“I never stopped being your friend. But I did what I had to do to save my relationship, and yours.”
She looked into his eyes, not a hard stare but a soft one that struggled to maintain steady. “I never wanted to be a source of anxiety for Cassie. She was my friend.”
Jake started strolling towards the car, waiting a beat for Ashley to catch up. “Cassie was a great person, but she was always a little insecure with you. Not with anyone else that I ever noticed, but with you.”
“There was a reason for it.”
“I know. But she always said how pretty you were, and how lucky Mike was. It was almost like a little test she was sending up there to see how I’d respond. She wasn’t dumb. She knew there was an attraction between us.”
“Even though we never acted on anything, I think it must have been painfully obvious to anyone around us that we had some connection.”
Jake knew she was right, but he didn’t want to admit it. He always felt bad that Cassie was jealous when he was around Ashley. It was something he didn’t even realize he was doing most of the time. But every once in a while he’d notice that he was gravitating toward Ashley over Cassie. It was ridiculous because Ashley was already married and he was engaged to Cassie and he loved her. It didn’t make sense how he could love two people at once. That wasn’t supposed to happen.
They reached Ashley’s Mazda and she tossed him the keys. “Here, I don’t want to drive.”
Jake was about to duck into the driver’s seat when he saw the man standing across the field beyond a frolicking murder of crows. He couldn’t be certain from this distance, but it sure looked like the character from the beach. He had a similar stance as he leaned against a similar car.
“What is it?” Ashley asked from inside the car.
Trying not to draw attention to the fact he might have seen the man, Jake casually got into the car. “Look across the field there, past that tall headstone where those crows are.”
Ashley scanned the scene. “I see him.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s our killer.”
She nodded slowly. “I think that’s the man from the hotel.”
He glanced around. “Is there another way out of this place?”
“I don’t think so.”
Jake let out a groan. “We have to go right past him. And there’s no one around.”
“What can we do?”
Just as Jake was formulating an idea, another funeral procession started to pull up toward the gates. The standing man flicked his cigarette into the grass, got into his car, and drove out of the cemetery gates ahead of the hearse that stopped near the entrance.
Jake thought about waiting for the line of cars to enter, but instead he sped after the man.
“What’re you doing?” Ashley asked.
“I’m going to follow him.”
“Why?”
“To turn the tables a bit and see how he reacts.” He took the turn onto the road so fast the tires groaned in protest. Heads of people parking near the gates turned to look at them as they sped off in chase.
“I don’t like this,” Ashley protested as they caught up to the dark blue sedan.
Jake pressed so close to the rear of the sedan that he could have bumped it with one more nudge of the gas pedal. Instead, he backed off just a bit but maintained close contact.
At first, the driver ahead did nothing in response, just maintained his course. But then he cut the wheel hard and turned down a side road. Jake was undeterred and followed.
As their surroundings started to grow more desolate, Jake had second thoughts. He was probably driving right into a trap. Not to mention terrible feelings about repeating history started to punch his mind like an angry boxer. The steering wheel was getting fatter, more slippery, and impossible to grasp. He stomped the brakes and let the lead car streak away into the thick pine forest.
The brake lights on the car ahead flashed as the back end reared up. Jake quickly pulled a U-turn and watched the rearview mirror. The car didn’t swing around and follow them. Jake had no idea if he’d accomplished anything, but he wasn’t second guessing himself either.
After a few seconds, his breathing returned to normal. He jumped when Ashley touched his hand on the gear shifter. She gave him a reassuring smile, but said nothing. She didn’t have to.
Chapter 26
Ariel
Ariel awoke from her nap when she heard the most dreaded sound in the world. She’d only heard it a few times before, but she knew it well enough to fear it. Just like any caged animal, she feared the sounds of the locks.
In a rush, she flung herself out of her hammock and into the water, diving rapidly toward the tunnel that flowed to the seaway. In the murky light, she could see the gate closing. With furious determination, she used every bit of speed she could muster to get beyond that closing steel barrier. But it was too late.
She snared the steel in her hands, pulling until her muscles burned, but it was a useless effort. The gate closed with steady force against which she was helpless.
Slamming her palms into the bars, she let out a long underwater scream. Pushing her face close to the angled edges, she looked out past the end of the tunnel where the waters flowed. Part of her wondered if she’d ever swim in those warm currents again.
Spinning around, she slammed her tailfin into the gate, sending her back toward the pool…her prison. When she came up for air, Father stood at the edge of the water, dressed in his doctor’s coat.
“Why?” she asked through saltwater tears.
He dropped his chin. “I’m sorry, Ariel.”
“Then why?”
“I had no choice.”
“Of course you do, you don’t have to do this. There’s always a choice, you taught me that.”
“Sometimes there is no choice.”
“That’s a lie. There’s never a time in life where there’s no choice. You taught me, you taught me that—never—ever—ever—ever—ever.”
He looked to the ceiling. “Choices define us. What we choose creates our character. The things we become are a direct result of each choice we make.”
“Which proves my point that there are always choices, so why are you punishing me?”
“I’m not punishing you, dear.”
“You locked me up like an animal in a zoo. Is that what I am?”
He sighed. “No, Ariel, you’re—”
“But I am! I am a caged animal! I’m a freak! I’m a freak with a stupid fin!”
“Who told you that?”
“No one had to. I know what I am.”
He turned around and pulled a wheeled cart near the edge of the pool. “It will soon be time to check and see if the baby has started growing.”
“Is that why you locked me up?”
“This baby is very important.”
Ariel couldn’t help but wonder to whom the baby was so important. “It’s my baby.”
“Yes, she will be your baby, but someone has to raise her. Someone has to love her.”
Ariel looked up at him. “What if it’s not a she?”
He met her eyes for several long seconds, then looked away, and that’s when she knew there was something so very wrong here. Exactly what it was she didn’t know, but something was very wrong.
He shook his head. “It’s always a girl. That’s all mermaids can give birth to, females.”
She felt like he was lying. “But what if it were a boy?”
“It never has been before.”
“It would be a merman?”
“It’s never happened before.”
“You’re lying to me.”
He looked down at her. “I’m not lying. It cannot happen.”
“You’re not answering.”
“I did answer. I have to go to work.”
“And what am I to do all day? I can’t get out to the garden, how will I eat?”
He slid a shopping bag off the cart onto the edge of the deck. “There’s plenty of food he
re.”
She fought back tears. “Why am I being punished?”
He frowned through a long sigh. “I’m sorry.” He turned away.
“Is this because of Jake?”
He stopped in his tracks, he did not turn around, he did not move. He did not reply. But after several long seconds, he continued on his path. That’s when she knew. His silence spoke a million more words than any words would have.
As Ariel watched him rise up the steps, anger started to build from somewhere in her gut. She’d never known anger like this. It was a new feeling. She clenched her teeth so hard her jaw began to ache up to her ears. Her fists involuntarily balled up so tight her trim nails dug painfully into her palms.
Even through her fury, she heard the quiet clank of the outside gate closing behind Father’s car. He’d be gone until well into the evening. She was not going to be a prisoner, not again, not this time.
Planting her palms on the stone pool deck, she pulled herself out and onto the floor. In the only way she could, she slithered across the smooth stone until she got to the door, where a small, wheeled cart sat. She pushed the cart aside and reached up to turn the knob.
She knew there was something in here that could help. She’d seen them before and knew how they worked. Father brought them down here after he used them to get around when he twisted his ankle.
The aluminum poles stood there, leaning against the wall. She’d never tried to walk on crutches, but she’d theorized it was possible. Grabbing hold of the poles, she pulled them off the wall and onto the floor.
With one in each hand, she pulled herself up to her knees, and then with greater difficulty than she expected, completely upright. Being upright was incredibly unsettling. Her head started to spin, she felt sick. She tried to stay steady, but it was no use. She plunged forward quickly, smashing into a shelf, bouncing off that and into a mop and bucket.
The fall hurt, but she was undeterred and began to mount another effort. This time she did it smarter, with her back to the wall. When she got upright and the dizzy hit her, she let herself fall backwards.
She closed and opened her eyes several times, hoping to blink away the spinning. Adjusting her stance to get her tail in a more viable position, she realized it was not comfortable. The flipper at the end of her tail was not flat. It was difficult to stand on. But it had no real feeling in it, so she started to bounce on it until it sort of folded in front of her. It not only stabilized her, it sort of gave her a bit of a tickle feeling down in the end of her tail section, which on people would be their feet.
After leaning forward a bit onto the crutches, she was able to get the feeling of moving. It was only an inch or two at a time the first few steps, but after just a few more she started to get the idea. It started to feel okay.
Rather than heading straight for the steps, she decided to walk around the deck for a while, getting used to the feel of moving and turning. She had to do it now, because what she was planning was the riskiest thing she’d ever done in her life.
Chapter 27
Jake
Jake entered the shoddy roadside stand and looked around for Ridge. He didn’t see him, but saw an attractive brunette girl propping a surfboard up against the wall.
She turned on a megawatt smile and widened her bright sea foam green eyes. “Hi, what can I help you with?”
He smiled back. “That’s quite the cutter you have there.”
“Yeah, she’s a sweet stick, but the water was plowed today.” She wiped her hands on her tight black shorts. “Are you looking for anything in particular?”
“I’m looking for Ridge.”
Her smile instantly turned into a quiver-lipped frown. “Ridge is gone.”
“Do you know when he’ll be back?”
She just shook her head and didn’t reply. Then she muttered under her breath, “He’ll never be back.”
Jake narrowed his eyes. “He doesn’t work here anymore? I thought he owned the place.” It wasn’t until the end of his sentence that he figured it out.
She shook her head solemnly. “No, I mean, he’s gone. He passed away.”
“What?” Jake looked around with reactionary suspicion. “How? When?”
“A couple days ago. The funeral is Saturday.”
Jake pushed the back of his hand to his top lip. “What happened?”
The girl walked behind counter, tears lined her face. “A freak accident.”
“Accident?” Jake knew.
She wiped tears from the corner of her mouth that had run down her apple checks. “He was out early morning. Sets were rolling in.”
“A surfing accident?” Jake interrupted.
“A boating accident. A hit and run.”
“What?” Jake had a sinking feeling.
“Apparently a boat got too close to the surfers, hit Ridge and another guy named Dizzer.”
Jake looked down. “I know Dizzer.
She nodded. “Dizzer made it, broken collarbone and wrist. Ridge wasn’t so lucky, took a shot to the head. He never woke up.”
“And they never found the boat?”
“Oh, they found it, but the owner wasn’t there. He’s a thousand miles away in Massachusetts. Someone stole the boat, took it for a joyride.”
Jake blew a breath. “Holy shit…unreal.”
“Oh, it’s quite real.” She turned up her palms. “This is all that’s left of him. He put his life into this shop. Now it’s mine and I don’t even really want it.” She broke down in tears, salted with uneasy, ironic laugher.
“Hey, don’t cry.”
She quickly bucked up reeled it in with a hard sniffle. “I’m okay, really. I’m fine.”
“Was Ridge your father?”
She nodded. “Ridge—was Ridge, but he was my father…sort of, I guess. I don’t know.” She stuck out her hand. “I’m Jesse. How well did you know him?”
“You call your father by his name?”
“He was my sperm donor, he didn’t raise me.” She put her hands on her hips. “We just reconnected a few years ago when I turned eighteen and got the hell away from my psycho mother.” She nodded. “Ridge was a lot of things that didn’t make him parent material. But he was good, and smart. He didn’t do drugs, he loved me, and he loved to surf.” She bumped a balled up fist into the counter. “He left me this place and his house on the beach. I’m all he had.”
“I only met him a couple times, but he left quite the impression on me.”
She smiled. “He did that to everyone. Tourists he met a single time would come in here asking for him a year later. He just had that way about him.”
“Yeah.”
Jesse handed him a piece of paper. “Here’s info on the funeral if you want to go.”
“Thanks.” The paper looked more like it was announcing a concert. “This is a funeral?”
“Not as much as a festival. Ridge wanted people to have fun, to be thankful for their lives. Just because his was over didn’t mean everyone else had to question their mortality with a boring black coat affair. He didn’t want people to mourn his death. He wanted people to celebrate his life.”
“That’s a good thing, I guess.”
“Why were you looking for him?”
“Umm, I just had talked to him about some stuff the other day and wanted to follow up on it. It wasn’t a big deal.”
“Well, if there’s anything I can do.”
Jake looked up on the wall at the mermaid picture. “Is that for sale?”
She turned to look. “The mermaid picture?”
“Yeah.”
She looked at it closer. “Oh, that’s for sale, I guess.”
“Did he ever tell you about it?”
Jesse nodded. “Yeah, he did.”
“He said it’s real,” Jake said under his breath, not really realizing he said it out loud.
“It’s real, all right, from a real bad movie they shot here in the eighties.”
“A movie?”
“Yea
h, there was a movie called Mermaid of the Atlantic. It was a low budget deal, totally B-movie that never even made it to theaters.”
“Huh, never heard of it.”
“No one did. Ridge used to rent props. Half the stuff you see around this property was used in a movie at one time or another.”
“No kidding?”
She pointed to the far wall at a large chair. “See that ridiculously huge chair?”
“Yeah.”
“That was from a version of Alice in Wonderland.” She pointed to the other wall. “See that spaceship hanging? That was used in a movie called They Came from Venus.”
“I didn’t know.”
“Yeah, there’s all kinds of weird stuff around here. I guess that’s the one thing about Wilmywood, there’s no shortage of lame movie junk.” She looked back at the picture. “Did you still want to buy the mermaid?”
He nodded. “Yeah, how much?”
She pulled it off the wall and flipped it over. “Huh, it says forty bucks. That seems excessive.”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll pay it.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, it’s fine.” He handed her the cash and took hold of the picture. “Thanks.”
“Thank you.” She put the cash in the old-fashioned register. “I need all the cash I can get from this place.”
Jake glanced around. “What’re you going to do with the place?”
She shrugged slowly. “I don’t know yet. I’m not really keen on sitting around here talking to tourists about movie props and random junk.”
“You could hire someone.”
“Yeah, I suppose I could. But this is prime real estate here. At least a dozen big names have come in here over the last few years trying to buy it from him. He never wanted to give it up. But I could sell the place and fund an endless summer of sand and surf for the rest of my life.”
Jake laughed. “You probably could.” Another customer walked into the store and Jake took that cue. “Okay, well, I’ll leave you to your work.”
“Thanks, and hey, if you need anything, you know where to find me. I hope to see you again at the festival-slash-funeral.”
Jake nodded and ducked around the older couple walking in wide-eyed and smiling. He sat in the car and looked at the picture. If it was a movie picture, he should be able to verify that easily enough. He used his phone to look up the title of the movie on the movie database. Sure enough, it was there. The mermaid was played by an actress named Kate Marie Dixon. Though it was hard to tell, she could be the girl in the picture. It was plausible enough. But why would Ridge say it was a real mermaid? Maybe he was just saying what he thought Jake wanted to hear. Maybe Ashley was right and he was just trying to sucker him into paying a fortune for the picture. In a way it worked, he did pay too much.
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