Surface Tensions

by Jordan, G R

  "There's you two. Are you okay?" Laura's cheery voice broke the quiet.

  "No, Laura, no." Kiera's answer restored the silence.

  Laura sat down on the bench beside them and stared out to the sea. She had seen too many people in shock and grief to interrupt the therapeutic moments of peace they required. It was a full ten minutes before she spoke again.

  "Murdo's up at the hospital. They called him in his capacity as chaplain, Alyssa had asked for him. She's going to be okay. They were very complimentary of you both, especially your work Kiera. You two did good, however bad the situation feels."

  "How's James?" asked Donald.

  "Murdo said he was good. Very attentive to Alyssa. Apparently they couldn't move him all night. You two should pay her a visit."

  "Well, Laura, she probably needs some time to heal. I expect her family will be up on the plane soon as," said Kiera.

  "She's got no one. Been in foster care since she was nine apparently. It's amazing what people will tell Murdo. He's got a gift for it."

  "Well, we'll get up there soon. Just as soon as Kiera's ready. It's been a bit much."

  "Good. And don't worry about any dinner or that. I brought some stuff and dropped it into your kitchen, Kiera. Just micro it. You need sleep too."

  "I don't think I'll get much today, Laura. We have to go to the police station too this morning. Give out statements. I take it Iain's in the cells," said Kiera.

  "No, he's at the hospital too. Still spitting blood for the mermaids. Apparently his face is a mess, and he's had to have stitches."

  They sat in silence a bit longer. Soon Kiera asked for more coffee and Donald made a point of kissing her deeply before retiring to the kitchen. Laura smiled her response before telling Kiera she was lucky to have Donald. Kiera nodded. She wanted to tell Laura all about her new found love, but the morning's events sat heavy on her mind.

  Why is there never a perfect moment on this earth? Kiera wondered. There's always some darkness to spoil it.

  An hour later, Murdo arrived and gave them a lift to the police station. The officers were polite and compassionate, but their job and attention to detail required several hours of going over statements before the couple could leave the station. They caught the bus to the hospital and found their access to Alyssa blocked as she was having further treatment. Finding the cafeteria, they satisfied their hungry stomachs before returning to Alyssa's ward.

  An hour earlier, the corridor to the ward had been empty, but now it was packed with reporters. A horde of flashguns suddenly exploded and a reporter shoved a microphone in Kiera's face asking if she knew the page three model and if she thought she was attacked in a crime of beauty. Kiera doubted she even understood the question and felt a rage build up inside her that this person could be so rude as to accost someone coming to visit an ill person. Donald saw her shoulders rise and immediately grabbed her hand dragging her through the crowd. Nurse MacKenzie, who had been so good with his mother when she had that trouble (women's things and Donald asked no further), was waving at him through the slightly open door, and he fixed his eyes on her and dragged his girlfriend through.

  "Thanks, Mrs. Mackenzie," said Donald.

  "Hello, Donald, and this must be Kiera. Well done, girl. You may just have saved her life between the pair of you. Nasty wound, very nasty. Crazy thing, sitting there topless on a rock that time of night, catch yourself a cold to chill you to death. Ah, well shouldn't say such things, she was the victim, didn't deserve that nonsense anyway."

  Kiera had been looking for a place to say hello, but Donald having previous experience, had remained quiet, knowing no opportunity would emerge from the long grass.

  "It was nothing." Kiera felt a small measure of triumph fitting in this brief sentence during Mrs. Mackenzie’s slight pause for breath.

  "Nothing, nonsense girl, you should have stayed in the business with hands like that. Anyway, young James has been with her all night. Poor lad is shattered. She's going to be moved to the mainland for a few days to get some further work on her shoulder. The scarring's fairly extensive and her career might be in jeopardy, they reckon. So take it easy with her, no mention of getting back to work. She's lucky to be alive."

  "Blessed," said Donald, "blessed."

  "Can we see her?" asked Kiera.

  "Of course. She said she hoped you would be here, and James told Murdo to ask for you. He's very good that Rev McKinney, despite all they say about him and his modern ways. One to one he's hard to beat. A fair regular up here and nearly all happy to see him. Not that I've heard him preach mind."

  "Sunday mornings and evenings," said Kiera suppressing a wicked smile.

  "Which room?" interjected Donald quickly.

  "This way, dears. Of course nothing I have said leaves this ward. Those vultures will be all over you when you leave."

  Alyssa was lying down when they entered her room. In the corner was a large basket of fruit and flowers with a logo of the paper she posed for spread across the bottom. The room was bright but smelt of hospital disinfectant, and at her side was one of those pay for view televisions. In the corner by the window, was a strong armchair, cream in colour with beech arms and legs. Its occupant was asleep and snoring loudly. As Kiera moved around to the bottom of the bed Alyssa's eyes opened wide.

  "You came."

  "Yes, of course," said Kiera. "We had to go to the police station first, but then we came straight up. They were dealing with you, so we grabbed lunch while we waited."

  "How you feeling?" asked Donald.

  Alyssa looked away out the window before turning her eyes to James. Then she studied the drip beside her.

  "I don't know. I really don't know." Kiera rushed forward and held her tight as Alyssa burst into tears. All Kiera could do was hold her and tell her she was safe. After a few minutes, Alyssa sniffed hard and started apologising.

  "I'm sorry. It's just all so…sudden. Nothing's sure now. The paper called, but all the editor wanted was a feature. My story. What I felt like? Was it my body he was attacking? Am I like the mermaids? Did I think he had a problem with women? Was there anything sexual? Don't they get it?" yelled Alyssa, “I don't give a shit! I just want to be on my own."

  Kiera let the following silence lie, nodding her affirmation instead. Alyssa looked out the window again and Donald felt a deep empathy for her situation. No longer the centre of attention for her glamour, she was now to be the freak attacked, the hunted prey, her control of her sexuality destroyed. And those who paid her wage were the ones pushing it.

  "I won't model again. The consultant said so. This shoulder won't work properly and there's a high likelihood my shoulders will look different. My boobs won't matter with lob sided shoulders."

  "Let's just take it one day at a time," said Kiera. "Try and be positive. You're a gorgeous lass and there's a guy there who risked his life for you and hasn't left you since. There's girls who would kill for that. If it wasn't for Donald, I'd be jealous."

  "I know, but it's all pretty crazy. Damn, I don't know. But look, thank you, thank you both. I might have been dead but for you two and James. He's been so good. They’ll fly me away soon. But when that's done, I said I want to recuperate up here, not back in London. You guys will visit?" Donald and Kiera nodded. "Good. Not sure I can stand the girls telling me how my career will be over. I love them, but it's all they will talk about. That vicar and his wife, you guys, and my James here, you're more positive. I could do with that."

  Well she's no bimbo, thought Donald.

  Kiera's mobile vibrated in her pocket. By instinct she pulled it out and glanced at it. There was a text message from Hayley asking if they were still on tonight. Alyssa laughed when Donald told Kiera not to be so rude, and then became interested when Kiera said Hayley was asking if Donald's trunks were a go-er. Donald went crimson red as Kiera described their elicit double date but left out the fifth guest at the party. As they left the ward by the rear entrance to avoid the press at the main door, Donald bec
ame agitated.

  "Kiera, if the press know about us, then we have to move her asap. They are bound to pick up our role in all this, and they'll be knocking on your door."

  "Easy Tiger. We just go back to mine, lock the door and get a bit of sleep. If they are there, we'll give them a wee statement and then say we'll be going to bed. Once it's properly dark we'll get her out and down to the pool. They'll not be expecting that."

  "I just have a bad feeling about this. It's all starting to get a bit mad."

  "Donald, I love you to bits, I so do, but I'm going to be in a bikini tonight, and I'll take any attempt to get out of this as a slur on my body."

  It was unfair, and it took Donald a few seconds before he realised she was joking. She put him on edge sometimes. It was one of the things he really liked about her.

  13

  Catching Your Man

  Murdo was tired. The hospital visiting in the middle of the night and the extreme situation he had found were more than he was used to. Between helping Alyssa and James, he had been ferrying Laura about and dealing with fending off reporters who had spotted him as the religious involvement in last night's drama. Hoping he had been sensible and respectful with his answers, Murdo had beat a retreat and sought the quiet of his front room to prepare both of tomorrow's sermons. No rest for the wicked.

  "All God's creatures" kept running through his mind, and as he spent a little time in prayer, he sensed a honing of his message to the congregation. The incident was bound to send shock waves through the village as everyone knew the assailant to some capacity. He also knew Alyssa would be seen as getting her just desserts from many for "parading herself" in such a fashion. Poor girl. It didn't look like her shoulder would be able to be fixed properly, and what with the deep scarring, she was unlikely to take up her former job. Murdo was not against this outcome, but he certainly wouldn't have endorsed the method.

  Taking a sip of coffee, Murdo found it had gone cold. A glance of the clock confirmed he had made it an hour ago. Oh well, tomorrow may have to be prepared in the head and not paper. Holy inspiration, he prayed.

  The doorbell sounded. Dread filled up in Murdo's mind as he could guess who had rung the bell. It was bound to be that Mackenzie man and his side-kick MacIver. Blast it, is there no way to have an afternoon's peace and quiet? Shoulders drooping, Murdo plodded his way to the front door and tried to give a courteous hello to the most feared duo from his kirk session. He failed. Instead it came across as a "What do you want?"

  "Minister, I am here representing your kirk session, and indeed, for the good of your whole congregation."

  "Well Iain, matters must be pressing. What can I do for you?"

  "No, minister, you misunderstand, it's what we can do for you."

  "Ah, excellent. The back garden's in need of a cut. I have the petrol mower in the back, should be…."

  "No, minister. Be serious."

  "Oh, I was."

  "This mermaid encounter. You are neglecting your duty. Tarnishing the Lord's name by associating with such ladies of the night." Murdo raised his eyebrows. "Racing on her command in the middle of the night and then not condemning her outright in front of the world's media for her actions."

  "Iain, she got harpooned. By one of our own. An island lad. One who has been ostracised and placed on the edge because we called him mad to believe in such thing as mermaids. And that's a conclusion that has seriously been put into doubt."

  "But minister, the reputation of this denomination and indeed, our own church, unsullied for years past is being put into doubt by your reckless actions and I am here to tell you to desist."

  "You are here to do what?" thundered Murdo. He was tired, he was probably irritable but he certainly wasn't as irrational as what he was hearing.

  "Your position as our minister is seriously in trouble if you carry on with this nonsense. The world is looking in at us and needs to be given an example. An example of genuine, wholesome religion."

  "Pure religion is looking after orphans and widows."

  "Exactly, not these escorts, these loose women."

  "Mr. Mackenzie, now listen good. One, she is an orphan. Two, she is in need of help. Three, she asked for help. To ignore her cries would just not be Christian."

  "I am just a poor sinner, and I do not understand why you would take sides with this hooker while leaving the reputation of your flock to flounder. I am calling an emergency meeting of our kirk, sir and fully intend to remove you from your place of prominence."

  Murdo took a deep breath as he was finding himself losing control. He looked past Mackenzie out towards the sea, wondering why the mermaids were wanting to show up here, why the equilibrium was being disturbed. Then he looked back into the face of his session clerk and found a reason.

  "Do what you will. I will try and do what He would do. If that's not suitable for you then take it up with Him."

  "How dare you put yourself in God's place. This is outrageous."

  "Yes," said Murdo. “It is. It's called the gospel, and He is the mark we are all called to."

  "Maybe minister, but to suggest we are capable of living like Him. I've never heard such blasphemy."

  "Read your bible, Iain. Find Him. And stop this crass attempt for self-importance."

  "How dare you? I will not have this. Not on my watch."

  And the indignant Mr. MacKenzie and the silent but still affronted Mr. MacIver departed with much head, shaking and huffing.

  Oh well, thought Murdo, there is freedom, maybe even life without a kirk session. He knew the threat was real, but it wouldn't be a unanimous feeling amongst the whole congregation. Most would actually agree with his actions, but he knew the house of cards they all lived in, how image was king, and thought his expulsion was a strong possibility. Laura would be excited though. She'd always thought they should be freer in their lives for God. Maybe she'll get her wish.

  ***

  Kiera was not used to meeting people on street corners at midnight. She was also not used to wearing a bikini under a sweatshirt and track bottoms in the later hours of the day. Although it was early spring, the nights were still nippy, and she felt quite cold waiting for Hayley. The town had its fair share of late night stragglers, making their way home from the pubs, denied a last pint beyond closing. There were occasional shouts and songs from those who on a sober night would know better.

  Donald was causing her worry. Since the attack, his attitude to their guest had been much more sombre and he was keen to move her on. The adrenalin rush of their combined discovery and new found passion had taken a darker tinge, and although they were still feeling these new and strong urges about each other, the shine had been taken off.

  Never during her time training as a first aider had Kiera expected to deal with anything so bloody. Now, as she stood in the quiet, images of dark red oozing from Alyssa's shoulder came back to haunt her. Her training had been good and had taken over during the incident. She had been praised for her handling of the wound and credited for Alyssa's survival. Yet part of her felt cold, weary, and somewhat distant. Even with Donald, she was struggling to express what she was going through. But she could see the darkness in his own eyes, the situation having clearly crushed the joy in him as well.

  Then Hayley was in her face.

  "I went with the skimpy one just in case he thinks about backing out."

  "Sorry, what?"

  "Come on girl, you were miles away. I said I'm going to give that boy a night he'll never forget."

  Well, thought Kiera, I can promise that without the aid of a bikini.

  "This is so subversive, Kiera. You are a dark horse. I knew you were a bit different from us on the island—but midnight swims and rendezvous?—girl, you are something else."

  Alyssa, her shoulder busted, poor girl, thought Kiera.

  "We should go," said Hayley, "don't want to miss this just because we ran late. Is Donald on his way?"

  "Donald? Oh, yes. He's coming along."

  "Are y
ou okay? This will be the same Donald you have been drooling and gassing about all last night to me. I thought you had it bad for him. Practically had you married off."

  "Yes …. yes, Donald will be here. He's great, Hayley, just great. It's just last night. Was all a bit rough."

  "God girl, I'm sorry. Getting caught up in myself here. If you want to cancel, I understand. I'll just make it a one-on-one."

  "No! No, probably what I need, some distraction."

  "And a little Donald loving," laughed Hayley.

  And to be rid of one mermaid, thought Kiera.

  Arriving at the front door of the leisure centre, Hayley started waving frantically towards the shadows. A tall, muscular man stepped forward, dressed casually in a fleece and track bottoms. Although he glanced briefly at Kiera, his eyes then focused fully on Hayley and his lips moved into a broad smile. His hands were shaking slightly and he kept stepping from foot to foot. I hope this doesn't make him freak out, thought Kiera.

  "Hi T," said Hayley. "You ready to party?"

  Please never let me call Donald "D", thought Kiera. Surely I can be more imaginative than that.

  "Hey, baby."

  Oh come on thought Kiera, suppressing a laugh. She dipped her head as the couple met and embraced, exploring each other's mouths for some thirty seconds.

  "Where's Donald?" asked Tommy on finishing their kissing. Presumably all saliva had been expunged.

  "On his way. He said he'd be slightly delayed and would text me when he was outside."

  "Okay, we'd better get inside before we get seen," said Tommy. He took a large number of keys, kept together on a ring, from his pocket and proceeded to fumble with them until he produced a single, silver one with some blue tape attached to the top. At the third attempt, he managed to make the key fit, and opened the door to the centre. Racing inside, he keyed in a code to silence any alarms and waved at the girls with a hurry up command. Once they were inside, he locked the door again.