Page 62 of Seduced By the Mermen
“Well, she’s here somewhere. The elevator is locked on this level, and the sharks are acting normally. She’s here somewhere.” Annabelle moves down the hall. The apartmentwraps around the side of the elevator. It’s a lot larger than it appears when you come in the front to the kitchen and living room, though it’s nowhere as big as Castor’s parents’ penthouse. Ophelia’s apartment is more mansion than apartment. Annabelle pulls the door shut to her lab, and the door to the guys’ office too. “She’s not in either of those rooms.”
“This is the utility room?” I ask with my hand on the handle. It’s the only place we haven’t checked.
“Yes.” Annabelle cocks her head at me, and I open it. It’s not what I expected. Not at all. The room isn’t full of heaters and wires. There’s no loud boiler. In fact, it’s quite lovely. Even though it’s overly warm, it’s a dry heat. So it makes sense that my Marlee is curled up in a blanket, leaning against a trunk facing the water. A notebook rests on her lap, but her eyes are closed.
I put my finger to my lips, and Annabelle leaves us alone.
“Hey,” I say softly.
Marlee wakes with a startle. “Oh, I... I fell asleep. I wasn’t sure where the story I’m writing was going and closed my eyes to picture it. But then my imagination gave up, and sleep won the battle. Guess you found my hiding spot.”
“Just me and AD. Your secret is safe with us.” I take a seat on the side of the trunk. “It’s nice in here.”
“It’s warm and dry. It reminds me of August on a dry summer day.” Marlee stands and gathers her notebooks.
“Stay here. You don’t have to move.”
“I didn’t ask to spread my stuff into here. It’s fine, Mom. I’m sure they’ll be concerned I could trip and scrape my knee.”
“They’re just trying to protect you.”
“I know,” Marlee says, her lips thin.
And I know what she’s getting at. It’s nice to feel guarded, but it’s also nice to have autonomy. Sure, the last few years we were always looking over our shoulders, waiting for my ex to show up. But we didn’t have to live by his rules, either. Other thanthe rule of staying out of sight. Now we don’t have to protect ourselves, but Marlee’s right: we still aren’t living our own lives. She’s hiding. Only, instead of hiding in the employee cabin in a rundown inn in Maine, she’s hiding in a utility room under the ocean. Neither are great.
“Don’t give me that look, Mom. I’m fine. I’m happy, even. I’m writing all the time. We’re safe, fed, housed. And I’ve never in my life seen you smile this much.” She puts her notebooks on the trunk and places her hands on my shoulders. “I’m good.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. I’m just not used to so many people. It’s loud.” She pulls me into a hug. “I’m good. And I’m thrilled for you.”
I raise my eyebrows at her. “It was loud at home.”
“Cows are one thing. My cousin’s husbands are another.”
I hug her back tightly. “True.”
“Are you okay?” Marlee holds me.
“It’s silly. I was just worried about where you were.”
“Nope. It’s more than that.”
“I got invited to the Masons’ apartment for dinner.”
“And are you on the menu?”
“Marlee!”
“Don’t act so surprised. But there’s something else.”
“Why do you always have to be so intuitive?”
“Because I’m your daughter.”
Chapter 26
Forrest
