“Because the Eraser came by,” I said, groaning. “You couldn’t have just written a letter as if it was from me stating I had to take a quick business trip? Finn recognizes magic, Simon! He’s probably wondering why he feels a little fuzzy after the delivery man stops by.”
“Oh. Huh.” Simon pursed his lips and tilted his head. “I suppose that would have been a better idea. If it makes you feel any better, Samuel and Carmen never actually spent the night in your house. They were just there whenever we assumed Finn would see you.”
“No, Simon, it doesn’t, but I suppose I don’t have a choice. I can’t change it.”
“You know, if you went back and changed what Abby did, I’m sure Marcy would fix her mistake,” Simon urged.
My jaw clenched. “If I ever see Marcy again, it’s going to be because I’m watching her eat the food that I secretly poisoned. She won’t die from it, but she’ll have plenty of time sitting on a toilet, hopefully thinking about how sorry she is for screwing up and not doing her damn job properly.”
Simon flinched. “That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it?”
“It’s not harsh enough.”
“Abby never even noticed you were gone. The android called her to tell her something with work came up and you had to postpone your plans,” Simon said, trying to steer the subject back on track.
“That’s a relief. Listen, Simon, I’m tired. I want to go home and I want to check on my charges.”
Without waiting for his reply, I disappeared.
My house was quiet when I arrived. Slowly, I sauntered from room to room, grateful to be back in my own home. I paused in the doorway to Finn’s room, reluctant to go inside for fear of invading his privacy. In the corner, his guitar was proudly displayed in its stand. The amp was in the family room, set up next to the bar so that he and Roach could enjoy a shot at the end of their lessons each week. Finn had joked that, if Roach let them take a shot before the lessons, he might sound better. I had laughed, though I had privately thought that Finn was starting to sound even better than his instructor.
Back upstairs, I began to cook dinner. The ingredients floated out of the dark wood cabinets and joined me at the counter. As I chopped, Lenny suddenly appeared. He was leaning against the pantry, trying to get as far away from the gas stove as possible. He was frowning, his stick arms folded.
“I see you’ve finally returned.”
“I have.”
“It took you long enough.”
“It wasn’t my fault.”
“So you weren’t deliberately off living it up as a teenager again?” he asked, skeptical.
I stopped chopping, holding the knife in the air. “Of course not. I didn’t want to be there in the first place.”
The snowman uncrossed his arms and flashed a smile. “I’ve got to hand it to you, Carmen. You really showed some backbone today when you stood up to Fate!”
“I wasn’t taking a stance against Fate. I was refusing to ever be around Marcy Bloomberg again.”
“She’s so hot except for that hair. You’d think that, as a witch, she’d do something about it. Or at least go to the store and buy some frizz cream.”
“That’s not very nice,” I murmured. I had set down the knife and was now scraping seeds from a cucumber.
“I never thought she was all that great. She kind of has an attitude.”
“Other than when she’s upset about something stupid her husband has done?”
Lenny waved his arms, exasperated. “She’s a big deal and she knows it. So, she has that attitude.”
“Oh. I see what you mean.” I laughed. “I used to really admire her.”
“And you’ll continue to because she does good work.”
“You’re such a saint, Lenny,” I said. “Did you stop by just to check on me?”
“That’s not the only reason why.” Lenny sniffed. “Fate isn’t upset with you. I know you were worried about that.”
“I was concerned about the consequences,” I admitted.
“Other than your slight insubordination, there won’t be any,” he promised. “Fate is more understanding about human nature than people realize. That’s why there are options, to accommodate humans.”
“What about snowmen?”
He rolled his eyes. “I should know better than to talk in specifics with you. They’re understanding with all creatures.” He looked at the blue-and-white-tiled floor. “Keep on doing what you’re doing. I need to go. I’m starting to puddle here.”
“You’re what?” I asked, but I was talking to no one.
The back door opened and Finn kicked his shoes off and tossed them down the stairs. “Good to see you,” he said. He took a few steps and scowled. “What the hell? Why is there water over here?”
Ah, so that’s what Lenny had meant by puddling. “I dropped some ice earlier. I guess I didn’t get all of the cubes.”
Finn grabbed a dish towel and soaked up the mess. “Making Greek food?”
“I had a craving. Care to join me?”
“Sure,” he said, wringing out the towel and tossing it down the laundry chute in the hallway.
He helped me prepare the rest of the meal and even set the table while I plated the food. He poured a generous helping of the tzatziki sauce over his chicken. He took a bite, smiled, and scooped another helping into his mouth. “This is so good!”
“Thank you.”
“I missed you, you know.”
“Missed me? I never went anywhere,” I said, feeling guilty for lying.
“It was like you weren’t here last week. I’d see you and you’d barely talk to me.”
“I’m sorry about that,” I apologized, unable to meet my stepbrother’s gaze. “It was a stressful week.”
“I was afraid you were wanting some permanent alone time and I was going to have to start looking for an apartment.”
“What?” My eyes widened. “Oh, no! I love having you as a roommate. You’re family.”
“You do?”
“Of course. If you piss me off, I can just complain to Lewis that his son is being a jerk,” I said, my tone light.
Finn exhaled, relieved.
“What do you say we all go to Atlantic Beach in a couple of weeks? It will be June, Morehead City won’t be overcrowded just yet with tourists, and we can rent a boat and a jet ski.”
“When you say ‘we,’ does that mean all of us?”
“We can’t ask our parents to go and not invite Randy and his family.”
“Cecily is about to pop. Maybe she won’t want to come,” Finn said hopefully.
“I’m hoping the pregnancy hormones will overwhelm her system and make her a nicer person.”
“You’re such an optimist.”
“Some might say a dreamer when it comes to Cecily, but I think we all are.”
“Right on,” Finn replied. “Your treat for this, right?”
I smiled. “I suppose.”
Atlantic Beach was bustling. Locals and tourists strolled down the soft, white sand, their skin glistening with a mixture of sweat and sunscreen, smiles on their faces.
Cecily was scowling. She raked her hands through her hair and tied it into a loose, messy bun on top of her head. Rubbing her extended belly, her scowl deepened. “This baby needs to come out already!”
Her husband gently rubbed her lower back. “It’s not so bad, honey. When the baby arrives, we’ll have a new, beautiful bundle of joy and Apple will have a little brother or sister.”
“Tell me again why you didn’t want to know the sex of the baby?” I asked, taking a sip of water.
“What does it matter to you if we know or not?” Cecily snapped.
I shrugged. “I just thought it would be easier so you would know which kind of clothes to buy.” I took another sip and returned my water to the cup holder. I had rented a pontoon boat for the day and my family, for the most part, had been enjoying themselves. Mom and Lewis sat near the front of the boat, Lewis’s arm draped around my mother, fe
et lazily dangling in the water as I slowly drove us out toward Harker’s Island. Finn had taken the seat next to me, claiming himself as the co-captain. He had already downed three beers and was slouching in his white chair, his hat pulled over his eyes.
Apple ran up and down the deck of the boat, her giggles piercing the air. Her bright red curls bounced as she flung her arms out and screamed, “I’m an airplane!” Randy was grinning as he watched his child play.
“Not so loud, Apple!” Cecily chided, raising her voice to be heard over the wind as I picked up speed.
Apple stopped, her arms folding to her sides. She dropped to her stomach and began to slither. “I’m a boat! Look, I’m going through the water!”
I laughed and Cecily glared at me. “Don’t encourage her,” she said. “Apple, get up and sit next to Mommy.”
Defiantly, Apple sat next to her father. I ducked my head to hide my smile as Randy picked her up and placed her in his lap. “Daddy, we’re going to play in the ocean, aren’t we?”
“Yes, honey.”
Her brow furrowed with worry. “You won’t let me get eaten by sharks, will you?”
Randy squeezed her tightly. “No, sweetheart. I won’t let anything hurt you.”
She squealed with delight. “My daddy is the strongest, bestest man in the whole wide world!”
“It’s ‘best,’” Cecily corrected.
“Nuh-uh, Mommy,” Apple argued.
Cecily sighed, too tired to disagree. I felt a pang of guilt for judging her so harshly. She was a week overdue and the sun was blazing overhead. She had to be extremely uncomfortable.
“Don’t you do that,” Finn said, his lips barely moving.
“Do what?”
“Feel sorry for her.”
“She is past her due date and that would make anyone crabby.”
“No,” Finn muttered.
“If you had a kid rolling around on top of your bladder for forty weeks, you’d be upset, too.”
“That’s why I have a penis so that I can just do what Randy’s doing. Offering back rubs and soothing words. That’s the life.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re such a gentleman.”
“I am!” Finn said, tugging his hat further down. “I can’t help it if she’s rebuffing his kind gestures.”
“How can you even tell what he’s doing with your eyes covered? I thought you were napping.”
“I was trying to, but those two keep shouting at each other. Keeps a man awake.”
“You just didn’t want to look at my mom and your dad canoodling.”
He grunted. “Yeah, that’s gross.”
“I think it’s sweet.”
“You would, you sucker. I’m surprised I haven’t caught you watching that television for women channel.” He pointed at me. “Your day is coming and when it does, I will never stop making fun of you.”
“You already make fun of me,” I countered.
“This will add another layer of depth to my jokes.”
“That’s funny, I thought your idea of a joke was your attempt at cooking.”
Finn shoved his hat back into its proper place and looked at me out the corner of his eye. “You said I was getting better.”
I laughed. “You’re so defensive!” The truth was that Finn was getting better, though not just at cooking. I felt like he was really making his way to his new path.
“We should have invited Roach to this shindig. He’s like family.”
“You know someone whose name is Roach?” Randy asked, sliding into the bench seat behind the captain’s chair.
“It’s my guitar teacher,” Finn explained.
“Oh. I didn’t realize that was his name,” Randy replied. “Cecily wants to know if we’re almost to the island.”
I looked ahead where the island was clearly visible. “It’s right there. It’s not too far from Shackleford Banks.”
“She didn’t know that was it,” Randy said quietly.
“Is she not having a good time?” I asked.
My stepbrother shook his head. “It’s not that. She just needs to pee.” He got up and returned to his family.
I smirked at Finn. “I told you she was just uncomfortable.”
Finn looked away, frowning.
Finally approaching the island, I slowed as I pulled next to one of the docks. Finn and Randy hopped out to tie us off while Mom and Lewis disentangled themselves from each other. They grabbed the food cooler while Finn and I took the cooler full of beverages. Randy held Apple’s hand and, with the other, juggled the giant umbrella and beach towels. Cecily stuffed her swollen feet into her flip flops and carried nothing as she waddled behind us.
Cape Lookout loomed over us and Mom shielded her eyes against the sun as she looked upward. “It’s always such a neat sight,” she said, pointing to the lighthouse. “Have you ever been up it?”
“I’m not walking up there,” Cecily said, breathing heavily.
Mom shook her head slightly, a smile on her lips. “No, dear, I don’t mean that we do that today. It’s normally closed to visitors and I think the attendant’s house is closed as well. I was just asking if anyone had been there. It’s quite the view from the top!”
“Huh,” Cecily replied. “No, we haven’t, but that might be something we do down the road.” She cradled her round belly. “Anything to help get rid of the pregnancy weight. I think I put on at least sixty pounds this time around.”
My mother patted her shoulder. “All babies are different. You’ll lose the weight chasing a toddler and baby around the house.”
For the first time that day, Cecily laughed. “I hope so! This one is almost impossible to keep up with!” She looked at Apple and Apple grinned mischievously. She paused suddenly, then grimaced. “The baby is kicking.”
I hesitated, then rested my hand against her belly. I willed her to feel lighter, for her back to hurt less, and she winced uncomfortably. “Your hand is awfully warm, Carmen.”
“I’m sorry,” I apologized. “I just wanted to feel the baby kick.”
“You’ll get to one day if you ever find a man and get started. You’re not getting any younger, you know.” She stretched and took a deep breath. “This ocean air makes me feel almost light as a feather! Honey, we need to try and make it to the beach more often.”
I painted a smile on my face. “I guess I’m not, Cecily,” I said, my voice tight.
She remained oblivious.
“Our work is always unnoticed or unappreciated. Sometimes both at the same time,” Mom said, sidling next to me. We watched as Cecily spread the towels while Randy struggled against the soft breeze to set up the umbrella. Lewis and Finn placed the coolers around the base to help keep it in place.
“I feel badly for her,” I admitted.
“I know you do. It’s okay. She is family. Hopefully she’ll have an attitude adjustment after the baby comes.”
“You’re such an optimist, Mom.”
Mom smiled broadly. “It’s a hell of a lot more fun than being a pessimist!”
Apple ran into the water, Randy chasing after her. We were on the sound side of the island where there were virtually no waves. I thought about what Apple had said on the boat and, as a precaution, created an impenetrable net so that nothing could reach our little spot on the beach. There was a ripple effect as the net settled. Mom, the only one who noticed, mouthed, “Thank you,” and joined her granddaughter.
Hours passed as we played in the surf. Finally we took a break and ate the sandwiches we had brought. Apple enviously watched Finn pluck out a soda from the cooler. Her father handed her a juice packet and she tried unsuccessfully to stab the straw into it. Frustrated, she handed it to Lewis and hugged him tightly when he returned the packet to her, straw ready to use. Everyone was her hero today.
Full from lunch, we sat underneath the umbrella, its shade covering us all and I silently thanked my mother. She merely smiled and leaned back against her towel, her toes dug deeply into the sand.
We all grunted in response.
“Fine, I’ll go by myself.” He put on his shoes and left, his footsteps echoing on the boardwalk as he walked away.
“Someone should have gone with him,” Lewis said.
“Dad, he’s not a child. If he wants to play in the real waves, let him. The rest of us are just enjoying our day in the sun. Being lazy. Look, even Apple’s about to fall asleep.”
“Am not,” she argued, her eyes closed as she leaned her head against her mother’s lap.
“Today’s a family day,” Lewis pointed out.
“We don’t have to do stuff together all of the time,” Randy replied.
“I’ll go,” I said. I begrudgingly got up and shoved my feet into my water shoes. I found the entrance to the boardwalk and followed the winding path. Several plants and bushes surrounded me and, along the way, were plaques to explain the vegetation and what types of animals lived on the small island. Having been to the island several times growing up, I had already read the plaques and today I ignored them as I walked to the other side to join Finn.
I spotted his shoes first when I arrived at the other beach. He had kicked them off as he ran down to the surf and I picked them up, carrying them in my hand as I searched the water for him.
At last, I caught a glimpse of him as he dove into a wave. He came up as soon as the wave crashed over him and began to swim out toward the sea. He always loved going out farther than the rest of us, despite Lewis’s protests.
Several other people were on this side, laughing and splashing as they played in the sun. I couldn’t help but smile as I observed them and my stepbrother being carefree.
“Do you think anyone else noticed that over there?” a stranger asked, appearing next to me.
“Notice what?” I looked at the stranger. He had a bucket hat pulled down low on his head and a long, straggly beard he had dyed purple.
The stranger pointed. “Out there. When you see a bunch of fish together like that, you’ll probably see some predators.”
I followed the direction in which he was pointing and gasped. A fin rose slightly out of the water, disappearing so quickly that I doubted seeing it.
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