Ocean's Fire

by Stacey Tucker

  “Start with the book part. Leave out the Joshua part.” Ocean gave Skylar a big bear hug. Skylar couldn’t remember the last time she had been hugged so tight. It felt nice. It was genuine. She felt bad for being so critical of this woman who had done nothing but try to help her since they met.

  Skylar smiled at Ocean—a real smile this time. “Why are you helping me?”

  “Because you need it,” Ocean said.

  Skylar couldn’t deny that. She did need it. But she had secretly hoped for a different answer from Ocean, one more personal. “Thank you,” she said.

  “You are most welcome.” Ocean handed Skylar her flip phone. Skylar held it like it was a live crab. She didn’t know what to do with it. “My dad has one of these. And I never let him forget it.” She laughed.

  “Smart man. The enemy lives in your smartphone, Skylar.” She held the phone in question in the same crab fashion. “I will call you when I have some information.”

  Skylar knew Ocean was right about telling Argan. But he was so important to her, and she was worried about what he would think. Their relationship was so new; she didn’t want this weird crap to screw everything up. But then, she had already screwed things up letting Joshua touch her the other night. The time for innocence was over.

  That night, Argan came to Skylar’s tiny house for an early dinner.

  His tour of the house wouldn’t have taken long, but he stopped every other minute to ask a question about a photo or a knickknack. “If it’s here in this tiny house, it must be precious to you,” he said. “Everything must have a story.”

  Skylar thought about that for a moment. He was right. With limited room, only true treasures lived there.

  “Ahh, Michael,” he said when they reached the library door. “He’ll have your back in a fight, but I call on Chamuel more. I lose stuff all the time.”

  Skylar gave him a quizzical look.

  “He’s the angel to call on for lost items,” Argan explained.

  “I didn’t know you were so heavenly,” Skylar joked. “Speaking of Michael, you have to meet my cat.” She looked around for the feline but couldn’t find him. “Oh well, he’ll turn up.”

  They enjoyed a nice dinner and moved to the living room. Only then did Skylar realize she had nowhere for them to sit together. They took seats across from each other in the over-stuffed chairs, and Skylar propped her feet in his lap. He raised one eyebrow and she smiled.

  “It’s fine if I have socks on,” she said.

  He started to massage her feet.

  “Argan, there’s something I want to talk to you about,” Skylar said slowly.

  “Shoot,” he said.

  “It’s going to sound completely weird.”

  “You don’t have a mysterious rash, do you?” he asked playfully.

  “No,” she said.

  “Can’t be weirder than that.”

  “Well, I’ll start from the beginning, I guess.” Skylar immediately found herself rambling. “I have a book from my mother written in ancient Sanskrit that I’ve struggled to translate these past few months. Ronnie tried to help, but it’s too complex for her.”

  “Okay,” Argan said. “When does the weird part happen?”

  “It’s coming. See, I had an otherworldly experience with my phone one night, and now I can read it.” She twisted her hands together with angst.

  “Hmmmm, well that’s good, now you can read it.”

  “Yes, but here’s the weirdest part. It turns out the book is a book of my life.” Skylar held her breath, waiting for Argan’s reaction.

  Argan looked up at her. “Okay, wow, well . . . that is weird.” His words belied his expression, which held only mild interest.

  Skylar shook her head in frustration. “Argan, did you hear me? It’s a book of my life. Like, when I read it, it tells me about things that have happened in the past, what’s happening now, and what can or will happen in the future. Isn’t that crazy?” She couldn’t believe how indifferent he seemed to this revelation.

  “Oh, see, you never mentioned crazy; you just said weird,” he said, smiling. “Okay, Sky, what do you make of this book?”

  She threw up her hands. “I don’t know, but it’s turning into a really big deal. At least, Ronnie thinks so, and she hooked me up with a friend of hers that’s helping me figure it all out.”

  “Can I see the book?” he asked, still holding her feet in his hands.

  “I don’t have it,” she said.

  “This book you think is so important . . . and weird. You don’t have it?” A bigger smile crept across his face.

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “Ocean has it. She has my phone, too.”

  “Oh, Ocean has it.” Argan paused. “Who’s Ocean?”

  “The friend of Ronnie’s I just mentioned.”

  “Ahh. Okay, well, if we can’t look at it right now, what should we do?” he asked, leaning toward her.

  “Argan, I’m trying to tell you something important.”

  He sat back in his chair. “Okay, I’m sorry. I’m listening. What else do you want to tell me?”

  “It’s pretty freaky, actually. This book . . . it shows me things from my past, and it shows me scenes from my life yet to happen. Like I’m reading it out of a novel. But then it happens in real life!”

  “Does it have us in it?”

  Skylar’s anxiety returned. She’d known he would ask that, but she didn’t want to go into any details regarding recent events. “Yes, it does.”

  “Are we together in the future?”

  “I haven’t wanted to read too much into my future. Ronnie warned me against that,” she said, telling a half-truth.

  “Right, I would have to agree there,” Argan said. “I’m not sure I would want to know my future either. So . . . how can I help you?”

  “I don’t know yet. I just wanted you to know about it, that’s all.” Skylar felt guilty keeping so much of the story hidden from him.

  “Okay, thank you for telling me. And when you get the book back, let’s take a look at it together,” he said. He stood up. “I hate to leave, but I should—I’m on duty tonight.”

  Skylar walked him to the door. “I’m stuck with Ocean’s ridiculous phone for now, so you can’t text me. Or probably even call me. I’m not convinced it’s an actual phone.” She picked it up off the entry table and examined it as if it was a foreign object. “Thank you for coming all this way,” she said, hugging him tight. “And for listening.”

  “Of course, beautiful.” He kissed her slowly on the lips. “Good night.”

  She stood on the front porch and watched him drive away. As soon as his taillights were out of sight, Michael appeared at her side.

  “You waited till the boy left, huh?” she asked. She scooped him up and went inside.

  That night, while Skylar enjoyed her evening with Argan, Ocean was at home studying the Book of Akasha. Skylar’s phone was switched off in her purse. She couldn’t believe her good fortune. She had been waiting for this moment for far too long. And it had been placed in her lap by the hands of a child.

  She was trembling. “I don’t know how I got here.” She knew the difference between right and wrong, and both angels on her shoulder were silent. She was all alone. She could walk away or give in to this longing that she had been fighting for months. There was no escaping him. He always showed up to sabotage any plan she had to avoid him. He was stalking her and she knew it.

  What drivel, Ocean thought. And what a waste of energy, giving her power away to this menace! When will humans stop putting such emphasis on sex? It’s so prosaic.

  She continued to pore over the pages into the morning hours. She fueled herself with caffeine to keep her awake, and whiskey to keep her angry.

  As she held the baby, one teardrop fell from her eye and landed on the top of his perfect head.

  A child. And a boy, no less. Damn. Ocean looked up from the book and gazed out over her vast lawn. The sunrise ti
nged the treetops, lighting them on fire. Above the trees, Ocean could see the half-moon refusing to bow to the sun. The baby was a clue, but she was still coming up short. She knew Skylar was the missing piece to her puzzle; her possession of the great book was proof. But she needed to figure out her next step to make things go as planned. This was her last shot.

  The next morning, Skylar grilled Suki about Kyle as they went about their daily tasks.

  “Do you like him?” she asked as she swept the barn aisle.

  “He’s okay,” Suki said, obviously trying to sound casual.

  Skylar stopped sweeping and looked up. “Suki, he has his own agenda, and I’m not sure it’s one that has your best interest in mind.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Suki said quietly. “But it’s really no big deal.”

  “All I’m saying is don’t do stupid things like going to Garage because he pays you five minutes of attention.” Skylar caught herself. It wasn’t her job to lecture her friend. “Sorry, that sounded bossy. Just be aware, is all.” She went back to sweeping.

  “Thanks,” Suki said.

  Ronnie hurried toward them and shoved a pile of rolled-up paper at Skylar. “Help me hang these posters,” she barked.

  Skylar unraveled a picture of Joshua in jeans and cowboy boots leaning against the barn. “Joshua is playing a concert here?”

  “For the ribbon cutting ceremony,” Ronnie said with a phony smile. “Haven’t you heard? I’m sure Devlin wants to get in with the young crowd, and Rider can get him that.” She handed Skylar a hammer.

  Skylar stared at the poster. A trickle of sweat formed on her back. “I figured they were donating money for a new biotech building or something science related.”

  “Nope, new barn,” Ronnie said tersely. “Oh, excuse me, equine facility. Deal got done under the cover of night.” Ronnie was more upset than Skylar had ever seen her.

  “What’s their history here?” Skylar asked, trying hard to stay in the conversation. “There must be a reason they gave so much money.”

  “Milicent.” Ronnie’s tone was frigid. “She grew up nearby, then went to school here and rode in this ring.”

  Skylar and Suki were hanging the first poster when Argan rounded the corner.

  “Hey, just the one I was looking for,” he said to Skylar. His smile was warm and inviting. She gave him a tight hug, thumping his back with her hammer in the process.

  “Youch! Mad at me?”

  “Sorry. I wield a mean hammer.”

  Ronnie was halfway down the aisle when she stopped and turned back around. “Be sure to hang them all. I don’t want to be accused of being a non-supporter.”

  “Sure, Ronnie,” Skylar said.

  Argan clasped Skylar’s hand in his. “I can help you,” he said. “I have a way with a hammer.” He picked the armful of posters and the bucket of nails up off the ground.

  Suki took the opportunity to move on. “I’ll leave you two . . . to it,” she said.

  “See ya,” Skylar said. She was thankful neither Suki nor Ronnie had mentioned anything about Joshua in front of Argan.

  Argan read a poster. “This is already quite the buzz all over campus.”

  “I learned about it five minutes ago.” Skylar was in a full-blown sweat.

  “I’m sorry I won’t be here for it,” he said as he hammered a poster to the barn wall.

  “You won’t be here?” Skylar’s voice rose.

  “Don’t sound so happy about it. I’m out of town next week, thought I told you,” he said. “I’ve got to be in Placid for the Adirondack show.”

  “Isn’t show season over?”

  “They added a few days last minute with the lingering warm weather.”

  “You’re gone more than you’re here,” Skylar said, trying not to pout.

  “I’m sorry.” He kissed her tenderly. “It’s part of my job. I’m scouting for new horses too.”

  “I thought we didn’t have the capacity for more?”

  “Now that this is happening,” he motioned to the poster, “we have a healthy budget. I’m sure Mrs. Grayer will demand that our stock be robust.”

  “Right,” Skylar said. “Guess it’ll be fun to see the richest man in the world, anyway.”

  “I think he lost that title last year to some South American oil guy,” Argan said.

  “Okay, second richest. Still impressive.” She was relieved Argan was going to be out of town for the concert, but it was still too close to home for her.

  “So, will you?” Argan was staring at her, hand outstretched.

  “Will I what?” Her wandering thoughts had taken her away from the conversation.

  “Be careful. Around Grayer. He is known for collecting precious things.”

  “I’m sure I won’t be anywhere near him,” she said in a dismissive tone. “He’ll be surrounded by his handlers.”

  “Even so, you are precious to me, and I would hate to lose you. Even for a moment.” He kissed her softly.

  Skylar appreciated Argan’s protectiveness, but she knew it was misdirected. Devlin was not the one he needed to worry about.

  The music school spared no expense or accoutrement for Joshua’s performance. The great lawn in front of the paddock had been transformed into nothing short of Madison Square Garden, light show and all. Skylar peered from behind the barn door to steal a glimpse of Joshua running through sound check. His show had grown considerably in stature, his solo act with acoustic guitar already a distant memory. Backed with Grayer money, he seemed to have it all.

  Just knowing he was nearby made her heart race. She got on her knees and thanked God that Argan was away. She couldn’t have masked her raging emotions.

  “Why are you on your knees?” Suki asked, coming up behind her.

  Skylar jumped up. “I don’t pray nearly enough,” she said. That answer seemed to suffice for Suki, who shrugged in agreement and kept walking.

  Skylar grabbed her spare toothbrush out of her locker. She wanted to freshen up before the Grayers’ arrival. When she appeared at the office door, freshly brushed, Ronnie was already heading out.

  “We’d better take our posts,” she said as she rushed by. “The fanfare is about to start.”

  “I’m not staying for the concert,” Skylar said. “It will be a fiasco, and I don’t need that here. This is my turf, not his.”

  “All the more reason to hold your ground,” Ronnie said. “Don’t let him scare you away.”

  “Ronnie, I just need a win here. Walking away is a win in my eyes,” Skylar said.

  The sun was blazing hot. The string of eighty-degree days this late in the fall was making everyone nervous. Someone had made an old joke about global warming, but the fanatical reports on the Weather Channel had everyone spooked. The arch above the podium was exploding with pink peonies that looked dangerously close to wilting into oblivion.

  The dean took the stand in front of the crowd waiting on the lawn of Rosen Farm, wiping sweat from his brow with a handkerchief as he leaned into the microphone. “On behalf of the school, the professional staff, students, and guests, I welcome Devlin and Milicent Grayer.” The audience erupted in applause and cheers. The dean, too, clapped profusely as the couple made their way up the stairs to the podium.

  Milicent was stunning with her porcelain-white face and platinum-blond hair pulled back in a sleek, low chignon knot. Her lavender Chanel suit had an iridescent quality that shimmered in the sunlight. Her dark-purple Louboutin heels completed her impeccable attire.

  “She only wears purple,” Suki said, careening back down the aisle for a better view. “I read that in People magazine.” Suki was obviously a fan of the socialite.

  “For someone concerned with the plight of the poor, she spares no expense on her wardrobe, huh?” Skylar said. “And why isn’t she sweating in that suit?”

  “I read somewhere that she had all her facial pores removed,” Suki said seriously.

  Skylar looked back up at the stage. Devlin followed
Milicent up the stairs. His custom suit was tailored to a millimeter of his body. He was incredibly fit for a man of sixty. His jet-black hair, only beginning to tinge silver, was slicked back and neatly trimmed.

  “He’s twenty years older than she is,” Suki said.

  “Bad cliché,” Ronnie said, staring ahead at the commanding couple.

  “Thank you, Dean Thomas,” Devlin said as he took over the podium. “And thank you, esteemed faculty, students, and friends.” Devlin gave a wink to his wife at his side. “Milicent and I are so pleased to see our dream of a twenty-first-century equine facility here at Rosen coming to life. With all of our various endeavors, you might ask why this, why now? Well,” he said, reaching for his wife’s hand, “this school holds a dear place in our hearts. Milicent got her undergraduate degree here. This is where we met twenty years ago. We have grown and learned together since then, and this endowment is our way of giving back to the place that started it all.” He looked at Milicent, who gave him a slight nod of encouragement. “And it is with great pleasure that I announce today my intention to run for the office of President of the United States in the 2020 election!” He waved their entwined arms high in the air to an eruption of applause from onlookers.

  “Public office is a natural extension of the work we have been doing to date. I ask for your support in the coming months to ensure a victory next November!” Devlin’s enthusiasm was palpable, and the crowd continued to cheer and shout. “We hope you will all come back tonight for Joshua Rider’s concert, which will kick off the campaign!”

  The shouts of approval roared back to life. The couple took in the applause for a few moments, then exited the stage to greet the crowd. Devlin shook hands along the aisle and passed out Grayer 2020 buttons.

  “I feel the need to go shovel the stalls,” Ronnie said, retreating toward the barn.

  Skylar looked at Suki. “Does she seem overly hostile about all of this?”

  Suki shrugged. “I hadn’t noticed,” she said, straining to watch Milicent until she disappeared from view. She turned back to Skylar. “I have to figure out what I’m wearing tonight. Can you help me?”

  “Sure, I’ll come by after rounds,” Skylar said. “But I’m heading home after.”