The king looked off. Lillia was right. He had been told that she was wise. She lived her whole life side by side with a king. Zander was inspirational. She’d learned a lot. She knew how king’s thought. She understood war. She understood greed. King Nephrus was impressed. She spoke clearly and eloquently. He wished he could employ her as his adviser. He was sure Arfusei would never allow it. She was special.
T
he pool seemed to have a perfect blend of salts to suit Fin’s needs. She was taking regular dips and allowing her body to be nurtured by the essence of the aquatic environment. Lance read on the oceans composition and decided to add minerals to the water. Fin was getting in the water daily, spending time completely submerged. Nimah and Isla seemed to enjoy it as well and Lance hoped it helped keep Fin from asking about their home off the water. He never mentioned the incident with the stranger. He and his neighbor were checking the home regularly and so far, all was well.
Lance starred out at his family. He laughed at Isla’s attempts to get Nimah back in the water. Nimah was more interested in the doll she had. Fin was still at the bottom, arms out, floating and taking in the comforts of the pool. The water felt like home. The Trojian Sea had a heavy dose of minerals in it and Fin was loving the way her body felt. She hadn’t felt more alive. The pool felt better than the ocean. And Lance was breathing a sigh of relief.
“Bandz Technology,” Maria answered. “Hi Maria it’s Lance. Can you fax the signed documents for the Wolfe Larsen deal? I want to take a look at the changes he highlighted,” Lance said. He was on vacation. A week away from the office had worked wonders. Dave was in charge of the daily operations but Wolfe Larsen Ltd was an important deal. He was working from home to get the deal signed. Maria was amused at his effort at taking the vacation. He was calling and faxing her daily. And with good reason. The new contract meant working on more sophisticated products. The engineers at the innovative and highly advanced company meant better materials and better application for his projects. They specialized in fiber optics and other applications for improving data and streamlining communication.
Wolfe Larsen was a self-made man who came from humble beginnings to run the world’s most successful electronics company. He held a degree in engineering. Lance partnered with him on his latest deal to get moving with products geared at the future of technology. Neither man needed the other to advance. Their companies were thriving. Wolfe was as wealthy as Lance. But the men still saw value in combining what they knew. They had become friends and Lance was showing Wolfe around town. He had recently moved to California from Colorado and Lance took the opportunity to bond with him. The men had similar lives; Father’s that abandoned them. Humble yet fulfilling young lives. Both were educated and well-travelled. And they were both newlyweds with small children. There was the added benefit of Wolfe’s wife Tawny being a marine biologist. A fact that didn’t matter because he didn’t plan on revealing anything about Fin. It just seemed ironic. Wolfe’s life was creepy in its similarities.
“Lance,” the voice said, as he answered his phone. “Allan! What’s going on? How are Miles and Yaz?” he asked. He hadn’t seen them since he had children of his own. The cousins hadn’t met. They were familiar with each other since the brothers used video calls to make the introduction and keep the cousins close. But they hadn’t met in real life. Lance was hoping Allan could get them from their mother Kerry and make a trip, but she was playing hard ball since the divorce. The drama between them played out in court and Allan wasn’t the victor. Lance felt sorry for this big brother.
“They’re good. I get them this weekend,” he said. Lance’s smile turned to a frown. Allan was still only getting them for a few days at a time. Not nearly enough to actually leave town with them. “Can you get them for a few weeks? Fly out? I could send you tickets. You can stay at the house in Malibu. It’s still vacant. I can have it furnished. And I’ll only be a short drive away,” he said. Allan held the phone.
“It’s alright if you can’t. I know you hate to ask. She makes everything so difficult. Those are your children too,” he added. He could hear his brother sigh. “It just that I have to ask permission. Can you imagine that. Having to go through the courts for something as simple as a trip. And they won’t allow it because she painted such a horrible picture of me. I get nothing but a stark no, when I ask her anything. And the judge probably won’t grant travel. She told so many lies. Painted me to be some alcoholic when she drinks more than I do. They held it against me that I don’t make a lot of money. The pro bono stuff was used against me in court. Like I’m some bum. I’m a fucking lawyer for heaven sake! I don’t get it. She’s an alcoholic and I’m the one with supervised visits,” he angrily replied.
Lance could offer no help. Only a few words of encouragement. Allan always seemed to get emotional about his situation and so Lance kept his opinions to a minimum. He wasn’t sure what he could say or do to make the situation better. He offered to give Allen money that he could in turn offer to Kerry to help ease tensions. But she seemed more intent on making him suffer since the divorce. A divorce she initiated.
“She won’t last. You had them. She couldn’t cope with the responsibility. She is only looking to punish you. Soon, she will seek an outlet. A long one. And she will reach out to you. You’ll see. Habits are hard to break. She didn’t raise them. They were always with you. She will have another meltdown and need you to bail her out. Just make sure you don’t lash out when she does. Women never forgive you if you kick them when their down. Just go with it,” Lance assured. He knew his sister in law. He had paid attention. Listened to every complaint. He witnessed some of the battles between them. He knew Kerry and he hoped he was right. His brother would suffer emotionally if he couldn’t be a bigger part of his children’s lives.
“Hi honey,” Fin greeted, as she walked up to Lance with a big bright smile. He shut the door and kissed his wife. “Where’s my girls?” he asked, as he sat his briefcase down. “They are in the pool. Isla hasn’t come up from the bottom for over an hour. And Nimah even longer. They don’t have gills but they were born with something better. An ability to use the oxygen slowly. I read up on it. Some sea animals do it. Turtles. Seals. Dolphins. A lot of mammals have the ability. And I think they have it to,” she noted. “Isn’t that what you do?” Lance asked. “No! I breathe in the water. They are just holding their breaths,” Fin chuckled. She was amazed at her girls. Proud that they had some ability to be in water for long periods. It meant she didn’t have to worry about living off the ocean. If they fell in, they would survive. A fact that had her ready to have a talk with her husband.
“Baby…You know…I wanted to talk to you about something,” she said. “Uhuh,” Lance replied, as he searched through his briefcase for the file he wanted to go over. He looked at each signed document for the fine print. He was uncomfortable making the final deal without a lawyer. Wolfe Larsen put pressure on him to sign additional forms that appeared harmless. The newly revised contract guaranteed that they would get a higher percentage of the earnings. Lance wanted to go over it more closely. He wanted to trust his new friend but he was a businessman first.
“What is it?” he asked, finally giving Fin some attention. “I want to talk,” she replied. Lance sat the papers down. “I’m listening,” he said, smiling and hoping she forgave him for the brief and intense moment he focused on the contents of his briefcase. Fin got closer. She touched his chest. He could tell she wanted something. He kissed her on the lips.
“Whatever it is that has you so serious…The answer is yes. Now, can I get back to work. I came home early to have some quiet time so I can review my new partnership in peace,” he said. Fin’s smile lit up the room. Lance smiled nervously. She was more excited than he expected. Fin didn’t want anything that badly. “What are you so happy about?” he asked. “That we can move back to the old house,” she replied.
Lance took a step back, and Fin’s smile instantly disappeared. They stared at each other fo
r what seemed like an eternity. The room went deafly silent. Lance looked off. And in that moment, Fin’s heart sank.
“Don’t look like that. We talked about this. You promised you would consider it,” she said. Lance couldn’t remember saying the words. He would have never promised such a thing. He was elated when they drove away from the home. The house that put her right into a forbidden path. A direct line with Madaka. He had something of theirs. He had stolen their beloved princess. He was sure they wanted her back. But they couldn’t have her. She was his.
“Fin no! I never said that,” he replied. Fin’s mouth dropped. She was surprised at his short memory. His ability to erase words that had already left his lips.
“You did! When we first moved here. That first night. You were trying to calm me. Reassure me. Was it all just meaningless words. Did you mean any of it?” she said, her eyes filling with tears. Lance walked closer to her.
“I just don’t remember saying it. It doesn’t seem like a good idea. The girls need a backyard. A place to play. Accessible neighbors with children they can play with. I thought we agreed on this,” he said. Fin shook her head no slowly.
“The girls spend more time in the water. Even more time than I do. Especially now that the water is more like the water in Madaka. Whether you noticed it or not, the children are a lot more like me than you think. Isla was happier at the other house. She seems different. Nimah only knows this house so I can’t say for certain if she is happy. She is so young. But Isla was happier at the home in Malibu. And so was I. I want to return,” she said. Lance rubbed his face and took a series of deep breaths. He walked away from her. He thought of what to say. Fin watched him. She was in disbelief. It was simple. He was making it complicated. “What is it! Why does this stress you so?” she asked. Lance continued his pacing. He sighed loudly as his emotions took over. It wasn’t going away. He hoped to never have the conversation. And here he was yet again.
“That house may hold good memories for you but it holds nothing but bad memories for me. It is the house my father lived in. A father I never knew. That house was everything to him. It felt like his spirit was there. And that was painful for me. I never wanted it. I would have returned everything for a chance to know him. Given everything I had. The only good that came from that house was you! I met you there, but I also lost you there. In those waters. I almost, never saw you again! And when you came back, you were battered and bruised. You think I want to take you there. I don’t,” he said, his eyes matching hers with emotion and tears that were ready to flow. He turned from her. His pride unwilling to let even Fin see how much pain he went through.
“And I know why you are so happy that the girls can hold their breaths. I see you coaching them. Testing their limits. Say it!” he said, as he turned around. “Say what?” Fin replied, looking intensely at him. Lance approached her slowly. “That you want to take them to Madaka,” he said. Fin looked down. He was forcing a conversation she wasn’t prepared to have. She knew it was the one subject that was forbidden. He didn’t want her there. And she imagined he would be completely against his children ever stepping a foot or a fin in Madaka.
“They are nermein too Lance. You say Madaka, as if it were some evil place. That is my home. I want them to see where I come from,” she said. Lance stared intensely into her eyes. He grabbed the small pile of papers. His emotions were taking him over.
“And you are willing to risk their safety. What if they fail at holding their breaths? Are you willing to risk their lives, attempting to get them back to a land that almost took yours?” he said, his eyes piercing Fin’s spirit. “Lance! How could you. Is that what you think. The city didn’t almost take my life. An evil and unruly king tried to. But he is gone now. The girls will be fine. I won’t take them until they can hold their breaths for much longer. They are not ready. But yes…I hope to take them one day. If they want to go. I won’t force them,” she said.
She was unapologetic with her words. She expected more from the man she loved. She had no idea how deep his resentment of her beloved world was. Lance looked seriously at her. He wiped his eyes. “Fine!” he said, as he grabbed his papers and left the home, shutting the door with force. Fin walked slowly to the door and watched as he pulled off. She looked down. Her heart was shattered in a million pieces. His happiness was her happiness. It was through him that she was able to live so long away from the people she loved. And the addition of her children sealed her fate. She was never returning to Madaka. Not permanently. She did want the option to visit. But with Lance so defiantly opposed, she wasn’t so sure.
Lance drove toward his office. His heart was heavy. His father’s house was not such a bad place. It was really his fear of losing Fin that had him dreading a move back. They were now at odds. It was a first. They were the happiest and most stable couple he knew. Others who weren’t privy to their day to day lives even mentioned how happy they appeared. Guilt started to consume him. He was being selfish. It was a matter of brick and mortar. No matter where they lived, their bond and happiness were the root of it. They could live in a wood shack as long as they were together. Lance looked in his rear-view mirror. He couldn’t leave her that way. He made a U-turn and headed back home. It wasn’t worth the pain.
I have to have faith in her. Faith in a higher power. Something sent her to me. Of all the homes she could have gone to, she ended up in the waters near mine. Like a gift from the gods. I will not let this ruin us, he said, as he drove home, turning in his driveway. Lance got out. Fin opened the door and ran up to him. He stopped and smiled. The look on his wife’s face was priceless. It was obvious his departure had tormented her and his return had her rejoicing.
“I don’t want to fight about it. If you hate it there, then we can stay here. I didn’t know you had such bad memories there,” she said, looking up to her king. Lance smiled and moved her hair from her face. The wind picked up and blew it back. It was a battle to keep her eyes within view. “I don’t hate it. I have good memories too. I was just afraid. But I want you happy because when you’re happy, I’m happy. So we’re going back. Because you will always desire to be there. And I don’t want you to put me before your own wants and needs. Life is about sacrifices. You gave up alot. The least I can do is put you closer to your home,” he said.
Fin kissed him passionately. He held her face as she raised on her tip toes to plant the most heartfelt and loving kiss on her hero. Lance always put her first. She didn’t want to take him for granted. But his words gave her a glimpse as to why that always was. That her happiness made her behave a certain way and in turn he reaped the benefit of keeping her in wedded bliss. Fin kissed Lance, as she put her arms around him.
“Let’s go inside. We have an audience,” Lance said. Fin looked over at her neighbors. They waved and smiled. Fin blushed. She was still modest and could be shy when attention from others seemed too much. Lance hugged her and rubbed her back. They turned and went back inside their house. The Reeds were back at peace. They were united once again, in their commitment to keeping each other happy.
The Visitor
T
he waves crashed into the rocks with raging force. The sound of the water hitting the shore made Lark feel at home. He swam near the edge then looked around. Fin’s home sat just off the ocean, atop a small hill with large boulders all around. He took his time ascending the thick wood steps to her dock. Bright lamps that lit the way as he made his way to the deserted looking home. He couldn’t imagine where she would have gone. He had no way of locating her. And he hoped it wasn’t a wasted trip. It took him nearly two hours to get there. This world was vast. Back in Madaka, travels by water would have taken half the time.
Lark made his way onto the dock and walked up to the glass windows. The home was still. “Where are you?” he said in a low voice as he looked around. The homes on opposite sides were well lit. He could see people moving about. The lights were bright. They had nothing like it in Mojarro. There were no hemini plants or glow
ing moss. Something else was providing light. He looked down and touched an inground outdoor lamp. Lark snatched his hand back from the sting of heat. It was intriguing. A light source that wasn’t fueled by the natural bioluminescence of nature.
Lark peered into Fin’s window again. It was all so strange. He could see objects. This world she was living in was interesting. It seemed to be filled with items fashioned for some type of use. He immediately sensed that this was a world of things. A place filled with people who were advanced and talented beyond his understanding who were capable of creating what they wanted.
Sounds of laughter made Lark jump and hide. He ducked behind a shrub at the edge of Fin’s home. He could see a man on his porch looking out at the water as he held a drink. Lark narrowed his eyes. He watched the man closely. Soon a woman came out to join him, kissing and rubbing the man’s belly as he looked at her. Lark hoped he wouldn’t be seen through the sparse vegetation he hid behind. The woman turned and walked back inside, and Lark took the opportunity to run to the other side of the house and down towards the street. He was curious about the city that Fin abandoned her position for. He could see why. They were an advanced society. Even if they were a bit loud and distracting.
Lark walked down Pacific Avenue. He was in awe at the automobiles that carried what he thought were an advanced society of nermeins. The cars sped past him, eventually disappearing from sight. He could see the taillights of the cars for miles. His keen sight aiding in his ability to see things clearly, even at night.
Pretty Fin- Raging Seas Page 8