by Keck, Laurie
She opened her mouth wide. “Or…”
“Or what? What is it?”
“Or… I’ve found true love. Mermaids cry aquamarine stones when they acknowledge true love.”
“True love? With me?”
“Yes. But, you see, this is why I couldn’t be with you.”
“Really! Because you cry little rocks?” He put his head back. “What a relief.”
“This is a relief to you?” she asked as she turned to face him.
“Well, sure. I often thought you just despised me. This means I have a chance.”
Case tenderly lifted her face with his fingers. “Can I hold you?”
She blushed as she parted her lips. “Yes.”
They continued to sit by the fire for hours. She told him her father’s story, her mother’s story, and, most importantly, her own. The night was moving along quickly, the moon now directly overhead.
Case asked, “Are you getting cold? Would you like to go inside?”
“No I’m fine. Case, do you really love me?”
“I do love you, Larina. I have always loved you.”
“I feel like you should know exactly what you’re getting into before we go any further. Would you like to go to your river, and I will swim for you.”
“Yes. I mean, if you’re okay with it.”
“I think you need to see and know for yourself. I would suggest we go to the ocean, to my home, but Daddy has forbidden me to go near Siren Rock on the nights of a full moon.”
“Because of your mother?”
“Yes.”
“Makes sense, with all you’ve told me.”
“Are you curious? Afraid?”
“I’m definitely curious, and, no, I’m not afraid.”
* * * *
They drove to the river. They each removed their shoes and pants and sat at the edge of the riverbed, dangling their feet in the cool water.
“Sure you’re not scared? Because I’m petrified,” she said with nervous laughter.
He reached over and stroked her thigh. “Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous, yeah. You know you don’t have to do this.”
“I only fear you will see me as a freak.”
“Never. I promise.”
Larina stretched her legs out and pointed her feet. She took a deep breath, and as she exhaled, she willed her fin. Her pale slender feet became a pearl-white, effervescent shimmer. Her feet formed a web between them. Iridescent scales quickly formed as both feet and ankles began to merge as one. Within moments, her calves and feet became a fin.
Case exhaled and rubbed his face. “Does it hurt?”
She smiled. “No, it doesn’t hurt. It’s an invigorating sensation, think of an intensely mint exfoliate. But I’m sorry. This is too much for anyone to witness.”
Case put his hands out. “No, no. I’m fine, you’re fine, we’re fine.” He held his hand above her fin. “Can I?”
“Yes.”
Case gently placed his hand on her fin. He looked at her wide-eyed and smiled as he moved his hand back and forth, gently stroking her scales.
He said, “It’s actually really smooth. I wasn’t expecting that. A little like snake skin, though smoother.”
“It’s sorta like a bud scale. A shedding of skin, though done in an instant. So this is my secret. Well, it was my secret.”
“The sheen, the smoothness, the reflective colors… it’s really beautiful, Larina.”
She removed her shirt and slid into the water. Case did the same and went in after her. He stood as she tread the water. He pulled her close and kissed her before gently caressing her breasts. He only stopped to admire her beauty before he kissed her again.
She dove and whipped the water with her tail, emerging behind him. She placed her hands on his back, and he spun around. Her hands met his chest as he clasped her face in his hands. He kissed her then smoothed her wet hair away from her face and kissed her again. They held their wet bodies together.
The moonlight only enhanced the magic they felt. All was quiet and calm in their world. The rustling of leaves from nocturnal creatures, the chirp of crickets, and the cooing vibration of an Eastern screech owl were now mere background noise. The only sound, in which they were completely aware, came from their own breath.
She willed her fin gone and braced herself to climb out of the river. Case lifted himself out behind her. She reached for her pants and began to put them on.
He asked, “It’s gone, just like that?”
“Yep, just like that.”
Case pulled on his pants and then helped her button her shirt. “I always knew you were one of a kind. I love you, Larina.”
“I love you, Case. It’s funny, in spite of my tail, I actually feel human, truly human for the first time.”
They kissed. They held their embrace as she looked to the moon in the western part of the sky. “I should get home. Father will be worried; he doesn’t know I’m gone.”
Case held her close as he spoke. “I fear you’ll leave again.”
She tucked her head into his chest. “If you’ll still have me, I’ll stay.”
He placed his hands on her shoulders. “I want nothing more. I’ve waited four years for this day, for you, to return to me.”
Larina stroked his chest. “Tomorrow?”
“I can’t wait. Tomorrow it is.”
They drove back to Larina’s car.
During the ride, Case said, “Today when you left, I feared that was it, that I would never see you again. I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am that you came tonight. And that you shared with me your most guarded secret.”
Larina placed her head on his shoulder. As she did her, hair flowed across her shoulder.
“I’m glad too. Now you may have to fight to keep me away.”
“A fight I’m happy to lose.”
They kissed, and he reluctantly let her hand glide out of his as she got out of the truck.
“Tell your father hello. He’s always been good to me.”
“He has always liked you very much.”
She got in her car, and as she drove away, she gave a wave. Case ran his fingers through his hair and drove back to the house. He got out of the truck and went over to the fire. He knelt down to Bandit, who lay waiting.
“Didn’t think it possible, but I love her now even more.”
He rose and sat in front of the fire, Bandit at his feet. Above him, stars shown brilliant against a deep blue hue with hints of violet. Case picked up his guitar and thought of the wonder of his woman as he took in the beauty of the night sky. He strummed, began to hum and compose a sailor’s song He played as he quietly sang.
“The Sun said to the Moon
It will be time quite soon.
I’ve been out all day
I’ve tried to light their way,
“Filling hearts with light.
But soon it will be night.
Now it’s time for you to do
The things that make it right
“The loveless search for homes,
Something in which to share,
Romantics wait to share,
With those with whom they care.
“Your light is for lovers,
Who may have lost their way.
You help those who don’t see,
As clearly in the day.
“The scorned will renew,
The shy will not hide.
It is love that they will find
As you light their sky.
“In your glow, there’s mystery
Beyond the stars above.
For it is, in your moonlight,
There is someone to love.”
He continued to strum and hum as the flames and the fire slowly burned out.
Chapter 5
The next morning, Larina was in her flowing pajama bottoms and a cropped sweatshirt as she stood at the stove, making scrambled eggs and pancakes. She paused only to take sips from her steaming cof
fee. As she flipped a hotcake, there was a shuffling across the hardwood floors.
“Good morning, Daddy.” She kissed his cheek as he sat at the table.
“Good morning, dear.”
She poured his coffee and brought the newspaper and his reading glasses.
She teased him. “I’ll never understand why you still like a cumbersome paper when it’s all online now.”
“Some things just go together. Papers and Sundays being one of them.”
“Well, it’s rather charming to see a man who enjoys old traditions.”
She placed a plate in front of him, and then she sat across the table with a plate of her own. Grant sat holding the paper in front of him as he read. Larina noticed he seemed totally engaged by the article. She sat quietly, with one elbow on the table, her index finger against her forehead. She quietly and delicately ate her meal.
Grant lowered the paper and peered over the top of his glasses.
He said, “You have something to share?”
“Me? No I’m just eating here.”
He gave her a side glance and lifted the paper again as he continued to read.
“Okay, yes, I had hoped you might have something to share about Mother.”
Grant folded and then placed his paper on the table.
“Your mother is doing well, lovely as ever. She was happy to hear you had seen Case. Your mother wants nothing more than for you to be happy and your life to be full.”
“Did you tell Mother I only met with him to care for his horse?”
“Now why would I crush her hope like that?”
“Well, I guess that’s good since it’s not entirely true after last night.”
Grant put his mug down. “So you do have something to tell!”
Larina blushed. “Sunmoon and I were planning a walk on the beach after breakfast. Would you like to join us?”
Grant lifted and held his mug with both hands. “Yes, yes I would.”
After they finished their meals, Larina gathered the plates, rinsed them, and placed them in the dishwasher, along with the pans she had used. They went to their respective suites and dressed for the day. Grant traditionally wore his khakis and white fisherman sweater. Larina was dressed in her cropped jeans and a cropped red sweater.
They went by way of their private walk at the back of the property. The beach was empty, aside from the sandpipers and gulls. The wind howled on occasion, but still, the sun felt warm. Grant threw a stick out toward the water, and Sunmoon jumped in to fetch. As the three of them walked the sand, he continued this along the shoreline. Larina pushed her hair from her eyes as she spoke.
“I know I’ve been a little confused as to where I belong. But I’ve decided I belong here.”
“I’m happy to hear you say that.”
A gull flew near and landed beside Larina. It walked with her a few feet down the beach.
She bit her lip. “Daddy, you need to know. I told Case everything.”
Grant smiled, though he did not speak, and just kept walking.
She stopped to get his attention. “Daddy?”
“I am glad to hear that. Case is the one I would tell, if I were to tell someone.”
She waited for more, but there was no more to come. She scraped the sand with her own stick as they walked along. Soon Sunmoon came bouncing over to walk beside them.
“Do you want to know what he said, or what he did when I told him?” she asked.
“If you’d like to share, I’d like that very much.”
“He took it really well. Not shocked as one should be.” She giggled nervously. “He said if there is anything we need to figure out, we’ll do it together.”
“And you will.” Grant put his arm around Larina as they walked and enjoyed the daybreak and the fierceness of the breaking waves.
Larina rested her head on her father’s shoulder as she asked him, “How did you know he would take it so well? And why are you not afraid that he knows our secret?”
“Larina, a person has to trust and believe in someone. Life is to be shared, love is to be felt. And a secret is only healthy if another person knows it and accepts you for it. That’s how you know true love.”
“Mother’s a lucky woman.”
“I am glad you think so, but it’s actually I who has been the lucky one.”
Larina saw a conch shell up ahead and went running over to it. She picked it up and held it up for her father to see.
Grant said, “We can turn that into a horn for you.”
She tilted her head. “Yeah, we can.”
* * * *
Returning home, Larina and Grant approached the veranda. Sunmoon ran ahead and shook the wetness from his coat.
“Do you want a fire, boy? I hear you.” Grant went over and gathered the wood and began to prepare a fire. Larina went into the house and soon returned with her father’s pipe, his tobacco, newspaper, and reading glasses. As she placed them by his chair, Grant glanced over. “Thank you. You take good care of me.”
Larina said, “I was thinking I might invite Case over, maybe make some oysters.”
“I think that would be a very nice way to spend an afternoon. I, for one, can make myself scarce.”
“No, Daddy, Case would love to see you. I won’t do it unless you say you’ll join us.”
“Then I’ll join you.”
“Great. I’ll call him and then go to the marina and get everything. I’ll see you soon.”
Grant sat in his chair and reached down and stroked Sunmoon. “There, does that fire help? You know, if I have my way, your mother will have an even bigger family one day.”
“Daddy, I heard that!” she yelled from the doorway.
Grant chuckled to himself and went back to reading his paper.
* * * *
As Case drove up the drive to his ranch, Bandit’s head was braced against the car door to inhale all the scents. When they reached the top of the hill on the property, Case noticed instantly something was wrong, that something was gone.
“Damn.” He pounded his fist against the steering wheel and then lowered his head onto it. He exhaled as he undid his seatbelt and then reached over to unclasp Bandit’s. He hopped out of the truck, slammed the door, and walked to the other side. He opened the door and patted his leg. “Come on, boy.”
Bandit jumped out.
Case pushed up his shirtsleeves as he walked swiftly to the side of the house toward the pit. He squatted and picked up limbs and branches. He held them in front of him, confused, as if trying to figure out the pieces of a complicated puzzle. There with no way to figure it out. Why would someone have destroyed his tree? He threw a branch as far as he could. He kicked the dirt and straw with his feet. “Damn. Why?”
He felt his heart race and rushed over to the stable. Bandit followed. As he entered, Doe and Rae greeted him. He scratched their heads and saw both Robust and Sas were standing peacefully in their stalls. He braced himself against the wall of the stable and exhaled. He then walked over to Robust, and as he entered the stall, he whispered, “Hey, buddy, just checking. You okay?” He patted him and extensively ran his hands over his body. “Good boy. Glad you’re well.” He went over and checked on Sas before going back outside.
He walked to the sawdust pile and picked up a two-inch double needle. He rubbed his neck while he paced and muttered, all the while staring at the pine needle. He sat on the log near the pit and placed his hands on his temples, staring over at the pile. There was nothing more than kindling and a small root where the sand pine had once stood. Bandit came over and lay at his feet. Case reached down and stroked his head.
“Well, guess that’s that, boy.”
He then quietly chuckled and gave Bandit’s fur a tousle. “You know something, this isn’t so bad. I don’t need to be reminded of what could have been. Larina and I are together now, and that’s all that matters.”
* * * *
When Larina returned from the marina, she went to the veranda and sat on
the arm of a chair.
Grant asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Case called. He told me that, while he was in town this morning, someone had chopped down our small tree. He planted that tree for me, for us.”
She held her hands over her mouth. Grant got up and went over and put his arm around her.
“I’m sorry dear. One has to wonder, who would do such a thing?”
“He thinks it was Annette.”
Grant gave a slight nod.
Larina bit her lip as she continued. “He told me she knew of the tree. He’s also worried for us. He fears she may know that he’s in contact with me.”
Grant placed his hands in his pant pockets and began to pace. “None of this is terribly surprising. She doesn’t want him to be happy. She never has. Once she learned he wouldn’t give up the idea of being with you, it got worse. She’s sabotaged him every chance she gets.”
“What do you mean? Have you been in touch with Case the last few years?”
Grant turned to face her. “We’ve spoken, yes. We do go to the same general store in town. He also had quite a difficult time when his grandfather passed several months ago. We’ve spoken quite often since.”
Larina lowered her head. “I should’ve reached out at that time.” She put her head back as she spoke. “He raised Case; he was often all he had growing up. I’m so glad you were there for him, Daddy. Thank you.”
Grant motioned with his head. “Did you ask him over?”
Larina bit her lip. “I did.”
“That’s my girl. He may need you now more than any other time.”
* * * *
Case drove up and buzzed the intercom. The gate opened and he made his way up the drive. He parked outside the Bixby home. As instructed, he took the cobblestone walk to the rear of the property. He was surprised to find the gate unlocked. He cautiously opened it and announced himself as he entered.
“Hello. It’s Case.”
Sunmoon went running over to meet him and Bandit. Case propped his guitar against a tree as he bent down to greet him.
