Page 53 of Oceansong
“Thanks for listening. Helps to get it out.” Mia still fiddled with her diamond. “But how are you holding up?”
“Well, Bàba and Nick have me working overtime by default now. Some days I can barely remember what I just ate, and I can’t think straight half the time.”
“You can say no, you know. They can’t force you.” Mia sat back and folded her arms over her chest. “Bàba would work all day and night if he had to. That’s how he is.”
Bàba believed in hard work over play and rest which would happen post-retirement.
“Just because he works fourteen-hour days doesn’t mean you have to. Well, I guess now it’s sixteen-hour days since Everett quit, right?”
“I know, but I’m here to help Bàba and get experience. Sometimesthere’s too much work for me to finish in eight hours. How would it look if I kept leaving on time while he’s forced to stay until past dinnertime, or go in before breakfast?” Angie lamented the thought.
“I suppose. You’re a grown woman, it’s your choice. Remember you can say no.” Mia sat back upright, her features hardening again. “The mer deserve whatever awful thing happens to them. You’re at the forefront every day. Promise you’ll be careful and never let those fishes get you, okay?”
Angie nodded, mute.
Mia draped her arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
They sat in silence. Angie mulled over Mia’s words, her chest tightening with dread.
Twenty-Three
The eleven-hour workday arrived, andAngie stepped out for her lunch break much later than normal. She sat alone on a bench overlooking the shoreline. Close enough to take in the calming, rhythmic roll of the waves, but far enough away to stay out of sight of any passing mer.
Despite the serenity, the absence of squawking gulls and terns circling the blue struck a discordant chord in her. The skies were as silent as the seas.
She unzipped her light jacket, taking another bite of her steamed bun, the soft, fluffy texture hugging salty, chewy pork and leek inside. She made a small batch last night, just enough to tie her over for a day, using Mama’s classic recipe, and after a quick reheat this morning, it was still fresh and delicious. Where she normally had two buns per meal, today she had one, supplemented with a handful of pickled cucumbers.
Angie tried her best not to think of the tasks awaiting her after lunch. Not only did she have to help inspect all the perennially docked boats and take inventory in their many warehouses, now the task of organizing and maintaining their file systems fell to her as well.
Stop it. Focus on your break or you’ll drive yourself insane.
She looked out to the seaside, where much of it was blocked off by ropes to prevent workers from wandering too close to the water. She grimaced.
A demanding squawk came from a gray and white herring gull who landed at her feet, cocking its head. Angie pursed her lips, and ripped off a piece of her only bun. The gull opened its yellow beak and eagerly snatched it. It looked upward, loud squawks belying its minute size, and seemingly out of nowhere, more gulls appeared.
Angie smiled to herself. Gulls’ ability to smell food from miles away never failed to surprise her. “Alright. You win.” She picked off the bread from her bun and tossed them to the birds, leaving her to eat only the filling.The gulls dispersed, leaving the skies silent once more.
“Hope you don’t mind the company.” Stefan plopped down next to her. Angie took too big of a bite and swallowed quickly, coughing and swallowing hard again to get the meat lump down. Stefan reached out to slap her upper back. “You okay?”
“Ate too fast.” Angie coughed again and took a big swig of water.
“Don’t go dying on me now.”
“Hah. Trying not to. What’s going on?”
“I was taking a walk and got a whiff of those steamed buns. Something about it is uniquely yours and your dad’s. Figure chatting with you beats walking around in circles.” Stefan winked at her. Angie side-eyed it as she finished her lunch, her stomach growling. “Was that you or me?”
“Me.” Angie pulled out a tissue from the travel pack in her jacket and wiped her hands. “Why were you walking around in circles?”
“Beats thinking about how hungry I am. We’re being conservative with what we still have in the house. So we’re skipping breakfast and lunch.” Stefan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Since we don’t go out for dive lessons anymore and business has been slow at the shop, Ken and I were thinking of going for our own dive today. See if any boats were going out, since there haven’t been any mer attacks in a while. Thought it might be safe. But, there’s that.” He gestured to the blockade by the shore. “Could be why they haven’t attacked. Anyway, we stayed and enjoyed the beautiful day. Ken went to chat with Nick and some of the guys.”
“Beautiful day?” Angie raised a dubious eyebrow. “The sky is a giant cloud, and it looks like it’s going to rain any minute.”
“Hate sunny days! It bothers my eyes, and I burn like crazy. We get way too much daylight now as it is. This keeps up, and I’ll turn into a lobster.” His words carried a scornful intonation. “The first one we’ve seen around here in months.”
Angie chuckled, acknowledging the sad reality.
Stefan rubbed the stubble on his jawline. “The seas are looking rough.” He motioned with his head toward the choppy, scattered waves merging into one another. Angie twitched at the mention, but said no more. They both knew its meaning, that mer were likely lurking.
