Between the Land and the Sea - By Derrolyn Anderson Page 0,69

soup, and I sat up selfconsciously, blinking groggily.

“Can I help with anything?” I asked.

“Just eat,” he said, and I did.

I don’t think anything ever tasted so good.

We sat on the couch side by side and talked after we ate. I told him about my mystical encounter with the humpback the night before. He listened, impressed, as I described reaching out to touch it and how its eyes met mine. I tried to explain how the sound of its song was comforting, but words failed me, and I ended up frustrated and silent.

“I still can’t believe you were out there all that time,” he said.

“It was scary,” I said, “So I think she sent the whale to me...” I remembered how much better it made me feel, “to keep me company.”

Ethan told me about some of the times he’d come close to them when he crewed on his dad’s whale-watching trips. He said that the whales seemed curious about the boats, and would circle around, surfacing to thrust their heads out of the water for closer inspection. Sometimes a whale would even swim near the surfers, but one had never come up right alongside them.

I told him how Lorelei talked to the sea lions, and could command them. I described the way she had used them as a diversion to allow me climb out to her unnoticed.

“You know,” he said gravely, “We’re lucky those dolphins showed up when they did. I don’t think we would have found you without them.” He was quiet for a minute, as if imagining me still out there.

“Ethan, thanks for coming out to look for me... I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” I smiled ruefully,

“It’s funny really... because you’re the only person who would have believed me.”

“You can trust me,” His blue eyes were so intense I had to look away.

I took a deep breath, “I appreciate you not saying anything to Cruz. I– I’m just really not ready to talk about it,” I looked at him, “I need to talk to my father.” He nodded. I leaned back on the couch and flinched.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I think I scorched my back,” I replied.

“Let’s see,” he said.

I twisted around and lifted up the back of my shirt. I could feel the heat radiating off my sunburned skin.

“Ouch,” he said wincing, “I have something for that.” He left and came back with some Aloe Vera gel. “This oughta help– turn around,” he said.

I turned away on the couch and he peeled up my shirt. Flustered, my face burned as hot as my back. He put some on his hands and rubbed it on gently, carefully. It felt cool and soothing and I sighed with relief.

“There,” he said, his voice strange. I turned around and he looked... intense. “We better go.” We pulled up to Abby’s, and as I started to climb out as he came around the side of the truck, holding my door solicitously and taking my bag for me.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, searching my eyes.

“I’m okay,” I said gratefully, “Thank you so much... for everything,” We walked to the porch side by side.

“Get some rest,” he said, standing closer than necessary.

I looked up at him, “I will.”

The door swung open and we came face to face with Abby.

“Hi guys!” she beamed, “How was surfing? Gosh Marina, you look like you got some sun!” CHAPTER SIXTEEN

INHEIRITANCE

I spent the next day lounging around with Cruz, watching TV and recuperating from my ordeal. Megan came over and I gave another recitation of my night on the buoy. We made popcorn and watched a couple of old horror movies. Nothing seemed even remotely as scary as the horrible screeching mermaid fight. We spent most of the day laughing and making jokes about my latest misadventure. Megan told me how upset Ethan was when he found out that I had gone missing.

“He really likes you,” she gave me a knowing look.

“Totally,” added Cruz, “He was freaking out when we told him what you’d been up to.”

“We were just lucky he believed us… and had his dad’s boat!” said Megan.

Cruz smiled slyly at me, “Did you notice the masterful way I made myself scarce yesterday?

You can thank me later.”

“Oh stop it,” I said, blushing.

Ethan was the only person who knew the whole truth about me, and I was relieved that he seemed to take it so well. I don’t know what kind of reaction I expected, but he was so kind and sweet about everything that I felt like