Up to No Good: The Siren Island Series, Book Two

by Tricia O'Malley

  “Girls, let her answer one question at time,” Irma said, depositing a simple pasta plate with a lovely red sauce in front of Lola. “Go on, eat. You do not have to answer any questions from these nosy girls.”

  Lola took her time sampling the pasta, mainly because she knew it would annoy Jolie. She sighed over the perfection of the simple homemade ingredients blending perfectly together.

  * * *

  “I just came from Italy. Saluti!” Lola said, raising her glass to Irma.

  “Thank you, dear. I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “Now, to answer your questions. I don’t know how to explain that I read energy, other than I… feel power from things? Even inanimate objects. It’s like an energy signature, so to speak. So, for example, at the beautiful mermaid etchings I saw today, I could feel the joy, the sadness, the longing, the newfound happiness from each drawing. It was really powerful.” Lola held a fist to her chest. “I took some photos, it moved me so.”

  “Do you plan to sell them?” Jolie’s voice had an edge.

  “No, I don’t. Those drawings are not meant for the world, but for those who visit. I just wanted to look at them again and remember how I felt there, and what I wished for. Maybe I can gain inspiration from that moment for my art. That’s all. Do you think it would be okay if I showed Sam, though? I’d like to share it with at least her.”

  Lola took another bite and watched the women silently communicate with each other.

  “We love Sam, and since she’s part of the island now, I’m sure she’ll be respectful of the images you share with her.”

  “That was my thought as well. Just so you know…” Lola looked up at them. “I’m too fascinated by the magick and beauty in this world to ever exploit it.”

  “Of course not; we could tell that about you right away,” Mirra said, and the other women both nodded.

  “You wouldn’t be at my dinner table if I thought differently,” Irma added.

  “Thank you. And, well, for your question on Gage?” Lola almost laughed at Jolie’s hopeful look. “I am attracted to him. And I think he was to me as well, since he kissed me.”

  The two squealed and fanned their faces.

  “Give us all the details. Slowly. Leave nothing out,” Jolie demanded.

  Lola rolled her eyes, but couldn’t stop grinning. “He strode right into the water after we left the cave and lifted me up and kissed me until I swear my toes curled.”

  “Ohhh,” Mirra sighed.

  “But, when I angled for more” – Lola shrugged, not embarrassed for wanting more – “he shut me down.”

  “That man did not,” Mirra exclaimed.

  “No way,” Jolie insisted.

  “Indeed he did. I’ll admit, I was a little upset by it. Or maybe embarrassed? I’m not used to being rejected all that often, I’ll admit.” Lola sighed and sipped her wine. Irma had lit candles that created a homey ambience in the room, and Lola let the tension roll from her neck as she settled into a good meal and a nice red with new friends.

  “Well, and why should you be? You’re a gorgeous, well-traveled, interesting woman,” Jolie said, clearly affronted on Lola’s behalf. “What’s wrong with that man?”

  “I’ll admit, I’m surprised as well,” Mirra said. “I’d have thought he’d be more than pleased to have a tumble with you.”

  “From where I’m sitting, it sounds like the man wants more than a tumble,” Irma said and raised an eyebrow at Lola.

  “Ohhhhhh,” Jolie and Mirra sighed in unison, and Lola rolled her eyes.

  “Doubtful, Irma.”

  “Then why did I hear him refuse money for today and insist it was a first date?”

  “Ohhhhhh.” The girls again.

  “It can’t be a first date if I didn’t get asked on a first date. Hiring a man for a charter boat is not exactly a first date.”

  “But as first dates go… what a great one! The Wishing Cave, mermaid drawings, a kiss in the water, picnic on the beach, you found a beautiful necklace…” Mirra sighed, her eyes dreamy.

  “It wasn’t a date,” Lola insisted.

  “Mark my words,” Irma said. “Gage isn’t stupid. He reads people very well, and despite his reputation for being a playboy, he’s really not. Women come too easily to him, so they aren’t a challenge. I like him because he doesn’t just take, take, take, like some men who have it easy in that department. He’s careful when he samples the goods, so to speak. And I think he sees something more in you, Lola.”

  “What if I don’t have anything more to give him?” Lola asked.

  “Don’t you?”

  “I don’t know. That’s kind of why I came on this trip. To find out why I’ve been so restless and what I’ve been searching for. I don’t need the distraction of men while I’m on this sort-of-soul-journey of mine. I’d really like to figure out my next moves as an artist and businesswoman, not have a dalliance on the side.”

  “Who’s to say one can’t benefit the other?”

  “Because lovers can be distracting, and I don’t see how someone like Gage can lead me to grow on a soul level,” Lola said, stabbing a piece of pasta with her fork. “Men are a dime a dozen. Different city, different man. They’re fun for a while, but I’m not a commitment girl. I think it’s best that I take this time to try and figure out what I want from my life.”

  Jolie opened her mouth, but Irma shushed her with a look. “And that’s certainly your prerogative. We’re here to help, or listen,” she said, slanting a look at Jolie again, “as needed. This is a safe space with no judgment.”

  Pleased, Lola held up her wine glass in a cheers motion to the ladies. “I can see why Sam loves you so.”

  Chapter 18

  Lola barely slept that night, and when she did, she dreamt of the sea – of diving deep, deeper than any human could go, and finding freedom in flowing through the water, uninhabited by anything. When she woke, though she was certain she’d only had a few hours of sleep, Lola felt a bit like a live wire. Her mind buzzed with all the possibilities that had opened up now that she knew mermaids were real.

  She couldn’t confront Irma and her daughters – Lola knew that much to be true. Just as she didn’t like to share her own personal gifts with others, it would be abhorrent of her to call out Irma’s secret. In her mind, a secret so large as that was life-changing, world-changing even. If society ever actually believed that mermaids were real, they’d exploit them to extinction, much as they did with the horrible captive marine shows like Sea World, or those all-inclusive resorts that kept dolphins for the amusement of humans. The acknowledgement of mermaids would be worse, and Lola could only imagine the devastation humans would wreak on the ocean in their efforts to find them.

  So Lola tucked the secret away, letting the knowledge hum inside of her. She was elated to be in a space where magick was real, and let her mind wander to her art. Stretching, she rolled in bed, deliberately pushing Gage from her mind, and instead pulled a little travel notebook from her bag and wandered to her swing chair on the balcony. One of the things that had kept her up was the personal power she’d felt from the mermaid drawings the day before, and she wanted to think about how she could channel that into various forms of art. And could there be a business there? What would that look like? Lola began to jot down notes, letting her thoughts flow so she could brainstorm.

  Siren Moon.

  Lola stilled at that, and studied the words, turning them over in her head. Siren Moon Art & Oddities? Siren Moon Stylings? Siren Moon Gallery? She continued to kick it around in her head, making notes, playing with titles, but the general theme stuck for her. Could she create a store that celebrated the strengths to be learned from mermaids? It could be everything from vulnerability to seduction, Lola mused, her pen flying across the page. Perhaps she could choose a different theme each month. She could curate art, home goods, and local designs from artists all over the world, and have both an online and in-person store. She had enough connections that sourcing the
product wouldn’t be difficult – people consistently came to her for her eye for style and art – and she could be master of her own ship. Despite herself, Lola began running numbers, sketching out a loose approximation of what it might cost to find a storefront, build a website – and how would she ship her art, or would artists ship direct from their own studios?

  Lola remembered what the psychic had said about bringing everything under one umbrella, and that she needed to brand herself. At the time, she hadn’t understood what the psychic had meant. But now, she wondered if she had the confidence to sell herself, not only through her own personal art, but also the pieces she chose for a themed collection. Would enough people trust her instincts to support her business?

  She had to try.

  A joy filled her – something that had been missing for quite a while – as she began to realize that maybe this could be the answer she sought. While she’d been floating along enjoying her life for a while, it had been some time since she’d felt passionate about a project. And now, after the day she’d had yesterday? It was as though someone had turned the faucet on and it was flooding her brain with ideas.

  Never one to move slowly, Lola picked up her laptop and began to search real estate listings on the island. Frustrated by the lack of information, she decided to do what she did best – have a wander-about and see what came to her.

  Trusting her instincts, Lola quickly got ready for a day of exploration, slipping on a simple blue tank dress that dropped to her knees, throwing her curls up in a messy bun, and tucking the beautiful necklace inside her dress. It still hummed with energy, but seemed to have quieted now that she was wearing it. Throwing her notebook, camera, and computer in her knapsack, she grabbed an apple and went downstairs to where she’d parked her rented scooter. In moments, she was flying down the road, the wind in her hair, the palms swaying lightly in the breeze, excitement coursing through her. This could be the beginning of a whole new life for her, Lola thought. One where she had a home base she could operate out of, while also still traveling the world to meet artisans. It didn’t bother her that she barely knew the island. If Sam was happy here, Lola knew she’d be happy here.

  Deciding it was best to start her exploration with the locals, Lola cruised by Prince’s fisherman’s hut to see if he was out front.

  “Hey, there’s a pretty lady,” Prince called from his garden, where he sat in the shade in a small folding chair.

  “Good morning, Prince. How are you today?”

  “I’m well as can be. Sun is shining, fish have been caught, my family is fed, a pretty lady is stopping to chat with me. What more could I want?”

  “I went to the Wishing Caves yesterday,” Lola said, leaning against his fence and pulling her necklace out, “and I found this in the water.”

  “Did you now? Come on closer, lemme get a look at this.” Prince beckoned her in, and Lola swung the gate open, walking across the gravel to lean forward so he could take the locket in his hands.

  “It’s pretty, no?”

  “Wooo, darling, it’s more than pretty. You feeling that energy? That’s some deep-sea mermaid energy right there, that much I know. See? You need to listen to Prince. I told you that you was mermaid, didn’t I? The ocean don’t give gifts like this to everyone, it sure don’t.” Prince rocked back in his chair, pushing his cap back on his forehead.

  “I do feel it. It’s meant for me. I’m not sure why, but it is. Which leads me to my next question… I’m thinking about staying. Opening a business here. Do you know anyone who has property for rent? Something I could put a gallery in, maybe?”

  “Oh, pretty lady, that’s even better. Helping our economy, that’s a good thing, it sure is. You go on down and see Miss Maureen. She’s got her ear to the ground, know what I’m saying? Tell her I sent you and that she should show you the coconut hut. It’s a good spot. Trust me. The landlord will treat you nice there, but only if he approves of what you’re selling.”

  “The coconut hut. Got it. Thank you.”

  “What do you want to do, pretty lady? Sell some dresses? Your photographs? I noticed that fancy camera the other day.”

  “Honestly, I’m thinking I’ll call it Siren Moon Gallery or something like that. I want to do a theme each quarter – art, collectibles, home styling – all based around something we can learn from the ocean or the mermaids. Perhaps the first one will be about confidence, the next about patience, then vulnerability. I’m not sure yet, but I can see where I’d like to go with it.”

  “Sounds perfect for here. We don’t have anything like that, and now that all those fancy villas are being built, people want good art for their homes. Even better when it comes with a powerful message. You gonna be a hit.”

  “You think?” Lola beamed down at him and he smiled up at her, the two missing teeth making him even more endearing.

  “Course I think. Prince knows,” he said, tapping his head. “Now go on. Tell Miss Maureen what I said. You’ll see.”

  “Thanks, Prince. I will.”

  “You pass by again soon, you hear? It always brightens up my morning chatting with pretty ladies.”

  On impulse, Lola bent and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Prince pretended to faint, fanning his face in delight. She chuckled and waved goodbye as she got back on her scooter and drove off to see Miss Maureen – she’d been the next stop on Lola’s list anyway.

  “And a good morning to you, Miss Lola. I was just finishing up my design for you. I had a feeling you’d be passing by today,” Miss Maureen called from where she sat in her rocking chair in the corner.

  “Good morning to you as well. I love your bikini, by the way. It’s really beautiful,” Lola said, crossing the room.

  “Course it is,” Miss Maureen scoffed, fanning a garment out in front of her. “You think I’d make something ugly for you to wear?”

  “No, ma’am, I do not. What are you making there?”

  “It’s a dress, a halter dress. I was thinking I’d make it a little longer, but you’ve got such lovely legs that I think I’ll stop where I’m at.”

  “It’s a great color. How did you achieve this effect?” Lola asked, peering at the dress. It was crocheted in a halter style, starting out pure white around the ties and then gradually transitioning through all the shades of blue of the sea to the hem.

  “I just buy some of the ombre-colored material and work with it.”

  “Is that silver beads woven in this time? It’s got a shimmer to it,” Lola said, pursing her lips as she studied the way the light glinted off the dress. Miss Maureen nodded happily.

  “Like a mermaid.”

  “It couldn’t be more perfect,” Lola said. If only she knew that mermaids were real, she added silently.

  “Go on, try it on. Then you can tell me what you came to talk to me about.” Miss Maureen handed over the delicate, soft garment and, knowing there was no arguing with the woman, Lola went to the corner of the store and pulled the curtain closed around her. Quickly divesting herself of her clothes, she slipped the dress over her head and tugged it down. The hem stopped mid-thigh, it fit her like a second skin, and Lola could only imagine how the back looked as it dipped quite low. Nevertheless, she couldn’t think of a time where she’d had a garment handmade for her, so she was more than pleased to step out for Miss Maureen’s critical gaze.

  “Now if that dress don’t get you a man, I don’t know what will.” Miss Maureen nodded emphatically, pleased with her work.

  “What if I don’t want a man?”

  “Well, a woman then.” Miss Maureen shrugged.

  Lola threw her head back and laughed, appreciating Miss Maureen’s easy acceptance of all relationships. She’d found that some islands were not as forward-thinking.

  “I meant… what if I’m fine not being in a relationship?”

  “Then you make the man drool, but say no. Easy.”

  “Fair enough. Thank you, this is truly a gift. I don’t think I’ve ever had a dress made just for me.”r />
  “I don’t do it for just anyone. But you, you’re fun to dress.”

  “That’s very kind of you,” Lola called from behind the curtain as she gently took the dress off and switched back to her regular clothes. Coming out, she handed the dress to Miss Maureen for her to wrap up, and leaned against the counter as the woman worked.

  “Now tell me why you come to see Miss Maureen today. What’s on your mind?”

  “I’m wondering if you know of any commercial real estate places for rent? I think I’d like to open a gallery of sorts here.”

  “Is that right? Well, wouldn’t that be nice. What kind of gallery?”

  “A little bit of this and that. Not just a traditional art gallery, but also jewelry, pottery, stuff for the home. From here, and all over the world. I’m still mulling it over, but it will come together for me once I see the space.”

  “That sounds like a lot of fun,” Miss Maureen said. “Plus, I think you’ve the eye for it. It would be successful here.”

  “Thank you. I stopped to see Prince on the way here. He said to tell you to take me to see the coconut hut. Or house? Said you’d know what to do.”

  “I never thought I’d see the day. Well, isn’t that something. Yes, yes, I see what he’s thinking there. The coconut hut would be perfect. Let me get the keys and I’ll show you.”

  “Wait, you have the keys? Is it your place? I thought I’d need to find a realtor.”

  “Sure, you can go on and get a realtor and they’ll find you some nice spots. But we have a spot for you already, so I’m not sure why you’d go through the fuss. Come along then.” Miss Maureen stood at the door, keys jangling in her hand, clearly not bothered about closing her shop mid-day to show Lola a property.

  “I trust you. Oh, and I need to pay for the dress,” Lola said, digging in her knapsack.

  “No, it’s a gift. I’d be offended. You already purchased the bikini, and you didn’t ask me to make a dress. I do that for friends.”