Silver Tides (Silver Tides Series) (28 page)

“Why? They attack again?” Dad asked, furrowing his brow.

“In a manner of speaking,” Charlie replied, honestly. I kicked him under the table, “What?” Charlie asked, jumping.

“Huh?” Paul asked, oblivious to the exchange.

“It’s complicated,” I told Dad, while shooting a ‘shut up’ look at Charlie. There was no need to worry my physically unfit---on the verge of a heart attack---adopted father. “Tomorrow we have to go on a trip to get something for the merfolk to fix all the fighting.” I surprised myself with how nonchalant I sounded.

“Will April go too?” he asked, looking lost.

Dad relied on Mum for most things; she did most the housework and cooking, but more than that, Dad needed her to keep him grounded. I wondered if I returned to the sea whether Mum would stay with Dad or come with me. The look of concern in my eyes mirrored Dad’s; whether we spoke the words or not, the fear of the future lingered.

“I don’t know,” I shrugged, unwilling to be the one that delivered bad news to Dad. “If she comes, there’s no reason you couldn’t join us.”

“I have school.” Dad sighed. “But I will see what April says.”

“What are you studying at university?” I asked Charlie, changing the subject.

“You’ll laugh.” He sighed, wiping his perfectly proportioned lips on a napkin.

“I thought you’d be used to that, looking the way you do,” I retorted playfully, sipping my juice.

“Ouch, good call.” He laughed. “Veterinary science.”

“You’re going to be a vet!” I choked, squirting some juice from my nose.

“Ha, ha, ha, you still do the nose thing,” Charlie laughed, slapping his knee.

Even Dad laughed, as I tried to discreetly wipe my nose.

“You’re going to be a vet—is that like a doctor treating itself?” I retorted.

“Living on seal rock I come across lots of injured marine life.” Charlie replied a haunted look in his eyes, but he shrugged it off. “It was a tossup between marine biology and being a vet. I went the way that could help the most people.”

“That’s very altruistic of you,” I smiled. I took all of Charlie in, his warm smile, his open playful demeanor, and the way he blended into my house like he’d always been here. I was glad that he’d turned up to lighten the worst night ever. Charlie was the first male that I thought I could really be friends with. From the moment I saw Daniel, I wanted to be his girlfriend, but with Charlie I felt safe. Like I didn’t have to protect myself from being hurt, because he would protect me. I didn’t have to try to be cool with Charlie, because he accepted me.

“That’s me, Mr. Altruism,” Charlie replied. He gave me a goofy lopsided grin as he pushed a massive meatball into his mouth; an instant later he spat it back onto his plate having burnt his mouth. I giggled misdirecting my own my food and choking.

“I’m surrounded by animals,” Dad said, exasperated.

I would have laughed, except I was still fighting for air. Charlie stood up to help me.

“Are you choking?” Dad asked, concerned belatedly.

I coughed till the food cleared and took a sip of my drink. Charlie sat back down, sensing the danger had passed.

“No, I always inhale my food into my lungs,” I said sarcastically, as my face turned Valentine’s red.

Dad and Charlie laughed, causing my moment of neurosis to pass.

“Charlie...” Mum said with warning, sneaking up on us.

“I was just...” Charlie stood, looking at the ground like a puppy that had left a puddle on the carpet.

“Disobeying my order to not see you till tomorrow?” Mum replied, arching her eyebrow with royal disdain.

I didn’t know if I would ever get used to the regal version of my mother, especially after she dressed like sailor moon for one of my birthday parties.

“I came to apologize,” Charlie said, quietly. “When you weren’t here, I decided to stay till you returned, so that Mya would be safe.”

“What am I?” Dad asked, offended.

“Not much of a match for an army of merfolk,” Mum said, kissing Dad’s forehead to calm him.

“Hmft,” Dad disagreed.

I was tempted to bring up Charlie’s failed attempt to protect me on the Mud Islands, but I didn’t want to upset Dad.

“It’s good you’re here. We need to discuss tomorrow; Sophia wants to take the private jet and we’ll all go. What do you think of the mock meatballs; they’re vegetarian,” Mum said to Charlie, allowing him to return to his seat with a nod of her head.

“It’s delicious, thank you,” he complimented, resuming shoveling the food into his mouth like it was his last meal.

“What? No meat? You kill me,” Dad complained grumpily, eliciting laughter.

“There’s room if you want to come, Paul,” Mum offered.

“Where are you going?” Dad asked, skeptical about trusting Mum after the vegetarian meatball betrayal.

“The United Kingdom,” Mum replied casually. “We’re going to find the Heart of the Sea and save five lives.”

the flight

The sun dawned too early the next morning after talking late into the night. Charlie had slept in the guest room, under the pretense of not wanting to ride home so late. I suspected it had more to do with King Leo’s order to guard me than late-night riding.

The sun was just peeking over the horizon as we met at the airport packed for a mission that I wasn’t sure I would be able to complete. During the few hours I was supposed to be sleeping I had plenty of time to contemplate how much I would miss Daniel and how inadequate I was for the task I’d been handed.

Everyone was expecting me to be something that I wasn’t; a princess, a shape shifting selkie, or a heroine that would return the Heart of the Sea to Atlantis---but I was just a girl with a broken heart. The expectations made my sneakers feel like they’d been hewn from lead.

Sophia looked anxious as we boarded the plane, aware that the cost of being unsuccessful was losing her son permanently. The pleading hope in her eyes only made me feel heavier.

Stepping onto the plane stilled my racing thoughts. I'd forgotten how lavish the Esso’s private jet was.

To the left of the door near the cockpit was a dining area, complete with a table surrounded by four plush white leather chairs and seat belts. A long couch matching the dining chairs lined the wall opposite the table so more people could dine if the need arose.

A small partition led to a mini theatre with twelve plush leather chairs, all with the ability to recline for napping.

On the right of the entrance, another partition just before the door opened into a sitting area akin to a living room, and in the back of the plane were a bedroom and two fancy bathrooms.

Daniel was still skulking around, making my chest ache with apprehension, as we boarded the plane. He ensured that we were never next to each other, keeping a person between us at all times. I assured myself that we could talk after takeoff.

"Welcome," smiled stewardess Barbie, as we trooped into the plane. "Sit anywhere, and I'll brief you all on safety.”

"Wow." Charlie exhaled beside me, overwhelmed. "How much did this set you back, moneybags?"

"More than you're worth," Daniel spat, pushing past Charlie to lock himself into the bedroom.

“He’s a keeper,” Charlie joked.

My face fell and the pain twisted in my heart, because I would do anything to keep Daniel.

“I’m sorry,” Charlie said, regretfully.

“Whatever,” I dismissed, blinking a few times to keep the tears at bay. “I’m going to go watch a movie.”

Charlie nodded, allowing me the space I needed. I plopped onto the white leather recliner and fastened my seat belt. The screen was bigger than I remembered, and reminded me of Daniel’s home theatre. The memory cured me of wanting to watch anything, but I didn’t want to talk either. I leaned my head back and tried to clear my mind.

I could hear Mum and Sophia talking excitedly in the lounge area. Sophia was pretending we were going on holiday to ignore the fact that Daniel could be dead in less than a week; Mum was supporting her, by playing along.

Charlie reclined on a couch near them, napping after the late night. His gentle snore was calming, like a cat purring. Dr. Conneely had fallen asleep beside the window, the sun warming his aged head.

I drifted into a light sleep, unsure if I was awake or dreaming. Flying to Cornwall to retrieve a relic to save my boyfriends life---my ex-boyfriend’s life---seemed more like a nightmare than reality.

Stewardess Barbie woke me with a tray of food. “Would you like to take breakfast here or at the table?” she asked, her bright red lips smiling.

“The table,” I mumbled half asleep. I felt guilty for seeming rude. “Thanks,” I called after her, standing up stiffly. In the brief time I’d been sleeping, my body felt like it had atrophied. Stewardess Barbie didn’t seem to notice me at all; she continued to gather the rest of the group for breakfast.

Daniel was remarkably absent as I sat down at the table with the others.

Stewardess Barbie informed us, “Mr. Esso is taking his food in the bedroom.”

Mum and Sophia thrilled about the Minack Theatre and Porthcurno Beach during breakfast. They were as excited as teenage girls on a European adventure. Dr. Conneely added other noteworthy sites. I couldn’t follow the conversation or even taste my food, as my eyes kept drifting to the bedroom door. I’d promised myself to not be a creepy stalker, but I was failing.

I understood that Daniel hated me, that he felt betrayed and that we were over. But my ears needed to hear the words, so that my heart could stop hoping that things would be different. I’d thought that all that stuff about closure was overrated, but that was exactly what I needed.

After breakfast Charlie joined me in the theatre, and we watched scary zombie movies, which Charlie enjoyed more than I did. I could tell that he was trying to cheer me up, and having him nearby was comforting. Stewardess Barbie kept us stocked with drinks and snacks. She gathered us for lunch, which had been a rerun of breakfast for me.

A broken heart should stop time, or in the very least slow it down, but meals kept being served, Mum and Sophia laughed, George went to work, Dad went to Tafe, life went on---it seemed wrong. Daniel hating me was monumental, yet it didn’t even still the spinning of the earth. The whole thing sucked.

“Stop being so melodramatic,” I told myself, shaking it off.

As mid-afternoon rolled by without any sign of Daniel, I began to get irritated. I knocked on the door but it was locked, and Daniel didn't answer. We were a few hours from refueling in Hong Kong when Daniel emerged to use one of the bathrooms. I stared at him trying to make eye contact, but he ignored me. I couldn't believe how immature he was being. If he wanted to break up, I understood, but the least he could do was talk to me. I inconspicuously made my way to the toilet area, noticing that the toilet locks could be opened with a flat instrument.

I pulled my nail file out of my pocket and flicked the lock from red to green. I took a deep breath before flinging the door open. Daniel was so startled he fell forward, his hand finding the puddle in the toilet he'd just deposited. He glared at me with open anger as I stood in the door.

"What? You couldn't wait a few minutes so I'd come out," Daniel accused, angrier than a fat lady on a diet.

I wanted to recoil and hide back in the theatre with Charlie and Dr. Conneely, who was constantly confused by the movie plot and needed continuous commentary to keep up. I steeled myself with the thought that I was on a mission to save his life and the least he could do was be civil.

"If I waited, you would shoot back into the bedroom and ignore me," I argued. "Maybe if you'd been civil today, you wouldn't have piss all over your hand!"

Daniel chuckled as he scrubbed his hand in the white basin. His reflection was pale in the mirror, and I loved the way his eyes crinkled in the corners when he was amused. My heart felt re-shredded seeing him. "When you put it that way...”

"I'm just saying," I giggled, the awkwardness breaking between us.

"I'm sorry," he said genuinely, as he wiped his hands. “Should we shake on it?”

He extended the hand that had just been in the toilet bowl to me. I knew he was being funny. It ripped my heart out. All I wanted was for things to go back to the way they were before he was merfolk and I was a selkie. I leaned heavily against the doorjamb. It would be too easy to just talk and act all nice and not get the closure I needed. The whole purpose of breaking in on Daniel was to talk honestly.

"I get it." I sighed, dejected, forcing myself to get to the point. "You're a fish and I'm a seal. We're not supposed to be together, but I still care about you…”

My voice felt tight, but I had to say what was on my heart. “I still want to be with you, but I understand that you don't want to be with me. You hate me, that’s cool. I just want to be civil to each other. At least for the duration of this trip."

My heart thumped in my chest, betraying my words as lies, but I ignored it. Daniel hating me was horrible but I would perjure myself a thousand times over before I’d force someone to be with me or even pretend to like me. Really loving Daniel meant giving him the freedom to not love me in return. Mum insisted that love and freedom were what God had founded our world on, and both had to exist for a healthy relationship.

“No, you don’t get it.” He sighed, leaning against the shower and running his fingers through his blond shock of unstyled hair. “When I fished you out of the sea, I thought you were dead and I couldn’t breathe. When I realized you’d risked yourself to save me and those snotty selkie pups...”

“What?” I asked, holding my breath, too afraid to hope that he still loved me.

“I realized that if I lose you, I would die.” He sighed, looking into my eyes with such intensity that my tummy flip-flopped. “I don’t care what you are; I love you. I can’t lose you.”

“Then why are you avoiding me?” I accused, confused.

“I figured we were over,” he replied. “You were all chummy with that dog, and you didn’t say anything in the car last night... When I came to talk to you late last night, I saw you sitting with that selkie and your family, and you were all so happy. You looked like you belonged together. When you didn’t approach me again this morning and it was obvious that guy had stayed at your house. I just assumed…”

“No, Charlie and I are just friends.” I shook my head with gusto.

Daniel crossed the room in one bound, and taking my face in his hands he kissed me. My head swam with his fresh sea scent and the cool touch of his hands. I felt happy enough to burst, and splatter glitter hearts all over the room.

“I missed you so much,” he sighed, holding me close.

“Me too,” I agreed, feeling tears welling in my eyes. I felt so stupid having worked myself up all night and assuming that we were over, when a text message could have saved me experiencing the worst night ever. It didn’t matter because we were back together.

Charlie cleared his throat in the doorway; Daniel begrudgingly acknowledged him.

"Thanks for saving Mya last night," Charlie said lightly. He was making an effort for my sake.

I mouthed, ‘Thank you,’ to him, not wanting to awaken any further jealousy in Daniel.

"Couldn't have done it without you," Daniel said, sounding forced. "You know I'd do anything for Mya." I gave him a squeeze for trying. It couldn’t be easy having to get along with someone that you thought was your enemy forever. I appreciated them trying to get along for my sake.

"Me too," Charlie replied with equal intensity.

“Sounds like you have a lot in common.” I smiled encouragingly, trying to diffuse the tension. “Which is gonna be handy since we have an impossible mission to complete.”

Daniel nodded slightly at Charlie, who returned the gesture. Like football players joined in the brotherhood of seeking victory, they made a decision to get along for my sake and the sake of the mission. I hoped they’d have chemistry like Dad and George Esso but the fact that they didn’t look like they were going to punch each other was a good sign.

“I love happily ever after,” Charlie mocked from the bathroom door, “though the bathroom is a weird setting. I tend to think it’s a place for doing your business or
doing your business.
” Charlie made it apparent that the second doing your business was the kind boys did for self-gratification.

“You walk the dog in the bathroom?” Daniel asked, using his own euphemism.

“It’s the tidiest place and the least likely place to be busted by your mum.” Charlie shrugged.

“I’m glad you’re bonding over one of your favorite pastimes,” I teased.

“The three of us could bond....” Charlie said suggestively.

Daniel laughed at the inappropriateness of the comment. “Good call,” he said offering a high-five.

They slapped hands like old friends; then recoiled from each other remembering that despite everything, there was a lot of history that had to be overcome before they could be friends.

“You’ve got a way better sense of humor then I thought.” Charlie smiled awkwardly. “Have you seen
Starsky and Hutch
?”