Calls

                                    

                                          
~Hope's POV~
                          
The girls and I head back after chatting with Ash for a bit. Tomorrow is another day of work. At some point, I'd love to paint or have someone paint a mural on one of the walls in the waiting room. It's a little bare in there. I'd want something calming because usually people feel a little nervous when they're waiting for their turn to get needles jabbed into their skin that'll be there forever.
                          
We fall asleep shortly after getting back. We are all pretty worn out.
                          
My dreams consist of nothing new. I dream of Andy being by my side forever and us never having to be apart. 
                          
"Hope, I swear to god, I will get cold water and dump it on your head if you do not get up in the next 30 seconds. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven-"
                          
"Juliet, seriously... I'm not 12."
                          
"Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen-" She continues.
                          
"Okay, I'm up."
                          
"You aren't out of bed. Twenty, twenty one-"
                          
I throw the blankets off and sand up, almost falling over in the process. "Happy now?!"
                          
"Yep!" She turns and walks off. I don't understand Juliet sometimes. 
                          
I walk into my bathroom to start getting ready. If I remember correctly, today is one of my more busy days this week. Thursday is my other very busy day, since it's the last day I'll be in this week. I took Friday off since Andy will be home late Thursday night. I want to spend the weekend with him without any other distractions. No work, no tour, no movie, just me and him.
                          
We arrive at the shop a half hour earlier than open time and people with early appointments are already here.
                          
"I can let you three in now so I can maybe get an early start on your tattoos, but I need a little bit of time to set up the rooms beforehand. Today I'm booked solid so I need everything ready." I unlock the entrance and let the three people in, followed by Sam and Juliet. Juliet goes behind the counter like I asked her. She just has to greet people and make them pay whatever was written on a slip of paper. Sam turns on the computer and the printers. I go into the back of the shop and start getting out and cleaning equipment. 
                          
I start the first guy's appointment 15 minutes early. His tattoo shouldn't take long. 
                          
Sam takes her first appointment on schedule. She's also an amazing tattoo artist. 
                          
"Have you ever considered hiring a third person? They could help clean up, man the front desk and checkout, etc. Cause if I wasn't here, you'd have to do it on top of all of your appointments." Juliet asks while ringing up the guy. 
                          
"I don't know. If I hired a new guy, I'd most likely have to train them, and I don't want that responsibility."
                          
"What about hiring someone who already knows how to tattoo people and is certified? Then you just have to get them acquainted with how you run this place." I start to think about if I know anyone who could possibly come and work here who already knows me and how I work...
                          
I need to make a call. Tell my next appointment that I'll be right out and to wait in room 2." I grab my phone and go into the storage room behind the counter. It's really the only private place.
                          
I dial a number I'm glad I remember. "Hello, Dream Ink. How may I help you?"
                          
"Hi. My name is Hope Saxton. I used to work at Dream Ink a few years back. Does a girl by the name of Rain still work there? She had a dog..." I ask the girl who answered the phone.
                          
"Yes, Rain is the previous owner of the shop. She doesn't technically work here, but she comes in from time to time. She will be coming in tonight though. If you want to come in anytime between 4 and 10 pm, she'll be here, or I can take a message."