Page 4 of Ripper
Chapter Two
Veronica
The sheer curtains danced in the wind as I sat at the small wooden table in my uncle’s kitchen, eating a single slice of toast and butter. The plastic tablecloth glistened, and I looked down to see the old patterned linen one still underneath. It felt so strange to be back here after all this time. I pulled my dark brown tresses back into a low ponytail, downed the rest of my lukewarm coffee, and washed the dishes before it was time to leave. I moved through the small bungalow-style home, glancing around at all the old family photos on the fireplace. It reminded me why I was in the market for my own apartment—staying here was just too hard.
It reminded me of being a child. Life wasn’t so bleak then. I was full of life, with an incredibly loving family and dreams that all seemed like a distant memory now. I zipped up my jacket, grabbed the keys to my uncle’s old rickety pickup truck, and drove down to the auto shop. I glanced up at the sign painted onto the wooden slab.Axle’s Auto Repair.I heard the sound of engines whirring and smelled the scent of metal and oil in the air. I listened to the clanking of hard tools that only grew louder as I neared the open garage door.
“Ronnie! You’re here. I was thinking you were still a little too jet-lagged to make it down to work today.”
“Of course, I’m here, Uncle Axle. I’m excited to be working again on something that doesn’t involve bussing tables,” I said.
My uncle’s name was Rob, but growing up, we all called him by his biker name. I always wondered how much history was attached to a name like Axle, but I never really asked.
I knew that coming down to the shop was going to be hard for me, but I never would have imagined how much my heart would hurt seeing it. The sense of longing settled between my bones. Part of me grew nostalgic about how the world used to be when I was too young to understand just how difficult things could become.
I tried to look on the bright side. I was home. I had some semblance of family left, and I wasn’t ever going to let that go again. Uncle Axle started me on some loose hardware, and before I knew it, I was covered in grease, wiping the sweat right off my forehead. The Arizona sun was scorching, but I lived for being out here in the desert because I sure as hell hated the cold.Anything to get out of New York. The city just isn’t my cup of tea. It never was. This right here feels right.
I watched as Uncle Axle made his way around the shop, chatting up some of the bikers that came in. I got a good look at them. They sported tattered leather jackets in this ridiculous heat, and when they took them off, I saw their sleeves of tattoos. They were hulking men with bulging muscles and beards that were thick but neatly trimmed.
“Axle, you’re always down here working up a sweat. When was the last time anyone bought you a fucking beer, huh?” I heard one of them ask.
“I ain’t got time for that now. Who’s gonna watch the shop?”
I could see just how exhausted he was. His skin was pale, his eyes tired, and he hunched over like his back was about to give out. I stepped up to the plate, tossing the washcloth in my hands over on the work table at the far corner of the room.
“I can watch the place while you go out tonight. It’s the least I can do.”
“Hud, this is my niece, Veronica.”
“No way. Is this Hammerhead’s daughter?”
I raised my eyebrow at him, realizing I had no idea what my father’s biker name even was. I knew very little about what his life was like when he used to ride with Uncle Axle, but now I couldn’t help but be curious.
“Yes, it is.”
“You know, Veronica, your uncle and your dad used to get up to some real shit back in the day. They’d end every fucking night at the Ironhead Tavern. When was the last time you were there, Axle?”
“Too long. Way too long.”
“Uncle Axle, I can watch the shop. Please, you deserve a break,” I said.
I watched him think about it for a moment before agreeing. He got onto his bike, starting up the engine and slipping his helmet over his graying hair. I was bursting with curiosity, wondering if anyone around town knew more about my father and the things he used to get up to when he was spending his days out on the open road.Hammerhead, huh? Judging from the looks on those guys’ faces, he must’ve been pretty special to them. He was surely special to me.
The rest of the evening went smoothly, and there were barely any customers coming through, just a few to pick up their freshly fixed bikes. I took the truck back out on the road just as the moon made its appearance. I enjoyed the drive back home, and when I found myself caught at a red light, I looked to my left to see the Tavern. I could practically hear the music from here, thumping loudly, and I imagined Uncle Axle was having a grand time catching up with some of his old friends.
Maybe I should check it out for myself. If Dad used to spend time there, I should at least see what it’s all about. Tomorrow night, after I finish up at work.
I made it back to the quiet house, making myself a cup of peppermint tea before curling up on the couch. I noticed some old photo albums sitting underneath the glass of the coffee table, and I pulled one out. I thumbed through the thick pages, finding an old photograph of Uncle Axle and my dad.I wish you were here, Dad. Everything would’ve been so much easier if you were here.
I finished my tea, deciding to take a long, hot shower before it was time to crawl into bed.
***
“Where are you off to?” asked Uncle Axle as I opened the truck door.
“I was thinking of checking out the Ironhead Tavern. Maybe a drink wouldn’t hurt.”
He folded his arms across his chest, and I could see the worry in his eyes, but he just nodded.
