Better in the Long Run

Tattoo

"Well after all this time I can finally say, your name would make a good tattoo." He chuckled as the artist laid the stencil for the initials JGH on the side of Hunter's wrist.

The artist began and the buzzing of the tattoo machine was relaxing but somewhat annoying at the same time. "Do you have someone here that does ear piercings?"

"Yeah, Shannon does." The artist said between letters on Hunter's tattoo. The artist finished up and cleaned Hunter's wrist before wrapping it up and setting the space up for me. I sat and the artist wiped the space on my wrist clean before laying the stencil of Hunter's initials, HEH. It was just a few minutes of discomfort but the tattoos turned out perfectly. We had appointments for our next ones as Hunter still wasn't certain about where he wanted it. I got wrapped up and we made and I gathered the information needed to get Sutton's ears pierced.

Hunter and I left the tattoo studio hand in hand, undecided about what to tell the kids. "I mean, they know I have my three tiny tattoos. But they're not new. They might ask questions." The kids particularly asked about the little sugar skull I had on my ankle but I had two more they wouldn't see.

"Yeah," Hunter smirked, "but I'm happy I did it. What, twenty years after releasing a song about getting the name of a girl I love tattooed on me? Better late than never."

We headed home to find Stephanie and the kids playing a rather intense game of monopoly. "Hey, how's the game?"

"Aunt Steph is crushing it. She has half the board." Stephanie laughed as Sutton explained. The gauze on Hunter's write caught Sutton's attention, "You okay dad?" He nodded. "Mom why do you have the same thing?"

"It's just from the appointment your dad and I went to. We can show you guys in a bit. Keep playing, I'm going to stay dinner. Steph are you staying?"

"If you don't mind, I would love to. Hunter, how about you take over my properties and I'll help Jenna with dinner?"

"Sure thing." Hunter swapped places and Stephanie hustled over to see the tattoo.

"I love it," she whispered, "and he got JGH?" I nodded. "Awesome." We worked on dinner, and decided to do have tacos. The kids loved it and we revealed our tattoos to them.

"So, you know dad and I have been married for fourteen years and we didn't really celebrate back in October," I started, hoping an explanation of what we were about to show them would cushion the blow, "we love each other very much and decided to celebrate by getting each other's initials tattooed." We showed them our wrists.

"Whoa, did that hurt?" Beckett asked, taking a close look at Hunter's wrist.

"It didn't hurt much." Hunter said.

"Mom did yours hurt?" Sutton asked, and I shook my head.

"It feels like getting poked with a lot of needles at once." Easton raised his eyebrows, and we turned the conversation into what else the kids wanted to do over the break as we had three days until my family was set to arrive. Shortly after dinner, Stephanie headed out and I pulled Sutton to go to the mall with me to do some Christmas shopping. A few years ago, Hunter and I adopted the four gift rule: something to wear, something to read, something they want and something they need.

"We need to get your brothers each pjs and a sweater." I said, sifting through the boys on bottoms at target. "What kind of sweaters do you think they'd want?"

Sutton shrugged as she leaned over the shopping cart. "Easton is super into American Eagle." I nodded.

"What about you hun? What would you like for Christmas?"

"Did you and dad discuss the ear piercing?" She was stuck on it and I nodded, explaining that we found a place to take her and made an appointment for a few days after Christmas. She squealed and hugged me, "Thanks mom." I hugged her back and told her to thank me after they use a gun to put more holes in her head. We continued shopping and as I was looking for boys sweaters, I watched as Sutton pursued the jeans and sweaters for herself. We made our purchases and headed home, Sutton turned up the volume when she heard the new song playing on the radio.

"Everybody needs a song
A beautiful mercy
For all the nights alone

There is no guarantee
That this life is easy
Oh, when my world is falling apart
When there's no light to break up the dark
That's when I, I
I look at you"

"I love that song mom. And the fact you and dad got each others initials tattooed. Give me faith that true love exists."

"What would make you question true love?" I asked as we pulled into our street.

"Lilly's parents are separating. She said they argue all the time and her dad left because they needed space."

I parked the car and we finished our conversation. "That's really hard. There isn't much you can do but continue being a friend to her." Sutton smiled and nodded. We headed inside in time to get ready for bed. Hunter and I wrapped the boys Christmas gifts and talked about what else we needed to get.

"Sutton's ear piercing is something she wants. That will be part of her gift." Hunter said as he handed me pieces of tape. "What else do we need?"

"I am gonna go hard tomorrow and get gifts for Alex and Cade. I am just waiting on Ali to tell me what I should get them."

"Oh, almost forgot, the boys went through their games and decided on three they can donate. We started a donation pile in the living room."

"Perfect," I put the gifts away in the closet and we made our way to bed, "I love you Hunt."

He kissed me softly, "Love you Jen."