Derrolyn Anderson - [Marinas Tales #1] - Between The Land And The Sea Read Online Free PDF Page B

her face. I had the strangest sensation of looking into a frosted mirror. Her eyes narrowed and she cocked her head to one side as if to study me. I sprang to my feet and with a splash she was gone. I ran from one side of the ship to the other but could see no swimmer in the water. Confused, I gathered up my things. After one final search of the water I headed back towards the pier.

    As I made my way up the steps my mind was racing. What was that girl doing in the water?
    Where did she disappear to? And strangest of all, why did she look so familiar? As I passed the lone fisherman our eyes met and he smiled knowingly at me. Taken aback, I hurried off the pier and down to the beach, scanning the horizon for any sign of a swimmer or boat.
    When I reached the top of the secret stairs the fog was swirling around, dissipating into a thin veil of silvery mist. The sun finally broke through, and brightest blue took over the sky.
    Now the thought of the strange girl at the ship seemed much less disturbing. Maybe she was scuba diving. Could I have imagined those eyes?
    By the time I got home I’d convinced myself that it was nothing at all. I let myself in and went to the kitchen, splashing some cold water on my face and neck; when I looked up from the sink my reflection in the window was the face in the water.
    I snatched a piece of fruit from the counter and wandered to my bedroom, picking a promising book from Abby’s shelf along the way. I kicked off my shoes and curled up on the bed to read but had a hard time focusing. Looking over at the shopping bags reminded me to call Evie.
    “Marina!” she cried, picking up on the first ring. “I was just thinking of you! I’ve been to see Madame Fatima and she’s had a vision. You are going to have an extraordinary adventure this year– you must be prepared!”
    “Exactly what kind of adventure?” I asked skeptically. I had no doubt that Evie had let it slip to Fatima that I would be going away for the school year.
    “You know the spirits cannot be specific,” sniffed Evie.
    “Then how can I possibly prepare?” I asked teasingly.
    “This is serious Marina– I absolutely believe her. Madame Fatima is the real deal.” For as long as I could remember Evie had been indulging her weakness for psychics and spiritualists. Madame Fatima was the latest in a long line of what I considered to be charlatans.
    They came sniffing around wealthy widows, offering them a chance to communicate with the departed. I humored Evie, knowing that her late husband’s financial advisers worked hard to keep the bulk of her fortune safe.
    Evie went on to explain that at her last reading Fatima had been seized by a vision concerning me. I was to embark on a great romance and adventure in the coming weeks.
    Something that would mark me for life. It was just the sort of nebulous prediction I had come to expect from someone like her. I could stub my toe in the cafeteria and she would pronounce it realized.
    “When are you going to get your driver’s license?” Evie asked, changing the subject. Since my dad had been engrossed in his latest research he’d been putting off teaching me to drive.
    “I don’t know,” I said glumly, “I’m kind of stranded here.”
    “Enough with the pity party,” Evie said briskly, “Just don’t forget our plans.” I hadn’t forgotten about getting my license, far from it. Cruz already had his and offered to take me out to practice. As soon as I passed my driver’s test Evie promised me the use of one of her cars. When I could drive I’d be set free, able to come and go as I pleased. I couldn’t wait.
    “We have many road trips ahead of us,” Evie reminded me. Her late husband’s collection of luxury cars stored away in our building’s underground garage beckoned. Evie didn’t drive, and we had hatched some elaborate plans for the getaways the two of us would take when I could be her chauffeur. I felt badly about all the times we had made poor Boris