Between the Land and the Sea - By Derrolyn Anderson Page 0,120

in the world, and I was so happy I laughed out loud.

I shivered in the clear morning air. I was cold and I was naked, but I was alive. A few short hours ago I had faced down death, and given up an immortal life under the sea to come back home. I didn’t care who saw me; I had to get to Ethan.

An elderly gentleman walking a waddling little pug along the shoreline looked up as I approached him with a wry smile. His eyes flew open wide with surprise when he took me in.

“Excuse me sir,” I asked, “But, may I borrow your sweater?” He took it off slowly and handed it to me in stunned silence.

“Keep it,” was all he said.

I wrapped myself up, pulling it down as best I could, and headed home as fast as my tender feet could take me.

The Jaguar was in the driveway when I reached Abby’s charming little house. I burst in the door, surprising a tired, drawn-out looking Cruz.

“Marina!” he cried, rushing to look at me, eyes as big as saucers, “Oh my God! Where did you come from?” We embraced and he drew back, looking me over, “That sweater’s hella ugly!” I laughed with the sheer joy of being alive and gave him another big hug, “I love you!” I cried.

“What happened?” he asked, clearly in shock, “Ethan said they drowned you!”

“I’m back– I got away... where is he?” I asked, “I have to go find him.” I ran down the hall to put some clothes on and raced back out to find Cruz trying to call Abby. He was having trouble with the hospital switchboard and hung up in exasperation.

“Ethan was at the hospital when I left. He’s been blaming himself all night. Abby stayed behind with Dutch. My god Marina! She’s a wreck– she was about to call your dad...”

“Is Dutch OK?” I asked.

“He’s fine– it’s Ethan I’d be worried about,” said Cruz.

“I have to find him right now!” I felt like my heart would burst with joy, “I’m finally free!

I’ll tell you what happened later.” I left Cruz with a hug and a flurry of kisses before I raced out the door.

“Drive careful!” he called after me. He needn’t have worried.

I wasn’t about to take any chances with my newborn life.

CHAPTER TWENTYSIX

REUNION

I pulled up to the hospital, overflowing with impatient anticipation. Leaving the car parked at a crazy angle, I ran to the reception desk and frantically asked where Dutch’s room was. It seemed to take the receptionist an excruciatingly long time to look up his information while I shifted from foot to foot, wringing my hands. I ran for the stairs, too full of anxious energy to wait on the elevator.

I burst into the room to find Abby lying in Dutch’s arms on the hospital bed. He looked up at me in shock.

“Marina!” he cried, his voice hoarse. Abby’s head snapped up. Her swollen eyes took me in and she jumped up, sobbing as she ran over to wrap her arms around me. She started crying too hard to talk.

“It’s alright,” I said soothingly, patting her back. “I’m back.”

“But…but... Ethan said–”

I cut her off, “Where is he?”

She tried to catch her breath. “I d-don’t know. He must have gone home...” She drew back to look at my face, staring at me like she couldn’t believe I was really there, “What happened?

How did you get here?”

I kissed her on both cheeks and smiled, “Aunt Abby, it’s a long story. There are a few things you don’t know about my mother.”

“Your dad...” she hiccupped.

I couldn’t stop smiling, happy to see the look of relief on her face, “Call dad and tell him I’m fine. Tell him I know about Adria, and that it’s okay... I’m okay. I need to go find Ethan now.” I turned to leave.

“Marina,” Dutch called, struggling to sit up. I went to his side and took his outstretched hand.

“Ethan told me what you did... how you knew... I want to thank you, you– you saved my life.” He glanced over at Abby, who was still drawing shuddering breaths, “Find Ethan. I’ve never seen him so torn up.”

I bent down to kiss him on both cheeks, “Take care of Abby,” I said, and raced out to the car.

I drove as fast as I could safely manage to get to Ethan’s apartment. Disappointed to find his truck missing from the parking lot, I sat drumming my fingers on the steering wheel, trying to imagine where