Twelve Tiny Truths

by M Dauphin

  "What is it?" I blurt, unable to wait any longer.

  "I don't think I'm done yet." He chuckles and there's a small sting as he wipes my arm down with a damp paper towel. "It starts right here." His still gloved finger gently lands on my forearm. "Stem," he softly says and traces his finger downward before going back to the top. "Another stem." He traces. "Cherry." His finger draws a circle over my numb skin. "Another cherry."

  "Are they red?" I can't stop grinning.

  "The stems aren't, but the cherries are except for one part." His finger lands on my arm again and without words he traces a small swoop, like he's spelling something out. C maybe? Then he lifts his finger and silently lays it down again, this time a short, straight line down then back up and crosses the top.

  He put our initials on my arm.

  "You put our initials in my cherries?" I ask, somewhat shocked and yet still giddy over the fact that he put his initials on me. Permanently.

  "Am I done, Blue? Or you want me to fill those in?" he quietly asks, almost like he's worried I'll be pissed. I find his hand and move my fingertips up to his face, sliding them through his hair and smiling.

  "You're done," I whisper, then press my lips to his smiling lips.

  He takes me home after he finishes cleaning up. I can't stop smiling. Something like this, it's permanent. I mean, I guess I can always get them filled in, but the cherries are a part of me now. Just like Travis.

  When Travis leaves, I take Gus out then make it to the top of the stairs, and as I'm opening my door, Frankie swings hers open. "Sup, babe?" she says, closing her door.

  "It's like you have eagle hearing or something," I mutter, grinning to myself as I walk inside my apartment with her on my heels.

  "You want pizza tonight? Or past—" She pauses and grabs my arm and I smile. "What the fuck is this?"

  "I really, sincerely hope it's a walrus," I quip, laughing at her.

  "He fucking put his initials on you, Charlie! Did you know this? Did he… I'm gonna fucking kill him!" She drops my arm and I can feel her anger. Protective anger.

  "Chill, Frankie. I told him to. I love it. Is it perfect?"

  "It's cherries with your initials. Both of your initials," she growls. "It's only been a few months, Charlie. Don't you think it's way too soon for this?"

  I know she worries, but Travis isn't just a normal guy. He's my one.

  "I think it's perfect timing. Who says you have to be with someone for years before committing to them? We don't!" I laugh. "Blind date, bright future," I mutter our motto. "So…does it look good?"

  "It's fucking beautiful," she mumbles. "Your parents are going to flip though." I hear her open the fridge and though the thought of my parents being mad should bother me, it doesn't. I like to think they'd have more of an open mind after everything I went through.

  I've missed the last four Sunday dinners with my parents and I know I'm going to get an earful for bringing Travis along to this one, but I think it's time they meet him. I mean, he's a part of me now. Frankie warned me that they're not going to accept him, but I like to think my parents are a little more accepting than her. They know he's coming, but I didn't divulge any of his characteristics to them. All they know is how happy he makes me. That's all that should matter to them.

  "You about ready?" I ask, knocking on his bathroom door. I hear him curse. He's not looking forward to this, but he's doing it because it's important to me.

  "Just a minute, Blue," he calls through the door.

  "How hard can it be for you to get ready? I got ready faster than you!" I laugh, walking back to the couch slowly and sit down before Peter curls up on my lap.

  It's ten more minutes before Travis comes from the bathroom, releasing a heavy sigh.

  "Babe," he blurts and I shift on the couch. "Black jeans and jean jacket okay? My shirt's black too. Maybe I should change it? Too much black?" he nervously rambles.

  "You're fine." I laugh. God he's cute when he's nervous. "You have nothing to be worried about. You could show up in gym clothes and they wouldn't care. They don't judge as hard as you do," I say, grinning and standing from the couch, praying I'm right. I hear his steps on the hardwood and soon his hand is on my cheek and I'm grinning at him, resting my palm on his abs. "I'm sure you look fine."

  "I look great! But I'm worried they won't like it. It's my tattoos. You know I'm worried about my tattoos. Parents don't like tattoos, Charlie.”

  "Stop, Travis." I blurt. "Don't change who you are just to make them like you. They're going to like you because you're a good person, not because of what you’re wearing. If anything, they're going to freak when they see my tattoo." I bite my lip to stop my smile.

  "They raised you, right?" he asks, exhaling heavily. "I'm sure they'll be fine."

  "Yep." I smile, trying to hide my nerves because everything Frankie said about this evening keeps playing in my head. They're not going to hate him. They can't. They're my parents!

  I give him the address once we're in the car and he puts it in his GPS. It's a thirty minute drive from his house to my parents’ driveway and he's silent the entire way, his hand firmly wrapped around my thigh. I know he's nervous, and I don't want to lie and tell him it'll be sunshine and rainbows if there's a possibility of it not, but I honestly am praying my parents aren't as big of dicks as Frankie thinks they're going to be.

  The car turns into the driveway, the telltale bump going over the small curb the city installed to slow people down hasn't ever stopped pissing me off. It makes no sense to put something like that at the end of a driveway.

  "We're here," he huffs, killing the engine.

  "You ready?" I give his hand a squeeze and smile over at him.

  "No." His lips connect with mine for a quick kiss. "But let's go." His door opens and I wait for him to open my door.

  We walk hand in hand and he knocks on the front door when we make it to the porch. My parents' house is huge and brick. They've lived here my entire life and I have every room memorized because my mom won't allow any changes, especially after I lost my eyesight. The front porch is held up by bright white pillars that span the width of the house, and the deep blue front door still has a massive lion shaped door knocker that used to scare me when I was little.

  The minute the front door swings open I give his hand a quick squeeze and plaster a smile on my face.

  "Charlie," my mom's voice is raised a few octaves and I take a breath.

  "Hey, Mom, sorry we're a little bit early. Just antsy to get here," I say with a nervous laugh. "Um, this is Travis. The guy I've told you about."

  "Nice to meet you, Mrs. DeSoto. Beautiful home." His voice isn't the normal cocky toned voice, but somehow it has more of a polite ring to it. I hear my mother hum and am thankful I can't see the look on her face right now.

  "Can we come in? I'm starving," I say, stepping into the house. No fucking way will she make us stand on the porch any longer. That's ridiculous.

  "Charlie, can I get you something, honey?"

  "I'm fine, Mom. Thanks. Travis, you want anything?" I give his hand another squeeze and smile up at him. The fact that my mother didn't ask him and directed that question to me makes me worry tonight won't go as I had hoped.

  "No, I'm fine," he answers quickly and quietly before releasing a quiet huff of nervousness.

  "Dad's just out back at the grill. Charlie, maybe you can help me in the kitchen," my mom calls from the other room.

  "Of course, Mom!" I answer then turn to Travis. "Maybe you can go outside and get to know my dad?" I shrug and smile, still hopeful that tonight won't be a train wreck.

  He hesitantly says, "Yeah, sure. Which way?"

  "Through the kitchen. Walk with me, I'll introduce you two."

  We move through the house and when I slide the back door open and step outside, Travis follows.

  "Dad?" I say, smelling the food. My stomach growls for it and I smile.

  "Hey, baby girl!" he says from across the yard. "I'll be right over!"


  I smile and turn to Travis. "My dad loves yard work. He used to win prizes for his flower garden. Maybe he'd love to hear about the orchard?"

  "Here I am," my dad sings, walking closer. "Well…uh… Hi? I'm…I'm Bill." He's talking to Travis but the tone in his voice isn't as chipper as it was just a moment ago.

  "Travis, Charlie's boyfriend. Nice to meet you, sir."

  "Mmm…yes…sooo, Charlie. Your mother didn't tell me you were bringing a friend."

  I raise my eyebrows and smile. "Well, I told her. And told her again. She must have forgot. He's not a friend, Dad. He's my boyfriend." I smile wider. "I have to get inside to help Mom, so you two just…chat!" I clap my hands nervously because I see this entire night going downhill quickly. Walking back inside, I huff as I close the patio door behind me. "Ok, Ma, what needs to be done?"

  "Is that a bird tattooed on his throat?" Is the first thing she blurts. "Christ, I don't know why I'm asking you, you can't see it. Charlie, have you had a description of this man? Do you have any idea what he looks like?"

  "Wow," I huff. I knew she'd probably mention it, but like this? And right off the bat? "I have a pretty detailed description of him, Mother. Yes." I try not to sound defensive but when you attack the one man that's ever meant this much to me I'm going to get defensive.

  "Charlie," she scoffs. "This is ridiculous. This is not a man you should be wasting time with. Let's just cancel tonight and you can get him out of here."

  "What?" I shriek. "Why would you say something like that? Have you not been listening for the last almost four months about how amazing he is for me? That's so…just so mean." I take a deep breath and turn to storm outside, where hopefully my dad and Travis are getting along, but first I spin back toward her. "You raised me to love no matter what, Mother. You were excited to meet him, I could hear it in your voice. But then what? Ink on his skin made you immediately hate him? That's horrible. Really damn horrible."

  "He has tattoos on his scalp, Charlie. If he doesn't respect his own body, why would he respect yours. He's the type of man that's only going to hurt you."

  "I think more of someone like him, who chooses to permanently put his artwork and the artwork of others on his skin for the world to see than anyone like you, afraid to be yourself because of how you think society will look at you. And, newsflash, he treats my body very well," I hiss, tucking my arm in front of me so she doesn't see the tattoo. I don't have that fight in me right now. I'm not embarrassed by it, but seeing how she's reacting to him right now tells me the minute she sees the cherries she's going to fucking flip.

  "Charlie!" she gasps. "Have some self-respect! And I know that bad boy type when I see it! He doesn't care about you. He just wants a pretty girl to keep him company for a short time. A successful, pretty girl!"

  "I never knew you could be so nasty, Mom," I huff, holding back tears and spinning to open the door to go outside. Hopefully it's going better out here. "Hey," I say, putting on a fake smile. "Dinner's almost ready. Everything's going great in there, how about out here?"

  "I heard your mom, Blue," Travis says quietly.

  "Oh…" Well this is awkward. "I'm sorry. I just thought she'd take it easier. She'll come around!" I'll just be happy if we make it out of here tonight and he doesn't dump me for having such an awful mother. "Is Dad here?"

  "Uh, no. He split the second your mom got going. Didn't say a word and just kind of walked to the back of the yard. Listen, I thought I could do this, but…not tonight, Charlie. I'm sorry."

  My heart sinks for him and the fact he's apologizing. I wish I never even suggested coming here tonight.

  "I'm so fucking sorry," I whisper. "She's never been so vile. Not in my entire life. I didn't even think she had it in her or I wouldn't have brought you. I'm not like them, I promise." Not anymore at least. God, obviously this is where I got that shitty attitude from. "And I'm sorry. I'm…I'm just sorry." I shrug, hating myself for putting him in this situation.

  "Don't apologize for them. You didn't raise them, and I know what you're like." His thumb runs over my bottom lip. "I'm not going to make you leave, but I'm not gonna stay."

  "You go, I go," I whisper, my hands going to his forearms. "We're in this together. I don't want to be here just as much as you don't right now."

  He takes my hand and walks us into the house. "Just so you know," he says, and I know he's not talking to me and I wince, waiting for him to tell my mom off. "I more than care about your daughter. I love her." I feel him turn. "Hey, Chuck." His hand goes to the side of my neck and his thumb rubs over my jaw. "I love you." He sighs and his hand drops to mine before he continues. "And not because she's successful and pretty. I’d love her no matter what. Have a good evening, Mrs. DeSoto." He drops his hand from my face and I take hold of his arm before he has a chance to walk away without me.

  "I'm sorry you couldn't open your eyes to how amazing of a person Travis is, Mother. It's a shame. Let's go, Travis." I start to walk and he leads the way, pausing to let me grab my purse before we're out the front door and letting it slam behind us. He's on a mission to get to the car but halfway there I stop and pull my hand from his.

  "What are you doing, Chuck?"

  "You really love me?" I grin, letting his words finally sink in now that we're out of that hellhole.

  "Yeah." He quietly chuckles, but more like I'm dense for not realizing. "A lot." His hands grab my face.

  "I love you lots, too. And not just for your good looks."

  "God, but that's what hooked you at first, I know it. And my dick." His forehead presses to mine. "I'm sorry I made you leave, Chuck."

  "Ew, why? Don't ever apologize for getting us out of something like that. Right now, I'm embarrassed those are my parents." I take his hand and we walk to the car. "Anyway, I really didn't want to have to eat her meatloaf tonight."

  "Bev's making your favorite." I hear the grin in his voice as he opens my car door.

  "Perfect," I whisper, smiling.

  Travis isn't what I was expecting. He blew into my life and just wouldn't leave, and now, mere months into our relationship, I couldn't see myself without him. As messy as his previous life seems, he has a sturdier home front now with Bev than I seem to have with my parents. I'll make them come around, eventually. Until then it looks like my Sunday afternoons will be spent with two of my favorite people. My man, and his mother figure.

  For the past three and a half months, I haven't gone more than two days without seeing Charlie, but these last two and half weeks, I've only seen her three times. I've been working my ass off after the farm because I need money. I don't want to do it. I'd rather be spending every minute not on the farm with her, but I need the cash. Tattooing is slowly bringing in cash, but I've also picked up some shifts at the dive bar down the street from my house.

  She's quiet tonight while we briskly walk the few blocks to the coffee place she likes. Everything I've said to her has gotten me a short, snippy reply, and I don't know what's going on with her.

  "Hazelnut Macchiato, please," she says to the girl then steps aside letting me order, not allowing me to touch her like she normally does.

  "Uh, same. And a cookie for my friend." I grin down at Gus who's eagerly waiting, but sitting like such a good boy. I drop to my knee to pet him until Charlie snips my name because our drinks are ready.

  I grab our drinks and guide us to a table, setting Gus's cookie cup on the ground and chuckle when he goes to town on it.

  "For you," I say, putting Charlie's drink into her hands.

  "So," she says. "That girl still staying at your place?"

  "That girl?" I chuckle. "Violet? You forget her name?" I roll my eyes at the completely unnecessary jealousy. "Yeah. Her brother's leaving in a few weeks and she'll go home. Why?"

  "Just wondering how life is living with what I'm presuming is a hot little eighteen year old?"

  "Oh fuck, Charlie. Seriously? She's seventeen and she's a fucking kid. Is this really why you've been giving me the silent trea
tment all night?" I scowl at her but sink my shoulders knowing she can't see it. "What the fuck kind of guy do you think I am? She's just a kid. Would you rather I send her home to get beat up on by her brother?"

  "No," she whispers, her shoulders slumping ever so slightly. "I'm just…being weird I guess. We go from seeing each other every other day and talking all day every day to barely talking and only seeing each other what? Once a week? With no excuse, Travis. It makes me wonder if maybe you've grown tired of me. I have a right to ask."

  "Yeah, you do, Blue." I push her hair behind her ear. "So ask. Don't accuse me of stupid shit that's going to cause a fight we don't need right now." I slide closer to her and tug her the rest of the way. "I haven't seen you in five days and I don't want to spend it fighting."

  "I don't either but I deserve to know why. Why have you been so distant lately?"

  I rub my tired eyes before leaning back. "Money," I say, trying to pull her close but she jerks away like I just told her I've been cheating or something.

  "Money?" she shrieks and I glance around but no one's paying attention. "You're ignoring me for money?"

  I tiredly laugh. I haven't slept more than four hours a night in the past week and half.

  "Stop laughing, Travis," she huffs, standing up and taking Gus's leash with her. "I don't know what's happened to you in these last couple weeks but I'm not a fan." She wraps Gus's leash around her hand nervously.

  "Chuck." I reach for her but she pulls away and walks out the door into the brisk air. "Charlie," I blurt and jump up, going after them. "I'm trying to make some extra cash." I grab her arm to stop her. "I didn't really want to tell you."

  "You know I don't care about money, Travis! I have enough if you ever needed any, all you have to do is ask." She sighs and commands Gus to sit, wrapping her arms in front of her as a cool gust of wind hits us.

  "No." I laugh with annoyance. "I don't want your fucking money, Charlie. I want my own money to take care of you, to buy you things, to do for you like I should. I make enough money at the farm, but something else came up and I'm trying to make some damn money to pay for it."