02 The Moon And The Tide - Marina's Tales Read online

  I looked around to see if anyone was nearby and realized that the fog was the perfect cover.

  “Lorelei,” I felt another surge of joy, surprised at how good it was to see her, “I don’t know...” I was tempted.

  “Please?” she asked in between twirling and spinning in the churning foam, “Will you?”

  I thought about the surfboard leaning against the house in the back yard, and my beautiful wetsuit sitting unused in my room. Why not?

  “Yes!” I said, feeling a rush of elation, “I’ll be right back!” I ran up the steps, getting in and out of the house before anyone else had stirred. I snuck out to the side yard and retrieved my surfboard. It was a short board that I had no experience on, but I’d lost my long board and it would have to do. It was much easier to carry than the big one; I made it back down to the foggy beach quickly.

  I could see Lorelei’s head bobbing in the waves as I laid out my towel and hurriedly stripped down. In my rush to get out of the house I had skipped changing into a swimsuit, so I zipped the wetsuit on over my bra and underwear. There was no one around to see so I didn’t care. I grabbed my board and dove under the waves the way Ethan had shown me, paddling out past the breakers and into the welcoming fog.

  “You came!” Lorelei cried gleefully. I had to hand it to her, she was always enthusiastic, eternally upbeat. I looked around nervously at all the sea lions bobbing in the water. The last time I had seen them this close they were attacking me.

  “They don’t bite, do they?” I asked her as I sat up unsteadily on the board. The short board was a bit harder to keep my balance on.

  “No, they love all of the sisters,” she said innocently.

  “Did you send them to get me that day?” I asked, “They weren’t too nice then!”

  Lorelei looked confused, “What are you talking about?”

  I immediately realized that she never meant me any harm, for she was as transparent as glass, and I somehow knew she was incapable of lying. I had my doubts about some of the other mermaids, remembering how they had mercilessly dragged me underwater, smiling without pity as I struggled against what fate had in store for me.

  “How do you talk to sea lions?” I asked her.

  She looked at me like I was kidding, “Just talk, they can hear you like all the other animals.”

  “Hey you guys, don’t bite me,” I called to a group of three off to our right. They didn’t even look up.

  “No, silly,” Lorelei said, “Like you talk to me.”

  I focused, imagining I was talking to Lorelei. “Come over here,” I called to them in mermaid. They dove and surfaced all around my surfboard, looking at me expectantly. I looked at Lorelei, flabbergasted.

  She grinned, radiant, “Let’s go wave riding.”

  We frolicked in the waves for the next few hours, under the cover of fog. It was the most natural and fun thing I’d done in what felt like ages, and all my troubles slipped away along with the morning. Without the pleasant distraction of Ethan nearby, I discovered that surfing consisted of a lot of time spent floating peacefully, waiting for the right swell to materialize. I felt relaxed, meditative, and I focused all my attention on the sea. I began to have the strangest sensation that it was whispering to me, telegraphing its intention.

  We laughed and played like children as I quickly learned how to take command of the surfboard. Lorelei, with her superior swimming power, could cut through the waves and criss-cross in front of me, making me laugh with glee. The sea lions played games all around us, rolling around like a litter of puppies in the breaking waves.

  I was a beginning surfer, but the longer I stayed out in the water the more I started to understand the dynamics of the waves, I began to sense what the water was going to do, and how to adjust to it. I gained my balance on the board, and could stand and turn it, laughing with delight at my speedy progress. It was satisfying, like flexing a newly discovered muscle. The only thing missing was Ethan; it was sad to think that he wouldn’t approve of me spending time with Lorelei.

  The fog began to lift, and we swam further out to sea to avoid being seen. Lorelei kept glancing nervously at the shore; she seemed to have an acute sense of when people were around or coming. It figures, I thought, for mermaids had managed to avoid detection for centuries. Most rational people believed the stories and legends about them were merely fairy tales, but I wondered if man’s increasing presence in the sea would eventually expose them. Modern times must make it harder than ever for them to remain hidden.

  I had to remind myself that mermaids were immortal... eternal, and had seen empires rise and crumble to dust. My own mother could have known this very beach for centuries, watching different people come and go until the fateful day she saw my father and met her ultimate fate. It was strange to think that Lorelei was ancient, for she seemed as innocent and naive as a child, and I felt like I was much older than her.

  The sun was high in the sky when I remembered my promise to Ethan to visit him at the market. I told Lorelei that I had to leave but promised we could do it again soon.

  “How will I find you?” I asked.

  “I can hear you better now,” she said.

  “What do you mean?”

  She looked like she was trying to puzzle it out, “Before you changed, I could hardly hear you. But now, I can hear you when you get close. You were thinking about your surfboard… and the wave rider.”

  “Ethan?”

  “Yes,” she nodded.

  My god, I thought, she can read my mind. I was reminded of the mermaid council’s strange telepathic communication.

  “Lorelei?” I asked.

  “Yes?” her voice rang out like a bell.

  “How come I can’t hear you thinking?” She knitted her brow together but couldn’t answer me.

  I could see figures gathering on the distant beach so I bid Lorelei farewell, watching as she slipped under the surface and disappeared. I started to paddle in, a gang of sea lions accompanying me. I couldn’t resist taking one more beautiful wave and it was my best surf of the day. I worked my way through the breakers towards my towel on tired, wobbly legs.

  The sea lions tried to follow me in, barking like dogs. I turned around, laughing as they spun all around me in the waist deep water. They weren’t so scary now. A few of them came up out of the water, holding their heads up for a pat.

  I concentrated and pointed, saying, “Shoo! Go back out to the boat.” They all barked and complied, and I started walking in to the beach, giggling with glee. I could actually talk to them! I looked up and stopped laughing.

  A group of the surfers from high school had arrived at the beach, setting up near where I’d left my towel. They had obviously watched me make my exit and were standing transfixed, staring at me in silence. I’d seen them before, but the only one I knew by name was Shayla. At least it was too cold for sunbathing, so their gaggle of groupies wasn’t there to harass me, jealous of the attention I got from Ethan.

  I steeled myself to walk in, poker faced. I could hear them muttering amongst themselves as I reached my towel and pulled clothes out of my bag. Someone said, “That’s Carlson’s girl” and I was both mortified and pleased to hear it.

  Shayla approached me with a puzzled look as I reached to unzip my suit. The two of us had gotten off to a rocky start, enemies over her treatment of Megan and Cruz. After a dramatic fight that ended with me pulling her, half-drowned, out of the surf, we’d come to a truce, and were cautiously friendly.

  “Jeeze Marina, you were totally ripping out there,” she said, taken aback. “When did you learn how to surf?”

  “Uhm, Ethan taught me.”

  “Where is he?” she asked, looking around.

  “He’s at work.”

  “You went out alone?” she looked surprised, “That’s not really a good idea.”

  “I know,” I bit my lip. Crap! I was going to have to tell Ethan about this before he heard it from them. I unzipped my suit and started peeling it down. “Oh!” I forgot what I had on underneath and I pulled it back up, looking over Shayla’s shoulder at the crowd of guys watching us. My underwear looked strangely suggestive on the beach, even though it probably covered as much as your average bikini.

  “Shayla? Could you please stand there and block me for a minute? I– ah... forgot my swimsuit.” My cheeks flushed red and I looked at her in desperation.

  “Sure,” she said, and held up a towel for me. I changed into my clothes in record time.

  “Thanks,” I said gratefully. I gathered up my things and turned to her. I remembered that Shayla was a really good surfer. “Hey, would you give me a surfing lesson sometime?”

  She looked surprised, “Uhm, from what I can see you don’t really need lessons.”

  “Oh... that’s okay, never mind,” I looked down, feeling rejected.

  She kicked at the sand, “We could go out and tear it up sometime. I know some good spots...”

  I smiled up at her, “Yeah, that would be fun.”

  I raced home, hurrying away from the curious eyes. I hurried to the bathroom to splash some water on my face, rushing to get dressed and run a comb through my hair.

  By the time I pulled up at the farmer’s market it was late in the day and the crowds were thinning. I walked past the stand with exotic greens, looking ahead of me for Ethan.

  “Hello water girl,” I turned towards the voice of Lue Khang, sitting in the far corner of his booth. He looked as ancient and wrinkled as some of the root vegetables on display at his stand.

  “Hello Lue,” I smiled at him. Ethan’s boss was one of the first people I’d met in Aptos; his calm and steady presence had always been a great comfort to me.

  “Ethan looks for you all day,” he said, nodding in his direction.

  “I know, I’m late,” I felt guilty, turning to rush away, “See you later.”

  I headed to Ethan’s stall, chewing my lip apprehensively. He looked up to watch me coming.

  “You made it,” he said, a little too curtly.

  “Yeah,” I paused, suspicious. I had an intuitive fear of being trapped, and the sudden impulse to turn and run. He motioned for me to come into the back of his stall.

  “You knew about Abby, didn’t you?” he asked, his eyes searching mine.

  I looked down, “She wasn’t herself on our trip. Evie guessed.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, hurt in his tone.

  “It was Abby’s secret… not mine.”

  “Wow,” he said, “I can’t believe they got married. Who coulda seen that coming?” He paused, “Well, except for you...” I looked up to meet his smiling eyes. He was teasing me, and I felt a wash of relief.

  “So, what do you think about it?” I asked.

  “I guess I’m gonna be a big brother,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief.

  A customer came by and Ethan went to go help him. I took a seat at the back of his booth. Watching him, my stomach tightened, and I wondered how to tell him about surfing today. He pulled up a chair in front of me and straddled it, catching my knees between his legs.

  “You know, it’s funny. When I was a kid I used to wish that Abby was my mom,” he chuckled, “I also used to wish I had a brother or sister.”

  “Me too. But…” I said, pressing my lips together and voicing my fears, “I think Abby’s going to need me to move out when the baby comes.”

  He looked thoughtful and shook his head, “No way, Abby really wants you to stay. She told me how hard it was to let you go before. She was so happy when I told her you wanted to stay for college… almost as happy as me.”

  I smiled at the thought, and he leaned in to kiss me, snaking his hands around my waist. He pulled me towards him and I sighed, kissing him back. We embraced, and he kissed my ear, nuzzling his face into my hair. I was feeling perfectly happy when he stopped and drew back.

  “Have you been out swimming today?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I said, resigned to telling the unwelcome truth.

  He pulled away and sat up, “Where?”

  “I went down to the beach this morning... I wasn’t planning on it, but I ended up going surfing.”

  “Alone?!” He jumped up from the chair in alarm.

  I stood up slowly and met his eyes, “No.”

  He looked at me and he knew. I could see his jaw set in anger.

  “What were you thinking?” he said, his voice loud.

  “I don’t see any harm in it.”

  “YOU DON’T SEE ANY HARM?” he yelled at me.

  I looked around to see a crowd of faces all pointed our way, watching us. I looked up into his blazing eyes and turned on my heel, racing to the car. I wasn’t used to being yelled at; I fought back tears the whole drive home.

  I walked in the house to find Megan and Cruz watching TV.

  “Are you alright?” Megan asked when she saw me.

  “I’m fine,” I bluffed, “How are you doing?” I asked, looking at Cruz.

  “Getting over the shock!”

  “Well, congratulations,” I said, forcing a smile, “I’m sure you’ll be a great brother.”

  “Why don’t you join us?” Megan asked.

  “I’m really very tired right now, I’m going to go take a nap.”

  I went to my room and laid down, Ethan’s angry face flashing through my mind. I remembered how he’d avoided me after he found me seeking out Lorelei before– he’d looked even more upset today. He could be really harsh when he felt threatened, and it scared me. I started to cry, unable to stifle it. I was tired from my day of surfing and I curled up around my pillow, falling into an uneasy sleep. I woke to find it was dark outside, and I looked in the mirror at my puffy eyes and frowned. I was dreading school tomorrow.

  My stomach growled, and I looked around my little room, feeling trapped again. I didn’t want to come out and have to talk to anyone. I could hear voices and laughter down the hall, and the clanking sounds of someone cooking in the kitchen. I felt alienated, like I didn’t belong anymore. I missed Evie and my dad; fresh tears sprang from my eyes.

  There was a gentle knock on the door and I hurriedly wiped my cheeks.

  “Yes?”

  “Marina? Are you awake? Can I come in?” it was Abby.

  I sighed, “Yes.”

  Abby sat on the bed next to me and looked at me with worried eyes, “Honey, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” I felt like I was going to start crying again.

  “Cruz says you looked upset when you came in. Is there something you want to talk about?”

  “No Abby, I’m fine.”

  “Marina, I want you to know how glad I am that you’re here... things are so much better now we have you back. I– I hope you still want to stay, I mean, I know babies can be hard to live with...”

  “Abby, you’re going to need me to clear out of this room.”

  “What?” she asked with a confused look, “Why would you say that?”

  “You’re going to need a room for the baby.”

  She looked at me like I was crazy, “Marina, the baby will stay with me… in my room.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” I said reproachfully.

  “Cruz stayed with me, so did you, and so will this baby,” she put her hand to her belly.

  “What about Dutch? Where are you going to put him?” I asked.

  Abby started laughing, “I know that we’re a little bit unorthodox, but we decided to keep our separate places until after you and Cruz and Ethan graduate. They’ll be college to think about in the fall... we’ll just work things out as they come.”

  I felt a little better, for at least I knew I could stay on if I wanted to.

  Abby patted my knee, “Dinner’s ready, come out and eat with us.”

  “I’ll be out in a minute,” I said. I got up, brushed my hair and made my way into the kitchen. I stopped in my tracks, surprised.

  Megan and Cruz were at the table, along with Dutch and Ethan. They all looked up and smiled, except for Ethan. He looked apprehensive.

  “Hi Marina!” called Dutch cheerfully. I was his favorite person next to Abby; he knew I had been willing to trade my life for his and was so solicitous it bordered on embarrassing.

  “Hi Dutch,” I smiled at him as I took the empty seat next to Ethan, careful not to touch him.

  “Dutch made clam chowder for us tonight,” said Abby as she dished everyone a bowlful. Cruz, Megan and I exchanged a glance between us.

  “Mom!” Cruz smirked, “You’re going to eat a clam?”

  “I’ve decided,” she said with a sniff, “to eat some kinds of seafood.”

  “As long as it doesn’t have a face,” said Megan.

  We all laughed, but Abby looked a little flustered. She had been a strict vegan on principle. She must really be in love, I thought.

  The chowder was excellent, and everyone praised Dutch. Abby was a notoriously bad cook, and if the rest of Dutch’s cooking was as good as this, our culinary future had just brightened considerably. Ethan didn’t say a word the whole meal and I studiously avoided his eyes.

  After dinner, Dutch and Abby left to go cuddle on the couch as I rose to clear the table, telling Cruz and Megan that I’d take care of the dishes. That left Ethan standing awkwardly at the table as I busied myself at the sink.

  I stacked the bowls and turned to find him standing close behind me, “Marina–”

  I looked up at his sad serious face and couldn’t turn away.

  “Can we please talk?” he asked, motioning outside.

  I nodded yes and he walked out the back door. I followed him out to the dark gazebo.

  “I’m sorry I yelled at you,” he said. It was too dark to see his face but I could hear the remorse in his strained voice, “Please forgive me. It’s just that– I was waiting to see you all day...”

  My hurt feelings dissipated, and I went over and gave him a hug. He sighed raggedly, as if he had been holding his breath. He clung on to me tightly.

  “It’s okay,” I said, stroking his back. I was always surprised at his intensity.

  “I love you,” he whispered, “I just can’t stand the thought of them taking you again.” He wound his hands in my hair and kissed me passionately, as though he were trying to draw me into him. I pulled away, panting for a breath, and he buried his face in my neck.