The Ocean's Call: Part One | ✔

Part Twenty Two

"And possibly her." I walk straight into Austin. I blink, stepping back and looking around to see who he's talking about.

Nana beams from the other side of her stall. "Well, hello. Isla, are you going to introduce me to your friend here?"

I stare at nana before looking up at Austin. He smiles, waiting for me to officially introduce him to my nana but I'm still trying to wrap my head around his last words. And possibly her. Was he referring to nana? I gasp, staring at Austin. Is it possible?

I grab his arm, pulling him away from nana to get the answer I need. "Is it possible?"

"Hmm?"

I look over at nana watching us curiously. "Nana...is it possible for her to a mermaid?"

He nods. "Yeah, depends on who brought the merfolk genes in. Could be her or your grandfather. One of them had the genes or maybe they both did, who knows?"

I glance over at nana. "Really?" Nana could be a mermaid. How exciting?

"Really, really. Are you going to introduce me, or do I have to do it myself?" he asks.

"Hmm?" I blink back to his pretty green eyes.

He grins. "Don't worry about it, come on." He drags me back over to nana who is standing there waiting expectantly.

Words fail me as I reel from the inner excitement bubble of nana possibly being a mermaid. Austin decides to introduce himself to nana.

"I'm Austin, you must be nana." He offers her a hand.

Nana's eyes flash excitedly as she reaches for his hand. "You can call me Martha, it's a pleasure to finally meet you...officially of course." She winks.

I squeeze my eyes shut, scrunching my nose up as I remember her catching Austin without a shirt leaving my room, both of us looking awfully suspiciously. Austin laughs with her as he apologises for that day, rattling off some excuse.

Before I even realise what is happening Austin is now currently helping nana pack her jewellery away as she closes shop for the day. He holds the box effortlessly as she packs each piece up and tucks into the box. Instead of lingering around I head over to the second table and begin packing each piece up, getting them ready to be put away.

"I'd definitely like to get to know you better, Austin. I would invite you to dinner, but I think Isla would have an objection to that." nana gives me a look over her shoulder.

I narrow my eyes. "I'm aware and I get it, she just needs time to adjust." he answers.

I cut my gaze to the back of Austin's head. I'm sure he knows I'm looking at him, but he doesn't tense like one does when they know they're being stared at. The muscles in his back flex as he readjusts his grip on the box he's holding.

"But seeing as I know the big secret, I'm allowed to get to know you. Are you free this weekend?" nana asks, directing him to put the box in the back of the car.

"Of course, any questions you got I'll try my best to answer them. I actually have this weekend off; did you have something in mind?"

Nana glances at me for a moment before looking back at Austin. I look away, grabbing the packed jewellery pieces and stacking them into the box I've got waiting on the ground. "Isla and I are going diving for shells, get more inventory for my creations. We could always use another pair of hands."

I frown. More inventory? I think nana's inventory is overflowing at this point. And that's just jewellery that has been created already; the woman has turned into a jewellery making machine. Even without me she has achieved this.