His Little Lanie

by Keri Ford

She blinked and he was still there. He also wasn’t wearing a life jacket. That hold on her chest grabbed her again.

  She ran into the lake until the water was too deep to keep running. She dove in to swim the rest of the way. Arms thrust in front, she kicked hard as the bottom of his red kayak came into view. Her lungs burned but she pushed until she could surface near the boat. If something happened, if he fell in and panicked… She swam to be near, but hesitated before grabbing the side of the kayak. So wild how not long ago she was unsure with every breath around him, completely at ease, and now back to awkward and the unknown.

  He rested the paddle across his lap and sighed. “I’m sorry.”

  She stilled and couldn’t resist looking at him. That didn’t take much. Based on her brothers’ behavior, they’d let her stew until she got over it by herself. Maybe things weren’t near as bad as she had imagined and she had way overreacted. “For what part?”

  “All of it. I should have said thank you.”

  “Apology accepted.”

  “I still don’t understand why you traded your tail for my ring, and instead of yelling I wish I had just calmly asked why and we discussed it.”

  She grabbed the edge of the little boat. “The tail isn’t as important to me as you are.”

  “But she’s going to turn it into exactly what you didn’t want. A marketing gimmick.”

  “And she would turn you into worse.” She swam along the side of the boat, angling them closer to land. “It wasn’t a choice at all. The tail won’t work for her when I stop using it.”

  He frowned at her. “You’re going to stop? I would have to ask Hank, but I understand so long as you’re not profiting off it, you can still use it.”

  “I’m not going to let her profit off my actions.”

  “But this is your thing.”

  She covered his arm with her hand. “At the heart of it, I really just want to be nice to people and inspire others to do the same. I don’t need the tail to do that.”

  He took a firm grasp of her hand. “I understand why you think it was your problem, but you didn’t marry Tish. You didn’t just go along with things. I did that.”

  Fine. He did have a point there. “I probably shouldn’t have walked away this evening, but you made me angry, and I didn’t want to say something I shouldn’t.” She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for that. I have a habit of running when uncomfortable. It’s time I stop that.”

  “I shouldn’t have gotten mad. You shouldn’t have walked away because of it. We sound even.”

  “That’s not why I was…,” she huffed. He still didn’t get it. “You getting angry is not why I am still mad.”

  His brows were drawn in. “I’m sorry, honey. I don’t know why you’re upset. You’ll have to tell me.”

  Thickheaded, men. Just when she started thinking he was different from her brothers, he goes and acts like them. “It’s even more frustrating that you still don’t know.”

  “It’s not exactly a good time in my head right now either, but if you don’t talk to me, I can’t understand you, and I want to be able to.” He reached for her. “I’m going to pull you up.”

  “You’re going to tip over.” She pointed at him. “And you’re not wearing a jacket.”

  In an instant, he grabbed at his chest. He swiftly inhaled, met her gaze, and the breath eased out. “I was thinking more about getting to you. I guess I’ll have to trust you’ll drag me to shore if something happens.”

  There he went, making her day. As he pulled, she kicked hard. The boat rocked and wobbled, but she ended up across his lap.

  He wrapped his arms around her. “I’m not a mind reader sweetheart. You have to talk to me and tell me directly what has you so upset.”

  Moment of truth. She just said she was done hiding. He waited.

  She swallowed thickly. “I gave it up because I love you. I’ve always loved you. I find it a little insulting that you don’t know that and that you ignored it when I told you on the porch.”

  He blinked, but then smiled. He rubbed his thumb across her cheeks. “You have the most expressive eyes. Do you know that?”

  She frowned and he chuckled.

  “You do. I’ve never been looked at before in the way you look at me. You don’t just glance my way or check to see that I’m still here. You look at me. I know you love me, sweetheart. I just can’t imagine that you would give up something like your tail that you’ve worked so hard on just for me.”

  She bit her lip and gaze slid away. “Do you not feel the same?”

  “From the first time I kissed you, I knew I would never let you go.”

  That didn’t sound like an I love you too. “Would you not give something up for me?”

  “Of course I would. I just don’t go through life expecting others to give up a prized possession for me.”

  “That’s sad.”

  “That’s life.” He stroked over her lip. “But that’s not what you really wanted to know.”

  Now he got her to smile. “Thought you weren’t a mind reader.”

  The corner of his mouth twitched. “I’m not, but just like I could tell when you were hurt and angry, I know when you’re confused, and I have a good guess why here.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “It started with that first kiss. By the next morning, I was a goner. By the time I talked to your dad and brothers, there was no turning back. I love you Lanie Lange. Not because you saved my life, not because I should, but because I can’t help myself. I just do. There’s nothing I want more in this world than you. There never has been, there never will be.”

  She leaned forward so that her forehead pressed to his. “Took you long enough.”

  A sharp, loud whistle echoed across the water. She twisted around for the house and found Tommy on the deck. He cupped his hands around his mouth and he yelled. “Am I beating him or feeding him?”

  She laughed at Eriksen’s stricken gaze. She cupped his cheeks and kissed him.

  Epilogue

  The lights were all hung, flowers were added, music played, and people were happy. Not as happy as Lanie, but being the bride was a tough position to beat. She couldn’t believe this was her life. She was bursting at the seams, and she got here so fast, but it all seemed so right too.

  The moon was full, casting a beautiful reflection into the water lapping the bank. There was no place she’d rather get married than right here on the shores of Maiden Lake. From an awful night years ago that eventually brought them to here. She lifted the tail of her floaty dress and walked until the water was ankle deep.

  “Don’t tell me you’re going for a swim in the middle of our wedding?”

  She grinned back at Eriksen. “Of course not. I was just thinking how this lake brought us together.”

  “Then it seems fitting we decided to move out here.”

  It really did. Eriksen had a place in town, but this was their place. Where they met, where their secrets unfolded, where they fell in love. Being anywhere else didn’t work. The old cabin was finally getting some former glory.

  Violet had officially handed in pieces designed with the cabin and Lanie and Eriksen in mind and they worked beautifully in the home. Legs that looked like waves swishing up and just beginning to crest over. Tops that were black glass to reflect like the lake at night. Lanie had the pleasure of creating their story in the furniture being placed around the home.

  She walked out of the water, and Eriksen caught her fingers and kissed her knuckles. “Do you want anything to drink?”

  “I do.”

  He led her back to the deck where their family and friends gathered, and he slipped inside for drinks. She waited at the railing when Hank walked through the back door with a shoe dangled from his fingertip. The irridescent tanned heel glinted against the warm lights, and Lanie knew who it belonged to in an instant. Cindy wouldn’t listen, and if she wanted to flee barefoot in the night from one guy, then she would have to eventually figure it out for herse
lf that she wasn’t being reasonable.

  Hank caught Lanie’s attention with a smile and walked up. “Why does she run from me?”

  Lanie held the truth back. It wasn’t her business, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t nudge in that direction. Payback, after all, since Cindy had pushed Eriksen in her path and look where they were? Just married and happy. “Have you asked her?”

  “I can’t seem to pin her down to do so.” He paused. “And I noticed that you didn’t disagree with me. So she is dodging my every step?”

  She winked at him. “I thought you might catch that as I can neither confirm nor deny anything.”

  Hank gave the shoe a long, puzzling look. “I’m not used to women who run away from me.”

  Jacob walked up then. By the arch of his brow, he’d heard Hank’s line. “Poor you. Rough life with women always throwing themselves at you and now they’re not?”

  Hank waved him off. “Yeah, yeah. Go dance with your wife.”

  Jacob’s laughter echoed as he joined Violet’s side. Her belly was just beginning to round with the baby inside. Just one, though they didn’t find out if it was a boy or a girl, which led to the twins taking bets.

  Lanie held out her hand for the shoe and sighed. “I can put that with my things and get it back to her later.”

  Hank didn’t hand it over. “Is it important to her?”

  “Very much.” They were her mother’s. She had died before Lanie met her, but left behind a few trinkets and things. A journal, some shoes. Enough interesting items with specific meaning for Lanie to know she had been a great and caring woman taken too soon.

  Hank spun the heel around, catching the arch of the shoe in his grasp. “I think I’ll hold on to it. If she wants it, she can come to me to get it.”

  Devious. Lanie approved. Eriksen walked up, handing her a glass of punch. “What are you smiling about?”

  “Hank is finally going to corner Cindy.”

  Eriksen just blinked at her, and she laughed, patting his chest. “I’ll explain it later.”

  Hank tucked the toe of the shoe into his dress pant pocket, the heel jutted out from the side. “I actually have a business proposition for her.”

  Business? That’s not where Lanie’s mind went, and now that she had her nuptials taken and a husband on her arm, she better understood Violet’s need for happiness for everyone.

  Eriksen wasn’t grinning like a fool though, and in fact, his eyes narrowed. “We talked about this.”

  Hank waved him off. “This doesn’t have anything to do with you, but on that subject, Tish is gone.”

  “Permanently?”

  “I can’t say that for sure. The house she was in is back on the market, and a buddy messaged saying she was putting out feelers for things. If she comes back, it won’t be for the tail or for you. So good job diverting attention away from the tail specifically and making it to a thing for everyone.”

  Eriksen relaxed so much Lanie thought he might sway. He didn’t, but there was a visible loosening that began at the crease in his brow and seeped all the way down him. Lanie hooked her arm around Eriksen’s, happy everything was working out.

  Now to get some of that happy in Cindy’s direction. “I don’t know if you’ll get Cindy to leave the diner or not. We’re busy enough at the store she doesn’t have to work at The Beanstalk, but she won’t let it go.”

  Hank only smiled. “Your tail gave me an idea, and I need a fairy godmother to pull it off. Based on what I know of Cindy from people around town, she would be perfect for the position, and I think for that she’ll go for it.” He gave them a mock toast. “Congratulations, you two. Have a good evening.”

  Then Hank was off before Lanie could pick his brain for more. She turned to her husband. Gosh, her husband. “What was that fairy godmother stuff about?”

  “With Hank, you never know until he’s ready for you to.” He curled his fingers through hers. “Dance with me?”

  “Of course.” She slid her hand up his shoulder. The pearl-and-diamond combination of her wedding ring sparkled against the pale glow of light strung up outside.

  They didn’t make it to the setup dance floor before Tommy interrupted them. He held his hand out to Eriksen and shook it. “You turned out acceptable.”

  “Thank you.”

  “We’re all pains in the ass, but we have to watch out for our Lanie.”

  Lanie pushed on his shoulder. “Actually, you don’t. Thank you very much.”

  He laughed. “Yeah, I do, and I always will, so if he starts giving you trouble, I can make some arrangements. I love you and I’m happy for you.”

  She hugged her big brother. Intimating, but he was her brother. “I love you too.”

  “I’m about to head out.”

  “Already? It’s early. You should stay. Maybe meet a girl. I would like nieces and nephews.”

  He chuckled. “I promised some old friends of mine I’d bring them a car out of the junkyard. I’m heading out tonight. They’re building a hot rod.”

  “How far do you have to go?”

  “Some little backwater town in Arkansas called Apple Trail. I don’t think I’ll be gone long. I’ve got the mechanic shop covered for the week but I have to be back by Friday. More than likely I’ll be home late Sunday.”

  She said her goodbyes and Eriksen finally got her to the dance floor. She twirled and ended against his chest. “How much longer do you think it’ll be until everyone leaves?”

  He cocked a brow at her. “What happened to five seconds ago and you telling Tommy it was still early?”

  “Well, I know, but I just realized I’ve hardly gotten you to myself today. There’s all these people here and a wedding night ahead. We should have done a sunrise wedding and got these people out of here by lunch.”

  He chuckled. “I imagine with this group we’ll just have to kick them out.”

  Lanie laid her head on his shoulder and glanced around at their gathering. They had aimed to keep it small with just family and their friends. Then Eriksen’s mom had invited her friends and tripled their numbers to most of the town, but it was fine. Everything was perfect, actually. They were surrounded by laughter and happiness, and Lanie really couldn’t ask for more.

  He curled his hand around hers, tucking her against his shoulder. She swayed with him to the music trickling through the speakers. Lanie had it right a long time ago. She didn’t mind at all belonging to Eriksen.

  THE END

  Next in Fairy Tales in a Small Town

  Dear Reader,

  I hoped you enjoyed my small town retake on The Little Mermaid. A few behind-the-scene details for you…

  Lanie Lange is named from The Little Mermaid statue placed at Langelinie Pier in Copenhagen, Denmark. The statue was created by Edvard Eriksen. Instead of sisters, as in Hans Christian Anderson’s tale, I gave Lanie brothers. Tish Wace’s name comes from a scrambling of the words Sea Witch. The Sea Witch is very much a deal maker in the original tale, and there was nothing more perfect for her in my retelling than a business shark. While in the original story the Prince believes a princess rescues him, I allowed Tish this role, and in doing so she silenced Lanie.

  When Lanie turns sixteen and takes her first night out, that’s a throwback to the original story. On their fifteenth birthday, the mermaids are allowed their first trip to the surface. It’s a moment of adulthood. Since our modern times this is something more typically done at sixteen with a driver’s license, I aged that detail.

  In the original tale, the prince marries another and seals the little mermaid’s fate to turn into foam in the sea. Her sisters arrive and if the little mermaid kills the prince, she can turn back into a mermaid and return to their underwater kingdom. However, she jumps in the sea to end herself rather than kill the prince. Because of this act, she becomes a spirit of sorts where after three hundred years, she’ll earn an immortal soul. Obtaining that soul was the mermaid’s original wish. She can shorten her years as this spirit by performi
ng good deeds. This served as the inspiration for Lanie’s good deeds idea.

  And of course, there’s the part about giving up her tail to the sea witch for love. While my Lanie’s tail was figurative, both my Lanie and the littlest mermaid had no issues and quickly made the choice to lose it for the prince.

  I hope you’ll return to Happily with me again soon. Up next is Cindy and Hank in a retelling of Cinderella.

  Until then follow Tom Lange to Apple Trail in Rough Trouble (The Roughnecks, 4)

  Rough Trouble

  Well, hello tall drink of water.

  Carla crossed the diner to wait for the handsome stranger at the door as he walked up. He topped six-four easy as he tipped his head to dodge a flag hanging outside. Short cropped hair. Muscles rippling. Best of all, she’d never seen him in her life before. It wasn’t often a new guy rolled into Apple Trail and even less often when one was a strapping sexy man.

  Well, except for that one time when the four very attractive Iverson brothers moved into town, but other than that, it was a rare occurrence. Though, judging by the muscles, hint of a tattoo curling under his sleeve, and just the overall worked hard and went to bed wet look about him, he was cut from the same cloth as the Iverson boys. Cousins? Other types of relatives? Maybe friends? Possibly they didn’t know each other at all, but they all had that similar strong, capable, melt panties while sweat rolled down their back appearance.

  The bell jangled over the door as he ducked the frame and walked in. She had to lift her chin a notch to stare into his eyes, which meant he was bigger than most of the Iverson boys. Carla stood eye-to-eye with them. “Welcome.”

  A grin swished his lips that tucked a dimple at the corner of his smile. “I think I’m a little lost.”

  No wedding band. Getting better. “You’re in Apple Trail, honey. Where are you trying to go?”

  “That’s where I’m supposed to be. I’m looking for an address.” He unfolded a paper from his back pocket.