Fathom(45)
“I suppose,” he said lightly. “I’ve always liked the name.”
“It’s a normal name,” I conceded. Everyone in my new world had such strange names.
“Normal? Ah, you mean like Lars and Raif are odd names? I suppose they are. I’ve known them since college, so I don’t think of them as having strange names anymore. Grown used to it I suppose.”
“How do you deal with the conflict?”
“Conflict?”
“You know, seeing what shouldn’t be real? Merpeople?”
“We’re all God’s creatures.”
I turned in the boat to face him. “Yeah, but do you know what we can do? Have you seen what powers some of us possess? I really don’t think the Bible would agree with that.”
He smiled. “Have you ever read it?”
He had me there. “No.”
“Perhaps you should.” He said. I didn’t answer and Jacob Mac rowed me toward the house in silence.
As we reached the dock, I grabbed the slimy wooden sides steadying the kayak. Jacob jumped out, tying it securely and offered me his hand.
“Before I let you into our circle, I have to do a mind sweep.” I stated as he pulled me onto the dock.
“What’s that?” He asked, growing red in the face.
“I have to make sure we can trust you. I have to read your mind.”
He pursed his lips. “Okay.”
Touching his temples with my fingertips, I held his gaze and watched as my world began to disappear and his memories flooded my mind. I searched through his memories, looking for any hint of betrayal and found nothing. He’d kept Lars and Raif’s secret for years and nothing would make him betray their confidence.
Satisfied at what I’d found, I dropped my hands.
“Am I okay?” He asked.
“You’re just fine.”
“Do I meet with your approval?”
“Yes,” I smirked.
“Am I going to summon forth the army?” He pulled his hands into the air dramatically clutching nothing and I almost snorted.
“Oh hush,” I rolled my eyes, heading toward the house. “You better come in and meet the rest of the group,” I called behind me and Jacob jogged to catch up.
When I opened the patio door, everyone looked up at the same time. Mom’s jaw fell open in surprise, Aletheia shook her head, and Lars leapt to his feet, running to Jacob and embracing him.
“So she’s letting you in, huh?” He was almost jovial.
“Morgan did her ‘mind sweep’ and said I was good to go.”
“She did?” Lars eyed me, “Did it hurt?”
“No,” Jacob’s voice raised an octave. “Was it supposed too?”
“It can.” Aletheia reached forward, offering her hand. “I’m Aletheia. Lars has told me quite a bit about you.”
“Already? He’s only been gone for five hours!”
“We’re a bit different from humans,”
“Oh, I’m aware of that!” He slapped Lars on the shoulder and looked at Mom. She looked as if she’d eaten a lemon.
“I’m Jacob Mac,” he introduced himself and Mom declined to take his hand. Jacob withdrew it, unsure what to do.
“Mom’s never had to have two people introduced into our circle before,” I explained. “She’s just a little nervous about it.”
Instead of standing in the awkward silence, I pulled Mom by the arm, escorting her from the room. Lars and Aletheia took Jacob out to the patio. Already, I could hear the two men relax back into the normalcy of their relationship, joking and laughing.
“Mom! How could you be so rude?” I began.
“How could you bring two strangers into our circle?” She answered.
“I did a mind sweep! There wasn’t any reason for you to be so rude to him!” I pressed.
Mom sunk into the chaise lounge and looked out the window sullenly. “I think you’re introducing too many people too quickly.” She continued to gaze across the lake. “I’m afraid for you.”
“Afraid of what?”
“We don’t know how all this is going to end. Usually we have some inclination, but this time, everything’s up in the air.”
“Mom?”
She turned away from the window, looking at me, her mouth downturned.
“You have to be so careful!” She continued.
“I won’t let anyone in again without the mind sweep, okay?”
She shrugged her thin shoulders and her hair fell away from them.
“I mean it, so you can stop worrying.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever stop worrying about you. When you have a child, you’ll understand.”
Mom looked so upset and so beautiful at the same time. I sat beside her, wrapping my arms around her and leaned my head on her shoulder.