A Wish on a Full Moon
I do not own H2O: Just Add Water or any of the characters.
Ok, wow guys. Thank y'all so much for all the reviews, follows, favs, etc. Never thought it would grow this much. That's so amazing. Thank you all! 3
And I am so sorry it took so long to update. I went on vacation with my family during that time and wasn't able to take my laptop, so, unfortunately, I couldn't work on it during the time. Tried working on it as much as I could right before we left, so that way it wouldn't take too long when we came back. Again, so sorry it took so long, and thank you all so much for reading this story! :D
Chapter 30: Shipwrecked (part 1)
[At the marina, Zane walks onto an old, rusty, worn-down boat that belongs to none other than Mrs. Chatham. He marches up to her, and yells at her, insulting her.]
Zane: angry. "You shouldn't be here. You're a menace."
"Zane?" Harrison questioned, a bit surprised. It was more of a mixture as to why he was yelling at her and why he was there in the first place.
"Why are you yelling at her?" Elliot asked. He grew fond of the elderly lady ever since she stayed at their house. He considered her a family friend of the Gilbert household. "Uh, something to do with my jet ski again, I think. I shouldn't have blamed her for it though," Zane sheepishly admitted, remembering those days, the accusations and the drowning came clear to his mind.
Ever since he found out the secret and Rikki told him how she was 'connected' to them, he had to admit, he respected the elderly woman. She was a good person in his eyes. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused you during that time, Mrs. Chatham." Mrs. Chatham observed the brown-haired teen and saw the sincerity in his eyes. He meant well. Mrs. Chatham gave him a smile, glad to let the past stay in the past, in a way. "All is forgiven, Zane." Emma's jaw dropped, quite surprised that he would apologize to her. Maybe he has changed some.
At least I wasn't the only one who thought that, Don thought, a little bitter about the mystery behind her.
Zane: "Your mooring line broke because it's frayed through."
Mrs. Chatham: not too far from her boat, Emma looks up from her spot on the dock and sees the problem that was getting out of hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"What are you doing there, Emma?" Lisa asked curiously. Is this how she started became friends with her? "Just wandering around," Emma shrugged.
"An old boat like that, it's going to have a lot of problems," Don stated. He wasn't saying it to be siding with her, but because he was a fisherman. He knows his boats.
"Unfortunately, those were problems I couldn't fix," she sighed, missing her Lorelei. Max gave her a pat on the back, knowing what it was like having to give up something they held dear to their heart. Just like his Gracie.
Zane: "Wake up, lady. Get with it."
"But she apologized. She said she didn't know about it," Bella said with a frown. Why was she sticking up for her? She shook her head, getting rid of that weird feeling that once again popped up out of nowhere.
Emma: walks up to them, ready to help the stranger in need. "Zane, don't be rude. Give the lady a chance to speak."
"He's always rude though," Emma corrected herself, all thoughts from earlier tossed away. "He was," Rikki murmured. But that all changed.
Zane: points at Mrs. Chatham, fury in his eyes. Mrs. Chatham glares back. "This old bag's boat broke free and hit mine. It put a scratch on my cowling. Look." They looked over to where Zane's jet ski floated and sees the scratch marked on the side of it.
"Are you sure it wasn't the dock instead of the boat? The scratch is facing the dock after all," Will pointed out. "I, don't know," Zane slowly answered, glancing down as he thought about that.
"No need to insult her," Cleo pouted.
Mrs. Chatham: "I said I'm sorry."
Emma: "She said she's sorry."
Zane: "It's not gonna pay for the damage, is it?" Looks at Emma then at her. "I bet she doesn't even have insurance. This boat shouldn't even be here. It's an embarrassment –."
"The scratch can be easily fixed. And you knew that. The insurance covers it. There was no point to yell at her," Harrison scolded.
"No, but apologies do go a long way. It helps in a lot more ways than you think," Cleo said, sneaking a glance over at her mom, still waiting on an apology for leaving them.
"That boat is a memory, not an embarrassment," Max said, defending his friend. She smiled, glad that someone else thought that way.
Emma: "Zane, you're overreacting. Even for you."
Zane: turns to her as she gives him a look. "Am I?"
"Yes," Zane answered for himself.
"Maybe a little," Rikki said, pinching her fingers together for example. "Says the one who tried to destroy computer data, just to make me mad," Lewis scoffed, a laugh filling in its place.
Zane: looks back at Mrs. Chatham. "We'll see what the harbormaster thinks." Mrs. Chatham gasps quietly, her eyes widening as she watches him leave.
"You tattled on her? And what's the harbormaster going to do over a scratched jet ski?" Ash scoffed. Typical rich kids, there's always a problem. "A lot more thank you think," Zane winced, knowing this wasn't going to be pretty for him.
Emma: stands closer to her as Mrs. Chatham rubs her chin in thought. "Don't worry. He's all talk."
"Wish I was that day," Zane muttered.
Mrs. Chatham: sighs and gives her a small smile. "Thank you, Emma." Emma's smile falters, knowing that she hasn't given the stranger her name.
"How, how did you know her name? Zane nor Emma said it," Lisa asked slowly, worry filling in place of curiosity. Neil tenses up next to her, the same feeling crossing his mind. "The same way I knew about them. I just knew," Mrs. Chatham smiled, giving an answer and not at the same time.
Denman's mouth hanged slightly opened, dumbfounded as to how she knew who she was with no evidence as to prove it.
Elliot tilted his head, he had never seen Emma look so confused before. Not since she first discovered she was a mermaid.
Mrs. Chatham: holds a hand out for her. "Come aboard." Emma hesitantly takes her hand, still wondering how she knew her name as Mrs. Chatham led her inside with a hand on her back.
"I don't know if that's a good idea," Neil said. "Be nice, Neil. She stayed with us before. She didn't seem like a threat then," Lisa told him, but can't help the knot that was forming in her stomach. "Don't worry dad. Everything's fine," Emma smiled at him.
[Inside, Mrs. Chatham pours them both a cup of tea from a pitcher. She glances over at Emma while doing so, seeing her look around the place with such curiosity, yet seems very hesitant about what was going to happen. She takes a cup over to Emma as they both sit down in the booths, handing it to her with a big smile.]
Emma: accepts the cup. "Thank you." They both take a sip as Emma looks at her, and finally voices her thoughts. "You're her."
"You're her … what?" Kim asked. "She's Mrs. Chatham," Rikki quipped with a smirk. "No need to be a smarty-pants about it," Kim remarked, rolling her eyes.
Mrs. Chatham: lowers her glass along with Emma and chuckles. "That's perceptive."
Emma: nods. "The lady Cleo always talks about."
"How'd you know?" Sam asked. "Well after she knew my name without me telling her, it just seemed pretty obvious after that. I took a guess," Emma shrugged. "Well, you're right," Cleo giggled.
Mrs. Chatham: "It's nice to be talked about."
"Yeah, Cleo knows that pretty well," Kim teased as she looked at Cleo, reminding her of the whole full moon, wanting attention episode from earlier. "You're never going to let that go, are you?" Cleo sighed, shaking her head. "Nope!"
Emma: looks around some more. "She never told me you lived on a boat."
Mrs. Chatham: "I didn't tell her I was a Capricorn either. But that's another, tail." Mrs. Chatham chuckles as Emma's smile falters. Emma faces forward, feeling nervous, and shifts around uncomfortably.
"Why would I need to know you were a Capricorn?" Cleo tilted her head in confusion. "It's a joke, dear," she replied, shaking her head in amusement.
Emma's parents notice her nervousness at the mention of a harmless joke, and once again begins to feel worried for her. Could this be a trap? But she seemed like a nice lady when she stayed with us.
Bella shivered, once again getting a bad feeling about this. But now she was beginning to question if it were a bad feeling or not. She's been nothing but nice to them. The hints might be a little scary but other than that she seems okay. So, what could be making her feel this way?
Mrs. Chatham: notices her change of mood and drops her smile. "Oh, I'm sorry. I-I've made you uncomfortable. I'm not a very good host." Emma forms a small smile. "Mind you, I haven't had anyone else onboard the Lorelei for, 23 years."
"Wow, that is a long time. No wonder the boat's run down. It's so old," Kim said, her eyes widening; Don shushed her, wanting to know more of her story. Wanting the mystery to be solved. After all, this was the first time he got more information about her since last night.
"Well I'm glad to be your first guest in a while then," Emma said, giving her a grateful smile.
[Outside on the dock, Zane comes up with the harbormaster, who calls for her.]
Mr. Hendrix: "Mrs. Chatham."
"Guess you weren't kidding," Will shook his head. "I never gave any empty threats back then," Zane said, crossing his arms. I'm going to be getting a lot of hate real soon.
Mrs. Chatham: and Emma goes, still on the boat as they meet the two gentlemen. Puts a smile on her face. "Ah, Mr. Hendrix. Would you care for some ice tea?"
Mr. Hendrix: "You know why I'm here, Mrs. Chatham. Another complaint's been received."
Mrs. Chatham: glances towards Zane's directions. "People seem to complain so much these days." Zane turns to her and glares.
"She's right. In the old days, apologies was all it took when people made mistakes," Max commented, the other older folks in the room nodding in agreement.
"Another complaint? Don't tell me they were all by you," Harrison frowned, looking toward his son. "Not all the time," Zane muttered. "Don't worry, Mr. Bennett, it wasn't just him. It seemed my Lorelei was an eyesore for others that went to the docks," she said with a sigh, missing her old home.
Mr. Hendrix: "A regularity which is hard to ignore when they concern you."
Mrs. Chatham: "Heh. I'll take that as a compliment. You care about me. Lovely." She turns to head back inside when Zane interrupts the situation.
"Tough love," Charlotte amused.
"He hides it real well then," Ash commented.
Zane: gestures toward the old woman while looking at the harbormaster. "Are you gonna evict her or what?" Mrs. Chatham leans her hand against the door as she quickly looks at the two in surprise.
"Evict her?!" Elliot yelled. "What for?"
"All because of some scratch?" Will theorized, giving Zane a hateful look. "No. The harbormaster had several other reasons. One of them being that it wasn't safe anymore," Emma sighed, giving the older woman a sad look.
Mr. Hendrix: "Leave this to me. Mrs. Chatham, we've spoken on many occasions. On the last occasion, I reminded you of unpaid mooring fees that go back five years."
"That was another reason," Mrs. Chatham sighed, glancing down.
Terry looked away. Reminded of all the times he couldn't afford the rent either. He could understand the situation and how she felt.
"I still think it was wrong to evict her for that," Elliot grumbled.
Mrs. Chatham: shakes her head. "No, I don't recall that."
"Were you being serious or was that just an excuse?" Max asked in concern. Mrs. Chatham shook her head in response.
Mr. Hendrix: "Before that, you've been served with several requests to maintain your vessel according to regulations."
"She's old, she can't do everything!" Kim shouted, waving to the screen. Bev lightly slaps her shoulder and hushes her. "Kim! There's a nicer way to say things."
"Oh, it's alright. And she's right about that. Can't do everything like I used to," Mrs. Chatham chuckled.
Mrs. Chatham: "I really must open those letters. I've been meaning to read them."
"No, you weren't," Max chuckled.
Zane: "You're getting evicted, lady. You're gone." Emma narrows her eyes at him while Mrs. Chatham puts her hand to her chest, looking a little pale.
Mr. Hendrix: goes over to him. "Do you mind? I'm handling this."
Zane: "Well, hurry it up."
"I know this is a bad situation but just let him do his job," Harrison sighed, not liking the impatient attitude.
"That lady has a name," Cleo scowled. "I know, I know," Zane sighed. This is not looking good for me.
Emma: climbs out of the boat and goes over to the two, talking to the harbormaster. "Why are you doing this?"
Mr. Hendrix: and Zane turn to her, the latter with a sneer. "Now, we've been pretty patient with Mrs. Chatham over the years. But the time has come for us to act."
Emma: "You can't throw her out."
"Although I don't like the fact that they were evicting her, he is right. Five years is quite a long time of ignorance," Sam said. "But throwing her into the streets without a heads-up?" Emma complained. "He's just doing his job, sweetheart. But you're right, a forewarning would've been a little thoughtful," Lisa told her.
[Suddenly, they heard a thud that came from the boat. They turn around to look, and find Mrs. Chatham lying on the floor, unconscious with her hand clutching her chest.]
"Oh no." Gasps were heard all over the room, murmuring their thoughts as they worried for the elderly woman. Don raises an eyebrow. Although he was highly suspicious of her, he didn't want any harm to come to her. Especially since Cleo has grown quite close with her, despite his disagreement.
Denman glances over at the woman, who just smiles at her in return. She's a lot tougher than she looks if she's still here.
"Louise?" Max whispered, quickly looking over at his friend as his brows furrowed in worry. Mrs. Chatham laughs lightly as she looks at him. "Don't worry. I'm quite alright. It's going to take more than a few heart attacks to take me down." "A few?!" He looks at her in shock, wondering if she was serious or not.
"You gave her a heart attack?" Harrison slowly said, turning to his son with anger in his eyes. Zane gulped. "I didn't mean to! I'm sorry, Mrs. Chatham," he quickly responded, looking over at the older woman with an apologetic look. "Don't worry about it dear," she replied, giving him a small smile.
[A few minutes later, Emma walks alongside the stretcher which holds Mrs. Chatham, who has a look of pain on her face as the paramedics take her away. Emma holds her hand as they go down the dock.]
Emma: "You'll be alright. Do you want me to come to the hospital with you?"
"That's sweet of you, Emma, but you didn't have to," the elderly woman said, giving her a grateful smile. "I didn't have to. I wanted to," Emma responded with a smile of her own.
Mrs. Chatham: leans over and looks at Emma, whispering loudly to her as the paramedics lead the stretcher to the exit. "They want my treasure."
Emma: gives her a strange look before nodding. "Just, try to rest."
Mrs. Chatham: "Don't let them get my treasure." She lets go of Emma's hand as the paramedics take her through the gate, and on their way to the hospital. As she passes the gate, Zane, who was standing beside the gate and overheard her words, looks between her and Emma as he watches her leave with a worried frown.
"Treasure? What treasure?" Annette questioned.
"But I thought you were homeless," Elliot said, confused. Lisa covers his mouth to keep him quiet. "Not that kind of treasure, Elliot," Emma laughed to herself. "Then what kind is it?" Kim shook her head. "This is the kind that you hold dear to your heart. That you refuse to let anyone else have. It's the one thing that you treasure the most," Mrs. Chatham beamed. Kim looks at her weirdly then mutters to herself. "You are so strange."
Will looks around, making sure his sister won't pop out of nowhere. If Sophie heard that, she wouldn't stop hunting till she got her hands on such value.
Zane: turns to Emma, who glares at him. "I didn't mean to give the old biddy a heart attack."
Emma: "Maybe you should tell her that." She walks past him, following the paramedics and the stretcher, determined to get to the hospital. Zane pauses and glances at her leaving form, then looks away with a regretful look.
"Again, I am so sorry, Mrs. Chatham," Zane said with remorse. "I already told you that it was fine. There was no harm done," she replied. "But there was harm," Bella said in confusion.
Meanwhile, Cleo stared at Zane in shock. He's never apologized this much before. Before this, she could count on one hand the number of times she has ever seen him apologize to someone and meant it. Could this really be a new Zane Bennett?
[That night, Emma meets up with the rest of the gang at Cleo's house, where they sit on the landing of the staircase as she tells them about her adventures from today. Emma sits next to Lewis, the both of them leaning back against the railing while Cleo and Rikki lean against the wall; the latter propping her feet on the stairs.]
Emma: "The ambulance guy said it could've been more serious. She stopped taking her medication."
"Well, I'm glad you turned out okay," Max whispered to her. He couldn't manage to lose any more friends.
Cleo: "Poor lady."
Emma: "Her name's, Mrs. Chatham."
"It took you a while to learn it," Bella chuckled. "We couldn't exactly keep a conversation going without her disappearing. The same goes with asking who the heck she was," Cleo shrugged. "And neither Emma nor I hadn't met her up until this point," Rikki further explained.
Lewis: looks at Emma. "Is she that weird old lady that lives on the boat?"
"I'm not that weird," Mrs. Chatham said. Everyone looks her way, except for the girls who were stifling a laugh. She looks around then pouts. "Okay fine. I might be a little strange." "A little?" Max questioned, chuckling as he saw the look she was giving him. "You try talking to people normally after 23 years."
Emma: "Yeah. That's her. How do you know her?"
Lewis: "No, no, I don't. I've just heard about her. She lives on that leaky, old wreck. No friends, no family. All alone."
"Guess word gets around," Denman sighed. But how come I never heard of her when I was on the Gold Coast?
Mrs. Chatham sighed, leaning against her hand as she listened to the comments about her Lorelei. She hated the negativity she heard. Hated that it was at the bottom of the ocean. But, what could she do?
Cleo: looks at each one of them. "She's the one that seems to know all about the full moon, and our powers. And our tails."
"Which is still a mystery to me on how you know," Denman said with a tad bit of resentment.
Lewis: "Some people say she's a witch."
Rikki: "And if they said she was an Easter Bunny, would you believe that?"
Lewis: gives her a look, raising an eyebrow. "There was a time I didn't believe in mermaids either." Rikki smiles smugly while Cleo nods in understanding.
Laughter goes around at their banters. "That is true," Rikki laughed, tilting her head towards Lewis.
"Are you a witch?" Elliot asked. "No, dear. Although, sometimes I do wonder," Mrs. Chatham told him, pretending to think as he looked at her with excitement. "I'm only kidding," she teased, causing him to pout as she patted his head. Then what are you? Who are you? Denman thought.
[The next morning, Rikki sits at the counter, talking to Mrs. Gilbert in the kitchen while they wait for Emma to come back.]
Rikki: "So where's Emma?"
Lisa: "Oh, I'm not sure. She just said she was going out for a while." Lifts her mug and takes a sip.
Rikki: nods and plays with her food in the bowl as she sucks the icing off her finger. "Alright. We said we'd all meet here. But that's alright, no hurry. I can fill in time."
"Little did we know what you were actually up to," Lisa chuckled, looking amused.
Lisa: they hear the front door open, and she looks in the direction of it. "That sounds like her now." Lisa places her mug down as Rikki gets up and walks toward the entryway to greet her friend.
Rikki: "It's about time. Where have you –" She walks around the corner and pauses in her steps. Surprised to see the guest Emma drug into their house: Mrs. Chatham. She watches Emma pull her gently through the door, a bag in the older woman's hand. "– been?"
"It looks like she kept herself busy," Ash remarked, a little surprised that she brought a stranger to her house.
"Why does this not surprise me," Bev chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. She remembered Emma always was the one willing to helps others out the most. How she missed Cleo's friends. And Cleo herself. How could she not miss her own daughter?
"You brought a stranger to your home," Sam frowned. "Mrs. Chatham is not a stranger," Emma replied. "You just met her. That day!"
Emma: "Don't stare. That's rude." Mrs. Chatham, however, continues staring at Rikki. She brings her closer to her friend as Mrs. Chatham smiles widely at her. "This is Mrs. Chatham. Mrs. Chatham, this is –."
Mrs. Chatham: leans in, interrupting Emma. "You must be Rikki."
"Again, with the knowing people's names," Don huffed. The situation just kept getting worse and worse. She knew so much about them without even talking to them for a minute. She was up to something, and he was determined to find out what. He just hoped that this episode will tell him how.
Terry acted a little surprised that she knew her name but ultimately amused about the whole situation in general.
Rikki: looks at her a little surprised and confused about how she knew that. "Uh, yeah."
Emma: leans over and looks into the kitchen, where she sees her mother. "Mom? We've got a houseguest." Lisa closes the fridge and slowly walks around the counter. Emma walks around the corner with Mrs. Chatham in tow while Rikki watches the older woman from behind. "The hospital discharged Mrs. Chatham. She'll be fine if she takes her medication and gets some rest. I thought this would be a good place for that. Okay?" Mrs. Chatham sighs and smiles at Mrs. Gilbert as Emma leads her over to the couch.
"Well, that's an effective way to find out," Neil chuckled. It was better than how he found out: he walked into the house and found her eating with them at the dinner table.
"You could've at least told me beforehand, so that way I could've prepared the room," Lisa informed her. "Sorry mom," Emma winced.
Zane sighed, relieved that she didn't get hurt from his first mishap.
Lisa: "Uh –." She shrugs, unsure of what to do as she clasps her hands together. "That'll be fine, darling. Uh, hello. I'm Lisa." Emma sits Mrs. Chatham down on the couch.
Mrs. Chatham: looks up to see Lisa holding a hand out to her, she gracefully accepts it. "I don't want to be a bother." She grabs her hand with both her hands as Lisa leans down a little further to hear her better. Rikki and Emma stand next to them. "But Emma insisted. She can be very strong-willed."
"That's an understatement," Rikki snorted.
"I would say, extremely strong-willed," Lewis commented. "How about insanely," Cleo implied. Emma glares at the three of them but can't help the smile that came on her face.
Lisa: nods and smiles. "Yes. I've noticed. Could we have a word, please?" She straightens up and looks at Emma, the smile never leaving her face as she walks into the kitchen, dragging Emma along with her.
Emma: "Sure." She goes with her mother into the kitchen. Rikki walks around the couch as Mrs. Chatham smiles at her. The two of them having their own little conversation.
Lisa: "You should have asked, Em."
Emma: "You would have said no."
"You're right about that. But now that we have gotten to know her better, I changed my mind," Lisa said. "You're about to get to know her a whole lot better soon," Rikki mumbled to herself. Emma hushed her, not wanting the secret to slip so soon as she heard the mumbling. "She still seems a little mysterious though," Neil whispered to his wife. "Yes, well I'm sure she has her reasons why," Lisa remarked.
"She's right, Em. You should have asked first," Cleo told her. "Yeah, I know."
Emma: glances Mrs. Chatham's way. "Mom, she needs our help. She's homeless."
"Don't you mean, boatless?" Will quipped, however, earned quite a bit of glares his way, not liking the rude joke. "Okay, not the right time. My bad." He lowered himself back in his seat, hiding from the intensive stares.
Lisa: "Yes, but there are welfare agencies that look after people in her situation. They're not alone."
Emma: "But she is alone. That's why she's homeless."
"That's where I'm wrong. She's not alone. She has us," Emma smiled, looking over at the older woman. "And me too. We're still friends after all, right?" Max piped up, looking over at her as well. She gives them all a smile, then looks at Max and nods. "Right. Thank you. All of you." "Anything for you, Mrs. C," Lewis said, playfully saluting her as she chuckled. Lewis too? Why is everyone on her side?! Don thought, surprised about the blonde boy willing to help her out.
[At this time, Cleo walks in the open door.]
Cleo: "Sorry I'm late, I –." Her eyes widen as she pauses when she sees who was in the living room with Rikki.
"Work again?" Lewis assumed. "Yep."
Mrs. Chatham: turns to find Cleo standing in the entryway and smiles at her. "Hello, Cleo."
Cleo: "Oh, hi." She stands behind the couch and Mrs. Chatham grabs her hand.
"You didn't seem all too happy about seeing her," Don said, raising an eyebrow. Maybe she's finally learned not to trust her. "I was just a little surprised to see her there. I was used to seeing her at the amusement park. That was definitely unexpected," Cleo answered.
Emma: and Lisa walk around the counter, watching the interaction between them. She whispers into her mother's ear. "Well?"
Lisa: sighs, then steps forward. "Alright. Uh, Mrs. Chatham, if you'd like to come with me, I'll show you to the spare room." Emma smiles at the older woman as Lisa gestures to the stairs while holding her other hand out for her.
"You sure gave in easily," Neil said. "Well, it was either that or let her fend for herself," Lisa said, feeling a little guilty of even thinking it over.
Mrs. Chatham: "Oh, you're very kind." She smiles and stands up. Walking past the couch, she pats Emma lightly on the cheek as Lisa guides her through the kitchen and up the stairs. She stares up at Lisa's hair while doing so. "Is that your natural hair color?" Lisa pauses for a second, looking back at Emma as they continue their path to the stairs.
No one looks in her direction; afraid that they might start laughing if they do so. Lisa notices Elliot giving her a side glance, and she narrows her eyes at him, darting her fingers between hers and his. "Watch it."
"How very kind of you," Kim teased, earning another glare from her mother.
Rikki: the three of them gather together by the couch. She watches the two leave, making sure that their conversation wouldn't be overheard. "You brought her here?"
Emma: looks between the two. "What could I do? The harbormaster wants to remove her boat from the marina. He said she can't stay there."
"You could've taken her to a nursing home or something," Harrison suggested. "The thought didn't cross my mind at the time. But we eventually did," Emma told him, still a little hesitant about him.
Rikki: "But you brought her here."
Emma: "Just for a while. We'll try and talk to the harbormaster. Make him see some reason."
"Good luck with that. He's a stubborn one," Don scoffed.
Cleo: "Emma, this old lady knows about us. What if she says something to your mom or dad?"
Emma: looks down, thinking for a moment before denying the fact. "She won't. She's smart and I'm sure she's discreet."
"You were right about that. She never mentioned it to us one bit," Lisa laughed lightly, a little impressed that the woman never did talk about it to them. Although she still never understood why, and how she knew to keep such a secret. "Well, she did drop a few hints," Emma mentioned, remembering the times her heartbeat raced every time she mentioned swimming or water.
Cleo: "You hope."
Emma: "Look, Cleo, we're probably worrying about nothing. I mean, has she ever actually said to you, 'I know you're a mermaid'?"
"You were right about one thing. We didn't have to worry about anything. But it was pretty obvious that she knew," Cleo answered.
Cleo: shakes her head. "Not in those words exactly. But everything she said about the full moon turned out to be true, didn't it?" She tilts her head towards her as Emma sighs and looks at Rikki, who raises her eyebrow as if she were saying she was right.
"Unfortunately," Rikki sighed. "That's the only thing negative about being a mermaid. The full moons are the worst." "Agreed," Emma and Cle nodded.
[Later that day, Elliot listens to the stories Mrs. Chatham tells. She grabs Elliot's hand as he sits on the armchair while telling him the story of her memorable Lorelei.]
Mrs. Chatham: "My husband and I bought that boat many, many years ago now." She leans back, chuckling and sighing at the memory as Lisa sits down next to Elliot on the sofa. "He died about fifteen years ago."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Max sighed. "It's alright. I still got the memories," she hesitantly responded, but smiled upon thinking about him.
Elliot: "You must be a hundred years old then."
Lisa: slaps him lightly on the back, gaining his attention. "Elliot."
"Not that old. But sometimes I sure do feel like it," she laughed, along with the rest of the crowd.
Mrs. Chatham: laughs. The girls walk in and sit down in the living room with them. Cloe and Rikki sit together behind Mrs. Chatham and Emma sits next to her mother. "Not quite. Still, I couldn't get rid of the Lorelei. We had so many happy memories on her."
"It's hard to give up the things you love most. The things that gave you so many happy memories," Emma said, thinking of her swimming career. Mrs. Chatham nods slowly in agreement.
Mrs. Chatham: looks over at Emma. "Oh, look, Emma's back." Lisa and Emma look at each other and smile, while Mrs. Chatham gives her a knowing look. "She knows a lot about the water." Emma's eyes widen as she looks over at her other two friends, who glance at each other with wary looks.
"My apologies dear. I must've nearly given you a heart attack," Mrs. Chatham lightly teased. "It felt like it," Emma joked back.
"Are these the hints you mentioned?" Ash asked. "Yeah."
"I didn't even think about those little comments," Lisa shook her head. "It was more of an inside joke anyways," Cleo shrugged.
Emma: "Uh, I don't think so. I don't swim competitively anymore." Lisa nods, still unsure as to why.
Mrs. Chatham: "Right. Not Competitively." Emma's smile falters as she hears the specifics of that sentence.
"You liked teasing us about it in front of our parents, didn't you?" Emma asked, looking over at the woman in question. "Maybe a little," she laughed.
Mrs. Chatham: "Still. The Lorelei has served me well."
"Had. The correct phrasing is had," Lewis corrected, earning looks from the girls.
Mrs. Chatham: looks back at Elliot. "If I had to start her, I'm sure the motor will start."
"I'll be surprised if it will," Will said. "Oh, I can assure you. It did," Zane pouted, regretting ever going out there after her.
Elliot: "And what if it doesn't?"
Mrs. Chatham: "Oh, you just have to make the water work for you." She swivels her hands around for example. Elliot looks at his mother, who looks down, giving her crazy eyes as Emma looks down as well. Mrs. Chatham turns around and smiles mischievously at Cleo. "Right, Cleo?"
"Yeah, that would make sense. Talk about water to the girl everyone thinks is afraid of it," Kim remarked. "Hello, that's why it's a hint," Rikki retorted. "Not a very good one," she grumbled.
Cleo: eyes widen, a little startled about her name being involved in the conversation. "What?" Mrs. Chatham's smile slowly falls as she looks down at Cleo's (Gracie's) necklace. "Oh, no. I wouldn't –."
"Were you even listening?" Bella asked. "I was. I just wasn't expecting my name to be involved. That's all," she answered.
[Just then, the house phone rings, interrupting whatever Cleo was going to say. Lisa gets up to answer the phone in the kitchen. As she walks by, Mrs. Chatham reaches over and gently grabs Cleo's necklace. Cleo eyes her warily.]
Lisa: answers the phone. "Hello? Yeah."
Mrs. Chatham: rubs the necklace with her thumb. "Gracie." Rikki glances over at Emma, who shrugs in response.
Charlotte once again perks up. Hearing her grandma's name in this always caught her attention. Even though her mother said it was someone else, she still had this small feeling of hope, of something, that was telling her that maybe this woman really did know her grandmother. And that she knew something they didn't. Was it all connected to that necklace? Her head hurt from trying to figure it all out as she leaned forward, placing her head in her hands.
Annette patted her on the back, knowing what she was thinking. Although she would love to know more about her mother as well, she knew there was absolutely no possible way that this woman knew her mother. Gracie never even mentioned her friends. No names, nothing. So why bother getting her hopes up.
Lisa: "Yes, I'll put her on." She walks out of the kitchen and over to Mrs. Chatham and holds the phone out for her. "For you. It's the harbormaster." Mrs. Chatham takes the phone from her.
"This can't be good," Will shook his head. "You're right about that," Zane sighed, regretting for ever snitching on her.
Rikki: whispers to Cleo. "Now she's getting phone calls here." Cleo grins.
"How did he know where you were?" Terry asked. "I'm guessing the hospital must've told them where she went. They knew she went with me," Emma responded for her.
Mrs. Chatham: "Hello?" Her smile gradually falls, forming into a horrific and sad look as she hears what Mr. Hendrix has to tell her. "What? But, uh … Uh – but you can't –." She holds her hand up and tilts her head, unable to do what he asks. "Well, no, but – but you can't." She hangs up the phone and looks at it, mortified. Lisa walks over to see if the elder person was alright.
"What happened?" Bella asked, a little surprised herself that she was asking like she was concerned. "I got evicted," Mrs. Chatham said quietly. Bella looked down, feeling guilty for asking.
Emma: leans forward. "What is it?"
Mrs. Chatham: "They're, um. They're taking my boat away from me. They say I can't use it anymore. It doesn't meet their silly regulations. It's all I've got and they're taking it away." Emma looks at her friends, thinking they need to do something.
"It holds my greatest memories. And I will always miss those I treasure the most," she sighed, thinking of her wonderful Lorelei. Everyone gave her an apologetic look. Feeling bad that one of her best memories was being taken from her. Or what they think were her best memories. It holds her greatest memories.
"I agree that some of their regulations can be a bit ludicrous. But some of them are for your safety," Don told her. "I am a boat person myself, and I understand what it's like. It's like a home to you as they are to me. But they are not just for your safety, but for the safety of others." Don, although he didn't trust her, knew how it felt to be on a boat. It felt like he lived on one himself sometimes as much as he worked. He's been doing double shifts lately to keep up with the bills ever since Bev left. Cleo has been helping as well. He didn't want his family falling apart. He refused to let it happen again.
[At the marina, the three girls walk up to the Lorelei with painting supplies in hand: paint buckets, rollers, tin pans. They stop in front of it to find that the harbormaster had blocked the entire boat off with caution tape.]
Emma: "Rikki, it's her home. We've got to help her."
Rikki: takes in the sight of the boat. "You're kidding. It's a pile of junk."
"Well thank you, Rikki," Mrs. Chatham said, giving her a sad yet playful look. "I'm sorry, Mrs. C. I didn't mean it like that," Rikki winced.
Emma: looks at her then the boat. "A coat of paint will spruce it up. Now stop arguing and start painting." She moves forward but stops when Rikki continues.
"I'm afraid it's going to take much more than paint to fix that, Em," Neil told her.
"The boat is just too old. There's not much you could do," Sam said with a small smile.
"That's sweet of you Emma. But they're right. There's not much you could do to fix my Lorelei," Mrs. Chatham sighed. Not at the bottom of the ocean anyway.
Rikki: "It needs more than paint. It needs a new boat." Cleo nods in agreement.
Emma: rolls her eyes. "Rikki being negative. What a surprise."
"She's not being negative. She's being realistic," Will said.
"And you're too optimistic. Sometimes you gotta look at the truth," Rikki whispered.
Rikki: "Get real. We can't do this."
Mr. Hendrix: walks up to the girls and they turn to him. "And even if you did, it's not gonna make a difference. I know you're trying to help, but you're wasting your time." He waves toward the boat; Rikki sets the bucket down. "The boat's got rust all throughout its structural frame. Do I need to go on?"
Don winced. The rust would be near impossible to fix. And it sounds like that wasn't the only problem. "Too far gone," he whispered.
"Rikki's right. No paint can possibly fix rust problems," Terry said, shaking his head. He felt bad for the older woman. Her situation reminded him of his bike. Impossible to fix as well.
Mr. Hendrix: "She's better off without it."
Mrs. Chatham: Walks up to them, and gets in his face, getting furious as she heard that last part. "That is your opinion. Not mine." She pushes him and the girls out of the way and makes her way toward the boat. Cleo steps back so she won't get pushed in the water. "I'll be leaving now. Thank you."
"You tell him, Mrs. C!" Lewis shouted, causing her to laugh. "Thank you, Lewis."
Mr. Hendrix: gently grabs her arm, slowing her down. "You know you can't do that. I've referred this matter on. The boat has been impounded by the water police. It's not seaworthy."
Mrs. Chatham: she closes her eyes shut then turns and looks at him, anger in her eyes. "It's my home. I live here."
"Well, as long as she doesn't drive it, I don't see what the problem is. Couldn't she still live there?" Ash asked. "As long as it's in the water, it doesn't matter to them. It would still be required to pass the regulations," Don said, crossing his arms.
Emma: gets in-between them. "Mrs. Chatham, they're just doing what they think is right. They're trying to help." Takes her arm and tries to lead her back on land.
Mrs. Chatham: pulls back. "I've got to get my things." Mr. Hendrix looks at her and she looks back, eyeing him venomously, as she whispers harshly into Emma's ear. "They're just after my treasure."
"I'm sure that's not what it's about, Louise," Max told her. What is this treasure she keeps referring to?
Thankfully though the young girl, Kim, he believes her name is, voiced his thoughts. "Why do you keep talking about your treasure? What is it that's so important to you?" Mrs. Chatham sighed and looked around, seeing everyone looking at her. "I'm sure you'll find out soon enough." Kim huffed, tired of waiting, and looked back at the screen.
Zane: and Nate walk up the dock. "The paint job cost a few hundred, so the jet ski looks as good as new."
"Don't lie! I already said that the insurance covered it," Harrison stated, frowning at his son. "Well, I mean, we pay the insurance, so technically we did pay for it," Zane shrugged, trying to get out of the situation. But it unfortunately failed as Harrison continued glaring at him and slowly shook his head. "That's not how it works."
Emma: wraps an arm around Mrs. Chatham, and they head towards the gate, where Zane and Nate stand. "Let's just go home, back to my place. We'll talk about it there."
Mrs. Chatham: clings onto her shoulder. "I want what's mine. They're after my treasure. All of them." She eyes Zane carefully as the two pass them. Although she wasn't as quiet as she thought as Zane and Nate overheard the conversation. They turn around and look at her.
Nate: "What does she mean by treasure?" Cleo and Rikki pass them with the paint supplies and follow Emma's trail.
Zane: backs up and they turn to look at Mrs. Chatham's boat, wondering what luxuries it could possibly hide. "No idea."
"This is going to cause a lot of trouble, isn't it?" Ash assumed, getting nods in reply from the girls.
"Is this what sparked that stupid idea of yours? To follow her and sink her boat?" Harrison hissed quietly at him. "Maybe," Zane said, looking regretful.
He better not mess with her, Bella frowned.
[That night back at Emma's place, the Gilbert family, plus Mrs. Chatham, Rikki, and Cleo, finish eating at the dinner table.]
Neil: "That was delicious."
Lisa: puts the dishes in the dishwasher then stands up straight to look at her family and guests, who were still at the table. "Well, I can't take all the credit. This was Mrs. Chatham's recipe for clam chowder." She points at her, who was playing with her bowl of said food.
Neil: they all look at her. "Well, it was brilliant."
"Sounds like you need to give me the recipe for my restaurant," Annette said.
"Oh, I would love some more," Neil laughed.
Mrs. Chatham: nods in his direction then stands up. "Thank you. Oh, I'll help you clean up."
Lisa: "Oh, no, nonsense." Looks at Cleo, who looks back at her when she hears her name. "Cleo, could you help get Mrs. Chatham nice and comfortable on the sofa, please?" She nods, then Lisa points back at Mrs. Chatham. "And don't forget to take your medication."
"That's very kind of you all. I never got to say it, but thank you," Mrs. Chatham tells the Gilbert family. "You're welcomed back anytime you'd like," Lisa nodded, smiling. She enjoyed the elder woman there. She might've seemed a little annoyed a few times, but overall, it was quite nice.
[They all leave the table. The girls, except Emma, join Mrs. Chatham and Elliot in the living room. The rest of the Gilbert family stays at the counter, as Emma brings the dishes to her mother.]
Lisa: to Emma. "Darling, you know that I love having her here, but you do realize this can't go on indefinitely?"
"And I really do, Mrs. Chatham," Lisa smiled. "Yeah. You're like a part of the family!" Elliot beamed, making the other woman smile in return.
Emma: nods. "I know, mom."
Neil: "You did the right thing helping her, but she needs her own place. A permanent home."
"The retirement home is quite nice," she added in.
Emma: "Just a few more days."
Neil: "Then what?" They stay quiet, ending the conversation as they look into the living room where the woman in question was.
"Then I move on," she whispered to herself.
[A few minutes later, when the rest of the Gilbert family are upstairs, the girls stay in the living room with Mrs. Chatham, as she discusses a secretive topic.]
Mrs. Chatham: sits on the couch next to Cleo as she talks to all three of them. Emma sits on the table and Rikki sits on the sofa next to them. "Friendship. That's the most important thing." She puts a hand on Cleo's knee in comfort. "I appreciate what you're trying to do for me. But the burden you carry, is too great to carry alone."
"Burden? Since when is friendship a burden?" Don huffed. "Yeah, friendship is something valuable, like the treasure you keep talking about. But it's not a burden," Kim said, sneaking a glance over at Elliot. "I don't think that's what she meant," Bev disagreed, shaking her head. "What else could she mean?" Kim said, rolling her eyes. "I don't know. But somehow I don't think it's that."
Bella frowned, many thoughts running through her head that she was trying to connect. Burden? She couldn't possibly mean their friendship. Could she be talking about their secret? Why would she think it's a burden?
[Emma gives Rikki a knowing look, the other blonde returning it. Cleo perks her head up and frowns in confusion.]
Cleo: "Wait. What burden?"
[Mrs. Chatham looks over at Emma with a teasing smile and Emma laughs silently to herself, getting what she meant. Finally, Cleo understands, nodding in realization.]
Cleo: "Oh, that one." Rikki rolls her eyes.
Mrs. Chatham: laughs. "When you're different, it helps if you have friends who understand." Emma smiled at her, and she gave a weak smile back before glancing down.
"Wait. Are you talking about the tails? About them being mermaids?" Denman asked. "But that's not a burden. That's amazing! Sure there are a few downfalls with the full moons, but that's only a once-a-month thing. There's nothing else to worry about," Will said defensively. "Actually, you're wrong. They can't touch water in public, remember?" Bella said, a little distractedly. "Oh, yeah. You're right. Sorry," Will apologized to her, but Bella was too distracted as she focused her attention on Mrs. Chatham.
There is something off about her. How does she know it's a burden? How could she understand that it is one? The only thing that could make sense on how she knows all this stuff, how she knows about them and that I am one without any proof, how she understands how they – we feel, is if she knew some mermaids from before or …. or, if she was one herself.
Bella's eyes widened in absolute surprise, she covered her mouth to keep from screaming and giving away what could possibly be the truth. She straightened up in her seat, wanting to focus on the screen to know some more, but she couldn't help but keep looking back at the woman every few minutes, wanting to know if her theory were true.
If it's true, then that could explain everything! On how she knows that I'm one. And how she knows so much about the full moon and everything else! Could she be like me, a loner mermaid? She shook in her seat, a little nervous, yet excited to discover if she were right.
Mrs. Chatham: "I had friends."
Bella's smile slowly fell, a little down to find out that if she were right, then she was the only loner mermaid. But wait, that means if it's true, then Mrs. Chatham's friends are mermaids too! Oh, how she wished she knew more. Can't this stupid episode speed it up already?!
Rikki: waves to her outfit. "Did they, did they dress like you?" Emma turns to her and frowns.
"Not the time Rikki," Terry said, but couldn't help but chuckle.
Mrs. Chatham: "This was long ago. We were, younger. I wasn't always this old." She tilts her head in wonder and leans against her hand. "Or maybe I was. Hmm."
Emma: "When you say burden, what do you mean?" Shakes her head.
"I think you know exactly what she meant," Rikki sighed. "I was just asking for reassurance," she replied. "Wait, you do?" Kim asked. Cleo nodded. "Yeah, they do," Bella barely whispered, gazing at the screen as if it were the only thing that mattered. "So, what does it mean?" Charlotte asked. They looked at her shook their head no.
Mrs. Chatham: sighs, looking sad. "When it got too great for me, I had to give it up."
Cleo: looks at each one of them, a little surprised. "You can do that?"
"Can do what?" Kim said in agitation. "Can someone please explain to me what you guys are talking about?" "Not now, Kim," Cleo muttered. Although she was still unsure on to how it could be taken away permanently.
Bella frowned. She had to give it up? She's not one anymore? – if she was one in the first place. But I thought it was permanent, she thought as she looked down at her own two feet. Still, the facts add up. She must be! Or at least had been before.
Mrs. Chatham: stands up. "It's getting late. I think we should all be in bed."
Rikki: looks up at her. "But it was just starting to get interesting."
Mrs. Chatham: whispers. "Yeah."
"I agree! I want to know more!" Kim whined. Me too, Bella thought. "Kim! I said, not. Now," Cleo scowled.
Emma: "Mrs. Chatham's right. It's late."
Mrs. Chatham: grabs Emma's hand and shakes it when Emma stands up. "Goodnight girls."
Emma: "Would you liked me to show you to your room?"
"I'm not crazy yet, Emma," Mrs. Chatham chuckled lightly.
Mrs. Chatham: pats her shoulder and heads toward the stairs. "Oh it's alright. I know where I'm going."
Cleo: "See you tomorrow, Mrs. Chatham." Emma sits back down on the table and shrugs when the other girls look at her.
"We thought we would see you tomorrow," Cleo muttered.