“Oh, you don’t want to see it, do you?” I looked at everyone, embarrassed. They all started chiming in at once.
“We want to see it.”
“Yes.”
“Put it on.”
“It’s upstairs.” Mom’s eyes twinkled. “But Wynie can have the honors.”
“I’ll help ya, love.” Wynie’s sweet smile comforted me as she took my arm.
We moved through the crowd toward the stairs. And like Mom said, hanging from the curtain rod was the most elegant dress I’d ever seen, trimmed with lace and tiny iridescent gems. My mouth dropped open.
“Oh my starfish, it’s gorgeous,” I told her, then gave her a huge hug. “You’ve outdone yourself.”
“Just wait until it’s on, Love.” Wynie removed it from the hanger.
After I had changed out of my clothes, she held it up and I dove my hands through the middle. She tugged the dress over my hips, then zipped up the back. I barely had to suck in my gut.
“It’s perfect. How did you—?” I turned, knocked speechless after spying my reflection in the mirror.
“Years of practice, sweetie.” She watched me with so much love. “Where’s your veil?”
The veil. I couldn’t go down with Mom’s veil on, and certainly not Desirée’s headdress.
“I, uh…”
Wynie opened my closet, pulling out two hangers. “Looks like there are two in here.”
“I haven’t made up my mind yet.” I placed my hand on the door to close it. “I don’t need it yet.”
“You should let the girls vote.”
“No,” I said a little too firmly. “I mean, I want to decide. They both have sentimental value, and I shouldn’t show them everything today, you know? Save something.”
“I see.” She bowed her head. “Do you want me to help you down the stairs.”
“I… I think I can do it. Just give me a second.”
“Of course, dear.” She left and closed the door.
I stared at the veil and the crown, at how they represented my dual life. Yes, being married to Fin and living in our house would alleviate all this tension, but what was I advocating for on behalf of the rest of the mers? Was this fair to let them believe it could be done? That pretending to be human was easy?
“Ash?” Mom cracked open the door. “Are you—?”
She let out a gasp. I turned to her and sniffled. “What do you think, Mom?”
She walked closer and pulled out my hands. “You’ve never looked lovelier.”
“Do you think?”
“Do I think?” Tears trailed her cheeks. “It’s all I’ve ever wished for you. Better. I can’t believe Wynie made this by hand.”
“I know.” I swallowed, savoring the moment.
With our ups and downs, I’d never expected her to approve, to be proud of me like this.
“All it needs is my veil.” She turned to fetch it from the closet. I stayed her hand.
“Mom. I… I want to save it for my wedding day. Okay?”
She blinked at me for a moment. I braced myself for her backlash. Then she just smiled. “Okay.”
My hands jutted out, pulling her into a hug.
She resisted. “I don’t want to smoosh you.”
“You’re not,” I said with more sniffles.
“Okay… we need to stop this. I don’t want to get tears on your gown.”
“I know.” The tears wouldn’t stop.
I just wanted to hug her tighter, to wrap myself up forever in her love. We’d finally had a breakthrough. I could trust she’d finally just let all her nitpicking go, and just was my mom. No judgment. No suggestions.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“What for?”
“Just giving me the day of my dreams.”
“Of course, honey. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Maybe what I needed all along was the love of two mothers, because for the first time I finally felt whole.
THIRTY – FIN – June 2 – 1:30 p.m.
When the bell rang, I stuffed the highlighted cell phone list in my pocket and slid out of the car to greet Ash, thankful I didn’t have to spend one more minute in this dreaded parking lot.
Students poured out of the double doors, laughing and high-fiving one another. I’d expected Ash to come out all smiles. We’d pulled it off.
Brooke walked past, ignoring me.
“Hey, let me see your phone,” I sang.
She stopped, her eyes suddenly vacant and reached into her jeans pocket to hand me her phone. I scrolled through her texts. Whatever the stalker had sent her wasn’t on the phone anymore.
“Do you know this number?” I pointed to the stalker’s phone number on the list.
She glanced over. “No.”
“He texted you. What did it say?”
She blinked. “That I was supposed to tell him where Ash was.”
My brow furrowed. “Why?”
“I don’t know. He said not to say anything to anyone.”
“And you listened to him?”
“I don’t know. I just had to.” She blinked, her eyes clearing.
Had to? “Thanks, and sorry for the partner mix up.”
She scowled at me, eyeing me up and down. “I passed without your help thank you very much.”
I let out a huff. What was it with girls being so mean?
“Be nice,” I sang.
She shook her head and touched her forehead. “Yeah,” she said slowly. “You, too.”
I watched for Ash to exit, suddenly becoming worried. Finally, she walked out with Georgia by her side. They hugged, then separated. When she didn’t see me, I jogged to meet up with her. She marched over to the garbage cans and dropped her backpack inside.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
She startled at my voice, then dusted off her hands and proceeded to walk past me toward the car. “Nothing.”
I caught up with her. “Why’d you toss your backpack? Did you flunk or something?”
She stopped, frowning. “No. I passed. I’m done. I’ve graduated and now, it’s over. I don’t need that crap anymore.”
I lifted my hand and backed up. “Okay.”
She scowled, then stormed over to the passenger side of the car and tried the handle. The door was locked.
“Are you sure you want to throw away everything?” I asked.
“Yes!”
I scratched my head, not sure where this stemmed from.
“This is what you wanted Ash, to graduate. Why are you upset?”
“I’m not upset. Can you just unlock the door? I want to go home.”
I moved closer to her. “You are upset. I get it if you don’t want to talk about it, but if we’re going to give this marriage a chance, you have to be honest.”
She looked up at me, piercing me with her green eyes, and her lip quivered.
She rushed me with a hug. “I’m sorry.”
A pang hit my gut as I held onto her. I wanted to fix it. Fix all of it. “Just tell me.”
“No. It’s stupid. I just… need to get over it.”
“Over what?”
“The end… it just… got rushed.”
“The end?”
She lifted her hand and gestured to the school. “I’ll never know what could have been.”
I tried to wrap her up in my arms again, but she fought me. “No. It’s so stupid. I’m happy with you, and happy for our baby. I just… want to turn my selfish brain off!”
The tears poured down her cheeks, making me frustrated. “You’re not selfish.”
She pulled out a paper from her pocket and waved it at me. “This is from the most sought after swim coach in the world. He wanted me. Me! It was my dream to swim in the Olympics. I worked so hard and your uncle stole that from me. For what? Position in the kingdom.” She started to rip up the letter. “Now I’ll never know what I could have been.”
“No, Ash. What are you doing?”
&nb
sp; The pieces fluttered to the ground like snow, and she stared at them, her hands shaking. I grabbed her and hugged her hard. She sobbed on my shoulder, her body quaking.
“I’m sorry, Ash. I should have never left you alone and gone to Florida.”
She sniffled. “It’s not all your fault. I thought I could handle it on my own. I had no idea the depths of his ugliness.”
I took her cheeks between my palms. “I promise I won’t ever leave you again. I’ll always be there to protect you, and our child, from now until eternity.”
She sucked in a sob, then kissed me. I tasted her tears on my lips and regretted I could never avenge this injustice.
~|~
At 5:30 p.m., I knocked on the door to Ash’s parents’ home, and waited, my stomach tied in knots. The stiff collar itched my neck and the khakis made me sweat, and I wished I could have just sang a nice outfit in their minds instead of actually wearing one. It wouldn’t be for long considering the plan, and I’d change back into my T-shirt and board shorts after my surprise for Ash.
Ash’s mother opened the door. “Oh, Fin. Come in. Don’t you look nice? Ash is almost ready.”
“Mrs. Lanski, these are for you.” I held out the bouquet of flowers toward her before crossing the threshold.
Her forehead wrinkled. “For me?”
“Yes. I figured…” since I’m going to have to mind-mojo you in a little bit. “You needed them.”
“How thoughtful.” Tears welled in her eyes, and she wiped one away.
All of this had to be hard, to watch your oldest child graduate, then get married in such a short period of time. The temptation to sing away her sadness rocked me, but I knew how dangerously close I was to turning her into a robot, which wasn’t what Ash wanted.
“And you don’t have to be so formal. Karen is fine, or even… Mom.”
I swallowed, taken aback for a second. “Okay, Mom.”
She swept me up into a hug and squeezed. Could this be working? Could we actually be mastering this blended family idea?
She opened the door wider and gestured I come inside. Tulle and bows hung everywhere like the wedding fairy had come and barfed all over the place.
Lucy sat on the couch in the middle of it with a scowl. “I don’t get why I have to go,” she whined.
“It’s your sister’s high school graduation,” Mr. Lanski said from the kitchen.
“So.”
“Aw, dear.” Her grandmother sat down next to her and put her arm around her. “Your day is coming.”
“I want to have a sleepover at Laura Jane’s.”
“You can tomorrow night,” Mrs. Lanski said.
Lucy crossed her arms over her chest, and I wanted to sing the sass away. But I knew if I did that, Ash would definitely suspect something. Luckily, Ash had perceived Karen had a change of heart with the news. Good thing I had made her nicer. People acted the worst at funerals and weddings.
“So? What do you think?” Ash stopped halfway down the stairs, wearing her black gown and cap. Her red hair trailed down in loose curls, falling softly around her shoulders.
Her eyes met mine and my pulse quickened. She could be wearing a burlap sack and still be the most beautiful thing I’d ever laid eyes on.
Ash’s mom put her hand to her lips. “You’re… ”
“Beautiful, pumpkin,” Mr. Lanski finished.
He lifted his hand and helped her walk the rest of the way down the stairs. Once she stepped onto the floor, I could see the sadness creep into her eyes.
Mrs. Lanski wiped her tears off her cheeks and fumbled in her pocket to find her phone. “Okay, so let's get some pictures by the fireplace. Lucy? Stand by your sister.”
Lucy didn’t move.
“Lucy, come on,” her mom prodded. “We don’t want to be late.”
“I’m not going,” she said.
“Stop this. Of course you are.”
“I’ll go first,” I said to rescue the both of them.
Lucy huffed, then moved to stand by her sister. Ash put her arm around her sister’s shoulders, but Lucy remained stiff and refused to do the same. Reluctantly, Lucy smiled, but once Mrs. Lanski shot the pictures, her frown returned.
“Are we done yet?” Lucy asked.
“Just a few more family shots,” Mrs. Lanski said. “Let’s have a good attitude.”
Lucy groaned. We most definitely were going to have a one-on-one chat after this, or I wouldn’t be responsible for my actions.
Karen snapped a few shots with each family member, and then me. I set down the gift I’d gotten for her, and joined her in front of the fireplace.
“Hey gorgeous,” I whispered in Ash’s ear.
Ash rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe we’re doing this.”
Mrs. Lanski had me take a few of the family, and we tried to set up a shot with the timer, but the camera kept moving and chopping off our heads.
“When are your parents and Tatchi going to be here?” Mrs. Lanski looked at her watch. “Maybe they can take a few of us at the school.”
“Soon,” I lied.
“Oh, look at the time.” Mrs. Lanski grabbed her purse and sweater. “We need to get going. Lucy?”
I looked to Ash and her gaze fell to the floor.
“Mr. and Mrs. Lanski, Lucy and Gran, please come sit down,” I sang.
Ash sniffled, then ran upstairs.
My chest constricted, but I proceeded to sing the family a memory of the evening anyway. Of driving in the car and having a tough time finding a parking place, of filing into the multipurpose room and watching the graduation ceremony amongst the anxious group of parents and kids. I’d never been to a graduation before, so I filled in the details Ash had told me earlier. Then I proceeded to tell them that the battery on Karen’s camera had died, and she was unable to take any pictures at the event.
After I’d run out of any additional details, I’d told them that once they woke up, they’d assume Ash was at her all-night grad party.
“And knock off the attitude, Lucy,” I added. “Be happy for once.”
“Okay,” she mumbled.
I sucked in a measured breath. “I mean, just be happy during your sister’s wedding. Don’t give her any more grief.”
She nodded, and I thought of robots again. What was I doing? How could this be good for them, or Ash?
Snagging the gift I’d brought, I took the stairs by twos and knocked on her bedroom door.
“Don’t come in,” she said in a sniffled frantic huff. “All my wedding stuff is in here.”
I backed up and waited in the hall. She stepped out, eyes rimmed in red, no longer wearing her gown. “Did you do it?”
“Yeah. We’re clear… but where’s your gown?”
She shrugged. “I took it off.”
“Why?”
She deadpanned. “I’m not going to my graduation. That’s why.”
“Oh, yes you are.”
Her eyes crinkled at the corners. “What?”
“Just get your gown on and come downstairs.”
She frowned at me in disbelief.
I held out a gift bag to her. “Open this first, though.”
Her eyes softened as she looked at the bag. “What is it?”
“You’ll see.”
She froze; her cheeks flushed red. “Is this—?”
“What?” I scrunched my brow.
“Never mind.” She shook her head, then pulled out the stuffed kangaroo I’d bought her earlier. Her eyes lifted to mine.
“I thought… she’s got a little joey in her pouch,” I said. “See?”
Her lips pulled into a smile, then she wrapped her arms around me. “I love it. Thank you.”
I blew out a relieved breath. “Good, but we need to hurry. The daylight is a wasting.”
“You seriously want me to wear my gown.”
“Yes,” I demanded. “Go put it on.”
“Okay. I’m going.”
After she had put on the gown, I took her by
the hand and led her outside. My family and a few of our closest friends sat in chairs along the beach. Between them was a path lined with tiki torches.
She turned to me in awe. “What’s this?”
“Welcome to our graduation.”
“Our graduation?”
I half-smiled. “I told you I had connections, remember?”
She nudged me in the side. “You didn’t even take one final.”
Tatiana, wearing a black robe of her own, cued the music. “Pomp and Circumstance” began to play over the loudspeakers, and the audience stood.
Tears welled in Ash’s eyes, and she turned to me. “I know this is totally ridiculous, but can you sing to my family so they’ll come?”
“Sure.”
I returned to the house.
“Mr. and Mrs. Lanski, Gran and Lucy, we’re having a graduation celebration for my sister and me. Ash has been invited to participate. It would be a great honor if you’d be in attendance, just…” I thought for a moment. “Remember this as happening Wednesday. Okay?”
The four blinked as if snapping out of their trance, and followed me outside.
“Go ahead and sit there.” I gestured to the row behind Desirée and her daughters and their mates, including my idiot cousin, Colin.
“Wow. Isn’t this special,” Mrs. Lanski said.
I took Ash’s arm and led her to the back of the aisle next to Tatiana. The girls embraced before Tatiana helped me shrug on my robe and hat. Once we were ready, Oberon, the officiant of Natatoria, who stood in front, nodded to me.
“What do we do?” Ash whispered.
“Follow my lead,” Tatiana said before walking down the aisle.
“Your turn,” I whispered, nudging her to follow.
She gave me a look of fear and thankfulness.
“It’s practice for next Saturday,” I added.
A smile sprung from her lips, and she walked down the aisle behind my sister. The girls stood to the left of Oberon, and I joined alongside them.
“You may all be seated.” Oberon lifted his hands. “We are gathered here today to celebrate and uphold the graduation of studies for these fine individuals. The students you see before you have successfully passed this phase of their lives and will be ushered henceforth into the world as adults, to represent mer—” Jack coughed loudly, interrupting his mistake. “The, uh… graduated folk. May they grow in wisdom and grace and live long upon the land. May they find happiness and favor in the career of their choosing. May we all support them as they begin this new journey.”
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