The Turning Tides

CHAPTER Twenty-Eight

ENGAGED



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We spent the rest of the week joined at the hip, keeping as close to each other as we possibly could. Ethan was as reluctant to part with me as I was him; if we were in the same room, we always had a hand or foot in contact with each other.

He drove me to school in the morning, and I spent the afternoons reading in the library, curled up in a quiet corner to wait for his classes to finish. After school, I accompanied him to his landscaping jobs, sitting in the truck and watching him work. I was content to wait, not quite ready to be alone.

I returned to my marine biology class, carefully watching Professor Powell for any sign that he knew something about what had happened at the lab. If he did, he was a master of deception, because I failed to see any indication of guilt whatsoever.

Ethan was waiting outside class, pacing nervously, “Well?” he asked, searching my eyes.

“He doesn’t seem to know about me. But he is in charge of that research ship… He must have had something to do with catching Nixie.”

Word on campus was that the bomb squad had cleared the building, but the lab had been closed due to a problem with the wiring. Rumors were flying that the director himself had been accidentally electrocuted, and there were plenty of grad students grumbling about being cut off from their experiments. I ran into Max on campus, and he nervously inquired as to how I was feeling. I thanked him again for his help, encouraging him not to give up on his research, telling him I believed in its potential.

“I still can’t get over the cover up,” he observed wryly. “They sure kept it out of the press. It looks like I may have to re-think a few conspiracy theories.”

“Yeah, I can relate.”

He shook his head sadly, “I still can’t get over what they were doing with the secret lab. You’d think you could trust a university to be ethical.”

“Everyone has a price,” I said cynically, “The people behind it had a lot of money and power. Max… I’m so sorry that I used you to get in there… It’s only that I knew they were after me, and I had to know what they were up to. Believe me– I never wanted to involve you in this whole business.”

“It’s okay,” he smiled. “I’m glad I could help.” He scuffed his sneaker on the cement, “I always knew there was something different about you.”

“How?” I asked, a little alarmed. My mind started racing– what was it about me that screamed freak?

He looked up at me shyly, “Girls that look like you generally don’t know very much about squid.”

I smiled, gave him a quick hug, and wished him well.

Ethan and I went to the coffee shop after school, where I picked up a spare key from Bill, along with another envelope of cash. Ethan helped me hang up some replacement paintings, following me up the stairs to my studio. He studied, spreading his books and papers out on the big couch while I painted, losing myself in a burst of creative energy.

I was happy, and the paintings I worked on exuded a sense of cheerful joy that had been missing from my earlier pieces. Before, I was addicted to the sea, but now I was high on love, strung out on bliss. I was painting to express myself, not to lose myself.

“Hey,” he tapped me on the shoulder, and I looked up to see I’d lost all track of time, “Let’s go get some dinner.”

Friday came before we knew it, bringing a trip up to the city to see my father. Ethan drove us along the coast, reaching over to squeeze my knee every few minutes.

“Two hands on the wheel,” I admonished him, squeezing his knee back.

We pulled into Evie’s parking garage to see the Boris’ familiar face appear from out of nowhere. He directed us into a parking spot next to my Rover, and when I climbed out he clamped onto me in a wordless embrace.

“It’s okay Boris,” I patted his massive back. “I’m fine.”

He drew back to study me, concern in his eyes. I knew he felt responsible for what had happened under his watch. He lived to keep Evie safe, and by extension, me and my father. He patted my hand solemnly, and nodded, accepting my forgiveness.

“Good job,” he nodded to Ethan.

I looked inside the Rover to see my surfboards and wetsuit still inside, just where I left them. It was as if nothing at all had even happened. Boris escorted us to the elevator, handing me a set of replacement keys, “I tell Evie you’re here.”

When we got to my father’s apartment, I was surprised to find him up on his feet, walking with only the assistance of a cane. I raced over to throw my arms around him, realizing how close I’d come to never seeing him again.

“You look great!” I said, my voice thick with emotion. In the span of only a week he seemed more solid, stronger than he’d been since before he’d left for Afghanistan in the first place. I looked over his shoulder to see Amrita watching proudly. She was the reason he looked so well, and I impulsively darted over to embrace her too.

She stiffened up tensely, more nervous than usual.

Ethan greeted them both with polite handshakes, and my Father gestured for us to have a seat at the dining room table. He seemed unusually formal, which was completely out of character. I watched him and Ethan carefully as they made small talk about school and the weather.

The whole house smelled wonderful, and Dad announced that Amrita had prepared us a special dinner. “She’s been planning this all week,” he told us, making her blush. I offered to help, but she insisted that I remain seated while she busied herself in the kitchen making her delicious chai. After she served us she took a chair next to my father.

He cleared his throat, “I know this might seem kind of sudden…”

Ethan and I exchanged a look. We both knew what was coming next.

“I’ve asked Amrita to marry me,” he looked over at her with adoring eyes, “And she has agreed to do me the honor.”

“Congratulations,” I said immediately, and I truly meant it. After what I’d just been through, nothing could faze me, and a life affirming turn of events was more than welcome.

“Aren’t you shocked?” asked Amrita, her eyes wide.

“We’re used to it,” Ethan said, reaching over to shake my father’s good hand, “Congratulations.”

Ethan and I exchanged another glance and laughed, telling them the story of how Abby and Dutch had broken the news to us. Soon we had them laughing too.

Their secret revealed, the tension in the room dissipated, and we sat and talked about more important things. Dad asked Ethan more about his plans for the future, leading me to believe he was getting used to the idea of our marrying so young. I figured love had softened him up, making him more inclined to believe we were serious.

I excused myself to go to my room, but there was no cat there. I came rushing back out in alarm, “Where’s Stumpy?”

Amrita got up. “Come,” she gestured, leading me behind her to my father’s room. There, curled up on a soft pillow was a little black and white pile of fur. He looked up to see us and stretched luxuriantly.

“He sleeps wherever he wishes. I’ve decided that in my next life I’d like to be this cat. Martin says that he dreams most of the day, and plays the rest.”

I had to laugh at that observation, stopping only when I could see Amrita watching me seriously.

“Thank you for taking such good care of both of them,” I said solemnly.

She reached down to stroke the cat. “I will miss having him here very much,” she said, “But Martin is planning on embarking on a lecture tour in the new year, and he’ll need a steady home.”

“He’ll have one,” I assured her. “With a very big yard to play in.”

She paused, looking like she was groping for words. “Your father is an extraordinary man,” she finally said.

“I know.”

“I’m afraid–” she stopped herself. “I hope you don’t think any less of me,” she said, her dark eyes anxious.

“Why would I?” I asked, confused.

“Getting involved with a patient… it’s so…so… unprofessional.” She said the word with a shudder, like she was admitting to having leprosy or something.

“I think very highly of you,” I said sincerely. “Evie said you were the best, and she was right.”

I had to smile, thinking about the way Evie worked her magic. My father’s wounded soul had been closed off and guarded my whole life, coloring my entire view of the world. His heart was finally on the mend, and I had Amrita to thank for it.

I added, “I think you make my father very happy.”

She smiled timidly, “I’d better go check the oven.”

After we ate, Dad mentioned that he’d invited Evie to join us, but she’d declined. “Marina, she asked me to have you stop by and visit her for a few minutes.”

“Do you mind?” I asked Ethan.

He squeezed my hand, “Go ahead, I’m sure she wants to see you.”

I excused myself, hurrying across the hall. Evie was at the door in a flash, embracing me warmly and kissing both my cheeks.

“I’ve been feeling simply wretched about everything,” she emoted, “When I think of what you’ve been through…” her voice caught in her throat.

I hugged her back. I’d forgotten how good it felt to be surrounded by Evie, bathed in her comforting presence. “Don’t worry, I’m fine,” I told her, realizing it was actually true. “In fact, I’m better than ever.”

She sat me down on the couch, ringing the bell for tea.

“I can’t stay long,” I said. “I left Ethan over at Dad’s.”

She raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing me, “I assume you’ve mended fences with him?”

“Yes,” I nodded with a smile. “For good this time.”

She exhaled, “Well, I’m eternally grateful to him for sounding the alarm.”

Thanks to Yuri, Evie knew everything that had happened at the lab after he arrived, but I filled her in on the rest of it, doing my best to keep from upsetting her too much. Thankfully, she refrained from suggesting any more contact with the hybrid council. It was a good thing, since I was not about to be swayed. I reassured her that I was fine, and that all I wanted was to get back to school, and my life in Aptos with Ethan.

I did have one question, and it was something that had been troubling me.

“Evie… If you could be immortal, would you do it?”

I’d spent my whole life watching Evie fight signs of aging. If anyone would be interested in staying young forever, it seemed like it would be her.

“No,” she said firmly.

“Why not?”

She sighed, studying me. Then she spoke quietly, “When I lost Harold, part of me went with him. For a while, I wasn’t really sure that life was worth living.” She looked so sad that it brought tears to my eyes. “Then you came along, and kept me busy. Time has shown me that my life has a purpose… and meaning. I’ve been blessed to be able to help a great deal of people realize their dreams.”

“So why not do it forever then?” I asked, “Aren’t you afraid of dying?”

She shook her head like I was the silliest girl in the world, “Marina, I’m going to have to cross over to see Harold again… And when my time comes, I’ll be in his arms once more. Now why would I be afraid of that?”

I choked back a sob, and Evie reached over to embrace me, patting me like I was a baby. I took a deep breath and stood up.

“I should get back to Ethan,” I said, my voice thick.

Evie rose to walk me to the door, taking me by the hands, “I know I’ve been slow to accept your relationship… All I ever wanted was for you to be protected. I– I always assumed that it was Harold’s money that kept me safe… But maybe it was his love after all.”

I smiled through my tears, “You were the one who said that love is the most powerful thing in the world.”

She nodded, “I want you to send my regards to Ethan, and tell him that I can’t thank him enough. I’d like to have the two of you up for a quiet dinner as soon as possible.”

“Sure,” I smiled, “I’ll tell him.”

She embraced me goodbye, taking my face in her hands. “He certainly must be taking good care of you… You look better than ever… Oh!” her eyes flew open wide, “I completely forgot… I have news!”

She hurried out of the room, rushing back in with an envelope. “Jacques called, he’s been frantic, trying to reach you. He messengered this over.”

I opened the envelope to find a check, and when I saw the amount I gasped, “What for?”

Evie looked surprised, “Why silly, the photo shoot of course! Revlon wants you to be the face of their new cosmetics line. They love your look, and want to sign you on an exclusive basis.” She looked at me reproachfully, “Surely you understood that Jacques was looking to represent you when you agreed to do the test?”

I looked up from the check, “I was humoring Cruz… I never thought–”

“Darling, if you don’t want to do it you don’t have to. Just return the check, and I’ll tell Jacques that you’re simply not interested. But honestly, I think it’s a great opportunity– they’d be your only client– and the money is nothing to sneeze at!”

“It is a lot…” my mind started racing, and then I couldn’t stop grinning. I knew just what I wanted to spend it on.

“Sleep on it,” she advised. “Call Jacques tomorrow, and he’ll fill you in on the details.”

“Alright,” I agreed. Evie walked me to the door, and I paused, “Can you do me a favor?”

“Anything,” she replied.

“There’s this graduate student… Max– Max Abrams. He needs his research project funded, and I was wondering if one of your foundations could–”

“Is this the young man that helped Yuri and Ethan?” she asked.

I nodded, “His research sounds really interesting, and–”

Evie put up her hand, “Say no more. I’ll take care of it right away.”

I smiled gratefully, giving her a big hug goodbye, “I love you Aunt Evie.”

When I walked back in, Ethan and Dad were at his desk on the far end of the room, talking about my father’s work in Africa. Amrita was on the couch, with Stumpy curled in a ball on her lap. I went and sat next to her.

After a few minutes Ethan joined us, and the little cat hopped over to sit on his lap. Stumpy yawned, making me follow suit.

“Ready to go home?” Ethan asked.

I nodded, “Yeah.”

“I was talking to the cat,” he teased me.

I got up to gather Stumpy’s things, handing Ethan the bag while I took the cat. My father looked tired, and I hoped that he hadn’t pushed himself too hard for our sake. Knowing my dad, I realized that he probably had. I noticed how he leaned on Amrita as they saw us off at the door, and I realized that she was only allowing him to stand for the sake of his dignity. She’d have him off his feet the second we left. He was lucky to have her, and again, I had to wonder about the capriciousness of fate.

Terrible things had happened, but now we were all terribly lucky.

When we got to the garage Yuri was on guard duty, and his rugged face broke into a grin when he saw us. He exchanged fist bumps with Ethan and shook my hand shyly.

“Ees no bugs. Clean,” he said, gesturing to the Rover, and I knew he’d gone out of his way to sweep it for me.

I took his giant mitt in both of my hands, “Thank you.”

Ethan’s beat-up old truck looked completely out of place in a garage packed full of shiny luxury cars, and it only served to point out the simple existence I was aiming for. I wanted a life spent out of the fast lane, far away from the intrigue of muse councils and the tyranny of trying to remain fashionable.

Ethan walked me to my car, holding Stumpy for me as I climbed behind the wheel and slipped on my seatbelt. “So what did Evie have to say?”

“She said to thank you. Did my dad say anything to you about us getting married?” I asked.

“No, but I think he might be warming up to the idea.”

“Really? What did he say?”

“We talked about lots of stuff. He asked me how I knew you were the one.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I told him,” he passed Stumpy in the window to me. “That I fell for you the very first time I laid eyes on you.”

We both laughed, remembering his embarrassing stumble and fall. “Drive carefully,” I told him, “I’m going to need you home in one piece.”

“Do you have plans for me?” he asked, a wide smile spreading over his face like a curtain.

I kissed him goodbye and started the car, “Yes. For the rest of your life.”





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