“That’s the one. And it’s true. She was a Lunaria. She had a crush on the captain, and when he and the crew were in danger, she sacrificed herself to ensure his safety.”
“Well, I guess you guys have been around a while,” he said as if it suddenly made sense. However, his satisfaction was fleeting and more questions came.
“But why are you on land? How are you here? Does this,” he said pointing to my tail, “happen whenever you’re in water?”
“We can come to land whenever we want, but most of us don’t bother. We have enough to explore in the ocean and we find it easier to stay there. But if we want to come to land, we just have to sit and dry out. Once the water leaves our scales, our tails transition and voila, legs.”
“So in water, tail, out of water, legs? That’s it?”
“Pretty much.” It all sounded simple and uneventful in those words.
Tom turned to me, taking his eyes from my tail to my face. The lines in his forehead showed worry, and his voice came faster than before.
“You aren’t going back, are you? I mean we’re engaged. You aren’t going to just go back to swimming, are you?”
The look on his face broke my heart. I never thought he’d be concerned about me leaving when he finally figured out my secret. If anything, I figured I’d be sitting alone as he walked away.
“Oh, no, Tom. I’m not going back. I’m never going back. I promise you. Never.”
“Never? But you’re family — you do have family, right?”
“Yes, I have family, but it isn’t like here, on land. Family is a different thing there. We don’t live the same way. We are linked by blood, but little else.”
“And you don’t miss it?”
I considered his question. I’d been honest about everything up to this point, but did I explain the rest? Could he handle that?
“I don’t miss it, truly. I left under not-so-good circumstances, and I never had plans to go back.” I hesitated, but I needed to get it all out at once. No more hiding things from this wonderful man. “Actually, I was told to leave. I can’t go back.”
“You can’t? Why?”
“It’s a long story, but I wouldn’t sacrifice myself for my tribe, so I was exiled. And I’d do it all over again.”
At that, he got to his knees next to the tub and reached to cup my face with his hands. He leaned in, pressing his lips to mine.
Pulling back from me just slightly, he whispered, “Why don’t you dry off now? We can enjoy that human form a little.”
Then he pulled the drain plug, scooped me into his arms, and carried me to the bedroom.
Four
Doc and I went for our walk. I spent most of it tiptoeing around puddles, but not Murdock. He happily splashed, his paws wet and muddy. We left the yard, heading towards the dock where Tom kept the Colleen Marie. The empty slot where she normally sat crushed me even though the other slips were empty too. Everyone was back at sea since the fishing was normally good after a big storm.
I wondered if Tom and the crew were throwing nets already. I wondered if they could. I kept reminding myself that he could only call if he were close to the shore, so there was a good chance he was out too deep, fishing his heart out.
But there was a chance he wasn’t doing that.
The call didn’t make sense, and the phone hadn’t rung since.
“How goes, Laura?” Debbie Sullivan called to me from across the street. George’s wife was his bookend. With brutally short salt-and-pepper hair under a Red Sox cap and a cable knit sweater, she looked every part the fisherman’s wife.
“Look at you. Out early today,” I replied heading in her direction. “Feeling better?”
“That I am. And about time, too. One more day of me down and out and George may have had to do laundry.”
“Lord no,” I said matching Debbie’s tone of mock disgust. “Not laundry.”
“Thanks for keeping the man fed while I’ve been under the weather. He’s only willing to eat one cold meal a day. Said he ate too many bowls of cereal on the boat, and he damn well ain’t eating them now.”
“I’d be happy to keep George in hot meals any time. I tried to send some home for you, but he said the treatments left you pretty bad this time.”
“Chemo takes its toll. It isn’t fit for healthy folks, after all.”
“But it’s working?” I asked. Debbie was suffering from breast cancer, but her doctors were optimistic that it would be gone after her double mastectomy and a little chemotherapy.
“It is. And I finally, after all this time, don’t have to wear a bra. It’s almost Heaven, Laura, Heaven.”
I laughed a little. Only Debbie could find the silver lining in such a drastic surgery.
“That’s great news. You’ll be out and about like normal in no time, I just know it.”
“That’s my plan,” she said with a smile. “So, did Tom come in last night? George said you hadn’t heard anything by the time he came home.”
“No, he didn’t. I’m sure he’s fine though. But if you hear anything, just give me a call. I’m in the bar all day today.”
“No problem, hun. I’ll keep my ears open. That man of yours is a hell of a captain. I’m sure everything is just fine,” she said reassuringly.
“Oh I know. I’m sure he’s just meeting limit right now. You know how focused he can get. And the guys won’t let him come home if they’re on a streak.”
“Exactly. Well, I better head back in. If I wear myself out too early in the day, that man of mine will have to vacuum, too.”
“Bye, Debbie. Let me know if you need anything at all. Anything,” I reiterated. They were wonderful people and made great neighbors. Debbie had been the first one at the hospital when we heard the news about Tom’s dad, and she organized the funeral reception, too.
As she headed back in the house, I thought how great it must be to have been in love with the same man for 40 years, to raise your children with him, and rely on him. I wanted that. But there were parts I’d never have. Tom and I would not have children, and every time I thought about it, I wanted to cry. But there was plenty of happy in our lives.
And if I wanted that happy to continue, Tom needed to make it home.
As Doc and I headed back home, I wondered not only what Tom was doing, but exactly where he was. The storm had been bad, throwing around shingles and tree limbs. But it wasn’t so bad that other boats, smaller boats, didn’t make it back. I decided to ask around at work that day. Hopefully someone had seen or radioed with the Colleen Marie. If nothing else, sailors had a great personal GPS network. If anyone had been in contact with Tom, I would know.
I would have to wait a bit to start asking questions though. The bar wouldn’t open for a few hours, but I had plenty to do.
Being in the bar before everyone else was comforting in a way. I could sit down and finish the desk work in peace with only the hum of the coolers interrupting. But today was different. I felt lonely sitting behind the old desk in the back office rather than studious. I kept checking the clock to see when Tracey would be in, and each time I looked, a disappointing 4-5 minutes had passed. I found myself checking and rechecking numbers as I looked at the books and inventory sheets.
“Hey, Laura, I’ve got three new ones for you to try”, Matt, my beer delivery guy, shouted from the back door and startling me so badly that I smacked my knee on the desk and half its contents plummeted to the floor.
“Dammit,” I yelled.
“You alright?” he called, racing to the office.
“I’m fine. Just banged my knee.” Looking up, I noticed the stapler in his hands, prone to shoot anything in front of him. I started to laugh. “What were you going to do with that?”
His mouth stretched into a sly smile. “Shoot,” he said. “It’s not like I found a gun or a sword or even a bat on the way back here. I had to do with what I had. Pretty good, huh?”
“Yep, that would have helped if I’d been attacked by walking paperwork.
”
“Weren’t you?” He motioned to the desk’s contents on the floor.
He had me there. “True. Very true. So, what were you saying before?”
“Oh I’ve got three new beers for you to try. Just filtered and ready to go.”
Matt hoped to open his own bar someday, and if not a bar, at least a brewing company. Most of his brews tasted great. But the last one he had me try left me sour to the thought of trying another one.
“Three? I’m not sure I want to try one today, Matt.”
“Oh come on. You know that last one was a mistake. I had no idea Joey put salt in it.”
My face puckered at the memory. The brew had been so salty that I expected he’d used sea water in the process.
“I know, but that doesn’t make me more eager to try these,” I admitted.
He nodded in agreement and poured two half shots of each anyway.
“If I drink it, you’ll know it’s fine. So here you go. Bottoms up.”
As I drank and critiqued the first, a honey-colored lager with a nice finish, I asked about Tom.
“Have you heard from Tom at all? I mean in the last day or so.”
“Nope. Why? Something up?”
“I hope not. The storm must have put him off course is all. Just waiting to hear.”
“I’m sure he’s fine. Good ol’ Tom is too mean for the sea to touch.” He patted my hand awkwardly, as if he figured a worried woman needed something like that. “I hated watching my mother go through that all the time. I never wanted to sail. I’m not leaving a woman of mine sitting home waiting for me.”
“No,” I countered with a smile, “you’ll leave her waiting for you as you baby your beer.”
He chuckled. “Yes, ma’am. But Jennifer always knows where I am, and half the time I have Joey with me. That’s not quite the same as setting sail and leaving her and my kid behind.”
“You’ve got a point. You’re a great husband, and a super dad, too. Jen and Joey are lucky to have you. Even if you spend your life with the sauce.”
I liked my relationship with Matt. He was a few years younger and a cute guy, all shaggy blond hair and green eyes. But we were far more like close cousins than friends. His wife and I played tennis when we could, and Tom and I had babysat for Joey since he was six months old. Matt had a good heart and a great family, and I should have taken his words about Tom to heart. Instead, though, I thought about his mother and how many times she felt as I did.
Tracey came in and saved me from my thoughts and from the other taste tests. She considered herself a bit of a beer sommelier, and I figured her taste buds were better off than mine, having not tasted the salted concoction the week before. As they continued the critique, I went back to the office and tried to straighten up before I turned on The Den’s neon open sign.
Five
I talked to every customer in the bar and asked about Tom that shift. Even folks I was sure didn’t know him at all were subjected to my sudden interrogation. The problem was that I heard nothing. No one had seen the boat or talked to him in the last day. Paul had seen him pulling out the morning before, but that was the last anyone could tell me.
When my questioning didn’t get me what I hoped, I called Kelly. She and Tom’s first mate, Dave, got married only three months earlier. I figured if anyone was calling home, it would be the newlywed.
Kelly answered the phone with more than a little pleading in her voice. “Dave, is that you?”
“Uh, no, Kelly. It’s Laura Flynn. Is everything alright?”
“Oh, Laura, I wish I knew. Have you heard from Tom? Are they alright?”
“Well, no I haven’t. In fact, that’s why I was calling you. I’m absolutely certain that they’re fine, but I was hoping maybe Dave had gotten a hold of you.”
“I haven’t heard from him. Not since he left yesterday morning. I was expecting him to call when they tied up yesterday. We got in a fight before he left, and I told him all he cared about was that damn boat. And now I haven’t heard a word.”
“I remember Tom and I fighting about the same thing. I’m sure that isn’t why he hasn’t called. I think the weather kept them last night. I was just hoping someone had heard. That would mean they’re getting closer to port.”
“I just hate when he goes out like that. I don’t like him being gone when we fight. Not when everything seems so unsettled, ya know?”
“I do. All too well. But he’ll be back soon and you’ll work it out. Sometimes making up makes arguing worth it.”
She giggled, sounding like a child for a minute.
“Thanks, Laura. Hey, have you tried Sonya yet?” she asked. “Maybe Phil called her. Not that she’d hear the phone with all those kids running around.”
“No, not yet, but I will. She’s next on the list.”
We said our goodbyes and I dialed Sonya’s number. She answered on the seventh ring, long after most answering machines would have picked up.
“Vaughn residence,” she said in a clear and unaccented voice.
“Hi, Sonya, Laura Flynn. How are you today?” My normal informal tone disappeared and I found my voice suddenly matching hers.
“Oh, hi, Laura. I’m great. Two months to go. I’m counting down.”
Pregnant with her fifth baby, Sonya had her fingers crossed for a girl to add to her brood of running and toddling boys.
“Two months? Is that it? Wow. Won’t be long now and we’re baptizing Baby Vaughn.”
“You bet. And I’ll finally be able to have a beer. That’s what I’m really counting down for.”
I laughed, knowing her statement was true. Each pregnancy made her crave the one thing she wasn’t supposed to touch, a pint of Matt’s Mermaid Lager.
“Soon, and I’ll pull you the first cold one off a new keg. I promise.”
“So, what’s up?” she asked, allowing her area accent to slip back into the conversation. The proper pronunciation was for strangers, not friends and family.
“I was just wondering if you’d heard from Phil? Nothing’s wrong, but I was expecting Tom last night and haven’t heard.”
“Nothing yet. But if he’s smart, he’d stay away for as long as he can. This place is a wreck.”
“Sounds pretty quiet actually,” I said, surprised that she hadn’t yet hollered at or to one of the boys.
“It’s nap time, thank god. I mean I have to put Jeffy in his room and gate it up since he opens the door and tries to run around, but it worked this time. Ma took them to the park earlier while I went to the doctor, so they’re all tired now. Speaking of, so am I. You mind if I cut this short?”
“No problem. You get some rest. If you need anything, let me know. I can always get someone to cover me at the bar. And if you hear from Phil, can you let me know?”
“Will do, Laura. See you later.”
As she hung up I heard one of the boys crying, probably Jeffy, her baby. At a year and a half, he was a handful of loud noises, both giggles and sobs.
There were a few more people I could call, but considering all the negative responses I’d already heard, I figured I’d take a break. I’d rather hear nothing than hear no one knew were he was. If I stopped calling now, I could hold onto a little hope at least.
Instead of making another call, I grabbed a stool next to Larry.
“Any word yet?” he asked, handing me his beer.
Taking a swig from the iced mug, I answered with a frown.
“Nothing, huh? Well, he’s probably just making limit, Laura. Fishing was good today.”
“Oh you went out? Where’d you head?” I hoped he may have gone a different direction than Tom had the day before. At least then I’d have a reason Larry didn’t see him.
“We were out in George’s Bank today, yesterday too. Didn’t see Tom, though. Sorry, Laura.”
“That’s alright. I figure he went north yesterday. He likes it up past Jordan’s Basin.”
“You’re probably right. He’d have headed further east from th
ere when the storm came in. Probably south east to get some calmer water.”
“It’s a smart move, so let’s hope that’s what he did.” I smiled at Larry and gave him back his beer.
Because I was off shift, I waved Tracey over and ordered a burger with crispy onions, my one bar food weakness. A good medium-rare burger dripping with Swiss cheese and loaded with fried onions could make almost everything better in my world — up to this point that is.
She brought back the burger, and I took the first bite eagerly. Juice ran down my hands and my chin, and I thoroughly enjoyed the bite and the moment. But the moment was short.
Larry elbowed my arm and motioned to the television.
“Breaking news from Boston’s Channel 9. It appears a fishing vessel, the Colleen Marie, out of Salisbury, was found off the coast of Monhegan Island, Maine, just about an hour ago. The ship’s crew was disoriented and did not remember any incidents. They also were unsure of their location. They are facing no major health concerns. However, one crew member, the ship’s captain has not yet been located. Authorities have not yet been able to contact his next of kin. More on this strange story at 6.”
The bar erupted with voices, all focused on me, and I was unable to make out anything, including my own thoughts.
Six
“You have to get an answering machine, Laura. Jesus, the phone hasn’t stopped.” Candy, my best friend, called to me in the bedroom.
If I had an answering machine, I would have at least been able to hear the first messages the Coast Guard left. They would have known they reached the right house. Instead, they called not only me, but Eric, Jeanie, and Nancy. His mother answered first. She got hold of Jeanie at work, and I got a call from Eric who explained that both his mother and sister were too upset to call me.
“Laura,” he started when I answered the phone, “I can only hope you are crying your eyes out. If you just didn’t bother to call us, that’s unforgivable.”
“Eric, Eric,” I tried to interrupt him before he read me his version of a riot act which was sure to include multisyllabic words I’d be looking up later. “I just found out. It was on the news. I haven’t even heard from the Coasties yet.”
Falling in Deep Collection Box Set Page 46