A Mermaid for Christmas - Nichole Chase Page 0,3

saw a mermaid. And now he was a father.

Chapter One

“There goes the neighborhood.” Violet stood on her tiptoes so that she could peek out of the empty tank. Her feet slipped in the soap on the wall and she scrambled to keep from falling.

“You say that every year.” I couldn’t help but snort as my friend looked up sheepishly. Leaning down, I picked up Vi’s push broom and handed it back to her. I tried to not think about the fact this would be the last year she would be working the summer at Flukes. From now on she’d have internships for college every summer. And I’d still be here. Doing the same thing. I couldn’t help the sigh that escaped my mouth. Part of me really wished that I was going to college too, not the one being left behind.

“Well, it’s true every year. They stomp around and glare at everything. None of them do a good job, and we end up having to pick up their slack.” Violet scrubbed at the tank wall with a vengeance, the lather from the soap spraying angrily into the air.

“It’s better than having to do it all ourselves. Mom and Dad really need the help this time of year, and those kids have to work off community-service hours. It’s a win-win situation.” Stopping for a minute, I brushed the loose hair out of my eyes. “Besides, it’s only for a couple of months.”

“Meena. I don’t want to spend my summer vacation with those flukes.” Violet looked at me as if I was crazy. “And this year we don’t even have customers to distract us for the first couple of weeks.” Dad decided to close the sanctuary to tourists so that we could try to get everything back into shape.

“Flukes?” I frowned. When I heard my father’s voice addressing the arrivals, I looked up.

“The outcasts, miscreants, freaks, flukes of society. Their whole lives are flukes. Kind of appropriate that they come here. Flukes.” Violet huffed. I didn’t say anything and she stopped, her eyes widening with apprehension. “I mean…”

I looked away from Violet and bit my lip to keep from laughing. Let Vi sweat it out for a minute. Served her right for picking on the outcasts.

“Meena, I didn’t mean… You know I don’t think…” Dropping her broom, Violet threw herself at my back and wrapped her arms around me. “I love you, Meen!”

Pretending to ignore Violet, I bent over awkwardly and grabbed a handful of suds. Turning quickly, I worked the soap into Violet’s hair and laughed. Squealing, she tried to shove me away from her but only succeeded in sending us both to the ground.

“You stupid fish!” Violet lobbed a handful of bubbles. Puckering my lips, I made a fish-face. Violet laughed and threw more bubbles in my direction. Grabbing the nearby hose, I pointed at Violet. She slid backward on her butt and made sputtering noises.

“Meena! Don’t you dare!” Violet tried to scramble to her feet, but I twisted the dial and water sprayed out in a steady stream. Violet cussed loudly and ran for me with her arms outstretched. Yelping, I tried to back away but slid in the soap. Violet caught me in a giant hug, laughing hysterically as she wrestled for the hose. Once we were both drenched and soapy, we sat on the floor of the tank giggling.

The loud roar of a motorcycle reverberated through the concrete walls, making us look at each other in interest.

“No way.” Violet scrambled to her feet and peeked out of the tank.

“What? Who is it?” Standing on the tips of my toes, I tried to see what Violet was looking at.

“I can’t believe it. Blake Weathering is one of the flukes?” Violet’s eyebrows scrunched together in consideration. “I guess it was that fight in gym class last month.”

“Blake who? What fight?” I watched the motorcycle rider swing his leg over the bike and pull at the clasp of his helmet. He was tall and tan, but it wasn’t until he pulled his helmet off that I understood why my friend was so interested. His dark, unruly hair curled around his ears and even from yards away, I could make out the stubble on his chin and jaw. His mouth was turned down in a disgusted frown as his dark eyes traveled over the worn sign for the sanctuary and took in the rusted gates. Immediately, my hackles went up, angry to see someone openly judge the sanctuary. It didn’t matter