Evermore

by Brenda Pandos

  “He’s not good at being idle.”

  I slid out of the passenger seat and slung my backpack over my shoulder. Fin tossed me the keys, and I shoved them into my pocket.

  Maggie waved from the houseboat. “Hey, kids. You hungry?”

  Once we got closer, the smell of freshly baked cookies wafted over and my tummy rumbled.

  I dropped by backpack and jogged down the dock as fast as I could, and took a few before she could hand me the plate.

  “I have milk, too.”

  “Awesome, thank you,” I said around a mouthful as I took a seat at the table. Lately, I’d been hungrier than normal, which I attributed to all the extra swimming.

  Fin joined me at the table, and we watched the action while we devoured the entire batch. Afterward, I undid the top button on my jeans. “I’m stuffed.”

  “Does Dad need any help today?” Fin called over his shoulder to his mom.

  “Yes, I imagine,” she answered while rinsing dishes in the sink.

  “Are you going to sing away your homework for tomorrow? Or actually do it,” I asked.

  He eyed me, a naughty grin on his lips. “Maybe, or see if you can do it for me.”

  “No way.”

  “Or I can ask Brooke for help.”

  “What?” I threw my balled up napkin at him. “Not if you know what’s good for you, you won’t.”

  He moved closer, rubbing my thigh. “What’s good for me?”

  My breath hitched, but I worked to keep a straight face.

  “Doing your homework yourself.”

  “And what’s my reward for doing my homework myself?” His hand moved higher.

  “A good grade, for starters—”

  His lips covered mine and I gave in to him, my stomach tingling. His kisses grew deeper, and I giggled, then pushed him away. “What if your mother sees?”

  “What’s the big deal? We’re promised.”

  Something caught my eye just off shore, and I moved to see what it was. Correction, who it was.

  “What the shell?” I pointed.

  Fin’s head whipped around just as Desirée and Pearl walked right out of the lake onto the beach like two goddesses unawares.

  He hopped onto the dock and ran toward them before I could get out of the chair. I followed the best I could, my stomach full of milk and cookies.

  By the time I’d caught up, Jack had joined as well.

  Desirée’s regal, white, beaded dress that rose up high in the front, showed off her long legs and gained the attention of the workers. She’d also yet to stop wearing her crown. Pearl, no longer wearing the servant’s attire of a white skirt piped in blue, wore a yellow tulle and chiffon skirt, a bit less ostentatious.

  “Regent, what brings you to Tahoe?” Jack asked. “Everything okay in Natatoria?”

  Pearl stood nervously next to her prior mistress, her eyes round as she took everything in.

  “Oh, yes, Jack. Thank you. The Council is in working order under Merric.” Desirée smiled. “I’m here to speak with my daughter, actually.”

  “Mother.” I walked up and gave her a hug.

  The coolness of her wet skin helped ease the heat coming off of mine.

  Desirée swept my hair off my cheek and stuck it behind my ear. “I think you’re becoming more beautiful every day, my sweet.”

  My heart warmed. “Thank you.”

  “It’s a shame you could never be queen. You would have been stunning.”

  I chewed my fingernail. Queen? Not likely. I couldn’t even manage things with my family, let alone a kingdom.

  A catcall came from the construction site.

  Jack spun, annoyed, and motioned to the gawking crowd. But the song exploded from Badger’s mouth.

  “Come on, yea blokes, and get yerselves back to work!”

  In unison, they all turned and started hammering again.

  “That’s better.” Jack dipped his head. “Your Regency, I hate to be rude, but I have people to babysit.”

  “Of course. Don’t mind me.” She chuckled.

  He then trudged off.

  Pearl eyed me up and down. “You’re wearing pants?”

  “Jeans, yes. It’s the style. We do have to look the part.”

  “Oh?” Pearl smoothed her hands down her tulle skirt, then eyed the workers. “We’re out of place, aren’t we?”

  “No… just a little dressed up and… wet.”

  “Oh, we can fix that.” Desirée’s skin grew red and her hair began to steam. Within seconds, they were both dried.

  “There.” She fluffed her blonde hair. “Is that better?”

  “I’ll say.” I’d yet to master that trick as quickly as the others had.

  “What a gorgeous little place this is here, with all the people and the buildings.” She turned to gawk at the surroundings. “I… it’s so good to see you grew up in such a luscious place.” She looked wistfully off. “Is that the house you grew up in?”

  “Yes.”

  “You know…” she started, then stopped. “I’d love to meet your parents… when it’s time, of course.”

  “Yeah. We should have dinner—er.” I folded my hands together to keep from fidgeting. “A meal.”

  “How’s the promising… I mean wedding planning going?” Pearl asked quickly.

  I sighed, wanting to tell them both the truth that we hadn’t started planning, but didn’t for the future of Natatoria. “They’re slow in coming with the house building and everything. Cranes don’t make a pretty backdrop for a wedding.”

  “Oh, so you still plan to have it here.”

  “Yes, under the evergreens.”

  “It’ll be lovely.” She held out her hand to me. In her palm was a small beaded sack. “I thought you could use this. It’s not much.”

  I took the bag and opened it. Inside, a mountain of gems sparkled. “Oh, you shouldn’t have.”

  “Oh?” Desirée’s smile fell and she side glared at Pearl. Pearl looked away, clearly embarrassed. “Is it not customary for the bride’s family to pay for the wedding?”

  “Oh,” I said quickly. “Yes, yes… it is. I’m sorry. It’s just… with so much going on, I’ve not thought about things.” I tied the bag shut and slid it into my pocket. “Thank you,” I added. “It’s very generous.”

  Desirée’s smile returned. “Do you have a date set?”

  “September—” Fin started just as I said, “August.”

  “I—I see,” she said.

  Fin cleared his throat a little too aggressively. “I still need to ask Ash’s father.”

  I clamped my mouth shut.

  Desirée chuckled. “What’s stopping you? Catfish got your tongue?”

  Fin’s panicked glance found mine. “That’s another custom that requires some finessing.”

  “And you can’t sing?”

  “I’d prefer he didn’t manipulate my father,” I said.

  Desirée sighed. “All these rules. So confusing.”

  My rules were confusing? I wanted to argue that Natatorian law was far more confusing but didn’t say anything.

  “So…” Fin gestured to his parents’ houseboat, obviously wanting to get them out of sight. “Why don’t we go inside? I’m sure my mom would love to say hi.”

  “Oh, yes.” Desirée eyed the houseboat. “Is that your home?”

  “It’s called a houseboat.” Fin proffered his arm.

  Desirée took it, and the two walked toward the dock.

  I glanced around, thankful the unseasonable chilly weather kept visitors away from our beach. Pearl came up alongside me.

  She pulled something out from her waterproof bag. “Princess Tatiana wanted me to give this to you.”

  She handed me the wedding notebook. Tears pinpricked my eyes looking at it. The fact she didn’t bring it herself once again solidified my worries that I’d be planning this alone.

  “Thank you.”

  I quickly stuffed down my emotion. Why was I crying over something so s
illy?

  Pearl reached out and squeezed my hand. She gave me a coy smile. “You are looking radiant.”

  “Me?” I coughed to cover my surprise. “No. Just… concerned. Though it’s a semi-private beach, we don’t… um… encourage mers to walk out of the water onto the beach in the open like that.”

  Pearl put her fingertips to her mouth. “Oh… right.”

  “Aren’t you taking Tatchi’s classes?”

  She tsked her tongue and leaned in. “I am, but you know Desirée. When she gets something in her head, she doesn’t take no for an answer.”

  I nodded. “Why is she here?”

  “Oh, she wanted to visit and… she’ll tell you…” She stopped and stared at me. “When are you due?”

  “Due?”

  “Never mind.” Pearl clamped her lips together.

  “What do you mean due?” I swallowed, my head swaying.

  “Ash, dear,” she said softly. “I’m pretty sure you’re pregnant.”

  And at that moment, I almost fainted.

  EIGHT – FIN – May 20 – 3:45 p.m.

  When Ash didn’t follow, I looked over my shoulder for her. Whatever Pearl had told her, the smile on her face had vanished.

  “Maggie,” Desirée said. “It’s so good to see you. How quaint this little place is.”

  “Yes, Regent. It makes a nice front until Jack can finish the main house. How lovely of you to visit.”

  As Desirée passed, my mother shot me a glare. I shrugged. How was I to know the Regent would visit?

  I paced on the dock until Ash and Pearl finally joined me. Then I helped Pearl step onto the deck of the houseboat first.

  “What’s going on?” I asked Ash softly.

  “Nothing.” She smiled, but I could tell it was forced.

  “So, Ash, my sweet,” Desirée drawled. “I have to confess. We came for another reason.” She patted the seat next to her.

  Ash took a seat, eyes wide. “Yeah?”

  Oh, great. I braced myself for what Desirée would say next.

  “Do you want to tell her, Pearl?”

  Ash’s shoulders stiffened and she deadpanned her.

  Pearl smiled. “Well, we came to check things out first before Regent Desirée allowed Girra to come help you with the wedding planning.”

  “Girra?” Ash clarified. “What about Tatchi?”

  “Well, with Nicole being so young, I didn’t think it a good time to be visiting land, especially now that she’s walking. She’ll just toddle to any body of water, and shift without knowing any better, and she’s been so clingy.” Desirée paused, sounding almost jealous. “Well, unless you want to wait a year.”

  “No,” Ash said abruptly. “We need to get things going. Girra is fine.”

  My brow furrowed. What was she agreeing to? Ash would never allow Girra to take Tatchi’s spot in her right mind. Was she just trying to please her mother?

  “Great,” Desirée said. “She has been taking Tatiana’s classes, and of all my daughters, she’s the keenest on human lifestyle. I see you have the planning book.”

  Galadriel was pretty keen, too, but I didn’t necessarily want her here interfering. In Ash’s lap was a notebook that had pictures sticking out of it.

  Desirée leaned forward. “But she’ll need to be chaperoned.”

  My head jerked backward, and I knew exactly where this conversation was going, and I wouldn’t be her chaperone. No way. Especially not after my disaster with Galadriel.

  “Desirée—” Mom’s voice was low.

  “I think you mean Regent,” Desirée clarified.

  “Regent,” Mom said with a pert grin. “I think Jack should sit in on this meeting.”

  “Did I hear someone say meeting?” Jack stepped onto the boat and dusted off his hands. “Ooh, cookies.”

  Mom quickly filled Jack in on Desirée’s concerns as he wolfed down a few.

  Desirée pursed her lips, eyeing Dad with disdain. “I know you and I don’t see eye to eye on this, Jack, but the rules have been passed down through our generations for a reason. The fact I’m even letting her come here is a stretch for me.”

  “I understand,” Jack said around a mouthful. “But we’ve decided as a Council that we want to allow properly-trained mer to come on land.”

  “Yes, but I know my daughter,” Desirée interjected.

  “Well, if it will make you feel any better, I was going to suggest Fin.”

  My hands formed into fists, and I tried not to show my frustration. With everything going on, the last thing I wanted to do was babysit another princess. “I’m a little busy—”

  Desirée’s watchful eye landed on me and I stopped talking.

  “He’s promised. He’s responsible, and of anyone, he’s very qualified on human matters,” Dad added.

  Desirée lifted her chin, appraising me. “Then it’s settled.”

  “Wait,” I said quickly.

  Dad glared at me.

  “I think Ash should decide, I am her promised mate, which will mean she won’t have my full attention, right dear?”

  I hated that I put her on the spot, but she had to save me.

  “What?” Ash’s eyes flicked upward from the floor. “Sure whatever you guys want.”

  My mouth gapped open, then shut. Did she not hear the question? Then she bolted out of her seat.

  “Ash?” I asked.

  “I just remembered something. I need to go.” She leaned over and hugged Desirée. “Good to see you, Mother.”

  “Likewise, my sweet.” Desirée kissed her cheek. “Don’t be a stranger.”

  “Ash?” I asked again.

  She passed me, kissing me on the cheek. “Just stay here. I’ll be back.”

  I watched her cross the deck and head toward home. Then, she turned and headed toward her car. Where was she going?

  “So if Girraween comes tomorrow, what should she wear?”

  “We’ll give her something appropriate,” Mom said.

  But I couldn’t listen. Something was wrong, and once again Ash didn’t trust me enough to tell me what.

  NINE – ASH – May 20 – 4:45 p.m.

  After a visit to the drug store, I ran upstairs and locked myself in the bathroom. Hands shaking, I took the kit out of the bag and ripped open the package.

  According to the directions, I just needed to pee on the stick. My stomach turned over. Did the test work the same for mer as it did humans?

  I did as instructed, then waited, watching the stick like it would talk to me. What if I was pregnant? Then what? And how did Pearl know by just looking at me?

  What did this mean for our plans? How would we have a wedding with my big, bulging stomach? I mean, we could sing away some things, but I didn’t want to be a pregnant bride.

  How could I have a child? I mean, I enjoyed Nicole, but for the most part, I didn’t even like to babysit. My sister was proof I couldn’t raise anyone.

  I glared at the stick, willing it to do something. Was it a dud? Did I need to do another test?

  When I didn’t think I could wait another minute, a duplicate pink line began to appear on the stick.

  My head felt like it would burst. How could I be pregnant? Yes, I knew how, but Fin and I had used protection. It was as if my mother had guessed and spoken this into existence. A baby. A merling.

  The air rushed out of my mouth, making me lightheaded. I mean, it wasn’t that I didn’t want a child with Fin. I did. Just not right now. Not at eighteen. Not before we had time to get everything settled between our two cultures. Time together as a couple, at least.

  My dreams of a wedding, of normal human life were quickly vanishing before my eyes. What was I going to do now?

  Someone banged on the door.

  “Ash?” Lucy whined. “What’s taking you so long?”

  Wiping away a tear, I glared at the door. “Use the other bathroom.”

  “I can’t. Gran’s using it.”

  A sigh slipped from my lips. “Use Mom and Da
d’s.”

  “A-a-ash-ly-y-yn. Mom’s taking a nap. Hurry up.”

  I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe.

  “Ash!”

  “Okay!” I yelled and stood.

  Shoving the stick and the box into the bag, I wiped my eyes and opened the door.

  “All yours,” I said as I brushed past her.

  “Finally.” She darted inside without so much as a thank you and slammed the door.

  “You’re welcome.” I pressed my eyes shut and leaned against the wall.

  Lucy would be my merling’s aunt. Oh, Poseidon. This was affecting so much more now than just me.

  Why was I pretending to be human? Why did it matter? Other humans turned mer had faked their deaths when they couldn’t let their human families know, like Maggie. But I didn’t want to do that to my family. I loved them. And as silly as it sounded, a wedding on the beach had been my dream as long as I had a crush on Fin.

  Fin’s parents would be elated to find out they were expecting another grandmerling, especially with how they doted over Nicole any chance they got. And my mother, Poseidon help us all, she’d be over every day, wanting to raise him or her.

  I just wasn’t sure my parents would be happy without some mer mojo. But then what? They’d want to show him or her off, take pictures, go on outings. And after witnessing the unpredictability of Nicole, there was no way I could allow that.

  I trudged down the stairs like a zombie.

  “Is that you, Ash?” Mom peeked her head around the corner from the kitchen. I jolted and stuffed the bag behind my back.

  “I thought you were taking a nap.”

  “Me? No.” Her smile lit her face. “I didn’t know you were home. Fin’s looking for you.” She stopped, smile melting away. “What’s wrong?”

  I choked down a swallow, my mind too overloaded to be mad at Lucy for lying. Even if Fin had asked for my hand in marriage, we’d need to get married now before I showed. I had wanted more time before we sprung the wedding on them, on everyone.

  “Oh, nothing.” I tried to smile, appreciative that Mom had been a lot nicer lately. A baby, as horrible as it sounded, would ruin everything.

  “Are you sure?”