RIPPLE

{Twenty Three} WEEK TWO

WEEK TWO

It still felt strange to fall asleep without Lachlan. It felt weird not having him in a place where his presence lingers so strongly. His scent is on the pillows, and our poetry book is on the nightstand. I read it before bed and try to keep my mind off of him.

        Day ten and this hasn't gotten any easier without him. I often spend time in the enchanted underwater cave, or on the beach with Merrick for our hourly evening stroll where he has started to spill his secrets about Lola. It feels like I'm beginning to fall into a more natural routine but I still didn't want to get too used to this place.

        Merrick's mom is still convinced this wedding is going to be a definite event. She hurried me into one of her two offices.

        My maybe mother-in-law was very nice and chipper although very quiet over dinner. She is gorgeous,a woman with kind eyes and so is her ‘office’.

        Her office is free from glass scenery and fish. Instead, there are dark walls and hardwood floors. There's a rather large bar area and two couches to lay down on. There's a loveseat nearby, two of them, with overflowing dresses and mirrors against the walls; a television hung on one. A painted picture of Poseidon and herself hung over the bar area.

        “what is all of this?” I couldn't help but ask.

         “Your dresses have finally arrived, and I'd like you to try on a few!”

        Amphrite had me try on several, all of which I didn't like, didn't fall right or didn't feel like the right one. Few had old-fashioned Greek-style styles. One had too long of a train. But as I tried on her last dress, I stare at myself in the mirror and try to smile as I imagine this to be the dress that I would marry Lachlan in.

         It's slightly off-shoulder and lace, a large dress (think beauty and the beast), with a small train. It compliments each of my curves. As I look in the mirror, her gray-green eyes look sad and her blonde hair hangs down her back in curly ringlets.

        “A lot of people don't get their happily ever afters, child. But they do get the next best thing.”

        So the wedding planning commenced, with his mom wondering how calligraphy would look and how the invitations should smell. I wanted to tell her that this was all just a waste of time, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I couldn't bring myself to hurt her enthusiasm.

         If your Prince fails you Nerissa, I think you can learn to love Merrick.

        Merrick and I continued going on our ventures to the beach, and few times some of my sisters would come along. Sometimes I brought the corny poetry book that Lachlan and I read together, Merrick reading some of it out loud in a drawling voice and rolling his eyes. But I loved it, and when Lachlan returns I'll tell him about them all.

         It was on day thirteen that Poseidon caught him and Lola together.

       His father went livid and Poseidon caused an uproar in the early morning hours that woke his entire sanctuary. Glimmer and I followed the sounds of screaming into Merrick's corridor, which happened to be near enough to mine.

         I had to hand it to Merrick: he's either very brave or very stupid to stand up to his Godly father. While Lola cowers, Merrick stood up for her and blocked her from his dad's view.

        Lola is a supermodel type babe, with dark hair and strikingly dark eyes. But she's half naked; in only her bra and panties, attempting to cover herself with Merrick's white sheets. She's shaking uncontrollably, and I feel the strange urge to move and comfort her despite the threats of offing me. I know how it feels to be in her shoes.