Chapter 9
Holidee woke up early the next morning. She got out of bed and put on a bathing suit, a tank top, and thin sweat pants. She looked at her clock. 5:01. Holidee rubbed her eyes and walked downstairs. She walked outside. She didn’t think Tom would be there that early in the morning. She expected him about six or so. She thought she’d get up a little earlier to think. She enjoyed thinking now. Sometimes it hurt, but she had come to realize that life cannot be painless. She had grabbed a little sweater before she left the house. She put it on to keep warm from the ocean breeze. She wrapped her arms around herself and walked towards the beach. As she got closer to the water, her arms around her loosened. When she reached the top of the stairs that led down to the sand, she saw someone, with black hair sticking up every which way from a bandana, sitting with his arms wrapped around his knees, watching the waves roll in one by one. She slowly started to descend the stairs, careful not to disturb Tom. She walked, barefoot, across the sand and sat down quietly next to Tom. She wondered why he was up so early, but stayed silent. Tom didn’t move when she sat down. He kept his eyes on the ocean. Holidee stood up after a few minutes and took off her sweater. She rolled up her pants and looked down at Tom. She grabbed his hand and led him into the cold salt water. Once the water hit her thighs, she stopped. She dropped his hand. Then she started to make the water churn with her hands. Tom looked down and saw an image in the water. It was a dolphin. Then that same dolphin appeared not even a minute later. It looked at Holidee. Holidee was quiet as she looked at the dolphin. Then the dolphin looked at Tom and swam away.
“Give me your hand.” Tom looked at Holidee and slowly gave her his hand. “And your knife.” Tom didn’t move for a few seconds, and then he slowly reached for his knife with his other hand. He pulled it out of its sheaf and handed it to Holidee. “This may hurt.” She took the knife and pressed it against the palm of his hand. She slid it across his skin. Blood seeped out and fell into the murky water. Tom watched Holidee’s every move. She put the knife back into its sheaf on Tom’s belt. She took both of her hands and held Tom’s bloody hand. She closed her eyes. Tom watched as her hands turned blue. His hand turned blue, and he felt a stinging sensation. Then, just as fast as it had come, it was gone. Holidee opened her eyes and looked at Tom. She let go of his hand, but didn’t let him look away from her eyes. Her eyes shone a dazzling blue and moved like the ocean. When they finally started to fade back to their normal color, Tom looked down at his hand. There was no blood, no scar, no cut, nothing. He looked up, but Holidee was heading back to the beach. He turned to follow her, but was stopped by the dolphin, who had returned. It was carrying a shell in its mouth. He bent down and took the little shell. “Thank you.” The dolphin then dove under the water and left. Tom walked back to shore. He sat down on the sand, next to Holidee.
“Your dolphin friend gave this to me.” He held out his hand and showed Holidee the tiny white shell. Holidee reached down and picked it up gently.
“Her name is Fye.” She twirled the shell around on her fingers. “Tom, do you know what I did to you just now?”
“You healed me.”
“Yes.”
“You healed me like you did with Zeke. You healed me with your hands.”
“Yes.”
“You also called your friend, Fye, to you. I don’t know how you did all of this, though.”
“Tom, I did those things so that you would believe me. Tom, I’m of a different race than you. I’m an Oceain.” Tom rotated his head to look at her. “Oceains are people of the sea. We take care of the ocean and its creatures. We protect it and care for it. We’re one with it.” Holidee looked out at the ocean. “I procure my power from the ocean. It gives me strength.” She looked down at the shell again. “It’s hard to explain. I don’t know if you’ll ever understand.”
“Try me.” Holidee looked at him. Then she continued explaining all of the things Oceains do. She explained to Tom everything about Oceains that she knew. Not once did he interrupt her. He sat quietly and listened intently. He soaked in every word she said. A couple hours passed as she told him everything. Then, when she had finished, they sat silently on the beach. Holidee took the shell she had been holding and tied a string on it. Then she turned to face Tom. She tied the string, attached to the shell, on Tom’s sheaf. It hung slightly. “A reminder to remember what I told you and the secret that is to be kept forever.” Tom nodded.
“Thank you…for telling me.” Tom stood up and started to walk down the beach to where he was staying. Holidee got up.
“Hey, does that mean you trust me now?” She smiled and put her hands on her hips. Tom stopped and turned around, smiling.
“Yeah.” Then he turned back around and continued walking. Holidee watched him get smaller, as he walked farther away. She thought about going back up to the house, but decided she wanted to stay a little longer with the ocean.
It was around three in the afternoon. Crix had his shirt off, working. Holidee was helping. She had finished mulching, and was now watering the plants. Holidee saw Crix working very seriously. She smiled and turned the hose on him. He jumped and looked at Holidee, who was laughing. Crix’ hair was flat and dripping with water. Then he smiled and bent down to pick up a handful of mud, which had been made from the freshly sprayed water. He looked slyly at Holidee and threw the mud ball at her. It hit her neck, splattering her face and shoulder. Her mouth was open from shock. Crix just shrugged his shoulders and continued working.
“Payback’s a killer.” Holidee shut her mouth and put her hands on her hips. The hose was still running and was making a mess in the yard. She looked down and smiled. She bent down, grabbed a handful of mud, and threw it at Crix. It hit him on the side of his face. It dripped off of his face to his shoulder.
“You’re right. Payback is a killer,” she laughed. Crix turned and looked at her. Half of his face was covered in mud. He took one hand and wiped some of the mud off, but it only made it worse by smearing.
“You are so your father’s daughter.” Holidee smiled proudly. She grabbed the hose and pointed at the flowers. Then she looked at Crix and sprayed him with the water.
“You need a bath.” Crix looked pathetic. He looked at Holidee amusingly.
“I think I will go take a shower.” He smiled and walked inside. Holidee continued to water the plants. It was quiet. She could hear the birds singing happily. But there was another sound she heard. It sounded like a car. Holidee listened closer. Yes, it was a car she heard. It was driving slowly and coming up the driveway. Holidee squinted her eyes to try to see who was in the small car. It was Mer! Holidee turned the water off and dropped the hose. Mer stopped the car when she was close to the house. Then she turned it off and hopped out of it. Holidee greeted her with a hug. Mer looked around.
“Where’s Crix?”
“Oh, he’s taking a sho-”
“Right here.” Holidee and Mer turned around to see Crix leaning against the doorway. He had a shirt on, but it wasn’t buttoned. He was in the process of buttoning it. Holidee smiled and grabbed Mer’s bags.
“I’ll take these to your room.” She picked them up and walked to the front door. She stopped next to Crix, who was staring at Mer. “It’s not everyday that you’re alone with her.” Then she walked inside. Crix walked down the steps and toward Mer. She smiled.
“Miss me?”
“Extremely.” Then he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her. He pressed his forehead against hers after the kiss and smiled. “What took you so long?” Mer smiled, after she recovered from the kiss.
“Oh, you know, the traffic was bad.” Crix smiled even wider. He took his hand and brushed it gently across her cheek.
“I really missed you.” She took her hand and brushed it through his damp hair.
“I can tell. Maybe you should go away more often.” They both laughed. “And what did you do to Holidee? Taking my bags? What’d you do, brainwash her?” Crix smiled.
&n
bsp; “No. She just needed a little compassion and understanding. She was lost, that’s all. She’s really changed. You’ll see. And she met some friends. Some guys. I’ll leave that field to you.” Mer laughed. Crix watched everything she did with admiration. The two of them walked into the house, holding hands.
“Wow! Look at this place! You guys have been busy. It’s like new.” Holidee came hopping down the stairs.
“Pretty amazing, huh?”
“Yeah. Very amazing.” She turned and smiled at Crix, who smiled back at her. “You guys did a wonderful job.”
The next morning, Holidee woke up to the smell of homemade French toast. She got dressed and walked down to the kitchen. As she got closer to the kitchen, she heard singing. It was soft. Holidee crept quietly toward the door and stopped. She peered around the corner. Crix and Mer were touching foreheads and slow dancing. Crix was quietly singing, with a big smile on his face. Their arms were wrapped around each other, and they slowly twirled in a circle, in front of the stove. Holidee smiled to herself. They are so happy together. Holidee thought her stomach could wait a few more minutes, so she walked quietly back upstairs. She was going to go back into her room, when she saw Crix’ bedroom door was open. Curiosity got the best of her, and she crept into Crix’ room. It was a little messy, but she knew to expect a guy’s room to be that way. She flicked on the lights. She tilted her head as she spotted two framed pictures on an end table next to his bed. She walked closer to them.
One of the pictures was of her parents, Mer, and him when they were younger. Her dad had his arms around her mom’s waist, and his head resting on her shoulder as she wrapped her hand up around his head. Both were smiling uncontrollably. Crix had one arm around Mer’s waist and was dipping her like a dance move. His other hand was making an okay sign as he was smiling. Mer had her arms around Crix’ neck, but her face was toward the camera, smiling. Holidee laughed at their youthful onrynous that she saw in their eyes. Then she looked at the second picture that was sitting there. They were older. They were at least ten years older, but they still looked quite young. Her dad and Crix were wearing black suits with their white shirttails hanging out. This time her dad was looking at her mom and not at the camera. Her mom was holding her dad’s tie and pulling him toward her. Her dad had his jacket thrown over his shoulder as he smiled at her mom. Her mom had one finger bent, motioning for her dad to come closer. Crix also had a jacket, but his was on him. It was unbuttoned, though. He was facing Mer, who was facing the camera. Her eyes were looking the other way, and she had a crooked smile on her face. She was holding her hand up to Crix’ face. Crix had his arms out to her, with a smile on his face. They all looked very happy together. Holidee looked down from the pictures and saw the drawer in the end table partially opened. She reached for the little handle and opened it all the way. There was a notebook, a reading book, and some papers. Holidee pushed them aside and saw a tiny box sitting in the corner. It was a black velvet box. Holidee slowly picked up the box. She opened it and saw a gold ring with a couple diamonds on it. It sparkled in the light. It was an engagement ring.
After their dance, Mer went back to cooking. Crix picked up the paper and started to read it. After several minutes, he set the paper down.
“I’d’ve expected Holidee to be up by now. Should I go wake her?”
“Go ahead. Breakfast should be ready in a few minutes.” Crix got up from the table, kissed Mer on the cheek, and walked upstairs.
“Holidee! Get up you sleepyhead! Breakfast is almost ready! Holidee?” He reached her bedroom door, but stopped because of a light coming from his bedroom. He turned, and cracked open his door. He saw Holidee sitting on his bed, holding a small velvet box, and looking at him mischievously. He opened the door all the way.
“When’re you gonna do it?”
“Do what?”
“I think it’s a simple question. I asked when are you going to propose to Mer, and you should answer, ‘soon, Holidee, very soon’. What’s so hard about that?” Crix looked at Holidee. Then he walked closer to her and held out his hand.
“Give it here.”
“Not until you answer my question.” Crix groaned and looked at Holidee.
“I’m not sure.”
“Not sure about marrying her or not sure about when you’re going to propose?”
“Not sure about when I’m going to propose. Now may I have it now?” Holidee reluctantly gave the little box to Crix. He stuffed it back in the drawer. Then he turned to face Holidee again. Crix sighed heavily and sat down on the bed next to Holidee.
“How do you expect me to get married at a time like this?”
“At a time like what?”
“Holidee, I’m in the process of teaching you some of the most important things you’ll ever learn, we’ll be returning to school in a month or so, and…there’s just no time.”
“That’s a ridiculous excuse, Crix. There’s always time for love.” Holidee got up and walked to the door. She stopped at the door and looked back at Crix. “You should get married on the beach. This beach.” She rotated her head back to facing the hallway. “Which means you’ll have to propose soon.” Holidee was quiet for a minute or two, and then she turned completely around to face Crix. “My father would have wanted you to.” Then she walked out of the room and down the stairs. Crix was left in his room, with his thoughts, holding the ring. Crix got up off of the bed after several long minutes, and pocketed the box. Then he walked downstairs to the kitchen. Soon, he thought. Very soon.
Later that afternoon, Tom and Zeke walked over to the house. They met Holidee’s godmother, Mer. They talked for a while, and then the three of them went and sat on the front porch. Tom, lying on the railing of the steps, was peeling an apple with his knife. Holidee, who was sitting on the steps, was holding a book and flipping through it. Zeke, who was staring up at the blue sky and white marshmallow clouds, was sitting on the porch railing with one leg hanging over the side. All three were comfortably talking.
“So what do you want to do today?”
“I don’t know.”
“I don’t care.”
“Well, we could-” Crix walked out of the front door and down the steps.
“Well, aren’t you guys a sight.” They all glanced at him and smiled. “Well, whatever you guys have planned, stay off of the beach.”
“Why?” Holidee looked at him funny.
“Because,” Crix smiled at her, “I’ve reserved it.”
“For whom?”
“For me.” Holidee raised an eyebrow and looked at him. “Only me.” She didn’t believe him. “Just let me have the beach by myself for a few hours, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Alright.” Then he walked inside. Holidee looked at the others.
“Wanna go see what he’s up to?”
“Sure.” Zeke jumped up. Tom slowly got up and put away his knife.
“Okay, but if he’s skinny-dipping, then I’m out.” Holidee and Zeke laughed as they walked around to the side of the house. Holidee pointed to the side of the house, and the three of them started to climb up it.
“Crix, where are you taking me?” Mer was blindfolded, as Crix led her out the back door.
“I told you. It’s a surprise. We’re almost there.” Crix led her down the steps and to the beach. The sand squished in between their toes. He then stopped and took her blindfold off. “Here we are.” Mer looked around at a blanket spread out on the beach, with a picnic basket sitting on it. She smiled at Crix.
“A picnic?”
“Yeah.” He sat down with her on the blanket and they shared the food. Both of them smiled and laughed as they ate and talked.
“Let me see.” Holidee handed the binoculars over to Zeke.
“They’re just having dinner.”
“Dinner?” Tom looked at her. All three of them were lying flat on the roof of the house, watching Crix and Mer on the beach. “Isn’t it a little early for dinner?”
“S
o call it a linner.”
“A linner?”
“Yeah. It’s a lunch and dinner combined. Or you could call it a dunch. It’s kinda like brunch.”
“Uh-huh.” Tom looked at her funny and then turned his attention back to the romantic scene.
After finishing their meal and a little bit of wine, Crix stood up with Mer. He was holding her hands and led her toward the ocean.
“What are you doing?” He stopped at the edge of the water. He let go of her hands and pulled off his shirt. His khaki shorts hung a little below his forest green boxer briefs.
“I wanted to go for a swim.” He smiled at her and took her hands.
“What? I’m not going in with you. I don’t have my bathing suit on.”
“Neither do I. C’mon. Where’s your adventurous spirit?” Mer sighed and gave in. Crix led her out into the water. He stopped when the water hit right above his waist. He smiled at her. Then he splashed her with water. Mer looked at him in shock, and ran after him. They splashed water at each other as they ran.
“Aww, how cute. They’re having a water fight.” Tom and Zeke looked at each other. Their eyebrows rose at Holidee’s comment. Tom shook his head, and Zeke muttered, “Typical girl.”
“Ha! Got you!” Mer finally caught Crix. He looked into her eyes and smiled, as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Yes, you do.” Mer smiled up at him. Her eyes were twinkling. The sun was setting behind them. “Mer.” he looked down. He pulled out something small from his pocket and held it tightly in his hand. The waves were calm. The sky was turning a bright red. Crix bent his head to touch her forehead. Mer smiled at him, but he was looking down. Then, he looked into her eyes and whispered softly to her, “Marry me.” He held up the gold diamond ring with his thumb and index finger. Mer looked at him in astonishment.
“He pulled out a ring!”
“What?” Tom and Holidee looked at Zeke, who had the binoculars.
“I think he’s proposing!”
“Let me see!” Holidee took the binoculars ad looked through them. Sure enough, she saw a tiny ring in Crix’ hand. “I can’t believe it,” she mumbled. “He’s actually doing it.” She laughed and said louder, “He’s actually doing it!” Tom and Zeke were looking at her. “He’s gonna marry Mer! We’re gonna be a family!” Tom smiled and looked back at the ocean, where the two lovebirds were. Zeke kept watching Holidee.
“What?” She couldn’t believe her ears or eyes.
“Mer, marry me. I love you. I respect you. I adore you. I always have and always will. Mer, you are my life, and I finally got up the courage to ask you. So, Meranda Mauter, will you marry me?” Mer looked at the ring and then at Crix’ eyes. They were full of love.
“Yes!” She jumped on Crix and hugged him. “Oh, Crix! Of course I’ll marry you! I love you!” Crix smiled as he put the ring on her hand. Then he set her back in the water and kissed her. Her hands ran through his hair as his hands rubbed her back. The two were silhouetted against the setting sun as they kissed.
Tom, Holidee, and Zeke all watched the scene with smiles on their faces. Without Tom knowing, Zeke slid his hand into Holidee’s. She smiled to herself and locked fingers with Zeke. Zeke’s thumb rubbed the back of her hand as the sun finished setting and disappeared.
Darkness set in all around Holidee, Tom, Zeke, Crix, and Mer. It covered them completely. It swept over them like a plague, but it wasn’t horrendous. It was comforting.