Epilogue
M y fall exhibit was in two days, and I was swamped. There was so much to do, and I needed at least three more days to get everything done. Merrow buzzed around our apartment, packaging each piece with careful precision; she wielded the packing tape like a weapon, and when she was like this, I got out of the way.
We had eight more days on land before we headed back to the seas, and I needed to paint as much as possible before we shifted. This would be the fourth time that we shifted, and it got easier each time. Now it took a mere two or three minutes, and I was able to keep my head above water until I fully changed, and it made the drowning feeling easier to manage. Merrow didn't seem to mind or notice it.
When we were on land, she worked for Anne Marie part time at Beans and Barley, singing on the weekends for an ever growing crowd. Merrow’s sweet, non-magical, voice drew in huge crowds, all wanting a latte while they listened. Every day she wasn’t there, she was at the Saltwater Sisters Cafe, spending time with Serita, Tia, and Adara. Having Merrow with them healed those old wounds of missing the ocean. Merrow brought them shells from every trip to the ocean.
My phone rang and Merrow answered it, now feeling more and more confident with technology, “Hey Liz, yeah he’s right here. He’s covered in paint, so I’ll just put him on speaker.”
“Owen, hey, so great news. We have a couple of friends that are interested in some of your pieces. They are collectors, love investing in new artists, yada yada, but anyway they want to commission you to paint a large mermaid piece for their summer home. Can I give them your info?”
“Yeah, that would be great.”
“I know you have your super secret, exclusive work time, so I told them that you go underground every few weeks and not to worry.”
“You’re too good to me, Liz.”
“You’re too good to me ! Your art is really what this town has been looking for. Where better to bring a piece of the ocean home than here?”
Merrow wagged her eyebrows at me, slowly unbuttoning her shirt. My shirt. She looked good in my shirt. She shrugged it off her shoulder, teasing me with the sight of the top of her breast, before she dropped it to the floor. Merrow hugged herself, squeezing her breasts up for me to look at, and I grinned.
“Speaking of, I need to get these last pieces finished before the exhibit. I’ll call you later?”
“Love it, oh, did you have a name for this one?”
“The Seas Between Us,” I said, as Merrow walked naked down the hall to crawl into our bed. Liz buzzed with compliments and by the time I hung up the phone, Merrow was sprawled out on the bed like a gift waiting for me.
I lowered myself on the bed to her, and she twined her legs around me. “I can’t wait to see everyone’s reactions to your paintings,” she said. I kissed down her neck until she shivered, goosebumps popping up all over her. Merrow’s lovely blue eyes sparkled and she nipped at my lips. “But the exhibit work can wait. For now you’re mine.”
“Forever. I’m yours forever.
“Land or sea, you belong to me,” she whispered in my ear. I nuzzled her back until there was no space left between us.