“Ready to go tell them?”
“Okay?” I said, not meaning it to sound like a question.
“And I have your blessing to sing to them the date?”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course you do. Just… just not the baby yet.”
“Okay.” He put his arm around my shoulder and walked with me toward the house. My stomach bunched in nerves.
With the wedding happening in three short weeks, we had more than enough to do.
FOURTEEN – FIN – May 20 – 7:23 p.m.
Walking alone across the beach toward the houseboat, my feet barely felt like they’d touched the ground. I’d gone from getting married to becoming a dad.
I stepped onto the boat and met the four pairs of anxious eyes of my parents, Tatiana, and even the merling, Nicole.
“So?” Tatiana asked hesitantly.
I gave them a baleful look, then raised my hands, unable to keep them in suspense any longer. “I’m getting married.”
Everyone let out a whoop and jumped up to hug me. I backed up, stopping them. “But that’s not all.”
Their eyes widened.
I cracked a grin. “I’m going to be a dad, too.”
My sister let out another loud whoop, clearly not surprised, while my parents’ mouths dropped open. Nicole crawled across the floor to touch my feet, then phased into a mermaid, shredding her diaper.
“Another grandmerling?” Mom gasped, holding the sides of her face. “Oh, my starfish. This is wonderful!”
“Congratulations, Son. When?”
Tatiana scooped up Nicole, just as she started peeing everywhere. “Oh, sorry, Mom and Dad. I’ll clean it up.”
She leaped onto the dock and jumped into the lake. The merling wiggled in her hands, crying to be let loose.
I tore my gaze away from her and focused on my parents. “Uh… five, six weeks? I don’t know about incubation… pregnancy… stuff.”
Mom snagged a towel and cleaned up the mess. “Pearl can confirm how far along she is, but where does that leave the wedding? Do we need to postpone it a year?”
“We’re having the wedding in three weeks,” Tatiana called from the water. “Here. On the beach. It’s already decided.”
Mom’s forehead creased. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Very sure.” I turned to Dad. “But here’s the hard part. I promised Ash’s dad I’d have a house for her. So…”
“Three weeks?” Dad’s eyebrows lifted. He turned to Mom. “I guess we don’t have a choice.”
I leaned forward, not trusting my ears. “You can build a house in three weeks?”
Dad laughed. “Well not alone, no. The biggest hold up is usually permits and inspections, but we’ve got that covered.”
I blew out a nervous breath. “Okay. That’s handled. What about the wedding?”
Tatiana yelled from the water. “Well, Girra has permission to come on land, along with the rest of my students so they can help, too. That includes several of the guard. I think between Jax, Jacob, Badger, and Dad, we’ll be able to sing away any mistakes. Oh, and Fin too, when you’re here. I think it’ll work.”
I inhaled quickly. It just sounded like so much, too much.
“It doesn’t need to be elaborate, Tatchi. Just some chairs and dresses, and stuff.”
Tatiana laughed. “Uh, sure. We’ll have a few chairs. Won’t we, Mom?”
Mom stepped from the houseboat deck onto the dock, a wide smile on her face. “You’ve done your job, Son, in both proposing and giving me another grandmerling. Let me and your sister add the frosting on the cake, with Ash’s blessing of course.”
“Uhhh, are you sure?” I stuttered. “‘Cause I know Ash isn’t going to want a huge thing.”
“Huge?” Tatiana made duck lips. “Spectacular, yes.”
Mom dove off the dock and disappeared under the water. She reappeared a few feet off shore, then leaped into the air.
“Mom!” I yelled, looking around to make sure no one saw. The last time I’d seen her this happy… Actually, I couldn’t remember the last time.
Dad clapped me on the back. “Give her a moment. No one is watching.”
Dad dove off and joined her.
I let out a long sigh and turned toward Ash’s house. She’d agreed to a wedding, not a mer convention.
“Trust me,” Tatiana called across the water.
I sighed and shook my head. I’d done half my responsibilities per Badger, the other half had yet to be finished.
With the wedding happening in three short weeks, we had more than enough to do. Why did I agree to attend high school?
FIFTEEN – ASH – May 23 – 4:30 p.m.
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 hav
ing 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.
SIXTEEN – FIN – May 26 – 5:30 p.m.
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 ha
ppened 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.”
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