Fated - A Mermaid's Curse 2 (7 page)

“
Yeah,” I say and it comes out a bit harsh.

“
What’s wrong?” she asks.

I sigh. “I think I talked Dad into letting them be, but only because I got him to believe this is just a phase.”

“
Oh,” she pauses, “this could be good.”

“
Yeah, he still doesn’t know about the island and he doesn’t want her either there or here.”

She smiles up at me. “We’ll figure everything out with time, son. Don’t worry.”

She lets out a sigh of relief. “Do you think we should go see her?” she asks.

“
Nah. Give her some time alone with Blake. I’m sure you’ll be the first to know when they’re ready for visits.”

“
Of course. You’re right.”

“
Mom, do you remember what happened to Mrs. Lauren and her daughter?” I ask.

She freezes. “That was such a long time ago. What brought that on?”

I shrug, “I ran into a friend the other day who mentioned her. That’s all.”

She looks uncomfortable. “I remember you and Jenna used to be so close. Remember when your dad caught you kissing her? He was furious—“

She cuts herself off. Yeah, I remember. She was my first kiss and he caught us.

“—
Anyway, that was such a long time ago. I don’t even remember what happened,” she lies and I let it go.

I tell her I’m exhausted and say bye to her and Molly before I head back to my apartment.

***

I wake up early the next morning and head to the hospital. I barely make my way out of the elevator when Arianna’s doctor stops me. I find some comfort in him knowing the truth about everything, which his father, Eric, told him.

“
Is everything okay?” I ask.

“
Yes, but, I want to talk to her alone and well… that means I need your brother off her side for a few minutes.”

I nod. “Okay. I need to talk to him anyway. Just give me a minute to get him out of the room.

The doc nods and goes to talk to one of the nurses.

I walk into the room to find Arianna sleeping with her head on Blake’s chest. He’s awake, and stares blankly at me as he plays with her hair.

“
Hey, how is she?” I whisper.

“
Better, I think.”

“
Good. I need to talk to you.”

“
Not now, Owen.”

“
It’s about Dad. It’s important.”

I can see him tense. He slowly moves away from her side, making sure her head is now against the pillow and that she is comfortable. He kisses her forehead and follows me out. I take him to the visitor’s area and we sit down on the couch.

He looks like crap, but I’m glad to see him sober for once.

“
Did you get any sleep?”

He shakes his head.

“
Dad agreed to lay off you and Arianna for a while.”

He gives me a puzzled look.

“
Look, man, just enjoy it okay? She’s still not allowed at the house or at the island, but she can stay at your apartment.”

“
But the island is mine now.”

“
Yes, and I didn’t want to push our luck by mentioning that. Anyway, just come to work and act like you’re into it and that is all.”

“
I want to stay with her today,” he says.

I shake my head. “Don’t push it, man. Just get Mom to come and sit with her for a few hours. You can check in during your lunch and come back right after work.

“
Why are you helping me?” he asks puzzled.

“
Because I didn’t exactly enjoy seeing you destroy yourself like you were. And it’s not easy to look into Molly’s eyes whenever she asks about you.”

He nods. “Okay, can you call Mom and ask her to come while I talk to Arianna?”

CHAPTER TEN

ARIANNA

“
Arianna?” I hear the soft voice and open my eyes to find the doctor standing by the side of the bed. I quickly look around and Blake isn’t here. I panic, wondering if him being here and me falling asleep in his arms was all a dream.

“
He’s talking to his brother. He’ll be back soon.”

I take a deep breath.

“
How are you feeling today?”

“
Better,” I say.

He nods.

“
I have to talk to you and talk fast before Blake comes back. I still don’t have an explanation for what happened to you. I talked to my dad as he knows a lot about your world and about black magic, but he’s never seen anything like this happen before. What happened to you—it was a miracle and a tragedy all at once. As of right now, your body…on the inside… is back to what it was when you were a mermaid, but I want you to come back and see me in a few weeks to make sure that is still the case. I don’t want you to be caught by surprise again if anything changes.”

I nod and fight back the tears.

“
I’m sorry this happened,” he says.

I nod. “Thank you,”

He gives me a card with his cell phone on the back. “I don’t usually do this to any patients, but I want to make sure you only see me. Just call me if you have any problems or questions.”

“
Thank you. When can I go--?” saying home seems wrong somehow.

“
You healed very fast, but I want to run another set of tests later this afternoon while everyone is switching shifts, so there are no problems or questions. After that you can go.”

I smile sadly at him and he excuses himself.

Seconds later, Blake comes back in. He sits down next to me and asks, “Is everything okay?”

“
Yes, they just want to run more tests, but I can leave late in the afternoon.”

“
Tests?” He looks concerned.

“
Just to make sure everything is as it should be. Nothing serious.” I smile at him.

He nods.

“
I don’t know where to go once I leave,” I say.

He smiles widely.

“
You’re coming to my apartment.”

“
But your dad?”

“
Don’t worry about him. Owen says he agreed to back off as long as I keep working for the company. Just let me take care of you, okay? I don’t want you to worry about a thing.”

I nod and he leans down and kisses me.

When he pulls away, he looks uneasy, “I do have to go to work today, but I think maybe I should be here for your tests, I can call out—”

“
Please don’t. I’ll be okay,” I beg, partially because it will be easier not having to explain these tests, but also because from what he just told me, it’s best to stay on his dad’s good side.

He smiles. “My mom will be here spending time with you until I can get back.”

I bit my lip.

“
What is wrong?”

“
Does she know why I’m here?”

“
No. Owen said he thought it was best not to tell her or my dad.”

“
Okay, I agree.”

He smiles at me sadly and kisses me again.

“
Are you sure you are going to be okay?”

“
Yes,” I assure him.

He lays back down, wrapping his arm around my side. “I still have a few minutes before I have to leave.” He kisses the top of my head and we lay there quietly, just listening to our breathing and enjoying being there.

Not long passes before there is a soft knock on the door.

“
Come in,” says Blake.

His mom, Cindy, walks in and smiles as soon as she sees me. She is holding a small vase with colorful flowers.

“
I thought this would brighten up the room,” she smiles at me.

“
Thank you.”

“
She’s leaving today, Mom. There is no need.”

“
There is always need for flowers, son, especially in hospitals. I wouldn’t care if she was here for a couple hours. It will cheer her up.”

He chuckles. “Well, thank you.”

He looks at me. “I have to get going,” he says in an apologetic tone.

I can see he’s not happy about leaving, but he leans in, gives me a kiss and then walks away.

Cindy tries to cheer me up throughout the afternoon by talking about Molly. When we run out of things to talk about, I notice the concern in her eyes.

“
Is everything okay?” I ask.

She sighs. “Owen told me about my husband leaving you and Blake alone. I—just promise me that you’ll be careful. I know my husband. He may be saying that he is going to leave you alone, but I guarantee that somewhere in his mind, he is planning something to damage your relationship.”

“
Why do you stay with him?” I immediately regret asking it.

She gives me a sad smile. “Because of Molly.”

I feel even worse for asking it then. Blake once told me that after Owen, his mom could no longer have kids. Molly was a result of an affair that his dad had. Cindy found out and he got custody of Molly, but according to what Blake told me, he made sure that Cindy has no legal right over Molly and that if something happens, he will be the one to keep Molly.

After that, neither of us is in a good mood. Cindy turns the TV on and flips through the channels. We watch TV quietly until the doctor comes back for my tests.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The doctor is in the process of discharging me when Cindy gets a message from Blake that he is on his way. The doctor insists that we wait for him in the room and that I leave the hospital on a wheelchair, which he has ready in the room before Blake even gets here.

“
Is this really necessary?” Cindy asks, puzzled.

The doctor nods. “She was really weak when she got here. It’s just a precaution.”

“
Okay.”

Blake walks in and smiles sadly at me. At first I think it’s because he sees me sitting on the wheelchair, but he gives his mom a look and I know there is something else bothering him.

“
Is everything okay?” she asks.

He shakes his head. “I have to leave town. Dad is sending me on a business trip for two days,” he looks at me apologetically. “I’m just going to tell him that I can’t.”

“
Blake,” says his mom. “Your dad is not going to leave the two of you alone, no matter what he says. To him, this is a game and he thinks it’s only a matter of time before it’s over and he wins. You need to learn how to play his game. That is the only way you’ll be able to defy him without having to leave. Find the loopholes and work with them. The way I see it, your dad doesn’t know that she’s being discharged from the hospital.”

Blake’s eyes widen as he takes it all in and it’s as if for the first time, he can understand how she puts up with everything.

He bites his bottom lip and looks at me, “Maybe we should check with the doctor to make sure you can travel, that is, if you want to go with me.”

I smile at him, “Of course I want to go with you.”

He smiles back and goes out to talk to the doctor.

He comes back minutes later and he looks so relaxed.

“
Okay, we’ll go pack. We’ll drive instead of fly. It’s a seven hour drive.”

I nod. “But my things are on the island.”

“
We’ll get you new things.”

“
Okay.”

He gets a message on his phone, interrupting us.

He cusses as he looks at the phone. “I have to meet Dad about some papers that he conveniently forgot to give me earlier.” He looks at Cindy. “Can you take Arianna back to the apartment? I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“
Of course, dear.”

Blake goes with us to the parking garage and helps me in the car. He then gives his mom the apartment keys and rushes to meet his dad.

***

When she opens the apartment door and we walk in, I’m in shock; we both are. There are empty alcohol bottles on the coffee table and kitchen counter.

I gasp and I can feel tears in my eyes, and that seems to get his mom out of her own shocked state.

“
Come sit down, sweetheart.”

I sit on the couch and she clears the coffee table as I stare blankly at it. Then she sits next to me and puts her hand over mine.

“
Please don’t hold this against him. It wasn’t easy for him… thinking you were gone. It was just his way of handling it.”