Love & Fear | Book Two

Twelve

As I sat in the dining room eating my breakfast, my mind wondered thinking about Michael and the way his touch made me feel. His eyes searching mine, the way is lips kissed me with so much passion and want and I shut my eyes. Trying to control my emotions as I thought about the man I loved. Stuffing the food in my mouth, I rinsed my plate, letting the cool water run over my hands, cooling me down.

"Ah, Michael, it's good to see you again." I heard my dad billow from the other room and I turned, accidentally dropping the plate and letting it shatter to the floor in tiny shards. "Lottie are you alright?"

"I um," I breathed, flustered, "Yeah, I'm fine I just dropped my plate."

"Are you hurt?" Michael asked, walking over to me, concern etching his perfect face.

"I'm fine." I waved him off, "Can you get me the broom? I don't want to step on the pieces I'm barefoot."

He nodded, lightly taking a step towards me before walking away and grabbing a broom from where I pointed. Grabbing the broom from his outstretched hand, I swept around my feet, making sure I got all the pieces before sweeping it into the dustpan and dumping it into the garbage bin.

"So," My dad started, "Have you slept with my daughter Michael?"

"Oh God." I whispered, my face definitely was red now.

"I um." Michael said, as flustered as I was, "We need to talk to you and your wife."

I looked up at Michael, were we going to tell him now? I thought at least we could wait until after my brother's wedding day. I didn't want to cause drama on their big day!

"What is it?" Mom asked, her eyes changing to a soft blue as she looked us both over. "What's wrong?"

"I think we should all probably sit down." I said, grabbing a hold of Michael's hand as he squeezed mine, trying to reassure me that everything would be alright. I watched as my parent's gaze fell on Michael and I's hands, and they looked back at us, a knowing smile on their lips.

"Alright." They both said, following us into the living room as they sat on the couch and we sat on the love seat near the window.

"I'm not sure how to explain this." I started, looking over at Michael as his eyes changed to their green color. "Mom, dad, I met my soulmate this week. Everything happened so quickly and we love eachother. We don't want to lie to you."

"I'm a merman." Michael finished for me as I looked back at him, shocked that he said it so bluntly.

"We know." They both said in unison, "We've known all along. We know you Lottie, you wouldn't have given your heart to just anyone."

"And I saw you both the otherday at the beach."Mom said, turning to Michael, "You should know better than to change out in the open like that."

We said nothing, shocked to know that they knew.

"Wait, wait, wait. You knew!" I exclaimed, standing, "Did you know about Emmy?"

"We found out what she was when she was two. She grew a tail in the bathtub when your aunt was giving her a bath."

"But I thought you can choose when you have a tail or not?" I asked, turning to Michael who looked as shocked as I was.

"You can," Michael said, "But guppies are different. They haven't learned to control their transformation yet and that's something that needs to be taught at a young age."

"Wow." I breathed, turning to my dad who looked at us both.

"You still haven't answered my question: Have you slept together."

"Yes." We both said in unison, "Everything was so intense. I saw his memories when we first kissed and apparently that's what happens when you meet your soulmate. It's instant, intense, and an overwhelming amount of love that makes your heart race." I breathed, smiling as I turned to look at Michael who smiled back.

"I need a minute." My dad said, walking out of the house.

"I'm sorry." I whispered, turning to my mother.

She only shook her head and walked towards me, cupping my face in her hands. "You will always be my baby girl, but you are an adult and you can make your own decisions. I just hope that the both of you used protection."

Oh God, I can't remember if we did or not.

Looking back at Michael I noticed his expression and that confirmed my fears: we didn't. We weren't thinking. What if I get pregnant?

"I'm glad you found him Loretta." She smiled, kissing my forehead.

"Elsie, we need to leave and decorate the church!" My aunt Tabitha called as she threw open the front door.

"Oh Lottie! How are you doing?" Her green eyes sparkled as she came towards me, pulling me in for a big hug. "Oh this must be Michael!" She beamed, as he stood and hugged him.

"Tabitha we were just about to leave." Mom said, as she grabbed her purse. "I just have to go get Alex."

"Alright." My Aunt Tabitha said as Michael turned to look at me. I knew what he was thinking: He was concerned about our conversation with my parents, shocked to realize they knew about what he was. "It's okay." He whispered into my ear, his hand resting at the small of my back, his hand grazing my skin.

I closed my eyes at his touch, finding myself leaning into him before I could stop myself. "I see you." My Aunt cooed just as My mom and dad came into the living room.

"Are we ready to go?"

"Yep." We all say in unison before walking outside. Mom, Dad, and Tabitha were going to go in Mom's car as some of the decorations were set in the back. Michael and I drove behind them in my car.

"We didn't-" I start, unable to finish my statement.

"I know." He said.

"But what if I'm-"

"Hey, It's okay. We'll be okay." He breathed, his hand resting on my leg as I parked in the parking lot of the church.

I shut my eyes, taking in a deep breath to calm myself. "But what if I am Michael? I can't raise a baby by myself and I definitely don't want to force us to be together."

"You won't raise it by yourself, and you wont force me to be with you because I want to be with you. I want to spend my life with you and grow old with you. I want to stick with you through the bad days and the good days and if you are pregnant, I will never leave you."

I couldn't control my emotions, "Don't make me cry!" I sobbed, cupping his face in my hand as I kissed him. "I love you so much Michael."

"I know." He said, kissing my forehead. Sniffing, I grabbed some tissues from my purse and blowing my nose. "Come on, let's get inside we have a wedding to help set up."

After we finished decorating the church, Mandy and Greyson arrived, holding their outfits that were hidden in their bags. Keilani met us as she entered, carrying a box and followed Mandy into the back room so that she could get ready. The Wedding was only in an hour but I noticed that family was already starting to arrive.

"Mandy do you need help?" I asked, following behind her.

"Yeah." She called as I entered the room where her and her maid of honor was.

The woman's hair was a silver blonde and her eyes were as silver as they come.

"Hi, I don't believe we met." I said, offering my hand for her to shake. Then she smiled, grabbing my forearm and staring me in the eyes,

"Hello Loretta, It's lovely to meet the Mate of Michael."

"Um." I breathed, looking over at Mandy who smiled and then shrugged. "Thank you?"

"I am Semarah. Michael and Amanda are my cousins."

"Oh." I said, "Well, It's nice to meet you!"

She nodded, beginning to get dressed in her dress for the wedding. After helping Mandy into her dress, Semarah did her hair up in a hear of curls. "Alright Mandy, I'm gonna go find Michael and sit down in the sanctuary. I'll see you in there."

"Okay!" Mandy grinned as I exited the room and made my way into the sanctuary. Family and friends stood in the room, conversing with one another as they found their seats. I found Michael sitting in the front row, next to his parents. I waved at him once he saw me and sat next to my mom across the aisle from them.

Within minutes everyone was seated, as the music began to play and Semarah came out holding a small bouquet of roses, and then we stood. I watched Greyson, he was nervous but then his face went red as I watched all of the nervousness leave him. Turning behind me I watched Mandy walk towards the stage, towards my brother in her white dress. I wiped my face as a tear fell down my cheek, watching as they held hands and professed their love for another, sealing it with a kiss.

I found myself turning to my side, meeting Michael's' gaze as everyone applauded and cheered. "I love you." He mouthed, and I cried fighting the urge to run into his arms and kiss him senselessly.