Current Impressions (14 page)

“What are we going to do with it?” Evan’s
throat tightened in discomfort. This was what his internship was
about? Studying volcanic activity? He assumed they would be
tracking native oceanic species.

“We’ll gather samples, of course, and
measurements. Try to determine how active it is and predict its
growth.”

“What is our assignment for today, sir?”
Evan asked.

“I’ll take some samples. You have the
camera. Try to get some clear shots along the length, as well as
some close-ups near the fissure.”

Evan did as he was told. Digital was cheap,
so he just kept clicking. The entire time he pondered the parallel
to his dream. What did it mean? Was there any significance or was
it just an eerie coincidence?

“Are you awake?”

Ula stood in my doorway. All I could see was
her silhouette against the pale glow coming from the hall. The room
was pitch black. It was either the middle of the night or very
early in the morning. I had no idea how much time had passed while
I tossed and turned, thinking about what Kieran told me. I would
rule this place someday, with responsibility for all of these
lives. It scared the hell out of me.

“I can’t sleep,” I admitted.

“Are you alone?”

“Of course I’m alone. Who else would be
here?” The words came out with a bit more edge than I intended, but
really? What was she thinking? She knew I loved Evan. Did she think
I would just throw myself at Kieran?

“Sorry,” she murmured. “It’s just…” Her
voice trailed off. I waited for her to say something else. “Can I
come in?”

“Of course,” I said. She sounded so forlorn,
I couldn’t be angry with her. I scooted over to make room for her
on the bed.

“Do you mind lighting some candles?” Ula
asked. “It’s awfully dark in here.”

I waved my hand, and the candles on my
bookshelf flamed to life. Ula’s brows rose as she looked at them.
“You’re learning fast.”

“Brigid taught me that last week.” I
shrugged. “It’s useful, so I’ve been practicing.”

I sat up and propped my pillows against the
headboard. Sleep was not going to come tonight. I might as well get
comfortable. Ula was a welcome distraction, even if I was irritated
that she ditched me at the dance. It seemed to be a pattern, at
least when Kieran was involved. I understood to a point, but when
would she get over him? Hadn’t it been decades?

She pulled her knees to her chest and rested
her chin on them. Her eyes were still on the candles. “About
tonight,” she began. “I’m sorry I left. I was coming over by you
and the children when I saw Kieran heading your way. It’s hard for
me to be around him. I panicked and fled.”

“Being around him bothers you that much?”
Her admission surprised me. Although I was starting to consider
Kieran a friend, it didn’t stop me from thinking he was egotistical
and oftentimes annoying. Sure, he was hot, but a face and body only
went so far. Eventually, good looks faded. It may take hundreds of
years for a Selkie, but ultimately, everything aged.

My thoughts turned to Evan. He would age
much faster than I would now. In twenty years, I’d look just a
couple of years older. Kieran might look like he was in his
twenties. Evan would have wrinkles and gray in his hair. Would I
feel different then?

No, I decided. I’d love Evan the same as I
did now.

“I still love him,” Ula whispered. She
looked miserable.

I leaned over and hugged her. “I’m sorry,” I
said. “I can imagine how hard it is for you to be around him.”

“I see how he looks at you,” she continued,
as if I hadn’t said anything. “He never looked at me that way.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” If
my heart sped up, I ignored it. Did he really watch me when I
wasn’t looking? “We’re just friends.”

She met my eyes, and I squirmed under her
gaze. “You’re lying to yourself if you believe that. I know you
love Evan, but you feel something for Kieran, too.” She drew in a
deep breath before continuing, “And Kieran, he watches you all the
time. He looks at you like you are precious and rare.” She started
to cry. “And you are. He’s right.”

“You are, too!” I said.

“He never loved me.” Her voice held
dejection. “He always thought I was beneath him. He must see you as
an equal, and I know why. You’re more powerful in a few weeks that
I am after a century of practice.”

How could I respond to that? Although I felt
bad that I had more power than her, there was nothing I could do
about it.

“When are you going to see Evan again?” She
wiped her eyes and sniffed lightly.

“I don’t know.” I flopped back against the
headboard again. “I have no way to reach him.”

“Can’t you go see him?”

I shook my head. “Kieran said I won’t get
many opportunities to leave. My dad’s orders.”

“He told you that?”

I nodded. “And he told me that eventually,
it will be my job to protect this island.”

Ula scowled. “He shouldn’t have said
anything. That was up to David to tell you.”

“You knew?” I was hurt. Ula was my friend.
Why hadn’t she told me that I was next in line to rule or whatever
they called it?

“Of course, but I promised David I wouldn’t
tell you. He wanted to give you time to adjust, and then he was
going to explain it all to you.”

“When?” I asked. “I barely see my dad. He’s
so busy.”

My vision blurred, and my eyes filled with
tears. Ula patted my hand. “He feels bad about that, too,” she
said. “Things should settle down by the end of summer. It’ll get
better.”

Summer. Evan was only here for part of the
summer. I had no idea when I’d see him after he went back to
Peggy’s Cove. I needed to make the most of his time here and see
him as much as I could, but how?

“How can I see Evan if I can’t leave the
island?” I wondered aloud.

“I might be able to help with that,” Ula
said. “But don’t tell your dad. Ever.”

“My lips are sealed.”

“What?” She gave me a confused look, and I
remembered that she didn’t know all the expressions I used. She
knew more than the teenagers I met, but not all.

“It means I won’t tell. I promise,” I
said.

“Good.” She swung her legs to the side of
the bed and stood up. “Follow me.”

I thought we were going back to her room,
but we passed her door and continued down the hall. We bypassed the
stairwell and went down another hall. I thought these rooms were
empty and said as much.

“They are,” Ula confirmed. “We tend to use
them for storage unless other Selkies are staying with us. Kieran’s
room is at the end of the hall.”

“Oh.” Were we going there? No, there was no
way that Ula would purposefully contact him. We passed his room and
turned to yet another corridor. She opened the third door on the
left.

“This suite belonged to my mother.”

My grandmother. Would this room tell me
anything about her?

“Didn’t she live with your father?” I
asked.

“Sure.” Ula shrugged. “But everyone needs an
escape. She used it as a lady’s chamber. She would gather in here
with the other women. They’d tell stories, sing, knit, and sew.”
She looked around thoughtfully. “I think some of the women even
painted.”

Ula lit a candle near the door and entered
the room. I followed and asked, “Couldn’t they just use magic to
create what they needed?”

“My mother could; she was very powerful. I
asked her that once myself. You know what she told me? ‘Where is
the sense of accomplishment in that? Or creativity?’” She paused,
her face lighting up as she remembered. Then, she shrugged.
“Besides, most of the other women could not use magic. She
preferred to create alongside them.”

I looked around the room and wished I had
met my grandmother. She sounded like a fair and caring woman, and
she had elegant taste, too. The furnishings were beautiful.
Tapestries on the wall portrayed sea life around the world, from
tropical islands to the icy artic. Woven rugs covered the stone
floor. Plush chairs invited one to sit and relax. They were set in
a semi-circle before a large, stone hearth. It felt warm and
inviting.

“Does anyone use this room anymore?” I
asked.

“No.” Ula moved toward a bookcase along the
back wall. “It’s been vacant for years. I don’t like to come here.
I miss her too much.”

“How long ago did she die?” I wasn’t sure if
I should ask or not, but curiosity got the best of me.

“My parents were murdered sixteen years
ago.” Ula’s voice was quiet. “It feels like it happened yesterday.
I miss them so much.”

She continued to search the bookcase, moving
a few books on the shelf and talking to herself as she did. I stood
back and watched. What was she was doing? After a few attempts, she
hooted in triumph and spun to face me. She held a small, jeweled
box.

“Let’s go back to my room,” she said. “And
I’ll explain what I have here.”

The hall was less dim than before. Though
dark outside, it was no longer black. Morning couldn’t be too far
off now. Ula opened her door and moved to the bookcase, lighting
the candles. She sat in her favorite beanbag chair and pulled one
close for me.

“My mother came from the clan near Nova
Scotia.” As she talked, she trailed her fingers over the top of the
ornate box. “My father courted her for many years before her
parents would allow her to marry him. During that time, he gave her
a gift.”

Ula opened the box and delicately fingered
through its contents. She pulled out a gold necklace with a pearl
charm and handed it to me. I held it up. The charm was actually a
tail—the tail of a whale or maybe a Selkie—wrapped around a pearl.
Beautifully crafted, it was graceful and elegant.

“I love it,” I said.

“It’s yours.” Ula smiled at me.

“No, I could never keep this.” I tried to
give it back, but she pushed my hands away.

“My mother would’ve wanted you to have it,”
she said. “Besides, you’ll need it, along with this piece, for what
I’m about to tell you.” She lifted out another necklace. This one
was a thicker gold chain, obviously meant for a man to wear. It was
unadorned, but striking all the same.

“My father wore this,” she explained. “And
gave my mother the one that you’re holding. When they were both
wearing their necklaces, they could communicate with each
other.”

“How?” I could scarcely believe it. Had Ula
discovered a way for me to talk to Evan?

“He charmed them. The wearers can
communicate telepathically with each other. They wore the necklaces
their entire lives, so they could always stay in touch, whether
they were close or far. I’m not sure if it will work with a human,
but I imagine it will.” She smiled at me. “It can’t hurt to try,
right?”

I threw my arms around her and pulled her
into a tight hug. “Thank you so much. You have no idea what this
means to me.”

“Can’t breathe,” she joked, and then
laughed. “I think I do know what it means. I hope it helps you,
Meara. I only want the best for you.”

My excitement cooled when I realized I first
had to get the other necklace to him. “How am I going to get over
to Scotland to give him this? Kieran didn’t think Dad would let me
go back.”

“You have lessons with Brigid today?” Ula
asked. When I nodded, she said, “Let me talk to her. I think I can
convince her to take you there. It will have to be quick, but you
only need a few minutes to get him the necklace.”

“You can convince Brigid to help me?”

“Sure, why not? I’ll use my baby sister
charm.”

I laughed. “Maybe I should be taking lessons
from you. Thanks for helping.”

“Think nothing of it,” she said. “We’re
family. Now go to your room and try to get at least a couple hours
of sleep. I know my sister’s lessons are brutal.”

I clasped the pearl necklace around my neck,
and Ula handed me the thicker chain. It felt heavy in my hands. If
this worked, I could talk to Evan like he was in the room with me.
It was almost as good as seeing him. I hoped it would allow us to
meet up, too. I planned to make the most of our time together, in
whatever way I could.

****

A sharp knock at my door woke me.

“I’m not waiting for you all day, niece. If
you want to go, we’re going now.”

I flew out of bed and opened my door. Brigid
was already heading down the hall. I visualized my pajamas becoming
shorts and a T-shirt as I ran after her. Patience was not a word in
her vocabulary.

“Ula talked to you?” I asked after I caught
up. I hated that I was struggling to catch my breath, and she was
cool as ever.

She raised one dark eyebrow and captured me
with her cold eyes. “She did, although how she convinced me to help
you on this little endeavor is beyond me. Don’t push your luck.
This will be a quick meeting. No long lovers’ rendezvous,
understood?”