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Marika looked to the right at the calm sea before looking into Paulie's eyes. "When she makes those her heart is broken. This stack was all on her and I know that."
Paulie reacted quickly, "I promise I haven't done anything wrong."
Marika nodded, "She broke her own heart before you could do anything to hurt her."
Paulie furrowed his brows in hurt and worry. "I don't wanna hurt your mother."
"Prove it to her, Paulie. Show her that you are NOT a repeat of my lying, cheating father." Marika said to him, almost crying. "Go to the Dolphin Social. After the doorman let's you inside follow the line. Then tell the concierge that's checking you in that you're with Marista."
Paulie laughed to himself. "And if Marista declines me then what?"
"Ask for me, Amara, Meranda or Mermista. We can get you in." Marika said with a smile now. "If you need a suit we can go right now and get you one. The Social is two day's away." She saw the sadness in his eyes. "I'll buy it for you, Paulie. And if you want to you can pay me back in whatever amount you want to."
Paulie looked relieved, "Thank you. Are you sure, Marika?"
She hugged him. "Of course! I even asked Figg to come."
Paulie knew Mikey and SeaHawk were already going too. "Moe might wanna go with his wife."
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Marika let him go. "I'll ask him too. Now would you like to go shopping for a suit?"
Paulie sighed, trying to decide. "Are you sure about this? I mean I do like your mother. I just don't want her to get mad at me."
"Why would she get mad at someone that actually shows up wanting to dance with her?" Marika grinned at him. "If you need lessons I can help. Mother will be secretly thrilled I'm sure." She paused a moment before saying, "She usually just watches the rest of us mingle and dance. I know she yearns for a suitor that wants a real connection and love."
"Is everything okay out here?" Mermista said coming over to them.
Paulie decided right then. "Looks like I'm going to the Dolphin Social."
Mermista smiled. "Ooh . . . okay now, Marista's gonna be shocked and happy."
"Don't tell her. Don't tell Meranda or Amara either. I'm taking Paulie to get a suit now. Would you mind asking Moe if he wants to go?" Marika said and grabbed Paulie's left hand.
"I understand and yes, I'll go ask Moe." Mermista said and went back inside.
Marika and Paulie went to find a suit for him.
Mermista put her hand on Moe's shoulder. He looked up at her. "Would you like to take your wife to the Dolphin Social?"
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"Where's Marika and Paulie?" Figg asked.
"Marika's taking him to get a suit." She told him. "What about you, Moe? Wanna get all fancy for your lady? Oh, I almost forgot do not tell Meranda or Amara about Paulie going. They have blabber mouths and Marista can't know." Mermista told all of them. "Please keep it a secret."
Figg guessed she didn't know that Meranda had asked him to go too. "Meranda asked me to go this morning."
Mermista grinned. "It'd be cool if you did. We could all hang out there. Eat free fancy food and so much more."
"I think Louise would love to go!" Moe answered. "She doesn't have a dress though for that kind of shindig."
"Get her to come with you in the morning and I'll help her out." Mermista smiled. "Makeovers are fun." She shook a little with excitement. "Two day's til we party with the rich snobs of SeaWorthy and Salineas!"
Jordan raised his hand. "I think Marika said it's at a country club?"
Mermista nodded, "Yes, SeaBridge Country Club. It's huge! If you go behind my castle and sail another ten minutes north you can't miss it. It's has enough docks for thirty boats. A lot of people BoatPool though."
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"Oh, that place that's gated like a precious pearl?" Figg asked. "I always wondered what that place was."
Mermista said, "Yep, that's it. You can easily get lost in it too. It has signs on the walls with arrows. They had to put those in about six years ago."
"BoatPool?" I asked, rather curious.
"Yeah, like taking all of us here and ten extra people along. Yall decide on who's boat to take as a whole. My family is taking our own." Mermista told them. "Now who wants to go shopping?"
The men groaned, but knew looking nice for this event was a must.
I already had mine of course and Mermista didn't know what color it was. I wanted to surprise her with my dashing look.
I sat with Marika and Mermista as the others tried on suit after suit. Two and a half hours later they all had picked one out.
Mermista and I walked hand in hand to the beach area with a blanket and relaxed. "You're not gonna tell me what you're wearing are you?"
I kissed her forehead quickly. "You'll see in two day's my love."
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Everyone kept mum that Paulie was going too. Since none of the girl's would be on their boat going to SeaBridge the secret would be kept. No one had told Mikey either. They wouldn't be telling him until the day of the social.
*
The next day King Mercia was trying to choose which suit to wear for tomorrow.
Mermista leaned on the frame of his door. "I like both of them. Just depends on what you wanna wear." She said now coming over to him.
"Do either of these match what you're wearing tomorrow?" Mercia asked his daughter.
"Black goes with anything." She smiled up at him then went to dig in his huge closet. "Red or gold?" She called out to him.
"Red!" He yelled to her, "Cause it was Alina's favorite."
"Yes, daddy, I know." Mermista said and came out with shirts a maroon, bright red and a pale pink-red. She laid them on the bed.
Mercia locked eyes with her. "So you're wearing red tomorrow?"
She nodded. "Yes and it's so beautiful."
