Page 106 of Midnightsong
“It’s been a lot since the last war with the mer. A few of my coworkers left Creston, and I don’t blame them. But management hasn’t replaced them, so it’s been all extra work, no extra pay. I can’t even get home on time to my kids most days.” Mia gently blew on her steaming tea.
“Do you know what you’d want to transition to?”
Mia shrugged. “I don’t know yet. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. The hospital directors put together a party for all the staff. I saw Celia there and we chatted for a bit, and she asked about you.”
Angie’s interest was piqued. “She’s working at the hospital again?”
“Yeah, she obviously couldn’t work at the docks anymore. And we always need more staff, so she was hired quickly as one of the admin staff.”
“How is she?”
“She seemed alright, mostly talked to me and one of the receptionists about work stuff.” Mia scrolled through her phone and showed Angie a photo of the administrative department.
Angie looked closer. Mia was in the middle of the photo surrounded by colleagues. Celia was at the edge of the frame, and Angie easily identified her from the sparkling silver stud in her nose. “I’m glad she’s doing okay.”
Mia swiped to a photo of baby Jack, and a tender smile spread as she put her phone down on the coffee table. “You know, Jack has been asking why we don’t have a dad that lives with us. He’s been seeing other dads on TV, and with other kids at the playground.” She worried her bottom lip. “Remember how I told you it was only a matter of time until he’d start questioning?”
“What did you tell him?” Angie sipped her fragrant jasmine tea, relishing in the rich floral scent.
“That he had a dad, but he’s not with us anymore. When he’s older, I’ll tell him all about Nick.”
The mention of Nick sent up the hairs at the back of Angie’s neck, and she turned away from Mia, bristling. “Oh yeah?”
Mia leaned forward, resting her elbows on her thighs, her expression somber. “Yeah, it’s why I brought them over to Nick’s parents’ this week. They’re off school and she misses him a lot.”
Angie’s mouth went dry and she took a hard swallow. She didn’t want to keep talking, or thinking about Nick, but if it helped Mia to get it out, she’d bear it.
“I don’t know how to tell her he died trying to protect you from the mer.” Mia leaned back in her seat, folding her hands across her belly, and Angie swore she caught a sniffle from her sister.
Angie ran her tongue over her upper teeth. She tried to remember what happened, but it was hazy. The pain at the time, and survival, was the only priority on her mind. Not where Nick was or what he was doing.
Two years after his death and she still couldn’t shake the feeling of disgust at the notion of him. For all the evil he had done, he had died, slipped away unreformed and unpunished.
She slid her arm around Mia’s shoulders and pulled her close, and Mia put her head on Angie’s shoulder.
Mia lifted her head. “I know you two didn’t like each other. And he said some horrible things in his rage and stress, but he never wanted to see you hurt.”
Angie shifted uncomfortably. The Nick she knew at the docks had cursed her out and got into a physical altercation with her.Not to mention his assaulting the mermaid in the outhouse, Aurora, in front of his cronies and resulting in her lifemate being shot execution-style, but she swallowed her words. She couldn’t tear Mia’s wounds open again and forced her next words out. “I’ll take your word for it.”
“I was still planning on leaving him.” Mia’s voice grew thick. “I still see the spears impaling him, over and over. I had nightmares for a long time afterward.”
“I remember; you told me.” Angie finally faced Mia, squeezing her hand. She hated Nick at the time, yes, and that he treated Mia so poorly. But she also hated that Rosie and Jack’s father was taken from them.
Mia nodded with a sniffle and wiped her eyes with her free hand. “You know, even though it seemed like he looked down at you, he still would have protected you. You were his sister-in-law, and his strong sense of family would have demanded that.”
Angie squeezed Mia tighter, remembering when he shot Serapha because he thought she was hurting Angie. “I know,” she whispered.
“But enough about him. Thanks for listening to me.” Mia smiled through her tears, and Angie walked over to the coffee table to retrieve a tissue for her.
“Jack’s so annoying,” Rosie stomped over to them, rolling her eyes. She grabbed her glass of water and took a long drink. “He won’t stop punching my shoulder.”
“Your Mama thought I was annoying too when we were growing up. But look at us now.” Angie winked at Mia.
“She was a pain in my behind.” Mia grinned, giving Angie’s arm an affectionate squeeze. “Also, Jack, stop hitting your sister!” She raised her voice coupled with a sharp glare at her son, and he dropped his arms to his sides. Then grumbled, “no kid of mine is going to use their fists to solve problems. Or for fun.”
“I don’t know. I guess he’s okay sometimes.” Rosie pouted. “When he’s not being stupid.” Jack let out a shriek as he ran through the house and tripped over his own feet, laughing as he tumbled to the floor. “Angie ayí, can we go outside and make snow angels?”
“I want come!” Jack bounded over.
