Page 100 of Beneath the Quiet

“Pretty grand, isn’t it?”

I smile down at Katie.

“It is. I still haven’t decided what it is, though. Beast or man?”

She’s pulled her long hair back into a French braid, and she looks lovely in a pale blue dress and cardigan. I remember how freeing it was to be out my school uniform on the weekends, and I bet Katie feels the same.

She tilts her head and points at the figure. “From this side, it looks mostly like a beast. A sea worm?” I follow her hand as it glides down the long neck. “But in the middle of shedding its scales, turning into a man. If you walk to the side, you can see his arms holding a much smaller woman to his chest. See?”

I do as she says and cross to the other side of the fountain, careful not to miss anything. Then I see it: a set of muscular arms cradling a female to its chest, her head resting with closed eyes and a small smile on her lips. His head is bent, his eyes closed in reverence, and her hands grip the beast’s scales, her lips puckered as if preparing for a kiss.

“Oh,” I breathe. “You’re right. I see it now.”

“You’ve heard the story, haven’t you?”

I walk back to stand next to her. “Of the sea creature who visited a village maiden and fell in love with her, only they couldn’t be together? Of course.” I take a sip of coffee, remembering the tale Franny told me. “She went out on the cliffs one night, and the sea creature came, and she jumped into the sea to be with him. The villagers never found her body, and everyone believed that they lived a long life in the depths of the sea. And that’s how the tale was born.”

Katie sighs wistfully. “It’s so romantic.”

I chuckle and shake my head. “I don’t know, but it’s a good story, I’ll give you that.”

“Don’t you believe in romance?”

We start walking again. I look at all the stalls being set up while I mull over her question. “I believe in romance in books. That’s enough for me.”

She scrunches her nose. “But don’t you ever get lonely?”

“Not really.” I bump her hip with mine. “I like my own company too well, I think. But that’s not to say that I don’t appreciate it if a man asks me out, wants to buy me dinner or go see a movie.” I grin down at her. “Want to hear a secret?”

She bobs her head, eyes eager with excitement. I lean closer to her and lower my voice.

“I really love to wear dresses instead of trousers. It’s my favourite.”

“Really?” she whispers back. “Then why don’t you?”

“It’s not practical when I’m at work.”

“Oh. Right. Yeah, I guess it can’t be.”

I stop near a stand filled with handwoven willow baskets in different shapes and sizes. A trickle of excitement rushes through me when the neighbouring stall offers different kinds of ceramic mugs and bowls, and I’m itching to go and find my next favourite piece right away.

“So, even if you aren’t dating anyone right now, you wouldn’t say no if someone asked you out on a date?”

“Hmm?” Katie’s words pull my attention away from my addiction. “Oh, I don’t know. Depends on who’s asking me out.”

She claps her hands and settles them behind her back, her weight shifting from one foot to the other, and I raise my eyebrows at her.

“Would you go out with my dad if he asked you?”

Crap.

“I-I…Katie, I don’t…” I heft my basket and wet my lips. This conversation has taken a turn I did not expect, and I weigh my words carefully. “I don’t think that’s going to happen, sweetie.”

“Why not? You’re both single. He’s handsome, isn’t he?”

I gulp.

“Yup.”