Evermore (7 page)

On my phone, I stared at the empty text box addressed to Fin. My stomach, both hungry and nauseous, balled up once more. I’d been hard on him when this wasn’t his fault, and I needed to let him know if he wanted to ask for my hand, tonight was the night.

“Dinner’s ready, Ash,” Mom called up the stairs “Your dad should be home any minute.”

“Okay.” Though I’d been starving because of my pregnancy, I’d lost my appetite.

A knock at the front door made my stomach lurch, and I froze mid-step. He was here. Mom wiped off her hands and answered the door.

“Oh… Tatiana?” Mom said. “My. What a pleasant surprise. I haven’t seen you in… a long time. Come in.”

My lungs seized, then my legs took off, hitting the stairs in rapid succession. I tackle-hugged her neck before Mom could let her fully inside.

“You’re here!” I said, gasping.

Tatchi smiled, but not as brightly as I’d expected. “Of course I am, silly. I promised I’d come.”

“So… should I set another plate?” Mom asked.

Tatchi shrugged. “Sure, why not, Mrs. Lanski.”

“Good. And let Fin know, too. I don’t want the food to get cold.” Mom left to go to the kitchen.

Tatchi twisted her head. “She’s taking this well.”

“She doesn’t know anything yet,” I said between my teeth. The wedding was one thing, but a baby? That could set off world war three.

“Oh.” Tatchi’s eyes tightened. “So what’s this I hear about Girra being your wedding planner?”

My breaths grew shallow. I was certain she’d come because Pearl would blab.

“She’s not,” I blurted out.

“Well, she thinks she is.” She cocked her head. “That’s if your wedding is still on.”

I ushered her outside on the porch. “Shhh.”

“What is wrong with you? Fin came in a rush telling me the whole thing is off.”

I paused for a moment, guilt settling in. “If you want to plan this wedding, it has to be in three weeks.”

“What?” Tatchi let out a huff. “I can’t plan a wedding in three weeks. Why?” Her face fell, and then her mouth gapped open. Eyes wide, she said, “You’re not…”

I bit my lip and nodded.

Tatchi screamed, startling me, then scooped my hands into hers and danced around. “Oh, my STARFISH!”

I let her pull me with her in a circle, trying not to burst into conflicting tears of sadness and joy.

“This is the best news! No wonder you’re all over the board.” She froze. “Fin doesn’t know, does he?”

My eyes became transfixed on the worn paint on the deck. “Not yet.”

“Why not?”

I held my breath. “I just found out.” The lump rising in my throat wasn’t helping things. “Tatchi, I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.”

She grabbed onto me and had us sit on the swinging bench. “What do you mean? This is good news.”

“Is it?” I collapsed backward into the cushions.

She touched my knee. “Do you not want a baby?”

“I…” the tears slithered down my cheeks. “I… just… how am I going to explain all this to my parents?”

“Oh, honey,” she said, patting my knee. “With mojo.”

“I don’t want to. I want them to be happy for me for real.”

“I know…” She took a deep breath. “Look, it’s hard, mixing two worlds. I get it—”

“Hard? We came home to two arrest warrants. How’s that for an early wedding gift?”

Tatchi pressed her lips together as if to hide her smile.

“What?”

“It could have been worse,” she said. “Your sister could have been mer-jacked by Alaster.”

My body convulsed in full shivers, remembering his slimy lips on mine. She was a complete brat, yes, but I didn’t wish that on her, or anyone. “Oh, don’t say that.”

“Look. The mojo is there to smooth it all over and protect the secret. If humans found out about us, it would just be bad. So… you have parents who love you, my parents who love you, your birth mom who loves you, a mate who loves you, and I love you… we all want you to be happy. This is about your dream. Don’t let the timing of a child get in the way.”

I shook my head. “It’s just a wedding. I don’t need it.”

“No. It’s not.” Tatchi said sternly. “It’s a commitment. It’s a promise inside of the promise. And it symbolizes your parents’ trust. They’re giving you to Fin, for him to protect and take care of you for life. It’s part of your transition to becoming a mer citizen, too. Believe me. You’re the talk of Natatoria right now. This wedding symbolizes freedom.”

The pressure felt like too much, and I pinched my eyes shut. “Why does it feel like a lie? Like I’m cheating?”

“Because in your culture, people don’t rush this. It’s to prevent making a mistake. But you and I both know you’re not making a mistake. You and Fin love each other, and this is a good thing. And having a baby is a totally awesome thing.”

“Shhh…” I looked around to make sure no one was listening. “I don’t know if I’m ready to be a mom, though.”

She put her arm around me. “I didn’t either, but you have no idea how much love you have inside of you. It’s powerful, and Nicole isn’t even my flesh and blood.”

“Yeah, but it’s just a party.”

“Just a party? Were you not listening just now? It’s not!”

I sniffed. “I don’t even know how far along I am.”

“Well, you’re not showing yet, so… we have three weeks.”

“Three weeks,” I repeated.

“So we’re doing it?”

I closed my eyes and sucked in a cleansing breath. I wanted to say yes but worried about what my human friends and family would think. I couldn’t agree. It was just too much.

“You may not think so, but you need this and it is not selfish,” she whispered.

“I don’t know.”

“It’ll be the wedding of the century.”

My stomach flipped. “I don’t want all that.”

“Fine, then a small one — a small, magnificent one.” She paused. “What are you afraid of?”

I smirked. “Why do I feel like you’re proposing to me?”

Tatchi snorted. “‘Cause I am.”

In the distance, I could hear a baby cry. “You brought Nicole?”

Tatchi sighed. “Yes. She’s with my mom. But don’t worry about that. I have it handled.”

I blew out another breath, still unsure, as the merling wailed louder. If I ever wanted to fulfill my dreams of having a wedding with my human family involved, this would have to be it.

“Three weeks?”

Tatchi’s face brightened as she clutched my hand. “Three weeks.”

I squeezed back. “Okay. Three weeks. Let’s do it.”

Tatchi jumped up and whooped, doing a little dance.

I rolled my eyes, and though she always had a way of sweet talking me into doing what she wanted, I wasn’t sure if this was the best timing. But then I was somewhat relieved.

I was getting married.

I waited on the dock, nervous as hell. What were they talking about? Would Tatiana help Ash see reason?

Badger walked up to me, changed from his work attire back into his kilt. He stopped and clapped me on the back.

“Aye, Son, what’s troublin’ ya?”

I scrubbed my hand down my face. “What do you think? Women.”

He laughed a big belly laugh. “They be trouble, but the best kind in my opinion. Anythin’ I can be helpin’ ya with?”

“Can you read minds?”

“Oh, Son. I don’t think you be wantin’ that. If she ain’t talkin’ to ya, it might just be she’s scared. Weddins and funerals bring out the worst in people, I’m tellin’ ya.”

I swallowed. “She wants to call it off.”

He jerked his chin down. “Whatcha mean, off?”

“I don’t know. She just freaked out, like…” I groaned. “She hates it when I sing.”

“She don’t like your voice?”

“No.” I let out a loud sigh. “When I persuade people.”

“Aye.” He nodded. “You been doin’ a lot of that? Singin’, eh?”

“Well, I kinda have to,” I huffed. “I mean, we showed up and they wanted to arrest us because the house burned to the ground and we took off without a trace.” I froze, remembering I wasn’t supposed to mention that. “Between you and me.”

“You be workin’ yer magic with her parents, too?”

“Well, yeah, when I have to. Like tonight when I ask her dad if I can marry her… that’s if she still wants me.” I glanced toward the house, watching the girls on the porch, an emptiness filled the pit of my stomach. “I can’t seem to do anything right.”

“Does she be wantin’ her family’s blessin’ without the song?”

“Well, sure, but…” I started. “He’s not going to say yes.”

“How do ya know?” Badger scrubbed his bushy beard. “Yer not some chump. You got a good noggin on yer shoulders and ye love her. That’s all a dad wants for his daughter.”

“He has a gun.”

Badger busted up laughing. “Aye. Give him a chance, lad. You might be surprised.”

Hearing him confirm what I knew I should do didn’t help my nerves. Off in the distance, I heard my sister scream. Badger and I looked toward Ash’s house.

Badger smiled. “Aye, Tatiana’s here.”

“Yeah,” I rubbed my sweaty hands down my pants, “I called in for backup.”

“Smart man.” He raised a bushy brow and nodded appreciatively. “Looks like those girls be up to no good, though. I have ta admit, ye got yer hands full.” He smacked me on the back once more, making me stumble forward. “But yer house ain’t goin’ to be built on its own.” He guided me across the lawn, around my parents’ house, and stabbed a finger toward the newly poured foundation slab by the lake. “Actions always speak louder than words.”

“That’s the cottage?” Eyeing the slab infused my confidence with a renewed vigor. This was really happening.

“Aye. Yer Da did that yesterday while you be out schoolin’.” He gave me a hard look. “Listen to me, Son. A woman needs two things.” He raised a forefinger pointedly. “To know she’s the most important thing in the world to ya and ya’d die for her.” He raised another finger. “And second, a home. It’s easier being a mer to provide that, but right now, yer caught in the middle, tryin’ to make everyone happy — mer and human. Focus on Ash, and let the rest fall where it may.”

Goosebumps stippled my skin as courage swelled inside me. I wanted to ask her dad. I wanted to ask him now.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Ash’s dad’s truck pull into the driveway. This was my chance.

“Thanks, Badger!” I said, then took off running.

“Aye, where you goin’?”

“To show Ash how much I love her!”

Badger laughed behind me as I ran down the road to her house.

I reached the driveway, out of breath. “Mr. Lanski?”

“Hey there, Fin.” His expression turned bewildered as he pulled his gear from the truck. “Am I late for dinner?”

“No. I… uh, need to ask you something,” I said while following him into the garage.

He set his boots and fireman turnouts on the floor. “Can it wait till after we eat? I’m starved.”

I waffled for a minute as he walked past and retrieved a grocery bag from the cab.

“No, it can’t,” I said firmly.

Bill stopped and spun toward me. “Okay.”

My chin jerked upward, my heart pounding. “I love your daughter, and I’d like to have your permission to marry her.”

His brows lifted, and I clenched my mouth shut, my courage evaporating and leaving me in a desert of doubt. The urge to sing burned in my throat. Why would it matter if I did? It wasn’t like Ash was here to listen anyway.

“You think you’re ready for that?” he asked.

“Ready?” I stammered. My heart continued to pound as his glare deepened. This was impossible. How could I convince him without the song that Ash was my soul mate? I ground my teeth, determined to make him see me as a legitimate suitor. “I don’t think anyone is ready for marriage…”

“So, then why are you asking to marry my daughter?”

“Because I love her, sir, and I want to spend the rest of my life making her happy.”

His eyes tightened. “And how do you plan to do that?”

“My dad and I are building a cottage next to my parents’ house — where we’ll live, and I’m taking over Jack’s Charters, so I’ll be able to provide whatever Ash needs.”

Bill’s chin lifted. He looked over my shoulder as if to verify my claim of a cottage. “I see.”

“And I know you have a gun, but I’m still here asking you.”

His jaw clenched as if to hold in a laugh. “I do, but… lucky for you, I like you, and there’s no more room on my wall for your head.”

I choked in a breath.

He put his hand on my shoulder. “I’m kidding. You’re young, yes.” He let out a long sigh, and I fought interrupting him to defend myself. “But you’ve matured into a fine, responsible man. And even though there was confusion with the mission trip, you took care of my girl like you promised you would. I can see she loves you too, and if I said no, I wouldn’t hear the end of it, from her or my wife.” He smiled. “So, yes. You have our blessing.”

My legs almost gave way as my throat parched. “Really?”

“Of course. Now, come inside, Son, before my stomach turns inside out.”

I wanted to whoop and holler, but I calmly followed him inside.