The Sea Taketh (Alex Singer) (10 page)

             
I open my eyes. My head is resting on his chest. I quickly sit up. “I’m sorry,” I mumble embarrassedly. 

“It’s quite all right,” he says as he tenderly moves the hair out of my face. “I’ll walk you in.”

              “Thanks,” I mutter to Sven and Henrik. They sternly nod in response as they watch us walk to the house. I unlock the door, and we find Jen snoring on the couch with the light on.

             
Christian puts a finger over his lips.

             
“An earthquake couldn’t wake her,” I say as I walk into the house. “She has six brothers.”

             
“Where would you like me to put this?” He holds up my backpack.

             
“I’ll put it in my room.” I try to take it from him.

             
“I’ll do it.” He heads down the hallway.

             
“Christian!” I follow behind him, furious at his nerve.

             
He peeks in the bathroom. When he comes to my room, he switches on the light. “So this is where the infamous Alexandra Singer lives?” he teases. He turns into the room and stops dead in his tracks when he sees my boarded window.

             
“That’s why I had to get the job,” I say quietly. “Gramps was going to sell his truck to pay for new windows.”

             
“You can’t live like this.” His brow furrows.

             
“Yeah, I’m aware of that fact. I’ve been sleeping in the living room, but I made enough money today to pay for new windows. I’ll call first thing tomorrow morning so I can surprise Gramps on Tuesday.”

             
“Marjory told me Thomas is a very good fisherman. I don’t understand this!” He points to the boarded window.

             
“He is a very good fisherman, but there are bigger operations than ours. Those big ships take in larger catches and drive down the price of fish. Even when Gramps brings in a good catch, it doesn’t sell for that much, and he usually ends up giving his money to his deckhand, Joe.”

             
“I’ve got to go.” He unexpectedly turns around.

             
“Let me get you your money, first,” I say, going to the pickle jar in the kitchen.

             
“Isn’t it customary for the boy to pay for the date?” he asks.

             
“That wasn’t a date!” I reply defensively. “Your cousins were with us!”

             
“That doesn’t matter; you went to dinner with me. I’m pretty sure that qualifies as a date.” He goes to the door.

             
“Christian Pedersen, we are not dating!” I yell at him.

             
“And I say we are.” He smiles as he shuts the door behind him.

*     *     *

              “He is the most insufferable pain!” I pace the kitchen.

             
“Alex, he’s hot,” Jen shrugs her shoulders.

             
“Yeah, and some girls think Jackson’s hot, too. It doesn’t mean I’m going to date him!”

             
“Your windows sure look nice.” She points to them.

             
“Don’t try to change the subject!” I smolder.

             
“I’m not. Look out the window.”

             
Following her gaze, I frown when I see Christian looking in the window. I open it. “Are you a peeping tom?” I say angrily.

             
“You’re going to be late for swim practice,” he says.

             
“I’m riding with Jen!” I shut the window.

             
“We’re actually riding with them. Mom is taking Merlin to the shop for a tune-up.”Jen grabs our backpacks and heads out the door.

             
“Great,” I grumble as I follow her.

             
“Good morning, Alexandra, Jenifer.” Christian holds up a paper bag. “We picked up Danishes.”

             
“Awesome!” Jen gets in the car behind Sven.

             
“How was your weekend?” Sven asks Jen in the rearview mirror as Christian and I pile in.

             
“Busy, I’m helping my brother tryout for the soccer team.” She takes her Danish from Christian.

             
“Soccer!” the guys yell as they break into a strange cheer.

             
“Do you play soccer?” she asks with her mouth full of Danish.

             
“No, but we love to watch,” Sven says. “Tell your brother we’ll come and watch him when he makes the team.”

             
Christian tries to pass me a pastry.

“I’m not hungry,” I lie as I put on my seatbelt.

              “More for me.” He shrugs and takes a huge bite.

             
When we pull up to school, Jackson and Vanessa are sitting on a new, black convertible. Jackson quickly jumps off when he sees me. “Alex, I want to take you for a ride in my new car, afterschool.”

             
“Sorry, Jackson, but I’m swamped with homework.” I head to the school.

             
“How about I drive you home?” He follows me.

             
“She’ll be riding home with us,” Sven says.

             
“Alex can speak for herself,” Jackson says irately.

             
“Yes, I can, and my grandfather wants me to ride with the Pedersens. We’re going to be late for practice.”

             
I spend the school day hiding from everyone. I don’t want to deal with boys or hear Jen tell me how hot Christian is one more time. After school, I sneak out the backdoor and disappear into the village. I walk quickly, ducking into
Peggy’s
.

             
“Alex!” the old woman exclaims. “I was hoping you would come in. I just got in the loveliest dress and immediately thought of you.”

             
“I don’t need a dress,” I say. “I’m actually here just to browse.”

             
“Come browse the dress rack,” Peggy pulls a dark, green dress off the rack and holds it up for me to see. It is an antique from the early nineteen-hundreds and absolutely breathtaking.” I run my hand along the intricate beadwork, mesmerized.

             
“How much is it?” I ask.

             
“It doesn’t matter unless you know it fits. Let’s try it on you.”

             
The moment the silk touches my skin I adore the dress. Peggy lovingly buttons the back as I inspect myself in the mirror. The dress seems to be made for me. It emphasizes my curves and brings out the green in my eyes.

             
“You grow lovelier every time I see you,” Peggy smiles at me in the mirror. “You look so much like your mother and grandmother.”

             
“This dress is worth a lot, isn’t it?” I ask.

             
“The lace and beadwork were all done by hand,” Peggy answers my question.

             
“I can’t afford it.”

             
“You are a very special customer of mine. I’m willing to make you a deal.” She smiles.

             
“No, you need the money more than I need the dress.” I pat her wrinkled hand. “It would just sit in my closet anyway.”

             
The bell on the door sounds. Christian walks into the shop. “Peggy, have you seen…” He stops talking when he sees me. His eyes widen as he swallows.

             
“Christian, I’m glad you came in.  I have a package that you can deliver to Marjory,” Peggy says. “Just let me quickly help Alex, and I’ll get it for you.”

             
She unbuttons the dress, careful to not hurt the antique lace. I go into the dressing room and change back into my school clothes. I carefully hang the dress back up.

             
“We were worried about you,” Christian says to me while Peggy is in the backroom getting Marjory’s package.

             
“I needed some fresh air.”

             
“I drive a convertible.”

             
“No, you ride in a convertible. Sven is the one who drives.” I pick up my backpack and turn to the door.

             
“Aren’t you forgetting your dress?” he asks.

             
“No, I was just playing dress up.” I leave the shop.

             
Jen, Sven, and Henrik wave me over to the ice cream parlor.  They are sitting under the shade of the awning, eating ice cream

             
“Girl, where did you go?” Jen asks.

             
“Just for a walk,” I sit next to her.

             
Henrik and Sven jump to their feet and quickly cross the street to Christian. Henrik takes the package from him, and Sven unlocks the trunk.

             
“They are so hot!” Jen watches with approval as she licks her chocolate ice cream cone.  She passes me a couple bucks, knowing I spent all my money on windows. I leave her to admire the Danes as I go into the parlor.

             
“Alex, can I get you your regular?” the clerk asks.

             
I nod as she grabs an ice cream scoop.

             
“You need to be more cautious about Jackson Powers,” Christian whispers in my ear as he joins me.

             
“He thinks the same thing about you,” I retort.

             
“Yes, I would be worried if I were him,” he says grimly.

             
“Oh, Christian, what can I get for you?” the clerk says loudly as she absentmindedly hands me the vanilla cone. She fully turns her attentions to him without even asking for my money. She bats her eyes at him. I roll mine.

             
“I’ll have the biggest banana split on the menu,” he says behind a beautiful smile.

             
The girl quickly whips up an enormous banana split. Before she can hand it to him, Sven and Henrik show up. Sven grabs the banana split, some spoons, and napkins. Henrik pulls out a bank card.

             
“I will pay for Alex’s ice cream, too,” Christian says.

             
I elbow him in the ribs as Henrik swipes the card. Christian just laughs before whispering in my ear with his hot accent, “Second date!”

             
Sven and Henrik help themselves to Christian’s banana split. I glower as I eat my ice cream cone. Christian texts on his phone.

             
“A girlfriend back home?” Jen teases.

             
“No, it’s my father.  He expects a daily report from me about our schooling here.” He puts the phone away. “Henrik is the only one with a girlfriend.”

             
Just then Gramps’ truck pulls up.

             
“Gramps!” I sprint to the truck. “You’re early!” I exclaim.

             
“We just got in,” he gets out of the truck and hugs me, very excited. “And you should have seen the catch! We filled that old boat! I’ll get your window replaced in the morning.”

             
“I already replaced them all,” I hug him again. “I sold some photos to a crazy tourist who thought they were worth a couple thousand dollars.”

             
Gramps smiles like he hadn’t smiled in a long time. He kisses my forehead.

“Then we’ll put it in the bank for a rainy day.” He turns to the Pedersens and Jen. “Do you kids want to come to the house for a fish fry? I have some of the prettiest halibut you ever saw.”

              “We would love to,” Sven smiles. “You know how much we love fresh fish.”

             
I jump in the truck with Gramps, happy that he’s home and grateful that I don’t have to ride with the frustrating Christian.

             
“How’s school?” he asks as we drive.

             
“I’m about halfway through my required reading list.”

             
“And Christian?”

             
“What about him? He’s so annoying!”

             
Gramps laughs. “I knew you would like him.”

             
I give him a dirty look. “I do not like him! He actually thinks we’re dating because he bought me a lousy ice cream cone? He and Jackson act like long-lost brothers with their mightier-than-thou attitudes. What is the deal with all these spoiled boys?”