The next morning, Zac was hesitant to see his parents. They assured them that they will keep his secret and that he could talk to them.
He entered the main house to grab something quick and easy for breakfast before heading off to school. He talked to Evie last night and told her what had happened. She seemed concerned at first, but after Zac assured her that they were all safe, she was able to relax. She was feeling up to talk about her missing tail. She said that she was upset about losing it, but they had bigger things to worry about. After they defeated the water dragon, only then they could think about getting her tail back.
As Zac walked through the back door, he was instantly hit with the smell of fish. Fish platters from the café covered the table. Lauren was setting a plate down at Zac's usual place.
"Um, morning?" Zac said.
Lauren turned around and smiled really big. "Good morning honey. How did you sleep?" She asked way too cheerfully for anyone up at this hour.
"Pretty well. What is all this?" Zac asked, gesturing to the mountain of seafood.
Lauren looked around. "Breakfast!" she answered still smiling. "We can't have you fighting an evil dragon on an empty stomach now can we?"
"I guess not." Zac replied, settling down in his chair.
Usually, he liked having seafood for breakfast, but this morning, he wanted to get away from the sea. He would have been happy with toast or cereal like he normally had. He decided not to hurt his mother's feelings and eat the breakfast.
"So where did you get all this?" Zac questioned as he bit down into a lobster tail.
Lauren was humming as she poured her son a glass of water.
"The café. Why didn't you tell me that David knew about you? I had to call your sister at the principal's house to ask her who else knows. Carly knows too huh?" Lauren asked, setting down the water next to Zac's plate.
Zac, now uncomfortable, decided to take a sip of the water that his mother had just placed in front of him. She even added a straw so he wouldn't spill.
Zac was expecting fresh water, but got the completely opposite. He coughed and spat the salt water all over his plate of food. He continued to cough as his mother looked at him with concern. He pushed his chair back and stumbled over to the sink with his glass in hand. He poured out the salt water and replaced it with fresh as he continued to cough. He then gulped the fresh liquid down greedily.
"What was that for?" He about screamed at his mother.
Lauren went pale.
"I- I thought that you liked salt water." She said stumbling.
"To swim yes, but not to drink." Zac replied, placing his palm over his eyes.
Lauren's voice broke again. "I-I didn't know."
Zac sighed. "I know you didn't. I'm sorry I snapped at you," he said, dropping his hand back down to his side. "Here, let me help you clean it up."
Zac moved to the table to help clear the mess, but Lauren shooed him away. "No, it's fine. You should go. You don't want to be late for school." She said, her voice shaky. She sniffed and used the back of her hand to wipe at her eyes.
"Mum…" Zac started but was immediately cut off.
"I said it is fine. Go and learn something useful." She ushered him out the door with the wave of her hand. Her hair was blocking her face as she bent over to clean up the mess. Zac couldn't see her eyes, but he knew that they would have been full of tears.
"If you insist," he said, kissing his mum on the top of her head before grabbing his book bag from the hall and hurrying outside.
As soon as he left, Lauren sat in the chair that Zac had abandoned. She placed her face in the palm of her hands and wept.
Mimmi was passing through at that time. She wanted to see her brother before he went off to school and possibly would walk with him there. She knocked on the bungalow, but there was no response. She tried the doorknob. Locked.
Mimmi was about to turn around to head back to Rita's when she heard a faint sob. She turned and looked at the main house. It seemed to be coming from inside. Was someone hurt?
The brunette hurried to the door. She knocked softly and cracked open the door. "Hello?" she called out. There was no response, but the soft crying immediately ceased.
Mimmi built up her courage and stepped inside. "Is anyone home? It's Mimmi," she said calmly.
Again there was no response. All she heard was plates being moved. This was followed by a crash that came from the kitchen. Mimmi ran towards the noise and arrived in the kitchen. Lauren was kneeling on the tile floor picking up shards of broken glass, tears silently falling down her cheeks.
"Lauren!" Mimmi cried out and rushed to her side. Lauren looked up. Her eyes were filled with tears.
"I'm alright darling. I just dropped a plate," she responded in a shaky voice.
Mimmi carefully avoided the glass as she bent down next to the distraught woman. "Laur- eh, Mum. What happened? Are you hurt?" she scanned the woman for any signs of injury.
Lauren shook her head. "I'm fine. I'm just a klutz."
Mimmi carefully helped Lauren up off the ground and led her to the couch. The both sat down and Mimmi gripped both of Laurens hands in her own.
"Mum, what happened? Are you okay?" Mimmi asked timidly, observing Laurens fragile state.
Lauren started to nod, but it quickly turned into a sob.
Mimmi pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly. Lauren cried into her hair.
"W-Won't my tears make you transform?" Lauren questioned in a small but worried tone.
Mimmi carefully shook her head. "Bodily liquids won't change us. Tears are fine so let them all out."
Lauren happily obliged. She sobbed into Mimmi's hair as Mimmi held her close. They stayed like this for a few minutes, as Lauren soon composed herself.
She sat back and wiped her eyes. "I'm a mess," she croaked.
Mimmi laughed. "I'm sure that there is no one on land or in the sea that looks beautiful when crying."
Lauren giggled at the slightest. "That is very true."
Mimmi smiled. "Now, will you please tell me what is bothering you? I'm 99% sure that you are crying over a broken plate."
Lauren inhaled sharply. "It's your brother. I don't know how to deal with this news. I'm trying to help, but I don't know the first thing about raising a merman."
Mimmi snorted. "There is nothing new that you have to learn. Just treat him like you did before you found out. Nothing has changed. He is still the same Zac that you know and love."
"But I feel so awkward around him. I want to be more involved with his life in the sea, but I have no clue what goes on over there," Lauren responded sighing.
"I'm guessing that all of this seafood is for him." Mimmi gestured back at the kitchen.
Lauren nodded miserably.
"Even I get sick of seafood sometimes and I grew up eating it. You don't need to change your cooking skills for him. He's a boy. He will eat whatever you prepare. Don't worry." Mimmi assured her.
Lauren nodded again. "I even gave him salt water to drink," she mumbled under her breath.
Mimmi couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, we don't drink salt water. If you want, I can get you a mermaid cookbook. There is a bunch of easy recipes that does not require any hard to find ingredients or magic."
Lauren inhaled sharply. "I would like that. Thanks." She reached over and hugged Mimmi again.
Mimmi smiled and nodded. "Now," she said, getting off of the couch. Laurens eyes followed her sudden movement. "To fix the mess in the kitchen."
The brunette walked back to the kitchen with Lauren on her heels. They both stared at the mess on the kitchen floor.
Mimmi stretched out her right hand and pointed her moon ring at the mess. She willed its magic and a brilliant blue light filled the room. The shards flew up from the floor and mended itself right before their eyes. Lauren watched in amazement as the plate flew back into its spot with the rest of the dished.
The blue light dissipated and Mimmi blew on her ring like a cowboy blows on their steaming gun. Weilan had gotten her into Western movies.
"And voila." Mimmi announced, spreading her arms wide.
"That was incredible!" Lauren said with appreciation.
Mimmi grinned. "There is nothing that mermaid magic cannot fix."
"How about my husband's mind?" Lauren blurted out.
Mimmi's arms dropped to her sides. "Is he still upset?"
Lauren sighed. "Not upset. He's more confused. He keeps mumbling under his breath something about a cure. I know that it was risky, Zac telling us, with Rob being a doctor. I know that he will not put either of you in danger, but I think that his medical mind wants to find a way to change you."
Mimmi huffed in anger. "But that's impossible. There is no way to change a naturally born mer. It can't be done!"
"And he knows that, but I don't think that he wants to give up the last sliver of reality."
Mimmi sighed. "Do you want me to talk to him?"
Lauren smiled. "I would like that. Give him answers. Let him find some stability. He is at work right now. It is Wednesday after all and he missed yesterday."
Mimmi nodded. "I'll come by tomorrow evening. I having a girl's night with Ondina tonight. She really didn't talk to me yesterday night so today is the big confrontation. I'm actually late to meet her. I should really go."
Lauren hugged her good bye and Mimmi exited the house. She watched out the window as Mimmi dove off of the dock and into the water.
So, Lauren and Rob aren't doing as well as we hoped. Lauren doesn't know how to care for Zac and Rob hasn't accepted it. Talk about drama in the Blakely's household.
I am having problems with friends right now. My best friend is having a disagreement with another close friend. Can't I just eat my lunch in peace? When I write, I can get my focus off of the drama and escape into the wonderful world of Fanfiction. So thanks. The more you guys read this and comment your ideas, the more I can be happy and just be able to let my creativity flow.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
~Moonlight Mermaids