Free The Turning Tides (Marina's Tales) by Derrolyn Anderson

knew much more about what had been going on over the past year than Dad did , and while I was sure he’d never intentionally say anything to upset my father, not being in the room with them made me uneasy.
    Doctor Permala bustled in, and seeing me pacing by the window she turned on her heel sharply and left the room. I didn’t trust her. I sighed, looking out the picture window at the sun slowly sinking towards the sea. I suppose I was most afraid that my father would still see me as a little girl, and refuse to accept my engagement to Ethan.
    Staring out into the infinite sea reminded me of my sisters, and I squeezed my eyes shut in a vain attempt to put my worries about them out of my mind. The mermaids were probably ready for a refresher course; I needed to check on them, and I decided to find a surf-shop in the ci ty first thing in the morning. When I opened my eyes t he whitecaps seemed to wink at me, and I suddenly missed surfing with a savage rush of longing. I felt like I was floating away, lost in a saltwater daydream so powerful I could taste it. 
    Ethan came up behind me, slipping his arms around my waist. He dropped his chin to my shoulder and kissed my ear, “I like your dad.”
    I turned around, and he studied me with concern, “Marina?”
    I blinked a few times, and looked into his eyes, lunging for his lips. We kissed, and I inhaled in his scent, back on shore again. He pulled me close to him and burrowed his face into my hair, breathing in.
    “Did you tell him?” I asked.
    “Yes.”
    I kissed him again with even more intensity, and he pulled back a little, taking me by the shoulders. “ Hey… Don’t get me started.”
    He looked around at the room, impressed at the transformation, finally taking my hand and lea ding me back out to my father ’s bedside. Dad looked pale and tired, and I was all at once ashamed at myself for getting so caught up in my own drama.
    “Are you feeling alright?” I asked.
    “I’m fine – I’m just surprised … So you want to get married.”
    I nodded decisively, “Yes , as soon as I turn eighteen .”
    He sighed, “ You two are both so young! Have you given any thought about what you’re getting yourselves into? Are you sure? ”
    I looked at Ethan, thinking about everything we’d been through so far. If it wasn’t for him I’d be lost, in more ways than one. I loved him more than life itself.
    “ I’m positive. ”
    My father smiled wanly, his head flopping back onto his pillow. Doctor Permala came in and surveyed the scene with disapproval. She hurried to his side and checked his dressings, giving a cursory nod Ethan’s way.
    “Ethan Carlson, allow me to introduce Doctor Amrita P e rmala,” Dad said ceremoniously. He seemed to have already figured out that she was a stickler for formality. She glanced up at my father, as if to gauge whether or not she was being teased, and shook Ethan’s hand with her eyes locked on to Dad’s drawn face.
    “ Pleased to meet you ,” she said in a lilting Indian accent.
    She went back to her bossy manner, announcing, “Professor Vanderpool, you must eat and get some rest immediately. I’ll have your meal prepared straight away.” She hurried off.
    “I was going to order Thai,” I told Ethan, “But the doctor won’t let him eat any decent food.”
    “Now Marina,” Dad slumped back down. “She takes her work very seriously. Show her some respect.”
    “She seems on top of things,” Ethan said, looking around the house.
    “Go out to eat,” Dad said, pain etching lines around his eyes, “There’s no point in you two hanging around a sickroom all night.”
    “But Dad,” I was disappointed . “I wanted you two to get to know each other.”
    “We have all our lives,” Ethan pointed out, nudging me. I think he noticed how weak my father looked, and he reached over to shake his good hand again, “It was nice to meet you, sir.”
    “Call me Martin,” Dad replied.
    I kissed my father goodbye and