Mermania

Ties and bonds

father had died and the money had run out, and at school I suggested to Zach that he look up your address..."Officer Garrenton chuckled. "If one of my boys, when they were his age, had gone wandering off, gotten all soaked, and had to catch a ride home in a police cruiser, I wouldn't admit he was mine, either." "Zach, huh? What's brings you to our home, Zach?" Grandma Mary shook her head and waved us off. "I'm just happy to have you both here. That's all." The crowd roared and cheered, appearing as black-and-white photographic blurs with each burst of the strobe lights. The band kicked it up a notch, playing their number one hit and causing frenzy. All around me, an eager swarm of bodies knocked into each other, jumping up and down and dancing to the upbeat tempo. I threw my arms up to my face, shielding myself from elbows and sweaty bodies jostling into me. Strong arms grabbed me from behind, wrapping around my waist and pulling me close to the rhythm of his body. She liked the sound of his laugh. It was a real laugh, one from humor, unlike Lennek's. An agent awaited them in the drizzle as they exited the vehicle. "Agent Nyler just sent word. Your boy's not here," he informed Craig and Kara right away. Two guards stood with Rema outside the Grand Hall's entrance, waiting for Prince Lennek to arrive. "It's not that bad, Mary," Grandpa said. He hugged me next. Not quite as exuberant as Grandma's hug, but it was nice. "How are you holding up, kiddo?" "Even if I didn't come out of your tummy?" he asked Kara. We drove to a cafe just down the block. Tara sipped on hot chocolate while I wrapped my hands around a mug of herbal tea. Blueberry muffins sat between us on our small, round table for two. "Could have been." Minutes had passed, and the radio had picked up nothing more. "I think you should plant a big wet one on him next time you see him, but that's just me." Gretchen smiled. Her thoughts refocused on Lennek. "My aunt." Xanthus scowled when Sara hesitated. "Neco," Darmik said, taking a side street. Neco was still covered in blood and attracting too much attention. "You're going to stay here with ten soldiers. You'll organize a search of the city and flush out those rebels. Do whatever you have to, but I want one captured and brought to king's city for interrogation." "Where are we going?" he inquired, returning to his room. We both stood there without speaking for a few moments. Awkward and no fun, there was little point to this date anymore. I'd had enough of this charade. "Ok, can we both just be honest about this for a minute?" "Thanks, Mike," Agent Nyler nodded, puffing out his cheeks as he considered the house. "Anybody home?" As Xanthus neared, five of the larger sharks broke rank and charged toward him. Their gaping mouth sneered, ridged with sharp, dagger-like teeth. Xanthus's steel muscles clenched, prepared for battle. Derek eased his axe to the ground and folded his arms. Somehow that made him look even larger than he really was. He took a step toward Dad, who bravely stood his ground, his hands on his hips. Acknowledging him with a smile, she began warming her oatmeal, then stepped over to him, placed her arms around his neck from behind, and kissed him on the cheek. "Good morning." She looked at Zach across the counter. "Did you sleep well, kiddo?" "Nah." Eddie looked down at the floor and shuffled his feet. "He'll be too busy having his best summer ever- with you and your husband, I mean. The nannies- they didn't do much for him, you know, not for the last two or three years. From what he's told me." He lifted his eyes to meet Kara's meekly. "I don't mean to be rude." "Oh yes, dear. Let's get you home and we'll get caught up on what you've been up to." "So did you hear what happened to you this weekend?" she asked, her eyes wide in exaggeration. She grinned when I folded my arms, should they try to enter. He had taken responsibility for keeping them out of the way, and out of harm's way. What are Mom and Dad doing right now? He wondered, trying to distract himself from the itching and aching. Would they be worried about him yet? Uncle Ben and Aunt Lia and his cousins had probably finished their dinner with Mom and Dad by now and returned home. Zach wondered if marissa had missed him. She could be really annoying, but she was okay as a cousin anyway. He had been hoping to play soccer with Brooke again tonight. "I know how you feel. I love my mom. I just couldn't live with her. She was driving me insane." Sara sighed. "Do you really think it's safe to stay here?" The boy looked up at her, dazed. "He says they found his daughter because of me. But I didn't do anything, Mom. I just__" The man sighed. "Eddie here has been gathering evidence against a dirty agent," he explained, "enough to get a search warrant earlier today, and...well, Agent Mitchell and a dozen other agents just took him into custody." Kara bit her lip. "You're afraid...that someone is going to come and take him away from us. Like Tiffy. Is that it? And we'll miss our chance to spend this time with him?" "Did he say why he wanted to marry you?" Aunt Maya asked. Kara sighed. "I didn't know what else to do. I had to try something." "Another good day's work," Derek declared cheerfully as he tamped down the last of the dirt. "And just in time, too." He peered up into the misty rain that had resumed moments ago. "Doesn't look like you're going to get your game in tonight." At last, with a majestic boom, the opening fireworks blossomed in the sky, a pair of golden spheres raining silver sparkles over the surface of the lake far below them. Zach sat straight up, his eyes wide. He oohed and ahhed at the explosions along with everyone else and with greater enthusiasm. The next day Ben, taking Monday off, came by to check on the family and found Derek inside repairing the two broken doorframes and replacing the doors. He offered to help, so he and Derek naturally spent the morning picking on Craig. Everything clicked into the place. Prince