John dipped his fingers in the bowl and used them to make the sign of the cross. Walking over the floor he raised a hand to Father Crawley before taking his place in the booth. The shuffle from the other side still did not stop him jumping slightly as the wooden panel slid back to thump in its holder.

"I need to fix that." Father Crawley shifted in his seat, "Is Ondine alright?"

"She's doing much better. Replaced the brakes and battery on her chair so there shouldn't be any more incidents."

"That one was top of the line. I didn't think the brakes would go out so quickly. She's only had it a few weeks."

"Almost two months but yeah, stranger things have happened."

"Like you having a girlfriend?"

"I've not had problems with women in the past Father."

"Except for your ex-wife."

John cringed, "You've got me there."

"Anyway, I guess we should probably get this started." Father Crawley made the sign of the cross in the air, his movements shadowed and dimpled in the lattice of the viewing window. "What brings you here my son?"

"It's about a girl, Father."

"The girl you're…"

"Yes." John nodded, interlacing his fingers and tapping his thumbs together. "It's not so much abut what we're doing-"

"You're not asking for forgiveness for that?"

"I can but… I think you actually have to feel sorry to ask for God's forgiveness in something like this."

"Generally that's the idea."

"Then I probably shouldn't." John sighed, "It's more that I'm not sure how to proceed with it all."

"Generally, in this day and age, people move in together or get engaged and married. Sometimes there's cohabitation for a period but that's just what I've gathered from the people I've advised."

"We're already cohabitating…" John shook his head, "We're living together in my mother's house. Well, I guess it's mine now since my mother's since passed-"

"God rest her soul."

"Yeah, and I've sold my flat so we're making it all work there."

"Then you're asking what the next step is?"

"I guess."

"Engagement, if you're up for marriage in the end."

"I don't know Father…" John struggled, "Is that wise?"

"I think the better question, John, is what's stopping you from wanting to marry her. If you're already living with her and you seem to like her-"

"I do."

"Then what's keeping you from moving forward?"

"She's got a secret… something about her life before she came here."

There was silence a moment before Father Crawley spoke. "Is that something that bothers you?"

"It should but that's not it."

"Then what is it?"

"It's more…" John fumbled for words. "It's more than I'm afraid to move forward. Afraid something'll happen and I'll lose it all."

"What's 'all' in this case?"

"If I move forward with Anna, Vera's threatened to take Ondine from me forever. It was hard enough to get the visitation I have and if I move forward with Anna then…"

"You'll delay your happiness on the chance that you'll lose the little happiness you already have?"

"I guess." John puffed his cheeks with a series of quick breaths. "It's more about the horrible reality that things in my life don't work out the way they're suppose to. I'm afraid of putting any hope in this because all hope's bought me in the past is misery."

"Why not take the risk?"

John shrugged, "I don't know. Why did you turn to this when Cora died?"

"It was a way to find new hope."

"And that's what you think I should do? Find new hope?"

"Well haven't you?" Father Crawley leaned on the wall, "You've set your heart on this woman and you're concerned that perhaps you've maybe given it without really thinking about how much you'll lose if you do?"

"I guess."

"Then will you accept the possibility that you can't get what you want without risking it all?"

"It'd be easier if not for this morning."

"What about this morning."

"Red sky Father. You know what that means."

"And I also know what Christ said about it. That it's no sign of the times." Father Crawley pushed out of the confessional and John hurried to follow him. "A red sky is nothing but weather. It's not a portent of trial or trouble or anything but atmospheric disturbance and you're going to be fine."

"Is that it?"

"It has to be. I've got a wedding coming through to practice and you're going to just be in the way."

"Thank you?" John pulled a face and extended his hand to Father Crawley. "I guess it's been helpful."

"It's what I can do." Father Crawley adjusted his collar, "I'd love to see you in Mass on Sunday."

"We'll see about that." John walked out of the church and shoved his hands into his pockets for his walk into town.

As he kept his focus on the road, thoughts churning in his head, John noticed someone keeping pace with him. He turned, recognizing the man from the carnival. "Can I help you?"

"Maybe." The man bent his hand around to scratch at his face. "You were with that woman the other day at the carnival."

"Which woman?"

"The little blonde one."

John chewed the inside of his cheek. "She's a friend. Why do you ask?"

"Because I'm someone interested in her welfare." He held out his hand. "My name's Alex Green."

John stared at Green's hand and snorted, "No, I don't think so."

"Why not?" Green frowned, "I'm just trying to be friendly."

"Then why do I get a sick feeling in my stomach that says you don't mean her anything but harm?"

"I'm not sure what you've heard from her about her… life, but maybe you should hear it from me."

"I doubt the version you'd give me is the right one." John backed away from him. "It'd be best if you and I never met again."

"Why? Afraid that I'd tell you the truth?"

"No, I'm afraid you'll tell me what you think is the truth." John shrugged, "Sorry but this isn't worth my time."

As he tried to walk away, Green called out to him. "You need to tell me where she is, Mr. Bates, or else you're going to have a bigger problem on your hand than your little crippled daughter."

John charged him and grabbed the man by his lapels. Green's back hit the stone wall and his breath exhaled in a rush as John thumped him hard. "Don't you dare speak about my daughter like that."

"It was an observation."

"Then observe this," John dropped Green into a heap. "My daughter's not a problem and if you bring any of your trouble around me or anyone close to me I'll ruin you."

"Will you now?" Green stood up, dusting himself off. "You don't even know the woman you're letting near your daughter."

"I know everything I need to know about her." John went back to the road, "And everything I need to know about you."

"I hope you think you're right." Green shouted after him but John ignored him.

He walked back into town and waited outside the school. When the bell rang he raised his hand to Ondine and she steered her chair toward him. "Are you ready for dialysis?"

"I've got a book today so you won't need to keep me too interested."

John put a hand on his chest, "I'm offended you think I couldn't keep you interested."

"I didn't say you weren't interesting. I'm just doing more research."

"It wouldn't be research on selkies would it?" John faced her and Ondine looked toward the ground. "Don't think I don't know that you weren't lying to me when you said your brakes went out."

"I just needed to test it out."

"And did you learn anything?" John waited and Ondine shrugged.

"Nothing I didn't already know." Ondine aimed her chair toward John's truck, "When did you park here?"

"Before I went to go see Father Crawley." John helped her into the truck and loaded her chair in the back of it. "I needed to ask his opinion about some things."

"About Anna?"

John stopped, leaning on the sill of the window to squint at Ondine, "Why would you think that?"

"Because you only went to him before when you were stopping drinking but since you've been sober for years now you haven't needed to go back."

"Oh," John laughed, "Someone thinks they're clever."

"No, I know I'm clever." Ondine waited until John was in the cab with her, "What did he say?"

"He said that maybe my problem is that I'm too afraid of finding happiness to actually find it."

"Maybe he's right."

"Maybe he is."

They were quiet all the way to the hospital and waited until Sybil had attached all of Ondine's leads before Ondine tapped John on the arm with the book in her hands. "Is it because of me?"

"What?" John put a hand on her head, "Why would you think that?"

"I know that Ma uses me as a pawn between the two of you, the leash that keeps you where she wants you but…" Ondine opened her book on her chest, holding her place and shifted as much as she could to look at John. "But maybe it's because you let her."

"I wouldn't let anyone threaten what we have Ondine."

"I don't think you trying to bring Anna into your life is a threat."

John petted her hair back, "To your Mum it is."

"But she doesn't control you and you shouldn't let her."

"She could take you away from me, Ondine."

"She could but she won't." Ondine shrugged, "As much as she wants to taunt you with it or threaten it to get her way she never will. She knows she doesn't have the case for it."

"Have you been reading up on child custody law in between your research into selkies?" John rapped his knuckle against the hard cover of the book on her chest. "Or have you been eavesdropping on your mum's conversations?"

"She and Dick were talking about it one night when I was doing my homework. He was talking about going back to Scotland, said he wants to marry her and move there but she said they can't as long as I'm with them."

"And what'd Richard say to that?"

"He said that maybe she should give you custody and they could start their own family since he knows she doesn't want to be the one to take me to dialysis and spend all the time at hospital."

"Your mum's always been selfish." John shrugged, "Do you want to go to Scotland?"

"No, I want to stay with you and Anna but Ma doesn't want to give you the satisfaction but Dick was saying that maybe she should let it all go."

"That would take a lifetime and a shrink." John sighed, "But did they make a decision about Scotland?"

"No, since she'd have to get a job there and if they got married she couldn't take alimony from you." Ondine snorted, "Ma likes to cling to things."

"She does, doesn't she?" John smiled at her, "But it's alright. We'll figure this out between us."

"Yes we will." Ondine pulled up her book, "I hope you brought something."

"I could read aloud to you."

"I'm not a kid anymore, Da."

"So?" John slid the book from her fingers and opened it on his lap. "I enjoy doing things for you."

"Okay then." Ondine settled back, "You can start on Chapter five."

John read until the nurse came back to unhook Ondine from the machines. They got Ondine back into her chair and John helped get her into the truck to drive her home. Ondine lay back against the seat, breathing slowly but steadily. John put a hand out to her and her smaller fingers wrapped his a bit weakly.

"You seem a little more tired than you normally do."

"I guess it just took more out of me this time." Ondine sighed, "Where's Anna?"

"She's at your grandmother's house."

"Doing what?"

"No idea." John laughed, "Hopefully making herself busy so she's not bored."

Pulling the truck to a stop and helping Ondine to her chair, John wheeled her to her door knocked on it. There was no answer so he helped Ondine through the gate to see the empty house for himself. "Where's your Mum?"

"I forgot," Ondine groaned, "She and Dick are celebrating their anniversary at the Red Lion."

"Doesn't she know you have dialysis?"

"She does and told me to stay with a friend but I forgot to ask anyone." Ondine maneuvered the chair, "I can just stay here."

"Not alone you're not. What if something happens?"

"Nothing'll happen to me. I'm old enough."

"You've also slipped into coma before because there wasn't anyone around." John steered her chair out of the house. "We'll go to the Red Lion and have a chat with your Mum about you staying with me tonight."

John parked n the handicapped zone and helped Ondine out of the truck. They moved slowly through the crush of people inside, making their way toward the back of the room where Vera and Richard shot pool with some of her friends. Vera caught sight of them, finishing the last of her drink before lining up her shot on the table.

"Dialysis all finished?"

"Yep." Ondine stopped at the edge of the table, "I forgot you weren't home."

"Then you didn't plan ahead with your friends?" Vera finished her shot, sinking a ball before taking an offered cigarette from Thomas. She puffed it a moment, coming around the table with the fag in her teeth, and measured another shot. "So you're asking we cut our party short?"

"She could come home with me Vera." John stepped back as Thomas forced his way past him. "I don't mind taking her and she'll be back after school tomorrow."

"She's not going to stay the night with you." Vera blew out a stream of smoke before replacing the fag and sinking another ball. "She can stay here."

"It's a pub Vera."

"And they're not going to serve her alcohol, if that's what you're worried about." Vera winked over at Richard, "She might make for good fun."

"Just let me take her home Vera." John pointed to Richard, "It's your anniversary so why not enjoy it?"

"We'll enjoy it just fine." Vera rested her stick against the table and walked to John, blowing the smoke of her next drag in his face. "Just get going. I know what's best for her."

"Do you?"

"I'm her mother. It's in the blood." Vera kissed Ondine's cheek and went back to her game. "Isn't that right dear?"

"Ondine?" John turned to her and Ondine nodded.

"I've got my book. I'll be fine Da."

"Call me if you need anything." John kissed her head and walked out of the pub.

A prickle at the back of his neck the whole drive home seemed to resolve when he opened the door to his house. The whole place looked wrecked. Sheets from the bed rumpled in their strewn paths over the floor, the mattress burst stuffing and the bookshelves only held a few books as the others scattered over the room. One of the lights in the overhead fixtures was smashed and John heard something else crunch under his boot to see half of his mother's china shattered on the floor.

"Anna?" He looked through the few rooms but found no trace of her. "Anna!"

John's mad dash to the garden revealed the trampled and pitted beds leading to the swinging door of the small shed and the little greenhouse. Both were a mess of tools and veritable wreckage. All of it drove John's worry higher and higher until he realized that Anna's shoes were missing.

Hurrying out toward the dock he climbed onboard the boat but found it in the same state as the house. Charts, records, and the bedclothes spread everywhere. In the corner of his mind still processing thought John realized it was not the product of someone seeking violent destruction but of a general search.

He returned topside and heard a noise. Jumping to the dock he listened again before hurrying to pull off his clothes. When he was down to his pants he jumped into the cold water and swam under the dock. There, holding fast to one of the support beams, he found Anna.

"Are you alright?"

"I am now."

John offered her his hand, "You've got to be freezing. Come on."

Ann took his hand and they swam from under the dock. John had to help her onto the wood, her small body shivering almost uncontrollably. With swift motions he wrapped her in his clothes and helped her onto the boat. After a warm shower, taking away the blue tinge from her fingers and toes, John cuddled her in a pile of towels and blankets while he straightened the result of a mad search.

When she sat at the small table with a steaming cup between her hands John sat across from her. She did not meet his eyes, only caressed the mug in her hands. "What happened?"

"He came looking for me." Anna sipped the contents of the mug, burrowing deeper. "He wanted to find me."

"Who?" John waited, "That man from the carnival?"

Anna frowned, "Why would you think that?"

"Because he came to me today and asked where you were. He threatened me with problems if I didn't help him find you." John studied her, "What is he to you?"

"He's got a hold on me."

"So you said." John swallowed, "And that's all you said."

"It's all I could say, for now. But-"

Anna stopped as John's mobile vibrated violently on the table. He picked it up and slid his finger over the screen. "Hello?"

"Mr. Bates?"

"This is he."

"We need you at hospital right now. It's your daughter. Ondine's been in an accident."