She’d not walk through that door again unless she had someone with her—it was too risky in too many ways. She loved the protection and danger of that sentient sea, and she knew she would dream that night of her new acquaintance. She resolved to ring Hal and tell him about … what she could. Bettina. She could tell him it was Bettina who had visited the sea. That would hide all the things she couldn’t tell him. They weren’t her secrets.
Rachel had to leave after dinner to sort Melissa’s old room. Zelda absented herself without any explanation. This left Bettina and Melissa sharing drinks and thinking about the evening.
Bettina was stressed. It didn’t take long for Melissa to find out that being deserted by Zelda was intolerable and the unaccountable nature of Zelda’s absence made it even m
