July 10
Today we took on a distraction the size of the Titanic-sinking iceberg. She might look great in a pair of shorts, but her presence is already disrupting the crew, turning a bunch of practical, hardworking men into giddy schoolboys. Thereâs no room on this ship for a good-looking, starry-eyed dreamer. Kayla Waterton has to go!
It shouldnât be hard to convince her to leave. She says she wants to be one of the crewâso Iâll put her to work. A few midnight survey shifts, and sheâll be begging to go back to the comfortable world she knows. My own sanity depends on it!
has a degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, and the last thing she ever thought she would be doing is writing romance novels, but analyzing engines for a major U.S. airline just couldnât compete with her âhappily-ever-afters.â
When she isnât writing, caring for her two young children or doing laundry, Melissa loves to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea, her cats and a good book. She is also a big fan of The X-Files, and enjoys watching home decorating shows to get ideas for her houseâa 1939 cottage that is slowly being renovated.
Melissa lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon, with her own real-life hero husband, daughter, son, two lovable but oh-so-spoiled indoor cats and a no-longer-stray outdoor kitty who decided to call the garage home. Melissa loves to hear from readers. You can write to her at P.O. Box 63, Lake Oswego, OR 97034.
âPlease tell me about Atlantis, Daddy.â
Jason Waterton covered nine-year-old Kayla with a quilt and tucked in the edges. âWhat about the leprechauns?â
âTomorrow. I want to hear about Atlantis tonight.â
Her eyes, the same gray-green of her motherâs, sparkled like the ocean at sunrise. Each year, Kaylaâs resemblance to her mother grew. Same eyes, same smile, same golden mane of hair. A heavy weight bore down on him, reminding him of all theyâd left behind. How he missedâ
âItâs my favorite, but Heidi Baxter said Atlantis and mermaids donât exist.â Lines formed on Kaylaâs forehead. âTheyâre real, arenât they, Daddy?â
The hopeful tone in her voice tugged at Jasonâs heart. She was such a dreamer. A dreamer with a pure heart. Her classmates sometimes teased her about her belief in the whimsical, but he hoped she never changed. âIf you believe theyâre real, they will be, love.â
With a satisfied smile on her face, she snuggled against her pillow. âI believe.â
âYou must always believe.â Jason kissed her forehead. The intensity of his love for her never ceased to amaze him. He couldnât imagine life without Kayla.
âI will.â She smiled. âCan I hear about Atlantis now?â
He always gave her what she wanted. He only wished he could give her more. Jason sat on the edge of her twin bed. âA long time ago in a sea far, far away, a magical island called Atlantis existed. The people of Atlantis knew no hardship. The land provided unlimited food and natural resources. Science rid society of all diseases and invented technology to simplify life. It was a perfect existence.
âUntil one day, smoke and ash spewed from a mountain in the center of the island. Lava flowed. The smell of sulfur made it difficult to breathe. The island fought bravely against the pressure of the volcano and the movement of the earth, but in the end lost the battle. Atlantis sank to the bottom of the ocean.â
Kayla shivered. âThat must have been so scary.â
Jason held her small hand. âBut Atlantis had been good to the sea, taking only what it needed and never any more. So the sea allowed a large dome of earth to cover the island and provide a pocket of air for the people to breathe. Scientists helped the people adapt to their new underwater home.â
âThe people became mermaids.â
He nodded. âOver time, the people of Atlantis evolved into âmer.â They could live in the sea with gills and a tail, or out of the sea with lungs and legs, but most preferred the freedom of the water.â Jason closed his eyes for a moment. âTo leave the confines of Atlantis behind⦠To be connected to the other creatures of the sea⦠To be surrounded by water and able to swim anywhere wasâ¦total exhilaration.â
Kayla sighed. âI wish I could be a mermaid.â
âSo do I, loveââ Jason kissed her cheek ââso do I.â
Foamy green swells tossed the supply ship back and forth like a childâs plaything. Kayla Waterton grasped the railing and peered over the edge. Sheâd done her research and knew what to expect while at sea. Still, she couldnât hide her awe at the waterâs power or the secrets buried in the murky depths.
âThis will keep you safe while you transfer to the other ship, Miss Waterton.â Pappy, who looked more like Santa Claus than the shipâs captain, connected a lifeline to her life jacket in case she fell into the water when she transferred to the other ship tied alongside them. âJust wish I knew what turned the water so rough all of a sudden.â