Thirty-five
“Have you seen this?” Eliza asked.
Mackenzie looked up from her omelet. Granny had made it just the way she liked it – Gruyere cheese and sautéed mushrooms – but she’d only choked down one bite.
It’d been a week since food was appealing. She always felt full, and when she didn’t, her stomach hurt. Either way, not much was getting in.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mackenzie said, putting her fork down.
Eliza sat next to her, pushing the plate out of the way and setting down her laptop. “This video about Lottie.”
Just what they needed. More trouble. Mackenzie shut her eyes. “What now?”
“No, it’s a good thing! Watch.”
A shining figure appeared on the black screen. It was Lottie, breaking the surface, blue water filling in around her. A spout of air puffed out and she rolled to her side, clicking and whistling. Text appeared on the screen.
Lottie the whale was captured off the coast of Washington state 41 years ago. Actor Russell Westwood is leading the charge to bring her home .
The scene cut to Russell sitting on his patio, the ocean at his back. “She’s spent her entire life alone. Performing. Entertaining. It’s time to give her a break. We’re working with veterinarians, biologists, and an entire team of dedicated contractors to build Lottie what’s essentially her own retirement community. It’s been a wild ride.”
A bird’s eye view of the sea pen site flashed onto the screen – the buildings, the shoreline, birds dipping into the water. A harbor seal, plump and lazy, sitting on a rock. Piano music faded in as a time lapse ticked by, the sun rising and falling as boats buzzed in and out, the site coming alive.
Mackenzie pulled her arms in close. Goosebumps rippled on her skin.
Inge the whale researcher appeared, her eyes clear, her smile wide. “We have an incredible opportunity here. Lottie is a member of a close-knit family we’ve been studying for decades. We believe her mother is still alive and well.”
Another woman appeared with the words Lottie’s Former Trainer . “She could have a chance to live another forty years here. If she stays in that tank, by herself, I don’t think she’ll survive another five years.”
A rollercoaster roared across the scene, and Lottie’s tank dropped into view, centered under the midday sun. Paint peeled from the railings in flaking chunks. Lottie floated in the water, blowing bubbles. Stadium seats fanned behind her, a lavender pantsuit making its way down.
“How was I supposed to know Lottie was about to become the most popular whale in the world?” Mrs. Smitt barked.
Mackenzie gasped, spotting herself on screen. Sunglasses on her head, a stern look on her face. Was it possible? Did she look kind of…cool?
Not everyone is happy to see Lottie move on .
The screen froze on Mrs. Smitt’s sour face, her lips pursed, her red lipstick smeared.
Next month, Initiative Measure 81823, The Protect Marine Mammals in Washington Initiative, will go to vote. If it passes, moving Lottie will be illegal .
An image of Lottie faded in, opening and closing her mouth as she squeaked. The view zoomed out, showing her alone in the tank, surrounded by barren walls.
Vote NO on Initiative Measure 81823 and help bring Lottie home .
Tears flushed Mackenzie’s eyes and she bit her lip, trying to contain the hot breath coming up her throat.
Eliza turned, grinning. Her smile fell. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
“I’m not crying,” Mackenzie said, wiping at her eyes. She let out a breath. The hot feeling in her throat passed. “It’s just really good. Who made it?”
Eliza smiled. “Who do you think?”
“Liam?” Mackenzie turned back to the screen. “He hasn’t answered my texts or my calls. Joey said he left the island. He’s just…gone.”
“But clearly not gone in spirit,” Granny said, sitting down, a mug of tea in her hand.
Mackenzie cracked a smile. “Did you know about this, Granny?”
She blew on her tea. “Mm, not exactly. I knew I liked him. Not like that rude Cameron, who left me standing like a dope with his tea.”
Eliza’s phone rang and she snatched it to her ear. “Hello?”
Her eyes grew round and she cleared her throat. Mackenzie leaned in. Could it be Liam? Was he finally ready to talk to her again?
“Hello, Steve,” Eliza said, rolling her eyes.
Mackenzie’s mouth dropped open.
“Mackenzie’s great.” Eliza looked up, listening. “Uh huh. Sure. I’ll let her know.”
Eliza ended the call and set her phone down. “That was Steve, wondering why he can’t get through to your phone. He was worried and wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
Granny let out a huff. “I bet he was worried!”
“I blocked him.” Mackenzie covered her mouth with her hand. “I can’t believe he’s trying to pretend her cares about me all of a sudden.”
“He can’t stand to see you shine,” Granny said, patting her hand. “Those types of men never can. They’re invertebrates.”
A snort came out of Eliza. “ Granny! ”
“What?” Granny looked around. “Is that a bad word now?”
“It doesn’t even make sense!” Eliza said.
“It does. No spine. No backbone.” Mackenzie smiled. “Speaking of invertebrates, I blocked Cameron, too.”
Eliza clapped her on the shoulder. “Good for you. Seriously.”
“That Steve,” Granny said, wagging a finger. “I bet he saw you with Bailey Jo, running everything, and he wanted to take control of you again. Knock you down.”
Mackenzie shuddered. “Never again.”
“You can’t give the time of day to a man like that.” Granny took a sip of her tea. “Now Liam. There’s someone you shouldn’t lose track of.”
“Yeah. I know.” Mackenzie sighed.
Except she had no idea where he was, and he didn’t want to speak to her. She’d never get a chance to thank him for the video. Never get a chance to tell him how sorry she was. Or even tell him about the two film festivals that had accepted his work. She’d have to email him and hope he opened the message.
Granny slammed her mug on the table. Eliza and Mackenzie jumped.
“If you agree with me,” Granny said, “why aren’t you out looking for him?”
Eliza tilted her head to the side. “Yeah, Mackenzie. I thought you had all kinds of tricks up your sleeve?”
She narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth. Nothing came out. Mackenzie stared at them. Neither budged.
She sighed. “Excuse me,” Mackenzie said, getting up from the table.
It wasn’t like she could just chase Liam down and force him to talk to her. That wasn’t how it worked. She had no idea how it was supposed to work, but not like that.
Mackenzie flattened out on her bed.
“What does Granny know, anyway?” she muttered, flipping onto her back.
She winced, listening for footsteps on the staircase. Hopefully Granny hadn’t heard that. It would end in a lecture, and Mackenzie didn’t need a lecture. Saying it out loud sounded foolish enough. She knew she was wrong.
She let out a long breath. It seemed wrong to go after Liam, though. He’d clearly left for a reason, and that reason was her. Their fight, the nasty words they’d thrown back and forth.
He left the island without a peep. He wasn’t looking to duke it out with her. Liam was above that.
And yet…he’d made the video. Mackenzie could tell herself it was just for Lottie, but then why did he include her in it?
Maybe it was Liam’s way of saying goodbye. It seemed like something he would do – work on something quietly, in the shadows, not accepting any thanks for his brilliance. Then send it off into the world without telling anyone and without asking for credit.
It was a total Liam move, and Mackenzie was an expert in taking him for granted. She was an expert at living a life in the shadows, too, just as she’d done with Steve.
Mackenzie jolted upright, her breath quickening. Is this who she was? Someone who only felt comfortable dating in secret? Never choosing a partner in the clear light of day, someone who was capable of kindness and gentleness and brilliance?
She had been so ready to believe Cameron was a nice guy and that Liam came from a family of criminals. Why was that? Was she really that intent on sabotaging any chance at real happiness?
No . She wasn’t going to live like that.
Mackenzie got up.
It didn’t matter if Liam didn’t want her to go after him. She had to. She had no choice – unless she wanted to spend the rest of her life cowering in the shadows.
She fetched her laptop from the desk. There was work to be done.