| |
Umbrellas in hand, Mom and I walked to the creek on Tuesday, after she came home from the office. The humidity and chill in the air reminded me of when I’d first met my dog, Marshmallow. It was a day just like today—cold and pouring rain.
I remembered Mom picking me up from first grade. Holding her hand tightly, I blinked wetness from my eyes as we ran from the brick building to the car.
“I’m sorry, Hazel,” Mom said, wiping raindrops from my nose. “I left the umbrella in the car.”
I shivered. I never did like the rain or cold. A sunny day at the lake was and is still my favorite.
Mom lifted me into the car and buckled me into the backseat. Her eyes flickered to a bundle in the seat next to me. At first, I thought it was a balled up blanket. But then it stirred.
My breath caught. Two pointed ears lifted, followed by a pair of shining black eyes and a matching tiny nose.
At a loss for words, I pointed at the fluffy white creature next to me—a puppy.
Mom laughed and shut the door. She appeared again in the driver’s seat.
“Your father brought home a surprise for you last night, but you were already asleep.” The car started with a grumbling purr. “Say hello to your new friend.”
“Hi,” I whispered. The puppy edged closer, until his tiny black nose reached my hand.
I giggled. “What’s his name, Mom?”
“I was hoping you’d tell me.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Hazel. He’s yours, so you get to pick his name.”
Excitement bubbled within me. A surprise—a puppy—for me. I patted his soft fur. He was mine! I could name him whatever I wanted. He was so fluffy and white, like a cloud. He looked at me as I looked at him, searching for the perfect name.
“Marshmallow,” I blurted.
His ears perked up.
Mom laughed again. “Your father will love that.”
“Why?” I said, wondering why she’d laughed at my choice of name. “Is it wrong?”
“Marshmallow Marsh. It’s perfect, Hazelnut.”
I later learned Marshmallow was a husky-terrier mix, a rescue—the smallest pup of a litter, that no one wanted.
***
I FELT SMARTER AND more prepared for our creek visit with Kai. I hadn’t washed my hair beforehand. Instead, I wrapped it in a tight bun, the way I did for my brand new school activity: Swim Club. I’d also worn my training swimsuit beneath my clothes. Most importantly, I’d left the fish sticks at home. Thank goodness Kai was able to fend for himself.
Mom agreed it would be best to leave Marshmallow at home, too. One less distraction. I bit my nails as we neared the creek. I wasn’t sure what her reaction would be. It was possible that, after meeting Kai, she’d want me to stay away from him—to never see him again. I wasn’t sure I was ready for that.
I frowned, wondering why Kai seemed to be part of my life now. We weren’t exactly friends. He needed me for information to save his kingdom; and I needed to prove he was wrong about the pearl jewelry. But what would that do? I’d get to keep Grandma’s jewelry, but at what cost? Surely there had to be a way for everyone to be happy. I wondered when I’d started worrying about his happiness.
“We’re here,” I said, opening my arms wide and circling in a half spin. The air was crisp and humid. No matter what was about to happen, it felt good to be outside this time of year. “Kai tends to stay in this part of the creek. There’s more room for him here.”
Mom winced. “Is he a large creature?”
“Larger than we are.” I shrugged. “You’ll soon see for yourself.”
There was a rustling of leaves as we neared the creek. I pulled my sweatshirt more tightly around me. Given the chill in the air, I didn’t look forward to dunking my head in the water. I’d brought my goggles and snorkel with me, figuring their use would be inevitable.
Luckily for Kai, the thick copse of trees also provided shade throughout the day. Though his form had its advantages in the water, the sun was bad for his skin, and the creek was shallow compared to the lake.
A ripple formed in the water, followed by a splash. Kai rose from the center of a small wave he seemed to have created, making his head and torso visible. I wondered whether he had sensed our arrival in some way. Regardless, I was happy I didn’t have to throw rocks in the creek to catch his attention.
He smiled at me when we approached. But his jaw dropped open when he saw Mom. I looked back and forth between them. I hadn’t noticed it before, but their hair and eye colors were disturbingly similar. Dark black hair, moss blue eyes. I rubbed my temples and shook my head. The more I compared them, the more I thought I was starting to see things, like a similar slope to their foreheads.
Mom sucked in a breath.
“Are you okay?” I said.
She nodded.
Kai glanced at my wrist. I’d worn the bracelet, which had begun to glow. He stared at it, and then turned his attention to Mom. Squinting, he pointed between her and the glowing pearls. He’d detected what I’d noticed at home. The pearls really did glow for her.
“Kai,” I said. “This is my mother, Cari.”
The two of them threw each other a shy wave. I rolled my eyes at their awkwardness. He was a water guy that was half fish, and she was my mom! There was nothing normal or formal about this.
“Hello, Kai,” Mom said. “I see you are familiar with my daughter’s bracelet. It belonged to my mother. There was a matching necklace...”
He frowned.
After stepping closer to the edge of the creek, Mom knelt down for a better look at him. I had to give her credit. If she was scared, she didn’t show it. For some reason, I’d expected her to act differently—at least more surprised. But she seemed laser-focused on getting Grandma’s necklace back. My eyes widened. I told her I’d lost it, but I didn’t remember saying anything about it being taken by Kai.
“I’d recognize my mother’s pearl jewelry anywhere,” Mom murmured. She sat back and looked him in the eyes. “Do you know where the necklace is?”
Kai stared at her, as if unsure what to do or say. I’d already warned Mom that she wouldn’t be able to hear him speak above water. I was tempted to offer her my goggles and snorkel so she could continue their conversation. I was actually kind of curious what she’d say in response to him calling Grandma’s necklace the royal diadem.
But I didn’t have to give her anything at all, because Kai did the weirdest thing. He nodded, but with his head bent so low that it looked like he was bowing to her.
Mom’s lips spread into a grin. “I have so many memories of the pearl jewelry. Mother is gone now; she recently passed away. My father gave the necklace to Hazel as a birthday gift, and I would like you to return it.”
Kai bowed to her again, but his face was stricken. I wanted to know why. Mom’s voice had been firm, but I hadn’t expected him to submit to her so easily. The visit between them was more surreal than any of the times Kai and I had met alone.
Mom stood and wrapped her arm across my shoulders.
“Um, thanks.” I fidgeted with the bracelet at my wrist, which had stopped glowing, and then turned to Kai. “Now that you’re acquainted, I thought maybe we should talk about—”
Mom gently squeezed my arm.
“It was nice meeting you, Kai,” she said, her voice stern. “It’s been a long day and we should go home before it gets dark.”
He bowed again, only this time he began retreating in the water. He disappeared soundlessly, without the slightest hint of splash.
My face fell. What was going on? Why were we leaving already?
I had so many questions.
Kai had refused to return the necklace to me, but seemed agreeable to it now that Mom asked him.
The L’even pearls glowed for both of them. What did that mean? Mom had seemed surprised, at least. But was there something she wasn’t telling me?