Chapter EIGHT

Lina was upstairs feeding the baby while Joey was with the younger mermaids down in the living room and he was finding it increasingly impossible to be comfortable. The endless noise, the constant stamping of feet and the chasing around of one another made him feel like he was at an overpopulated live concert venue and God knows how much he hated concerts. He would have gone up to stay with Lina and the baby, but he knew that she would run away at the sight of him, so here he was, stuck in this wild market where young women were playing and roughhousing like babies right in the full view and presence of the homeowner as if he wasn't there. Any time they mistakenly hit him with any of the things they were constantly throwing at each other, they were always quick to apologize, but it never took long before history repeated itself again. Joey had thought Lisha was the most problematic member of her family, but now, he knew that she was a saint compared to some of her sisters. He couldn't blame them much though. They still had absolutely no idea that their mother was dead. The only four mermaids who had that sad information were currently not in the room and Joey couldn't help but wonder what lie Rana and Lina had told their sisters when they had asked after their mother. "Ranaaa!", one of the girls raised the cry and the rest joined in immediately, turning it into a massive chorus. Joey looked toward the door and there was Rana and Rohna getting the rowdiest welcome of their lives from their sisters. "Okay, okay, calm down everyone," Rana shouted at the top of her voice and by degrees, they all became quiet. "There are two things to be done now and there's no time to waste since we have a lot of work ahead of us. First, let's tell Joey a massive thank you for his hospita..." "Thank you, Joey!", the girls squealed in a piercing chorus that nearly made the poor host go deaf. But the gesture was enough to put a smile on his face, in spite of his current mood, and make him forgive them for all their trouble so far. In acknowledgement, he bowed with his hand on his chest which became the cause of yet another set of deafening squeals and claps from the girls. Rana had to intervene for quiet and calm to reign. "Okay, girls. We move immediately. Rohna and I have been able to get a new place and all hands will have to be on deck to make this new place a suitable home for all of us." This announcement was greeted with silence, to the astonishment of Joey, but Rana knew just how much her sisters disliked work, so she was far from surprised at their silence. "Where is Lina? Can someone go get her?" She was about to assign one of the girls to the task when Joey suddenly volunteered. "Don't worry. I'll go get her," he said, already taking the stairs two at a time. Just then, Lisha rushed into the living room and was forced to stop short. "Oh you guys are here? I'm glad you're all okay," she said, nodding in satisfaction, but she didn't so much as get a look or even a word of welcome and neither did she expect any. "We're leaving immediately. We've found a new place. Where have you been?", Rana questioned, her hands on her waist. Lisha began her response with her signature shrug. "Well, I've been here and there. Had some important business to handle." "Business that was more important than your family?" Lisha didn't say anything in reply and the conversation died a natural death. Only she knew what she had spent the last two days doing and it would forever remain her closest secret, just like the real reason her family was attacked. It was all her guilt to bear and she would bear it alone along with all of the attendant consequences. When Joey reached the room upstairs that Lina and the baby occupied, he took her unawares by opening the door and walking in unannounced. Due to the high volume of the TV in which she was engrossed, she was totally ignorant of his presence in the room until he came and stood close beside her. "Ow!", Lina screamed and promptly jumped to her feet. "Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to startle you," Joey apologized. "I just wanted to say a few words to you." Lina's eyes widened in alarm. A few words?? This was it! "No, no, no. I need to go pee... right now. I'm pressed." But Joey was fast and he quickly blocked her escape route by closing the door and standing with his back against it. "Please stop running away from me, I'm begging you." The way he said it, with so much feeling and misery, made Lina stay rooted to the spot. She really did pity him now. "I just want to say a few quick words. Please allow me." Lina said nothing and just went on staring at her toes, so he swallowed and continued. "I... I have never been able to say this ever since I knew what it meant, but now, I want to say it. I love you, Lina." The words hit Lina like a hammer and she actually winced as if she was in pain. But Joey was still speaking. "I don't know if you love me too, but I love you with all my heart and soul. Will you... will you be my wife?" Lina gasped in shock. "Tha... that is ridiculous!" But to her surprise, Joey nodded in agreement! "Yes, yes, you're right. Forget I ever said it. Forgive me." With that, he turned and pulled open the door. But before stepping out, he delivered his original message. "Your sisters are waiting for you." And then he was gone. Lina wanted to go after him and... and... she had no idea what she would say to him. Either way, her legs remained rooted to the spot. They wouldn't move, neither backward nor forward. As Joey climbed down the stairs back into the living room, Lisha's eyes quickly focused on his face. Just a glance was enough to deduce what had happened upstairs. "Where is she?", Rana demanded of him. "She's coming," Joey said with a sigh that sounded to Lisha like a gasp for air. But she acted like she knew nothing. Soon enough, Lina, with a scarf over her head and partly covering her face began to slowly make her way down the stairs. Her sisters, who had gathered at the door, waiting for her to join them were nothing short of astonished as they watched this unusual behavior from the always lively family intellectual. "Lina, is everything okay?", Rana asked in concern. "Sure," Lina nodded in the affirmative. "Okay. We just found a new place and except Lisha who will stay behind to look after the baby, everyone else is going to work on the new place. You're coming, right?" "Sure." "Good. Let's go then. See you soon, Joey." Joey forced a smile and bowed in acknowledgement. Then the crowd of sisters began to make their way outside with Lina bringing up the rear. But all of a sudden, she stopped. "Lina, is there a problem?", Rana asked, now beginning to worry. "Yes, yes, I'm fine." Rana didn't believe her contradictory answer, but she had no choice but to take her word for it and the procession resumed its journey with Lina still bringing up the rear. And again, she stopped! This time, it was a complete halt. "Lina?", Rana called to her. But Lina shook her head decisively. "I... I'd like to stay behind." And then, to the astonishment of everyone present, she turned around and began retracing her steps. But when she got close to Joey, she stopped again! You could hear a pin drop in the room as everyone watched with bated breath. Suddenly, Lina flung the scarf off her face and threw it away. "Fine. I accept. Don't come after me!" But Joey was already bounding up the stairs after her!