Page 37 of Oceansong
It wasn’t fair. Mama was a good woman, taken much too soon.
A calm voice jolted her out of her reverie, and she swiped at her eyes, wiping away her tears.
“Are you okay?” Kaden swam to her, gaze soft and face holding an expression of care.
“Uh, yeah. I’m fine.” Angie cleared her throat, thick with longing. She threw a quick glance behind her to ensure they were alone. The coast was clear.
“People who are fine don’t sit by their lonesome and cry.” He tilted his head to one side and arched an eyebrow.
“I guess you have me there.” Angie pursed her lips, her cheeks tight as dry streaks of tears clung to them. She supposed she could confide in him. He had saved her life, after all. “I was remembering my mama—uh, my mom. She was here last, before she passed away in a diving accident and was swept out to sea. I wanted to come here. Think about her.”
“A diving accident? I’m sorry.” Kaden inched closer to her. “Were you close?”
“We are. I mean, we were. We used to do everything together, including diving.” A wistful smile broke over her face when she thought of happier times. “But now she’s gone. Being home reminds me of her. It was easier when I was away at school.” Angie sniffled. Kaden was still watching, his undivided attention clear. “My dad had the Coast Guard and divers and boaters all over searching, but nobody found her.”
He didn’t meet her gaze. “What was your mother’s name?”
“Song Ning. I mean Ning Song.”
Kaden appeared East Asian, but she wasn’t sure if he knew Chinese naming customs.
Five heartbeats passed. “I know why she wasn’t found.”
Angie blinked away the spots that had appeared in her vision. “I don’t understand.”
“My people and I found her floating lifeless at eight hundred feet. She had drowned. We found an identification card with her name and photo on it hanging from her waist. We did not want to engage with the humans, so we took her to be buried in a traditional mer ceremony.”
“Wh-what?” Angie rubbed her eyes. “How could she drown? She never dove unprepared. Especially deep-sea diving!” Her mind scrambled for answers, for possibilities, anything explaining Mama’s intent.
“She must have had her reasons.” Kaden stumbled over his words.
The mer’s intent was unexpectedly touching, but—
“We worried for years! All we wanted was closure. I almost wish you left her there so we could have found and buried her.” Her jaw clenched.
“I am sorry. On behalf of my people, I apologize. We respect the dead too much to leave them there to decompose, or to be nipped at by scavengers until someone finally finds their remains.”
“Your people bury humans often?” The irritation seeped through Angie’s tone.
“Yes. The few we have found dead are honored as if they were mer. We all live together on this planet.” Kaden’s tail flicked behind him, sending droplets of icy water flying into the air and splattering on the top of her head. “Something your species should keep in mind.” The freeze seeped through Angie’s skull, and she threw him a frosty scowl.
“You had no problems leaving humans dead on the beach the past month.” Angie took back her biting words as soon as she spoke them. She didn’t mean to be so snippy. He was listening and showing genuine concern, and he didn’t intentionally take Mama from her.
Kaden’s eyebrows slanted downward, his expression visibly strained. “We were not at war when we buried your mother. We don’t show the same respect to our enemies. Particularly not ones who brutally murder us and leave us strung up as a show of mockery! Your kind never wants to understand, only to destroy.”
Angie flinched. “We’re not all like that—” Her defenses spiked. “I tried to make them see, but they wouldn’t listen to me, either. I’m still trying to get through to my dad.”
“I know. Not all of you. But enough of you want to see us dead.” Kaden’s shoulders deflated. “But thank you for trying. I hope you continue to do so, as I am.”
Kaden shifted toward the sunbeams piercing wispy white clouds. His handsome face carried soft, gentle features reflecting care, respect, and loyalty.
She looked away from him lest he caught her gawking.
“Angie, I meant to ask earlier. Have you been feeling well?”
He couldn’t have known she was sick. “Why do you ask?”
“You did not show yesterday. I was on the way back to the same spot today and happened to see you here.” He looked at his own reflection in the calm sea, closing his eyes.
