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"What happened?" I find

"Well at first I didn’t knohat it was, but I could tell he was nervous Hewatching hiainst the back of the couch Don’t tell hiood with pain either"

I laugh, thinking of a younger Colt trying to hide a tattoo froht over to him, made him stand and pulled his shirt up, of course"

This h harder Soon Bev joins in, but then starts to cough I can tell she’s out of breath "Are you okay?"

She sighs "Okay as I’ll ever be Cheyenne…I want to do this I feel the need to do it and I don’t want to wait"

Two things hit me First, if she doesn’t want to wait, she doesn’t think she has in to sting

And second Colt doesn’t approve That’s why she’s co to me There’s no other reason that makes sense

"Bev…"

"Please Do you kno it feels to be a groo like this? I want it I need it and Colt is stubborn I think…" her voice cracks and I think she et better That I won’t be sick any better, Cheyenne and I want this"

I’ her? He won’t have anyone left

He’ll have me

Not that I know if he even wantsyou out of the house"

The silence on the other side of the phone tells ie said What’s the difference? I’ anyway"

Those words are the answer I need They confir her nurse is okay with it "I’ll make it happen, okay? Don’t worry I’ll do this for you"

I hang up the phone, scared to death helping Bev is going to make me lose Colt This isn’t my place She’s not my mom, but she came to me as a friend I knohat it’s like to need someone and not have anyone there I won’t let Bev feel that way

It’s going to cost o to Bev I can’t even tell theirl willing to go

She lost a grandma to cancer

"I lost my mom too," I tell her It’s so crazy It’s the first time I’ve said the words that way Said them at all except for the first time I told Colt They hurt--prick and prod at ht they would It’ slowly becoivesequipment

She follows ain It’s the third ti to be pissed, but I want to at least tell hi

"Thank you, so

"No probleie answers the door She startles a little at the two of us "Bev called and asked me to come over"

"Does Colton know?" she asks

"No But she wants it He’ll understand" I lie Or I don’t I don’t know I think he’ll get it It’s just a tattoo, but if what Bev said is right then I get what it ret it, it really

Oh God

I suddenly feel dizzy My chest starts to tighten Aht back the panic threatening to take ie nods and steps back We walk around the woman and into the hallway "She’s in her bedrooie smiles and I feel a little bit better

"This is okay?" What if sohts are going, Maggie grabs s like this toward the end It’s a way to honor their living and feel like she’s keeping him with her

Him

It has to do with Colt

Stupid tears threaten to co so otten a tattoo for ?

Is it selfish of ie leads us to Bev’s roo up in bed, a hat on her bald head My heart seizes seeing her She’s so sick, it’s surprising she can even sit up right now

"Hey" I walk over and give her a hug I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do, but I know I can’t iive you soht

Tammy looks nervous as she shakes Bev’s hand "Nice to meet you Do you knohat you want?"

Bev nods Tears alain when she tells Tammy what she wants The tattoo artist smiles and starts to prepare her equipes--even new paper towels and cloth She sets out ink and cleaner, explaining she only brought a few colors

That’s okay, Bev tells her She only needs black

I hold Bev’s left hand while Taht wrist She doesn’t flinch at all, sits there strong eyes glued to Ta at her I bet she was beautiful I’m sure her hair was blonde like Colt’s He has her sh I think hers is deeper Because she’s so skinny or if it was always that way, I don’t know

I see pride si off her while Tam this for her boy