“About what?” a chic woman leaned forward in her seat.
“She wanted it to read, I ‘heart’ T-O-F-U,” Cruz snickered, spelling out the letters.
“I don’t get it,” she said.
“She was denied on the grounds that it was obscene!” Cruz shrieked.
“Oh puh-lease!” Megan scolded him, laughing despite herself.
Cruz winked at Megan, and started affectionately teasing her about her new reputation as a heartbreaker. Megan flushed pink, kicking him under the table.
“I read all about it in a Vanity Fair article,” he announced slyly, “They nicknamed her ‘The Ginger Goddess’, and said she’s leaving a trail of broken hearts behind her!”
“Well now, there’s a nickname!” commented Evie.
“Cruz,” I glared at him, casting Megan a sympathetic look.
He smiled impishly at the two of us, holding up his hands, “I’m just sayin’…”
I couldn’t help but smile back. Megan’s career was blowing up all at once, and she suddenly found herself irresistible to men. Still the same funny and observant Megan she always was, she’d been stepping out with one musician after another, and was getting quite a reputation as a serial dater. She was definitely making up for lost time in the dating department, but who could blame her for kicking up her heels a little?
Cruz was still the same old Cruz too, despite the sophisticated veneer he was rapidly developing. He was increasingly confidant and relaxed, fitting in easily with Evie’s cosmopolitan social set; now it was Bradley who seemed ill at ease. When I thought about how insecure Cruz was at the beginning of their relationship, I was amazed at how rapidly the tables had turned.
I studied Brad, unable to shake my lingering doubts about his trustworthiness. Every time our eyes met he looked away nervously, only serving to re-enforce my suspicions.
Megan’s manager cleared his throat and caught her eye, pointing at his watch. She looked up at Evie’s elaborate gilt mantel clock, “I should be getting back to the hotel now. I have a couple of radio stations to visit tomorrow before the show.”
I followed Megan to the door, embracing her along with Cruz and Brad. The guests filed out one by one, kisses and compliments flying thick in the air. Evie and I got into a conversation with Monsignor Reynard about Shayla’s stunning overnight success.
“You have a wonderful eye for talent,” Evie said. I couldn’t tell if it was the compliment or the Brandy, but he was veritably glowing.
He studied me, “Ave you considered ze offer?”
“What offer?” I asked, looking back and forth between him and Evie.
“I’m sorry Jacques, I haven’t had a moment alone with her in ages!” Evie said turning to me, “Sweetheart, Jacques wants to sign you to his agency.”
I smiled apologetically, “That’s very nice of you, but you know I’m not nearly tall enough for that line of work.”
“Evelyn has shown me ze photos of you– stunning! For ze cosmetics… ze hair,” Jacques took me by both of your hands, “Mademoiselle, please, please allow me to represent you as well as Shayla!”
I cast a baleful glance at Evie; she must have put him up to this. She shrugged, “Don’t blame me– he’s been nagging me about you ever since he got to town.”
“Monsignor Reynard, I’m very flattered, and I’m sure you’re just trying to be nice, but–”
He slapped his palm to his forehead, “Mon Dieu! I am never nice when it comes to ze money! Please allow me to set up a test shoot for you... tomorrow!”
Cruz jumped in, answering for me, “Yes! She’d love to… But only if I come along as the stylist.”
Jacques looked to me, “Well… What do you say?”
I glared at Cruz’s eager face, finally breaking down and smiling.
Evie patted my back, “You never know, you might have fun…”
The three of them stared at me expectantly, so I finally sighed, “OK.”
Cruz was fired up, and he pulled Jacques aside to make plans for the next day. He was excited and enthusiastic, bursting with creative energy. I beamed at him, overcome with a familiar surge of joy. I needed a good feeling right about now, and I latched onto it.
When the last guests finally filed out Evie took me by the arm, “Come and sit with me.”
I followed her into the library where she already had a tray set up and waiting, steam rising from the ornate silver tea service.
“Jasmine?” she asked, pouring a cup while I got comfortable on the sofa.
“Yes please,” I smiled. Evie always remembered every little detail.
We settled down on the sofa. “That went well, don’t you think?” she asked.
I nodded, sipping my tea.
She unfastened her heavy sapphire earrings and set them on the table, “I was hoping your father would be up to joining us, but Amrita was against it. She was afraid it would be too taxing. I invited her, but she refused to leave him.”
“I don’t really like her.” I complained, “She’s way too restrictive.”
“She’s a talented healer… And she’s extremely dedicated to your father.”
I thought about the fortuneteller’s warning. She was definitely preying upon my loved one’s weakness. “Where did you find her?”
“One of my charitable foundations recommended her to me.”
“I don’t trust her.”
Evie looked surprised, “Why?”
“She seems nervous all the time.”
“Oh Marina,” Evie smiled at me indulgently, “Can’t you see that you intimidate her?”
“Me? Why?”
Evie sipped her tea, “Amrita comes from almost unimaginable poverty. My foundation found her when she was a mere child, working as a domestic for starvation wages to support her elderly Grandmother. We gave her the opportunity to attend school, and to her credit, she made the most of it. She graduated at the very top of her class.”
I shook my head sadly. Not again, I thought. The story of Amrita’s deprivation reminded me of Ethan’s excuse for his mother’s behavior. Everyone seemed to be trying to make me feel guilty for being born into a life of privilege. There was no winning this game– from now on if I complained about Doctor Permala, I could be labeled insensitive. I changed the subject.
“What about Olivia? What’s going on in the search for her?”
Evie frowned, “It seems that our… difficulties… have split the council into several factions. Some side with her, and they’re shielding her from me. Others believe me, and find her behavior repulsive.”
“You mean criminal!” I exclaimed.
“Unfortunately, council members are above the law,” she said flatly. “Most of them control the law enforcement in their respective countries. We are all protected by our peculiar talents… or our wealth. According to the last report I’ve heard, Edwards and Olivia were sequestered at one of his homes on the continent.”
“Untouchable,” I grouched.
Evie straightened her spine, “That sword cuts both ways. We must keep our guard up and stay on the defense.”
Defense. I was done playing defense; from now on my strategy was to go on the attack, to set my opponent off balance– to force them back on their heels. I was through being afraid; I refused to sit and wait for them to come for my sisters again.
“What about Bradley?” I asked her, “Do you think it’s a good idea to have him under your own roof?”
“Boris and I discussed it. We think it’s best for security purposes, should his father ever surface again.”
“How’s that?” I was puzzled.
“You know what they say…” She stirred her tea briskly. “Keep your friends close… and your enemies closer.”
“So I’ve heard,” I said dryly. “But have you decided if he’s a friend or an enemy yet?”
She sighed, “I’m inclined to believe in his innocence.”
“And Yuri’s?”
“Most certainly,” she said firmly.
“Where is Ethan tonight?” Evie asked, seemingly reading my mind.
I exhaled, slumping into the comforting embrace of Evie’s velvet cushions. It didn’t take much prodding before I found myself telling her all about Ethan’s mother, bitterly complaining about how easy it had been for her to come between us.
“He’s so desperate to believe her that he can’t see what’s really going on,” I whined.
Evie was philosophical, “A man’s mother carries a very powerful psychological stick.” She started ticking off theories, “Oedipus complex, fear of rejection… separation anxiety…”
“But what about me? Why can’t he just believe me?”
“Sweetheart,” her voice grew wistful, “Their relationship may be impossible for us to truly understand… both of us having lost our own mothers so very early in our lives.”
I nodded my agreement; now Evie’s armchair psychoanalysis was actually starting to make sense.
“I guess so. He’s been acting irrational lately… Ruby’s got it in her head that there’s something going on between me and Paul, and she’s gotten Ethan all fired up about it.”
“Paul?” her right eyebrow raised. “Is there something going on between you two?”
“NO! Not at all!” it came out a little more forcefully than I wanted it to, but I was sick and tired of having my innocence questioned.
She pursed her lips, “There’s no need to get so upset– it’s a perfectly reasonable question. After all, Paul is a very handsome man…”
“It’s not like that! We’re just friends!”
She studied me, “How’s the self-defense training coming along?”
“Everything’s fine… Stop looking at me that way!”
Now she really raised her eyebrows at me, and I struggled for the words to explain. I wanted to tell her about being followed and spied on, but I kept my word. Paul would get to break it to her himself.
“Listen,” I paused to take a breath. “Paul and I are just good friends, and he’s been a huge help to me.” I remembered how worried he was about his perceived failure, “Promise me you won’t fire him or anything… okay?”
“Why on earth would I fire him?” Evie scrutinized me suspiciously.
“Nevermind,” I said, getting up to go. “I should go check on Stumpy.”
“Marina!” Evie was aghast, “That’s really no way to refer to your fath–”
“It’s my new kitten,” I interjected. “Maybe I’ll bring him by to meet Pierre and Fifi tomorrow.”
Evie’s tinkling laughter escorted me out the door.
I slipped in the front door of my apartment, and found Amrita sitting alone on the couch. She looked guilty, like she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
“Martin is sleeping,” she announced quietly. I came closer, surprised to see Stumpy splayed out on her lap, his underbelly exposed. He looked up to greet me with a tiny meow.
I sat down next to her, “I didn’t think you’d approve of him.”
She straightened up, adopting a professional tone, “In many parts of India, cats are considered bad luck. People can be very superstitious.”
I studied her profile, trying to figure her out, “But you don’t think so?”
“Having animals around can be very therapeutic. I think your father might benefit from his presence.”
“You like him too,” I said.
She smiled wistfully down at Stumpy, tickling his soft white belly, “My Grandmother loved cats. She believed that they knew the secret to immortality.”
“We say they have nine lives,” I told her.
“My Grandmother believed that they could kill poisonous snakes without being hurt because they had traces of Amrit in their throats.” She stroked Stumpy’s throat as she spoke, and he responded by stretching out his arms luxuriantly.
“Amrit?”
“Nectar of the gods,” she said softly. “The Gods churn the ocean to create Amrit… the elixir of immortality.”
I was silent for a moment, a little shocked at her mention of the sea and immortality in one breath. Evie always said that there were no coincidences in the universe.
I turned my attention to the cat, “Are his legs ever going to straighten out?”
“It’s unlikely,” she said clinically, taking each hind leg and putting it through its range of motion. Stumpy started to purr loudly, clearly enjoying her touch. “An unfavorable position in the womb has caused a tendon deformity.”
“I like the way he hops,” I said.
She smiled over at me timidly, her beautiful sloe eyes shining, “He does seem to get along very nicely.”
I sucked in a breath, “Is my father going to regain the use of his hand?”
She looked me square in the eye, and I saw the fire of determination, “Yes.”
Her resolve blazed through me, and I was moved. I could see why Evie believed that she had the power to heal my father. Stumpy flipped over and hopped onto my lap.
I scooped him up and rose from the couch, “Uhm… We’d better turn in now… Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” she replied.
I started to leave, and paused, “Amrit… Is that like your name?”
She nodded shyly, “Yes.”
“Well… it’s a beautiful name,” I said, retreating to my room.
I set Stumpy down on the bed while I changed. We both jumped when the phone in my purse rang. It was Ethan.
“Where are you?” I didn’t like his demanding tone.
“I’m at my dad’s.”
“Come home now,” he told me. “We need to talk.”
“I’ll be home Sunday night,” I replied frostily, “We can talk then.”
“Look… If you think someone is following you again I want you here with me.”
“So you believe me now?”
His voice softened, “Listen, it doesn’t matter what happened with you and Paul… You were going through a lot with your dad… If he took advantage–”
“NOTHING HAPPENED!”
“Okay, okay,” he was annoyingly placating, “The most important thing is that you stay safe.”
My checks burned hot, and I could feel the irritation rising up in me, “You don’t get it! You’re too busy listening to your mother to believe me!”
“That’s not true.”
“I have to go,” I said, freshly annoyed.
“Marina… I want you here. Please come home tonight.”
“No. I’m going to Megan’s show tomorrow.”
“Don’t you want to be with me?”
“Not like this,” I said angrily, pacing around my bed. “We need to think about slowing things down.”
“I don’t want to slow anything down! I want you here with me now.”
I heaved a shaky breath, “I need some time to think.”
“Away from me?”
“Ethan, if you don’t trust me, we have no business getting married.”
He was quiet for a moment, “Don’t you love me anymore?”
I sighed, “You know I do.”
His voice lowered, “Then come home right now.”
“No,” I said firmly. “We’ll talk on Sunday.”
“Fine,” he sounded sullen, and I could feel a wall going up between us, brick by brick. “Talk to you later.”
I sat on the edge of my bed, twisting my engagement ring on my finger. How could he not believe me? I could never stand to be looked upon as a naive fool, jealously guarded as if I were senseless enough to be easily led astray. I was much too independent to be treated like a child, and I found his attitude demeaning as well as insulting.
Evie always said that everything happened for a reason, but I couldn’t see why I had fallen in love with someone so fragile and needy.
Ethan could never seem to have enough reassurance or security– He was always going to be reaching out for more. Nobody could ever be enough to fill the void, and maybe that’s why I’d been so hesitant to get physical.
What could I say to make him see how ridiculously he was behaving? I feared that if I couldn’t work things out with Ethan, everything about me would change. According to Naida, I had three long years of beckoning moons left, before whatever magic my mother had conferred upon me expired. I doubted I could hold out that long. A terrible sense of dread engulfed me, and my stomach quivered inside.
Without Ethan by my side, my resolve would surely weaken. I would be lured into the sea and eventually disappear, finally rendered unable to resist the moon and the tide. I would forget my life on land, as well as all of my friends and family.
I would lose myself, and the passage of time would erase all memories and traces of everything I’d ever known or loved. My eyes welled up and spilled over.
I clenched my fists and rubbed my eyes with them. I had to stop feeling sorry for myself and focus on the task at hand. The mermaids were in danger, it was because of me, and I needed to set things right. If I was doomed to spend my life in blissful oblivion I was going to make sure that they were safe before I could allow it to happen.
Fate and destiny could wait. I had a laboratory to break into.
I remembered the prophecy that Fatima-slash-Rosa had revealed to me. She had warned of two men and two women arriving on the scene; dark and light, good and evil. Given her track record, I’d be foolish not to heed her warning– if I could only figure out what it meant.
I thought about Amrita’s dark eyes and mahogany skin, her glossy black hair contrasting starkly with Ruby’s bleached blonde pouf. There literally was a dark woman and a light woman… and they had each rubbed me the wrong way. Both women came from deprivation, and bore enormous chips on their shoulders. They also had power over the two most important men in my life, and there didn’t seem to be much I could do about it.
An enemy in my own home, Rosa had said, as well as one under Evie’s protection.
Tired, sad, and confused, I crawled into bed, pulling the covers over my head. I tried my best to sleep, but sleep wouldn’t come. Tossing and turning, I was as restless as the churning sea. Without Ethan’s calming influence, I could feel my surfing addiction kicking back in, with all of its justifications and bargaining.
The Turning Tides (Marina's Tales) Page 16