The Mermaid in Me

Chapter 25 - One Last Look

I give my dad a sharp look. I am going to shove my foot in my mouth even more if I continue talking about it. 

“Let’s just leave the beach, I want to get away from here. It all creeps me out, even that name she called me.” I calmly say hoping I can just move past all this subject. 

Not a sound comes out of the group, and I’m glad.

I grabbed Luke’s hand to hopefully play off my what just went down. I want to ask him why he winked. But I’m afraid of what he might say.

So, I just quietly walk next to him. He will talk when he wants to. He's never been shy before.  

Today has been one of the longest days, and all I found out was that my name might have been Anahita before I was adopted. That really doesn’t help when I know someone saw something. And I know Maggie does have the answers to my questions.  

I have one more day to find out about my past, and I can’t give up. I didn’t come all this way to go back to square one.

I am not going to be ashamed of myself. If I’m a mermaid, I still deserve the answers to why I was left. I’m not Fish Legs anymore, and I need to remind myself of that.  

My leg did hurt when I went near water because I’m not human, so I’m a mermaid originally named Anahita... 

I will talk to Tasha about all of this. I can’t help what Luke hears, but I trust him. and she will have to trust me.  

As we regroup back at the hotel, I take comfort in knowing we can’t be alone, and Alison is on my side for not showing Luke.

He didn’t complain when we let him in the room before bed, so he didn’t have to listen to James.

My dad comes into the room before bed to make sure we all break up into the separate rooms, knowing it just Luke that’s with us. We laugh as leaves as quickly as possible.   

It’s the last day of our trip. I slept right through Alison's morning routine, but as normal, I don't like getting out of bed. I had some very vivid dreams about mermaids last night. I don’t know what it meant, but I have one more day here to find out. And one more chance to feel the water's power.  

Luke greets me as soon as I pop my head out of the door. I don’t know if he was waiting there, or it just happened to be good timing.  

“Good Morning, handsome! Were you escaping my brother?”  I ask.

 He pulls me in for a kiss. “I was! And I got lucky with seeing you! Did you want to grab breakfast alone since we haven't had any time with each other?” 

I could use a break from the family to see what he thinks. “I would like that! Let’s go to that little place down the street, the one that is painted green.”

I don’t want to tell him, but it gives me a chance to see if Maggie is on the bench today.  

We get down to the restaurant and it doesn’t have many people in it. I look to see if Maggie is out by the bench, and she isn’t. He notices how I have my eye on everything, but I can’t help it!  

“Sandy, are you afraid to be out? You are looking around nervously, and it puts me in protective mode.” He says, in a very concerned manner. 

“No, I’m just admiring everything. I was freaked out yesterday, but today I feel better about things. Are you freaked out for me?” I giggle at him 

“No. Well... Maybe! I won’t let anything happen to you. I just don’t trust these people around here, and your dad agrees with me. I know why you wanted to be here but it doesn’t solve anything for you.”

I can’t believe him? This whole trip isn’t a loss! I feel like it is, but I did find out what I am for sure. I am a mermaid, and that old woman is too.  

“I’m not freaked out, actually I feel better than you might think. I just don’t understand why I shouldn’t be at the beach? Why my safety is at risk?” 

He looks at me and then at my leg. “Do you think it has to do with the patch that you won’t show me? I know you think I will leave you after I see it, but I won’t!”  

I gasp, “What?” He can’t actually be asking me this again! I’m not showing him right now, after everything with Maggie. He saw too much of this already.  

“You heard me! Why won’t you show me your birthmark?” He demands, but I can’t look at him in the eye.  

If it wasn’t for the promise, I made with Tasha, I would. He deserves to see it because he is caring for me, and if Maggie was warning my parents about my safety years ago, I need someone.  

I lower my head and try to come up with the best excuse I can. “I would show you, but like I have said many times before. It is super private for me, and I haven’t shown anyone. I will show you in time when I’m ready. I invited you on this trip to be with me, just trust me.” I hope he understands and doesn’t explode on me.  

“You got me there! You did bring me here to learn more about you, and I've been a jerk about it. I didn’t want you to be let down, and it seems like you are doing just fine. I’ve actually learned a lot about you, Anahita!” He moves closer to me and I feel his comfort. 

 I know Tasha has this all wrong. The guy sitting next to me is just a concerned boyfriend. I’ve been in some kind of danger my whole life. I have a new round of questions for her when I get back into town.  

Until then, I’m enjoying the last day with my amazing boyfriend. We get back just after lunch to meet with my family. We decide to take the last stroll of the town before we leave. I can tell, my parents really did search for my biological parents, they know this town so well.  It’s been years since they have been back and still remembered ever little corner. We stop in a few more shops to pick up souvenirs from our trip. James and Luke are looking for the best flamingo keychains they can find. Each keeps coming up to Alison and I, asking us which one is better. We both just laugh at their silliness.  I nudge Alison to look at my parents, who are looking at a heart filled with sand.  

As Alison looks over at them, she says. “Aren’t they the cutest? Dad does whatever mom wants. He just adores her.”  

It makes me think of Luke. He acts that way with me, he might have huffed at what I said, but he really is sweet.   

I proudly state, “I’m glad I found Luke!” She smiles in agreement.  

I find a necklace with a pearl attached to it. Its iridescent color is beautiful and mesmerizing, I had to buy it. It will be my sweet reminder of where I was born. I don’t think I’ll be coming back anytime soon.  

 We all gather together outside of the last shop of the day. My mom and Alison say they need to go in and buy just one more thing.

My father stays outside with the rest of us to keep an eye out. I wonder what they will buy next? They both have arms full of bags already.  

It doesn’t take them long to shop, thankfully, because I’m ready to take one last walk along the beach before we eat. I need to make sure I’m not missing anything. Including this pain and the power, I feel from the water.  

We get there, and I feel the pressure in my leg, the water calling out to me. I look at the bench to see if Maggie is there, she isn’t. My heart sinks, I wanted to see her one last time.

 I can’t wait to tell Tasha about Maggie and my past. I’m sure her parents might know about this old mermaid. I don’t want to stop this time. I felt enough, and it looks as if my family doesn’t want to either. I had to practically drag them, kicking and screaming, just to come back. I don’t know if it’s because they fear for me, or if they don’t like being here. I can’t get any answers and it bothers me.