“Is everything alright?” Vera asked.
“Yeah, everything is fine. I just wasn’t expecting that particular visitor,” Drew answered, her tone clipped.
“Do you want us to help you get rid of him? I can assure you we’re more formidable than we appear,” Vera promised.
Drew smiled down at Vera’s tattoo and got back to work.
“Thank you. But that won’t be necessary. That’s my dad,” Drew groaned out.
“I see. Well, family dynamics can be hard sometimes,” Vera said, her tone sympathetic.
“Yeah. He left when I was young. We recently bumped into each other by chance. I guess we’re both trying to figure the other one out,” Drew forced a chuckle.
“Just remember you’re allowed to set your own pace for things. Nothing has to look absolute,” Vera said. Her tattoo was done, and Drew knew she should let Vera go. Drew’s curiosity was getting the better of her. She found herself wanting to squeeze as much wisdom from the interaction with Vera as she could.
“What do you mean?” Drew asked.
“I mean that you can go at your own speed. You don’t have to absolutely forgive whatever grievances you have. Nor do you have to absolutely shut your dad out. You get to choose what things look like from here. And you should take what feels right to you into consideration.”
“Tattooing you has been an amazing experience,” Drew admitted.
“And having you tattoo me has been an amazing experience,” Vera returned.
Vera gave her one final pat on the arm. Drew glanced over and caught her dad checking out her artwork hanging on the wall. Drew agreed to herself that if Frank was still there when she was done tattooing, she’d talk to him. Part of her wished Frank would leave before she finished her tattoos.
A bigger part of her was grateful when she finished her final tattoo and found Frank still browsing around the store. Drew told Vera and all of her company goodbye. Vera pulled her into a tight hug promising to invite Drew for dinner soon. Drew’sheart warmed. There was something about being invited into Vera’s circle that left her feeling warm. Drew waved goodbye and then steeled herself for what would come next.
Chapter 22
Drew finished telling Vera goodbye. When she turned around Frank was standing by the front counter. She watched as he rubbed his neck anxiously with his hand.
“I have to admit that I didn’t expect you to stay all the way through those sessions.”
Drew tried to make her words sound casual, but she knew there was a knife’s edge her words slid down.
“Well, I was already here. I figured I should wait,” Frank chuckled, obviously nervous.
“Yep. You’re here. I can only assume you have something to say,” Drew folded her arms across her chest.
Frank cleared his throat before beginning.
“I didn’t expect to see you the other night. But I’m glad that I did. Now that I found you again there’s no way I would leave without at least trying.”
Drew huffed a laugh, but she bit her tongue so she wouldn’t make a snide comment.
“You have every right to hate me. Every right to be angry. Any feelings you have towards me are justified. I’m not here to make excuses. I’m not here to explain things away.”
“Why are you here?” Drew asked.
“I want to tell you how sorry I am. I regretted the decision to leave you and your mother every day.”
“And yet, it took you long enough to make your way back here,” Drew accused.
Frank nodded his head.
“You’re right. It took me a long time to get sober. Then it took me a long time to work through my shame and guilt. Drew, I’m sorry that I wasn’t the father you needed me to be.”
Drew’s heart pounded in her chest. How many times had she wished she could see Frank again? Thousands, maybe more. But that had been when she was young. Now she was grown and she found her heart steely where Frank was concerned.
