Page 67 of The Rusalka and Mr. Right

“I was thinking about us. About our lives. This is the time in my life cycle when I will slowly begin to age. And I can have someone to grow old with.” She takes my hand, smiling up at me. “That is a treasure. No other rusalka in history has ever had that, darling.”

“We gonna move to Miami? Go on long cruises when we retire?”

Marina’s chuckle ripples against my chest as she rolls into me before sitting up. “Maybe. But I would like a job. One I go to every day. One where I know the people, where there are regular customers who smile when they see me. Perhaps the gym will let me be a lifeguard if I pass the tests. I think they could offer swim lessons. Water aerobics. So many things. I would like that—to teach children to swim. I would never let anything happen to them.” There’s a fierce, deadly look in her eyes.

Ooh. My girl is also a little bit of a Mama Bear.

Fuck, that used to make me want to pump the brakes, but now I can suddenly see her holding hands with two little girls in their matching swimsuits, spinning them in the water... I can see my family at the Jersey Shore, with my parents in their beach chairs and Marina and I keeping some little rugrats from eating sand...

“I know you can’t have kids the way some women can—” my brain is still sleepy, so my mouth leads the charge, acharge it has no business leading, “but if you ever want to think about adoption or surrogates or something like that, we could. Because I know you’d be the best mom ever. You’d help them ace any history paper they ever have to write, that’s for darn sure. And swimming! Man, Carter might not be the only one in the Olympics. Think of it. Generations of Baileys, bringing home gold.”

Marina’s eyes are wide.

Sort of like the size of the hole I’ve just dug for myself. “Sorry. Sorry, mermaid. Too early to think about that. And I’m not pressuring you. No kids is cool with me. I’m into you for you, not for anything you give me.”

“You would—” she swallows hard, “You think I would make a good mother?”

“Tied for first place with my own mom. Different, but still totally badass. Not that I’m pushing!”

“Oh, my love. I like what you think about—but you should think about it a little later. Maybe after that May wedding you once mentioned?” Marina arches her eyebrow, daring me to backpedal.

“I’m all in. We’ll talk about Junior in June.” I kiss her once more before stretching and heading into the shower. “Hey, I’ll do a grocery run tonight. I’m out of shaving cream, and I’m going to pick up some stuff for sandwiches. Do you need anything? Do you want to pack your—” I stop and stare under the cabinet in the bathroom sink.

Big rusty metal box. Definitely not here when I moved in and stuck extra toilet paper, soap, and mouthwash in here. “Marina, what’s in the box?”

“Oh! Nothing. Well, something. The only things of value I wanted to bring with me from the houseboat.” Marina’s voice is sharp, higher-pitched.

“Okay.” My fingers brush the box, then draw back.She didn’t tell you to look, dumbass. Leave it alone. Maybe it’s private. She hid it in here. Didn’t leave it out in the open.

Yeah.Hidis the right word. My stomach twinges with a little nibble of worry.

Is it going to be something spooky? A portal to the demon world? A severed hand or something nasty like that?

Or maybe Gregor’s love letters to her? A lock of his hair?

Can you please not be an immature jealous asshole?

I’mtrying.

I give the box a little shake as I shut the cabinet door. Metal on metal.

Money? Keys?

“Don’t open it, Kev. It’s something I’m working on. I will show you very soon.”

“Sounds good!” But I’m jealous and curious and just a little bit worried. Probably shouldn’t be. “Want me to pick up dinner, or do you want the salmon?”

“Salmon! We have to eat straight away when you get home. I told the Pine Ridge Coven, Ardy, and Minegold that I would help them with some translations tonight. Remember? The stories about Koshchei from the old book Jakob has?”

“I remember.” I stand up fast and turn the shower on. Marina will probably join me. She usually does.

“We’ve doubled up on the Night Watch rotations—and it was already doubled because we always double up in October. I feel terrible making everyone leave their families at night when there are so many fun things to do this time of year.”

“You’re not making them do anything. The Big K is doing it—and they want to help. They care about you.”

Marina’s voice drifts in, soft and reflective, battling with the sound of drumming water on the tub. “They do, don’t they?”

“Yes—but I care about you the most. Just gotta stake my claim,” I call, pausing, hands on the sink. Deep breaths. My life has changed so much in just over a month. What would life be like if everything suddenly went back to normal?

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