Eight months later

 

 

Mom pulls a pan of baked chicken and potatoes out of the oven. “This looks just about right. Damarian should be home in…half an hour? Just keep it inside here on low heat and it’ll be warm for when he comes home.” She puts the pan back in the oven.

“Mom, I told you we’re fine.”

“And how are you doing with your classes? Can you keep up? Did you quit your teaching assistant job? I told you to quit. It’s too much to handle.”

“Mom, I’m six months pregnant, not on crutches.”

It seems my words have flown past her ears, because she grabs a broom from the closet. “Don’t you lift a finger. I’ll take care of your cleaning.”

I give up. I lean back on the couch and breathe through my nose. Maybe the best thing to do is let her baby me. This pregnancy is new to her as much as it is to me. I suspect she worries because of what I’m actually carrying inside me, but I told her countless times that the baby is human. Damarian and I were hesitant to see a doctor when we first found out because we were scared there could be a merbaby in there, but I had all the symptoms a human gets and my body didn’t beg for sea water. I took a risk and made an appointment with the doctor my mom used when she was pregnant with me. Damarian and I had a plan if she or the technician saw a strange creature in my belly. We would hit them over the head and then claim Damarian was so excited about the baby that he accidentally hit them. Totally lame, I know, but at least we didn’t have to follow through with it.

“Don’t you have to go home?” I ask Mom.

She’s now mopping the kitchen floor. “Louis is watching the kids. Do you need help with any papers? Maybe Louis can drop by.”

“Mom, I love you for all you’re doing, but I’m perfectly capable of going to school and cooking and cleaning my house. Besides, Damarian does more household chores than me.”

She finally focuses her attention on me. “What was that?”

“I appreciate all you’re doing for us, but Damarian and I can handle it.”

She rests the mop against the wall. “Are you sure? I’m more than willing to help.”

“I’m sure. We’ll let you know if we need help.” I pick myself off the couch and walk over to her. “Thanks for everything. And for making us dinner.”

She smiles. “No problem.” She kisses my cheek, then bends down to place a kiss on my stomach. “So when are you going to find out if you’re having a boy or a girl?”

“I don’t know. Damarian wants to be surprised, since merpeople have no idea what they’re having until the fry is born. I think I want to let him have his surprise.”

“That’s sweet.” She glances at the time. “Speaking of which, your husband should be home soon. I get the feeling you want some alone time with him.”

“He’s been working so many hours at the aquarium that we haven’t spent a lot of time together.” Not to mention my mom has been over practically every day.

She nods. “Okay. Just let me know if you need me to come over.”

“Thanks.” I walk her to the door, hug her goodbye, then close the door after her. I love my mom, but I’ve never wanted a quiet house so desperately before.

Footsteps at the door, followed by keys jamming into the lock. The door opens to reveal Damarian. As soon as he notices me sitting on the couch, his entire face lights up. “Cassie, my love!”

He has the same excitement every day when he comes home from work. I always feel the same warmth in my chest when I see how happy he is to see me.

“Are you well?” he asks as he sits down near me and kisses my lips.

“I’m fine, thanks. I managed to get rid of my mom.”

He makes an overly exaggerated expression. “How did you manage that?”

I playfully slap him. “Stop. She’s just worried about me. Plus, she made us dinner again.”

“I appreciate her efforts, but I wish to prepare a meal for you. It has been a while since I have cooked.” His hand moves to my stomach. “How does the little fry fare?”

“She or he is doing great.”

A look of relief passes over his face. He sits back and smiles.

“Damarian?”

“Yes?”

“I was thinking. About the baby and all…”

He puts his finger on my lips. “Do not fret. I have told you I am content with living life on land. Our child will be human and I am willing to sacrifice everything I hold dear for her.”

I look away. “I wish there was a way. It seems so unfair to you. And to me. I miss your family like crazy.”

I haven’t been in the ocean since I found out I was pregnant because we’re not sure what would happen to the baby. So far, my mermaid side hasn’t demanded sea water. Maybe I don’t need it because my true form is a human. Let’s hope it stays this way until after the baby is born.

Damarian puts both his hands on my cheeks and looks into my eyes. “Our child will be the most important person in our life. She comes first. Always. Would you not do the same if the situation was reversed and you carried a child of the sea?”

“Of course. I would live in the sea for the rest if my life. Well, other than when I need to get to land to shift into a human.”

“So you understand the way I feel,” he says.

I nod slowly.

“My family has reassured me that they will visit us as often as they can. Zarya and the twins will one day be old enough to come to land. Our fry will not be without a family.”

True, but I regret not being able to share the amazing world under the waves with our child.

“Let us take one step at a time,” he says. “First we will wait until our baby is out in the world and then we shall see. Whatever happens, we will be all right. We will be happy.”

I lean my forehead against his. “I am happy. Very happy.” I touch my stomach. “I can’t wait until she or he is born. You’re going to be an awesome father.”

“Thank you, my love. You are going to be a magnificent mother.”

“I’ll try.”

***

“Geez, you don’t even look like you’re pregnant,” Leah says as she drops down on a chair next to me in the baby room. Damarian and I have only begun to decorate it. We’ve painted the walls sapphire. Every time I look at them, I’m filled with guilt because Damarian will be forced to put his merman life behind him. I mean, I guess it won’t be completely behind him since his family promised to visit us, and he’ll need to go for a swim once a week, but it’s not the same. I need to push these feelings aside and embrace the life I’m about to have. A baby. Someone Damarian and I created together, out of love. That really is all we need.

“My mom wasn’t huge when she was pregnant, either,” I say.

“I bet I’d be huge,” she says.

“Speaking of which…?” I lift my eyebrows.

She holds up her hand. “Hold your horses. Kyle just got banished a few weeks ago and is learning to adjust once again to life solely on land. I’m keeping my distance so he can adjust.” She bites on her bottom lip. “I just hope he made the right decision.”

The only way for Kyle and Leah to have a future together was for one of them to give up their life. Kyle made the sacrifice. He asked Flora and Kiander to banish him to land so he doesn’t have to be tied to the sea. Leah was against it and begged him not to give up anything for her, but the two have fallen madly in love and want to spend the rest of their lives together.

“Don’t have any regrets,” I tell her. “I’ve watched the two of you struggle to find love. You two were made for each other. I don’t think anyone can understand you like Kyle can, and I doubt any mermaid can understand Kyle the way you can.”

She hugs herself. “I know. I just worry that we won’t last.”

“Leah—”

“I guess there really isn’t any harm. Kyle’s no longer a merman, so he’s not eternally bonded to me. He can always ask Flora and Kiander to lift the banishment and he’ll be able to return to the ocean and mate with whomever.”

I grab a cushion from the nearby chair and gently whack her in the face. “Stop this crazy talk right now. You and Kyle aren’t going to break up.”

She hugs the cushion. “I hope you’re right. So, future mother, what do you think you’re having?”

“No clue. Damarian’s certain it will be a girl. He wants it to be a girl. Last week, he saw a beautiful dollhouse on display at a store window and wanted to buy it. It cost two hundred bucks. There’s no way I’m letting him spend that much money, especially if we’re not sure we’re having a girl.”

“She’ll be one spoiled little princess,” Leah says with a laugh.

“I know. He’s totally going to make me have to be the bad guy.”

“Is he ready, though?” she asks. “Raising kids here on land is nothing like raising them in the ocean. There are so many dangers out here…”

“I know. We’re trying to take one step at a time. Let me just get past the pregnancy and birth.”

Leah leans back on the chair and shakes her head in disbelief.

“What?” I ask.

“I just can’t believe how our lives turned out. You’re mated to a freakin’ merman and are going to have a baby. I’m with a banished merman…” She shakes her head again. “It really does feel like we’re in a fairytale.”

“Is that fairytail with a t-a-i-l?” I ask.

She giggles. “Definitely.”

Her phone beeps. She digs it out of her back pocket and scans the screen. “Great, a reminder that I need to fill out my college applications. I really need to stop pushing it off…”

“Do you still want to apply to law school?” I ask.

“That’s the plan, though I highly doubt I’d get in. Kyle thinks I can.”

“Well, he’s right. I think you can, too.”

“Thanks.” She still looks doubtful.

“And have you and Kyle discussed moving out to California? I mean, now that you guys are together and seem really happy, there’s no point of running away there, right?”

“Aww, you’re going to miss me.”

I grab her cushion and gently whack her in the face again. “Of course I’d miss you!”

She shields her face. “Okay, stop assaulting me! True I’m happy with Kyle, but living here still reminds me of everything I’ve been through. Maybe the only way to start fresh with Kyle is to move out there.”

I don’t say anything, though my heart stings a little. Now that Damarian and I won’t be able to return to the ocean, I’ll need all the support I can get. But I can’t be selfish. Leah needs to do what’s best for her.

“But,” she continues, “these reminders don’t make me sad anymore. It’s like…I’m a better person because of what I’ve been through. Stronger. If I stay here, I’ll always be reminded of that. Plus,” she says with a grin. “There’s no way I’m not going to be part of your kid’s life.”

I sigh in relief. “You have no idea how happy that makes me feel!” I put my arms around her and yank her in for a strong hug. When I pull away, a wave of dizziness takes over.

“Whoa, Cassie.” Leah grabs my arm before I fall of my chair. “Are you okay?”

I touch my forehead. “I just got dizzy.” When I lift my eyes to hers, her face holds nothing but concern.

She jumps to her feet. “I’ll get you some water.” She dashes out of the room and returns so fast it’s like she has teleportation powers.

“Thanks.” I gulp it down, not realizing how thirsty I am.

But a few seconds later, nausea whirls around in my stomach.

“Cassie?” Leah asks, appearing even more concerned.

“I think…I might throw up the water.”

She reaches for my arm. “I’ll help you to the bathroom.”

“Too dizzy to move.” I touch my forehead again.

Leah once again dashes out of the room and returns with the mop bucket. I bend over to vomit, but I only dry heave.

Leah rubs my back. “Is nausea normal at this stage of pregnancy? What’s your doctor’s number?”

“It’s on the fridge—” I cry out when I feel a sharp pain in my abdomen.

“Cassie!?” Her voice is beyond frantic. “I’m calling your doctor right now. Or should I call for an ambulance?”

“Wait.” I grab her hand as my other one goes to my stomach. “It’s not…you can’t call my doctor or an ambulance. You need to call Damarian.”

“Why?”

“Because I sense a merbaby inside me.”