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***

By the time Lena got home, she had convinced herself that she'd seen a woman swimming, not a mermaid.

She stepped into the dark house. Everyone must still be asleep, she thought.

"Surprise!" yelled Cole, running in from the living room.

Lena jumped.

"We were hiding," he explained. His eyes blazed like tiny twin gaslights. He threw his arms around Lena. "Happy birthday."

Her parents followed, embracing the two of them.

"Group hug," sang Cole.

"Thanks, guys," said Lena. "You're up so early!"

"That's the only way to surprise you," said her dad. "Mom set the alarm for six, but you were already gone. So we hunkered down in the living room to wait." He yawned.

"Dad fell back asleep," said Cole. He started to sing: "Haaappy birthday to yooou..."

Her parents joined in.

They were all gazing at her with such love that Lena found herself wanting to laugh and cry both. "Thanks, guys," she said when the song was finished.

"I'll start the pancakes," said her mom. She brushed back a strand of Lena's hair. "Did you have a nice birthday walk?"

Lena's smile faltered. If that was a woman swimming, where did she go?

"Yes," she said. "Very nice." She just swam away. It was a woman, and she swam out of view.

"Good," said her mom, and squeezed her. "Now ... brekkie!" She turned toward the refrigerator.

"Mom," said Cole. "Can we have bacon, too?" He trailed after her.

"I can't believe you're sixteen," said Lena's dad. He blinked a couple of times and turned away. Lena knew he was blinking back tears when he did that. He went back into the living room, saying, "I've got a present for you in here."

Lena followed. Her dad patted the sofa next to him, and Lena sat down. He handed her a small box. "Happy birthday, sweetheart."

She smiled. "Thanks, Dad." Opening the box, Lena found a thin silver bracelet inside. She picked it up—t here was a dolphin charm dangling from the links.

She shivered.

"Dad?" asked Lena.

"Mmm-hmm."

I saw something in the water, she thought.

He was looking at her now, so she had to say something. Without thinking, she asked, "Do the words 'blueberry moon' mean anything to you?"

Her dad paused. "As a matter of fact, they do."

"Really? I was thinking about them when I woke up this morning."

"You were?"

"Yes. This song kept going through my head: 'By the light ... of the silvery moon,' but then it seemed like those weren't the right words."

He tried to smile. "It was a song Lucy made up for you when you were little."

"Really?"

He nodded.

"How did the song go?"

He glanced at the kitchen door, then sang softly,

"By the light

of the blueberry moon

we sang this song

in Lena's room.

By the light..."

Lena joined in:

"...of the blueberry moon

we sang this song

in Lena's room."

They smiled at each other.

"Why was it a blueberry moon?" asked Lena.

"I don't know. I think it was just because you loved blueberries."

"Oh." Lena looked at her father. "Did she sing to me a lot?"

He nodded, looking wistful. "All the time." A crooked smile came over his lips. "Sometimes—if I was very good—she even sang to me."

Lena glanced at him quickly. Did he know about her singing to Kai?

But her dad's gaze was unfocused, and it was clear he had wandered off into old memories.

Lena felt a strange jealousy—she couldn't remember her mother—she had only fragmented impressions of being at the beach with her.

Hazy memories of her mother were suddenly replaced by the sharp image of a silver tail.

She's real, thought Lena. That mermaid was real. I did not imagine her. I need to see her again. "Dad," she said.

"Yes, sweetie."

"It's my birthday," said Lena. "Please teach me to surf. It might be good for you! If we're in the water together, maybey ou'll—"

Her father stood up, leaving a cold spot next to her. "I'm sorry, Lena," he said. "I can't."

Lena stood up, too. "Okay." She headed for the stairs.

"Where are you going? Mom's making breakfast."

"I'll be down in a minute," she said.

In her room, she sat