The Mermaid of London

Chapter 2

A little while later, the three made it home at the apartment. Terry drove herself home in her own car, while Adrianna used her own car to take herself and Tommy home. Terry and Tommy were lying down on their beds in their own rooms, sobbing to themselves as they buried their faces in their pillows. Adrianna was in the living room sitting on the couch, watching TV...or at least, she attempted to watch TV, but she had too much guilt from the earlier incident to concentrate. She was petting Owen, who was lying with her on the couch.

In time, the crying subsided, and a few minutes later, Terry emerged from the bedroom, having already changed out of her swimsuit and into a white tank top with a light red blouse and denim jeans.

"Hey, Adrianna," she greeted with a sad look on her face.

"Oh, hi, Terry," Adrianna calmly replied, "How are you feeling?"

"Still pretty down, but I'll be okay. I'm going to go see Tommy."

Terry walked over to Tommy's room, and gently knocked on the door.

"Hello?" Tommy asked in a heartbroken tone.

Terry slowly opened the door and entered his room. She saw that Tommy was lying in bed on his side, his body under the covers. Tears were still running down his face.

"Hi, honey," Terry said to her son as she made her way to his bed.

"Mom?" Tommy spoke in surprise as he slowly sat himself up in his bed. This surprised him because their last interaction had his mother angrily reject his apology and demanded to be left alone. Terry sat down on the bed next to her son.

"Mom, I wanted to say earlier that I-"

But before he could finish that sentence, Terry leaned over and gently placed a finger over his mouth.

"No, no, honey," she gently cooed, "You don't need to apologize. If anyone should be apologizing, it's me. I'm so sorry for snapping at you earlier. I shouldn't have done that."

Terry held in Tommy in for a tight hug. Suddenly, Terry had an idea in her head.

"Come on. Let's go into the living room. I wanna talk to both you and Adrianna."

Pulling the covers off his body, Tommy extended his arms, asking to be held, and Terry immediately accepted his request by not only holding him in her arms, but also carrying him out of his room and into the living room. Adrianna, still sitting on the couch, witnessed the two and quickly pieced together that mother and son were able to patch things up. She scooted out of the way to the right-hand side to allow Terry to sit on the left-hand side. Tommy was placed on the center, right between Terry and Adrianna. Owen got off the couch.

"I was hoping I'd never have to talk about this, especially to you, Tommy," Terry began, "but in light of what happened earlier, I feel it's time for me to confess to you the truth...properly, this time."

"So...Terry," Adrianna began, "Was it true?"

"Yes. What I said at the cave was not something I blurted out just to get people off my back. It's true. I really AM an Atlantean, and I am indeed the princess of Atlantis."

Adrianna and Tommy looked at each other in surprise. Although they had heard it earlier at the cave, but it was just as surprising the second time as it was the first.

"Yeah, I know it's surprising," Terry assured, "Let me tell you. I hated who I was. I was stuck-up, I was arrogant, and I was selfish. In hindsight, I feel I was who I was because of Ceto."

"Who's Ceto?" Adrianna asked.

"She's the Queen of Atlantis..." Terry chimed in, "...and unfortunately, my mother."