The Mermaid's Mirror - L. K. Madigan [62]
The mermaid reached out and cupped Lena's face with her cool-warm hand, stroking the skin from Lena's cheek to her chin, a touch so light it was almost like a dream. A childhood memory of her mother gently stroking her face, just like this, swept over Lena. She closed her eyes as time slipped back and forth.
"You had sweetly plump cheeks as a small maid," said Melusina. "Now your face is slender and fair. What lovely gold tresses you have, as well."
"Like Dad's," said Lena.
Melusina tilted her head, a mildly puzzled look on her face. She took Lena's hands in her own, then held them up to look at them. "Ah!" she said in delight. "The tips of your fingers are like pearls!"
"Oh ... it's nail polish," said Lena.
"Polish?"
"Yes. I used white nail polish on my fingernails."
"Ah, yes, I remember now. A kind of paint." She continued to hold Lena's hands as she raised her eyes to inspect every inch of her daughter's face. "Your eyes have many depths in them," she said. "The color of a stormy sea. I remember now. Indeed, I am fair amazed that I should ever have forgotten these eyes. I used to dream of you ... and always I would wake with grief fresh upon my face." Her lips quivered. "Yet again I would forget." She brushed Lena's hair back and caught sight of the pearl earrings. "You wear the pearls of our ancestors?"
"Um," said Lena. "Well, these were a gift. From my boyfriend."
The mermaid smiled. "Well chosen. Our people have worn the sea's gifts since time began."
"You have an accent," said Lena. "I didn't remember that."
"Ah, forgive my stilted tongue. The language returns to me a bit more each day." The mermaid slid her hands up to Lena's shoulders, as if she could not stop touching her, making sure she was real. "I wish I could have come to you, once I had my memories back. But as you can see..." She gestured at her tail. "I could not. I had to wait for you to come to me." A smile of unearthly beauty lit up her face. "And you heard my soul's call. You have come."
There was a silence between them, shy and expectant.
"Will you bide with me awhile, that we may remember together, dear Selena?" asked Melusina.
Lena nodded, then thought of her father running through the dark to find her.
"I want to," she answered. "But Dad's coming."
Melusina looked at her. "This 'Dad.' He seeks you even now?"
Lena stared at her mother. "Don't you know who I'm talking about?"
"I fear not. But I must not be seen by a human. I must take my leave of you, with the greatest sorrow." Melusina looked anxiously back at the sea.
"Wait! You don't remember my dad?"
"Alas, no."
"He was your husband! You don't remember him?"
Melusina shook her head slowly. "I know ... I must have known a man on land. Else how would I have you, my daughter? Yet the memory escapes me until I see his face."
Just then they heard a shout in the distance. "Lena!"
Because they were on the far side of the rocks, Lena and the mermaid could not see Lena's father, nor could he see them. What should I do? thought Lena. If we stay here, he'll find us. I just got my mother back ... I don't want to leave her!
"Lena!"
"He draws closer," said Melusina, beginning to move to the edge of her rock. "What will you do, my own heart?"
"I don't know!" cried Lena, her voice rising to panic. "Don't leave me!"
"Come with me," said the mermaid. "I have brought my cloak this night. I dared to hope you might return with me to the world beneath the waves. This cloak will shelter and protect you."
Torn, Lena looked back at the dark beach behind her, then out at the shining sea.
"Lena!" shouted her father. "Answer me! Please!"
She held out her hand to her mother. "Take me with you."
Relief bloomed on the mermaid's face. She grabbed Lena's hand. "Come with me to the edge of the rock."
Lena obeyed. "What about my clothes and shoes? Won't they be too heavy? They'll