MERMEN (The Mermen Trilogy #1) (21 page)

Just like mermaids aren’t real?

“And tell Krista not to come,” Dana added. Krista was their older sister, who lived in Portland.

“Ma’am, only one visitor at a time, so I’m afraid two of you will have to go,” said the nurse, who slipped by Liv and started checking Dana’s IV.

Liv’s mother stood. “I need to go to the little girls’ room. You can keep Dana company.” She walked away with Liv’s dad, and the nurse hurried off to the next patient, leaving them alone.

“Dana, I have to ask you something.” Liv took her mother’s seat beside Dana and placed her purse on the floor. “When you couldn’t breathe, do you remember feeling like your veins were burning?”

Dana nodded. “Yeah. And then it traveled to my lungs. How did you know?”

Liv couldn’t tell her the truth. “It happened to me once. A long time ago.”

“Ms. Stratton, you’re back.” Dr. Fuller stood at the foot of Dana’s bed with a surprised look. “How are you feeling?”

“Uhhh…Dr. Fuller. You’re still here.” Liv glanced at Dana and then plastered on a fake smile.

“I’m covering for another doctor with a lovely double shift,” Dr. Fuller explained. “How are you feeling?”

“Great. I’m just here visiting my sister,” Liv replied.

“Why is she asking about you?” Dana glared at Liv.

“I wasn’t feeling so great yesterday,” Liv said, but Dana gave her that look; she knew Liv was lying. She always knew. It was the reason that they hadn’t spoken in over a month.

“Well,” the doctor said to Dana, “it appears you had an allergic reaction to something. A food allergy.”

“I’m not allergic to any foods,” Dana said.

“Sometimes these things come on late in life. Your histamine levels are elevated and you had all of the symptoms of anaphylactic shock. Earlier, you said you weren’t stung or bitten, but did you eat peanuts or any kind of shellfish today?”

“We had crab rolls for dinner,” Dana answered.

“The likely culprit,” said the doctor. “I’ll put in a referral to the allergy clinic so we can know for certain. In the meantime, I’m sending you home with some antihistamines.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Dana said. As soon as she disappeared, Dana looked at Liv. “What the hell is going on with you?”

Liv hated lying, but she wasn’t about to step over that line again. No matter how much or little she believed Roen’s story. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”

“Liv, I’m your sister. Why do you keep shutting me out?”

“I’m not. And we shouldn’t be talking about this right now. You need to rest.”

“I’m fine,” Dana growled, “and there is nothing more important to me than you guys—you know that. What the hell is going on? Are you in trouble? Did something happen to you on that fishing boat?”

Liv shook her head no, but her eyes couldn’t help flashing to that damned TV screen, where a small picture of Roen’s handsome face, pre-island, was displayed in a little box while two reporters chatted away. Roen’s short, thick caramel brown hair was combed neatly back, and he was displaying a charming smile with a little dimple puckering in each cheek. Why hadn’t she ever noticed them?
He is so damned beautiful.

Liv’s heart began to free-fall. How would she ever get over him?

“Stop looking at the hot man on the TV, Liv, and tell me what’s going on.”

Liv wasn’t about to start spilling her guts about Roen or the island; however, the words, “He’s mine,” popped into her mind.

Dana started to gasp and began clawing at her throat as if choking.

“Dana!” Liv screamed. “Ohmygod. Dana!” Liv jumped up and yelled, but when she looked out down the hall, the nurse and Dr. Fuller were rushing to an elderly man who was being wheeled in by two paramedics. “Help! My sister can’t breathe.”

The doctor flashed a look her way and then told the nurse to page Dr. Silverton at home.

“It’s okay, Dana,” Liv said, rushing over to her sister, trying to get her to calm down. But Dana’s body began to buck uncontrollably on the gurney, and her face was turning blue.

“Ohmygod. Don’t die, Dana. Don’t die.”

Dr. Fuller appeared and began pulling supplies and tubes from a small cabinet in the corner. “Goddammit!” Obviously, something was missing.

The doctor looked at Liv. “Keep her calm. I’ll be back in two seconds.”

Calm?
“Dana, honey, just hang on.” Dana’s terrified face was completely blue now, her mouth wide open trying to get air. Liv’s eyes gravitated toward her purse sitting on the floor. The corner of her floral makeup bag stuck out, and that’s when she remembered the vial of water. The creature on the island had ripped it from the man’s neck and thrown it at her. Liv never used it—was too afraid, she supposed—but she’d ended up keeping the thing. Why? She didn’t know, but throwing away something like that seemed wrong.

Because it could save a person’s life from just about anything.
Liv practically dove for her purse and snatched the makeup bag, pouring out the contents onto the gurney between Dana’s legs. She spotted the small vial and grabbed it.

“Hold on, Dana. Hold on.” Hands shaking, Liv uncorked the miniature, test-tube-shaped vial and separated Dana’s lips, pouring it into her mouth. “Drink, Dana. Drink it.”

Dana sputtered and hacked, but it looked like some went down. Dana’s entire body froze, and in less than three seconds Dana gasped, this time taking a full breath.

“Dana, Dana, can you hear me?” Liv whispered, and Dana’s panicked brown eyes set on Liv. “You can’t tell anyone. Do you understand? You can’t tell anyone I gave you something, and you can’t ever ask me what it was. Do you understand?”

Dana just stared in terror.

“Please, Dana. You have to trust me. I’d never do anything to hurt you, but you can’t ever—”

“Okay, Dana. I’m going to…” A panicked Dr. Fuller stood at the foot of Dana’s bed, holding some plastic parts in her hand.

Oh crap.
“I think she’s okay now.” Liv tried to sound as shocked as the doctor looked.

Dr. Fuller sat next to Dana and placed her stethoscope on her chest. Dana sucked in several breaths and released them.

“Sounds all clear.” She took out her penlight and a tongue depressor. “Say ah.”

Dana still panted, but managed to produce the sound.

“No obstruction.” The doctor stood and then looked at Liv. “I don’t understand.”

Liv shrugged.

“I think it felt like a panic attack,” Dana mumbled.

The doctor glanced back at Dana, whose face was flushed. “We’ll keep her the rest of the day and run some more tests. In the meantime, I think it’s best we let her rest. Alone.”

Liv reached to hug Dana goodbye, but she shirked away.

Liv dropped her hands. “See you later, Dana. Glad you’re feeling better.” She left the ER, not bothering to say goodbye to her parents. The guilt was too much. It felt like the entire situation was all her fault—despite the insanity of that thought.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Three weeks later. Wrangell, Alaska

After saying goodbye to Roen that night, Liv could honestly say this chapter of her life was closed—not forgotten, but closed. Roen was no longer haunting her dreams, and he’d made a public appearance, which every news channel and newspaper covered. The speculation surrounding whether or not he was still alive shifted to stories that questioned his health. Only, he looked healthier and more beautiful than ever, a fact the media completely ignored. Because why else would someone like Roen Doran simply step down and turn his multibillion dollar company over to another person after a mysterious absence?

The media frenzy lasted about one week; meanwhile Liv started picking up the pieces of her life—well, making plans to do so, anyway—including trying to let go of her feelings for Roen. But that wasn’t going to happen until time put distance between them.

In the meantime, she planned to return to Washington State to finish her doctorate in the fall. Given the situation with the shipwreck, the university had been very supportive about allowing her to restart her dissertation—just as her professor had promised. Her only challenge now was what theme she’d choose. Bonds, love, and relationships were topics she no longer wanted to think about.

As for her sister, Liv still hadn’t spoken with Dana about the incident, though they had spoken. But Liv never planned to discuss the vial of water and hoped that Dana never brought it up. Liv didn’t know if Dana’s trip to the hospital was somehow connected to that island, but why take the risk? It was behind them. It was behind Liv.

And I’m never looking back. No matter what.
She simply had to have faith that her heart would eventually heal.

Tonight, however, Liv looked forward to her parents’ fortieth wedding anniversary, six months in the making. It had almost been called off several times, but now there was a hell of a lot to celebrate. Everyone was safe and together. That included family from five states who’d flown in, practically taking over the entire inn down the road not to mention her parents’ four-bedroom house. It had been one hell of a busy week, spending time with her cousins and aunts and uncles, barbequing, going on fishing excursions, and dinners every night.

Liv hit the blinker of her mom’s old gray Subaru—they kept it around for guests, which were always plentiful in the summer—and turned down the narrow residential street toward the marina. As she got closer to Bears and Brew, the restaurant slash pub overlooking the ocean where the party was being held, her palms began to sweat and her face felt hot.
Nerves. It’s just nerves.

Liv would give the speech tonight, which was why everyone went on ahead without her. She needed to practice a few times in silence.

I’m sure it will be fine
, Liv thought to herself, trying to keep her breathing even. She parked on the street just a few doors down from the restaurant—a giant, glorified log cabin with a large ocean-side patio—and checked her makeup in the lighted vanity mirror. Her face was finally beginning to look normal again now that she’d put back some of the fifteen pounds she’d lost. It was amazing how quickly a girl could gain weight once carbs were reintroduced.

Liv freshened up her pink lip gloss and then petted the back of her dark hair, which she’d straightened into a silky mane.
Feels good to feel human again.
The not smelling like shark blood was great, too.

She opened the car door and stepped out into the cool evening air, smoothing down her red dress. It was the same one she’d worn for Christmas—modestly snug with an open back and spaghetti straps. She just hadn’t had the energy to shop for a dress, and it was the only thing that fit.

She entered the restaurant and immediately felt more relaxed. A ’50s rock band played—the only band in town— and she spotted her parents among the couples laughing and dancing on the floor. It was just like she’d imagined when she’d been fighting for her life on that island.

You made it. And you have so much to be grateful for.

“Hey, didn’t you wear that at Christmas?” said a familiar voice.

Liv turned her head and saw Krista standing there in her famous little black dress. It was the only dress her sister owned and no one expected that to change. Krista—who looked like a slightly older version of Liv and Dana with long dark hair, pale skin, and big brown eyes—was a veterinarian for the Portland zoo, taking care of their marine mammals. So her usual attire was a wetsuit or galoshes and jeans.

“Ha. Look who’s talking.” Liv gave Krista a tight squeeze. “But as always, you look stunning.”

“Thanks. You too,” Krista replied.

“So did everyone make it?” Liv asked, her eyes sweeping the room and immediately spotting a few of their cousins from Texas, who had just flown in.

“Aunt Libby called and said she was sick, but I think everyone else is here. Plus a few uninvited guests.”

Liv nodded and waved to her parents, who were in mid-twist.

“But I already told Mom I’d change tables so your date can sit with you,” Krista added.

Liv’s eyes snapped toward Krista. “Date? I didn’t bring a date.”

Krista gave her a strange look. “Are you sure? Because the guy asked for you and said you knew he was coming.”

“No. I swear. I didn’t invite anyone.”

“Well, he’s…” Krista’s eyes searched the crowded room. “Oh! There he goes. He just went out to the patio.”

Liv didn’t see anyone. “What does he look like?”

“Hot. No wait. That’s too low for him. God-like. Green eyes, well-built, shortish hair, and really tall—are you sure you don’t want him, because I’ll take him. The man nearly melted my panties off. Except I’m not wearing any. But if I had been, they’d be a puddle on the floor.”

Roen’s here?
Liv’s mind sparked with indescribable joy. Because while she’d been doing her best to get over him, there was a Grand Canyon-sized gap between being in healing mode and being fully healed. It would take Liv years, perhaps a lifetime, to really get over Roen. But now, if he was here, could that mean he’d solved his issues with the island or that he’d changed his mind about her?

The thought send her heart racing and her eyes filled with tears of hope.

“Um. I’ll be right back,” Liv said and began making her way through the crowd. She smiled and gave quick hugs to folks, promising to be right back after she took care of some “important” detail.

“Ms. Stratton, there you are,” said a woman, stopping Liv halfway through the room.

It was Dr. Fuller from the ER. She wore a black blazer over a white fitted dress.

“Oh. Hi. I wasn’t expecting to see you here.” Liv’s eyes gravitated toward the double doors leading outside, searching for any sign of Roen.

“Your mother invited me, and I couldn’t say no.”

Liv flashed a quick smile. “Well, it’s really nice of you to come, but I need to talk to—”

Dr. Fuller grabbed Liv’s forearm, applying a bit of pressure. “That’s the thing, Liv. I need to talk to you.”

“About what?”

“About what was in that vial,” she replied with exaggerated sweetness.

Oh shit.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Had she left the vial in the ER? Obviously, she had. With all the commotion, it must’ve slipped her mind.