Evermore (9 page)

I lugged my gym bag filled with my swim gear when a wave of nostalgia crashed over me. This was the last swim meet before the end of the year — my swimming career was finished.

“So, when do you want to start shopping for FAU?” Georgia asked as we walked to the parking lot. “You did reinstate your scholarship, right?”

My eyes lost focus. With everything, I’d forgotten about our plans for college.

“Uhhh,” I stuttered. “Soon, I guess.”

She started to ramble about her list of things she wanted, but all I could think about was the wedding. Maybe telling her we’d set a date would help distract her until I lowered the real boom. With the baby coming, I wasn’t going anywhere.

Across the parking lot, a white van was parked on the sidewalk. The decal on the side, Tim’s Landscaping, wasn’t level, driving my OCD crazy. Then I saw him. The same dark-haired guy as last week leaned against the side, wearing black pants and a leather jacket. He smoked a cigarette and watched us. What struck me as odd was his attire — way too nice for that type of work.

“Earth to Ash,” I heard her say as she snapped.

“Oh, sorry.”

“Did you hear anything I said?” She unlocked her car door, then slid inside.

I climbed into the passenger seat and craned my neck to see the creep, but the car next to us was in the way. “Yeah… shopping.”

I felt my naked ring finger with the Band-Aid over the top of my white promising tattoo, wishing my engagement ring was on my finger and not hiding in my jewelry box. Wearing it didn’t seem like a good idea, considering the rumor mill.

“No. I was talking about the meet on Saturday. What’s wrong with you? You’ve been in a daze ever since you returned.” She pulled out of her parking spot, and I noticed the van was gone.

I turned to her, then swallowed. “I have news.”

Her eyebrows peaked. “News?”

I closed my eyes and braced myself for a squeal. “I’m getting married.”

She laid on the break, stopping way before the exit. I grabbed onto the door. “What are you doing?”

The car behind us honked, loud and long, but Georgia didn’t move. “Don’t mess with me.”

“I’m not messing with you.” I turned to look behind us. It was none other than Brooke. “Drive, please.”

Georgia pressed the gas, throwing us back into our seats. “Married, like as in to Fin? Where’s the ring?”

“I left it at home.”

“Left it at home? Are you kidding me? When did this happen?”

“Yesterday… last night, actually.”

She white-knuckled the steering wheel, lips pursed. I tried to imagine what she was thinking, then wished I had the song like Fin. It seemed so unfair mermaids had only the siren and claws as their defense.

“Georgia—” I began.

“No.” She pulled over to the side of the road and parked, then she turned her whole body so she could glare at me. “Ever since Fin showed up, you’ve been distant and moody. I mean, I’m not so jealous that I can’t deal with my best friend having a boyfriend, but this? Marriage? You’ve got to be freaking kidding me! Next you’re going to tell me that you’re not going to FAU at all.”

I bit down on my lip. Maybe telling her was a bad idea. Deep down, I knew this was all crazy — that having this wedding was stupid. Though it hurt me to think of it, maybe having Fin sing me out of her life was the answer.

“I—I—” I mumbled.

Then I thought of Tatchi. What if Fin had done that to our friendship? My gut twisted. I didn’t want the same for Georgia.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call and tell you.”

Georgia pulled away from the curb, then wiped her hand over her cheek. “Yeah, well… whatever.”

“I need help with the planning. Do you want to help?”

“I’m going to be really busy with finals and the meet Saturday, then packing for FAU. When’s your date, anyway?”

I looked out the window as the lake came into view — blue, so blue. Telling her in three weeks seemed cruel.

“We’re going to look at wedding dresses today.”

“We?”

“My mom, and my neighbor Tatchi. I’ve mentioned her before, right?”

“
Pfft
,” she said. “Oh, your neighbor gets to know before me. Sounds lovely.”

“She’s technically my future sister-in-law… so…”

As we pulled over the ridge before turning down my street, the water came into view. Fin’s yard was a bustle of activity. Mermen and human alike came in and out of the house, and just beyond was a little replica of the main house with walls and a roof. I gasped.

It was our cottage. Visions of moving in, having our baby there, of growing old made my heart sing.

“What?” Georgia’s head snapped to scan the road for oncoming traffic. “Don’t do that!”

“That’s…” I started, then stopped. Telling her Fin was building us a house would seal her worst fears; that I wasn’t going to college. “Incredible. Look at how much work they’ve done today.”

Georgia grabbed her chest at heart level. “You scared me.”

My eyes panned to Fin’s parents’ dock just before Georgia turned right. A crowd of mermaids busied themselves around several tables covered with what looked like tulle and ribbon. Desirée stood in the mix.

My mouth parched. “I, uh…”

What were they all doing out in the open like that? I’d agreed to Girra helping, not all of Tatiana’s students and the entire mermaid finishing school.

Georgia pulled up to the house and parked. I looked for Tatiana when a girl ran down to the car from my parents’ house. Girra.

I froze, unable to open the door.

“Who’s that?” Georgia asked.

I almost blurted out that she was my sister. “My cousin.”

“Oh, thank Poseidon. You’re here.” Girra fiddled with the handle, trying to open the door for me. “I’m just so excited. So much has happened once we all heard.”

I pulled the lever to open the door, tried to step out of the car as she tackle-hugged me.

“Hey,” I said with a grunt.

Georgia bent down low to get a better look out of the passenger window. “Heard what?”

“Oh, hi!” Girra stretched her arm into the car. “I’m Girra.”

Georgia met her hand. “Hey.”

“Oh, fun. More friends. Are you here to help with the wedding?”

I stiffened as I watched her jaw jut forward.

“You’re going wedding dress shopping, too?” Georgia asked sarcastically.

“Shopping? Oh, no.” She laughed. “The royal dressmaker, Mistress Wynie is making all the mermaid’s dresses and the decorations.”

I coughed, choking on my spit.

“Mermaids?” Georgia asked.

“She means bridesmaids,” I clarified. “You know me and water. The theme is the ocean because I’m practically a fish.”

Girra’s eyes widened, realizing her error. “Oh, right. Yeah.” She cackled long and loud. “Mermaids. Silly me. Why would I say something like that?”

One of Tatiana’s students ran past carrying a green bolt of silky fabric and disappeared into my house.

“So soon?” Georgia asked while getting out of the car.

Girra’s forehead wrinkled. “Soon? We have three weeks.”

The color in Georgia’s face drained and her head whipped to me. “Three weeks?”

I held up my hands. “There’s a reason,” I started.

“Yeah, she’s pregnant,” Girra said with a cheerful smile. “I can’t wait!”

My heart stopped.

Georgia’s mouth became unhinged. She steadied herself, leaning on the hood of her car.

“Girra, can you go find Tatchi for me?”

“Oh sure…” She frowned, then whispered. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No.” I forced a smile. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Georgia stand there zoning out into space. “I… I need Fin maybe, too.”

“He’s working on the cottage.”

“I know. Just… mention that Georgia is here.”

She nodded, then took off running. I walked up to Georgia.

“Pregnant,” she mouthed.

My heart hammered. “Yeah.”

“How—?” She looked at me, eyes hurt. “When—?” Then she just hugged me for a long quiet moment. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a poo. No wonder you’ve been so distant.”

I blinked in shock. “I’m sorry, too. I should have said something.”

Glancing over her shoulder, I saw Fin run toward us. Then he slowed, watching anxiously. I held up my index finger for him to wait.

She sniffed. “I’ve been the worst friend. All I’ve been talking about is me, me, me.” She pulled away and stared into my eyes. “I’m here for you, whatever you need.”

“I’m not going to be able to go to college with you,” I said slowly.

Her shoulders dropped as the tears welled in her eyes. “Okay.”

I swallowed hard. “But I’d really love it if you could be in my wedding.”

“Of course I will.” She hugged me firmly. “Anything, Ash. Just… anything.”

“Thank you,” I said through broken sniffles.

She tore away, and her face grew serious. “But you shouldn’t be swimming. And the meet. The stress. Are you crazy?”

“I’m fine. The team needs me.” I rested my hand on her arm. “Let’s not tell people at school just yet, okay? It’s embarrassing enough as it is with my family. And it’s not a big wedding,”
just a hundred mermaid family and friends.

She nodded, her face childlike. “Okay.”

“Thank you.” I stared at her, sniffling, and then we hugged again.

When I looked over to where Fin stood, he’d returned to the construction site. Victory surged through me. I’d taken care of things without needing to sing, by telling the truth. Imagine that.

“Ash!” Girra called from the deck. “Come on. You need to get measured.”

Georgia’s eyes brightened. “You’re getting married.”

I shook my head. “Yeah, I know.”

“Oh, my gosh!” She squealed, morphing into the Georgia I knew and loved. “You’re. Getting. Married!”

She engulfed me in another hug, this time bouncing on the balls of her feet.

I looked down the table we’d made out of big, plywood boards stacked on sawhorses, and at the group of mers — female and male alike — eating dinner together on my parents’ lawn. Once Natatoria had heard about the merling, along with the need to finish the house in time, we weren’t without assistance. Mer and human ate together, including Ash’s parents, who sat next to mine.

Hot steaming plates of smoked salmon and tuna were being passed down, along with bowls of fruit and vegetables. Jax and Jacob sat across from me, piling up their plates yet again, then stuffing their faces.

“This is good,” Jax said around a mouthful. “No wonder you love land so much.”

I flashed a glare at him. We were supposed to not only act human but talk like humans, too.

His pupils dilated. “Oh, I mean… eating outside.”

I rolled my eyes but then wondered what happened to his mate, Galadriel or my sister. From my vantage point, I didn’t see either of them on the dock or inside the houseboat.

“Where’s Tatchi?” Ash asked Jacob as if reading my mind.

He straightened, like any good soldier would do, and nodded respectfully to his former Princess, then lifted his finger to let her know he was chewing. He swallowed, then cleared his throat. “She’s feeding the child inside, Prin— probably.”

Old habits die hard.

Ash pressed her lips together to hide her smile, probably appreciative of him still wanting to use her royal title, but I noticed she’d rested her hand on her stomach. “I thought Nicole was eating solid food.”

“She is… well, when she’s not spitting it everywhere, ma’am.” He shrugged. “As you’ll see soon enough, this parenting thing takes some getting used to.”

I tried not to smirk. Mom often gave me a firm slap on my cheek as a kid for such an offense. When our merling came, he or she would never be allowed to spit food. It appeared that he and Tatchi hadn’t put their fins down and stopped letting Nicole swim all over them.

Badger grabbed his mug of ale and shoved it upward, rising to his feet.

“To the bride and groom,” he bellowed.

Everyone lifted their glasses and let out a cheer.

I clinked my glass with Ash’s, then took a swig while I gently squeezed her thigh under the table. She took a sip of her water, then leaned over, kissing me with cold lips. “Isn’t this perfect?”

I beamed, feeling proud. “It’s all coming together like I knew it would.”

White sheets billowed in the distance, shrouding the front of the cottage: my house. With Dad singing to get all the inspections passed early, we’d managed to finish the plumbing and the electrical. Tomorrow, they’d install the HVAC, and then start the drywall.

“We should be feastin’ outside every night, I say,” Badger shouted. “To our maids and this fine feast!”

The group let out a cheer again, and I had a feeling this toasting session would last until sunset.

After Badger had put down his mug, he leaned over and kissed his wife, Sandy, long and passionate.

I cleared my throat, to which Badger gave me a kindhearted sneer. “It’s all about the kissin’. That’s why we’re here, lad. Eyelashes and luscious lips that we can’t seem to keep our hands off of.”

“Barlemede,” Sandy spat, saying his true name almost as if a curse.

“How’s the food planning going?” I asked to rescue her.

“Good so far.” She nodded. “We’ve arranged a caterer, considering the large group.”

Ash sucked in a deep breath. “Did we secure the tables and chairs?”

“Yes, and the linens.” Sandy looked upward as if she checked off an invisible list. “Decorations are almost done, and the flowers, oh, I can’t wait to get started on that. Mistress Wynie has sewn her fingers to the bone, along with Gran and Maggie.”

“That’s good….”
I guess.

Ash took my hand under the table and squeezed, leaning into me. “They’ve hand-stitch what looks like a million gems on my dress. I’ll never be able to walk down the aisle, it’ll be so heavy.”

“Or you don’t have to wear a dress at all,” I whispered in her ear while caressing her thigh.

“Fin,” she scolded, then looked up at me with a coy smile.

“Actually,” I added, “that’s what got us into trouble in the first place.”

Thinking about our time earlier this afternoon, when we snuck off to her bedroom, sent a thrill through me. And I hadn’t been able to think about anything else, other than scooping her up and christening every room in our new house — quite a distraction while working.

“Stop,” she chastised with a slight blush. “Focus. There’s an issue with the growing guest list.”

Galadriel marched over and plopped down in her chair next to Jax. “Oh my gods,” she said, exasperated as she dished a heaping plate of salad and fish.

Ash straightened. “What now?”

Since Galadriel had stuck her fin into the planning, drama followed.

“Mother has invited fifty more…” her eyes flicked to my parents, “guests. Where are we going to put them? The parking lot? I don’t know how we’re going to fit everyone in as it is.”

“Fifty?” I reiterated.

Tatiana and I were going to have words after dinner was over.

“You need to put your fi—” she stuttered. “I mean foot down. She’s… going overboard.”

“I’ll do it,” Sandy said in a calm voice. “Don’t add more to the bride’s plate.”

Jacob’s head popped up when he heard Nicole’s wail, then he excused himself and darted off. Watching him, I knew our life would mirror his soon.

“Who are the new guests?” Ash asked.

Galadriel leaned in, whispering. “Some of her friends that live on the outskirts by the Scotland gate. They hadn’t even heard about the wedding, which serves them right for being such hermit crabs. I don’t know why the water reception isn’t good enough for them. The rule was you had to attend Tatchi’s class first, and Garnet is coming with a date.” Galadriel made a face.

“She is? Who?” Ash asked.

I cringed when I heard Ash’s sister’s name. She of all her sisters couldn’t have been born with a heart.

She paused, looking left then right. “Colin.”

Ash’s mouth dropped open just as my blood froze.

“Yeah, tell me about it.” Galadriel returned to stabbing her salad. “I guess they hit it off after all the rules changed.”

“And Alaster?” I asked, unable to hide the vitriol in my voice.

“Dead.” She speared a tomato on her fork.

Ash’s muscles tensed under my palm. I gently squeezed her tight to reassure her.

“How do we know he’s telling the truth?” I asked.

“We don’t, but no one’s seen Alaster, the son of a bass, excuse my language.” She glanced at Jax’s plate. “You going to eat that?” She stole a strawberry and popped it in her mouth before he could object.

“If he shows his mangy arse around these parts—” Badger started.

“He’ll have more than his clock cleaned,” Jax finished. “There’s a line of guys who want at him, including me.”

Not before I get a shot.

“But who would ever think Garnet would go for Colin, of all the mermen in the sea?” Galadriel asked. “He’s just… gamey.”

Ash stiffened at her mer reference and leaned forward. “Galadriel.”

“Oh… oopsie,” she said with a chuckle.

I glanced down the table to see if any of the humans noticed.

“You promised,” I bit.

“Sorry. Sorry,” she said quickly. “You know you can just sing.”

I deadpanned, reminded of all the times in Florida where she’d tested me. “No. We are trying to avoid doing that.”

Jax put his arm around his mate. “Awe, Gladdy. I’ll sing away anything you want me to.”

My internal heat began to rise.

“Do you think Colin is lying?” Ash’s expression turned fearful.

I put my arm around her shoulder and drew her into me. “I don’t know, but I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Her body trembled as she nestled against my chest. I hugged her, trying to reassure her. But the truth of the matter was, I couldn’t be with her 24/7 and still get everything done. He’d be crazy to show his fin here. This was enemy territory.

~|~

After we’d sat around talking and drinking way too late, the mers filed off to my parents’ nearly finished house to the hatch in the basement — a more discrete exit than the shore.

“I have to go with them,” Ash nudged her head toward her parents as they walked home with Gran. “I’ll meet you in a few.”

Her eyes twinkled, something I hadn’t seen in a long time. I grabbed her and planted a kiss on her lips.

“Don’t make me wait long, my Ginger Girl,” I purred.

Clearly, I’d had too much to drink.

She giggled nonetheless, then ran off, sliding in under her father’s arm and taking her mother’s hand. Seeing her with her human family pleased me.

I trudged past all the construction into the house. Since I’d been working on mine, I hadn’t seen the latest progress. The wonderful smell of fresh paint on the newly finished walls filled my lungs. The hardwood floor had almost been completely installed. The charred rocks on the fireplace, evidence of the fire, rubbed me wrong, and made me wonder if in fact Alaster was really dead.

“Looks good, doesn’t it?” Dad asked while putting his arm around my shoulders.

“Yeah.” I nodded. “Colin’s back. Did you hear?”

“I did. That means my brother is around, too.”

I stiffened and stepped away from my dad. “Rumor is he’s dead.”

Dad guffawed, shaking his head. “Unlikely. Even still, he’s not welcome here or in Natatoria. Desirée has made that abundantly clear.”

“You act like she’s still in charge.”

“She’s not.” He shrugged. “But the mers like her and seem to need a Regent, and since the Council is keeping the peace, it works for now. After the wedding, we’ll make greater strides at helping the people acclimate, and Chancellor Merric has also requested to retire.”

“And you want me to consider the vacancy?” I asked.

“Actually, you would make a fine leader, Fin.”

“Me?” I blew out a breath, not believing for a second they’d let a youngin’ like me on the Council. Besides, I wanted to be on land as much as possible. “Why don’t you do it?”

“I’m too old for politics.” He leaned in. “The mers have no idea what to do with their new freedom, and you could lead them by example. Actually, your wedding will be the catalyst.”

I huffed and shook my head. “All of them?”

“Sounds like it.”

“Do you think that’s wise?”

“And why not?”

“It’ll be culture shock, and don’t you remember the Hill Billy boys who shot me in Oklahoma? I almost died.”

A twinge of pain radiated from my side, and I inadvertently rubbed the spot. The loss of blood almost killed me.

Dad laughed. “That was a different situation. With the lake nearby and mermen to sing away mistakes? It’s foolproof.”

“
As long as they’re human and unpromised
,” I wanted to say, but it felt weird being the cautious one. This was what my parents had preached my whole life. Mistakes happened, as with anything, but we’d managed to keep the secret all the same.

Dad locked up the house, then headed with me down the basement stairs. A new bridge suspended over the empty pool. Piles of human clothing were strewn about in various places on the deck, ready for their owners come morning.

“We should put shelving over there, Jack, or maybe a bar for hangers.” Mom motioned to the other side of the room. “And I was just thinking, that if all the mers are coming to the wedding, we are going to have to provide appropriate clothing — preferably store-bought.”

I ran my hand through my hair. More stuff to plan. “Let them dress themselves,” I said.

“The men can’t wear skirts, Fin. And the ladies, their beaded dresses compete with the bride.”

Dad pulled Mom into a hug and started kissing her. “It’ll work out. Stop worrying.”

She giggled, but I could feel the scales forming on my legs. Time was up.

I headed for the hatch first, disappearing into Lake Tahoe, but I couldn’t help but think that by having this many mers who’d never experienced life on land in one place would be like herding cats and not a good idea.

Not a good idea at all.