Mer Tales 01 - Everblue

circulating through my body like it should. But there was this one mysterious warm spot right on my arm”—she touched me in the crook of my elbow—”as if something unseen was holding me.
    “ You see, one of my biggest fears was I’d die and Grandpa Frank would remarry. I couldn’t bear it.” Gran’s eyes glistened as she swallowed hard. “But I finally got to a place where I thought death was near, so I gave his life to God to worry about because if I were gone, he’d need someone to take care of him. Instantly, my heart slowed and it’s never raced since. And in the end, I was the one who outlived him, the lucky devil.
    “ So, yes. I do believe in angels, because mine was there, touching my arm during the worst episode.”
    I looked down at the bed sheet folded over my lap. “Did your angel ever come back?”
    “ He’s around, somewhere. But more importantly, I feel the presence of God and there are no accidents, sweetie. You have a very special purpose in life and I’m glad your angel, or whoever, was there to save you. I don’t know what we’d do without you.” Another tear trailed down her cheek.
    Dread slugged around in my throat, stopping my words. “I’ll never do anything so stupid again,” I finally choked out.
    “ That’s a good thing, but you should tell your folks and ask for forgiveness. They love you, Ashlyn, more than you realize.” She gave me a reassuring smile.
    I took a deep breath and nodded. “I know, Gran. I will.”
    She reached over and hugged me tightly. When she let go, it was as if all was forgiven and forgotten. “Can I get you anything? Lunch? I made some of that tortilla soup you like.”
    My tummy rumbled at the thought of food. “Yeah, that sounds good.”
    She looked at me one more time with forgiving eyes before leaving the room. Once she closed the door, my gaze drifted to the window, to the sunlight dancing on the lake.

37
FIN

    “ What was that all about?” Tatiana demanded, out of breath while throwing a pile of clothes towards me.
    I caught them before they hit the wet ground, but not before Ash’s lingering scent on Tatch’s borrowed clothing seized my chest with longing and guilt. “Nothing. It’s okay.”
    “ Okay? I heard her yelling for you to ‘get out’. Did you mind-wipe her afterward?”
    “ Not exactly.” I tried to remain nonchalant as I inspected the outfit Tatch got for me. The navy blue Tahoe Fire T-shirt would be fine, but the jeans were definitely too big.
    “ What do you mean not exactly?”
    I took a deep breath and pulled on the jeans. Telling the truth was easier than hiding what happened. Problem was she’d be just as mad as Ash, if not worse. “I can’t.”
    She blinked back at me with confusion, and then her face fell with shock. “NO! You didn’t!”
    I swallowed hard. “It’s not what you think.”
    Tatch’s legs began to wobble. I grabbed her before she fell on the ground and pulled her toward me so our eyes were level with one another. “We have other things to worry about. You need to buy me some shoes.”
    She blinked back wide-eyed, her hands covering her mouth. “You kissed her? You’ve promised yourself to her? ‘Cause that can be the only reason why your powers wouldn’t work on her. Tell me!”
    She pounded her free fist into my chest. The confession that I’d kissed Ash wouldn’t come out of my mouth. I looked blankly back. She finally stopped protesting and her eyes glazed over.
    “ For the love of the kraken! This is huge, Fin.” She pulled her arms free and folded them over her chest. Then another wave of anger flashed in her eyes. “Why? WHY? We were going to go away to college. Now she’s doomed to join the mermaid world I’m trying to escape. I can’t believe you did this to me. YOU! My own brother!”
    She let out an animalistic groan, threw her hands up, and stormed away from me.
    “ Wait, Tatch! It wasn’t like that. I had no intention of promising myself to her. She was drowning. Look at her leg. That happened right before—why she couldn’t swim. I had to give her mouth to mouth or she would have died. That’s why I made the waves. To get to her in time. That’s why I can’t tell anyone what happened. Why the boat was floating free in the bay.”
    She turned around, tears streaming down her cheeks. “You what?”
    “ I came to Tahoe to collect rocks for Mr. Gumboot, then I heard her scream. She fell from the boat and sliced open her leg. By the time I got to