Chapter 11Harbor
Chapter 11
HARBOR
H ours seem to pass in the blink of an eye, but too soon someone from the communication center interrupts to tell Mom that her time is up. I can’t stand the fact that my ability to see and talk to my mom is ruled by politics and negotiations of regulations between the two countries. It makes me wonder where in the history of our world we failed as a civilization to connect our communities.
As tears flow on both sides of the screen, I promise Mom I’ll keep in touch through messages, not holding back this time. Anything that I brought up today is now on the table, but I’ll reserve my judgment for anything new. I don’t want her ruining her standing with the Thalassian ambassadors over simple bullying. As our call ends and my world expands once more to everything around me, I notice the darkness falling outside.
Packing up my things in order to head back to campus, I wonder if I’ll ever be able to live a life with the family I love. As of right now, Mom can’t visit Naesala without a specific reason, and Talon can’t go there without special potions bestowed by the Thalassian leaders. The permission to obtain those is incredibly hard to procure. It is usually politicians and other cultural leaders that can receive those in order to visit the civilization in the depths of the ocean.
Gathering my bags, I make my way upstairs to join the rest of the family for dinner before returning to campus. As I make my way into the kitchen, I find Isabella perched on a stool at the counter.
“Hi. Is there anything I can do to help?” When my question isn’t immediately answered, I glance up from my phone and find Isabella with tears streaming down her face. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Can I help in any way?”
As she peers up at me with tear-stained cheeks, sadness echoes in the depths of her dark eyes. “Harbor, I have to apologize. I went downstairs to let you know it would just be you and me for dinner, when I overheard your conversation with your mother.”
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, I swear,” she says as she stands and begins pacing the room. “Something about her voice hypnotized me, holding me hostage while memories of our past unlocked and flooded my mind. I’m not even sure how, or why, but I’m suddenly remembering years that previously didn’t exist in my mind.”
“I-I’m confused,” I say, not sure how to respond. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying,” she says as she turns to face me, “I know your mother. I’ve known her since we were children; we grew up together. How I forgot this when you arrived, I don’t know. You really look just like her, and yet, I couldn’t make the connection. That is what confuses me the most,” she says quietly, as if to herself. “How could I forget someone I’ve known for so long?”
“Okay,” I say, hesitantly. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’m willing to listen. Isabella has always been kind to me, so if she’s distraught, I want to do everything I can to help.
“Let me start over,” she says with a smile as she walks over and perches on the barstool once more. The haunting look in her eyes still shows she’s not as confident as she is trying to appear. “Can I tell you a story?”
“Of course,” I reply, pulling out the stool next to her.
“When I was six, I met a girl who lived down the street. She and I became the best of friends. Morgan and I, we did everything together.” As she reminisces about the fond memories, a wistful smile appears as tears pool in her eyes. “We were inseparable. If I wasn’t at her house, she was at mine. Even in school, the teachers tried to keep us away from each other, not because we’d cheat, but because they would catch us sneaking notes to each other during class.”
“Around nine years old, we met two other girls. One, you know as Stacy Oramar. The other… Well, I doubt you remember Sybil. I think your mom only introduced you once because she lived so far away. Anyway, the four of us grew up together. Even through secondary school, when your mom struggled with her maturity. The three of us made potions each month to make us immune, and despite her efforts, your mom had to seclude in her home for about two years.”
Hearing these memories of Mom is heartbreaking. She’s never talked about her childhood, and knowing she had to give up her friends when she and I left… My heart aches for her.
“I was the first of our sisterhood to marry. My first husband, Dallas, was a charmer. He was the love of my life, and I fell hard and fast for him. Kanaan is just like him, charismatic and genuinely kind. I found out I was pregnant right away, and we were the happiest little family.”
“Stacy was next, meeting Myles Oramar at the bank when she went in with her parents. Myles was obviously older, but he knew she was a catch, and as the dragon he is, coveted her like all of his other treasures. Soon she was married off, and she became pregnant not long after me.”
“Your mom and Sybil waited,” Isabella says with a sigh. “They were content. Happy to be single. It was about a year later, though, before they both met someone.”
“The night we celebrated Stacy’s birthday, Myles met Hudson, and your mother was smitten. Sybil met Aiden, and while they hit it off immediately, it took Hudson a while to notice your mom. She went through a stage where she dyed her hair, thinking Hudson would be prejudiced against syrens. I thought she was nuts for hiding herself, but she wouldn’t listen. She had to have him, and in the end, she had to keep the ruse up, since it turned out he assumed she was a mage. She didn’t want to admit to misleading him.”
“Sybil got married right away, and found out she was pregnant shortly after. Kanaan was still young, maybe a year old. When your mom and dad finally got married about six months after that, they had become the sweetest couple. Sybil was a mystic mage, and we always listened when she gave us something specific. At that point, she said your mom had trouble ahead. We… Oh gods, we exchanged those tokens of protection.” She exhales, a sigh escaping her lips as a weight of guilt settles over her. “I’ll come back to this shortly; I just need to finish this original story first.”
“She waited quite a long time to have you, though. It must have been at least two years after they were married that she realized she was pregnant with you. It was such a joyous time as we celebrated with her. Well, only Stacy and I were able to celebrate her pregnancy. While your parents were away, celebrating their nuptials with a honeymoon, Aiden convinced Sybil to return to his family’s home. He grew up pretty far away, in the mountains, so for Sybil to commit to run away with him… It was a huge separation for the sisterhood we’d built.”
“We were hurt; your mother, especially. Stacy and I were incredibly emotional, with newborn babies to take care of. I know Dallas and Myles tried to hide it, but when your mom tried to contact us to say ‘hi’ and check in, and we didn’t respond, Morgan knew something was wrong. She insisted on cutting her honeymoon short, and when she returned, we all sat and cried together. We weren’t sure why she left; she just said it was best for her family. It turns out Sybil was already pregnant, but had only told her husband. Aiden became protective immediately, knowing that she had prophesied there was chaos bound for one of her close friends. That’s what ultimately led her to accept his insistence of moving away.”
“We made a pact to always stand by each other, but so many things happened in the following years. Sybil and her husband tragically died in a sudden accident, leaving one child alone. We tried to reach out, I think, to take him in. I–I can’t remember that much; I guess my mind is still foggy. I think… I lost track of him when he went to live with family farther away.” The confusion written all over her face makes me feel bad. I never meant for her to share so many painful memories.
“Only two years later, my dear husband Dallas had an accident at work. So many rumors flew, claiming Hudson was involved with his death, but I knew all of it was false. Supposedly, Hudson got mad at your mom for potentially having an affair with Dallas, but my love never stepped out on me. I don’t know where Hudson thought Morgan would ever be interested in Dallas, but we were able to put that rumor to rest. It happened about a week before the accident, and had we not been able to prove their innocence, I’d think maybe Hudson could have potentially been responsible.”
“Luckily, we all had clear consciences when Dallas fell. Everyone mourned his sweet and kind soul. I actually remember when your mom brought you to visit shortly after that.” She sniffles, remembering the heartbreaking memories. “About a week later, I started receiving checks to support Kanaan and myself.”
“Was there ever an investigation done into his death?” I ask, confused about how she became available to meet my father.
“A short one, yes. That must have been why the payments started arriving so quickly.” Isabella sniffles as she stands, walking over to prepare some food for us. “It wasn’t so hard, knowing that Kanaan and I were taken care of. I was able to work, and still be there for him as he grew. Soon he matured…”
“Harbor, I have to apologize,” she says, turning and picking up my hands. “When Dallas passed away, your mother gave me something to protect for her.” Her eyes glaze over as she looks past me into the wall across the room. “For some reason, whatever it was she gave me to keep for her is foggy…”
“Anyway,” she says, shaking her head. “Something happened many years later. Four years ago, I believe…” her voice drifts off, as if she’s trying to remember. “I ended up meeting your father, and he had just pushed a divorce through the Kalakai governing council, so your mom must have just returned with you to Thalassia. He and I became quite enamored with each other, our romance spiraling quickly through the clouds. I don’t know what got a hold of me, but I fell so deeply for your father, I somehow managed to, I don’t know, forget about my past? I remembered Stacy, but I seemed to forget all about Sybil and Morgan.” She pauses, shaking her head slightly, as if to clear the cobwebs. “Not even your return or mentions of your mom triggered anything.”
“When I went down to speak to you, and I heard your mom’s voice… Memories from decades just rushed back and overwhelmed me. I ran back upstairs and sat down, before I attempted to reconcile what had just happened.”
“That’s so strange,” I say, confused by her memory loss. “I’m not upset about it, though.”
“No, you don’t understand,” she says. “I had something of your mother’s, but my head is so confused, and I can’t remember what it was. I know she lent it to me for protection, and I’m sure I put it away for safekeeping, because whatever it was, she needed to hide it. This wasn’t supposed to happen like this, I know. I-I’m so sorry. I wish I could return it to you, so you have something of hers with you.”
“I’m sorry for dumping this all on you. You didn’t ask for any of this.” Her heavy sigh echoes around the kitchen, laced with a hint of guilt. My heart breaks at this entire story she’s spilled to me in the past few minutes. I’m so glad my mom had such a loving environment to grow up in.
“Isabella,” I say, hoping my smile conveys the warmth for her that I feel, “I don’t even consider that an offense. That was something between you and Mom, and I know she would think you didn’t mean any disrespect. I’m sure whatever Mom gave you meant something to her, but it sounds like she valued your friendship and you as a person more.”
Isabella chuckles, a watery smile spreading across her face. I return her smile, but I continue speaking my words of encouragement. “You are a wonderful person, and I’m blessed to have you here. I’m not sure how you are so strong of spirit, but you are a blessing to this house. I’m so thankful that you are my stepdaughter, and that I can call you family.”
Reaching out and wrapping my arms around her, I recognize the warmth of her motherly embrace. Having someone here who is like a mother to me when Mom wasn’t able to follow means so much. When I finally release her, I step back and smile. “So, what was it you said you came down to see me for? I’m here now.”
Isabella chuckles before responding. “Oh, I wanted to let you know your father and Kanaan won’t be joining us for dinner. I figured we could go to a restaurant if you wanted. I could drop you off back at campus afterward.”
My brows dip, confusion washing over me. “Kane went back already?” I know our last conversation was strained, and I could always hire a car if Isabella didn’t offer to swing by and drop me off, but I didn’t think it was so bad that he’d avoid me. “Yeah, that should be fine.”
“Perfect,” she says, “I’ve been dying to take you to this one place in Kalakai Cove. It’s halfway to Terranea, and it’s new, only opened about a year ago. They serve amazing food; actually, it’s a blend of Mylieran and Fallodorian food. The owners decided to bring a fusion of their cultures’ flavors to this side of the nation. I had a conversation with them the last time we all went, before you arrived. Your father favors the Mylieran roast, but Kanaan tried the grilled Osco. It’s evidently a variation of Fallodorian fowl that is farmed and harvested for their incredible flavor. He said it had a similar taste to our roasted sea pheasant.”
“That sounds delicious,” I say with a grin. Gathering my bags, I glance back at Isabella. “Are you ready? I’d rather not wait too late. You’d still have to travel all the way back here if you take me back to campus. I can always hire a car from the restaurant, though. I don’t want you to be out too late.”
“Nonsense.” She levels me with a glare, softening the gesture with a smile. “You’re family, and I won’t hear anything of the sort. I will make sure you get back to school. I’ve had plenty of late nights in my lifetime; don’t you worry about me.” Her little wink and grin as she passes me out the front door has me responding in kind.
As I join Isabella in the back seat of the car and the driver shuts the door behind me, I can’t wait to spend more time with this woman. She is a link to my mom in this world, and just knowing that she grew up and stayed so close with Mom warms my heart. It’s like having a second mom; another bright star shining love down on me in the darkness that has fallen on my life.