02 The Moon And The Tide - Marina's Tales Read Free Page B

staying on in Aptos...
and applying to the university in Santa Cruz.”
    He looked a little disappointed, and it made
me uncomfortable.
    “I guess if it’s alright with Abby,” he said
hesitantly, “We’ll think about it...”
    “OK,” I said, hugging him tightly as we
parted again. I couldn’t help noticing how much easier it was
letting him go. After everything I’d been through I no longer felt
like a child, and I had gotten used to deciding for myself. I was
also growing accustomed to keeping things to myself, and I wondered
if that was such a good thing. In my case, it probably was.
    Our final day in Oslo dawned, cold and white.
Evie wanted us all to go boutique hopping again but I begged off,
wanting to pack my things and call Ethan. Abby wasn’t interested in
doing anything, and Cruz just shook his head sadly at the two of us
not wanting to shop. Evie gave Abby a warm hug, and we watched her
and Cruz as they bustled out on their shopping adventure, leaving
behind a trail of perfume and cologne in their wake.
    I gave Abby her scarf, and she seemed to
cheer up a bit.
    “Thank you,” she said, looking at me fondly,
“You’re so thoughtful, and after everything you’ve already done for
us. I’m sorry I’m not better company.” Abby had repeatedly
expressed her eternal gratitude for my role in rescuing Dutch; I
was starting to get tired of her bringing it up.
    “Uhm, Aunt Abby,” I said gently, “I saw you
crying yesterday. What’s wrong?” She met my eyes and I could see
she was terribly upset about something. “What is it?” I asked her
again, alarmed.
    She took a deep breath, “I suppose everyone
will know soon enough,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
She covered her face with her hands.
    “Abby?”
    She looked up and met my eyes, “I’m
pregnant,” she said, and burst into tears. Startled, I leaned over
to give her a hug. She started crying even harder and I patted her
back, not knowing what to do.
    “It’ll be okay,” I said, hoping it was
true.
    “How could I be so stupid?” she wailed, “I
can’t believe what an idiot I am.”
    “Oh Abby, don’t be so hard on yourself. What
did Dutch say?”
    She sniffled, “He doesn’t know. We thought we
were being careful. I found out after we got here– I mean I
suspected, but I didn’t know for sure... I can’t... I just can’t
tell him over the phone,” she started crying harder, “I– I need to
see his face.”
    “Did you tell Evie?”
    “No, she guessed. That lady doesn’t miss a
trick,” she hiccupped, “She was so nice... you’re very lucky to
have her, and she’s so good to Cruz.”
    “I know.”
    “Marina, I’m sorry to lay all this on
you.”
    “Abby, what are you going to do?”
    She looked at me, eyes full of anguish, “What
if he leaves me?” she asked quietly, “I don’t think I could take
it.”
    I hugged her again, “Everything will be
alright... Dutch loves you.”
    “Can we not tell Cruz ’till after I talk to
Dutch?” she asked.
    “Sure,” I said, “I’m good at keeping
secrets.”
     
    And I was.

CHAPTER TWO
    Secrets
     
     
    Our flight home went as well as could be
expected. I reclined my seat to try and doze off but kept starting
awake. Abby didn’t sleep at all– so fearful the past was going to
repeat itself, she was literally making herself sick with anxiety.
Every time I looked over at her it made my heart ache. It was
morning when the plane touched down in San Francisco, and I opened
my eyes to see Abby looking out the window, her pale face strained
with anxiety.
    I patted her arm in a vain attempt to soothe
her and she turned to smile tremulously at me. “Here we are,” she
said remotely, her mind elsewhere.
    Abby went to pick up her car and returned to
help load our luggage in the trunk. She moved quickly but
robotically, her face blank, clearly in a hurry to get home. Evie
climbed into Abby’s Volvo as regally as if it were a limousine and
smiled kindly at her,