Derrolyn Anderson - [Marinas Tales #1] - Between The Land And The Sea (30 page)

“What news?”

“The prize? Your father?”

“What prize– what happened?”

“Martin has won the Nobel prize! It was announced today. He was nominated for his work fighting hunger in Africa and he’s won! We’re all absolutely over the moon about it! Of course they’ll be a major gala when he returns from Afghanistan. We’re forming a committee to select a delegation to attend the award ceremony in Oslo this December.”

“Wow!” I said numbly, still in a state of shock, “That’s great news.” I started backing away,

“My friend and I should really get going... I’m so sorry to have disturbed you.” Ethan and I beat a hasty retreat.

“Tell your father congratulations!” he called after us.

Once we got past the gate Ethan looked at me, shaking his head, “Never a dull moment with you,” he said, deadpan. He bent down, “Jump on.” He carried me on his back down the dock, weaving through the crowds of spectators. I wrapped my arms around his neck and went limp with relief.

“Thanks,” I said, “That was weird.”

“Yeah, I thought I was going to get nailed for sneaking around and get my dad in trouble.

What’s he going to say to your father?” he asked me.

“Oh, I doubt he’ll be saying anything about this little incident,” I said.

“Why?” Ethan asked, surprised.

“Because Amy,” I tried to suppress a snicker, “Is not Mrs. Milton.” He laughed about it as he carried me back to his apartment.

Abby and Dutch were out on the boat, so we had the place to ourselves. Ethan sat me down on the couch and took off my shoes to inspect the damage. Peeling back my socks and bandages, he blanched.

“Marina, some of these cuts need stitches!” He looked at me incredulously, “There may still be glass in them... you have to see a doctor.”

“Oh,” I said meekly, “I was hoping they’d just close up...”

“Are you crazy?” he said, “What were you thinking coming over here like this?” Tears welled up in my eyes as my hard facade began to crack. My voice was shaky as I groped around for my shoes and socks, “I’m sorry, I’d better go home. I guess I’m just so tired I’m not thinking straight. I didn’t want to worry you...”

“Stop,” he said, “Wait a minute.” Ethan got up and headed for his room. He came back with a fresh pair of socks and put them on me. He scooped me up off the couch and carried me down to his truck.

“Marina, you’ve got to stop worrying about everyone but yourself!” We drove a short distance to an emergency medical clinic and he carried me in. He stood by my side trying to distract me, while they injected painkillers and cleaned my wounds.

“So,” he said, smoothing back my hair and taking my hand, “A Nobel prize. That’s a big deal. How come you didn’t know?”

“I didn’t check my mail today,” I said, “And he didn’t call. My dad’s more into his work than awards and stuff.” I smiled up at him from the table, “He’s kinda crazy that way.”

“I think crazy runs in the family,” he said, squeezing my hand.

All I could feel now was a tugging sensation as they sewed up the two main cuts. I was given some antibiotics to take and Ethan was sent out of the room.

The doctor sat down and lectured me about waiting so long to seek medical attention. He told me I was lucky I came in before an infection could set in, and said that I needed to stay off my feet for a few days. Then his tone became serious as he handed me a brochure about teen drinking and drug abuse. He suggested that I join a support group. He left and Ethan came back in.

“That’s just great,” I said sarcastically, “First they think I’m suicidal and now I’m a substance abuser.” I waved the brochures at him. Ethan laughed at me and picked me up again.

As we drove back to his house he gently questioned me.

“They were convinced you had to be high on something to have withstood the pain. How did you get all the way home from the beach like that?” he asked.

I described what happened to him, pausing when I noticed how upset he was getting. I told him how I could barely see to pull the glass out. How glad I was that I had pants on. I told him about using the newspaper and taking some of the stairs on my knees. I told him about washing up in the bathtub, and how freaked out I was that I had moved the furniture like a zombie to get out of my room. We pulled up to his apartment.

“Wait here,” he said, leaning over to kiss me. He paused, “You’re a lot tougher than you look.” He came back with my things in his duffel bag, “Give me your keys. I’m driving you home.”

“How are you getting home?” I asked.

“I’m not,” he said, “I’m your new bodyguard.”

He told me he was going to watch me that night to make sure I didn’t sleepwalk. As we drove he said it didn’t matter if he had to stay up all night, he would figure out a way to keep me from getting out. I was relieved that he was going to help me but I was nervous at the thought of having him in such close proximity. We pulled up in front of my house.

“I don’t know if this is such a good idea,” I said.

“I think it is,” he replied.

“What about your dad?” I asked, “Won’t he miss you?”

“He won’t check up on me tonight,” he told me. “Besides, Abby has him so distracted lately that I’d be surprised if he even notices I’m gone.”

I laughed, “Yeah, Abby’s been going around the house singing for the past week. She’s even happier than normal, if that’s possible.” I shook my head, amused, “So you’re okay with your dad seeing her?”

“Absolutely,” he said. “My mom ditched us when I was just a kid. He deserves to be with someone great like Abby.”

Once again I didn’t know what to say. I reached out and took his hand and he leaned over to kiss me softly. He got out and came around to my side of the car, picking me up and carrying me into the house. He set me down on the couch. Cruz came into the room and did a double take when he saw my bandaged feet.

“What on earth happened here?” he exclaimed, looking back and forth at Ethan and me.

“Have a seat,” I said, “We need to talk.” I told him everything that had been going on. I tried to break the news to him gently, but with each new detail he became more and more agitated.

“Why didn’t you tell me!” he cried, “For God’s sake Marina– you could have been killed!”

“I know,” said Ethan, taking his side, “We have to figure out what to do.” Ethan told him about his plans to watch over me at night and the two of them started discussing ways to keep me from getting out.

“Hello– I’m sitting right here!” I said, offended, “I’ve been doing my best.” Cruz looked at me sadly, “Why didn’t you tell me about your mother? Don’t you trust me?”

“It’s not like that,” I said gently, “At first I didn’t know for sure... and then I was too freaked out to talk about it. I’m sorry.” I limped over and gave him a hug, “Forgive me?” He sighed and hugged me back, “This explains a lot.” He turned towards Ethan, “Megan and I couldn’t understand why she was so dead set on meeting with them. We’ve been trying to talk her out of it all along.”

“There’s nothing you could have said or done,” I said.

“She’s crazy that way,” Ethan said, looking at me sideways.

“You better go hide,” Cruz said, looking out the window, “Mom’s home.” Ethan picked me up and carried me to my room. Cruz followed behind us with our bags. “I’ll tell her you’re asleep

– we can talk after she goes to work in the morning.”

Alone in my room with Ethan, I was suddenly shy. I moved around in the tiny space, straightening up the clutter. We weren’t talking so Abby wouldn’t hear us, but I watched him look around, taking everything in. It felt a little too personal, as if I were an open book he was reading. He sat down on the little chair in the corner.

“Sit down!” he whispered, pointing to the bed, “You need to stay off your feet.” He looked down and his eyes widened. I realized I had shoved the gruesome bloody towels aside and forgotten them. They were ruined, so I gathered them up and threw them in the garbage. I’d have to remember to get Abby some new ones. I sat on the bed and put my feet up. The anesthetic was wearing off and they were beginning to throb.

Ethan came over and sat down next to me, “Do you think you have enough shoes?” He whispered in my ear, his dark blue eyes lit with humor. I shot him a dirty look.

“Mind your own business,” I looked down and smiled. He chuckled. There was a scratching sound at the door and Ethan looked at me, alarmed. I reached over and cracked the door open.

Charlie the cat came barreling in and planted himself between us on the bed, purring loudly. I was glad he arrived when he did. He broke up the tension between us. I yawned.

“You need some sleep,” he said.

I got up, “I’m gonna go brush my teeth.” I put some socks on over my bandages and grabbed a pair of sweatpants to change into, limping out of the room and down the hall. When I got back Ethan was moving the chair, which he took to position over by the door.

“I’m sitting right here tonight,” he said quietly, “Just go to sleep.”

“But–”

“Get in bed,” he said, pointing sternly.

I was too tired to argue, so I slid into bed and Charlie snuggled up to me. Overcome with exhaustion, I fell asleep before I even had a chance to thank him.

A ring of mermaids surrounded me, hovering in the deep black water. Their bodies glowed,
casting an eerie light on the rock walls that encircled us. Their long hair waved from side to side
in the water, reminding me of grass blowing in the breeze. I knew I could never live without the
sun and the wind, without things growing in dirt. I thought of Ethan and I started to fight them,
kicking and thrashing furiously as I screamed at them to release me.

“Sssh, Marina, wake up. You’re dreaming.”

I was standing in my room, struggling to free myself. Ethan had me in a bear hug, arms pinned to my sides. I was heaving with exertion, caught up in the in the heat of the battle, sweating with fury. By the time I came fully awake I was spent, and I went limp, slumping onto him. He set me on the edge of the bed and turned the lights on.

“I’m awake,” I said weakly. He brushed the hair out of my face, looking closely into my eyes.

“Hey,” he said, smiling encouragingly, “You’re strong when you’re asleep.”

“What did I do?” I panted.

“You tried to get out… you tried hard.”

“I’m sorry,” I gasped, “I’m sorry.”

His blue eyes studied mine, “You were talking to them. You sounded angry. I couldn’t understand...”

I covered my face with my hands, “Why is this happening to me?” He embraced me, “Don’t worry, we’ll find out,” he said grimly. He tucked me into bed and turned out the lights. He settled down next to me on top of the covers. “Sleep,” he said, throwing his arm across me, “I won’t let you go.” I focused on the sound of his breathing and drifted off to a dreamless sleep.

The sun streaming through the window woke me up, and I rolled over to see Ethan’s sleeping face. His arm was still draped across me, and I studied him for a few minutes, my heart swelling with gratitude. I reached up to gently trace the scar on his temple. It had healed nicely and hair was starting to grow in and cover it. His eyes opened and crinkled at me.

“Good morning,” he whispered.

“When did you get the stitches out?” I asked.

“Last Saturday,” he said, thinking, and added, “I have a confession.”

“What?”

He looked a little sheepish, “That day, I was working in the yard and I saw... I looked in your window. You were sleeping with the desk against the door. I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

I thought you were afraid of someone coming
in
.”

“That worked for a while,” I said.

He exhaled loudly, as if he’d been holding his breath. “Thank God I was here to stop you.

Do you remember the dream?”

I thought about the ring of mermaids. If he didn’t like hearing about two, he was really going to hate this.

“I was surrounded by them. Dozens of them. I was fighting to get away.”

“You sure were,” he leaned over and kissed my forehead, “keep fighting.”

“I wonder why... I mean, how can I find out...” I had to know what they had planned for me.

“Marina, you need to talk to your father. You need to ask him about it.”

“Yeah, I know. My mom has always been a sore spot with him.” He nodded, “I know how that goes.”

We were both quiet for a minute. I looked over at him with a little smile, “I have a confession too.”

He smiled back, “What’s that?”

I pressed my lips together, remembering, “I kissed you first... when you were out cold in the hospital.”

He smiled at me incredulously, “I thought that was a dream.” He reached over and stroked my cheek, tracing the outlines of my lips with his thumb, “Just my luck, not to wake up.” There was a sharp rap on the door and Cruz’s voice called out, “Marina, mom made breakfast for us – come out before
she
leaves for the studio
.” I got the message and jumped out of bed, landing on my feet with a small whimper. I pulled my socks up over my bandages and walked as nonchalantly as possible to the kitchen.

“Good morning!” Abby beamed as she stood at the stove, “You look like you got some sleep.”

“Thanks, I did,” I smiled back. Cruz caught my eye and raised his eyebrows at me. I ignored him. “Did you have a good time last night?” I asked her.

“I had a blast,” she said, “The boats are so beautiful at night...” she added dreamily. I poured myself some coffee, but declined the tofu scramble. When Abby left for work I headed back to my room. Ethan was stretched out on my bed, his arms behind his head. The cat had climbed onto his chest and was nudging his chin.

“The coast is clear. She’s off to work,” I said.

“I’m jealous of this cat,” he said.

I sat down and petted Charlie, laughing as his little toes curled up with delight, “He’s spoiled, huh?”

“I’ll say,” he sat up, putting the cat aside and scooting over to kiss my ear, “He gets to stay with you every night.”

I looked down, embarrassed, “I’m sorry about last night.”

“I’m not! Thank God I was here to stop you.”