Find Me (Immersed Book 1)

by Francesca Riley

  28. More stories

  “Don’t turn around,” Morgan hissed, smoothing her face into neutral nonchalance. Unable to resist, Skye surreptitiously peeped behind her and saw the guy from The Towers penthouse in the doorway, looking about with interest.

  “Really?” she asked turning back to Morgan. “What’s the big deal?” To her astonishment, she saw a blotchy flush mounting Morgan’s neck. She knew that meant Morgan was really embarrassed. “Sorry, Morgan. I invited him,” she whispered, alarmed. Glancing around again, Skye saw that he’d seen them. A few steps brought him to their table and they looked up into his confident face.

  “Hey Morgan. Great party.” He looked amused.

  “Thanks,” Morgan said briefly, her face perfectly composed.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” he asked, winking at Skye.

  “Skye, this is Liam.” Morgan replied coolly. “Liam – Skye.”

  “Actually, we’ve kind of met,” he grinned. “Nothing like a formal introduction though. Now that we’ve been properly introduced, Skye – dance?” Skye only had time for a confused glance at Morgan before he had taken her hand and led her to join the dancers.

  As Liam turned her towards him on the tiny dance floor, the music filtering through from the courtyard slowed its tempo. He drew her closer, as if for a slow dance. She felt awkward at the unexpected closeness. “Not as bad as all that, am I?” he chuckled, but he loosened his hold.

  “So,” he calculated, “tenth floor, here with Morgan, plus the café flyers – that must make you the one and only Skye Sebastian.” Skye looked up at him in surprise. “No hiding in this town,” he smiled. “Welcome to Bannimor. Heard that one before, I guess?” he said as she frowned.

  “Something like that,” she muttered.

  “Don’t get mad at Bannimor. It can’t be held responsible. It’s the curse of the small town: got no life, gotta live vicariously.” He said it in such a droll way Skye couldn’t help smiling a little. “But if it hadn’t been common knowledge,” he added, “I’d have made it my business to find out. Can’t have gorgeous girls traipsing about The Towers, enticing me with flyers and then vanishing.” She blinked.

  He shrugged, smiling. “You can’t hold me responsible either. It’s the curse of the terminally bored, always seeking distraction.” He had a charismatic presence and his easy smile was charming. Skye guessed he was accustomed to living life on his terms. She found herself smiling back.

  Liam studied her, his expression quizzical. “I’ve been hearing the oddest things about you. Or not so much about you as events somehow attached to your presence. Mysterious deaths following in your wake. Equally mysterious rescues. Harvey, wasn’t it?” She tensed, but he changed tack.

  “We have so much in common, Skye.”

  “Really? Like what?”

  “Oh, like being one of the prodigal returned from afar, welcomed back into the gossiping, resentful bosom of Bannimor to be endlessly speculated about.”

  That did sound kind of familiar. “Anything to do with that bulls-eye on your back that you mentioned?” she asked.

  “Yep. I used to live here. We moved away when I was little. Dad made good, came back to his roots to share the wealth, and no one can forgive him for it.”

  “The going away and coming back sounds kind of the same,” she agreed, “but we didn’t exactly make good, and I’m only here for the holidays.”

  “Me too. In fact, I’m leaving tonight. But it doesn’t stop the village crones from resenting every minute I’m here.”

  Did the locals feel that way about her too? As if he sensed her discomfort, his careless amusement softened into something like sympathy. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying they feel that way about you. But they’re curious. And you can’t really blame them.”

  “Yes, I can. My business is my own!” she snapped. “Let them try losing someone. See how they like endless talk about it, never letting them forget…” mortifyingly, her voice broke. She looked away, blinking hard, trying to feel nothing. It was harder to do these days.

  Liam’s expression was rueful. “Maybe it’d help to talk about it?” She looked at him warily. “Try seeing me as a fellow sufferer,” he suggested, “No one knows better than me what it feels like to be pointed at and judged. What do they say that hurts you so much?” His expression was sincere. “Skye? Trust me?”

  Suddenly the thought of being able to talk about this with someone who really got how she felt was irresistible. Meeting his eyes, her voice tinged with irony, she recited, “They say that my mother was cursed. That she caused the deaths and disappearances of other swimmers simply by her presence. That she killed herself to end that curse. That her…her body was never found because the sea kept it. To protect the village from her.” Skye’s heart was thudding. It sounded ridiculous as she said it aloud. It felt poisonous.

  “Heard that one. But that’s not my favourite,” he mused dispassionately.

  Skye stared at him, stunned. And yet – his lack of reaction was almost a relief. “What’s your favourite?” her voice was practically a whisper.

  “I like the one where your beautiful mother was a sea spirit made mortal.”

  Skye’s heart thudded faster.

  “A bit like the old mermaid story, you know? Except I’m guessing sans mutilation.”

  She swallowed. “You seem well up on your fairy tales there, Liam.”

  “Kind of a hobby of mine, you could say, old stories.” he said. “I also heard that she took swimmers’ souls. Apparently, that’s what sea spirits do.” He grinned, and Skye flushed. Was he mocking her?

  “I even heard sea spirits described, rather creatively I thought, as undead,” he continued. “Would that make them marine zombies? Or sea vampires, feeding on souls, not blood? How would that work – same terminology? Quite imaginative for the provinces.” He studied her face. “You didn’t hear that one?” he asked lightly.

  She realised she was gripping his arms so tightly she must be hurting him. Releasing him, she shook her head ‘no’. He lifted his arms to her shoulders, linking his hands behind her head, and moved slowly to the new song playing. Reluctantly she followed suit, shuffling her feet in time with his, her hands barely touching his waist.

  “So now we know the worst this cretinous village has to say,” he said, “why don’t you tell me what really happened?” His voice was light yet persuasive. He was holding her too close again. But his expression was sincere. “You’ll feel better. Get some perspective.”

  The truth was completely ordinary. What did it matter? Maybe he was right and it would help? “My mum went into the sea one stormy day and never came out again.”

  “That’s it?”

  “That’s it.” Skye’s heart contracted painfully under her ribs and she looked fixedly in front of her, focusing on the twist of shell on a cord around his neck. A village boy after all, she thought. Maybe he had a romantic soul hidden behind his amused, ironic facade.

  He pulled her even closer. “I heard that one too,” he said quietly in her ear. “I heard her people called her and she went, abandoning the living – her husband, and her child, for her undead people. I heard they were waiting for her. That she never looked back.” His arms around her neck felt tight and for an instant Skye felt claustrophobic. She shoved against him, stumbling into the person behind her as he released her.

  “Skye! Is everything okay?” She’d collided with Ethan. He moved to stand between them, looking from Liam to Skye, frowning. Skye could feel her legs trembling.

  “Liam,” Ethan nodded. Liam’s expression was polite, almost bored, as though he’d lingered too long in the provinces and the ‘distraction’ had gotten old. “Everything okay?” Ethan repeated, a slight edge to his voice.

  Liam shrugged, and his expression became a little confused as he studied Skye’s face. “I think so,” he said uncertainly. “We were just talking about the crazy stories this village comes up with to explain the most stra
ightforward tragedies. Skye, I hope you can see now you really shouldn’t take a single thing you hear to heart?” He gave a disarmingly wry smile, shaking his head at the madness of Bannimor.

  Skye began to realise she’d overreacted, and felt foolish. She forced a smile, her heartbeat slowing. “No harm, no foul.” To her relief, she sounded her usual self.

  The three made their way off the floor. When they reached their table, Morgan had gone, and strangers had taken their seats. Liam nudged her arm. Looking down, she saw he held an envelope. “It’s been fun, mystery girl, but I’ve got a plane to catch and a long drive before then. Can you give this to Rowena? Tell her bravo from Liam. Nicely played.”

  Skye took the proffered envelope. Rowena’s name was printed on it. With a casual salute to Ethan, and a nod across the room towards the counter he turned and left.

  “You look kind of freaked,” Ethan said quietly. “What really happened?”

  Skye cleared her throat. “What he said. Crazy stories that can be totally ignored.” She tried to keep her voice light. Ethan searched her face for a moment, and accompanied her to the counter without further comment.

  They didn’t have to wait long before Rowena was free. Her face was glowing, although tired. “What can I get you, my lovelies?”

  “Awesome night, Rowena,” Ethan leaned forward to give her a high five. She laughed as she managed to miss his hand entirely. “Hey, it’s been a long day,” she joked as their hands finally met in a loud clap.

  “I love this,” Skye took in the crowd, the atmosphere, and the delicious smells. “It’s – well, it’s kind of perfect.” The band had fallen silent but the laughter and energised conversation around them was like the best kind of music.

  “Yep,” Rowena looked around in a happy daze, “Kind of perfect. Nothing could ruin this night. Oh, is that for me?” Skye had already forgotten the envelope, but held it out now. “Morgan’s out the back,” Rowena said as she took the envelope and tore it open.

  Skye and Ethan made their way towards the back door. “Wonder what that was?” Ethan said from behind Skye. “The letter from Liam?”

  “Don’t know. Maybe a ‘happy opening’ card? He said to say ‘bravo’ from him – oh! I forgot to tell her. I’ll do it now before I completely forget.” Leaving Ethan, Skye hurried back to the counter, and came to an abrupt halt. Rowena had turned away from the crowded café and stood facing the hallway where Skye stood. Her face was pale as she stared at the open letter in her hand.

  “Rowena? What’s wrong?”

  “We’ve been evicted.”

  “What – from here?”

  “From the apartment. We’re officially homeless, again, thanks to Alan Noble, again.”

  Skye felt stunned. “But why would Liam ask me to give you that? Why would he even have it? Why would he…”

  “Didn’t you know, Skye?” Skye spun around as Morgan spoke from behind her. Her face was as pale as Rowena’s. “Liam’s dad Alan Noble is our landlord…which pretty much makes Liam the same thing. Our brilliant landlord. Welcome to Bannimor.”

  All three stared at one another.

  “How long do we have?” Morgan took the letter and scanned it. “A week? What are we going to do?” Her usual calm looked on the edge of fracturing. The sight of her daughter’s anxious face seemed to anchor Rowena.

  “We’ll have more than a week, don’t you worry. And after – we’ll be okay. We can camp here if need be. There’s room and facilities. I had moving here at some stage in the back of my mind anyway. We’ll make it work. We’ll have the last laugh, right?”

  “I guess...sure.”

  “Rowena, shop,” Annie called from the counter where a queue was forming.

  “Coming,” she called. “We’ll be fine,” Rowena promised as she turned away.

  Morgan looked around, glancing towards the closed stairway door that led to the floor above. “I guess living here could work,” she rubbed her forehead doubtfully.

  “I’ll help,” Skye offered. “I can pack, paint – whatever you need.”

  “Thanks, Skye-bear. I suppose I could get used to slumming again,” she joked half-heartedly. Skye was relieved to see some Zen return to her face.

  Then she hesitated. “So... Liam...” Morgan flushed, confirming Skye’s guess. “That was him, right?” Skye asked, “the guy you were seeing?”

  Morgan nodded, looking embarrassed. “Yeah. More fool me. I got completely sucked in. He’s very...persuasive. I guess I was just a diversion, but at the time I thought...”

  Skye could read the hurt in her eyes. “Well, I can see how you might have fallen for him. Good-looking, charming. But also kind of a jerk.”

  “Yeah, totally kind of a jerk,” Morgan agreed. “See? This is why I need you around! Maybe I knew it wasn’t going to work out. Maybe that’s why I didn’t tell anyone about it.” She looked towards the counter. “I better relieve Mum. She looks tired, and I think Annie’s flatmates might be on break.”

  They parted at the counter and Skye went outside into the fresh air. Bliss patrons at al fresco tables were enjoying the summer evening. It was all so normal. Skye gazed across the water. The fading dusk was a whisper against the dark sea.

  “There you are.”

  Skye turned to see Rowena carrying two cups, and pulled chairs out ready at an empty table. “Thanks, love. Oh, it’s good to sit!” Rowena pushed a cup towards Skye. “We probably shouldn’t be having so much damn coffee. We’ll be bouncing off the walls all night.”

  Skye tilted her head to one side as though considering. “Naah,” she said, “Any time is coffee time.”

  “Cheers to that!” Rowena crowed, clinking her cup against Skye’s.

  “Rowena, will you be okay? You know, with the whole eviction thing?”

  “Now that I’ve had two minutes to think, he actually has no grounds. We’re fulfilling all our obligations. But that he could be so...” Rowena shook her head. She looked over her shoulder at Bliss. “We lived behind Jump. I think we could live here. Back in its hey-day this was a corner store, and the owners lived upstairs. It has ancient plumbing. We’ll have a proper look tomorrow, see what needs to be done. How about you, Skye? All good?”

  “Yep.” Then, feeling she was pushing against the safe bonds of ignorance, she cleared her throat. “You remember my mum, right?”

  “’Course I do. We were friends.”

  “How long had you been friends? From kids, like with Dad?”

  “No, not that long. I met her – well, we all met her pretty much when your dad did. She was new to the area.”

  “Where was she from?”

  “I don’t actually know.” Rowena looked bemused. “Didn’t you ever hear about any of this when you were little?”

  “Not that I can remember. But I guess...memories can be tricky things.” she drew a slow breath, pushing down a surge of emotion, staring at her cup.

  “That’s true, Skye. They can be tricky things.” Rowena said gently. She sipped her coffee. “It seemed like she was just here one day, with Daniel. He was...” she swallowed, “he was absolutely besotted,” she smiled wistfully at Skye. “They were inseparable. They married almost at once, and she joined our group like she’d always been part of it. You came along about two years later, close to when I had Morgan. Why do you ask?”

  “No reason, I guess. Just talk. You know.”

  Rowena shook her head, tsking, “Bloody Bannimor.” She put down her cup and squeezed Skye’s hand. “Look, Skye, I know there are some hurtful things said about your mother, and I hate that people are so stupid! But I promise you, Ellie was as normal as you and me. She had a kind of sadness about her, as if she carried a loss of some sort, but apart from that she was truly happy here. I don’t believe for a minute that she...you know, wanted to die.” She squeezed Skye’s hand again then picked up her cup, cradling it in her hands.

  “But you’re right,” Rowena looked thoughtful. “Now that I think about it she never talked about her
past. Maybe that was partly why the stories took?” She hesitated, “Daniel broke some hearts in his day,” she looked down at her cup briefly. “And I guess there was some spite at the way Ellie snatched him from the local girls.”

  She looked earnestly at Skye again, “The only thing I can think of that gave rise to the speculation was her addiction to the water, taking you in with her, especially in rough weather. It made people talk. And I guess, looking back, yes, the mystery of her past.”

  “Oh,” Skye was painfully disappointed. Liam’s crazy theory, maybe on top of the even crazier village stories, had sparked a hope inside her – that what Hunter had shown her was impossible, had been possible for her mum. That Ellie was like him. That she’d left the water. Then returned to it. That Skye might see her again. A false hope.

  Suddenly she remembered the question she’d meant to ask Rowena. She couldn’t believe she’d let it go for so long. She looked up to find Rowena watching her. “Rowena, did Mum leave Dad for someone else?” She’d said it. Just like that. At last. Her cheeks burned.

  “Skye Sebastian! Where on earth would you get an idea like that?” Rowena looked genuinely shocked, and relief and sorrow hit Skye. Relief that Mum hadn’t rejected her and Dad for someone else. And sorrow that the memorial stone in the local graveyard must really be a marker for death.

  “Just something I saw on Dad’s computer.”

  “Oh,” Rowena sounded a little exasperated, “Daniel.” Skye guessed Rowena was familiar with his difficulty moving on. “Sorry Skye. Can’t see that happening for a second. She really loved you and Daniel. No question, truly, she did.”

  They silently finished their coffees. Then Rowena stood and walked around the table to hug Skye. “I think that might be enough for you tonight, do you think? You look completely done in. Maybe head back to the apartment? I’ll see if Morgan’s free to walk you back, okay?”