's" special plate in front of him and as I sit down Jax goes to talk. "Not with your mouth full young man." He closes his mouth quickly and finishes chewing to swallow. He looks thoughtful for a moment and then speaks. "Why does everyone else have a dad and I don't?" I almost spat out my coffee. I glare at Renn over my cup, I know she put him up to this. "Well, honey the reason your father isn't here is because you're so special you only need a mom." I say, shoving some more pancakes in my mouth. He nods, satisfied. Oh she's so gonna get it later. "Oh yeah mom you don't have to worry about picking Jax up today. Alex is going to drive me from soccer practice and agreed to pick him up on the way home." I frown. Alex? "Alex? As in a boy, driving you home? Have I met him?" I ramble a bit. She sighs. "Mom, Alex, girl Alex. On my soccer team?" "Oh. Ohh! Alex! Okay. Yes, yes that's fine. That's great actually because I have a little shopping to do this afternoon."  I look at the time. Shit! We're gonna have to fly. "Okay, finish up, brush your teeth! Renn before you go up take your medicine. We are gonna have to fly this morning." I say rushing. Jax's eyes light up. "Fly? Am I Peter Pan today?! I have to wear my hat!" His fork clatters to the table and he sprints to the stairs, yelling, "You can fly! You can fly! You can fly!" I shake my head, Renn's right behind him after taking her pill, singing along. I scrape the dishes and put them in the sink, I'll load them later. Renn and Jax run into the kitchen. "Jax do you have your bag?" He nods. "Mat, Bubba, crayons, homework?" He nods again, "Yes, mommy." I smile. "Off to the car!" He jogs, as I question Renn. "Homework, duffel bag,books, water, purse, all other necessities?" "Yep, check, check, checkity, check." I grab my purse and we run to the CRV. Jax is talking to Bubba when we get into the car. "We get to color dinosaurs today, Bubba!" He animates his voice as "Bubba" and answers himself. He does that all the time and it never gets old. The ride to his school is filled with giggles as him, Renn, Bubba and I have a conversation about why dinosaurs should brush their teeth. "Bye, baby have a good day! Bubba no eating people's shoe laces again!" Jax waves for himself and Bubba and bounces into the front entrance of the daycare. As soon as he disappears I slap Renn's arm. "OW!,"She exclaims. "What was that for!" She rubs her arm frowning. "That's for putting Jax up to asking why he doesn't have a dad. I know that was you." I say pulling out of the parking lot. She huffs. "He asked me and I knew you would handle it better, so I told him to ask you." I groan. "Damn that kid and his curiosity." She grins. "Yeah but you gotta love him." Laughing I nod my head, "Yeah, you kinda do. How are you today?" She shrugs. "Renn, not talking to me won't help." Sighing she says, "I had the dream again. But I woke up and I felt fine this morning. I think today will be a good day." I nod, thinking. "Mom, seriously. I'm fine. Plus my medicine is kicking in. I'm good as new." "I know. I just worry that one day you won't come back to me good as new. What about Jen? She said anything to you lately?" Jen's the girl that as been up my girl's ass since the day she got here. Her mother is also the one that has tried to get her kicked out, because of me. Apparently tattoos are nasty and unwanted in her presence and her daughter is the photo image of her mother inside and out. "Not lately. But I kind of avoid her anyways, and I don't have classes with her so it's okay." She says as we pull into the school parking lot. I drop her off under the pavilion. "Have a good day, if you need me call me. I'll see you when I get home. Don't be late to pick Jax up, and if you stop somewhere, he holds your hand the entire time. If he wants to let go threaten Bubba's playtime. Love you!" She laughs exiting the car. "Bye mom. Love you too and don't worry about Jax. I'll look after him." I'm finally on my way to work. Aidan is going to kill me. Like literally. It's going to be today. Parking in front of the small building that is my tattoo parlor, I run inside and of course he's leaning on the counter looking at his watch and tapping his TOMS covered feet. "Girl, you are late! How many times do I need to tell you? Take yo showers at night and don't bring yo ratchet ass minivan to work!" I sigh, laughing slightly. Yes, he's gay. My partner in crime, my bestfriend. Typical right? "Oh Aidan, the fucks I do not give." He laughs. "Someone's just full of sunshine today aren't we?" He says. "We're taking my car today cause you drove the minivan." Inside my head I was leaping I LOVE his car! It's red and shiny and pretty and I want it. "Can I drive? Pleeaassseee?" I plead. He sighs. "Fine. Be careful with my baby!" I childishly pump my fist in the air and do a small dance as he throws me the keys. He shakes his head  at me as I giggle getting in the car. I take off down the highway to my second Parlor. Me and Aidan check on the other parlors once every month.  This one's in downtown London, and it's gotten pretty popular. "So how are the children?" Aidan asks. He knows everything. "They're okay, Jax had another night terror and Renn had the nightmare again but I think she's doing a lot better than she was." He nods. "That's good. How are you?" "I'm good. I need to find a reliable babysitter though cause I need to get out a little more. I feel like a hermit." Aidan laughs,"Yes, girl, yes you do!" We pull up to the parlor and go inside. "Yo! The boss is here!" Laura yells. I chuckle. "Hey guys, it's just the monthly check. How's it going? No problems, must not have had any cause I haven't gotten any phone calls." "All's good here, AJ." Leo says, my manager here. "Alright, you need me you know where to find me!" I say and Aidan says, well yells his goodbye. We climb back in the car and head to the next one. This one is closer to the middle of London. It's where Aidan's boyfriend works. As soon as we walk into that one Ben jumped onto Aidan. Literally attacking his lips. I just stood there...waiting. And waiting. "Okay, okay, okay! I cave! Quit!!" I finally shriek. "Everything good here?" Everyone shouts agreements saying they know where to find me. "Okay let's go." I grumble at Aidan. "Aw so soon?" Ben pouts. "He just got here!" I roll my eyes. "We've got places to go. And people to kill. And if you don't want to be next you won't test me." I say. He laughs. "She's extra feisty today eh, boo?" He tells Aidan. "Boi, tell me about it! She cussed at me this morning! The gall." Aidan agrees clicking his tongue. "I'm taking your car and not bringing it back!" I say strolling towards the door. He yelps and kisses Ben one last time and runs ahead of me. "I'm glad to know that tactic doesn't only work on 4 year olds." I say when we get in the car. He sticks his tongue out. I shove him. "Aw come on! C'mon Aidan! You know you love me!" I yell. He rolls his eyes and kisses my cheek. "Duh!" Happens everytime.
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      We get back from the other two around 3 pm. I've still got a few hours to be by myself. I get someone ask for me specifically before I leave. This is going to set me back but they just have an idea they want to see on paper first. I grab my sketchbook for those kinds of things and ask them what they're thinking. It turns out pretty cool looking. It's a watercolor dragon that they want on their ankle. They love it and ask for an appointment on Friday. I told them I'd be there and then I was out the door. I need some groceries and some art supplies. I run to the market first to buy some orange juice, and bread and eggs. Paying for those I drive to my most favorite place ever. Julian's Art Store. Going in I grab a basket, and breathe in smelling the paper, and pencils and artsy smells that fill the air. I grab some more large tubes of paint I need, a new sketchbook for Jax, a new one for me because it's filling up, and I go to grab some molding clay when I hear a familiar accented voice. "AJ?" I turn around to see who it is. "Dakota?"