Page 35 of Deep Waters
“You know it, baby.”
Chapter 16 – Rae
Family dinner with the Fenwicks was nothing new to me. When I was growing up, Zach’s parents were always generous enough to include me. It wasn’t a strict tradition or something on a regular schedule, just a habit formed when all four Fenwick kids still lived at home. Now that Cole lived in eastern Washington, the rest of the siblings lived on their own, and Vanessa and Gary traveled more in semi-retirement, they were fewer and farther between.
Vi’s text was my only warning.
Vi: Prepare for Category 3.
My mouth went dry. Great. As much as Zach and Vi’s mom laughed about the nickname Hurricane Vanessa, she might feel differently if she knew Vi and her brothers had assigned levels. Category 1 was the norm. Category 2, if one of them failed a test or got in trouble at school. Essentially, everyday parental intensity. But Category 3 and higher? Woof. She’d be amped up.
Vanessa Fenwick loved her kids, but that didn’t stop her from creating destruction in her path. She was one hundred percent related to Gran. Her mother was in-your-face with her loud wardrobe and rude comments. Apparently, in your eighties, you just didn’t give a fuck anymore. I respected that. Vanessa was more subtle. A breeze to Gran’s cloudy storm front. But no less intense.
Gran lived to get caught. Took pride in weaseling out of consequences. Vanessa had a different style. Hurricane Vanessa was at once a force of nature and as difficult to pin down as the wind. She had no trouble with direct confrontation, but somehow seemed to escape any real backlash. My favorite memory was her politely eviscerating the school board for trying to end human development curriculum. I’d never seen adults behave that way, sidling up with a smile and slicing with the shiv of a well-constructed argument. I was at the meeting to accept a local scholarship and got a better education than I’d expected in that one meeting.
My friend Anya claimed she wanted to be Gran when she grew up. But I’d rather be Vanessa. Loyal and protective, but not afraid of holding my own. I was working on it. The upcoming sale of our repair shop property was the chance I’d been waiting for. Ten long years, but my sacrifices would finally pay off.
“Ready?” Zach called from downstairs. A delicate shiver ran down my spine, leaving me tingling. The sensation spread from my shoulders to my fingertips and darted straight through my center to my toes.
His deep voice had called for me a thousand times over the years. Sometimes in command when we were on a SAR mission. Sometimes just a friendly hello as he boardedSailor Swift. Tonight felt different. The new awareness blooming between us made dinner with his family feel important.
I gave myself one last nod in the mirror, tugging my tank top to cover the waist of my jeans. I’d scrubbed off the last of the dirt and grime from my day at San Juan Marine Repair and pulled my curly mop back into a messy bun. Summer felt like it had finally arrived on the island, and the day had warmed up to a balmy seventy-five degrees. Not hot by mainland standards, but the island climate was a little milder than the rest of western Washington.
I padded downstairs, Zach and the kids waiting at the front door.
“You look …”
“Cute,” Hana finished.
“I was going to say beautiful,” Zach said.
I held in my snort. Debating him wasn’t a great example for Hana. I should be able to handle a compliment. And something about the way Zach’s gaze lingered on my mouth made me pause. Like they weren’t throwaway words.
He drifted closer, whispering, “Yes, I absolutely mean it. No, I’m not just flirting. Get used to it, Captain.”
He smelled of fresh soap, the scent lingering as we drew closer. He’d pulled a Mariner’s hat over his hair, shadowing his eyes. But sincerity shone there.
Something between yearning and awkwardness hovered between us. Admitting, even to myself, that I wanted his attention made me uncomfortable. Each time he forced me to see something different, it chipped away at the shell I kept around my heart. And I jealously guarded every piece of that protection. Because without it? I’d be absolutely vulnerable to him. But something about his soft voice, softer eyes, made me think that wouldn’t be a bad thing…
“Let’s go!” Hana called, hopping from one foot to another by the door.
We loaded up in the car, and I drove us out to the Fenwick farm. Jia’s house was a smaller replica of the Fenwick house. Both were craftsman-style two-story floor plans with windows tucked into the eaves, but Zach’s childhood home had more bedrooms and bathrooms, befitting a family home that had housed four kids and three adults.
Vanessa met us at the door. Comfortably rounded and in her sixties, she had enough wrinkles to indicate wisdom and a broad smile and dimples to show her flair for mischief.
“Welcome, welcome. Come inside. Hana and Tae, I’m Vanessa Fenwick, Zach’s mother. It’s nice to meet you both.”
Tae shook her hand like a tiny adult. Hana waved.
“We’re going to eat in about an hour, but I put a few snacks in the kitchen if you’re hungry.” She turned to me, eyes twinkling. As she clasped my cheeks in her palms, her grin broadened. “Andyou. You’ve been holding out on me, young lady.”
I flicked a glance at Zach. Probably too telling. But I wasn’t sure what she knew. Zach’s guilty expression didn’t help matters.
“We talked about this, Mom. Don’t scare her away.”
I swung toward Zach. Staring.They did what now?
I’d thought this was a casual invite. Not an audition. It was one thing if Zach and I knew we were exploring a relationship between us. It was another if his entire family had us under the microscope. His mention of family nicknames came back to haunt me.
