“Thanks. I didn’t go there for a bikini, but it’s really an interesting piece,” Lola admitted, looking down at the blue beads shimmering against the red threads. “She was really nice and had some good books on mermaids.”
“We have some more, as well, once you’re done with those,” Mirra offered.
“Oh, great! I don’t know why, but it seems to be a bit of a theme that keeps popping up for me. So now I’m just surrendering to the inevitable.” Lola shrugged.
The sisters glanced at each other. “And what theme is that?”
“Oh, that I have to hunt them down.”
“You’re going to hunt mermaids?” Jolie’s voice sharpened.
“No, no, no. Not like hunt them as in try to find and kill them.” Lola chuckled. “But just… satisfy my curiosity. There’s art to be found with the mermaids, and I’m not yet sure what form that will take for me. Perhaps I’ll get some creative inspiration from the symbology and lessons that we can learn from mermaids, or if by some amazing chance I ever see one in person, maybe I could photograph or paint her. But it’s just kind of enthralled me since I arrived, and now I want to know more.”
“Mermaid art is exceptionally popular,” Mirra said, and shot a warning glance at Jolie, who had started to open her mouth. “People have been deriving inspiration from their mythologies for centuries.”
“I know. Maybe it’s just a strong draw because we’re in a time where women need to feel more empowered, but the idea of mermaids and their confidence is really appealing to me. I’d like to explore it more.”
“Well, this is certainly the place to do so,” Jolie said, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder and moving her chair a bit to angle in the sun better.
“Do you have any suggestions on where to start? Aside from my books, that is?”
“There’s a mermaid statue out by the cliffs on the west end of the island. They say that’s where Nalachi lost his life, and now you’ll hear a mermaid sing during the storms there. There’s also some caves in the cliffs where you could look for some of the old rock drawings. You have to go by boat, though,” Mirra said.
“And for a longer trip, there’s a small uninhabited island not far off the coast here. Your only access is at low tide, and you have to hire the right kind of boat to get close to shore. The rumor is that’s where the most mermaid artifacts have been found,” Jolie added.
“Really? That’s perfect. Do you recommend I start with one over the other?”
“Maybe just the easier excursion to the caves to start. You can do that in a few hours. I feel like the island is more of a day trip, where you want to pack a picnic and such.”
“Great! Now all I have do is rent a boat. Is there anyone you recommend, where I can rent something like a Zodiac?”
“Oh – we absolutely do not recommend that you go out on your own,” Jolie said. “In fact, we insist on it. However, we can arrange a private charter boat for you. I’ll go in and make the call.”
“Is it really expensive?” Lola asked.
“No, I think for the small boat it’s not too bad. I’ll get a final price for you,” Jolie said and strolled away.
“What should I expect from the caves? Or look for? How did a mermaid statue get out there?” Lola asked Mirra.
“In the caves, you’ll want to bring a light. Do you have a dive light or something like that? If not, we have some you can use. You’ll want to head fairly far into the cave – wear water shoes – and you’ll find all sorts of old drawings etched on the walls. It’s quite cool, actually. And I’m not really certain on the statue. I feel like you’ll find history on that in one of the books.”
“Is a seven thirty start time okay for you?” Jolie called down from the house.
“Perfect.”
“A hundred dollars for the whole day?”
“Even better.”
“They’ll be here to pick you up in the morning.”
Chapter 12
Lola rose early enough to see the sun rise, wandering out to the ocean while the B&B was still quiet to do some yoga on the beach and to start the day with a clear head. She’d spent another lovely night in the swing chair on her balcony, sipping her Dark & Stormy, a delicious concoction of dark rum and ginger beer, and devouring her newly acquired mermaid books. By the time she went to bed, her mind was swimming with possibilities as to what direction she should focus on for her art project.
Mainly, though? It seemed like mermaids carried different messages for different people. She’d mused over that thought during her yoga, wondering how mermaids chose whom to reveal themselves to. Or maybe those who felt drawn to mermaid lore needed to hear certain messages from them. Of everything she had learned about the mermaids the night before, the theme that resonated the most strongly was that of the divine feminine power. Which was something that Lola absolutely could get behind. It would be interesting to explore what the divine feminine power meant for each person, as it was a broad area. Certainly there were the more traditional forms of beauty, but what about physical strength? Or vulnerability?
Looking forward to her boat trip, Lola packed a waterproof knapsack the girls had given her, along with a dive light, and made sure she had reef-safe sunscreen, sturdy water shoes, her waterproof camera – no trusty Leica today – and an apple and a few granola bars. Lola filled her reusable water bottle, her favorite purchase from Costa Rica years ago, now covered with stickers from around the world. Then she slipped into her bikini, pulled a tank and sarong over it, and braided her hair into loose pigtails before donning a simple straw hat. Happy to have a plan for the day, she texted Sam what she was doing and went downstairs to wait for the charter company.
It shouldn’t have surprised her when Gage’s truck turned in front of the house, but somehow it still did. A flush crept through Lola, and she realized that she’d thought more about him at odd moments during the day yesterday than she would have liked. She’d done her best to push him from her mind, reminding herself that this trip was about her and ignoring the naughty voice in her head that insisted Gage could also be about her needs. He was not the distraction she wanted right now.
He can just be a friend, Lola thought, and reminded herself that men weren’t just good for sex. Some had other useful attributes, like friendship or building things.
“So you did decide to take me up on my offer of showing you around the island,” Gage said, getting out of the truck and rounding the front. Today he wore loose swim trunks, a fitted dark tank that showcased his very well-defined abs, a Red Sox baseball cap, and – once again – his mirrored aviators. Lola did her best not to drool, and ignored the voice that insisted she get in line to ride this ride.
“Actually you can blame Jolie for that one. I just told her I needed a boat chartered. Which is what you do, then, I assume?” Lola asked, handing him her bag and climbing into the front seat.
“Among other things,” Gage said as he shifted the truck into gear.
“I suppose that explains the large groups of women thronging around you all the time,” Lola said, tapping her finger on her lips as she studied him.
“Nope, that’s just the norm,” Gage said, straight-faced.
Lola couldn’t help but chuckle. “Naturally,” she said. “So, you’re a boat guy? Do you run daily charters or snorkel tours?”
“A little bit of this and that. I don’t like to overbook myself, so I’ll pick and choose tour times. About twice a week I’ll take a large group out on my bigger boat, and there we offer everything from snorkeling and a catered lunch to music and a sunset cocktail tour. It just depends on what the clients are looking for. For smaller charters, like today’s, I have some small boats to suit those needs.”
“Have you been captaining all your life?”
“Not even close.” Gage laughed, reaching up to tug at the leather cord tying his hair back, and Lola wondered at the sheepishness he showed there. “In another life I was an attorney.”
“Is that so? A shark
, huh? You don’t practice anymore at all?”
Another tug on the hair.
“Here and there. When the locals need some help, I offer it for free. Their laws are a bit different than ours, so I just do my best to guide where I can.”
“What kind of law?”
“In-house counsel for a production company. Mainly movies and made-for-TV movies.”
“Shut up – like the Hallmark Channel and stuff?” Lola asked, delighted.
“What is it with you women and the Hallmark Channel?”
“I think we just like the consistency of knowing we can watch a movie where the local baker in his Christmas sweater wins the girl. It’s sweet to see a nice guy win for once, I guess.” Lola shrugged.
“Hey, I’m all for it. There’s nothing wrong with watching something that has a happy ending or makes you feel good inside. Entertainment is so subjective.”
“Have you met a lot of famous people?”
“Not as many as you’d think. They kept us grunts up in the offices and away from the beautiful people. Probably scared their agents would try to renegotiate contracts once they set eyes on the attorneys.”
“It sounds quite interesting. Why’d you stop?”
Another tug on the hair, Lola noted. Interesting. He wasn’t as comfortable talking about himself as she’d thought a guy like him would be. She’d met men before who exuded the same level of machismo as Gage did, and they seemed to never shut up about themselves and their accomplishments.
“Ah, I’m not entirely sure, to be honest. I didn’t hate the work. Admittedly, we were an incredibly busy company so there were a lot of demands on my time. But I was in Ft. Lauderdale for a meeting one day and was walking the streets, as I often did when I had a case issue on my mind, and I saw a boatyard. Walked over, and a met a man named Mack who refused to sell me a boat until I took some classes. Once I did, I was hooked. It wasn’t much longer after that I left the company and off I went, with no particular destination in mind.”
“That’s amazing. Not many people have the guts to do that. It’s a huge change to leave a stable income and travel with no set destination. I’m liking you more and more, Gage,” Lola said with a laugh as they pulled to a stop in the parking lot of a boatyard. “I like when people take the time to shake their lives up and change the status quo. It makes for a far less boring life.”
“I can’t deny that. It’s been quite the ride,” Gage admitted, rounding the car and hefting a cooler over his shoulder, as well as a large waterproof bag.
“How’d you pick Siren Island?” Lola asked, falling in step next to him. The floating dock swayed gently beneath their feet as they walked to a small boat with a shaded top.
“I think it picked me, to be honest,” Gage said. He tossed the bag into the back of the boat, along with the cooler, before hopping in and reaching a hand out for her bag.
“I can see that. It would fit with her legend. She calls to people as sirens do.” Lola laughed as Gage held out a hand to help her step into the boat. Just as her foot touched down, the boat swayed, causing her to bump against Gage’s decidedly hard chest. Lola sighed, tamping down the immediate desire that rose in her, and reminded herself – again – that he was to be just a friend.
“You okay there?” Gage asked, steadying her and looking down at her. Lola hadn’t realized how tall he was until he stood over her and she had to tilt her head back to look at him.
“All good. Sorry about that. Where do you want me?” Lola asked, looking around at the boat.
“Since it’s just us, you can take the seat beside the captain’s chair,” Gage said, pointing to her seat. Lola perched in the seat while she watched Gage work, storing the bag away, strapping the cooler down, and checking all the safety equipment and fuel on the boat. Once he’d gone through his checklist, he looked over at her.
“Ready to head out?”
“Aye, Captain.”
Chapter 13
It was one of those rare perfect mornings, where the water was almost like glass, and the wind was next to nonexistent. The sun peeked out behind a swath of fuzzy clouds on the horizon, blanketing the sea in a warm honey hue as they motored quietly from the marina and out to sea. Lola let the silence hang between them, content with looking out at the water and back to where the island was beginning to shake itself awake.
They rode companionably for a while, neither feeling the need to break the beauty of the morning with chatter, and Lola found herself liking Gage even more. There was a time for making conversation and a time for appreciating the beauty of the world around them.
“Look,” Gage whispered, seeming to understand Lola’s need for calm this morning, and pointed to the port side of the boat. Lola squinted and then gasped when a dolphin broke the surface, blowing a small puff of air from its blowhole before diving once more under the smooth surface of the sea.
“Dolphins!” Lola exclaimed. “Can we go closer?”
“Sure. They love to interact with the waves from the boat,” Gage said. He increased their speed until they were close to the pod, but maintained a respectful distance, allowing the dolphins to approach by their own choice. When several surfaced close to the boat, leaping in the waves, Lola cheered.
“Oh my gosh! They have a baby with them!” Lola exclaimed. She rushed to the front of the boat to lean over the bow, camera in hand, to capture the way the small dolphin raced alongside its mother, jumping from the water in joy. Lola’s heart danced in her chest as she watched them play in the waves, dipping and diving at their own whims. In moments, they dove deep and swam on, heading in a different direction than where Gage turned the boat. Despite herself, Lola waved goodbye to the pod.
“I’m not sure they saw that,” Gage chuckled.
“Oh, what a beautiful experience,” Lola breathed, happy to have grabbed a few shots on her camera. “The baby was absolutely darling. Do you ever stop and get in the water with them?”
“Sometimes, but not if there is a baby, no. I think they’re more protective of the baby, and by the time you get in the water, they’ll just swim right off. They are loads of fun to be in the sea with, though, if they do decide to stick around and play.”
“What a gift,” Lola said, leaning back in the chair and kicking her legs up on the dash. She saw Gage give them a glance but ignored the thrum of energy that pulsed between them. “I’ll take that as a positive sign on my quest.”
“And just what quest is that?”
“To find a mermaid, naturally.” Lola boomed out a laugh when she saw Gage’s skeptical look.
“If you find me a mermaid today, I’ll kiss you,” Gage finally said, and Lola shook her head at him.
“If I find a mermaid today, I’ll likely kiss you as well. Could you imagine? I know it sounds silly, and I doubt I’ll actually find one – because you know, they probably aren’t real – but at the very least, I’d like to do some more research on the historical references to them around the island.”
“Ah, so that’s why you want to go to the Wishing Caves,” Gage said, standing comfortably at the wheel, his eyes on the horizon.
“Is that their name? I wonder why…” Lola turned her eyes to the horizon, where jagged cliffs jutted into the sky at the end of the island.
“It was said, back in the day, that if you were able to get into the caves on a low tide, present an offering, and make your wish or prayer, it would indeed come true. But you see, without a boat or strong navigational skills, it’s incredibly tricky to get into the caves.”
“And you can’t access them from the surface?”
“Not unless you rappel down and rock-climb your way back up. Some do, but it’s not a common point of entry.”
“So they’re relatively untouched? Jolie and Mirra mentioned some cave drawings.”
“They’re pretty much as pristine as could be. Locals don’t go there; too superstitious. And few boat operators will risk their boats among the rocks.”
“But you don’t worry?”
“No, I have a good eye. Plus, I’ve got you as a lookout.”
“Oh really? Who said I was going to work on this charter?” Lola shot him a saucy look.
“I do. If you want to see your caves, that is.”
“Fair enough,” Lola laughed. “I’ve never minded getting my hands dirty. What do you need from me?”
“Go up front and lay on the boat, so your head is just in front and you can see the rocks. I’ll need you to give me warning of any rock that’s too close. As we get closer I’ll just pull the motor up and row us the rest of the way.”
“A true adventure,” Lola said, moving to the front of the boat as they neared the cliffs. They were much larger than she had anticipated from afar, and as they drew close she realized why so few people came here. First, there was no discernable cave entrance that she could see from the water. Secondly, there was a large circle of jagged rocks that poked from the water, and even from her vantage point, Lola couldn’t see where they would enter. It was only when Gage slowed the boat and steered it past a particularly large boulder that she saw the slim passage in the rocks that would allow access to shore.
“I’m going to go as slow as I can until I have to row,” Gage said. “Keep alert.”
“Aye, Captain,” Lola called cheerfully. She kept her eyes trained on the brilliant blue water below her, calling out any dangers in their path until they rounded the precipice. Then Gage cut the engine and pulled it up from the water.
“I’ll row from here.”
“Gage… wow. This is seriously beautiful,” Lola breathed. Tucked back behind the circle of rocks was a stunning private beach, protected on both sides by cliff walls, with brilliant white sand and not a soul to be seen.
“I know. It’s like this secret wonder that nobody knows about. I love that there’s all this beauty hidden back here. I feel like the best spots are often the toughest to find,” Gage said, paddling them lightly toward shore until the hull of the boat bumped lightly against the sand. He hopped easily from the boat, walking around to the front where Lola still lay, and gently tugged the boat further up on the sand to secure it.
Up to No Good: The Siren Island Series, Book Two Page 6
