Micah pulled along the starboard side near the end of their dock; not wanting the yacht to get stranded in the shallows. He began tossing Cole Jedediah’s bags.
Jedediah gave a wide grin to his mom and jumped from the yacht onto the dock and then Micah handed him his surfboard.
“Welcome home Son,” she said with tears in her eyes.
“Glad to be here Mom, there’s so much I wanna tell you guys.” Jedediah gave her a big hug.
“Thanks Micah, I’ll come by tomorrow to see how everyone is,” said Cole as he waved.
“See you later.” Micah waved and pulled away and headed towards the Harbor.
“Glad to see you home Son.” Cole shook his hand.
Jedediah pulled him in and hugged him, “Glad to see you Dad and Mom.”
They headed to the house where Rose had put on a pot of coffee that was now pretty stout. They gathered together with Lizzy around the table as Jedediah shared a year of adventures with the mer and Kawikani, his decision about school, and the decision of his heart.
~~~
The next afternoon Rose had made a brunch that was fit for a King. After everyone finished eating, Cole and Jedediah went to the cavern at Gull Island. Jedediah introduced Kawikani to his father; Talei had brought him and his surfboard earlier that morning. Kawikani was now staying at the Marina on the Island Traveler.
“Welcome to Safe Harbor Kawikani,” said Cole while shaking his hand.
“I am very glad to meet the father of Jedediah.” Kawikani smiled.
Seturus surfaced in the cavern.
“And Dad, you know Seturus; the mermaid who holds my heart,” Jedediah said as he jumped into the water with her and kissed her.
“Good morning,” Seturus said looking up to Jedediah with a smile.
“Good morning Sweetheart,” Jedediah said and then realized his dad was still waiting to greet her.
Cole walked to the end of the ledge where they were, “Good morning Seturus, Jedediah has told us of your plans. Rose and I want you to know we are very happy for you both and we’ll help arrange anything you want for the wedding.”
“Thank you, I am most grateful.” Seturus gave a wide grin.
“See, I told you they’d welcome you into the family.” Jedediah smiled and kissed her again.
~~~~~
Chapter 30
SAFE HARBOR WEDDING
The next morning, Jedediah and Kawikani went surfing together and their girls enjoyed swimming below them.
In no time, Robbie came with Lizzy on his Jet Ski. They pulled Lizzy’s surfboard behind.
“Hey Rob! Glad you could make it!” Jedediah said as he paddled over to him.
“Wouldn’t miss the return of the only person who can swim circles around me,” said Robbie as he gave Jedediah a fist bump.
“This is my friend Kawikani.”
Kawikani swam closer, “Glad to meet you,” he said giving Robbie a fist bump and a nod to Lizzy.
“Glad to meet you.” Lizzy smiled.
“So, I bet you guys miss the big ones.” Robbie grinned.
“You know we do,” Jedediah chuckled.
“Definitely.” Kawikani grinned.
“Let’s get to it!” said Lizzy as she hopped off and got her surfboard.
The three continued to surf down the line-up as Robbie sat on his jet ski and helped to get any stray boards.
Seturus and Talei helped the guys if they needed them, but mostly just took an opportunity to kiss them under the water when they got the chance.
After they went some distance, Seturus could not help but see an adorable little girl picking up seashells on the shore and placing them in a plastic yellow bucket. She had bright red hair in two tiny pigtails. Her mother reclined on a lounge chair while reading a magazine.
The little girl continued to walk down the beach and Seturus noticed her getting closer to the water.
The child picked up another shell and placed it in her bucket, but the waves knocked it over and the shells spilled out. The bucket was taken back out with the wave and the child went in to catch it.
Seturus looked to the mother and knew she would not be able to get the little girl in time, so she quickly swam to the shallow and caught the bucket and then the little girl.
“Hello, little one, do not worry, I will not harm you,” said Seturus as she gently held her and was amazed how the child had no fear.
“My name is Molly, what’s yours?” asked the little girl with a big smile.
“My name is Seturus. You need to go back to your mother alright?” Seturus smiled lovingly at her.
“Are you a mermaid?”
“Yes, I am,” Seturus said and realized that she could not lie to the child. She swam as close as she dared and pushed Molly forward onto the beach with her bucket.
“Bye, bye Seturus, thanks for saving me.” Molly waved with a big smile.
“Goodbye Molly, please do not get so close to the water without your mother with you,” Seturus said and then turned and dove back into the deep.
Molly saw the tail of Seturus and went running down the beach back to her mother, “Mommy, Mommy, a mermaid saved me!”
Jedediah just happened to catch a glimpse of Seturus near the beach when she swam back out and saw the little girl running from her. He paddled his board toward her.
Seturus swam beneath Jedediah.
He sensed her below him, “What happened?”
“She chased her bucket into the water and fell in. I caught her and put her back on the beach.”
“Sweetheart, you know you’re not supposed to surface here. It’s not like the South Pacific; there are too many humans,” he said lovingly knowing she did the right thing.
“I had to, but her mother did not see me; she was not watching her child.”
He dove down to her and held her, “But someone else might have seen you.” He smiled and kissed her.
“I will be more careful.” She grinned.
Jedediah got back onto his board and saw the child now with her mother on the beach. Her mother was looking out to the water and then she got a towel for her daughter and had her sit down on the beach with a juice pouch.
“I’m sure her mom will be watching her now,” Jedediah chuckled and then paddled back out.
Seturus smiled and followed beneath him.
~~~
Lana waited in the cavern with her mother, Lizzy, Tarra, Fianna and Filene (Fianna’s sister and mother to twins Landon and Laken). Talei had gone to get Seturus and Princess Rose and bring them back so they could discuss the wedding.
“Remember mom, the mer just like to keep things simple.” Lana smiled to her.
“I know dear, you’ll have to hold me back. I guess we humans do tend to celebrate with a bang,” Rose laughed.
What’s Jed up to?” Lana asked Lizzy.
“Surfing with the guys, is there anything else?” Lizzy laughed.
“Well, not yet dear,” said Rose and all the girls giggled.
Seturus was nervous about the meeting with her future mother and was also honored that the Queen wished to help her too.
“Just enjoy these days Seturus, they go by so quickly,” Princess Rose said encouragingly.
“Hey, don’t stress it, everyone only wishes you good.” Talei smiled to Seturus as she read her thoughts and then the three swam to the cavern and surfaced.
“Here’s the bride!” Lana smiled and all the women gathered on the ledge to greet Seturus.
“Hello, thank you all so much,” said Seturus nervously.
Talei gripped Seturus’ hand in hers to give her comfort as they two remained in the water.
“Since we mer don’t need much in the way of bridal showers and weddings, we thought we would gather to tell you more of Jedediah. We each have a special memory we’d like to share and I’ll go first. After we migrated back to Safe Harbor one year, when Jedediah was about ten years old, we swam into the cavern one afternoon to visit with Tarra, Fianna and the kids. N
o one was there, so we decided to sit on the ledge and wait for them to return. I asked Jedediah how things had been going and he said it was rough; some of the kids were picking on him. He said he knew he was different and so he decided that when he grew up he was going to marry a mermaid and leave the island.” Lana smiled brightly to Seturus.
“He did? I never knew,” said Rose in shock.
“I don’t even know if he remembers that mom.”
“I’ll never forget the time Jedediah came to my room one morning. He was about five and I woke up to him staring at me,” she giggled. “I put on my robe and got ready to go into the kitchen to make breakfast and he hugged me tightly. When I asked why he’d given such a big hug that morning, he told me it was because when he grew up he was going to marry a good breakfast maker just like me.” Rose smiled to Seturus.
“I hope I will learn how to make what he likes for breakfast,” she said sincerely to Rose.
“You will dear.” Rose smiled lovingly to her.
“I cannot help but remember him and Talei when she had just received her crown of pearls and her shell top. He asked her why she needed those shells there, because he did not wear any,” Tarra began laughing out loud.
Everyone else began laughing also until some had tears in their eyes.
Even Seturus had to laugh.
Talei just smiled and shook her head at the rest of the women.
“He actually came and asked me why boys didn’t wear any,” Rose said and laughed so hard she could barely breathe.
“That is funny,” Seturus laughed with them.
“Yes it is,” laughed Lizzy.
Even Talei laughed.
Fianna smiled and said, “I remember a conversation we had with Jedediah when he was a small boy. He told us that he wished that he could sleep naked below the water too because his Pajamas were too hot.”
“He has always liked it colder than the rest of us,” said Lizzy with a giggle.
“Oh my, looks like he’s going to get his wish,” Rose giggled.
“Yes, he is,” laughed Lana.
All of the girls giggled.
“I remember the first day I found out that he liked a certain mermaid.” Lizzy smiled to Seturus. “We were at Breaker’s Point and he told me that he didn’t have time for any girl. Then Robbie said something and Jedediah tried to stop him and I read his thoughts about Seturus.” Lizzy smiled to her.
Seturus smiled.
“My memories are the times he and Makoa spent together like brothers; he has always been a part of the mer family,” said Princess Rose with a smile to Seturus.
“He will kill me after this; there was one day I let him try on my crown of pearls.” Talei grinned.
Then everyone laughed out loud until they had tears running down their face again.
Jedediah surfaced in the cavern and saw all of the women laughing, “Hey what’s going on in here?”
Then all of the women laughed again.
“Okay, I can see I’m not needed here,” he looked at Seturus and smiled to see her enjoying herself with his family. He gave her a quick kiss, “I’ll see you later.” Then he swam away.
All of the women laughed again.
~~~
Jedediah and Seturus began meeting inside Lobster Grotto. It was smaller than the grotto in the South Pacific and there wasn’t any venting for a fire, but at least it was private.
“Only two more days and we’ll be married,” Jedediah said as he held her and kissed her.
“I cannot believe it; I am going to be your mate,” she said tracing his face with her fingers.
“Don’t let my mom or sister make you do anything for the wedding you don’t want to do,” he said with concern.
“They are not. I want our Union to be perfect and it will be.” She smiled.
“Yeah, it will. Are you sorry that it has to be in the cavern and not in the city?”
“No, it is for your family also to be a part of.”
“I know, but I can always put on my scuba gear if you want me to.” He grinned.
“Do not be funny.”
Jedediah chuckled and began nibbling on her ear.
“Stop it!” Seturus tried to get out of his grasp, but could not.
“You are never getting away from me mermaid girl,” he said kissing her again.
“Never?”
“Never.” He kissed her deeply.
~~~
On the day of Jedediah and Seturus’ wedding, Lana and the other women were finished putting flowers all along the edge of the cavern floor. They had also made a bouquet of white roses for Seturus. Rose had made a small square cake that was chocolate on the inside and frosted white on the outside, which was Jedediah’s favorite. Lizzy had found a figurine of a man holding a mermaid that she placed on top. Rose put a white lace cloth over a small card table where she placed the cake. There were two golden goblets that were given to the bride and groom from Titus and Lana; they also placed them on the table with sparkling water inside.
Jedediah surfaced in the cavern with Cole and William.
“Hey you guys have done a lot since I was last here,” Jedediah said with a big grin. He had on white swimming trunks and wore white puka shells around his neck.
“I love to smell all the flowers!” said William as Cole sat him on the ledge just passed them.
“Yep, only the best for our son and his bride,” said Rose as she had tears filling her eyes.
“Ah mom.” Jedediah carefully got out; trying not to mess up the flowers that lay along the ledge and then gave her a hug.
Cole followed behind and gave Jedediah a pat on the back.
“This is for you,” said Lana as she placed a crown of white roses and carnations on his head.
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” he chuckled feeling awkward.
“Yeah Jed, the guys wear white flowers on their head from their island; these are from ours.”
“Okay, just checking,” he chuckled.
Makoa surfaced with Kawikani.
Micah and Andrew also surfaced with Titus and Midori brought Robbie.
Titus sat upon the ledge where Rose told him to; near the center.
Seturus was getting ready in the city with the help of Sirene, Rose and Talei. Rose had given a gift of a white mirror that Makoa had carved much like Rose’s only with a mermaid’s tail for the handle.
Seturus was nervous, “I cannot believe it is nearly time,” she said as she finished combing her hair. Seturus wore a white shell top and a crown of white pearls upon her head. She also wore white pearls around her wrists.
Tristan swam beside her, “You are beautiful my sister and I am so happy for you this day. Jedediah seems to be an honorable man; I could not wish more for you.” He grinned and took her hand.
“It’s time!” said Lana as she swam to them. “Don’t worry, you look beautiful Seturus and my brother can’t wait to marry you.”
Seturus smiled and swam beside Tristan while they followed after the girls.
Jedediah was in the water when Seturus surfaced beside him, “You look so beautiful.” He beamed a smile to her.
“So do you,” she said with a smile.
Jedediah just smiled even brighter and he took her hand from Tristan’s.
Tristan smiled and gave a nod of his head to Jedediah.
Lana handed Seturus her white Rose bouquet.
Both Jedediah and Seturus turned to face King Titus at the ledge.
Titus smiled and said, “We have come together today for the sacred Union of Jedediah and Seturus. May Arius bless them both and help them to live out the ways of our people and teach them to their children. May they live a life of love, peace, safety, and may they never know hunger. Jedediah what is your vow to Seturus?”
Jedediah looked to Seturus and took both her hands into his after she passed her bouquet to Lana, “I vow to love you as long as I have a beat of my heart. I will do all I can to protect and help provide for you. I plan on
getting to know more about the ways of God and to try and live an honorable life for you and our future children,” Jedediah said with a smile. He turned to Titus and said, “I also vow to try and be a good Guardian, like my dad and my grandfathers before me and I’m starting with this mermaid right here.”
Legend of the Mer II THE NEW GUARDIAN Page 26