Chapter 56
Fifty-Six
Angie
Angie pulled up to the docks’ entrance and parked in Bàba’s reserved parking spot. He sat in the passenger seat, sitting at attention and looking out the window.
Five days after their truce with the mer, Governor Taylor lifted the restrictions on their evacuation zones and slowly, people with homes by the coastline had begun to return. To her knowledge, Stefan and Ken returned to their own home yesterday.
Angie and Bàba had left Mia’s house yesterday evening, and today, Bàba insisted on returning to the docks to check on things.
“You sure you’re going to be okay getting to your office?” Angie killed the engine and hopped out, grabbing Bàba’s rolling walker from the backseat and bringing it to the passenger side. “How long do you want to stay for?”
“Maybe an hour, tops. I just want to take a look around the area. Make sure everything in my office is still there.”
As Angie walked beside him, steadying him as he gingerly stepped over cracks and bumps on the ground, she thought of the reports of looting that were going on in empty homes, cars, and offices along Southwest Alaska when evacuation orders were still in effect.
Bàba swung his office door open, and plopped into his rolling chair, leaning back.
“I’ll go take a walk around.” Angie headed for the door.
Bàba mumbled affirmation as he looked around the office and removed dead potted plants by the window behind him.
Angie stepped back out into the cold, still biting, but its sting softer and more subdued in mid-March.
An incoming call request pinged, from Dr. Williams to her and Reesa. Angie walked to the ledge with the banister she and Stefan used to stand and chat, overlooking the whitecap waves.
At six thirty in the evening, the sun was taking its leave and making way for the moon to emerge. The skies were awash with purples, reds, yellows and oranges, casting a dark haze over the rocky seas.
She picked up the call and couldn’t stop the happy grin from spreading when she saw Dr. Williams with a woman who looked to be about his age and a young girl, and Reesa. “Hi everyone!” Reesa waved with both hands at the screen.
“Angie! Reesa, how are you?” Dr. Williams asked. “I want to introduce you both to my wife Aleena and daughter Tiana.” He motioned to them, and they both nodded. “I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time?”
“Oh no, I have about an hour before we go out for lunch,” Reesa replied.
“Lunch?” Angie raised an eyebrow. “Are you in Incheon?”
“Yeah, I came back once the school got hit and been with oehalmeoni and oehalabeoji.” Her maternal grandmother and grandfather, Angie recalled Reesa telling her once.
Dr. Williams put an arm around his wife’s shoulders and squeezed.
“I came off another call with our PGU faculty that said all the captured mer were released back to the sea. We let the last of our mermen go yesterday at SMOSA. And that mermaid at the aquarium was let go, too.”
“That’s great news,” Angie said softly. It sounded like Grayson only let the mermaid go under orders, but at least she was free now.
“Yes. And we found out who spread the news of the mer to the public, and he was fired from SMOSA for leaking confidential information.” Dr. Williams rubbed his forehead.
“Sh–” Reesa’s gaze darted to the young girl. “I mean, yikes.”
“He spread it to the news and social media for monetary gain, and I suppose, for his fifteen minutes of fame, too. He figured out spots to find mer from the video I shared with you all, and he recorded that.”
He rested his chin on his fist, a faraway look in his deep brown eyes.
“Yeah. Anyway, the other reason I called is to ask if you two would want to co-write a journal article with me and Aleena about safe and peaceful coexistence with the mer. We can interview a few of them who are willing and write an article on both our perspectives.”
“I’d love to!” Angie said at the same time as Reesa, and they both looked at each other and laughed.
“Perfect. We’ll be in touch.” Dr. Williams waved them off and hung up, followed by Reesa, and Angie was the last to end the call.
As soon as she hung up and made her way back to the office to check on Bàba, her seaflute vibrated in her purse. “Angie?” Kaden’s muffled voice came through, and she pulled it out.
“I’m here.” She rested the flute on the nape of her neck as she walked and talked, imagining it was his head there instead, dropping kisses over her sensitive skin.
Pleasured shivers danced over her nerves.
Kaden gave her an update on what was happening with the queendom, and with Cassia, and she kept her attention focused on what he was saying, until she reached the office and put her hand on the doorknob, pushing the door open.
“I’m holding a banquet at high moontide,” he finished. “Will you and your family join me?”
Angie didn’t think twice to say yes and looked to Bàba for his answer. He was leaning on his forearms. “Of course, I’ll come. We’ll tell Mia and Stefan and Ken.”
“Great! I’m excited to see all of you.” Unbridled joy tinged Kaden’s tone, and Angie wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around him and hug him, never to let him go again.
Bàba started to stand, wincing when he was halfway up.
“Kaden? Wait, before you go,” she said quickly.
“Anything for you.”
“Can Bàba see your healers? Maybe they can help his leg and back?”
“That’s not necessary, we don’t want to burden them.” Bàba raised his voice to be heard from across the room. “I’m sure they have many of their own to–”
“Yes, of course,” Kaden replied.
Bàba set his lips in a thin line and peered at Angie over his reading glasses.
She gave him a serene smile in return.