02 The Moon And The Tide - Marina's Tales (11 page)

Cruz didn’t quite believe that Ethan and I
had shown any restraint during the nights he had stayed with me in
my room to keep me from sleepwalking into the sea. I don’t think
Cruz fully understood how impossible it had been for me to resist
the mermaid’s summons; those nights weren’t the fun and games he
might have imagined. I wondered what would happen if they decided
to call me to them again. I think Ethan wondered about that
too.

We stood up and I busied myself fixing up the
bed. Ethan went over to the window and looked out.

“Wow! You never told me you could see the
Golden Gate Bridge from your bedroom.”

I took his hand and pulled him out of the
room, “You should see it from the studio.”

We found Megan by the enormous windows in the
studio, looking through a telescope my father had mounted there for
me. I could watch the ships come and go from here, and see families
of whales migrating past the bay. The whale’s eye from the night I
spent on the buoy flashed into my mind. I wondered if I had ever
seen that particular one pass by the city on its annual journey
south.

“Are you spying on the neighbors?” I asked
Megan, tongue in cheek.

She startled, “As a matter of fact, I was,”
she blushed, surprising me.

I took a peek through the eyepiece to see
down into an apartment where a muscular shirtless man was lifting
weights. I elbowed Megan with a snort, and she tipped the telescope
away from him with a snicker. Ethan looked at us suspiciously and
we started giggling at each other.

“This is a huge room,” Megan said, her eyes
sparkling with humor as she changed the subject.

“I spend a lot of time here when we’re in
town… well, either here or at Evie’s,” I said.

“I like your artwork,” Megan added.

“You did
all
of these?” Ethan asked
with a trace of disbelief. I suppose there were a lot, I thought,
looking around at the crowded walls.

“You have a lot more time when you don’t sit
around in school all day,” I said.

“No, I mean they’re really good,” he said,
swiveling his head around.

“Well... thanks.” I couldn’t help but notice
that all of them had either water or water symbolism in them.
Figures, I thought. Everything looked different to me now that I
knew the truth.

“Does anyone want some coffee or tea?” I
asked, “We might have some sodas...” We walked out into the kitchen
to find Cruz rummaging around in the refrigerator.

“All you have in here is ice,” he commented,
“and hot sauce.”

“Nobody lives here, remember?” I said.

“It doesn’t look like it’s ever even been
cooked in,” observed Megan with awe as she looked around at the
gleaming stainless steel and granite.

She was right, for if we didn’t go out to eat
we usually ordered in, and Dad and I were regularly invited over to
Evie’s for dinner. In fact, I couldn’t remember one time we’d used
the oven. I opened a drawer and pulled out a stack of take-out
menus, waving them at Megan.

“Guilty as charged. We should eat something
before we get dressed. You guys
might
not like Evie’s party
food.”

I thought about the mounds of caviar served
on little mother of pearl spoons, snails in the shell, sea urchin
sushi and goose liver pate'. I wasn’t a big fan of some of the
delicacies Evie served at her gatherings, and I doubted they would
be either.

“What are you people hungry for?” asked Cruz
as he flipped through the stack.

I picked up a menu, “There’s a good Thai
place that delivers...”

“I’ve been craving Thai food,” said Ethan,
with a smile aimed at me.

“Is that okay with you two?” I asked Cruz and
Megan.

“Anything but vegetarian!” exclaimed
Cruz.

I ordered for everyone, taking Megan by the
arm to go and lay out our clothes while we waited. We decided to
make the studio our dressing room because of the great lighting,
and I set up a hair and makeup station at a table near the window.
When the doorbell rang I rushed over to get it.

“Hey! You’re back!” the delivery boy said
with a smile.

“Just for a quick visit,” I replied, “But my
dad will be back home this summer.” I tipped him generously and
brought in a box of cartons that smelled delicious.

We ate at the kitchen counter, perched on bar
stools. Meat-starved Cruz devoured the beef skewers with peanut
sauce, and Megan was partial to the Pad Thai noodles. They were
also my dad’s favorite, and thinking about him made me feel a
little sad again. I wondered how he was getting along, so far away
from me. I was quiet as we finished eating, and I sat pensively,
toying with my chopsticks.

“You okay?” Ethan asked, reading my mood.

“I’m fine,” I sighed, “It’s just that this
place reminds me of my dad...” He reached over and stroked my back
reassuringly.

Cruz squeezed my hand, “Marina! Buck up– I
need you in a good mood!

“I’m in a great mood,” I said, thinking about
what lay in store for us across the hall at Evie’s.

I smiled at them all and turned to Megan,
“Come on, let’s go do your hair.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Party

I sat Megan down by the window and went to
work, smoothing her hair with a straight iron and pulling it back.
I rolled up the sides to form a heart shape at the crown and pinned
it up, standing back to admire the effect. It looked really cute
and brought out her pretty face, which she usually concealed behind
her mop of unruly curls.

Turning my focus to her makeup, I evened out
her complexion, contouring her cheekbones and shaping her brows. I
gave her the dramatic eye Cruz requested with black eyeliner that
winged out at the edges and topped it off with loads of mascara.
Brushing a light dusting of rouge across her cheekbones, I circled
around to inspect her from all sides.

“You look awesome,” I grinned, satisfied with
my work.

I handed her a mirror and she gasped, “Whoa!
I look like a diva!”

“Let’s go show Cruz,” I said, excited to see
his reaction.

“No wait– I should get dressed first. He
needs to get the full effect!”

There was a knock on the door and I poked my
head out.

“Well?” Cruz asked impatiently.

“Five minutes,” I said, holding up my palm
and darting back in.

Megan wriggled into the dress and I zipped
her up. She slipped on the shoes and gloves and I tied the bow onto
her neck. I gave her a quick blast of hairspray and scrutinized her
through narrowed eyes.

“Lipstick,” I said, “and then you’re
done.”

I walked out ahead of Megan to find Cruz
pacing nervously while Ethan sat on the couch with one of my dad’s
books.

Cruz saw Megan and his eyes flew open wide,
“You look fantastic!” he cried, “I can’t wait to show Evie!” He
circled around the dress, adjusting the ruffles.

“You look really pretty Megan,” said Ethan,
standing up. He looked at me, “When are we going over to
Evie’s?”

“She wanted us to come by a little early, so
I’ll go get changed now,” I said.

My hair was a lot easier to do because Cruz
wanted it down and wavy, which is pretty much the way it is
naturally. I parted it on the side and curled a few spots with an
iron, pulling up one side and letting the rest fall in soft waves
past my shoulders. I fastened the pin in my hair and started
working on the makeup.

I quickly applied a smudged, smoky eyeliner
with pale cheeks and lips. The simple makeup suited the dress, and
I hoped Cruz would be happy with it. I slid into the gown,
adjusting the neckline; the slinky fabric clung to my skin, its
soft sheen reflecting the last waning rays of sunlight. I fastened
my earrings and strapped on the heels.

The sky was starting to darken outside and I
could just begin to see my reflection in the window. I twisted and
turned to check the fit and was reminded again of how bare it
really was. Cruz had found a gauzy wrap that looked good with the
dress but wasn’t really warm; I could feel a chill in the air as
the sun slipped below the waterline outside the window.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out and
gasped in shock. Ethan was standing there smiling at me. He had
changed into a dark gray suit paired with a light gray shirt. He
wore a black tie with silver threads shot through it that looked
like it was made to go with my dress. He looked so good he could
have just stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine.

“You look... gorgeous,” we both blurted out
at the same time.

“Jinx!” Cruz hollered, looking darkly
handsome in his black tuxedo, tailored to perfection with a
matching black shirt and tie.

Ethan laughed at my shocked expression, “Cruz
helped me pick a suit. Do you like it?”

“Yes! You look incredible!” I said, thinking
about the trouble he’d gone to. He came up to me and took me by
both hands, looking me over.

“Wow,” he said, making me blush.

“Let’s see the hem,” Cruz said, pulling me
away from Ethan, “and I need you to lose the wrap.” I took it off
and tossed it on the couch.

“See what I mean?” I said to Megan with an
apprehensive look as Cruz knelt down and futzed around with the
draping in the back.

“Did you run out of fabric there, Cruz?”
Megan teased him.

“Very funny,” he said, making a face at her,
“Don’t you think she looks amazing?”

“You do,” Megan smiled, trying to reassure
me, “You can pull it off.”

“I’ll try,” I said nervously, I smiled down
at Cruz, and suddenly realized how much this really meant to him,
“I think you’re done.”

I turned, pulled him to his feet and hugged
him. Poor Cruz had been so stressed this past week I was starting
to feel bad about all my complaining.

“You look fantastic,” I said, taking him by
the shoulders for a pep talk, “Evie’s gonna love your work... are
you ready?”

“Really?” said Cruz, his sarcastic mask
crumbling.

“Absolutely,” I said with conviction, “Let’s
roll.”

We took the short walk across the hallway to
Evie’s door. I rapped on the lion-head door knocker a few times and
a tuxedoed butler opened it, gesturing us into the foyer where Evie
was waiting to receive her guests.

“Marina! Darling! You look divine!” Evie
swept me into her perfumed embrace, squeezing me tightly and
blowing air kisses. She released me and looked at Ethan.

“Aunt Evie, I’d like you to meet Ethan, and
my friend Megan,” I gestured to each in turn.

“It’s so good to meet you,” she said warmly
as she took Ethan’s outstretched hand with both of hers. She
flashed me a glance that spoke a thousand words. I know, I thought,
believe me,
I know.

“Megan,” said Evie, turning towards her, “I
hear that you are an extraordinary talent; I hope that you’ll do us
the honor of a song sometime this evening.” Megan blanched as they
shook hands and Evie air kissed her.

“And Cruz!” Evie cried, embracing him, “Are
both of these lovely girls wearing your designs?”

He nodded, overwhelmed, as Evie inspected our
dresses with a critical eye.

“You,” she announced ceremoniously, “have
outdone yourself! There are a few people I want you to meet
tonight... but for now, please come in and make yourselves
comfortable.”

Cruz led Megan on a tour of Evie’s place,
each vast room decorated in a different color scheme, sumptuously
outfitted with handsome sofas, ornately carved tables, and richly
upholstered chairs. He pointed out the priceless original artwork
that lined the walls, interspersed with many portraits of Evie.
There were old Hollywood style glamor shots as well as photos of
Evie posing with famous artists and various luminaries going back
fifty years.

“That’s her?” Megan said, looking at a
picture of Evie with Frank Sinatra, “How is that even possible? She
must have a portrait of herself tucked away in here, aging for
her.”

“I know,” said Cruz breathily, “Isn’t she
gorgeous?”

Ethan stood looking around at Evie’s
magnificently decorated rooms. In addition to her lavish
furnishings and décor, every room was further embellished with
enormous fragrant floral arrangements. A jazz quintet played softly
in the corner of the great room, providing a soundtrack for the
tuxedo clad waiters circulating the rooms with trays of drinks and
hors-d’oeuvres.
I went to take Ethan’s
hand and he smiled down at me, pulling me close.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere
this... this...” words failed him.

“I know what you mean,” I said, reaching up
to whisper in his ear, “Aunt Evie likes her stuff.”

I led him into the library, its tall walls
covered in silk damask and hung with two huge portraits in heavy
gilt frames. Ethan looked up at the paintings of a younger Evie and
her late husband Harold.

“You know,” he said, squinting at the
pictures, “she looks a lot like you in this one, especially around
the eyes.”

I looked up at Evie’s face, puzzled. I had
never noticed any resemblance before. I shrugged it off as a
compliment. Evie was a real beauty.

People started filing in and the place began
to hum with energy. There were dozens of guests, both young and
old, rich and poor. Painfully thin models flocked around rotund
filmmakers. Obviously wealthy society types dressed to the nines
stood cheek to jowl with scruffy artists, scarfing up the rich food
as though they hadn’t eaten in days. It was a three ring circus–
Evie style, and Ethan just surveyed the scene, taking it all
in.

Watching him, I realized how strange the
eccentric spectacle must look to him. I had grown up witnessing
Evie hold court over her assemblies, captivating almost everyone
with her wit and beauty. I’d seen wealthy people fawn all over
Evie, impressed by her fame and style.