WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 37: Who is Leslie?

Chapter 37: Who is Leslie?

Rhea sat up, wiping off the sweat that had gathered up her temple.

What sort of a strange dream was this and what was Aqua trying to tell her about Leslie?

She heard a knock on the door and her heart skipped a bit.

Did her dream finally come to pass?

"Who... Who is that?" She stuttered.

"It’s me. Celia. Are you okay? Can I come in?" Celia answered.

Rhea took a deep breath. It’s just Celia. Nothing more. She shouldn’t overthink it.

She nodded. "Yes... Please. you can."

Celia opened the door and walked in. "You are still in your uniform?" She asked in surprise. "And why are you sweating?"

"I had a dream. I can’t say it’s a terrible one but I was scared."

Celia moved closer to Rhea and sat down beside her. She held her hand. "Everything is fine now right?"

Rhea nodded. "It is. It’s just a random dream. Maybe a result from too many scary movies I have watched."

Rhea wasn’t going to tell Celia what her dream entails. It was a secret that should be kept by her.

"So why are you here?" Rhea asked, changing the topic.

"I almost forgot that. Dad said dinner is ready."

Rhea nodded. "I will go take my bath and join you guys downstairs."

"There is more," Celia said when Rhea stood up.

Rhea furrowed her brows. "More? What is that."

"Someone is joining us for dinner."

Rhea was confused. Who could be joining them for dinner?

"Someone?"

Celia nodded. "Yes. One of Dad’s friends."

"Dad has a friend? I am just hearing that for the first time."

"I can’t agree less, Rhea. I was surprised when he told me too."

"A man or a woman?" Rhea asked.

"Well..." Celia began, standing up. "Do not scream when I tell you."

Rhea furrowed her brows. Could it be a woman?

"It’s a woman right?"

Celia nodded. "Yes. And someone you know."

"I know her? Do you know her too?"

Celia nodded. "She works at our school."

"One of our teachers?"

Celia shook her head. "No."

Rhea became more confused. Who could that be?

She blinked. Could it be Bella, Leslie’s assistant? Or...

She shook her head. It can’t be Leslie. Could it?

"Bella?" She asked instead.

She wasn’t going to conclude that it was Leslie coming to visit her father.

How did they become friends?

"It’s Bella right?" She asked again when Celia did not answer.

Celia sighed. "No. It’s the school nurse, Les..."

Rhea moved backward slowly. Leslie? How did she become her father’s friend?

The thought of Leslie becoming their stepmother made Rhea shiver. She loves Leslie a lot but she doesn’t want to have a stepmother yet.

"Does Dad love her?" She asked and Celia furrowed her brows.

"What are you talking about?"

"Isn’t she the one Dad has chosen to be our stepmom?"

Celia busted into laughter. "What are you saying."

Rhea furrowed her brows. "She is not?"

"Of course not. She is just visiting as a friend. What are you thinking."

Rhea looked away, feeling a bit ashamed of her thoughts. She had thought their father was ready to move on and marry someone else.

It’s just been a year since they lost their mother.

"I... I thought he wanted to get married."

Celia shook her head. "He is not getting married to her. They are just friends. They seem to have known each other before Dad got married to Mom."

"Really?"

Celia nodded. "Yes. So you shouldn’t have those weird thoughts anymore."

Rhea sigehd. She won’t.

"You should go take your bath. She will be here soon."

Rhea nodded. "I should do that. I will join you downstairs."

Celia turned to leave but stopped. She turned to face Rhea. "I do not think she knows we are Dad’s kids. Don’t be surprised if she acts shocked."

Rhea nodded. "I won’t."

Celia left the room and Rhea headed to the bathroom to quickly take a shower and then get dressed. She got out of the shower so soon and sat down to cream.

Her mind drifted back to the dream she had and she thought of what to do about it.

If Aquamarine had not left, she would not have been this worried. She thought.

She thought about talking to Leslie about it but wasn’t sure if Aqua was talking about Leslie she knew or someone else.

What if Aqua doesn’t appear to her again? How would she know what to do next?

Rhea decided to put the thought aside first and join her family downstairs. She stood up and began to get dressed in a black shirt and a pair of trousers.

She wasn’t going to let Celia come back to call her. She was done soon and she headed downstairs. Luckily, Leslie has not shown up yet.

"Dad?" She called, sitting beside Celia on the dining table. "When is your visitor coming?"

"She should be here...". They heard the doorbell ring, and their father smiled. "I think she is here."

Their father stood up to open the door while Celia and Rhea followed to welcome her.

"Welcome to my humble home," their father welcomed Leslie into the house.

"Odin," she called. "Thank you for inviting me."

She entered the house with a young girl about sixteen.

"This must be your daughter, Maia," Odin said.

Leslie nodded. "She is."

"Good day, Mr. Odin. Thank you for inviting us to your house."

"I like her," Odin said. "She is so nice." He turned and gestured to Celia and Rhea. They moved closer to him. "Meet my daughters, Celia, and..."

Leslie’s eyes widened in surprise. "Rhea? Is she your daughter, Odin?"

"You know her?" Odin asked.

"I do."

"Good day, Leslie," Rhea greeted.

"It’s good to see you, Rhea."

"Good day, ma’am," Celia greeted Leslie.

"You must be Celia," Leslie answered. She wasn’t too close to Celia. She smiled. "It’s good to meet you both." She held Maia and brought her forward. "This is Maia, my daughter. She will be joining Waggoner High School soon. The same class as Rhea."

Rhea furrowed her brows. Another new student?

"We should head to the dining room. The food is getting cold," Odin said and they nodded in agreement.

They went to sit on the dining table and Celia stood up to serve the food. They began to eat after she was done.

Silence invaded the room. Rhea was lost in her thoughts. She could not help but steal glances at Leslie, wondering if she was the Leslie she needed to speak to.

"Are you okay, Rhea?" Leslie asked.

She had noticed Rhea had been staring at her.

Rhea blinked. Did Leslie catch her staring?

"I... I am fine," Rhea stuttered slightly.

"You seem lost in thought," Leslie persisted.

"I am not lost in thought," Rhea insisted, and that needed the conversation.

They were done eating soon. Rhea and Celia stood up to clear the table and Maia offered to help.

Celia stopped her. "You are a guest there. That won’t be...."

"Let her help out," Leslie answered.

Celia gave up on the conversation and Maia helped them in clearing the table. Celia and Maia went to the kitchen to do the dishes while Rhea stayed back to clean up the table before joining them in the kitchen.

"What is a school like Rhea?" Maia asked, trying to start a conversation.

Rhea shrugged. "Fine, I guess."

She wasn’t ready to speak with Maia. It wasn’t because she did not like Maia but because her mind was occupied with Leslie’s thoughts.

She thought about asking Leslie if she knew Aqua, but on second thought, she changed her mind.

Leslie may know about mermaids’ stories but might not know about Aqua; she doesn’t want to spike her curiosity.

But she knows about the first Aqua. Rhea thought. How about she asks about Aqua from her?

Someone touched her and she jerked. "Wh... What?"

"I am so sorry. Did I startle you?"

Rhea realized it was Maia, and she sighed.

"You did startle me but it’s nothing. Is there a reason you touched me?"

"You were lost in thought. I wanted to know if you are okay?" Maia said.

"I am fine." She looked around. "Where is Celia?"

"Your dad called her."

Rhea sighed. "I will wipe the dishes."

She began to clean the dishes and cups one after the other.

"My mom told me you love mermaid stories," Maia said, starting a conversation.

Rhea dropped the cup in her hand and turned to face Maia. "She did?"

Maia nodded. "Yes. I love mermaids too."

"That is good to hear," Rhea mumbled and silence returned.

She placed all the dishes and cups into the racks and cleaned her hands.

"Done. We can join them in the living room now."

They left the kitchen and headed to the living room. Celia was having a conversation with Leslie. They seemed to be enjoying the conversation; they were laughing. Her dad was seated with them too, enjoying their conversation.

Rhea took a seat opposite theirs, staring at Leslie. Leslie was so comfortable with her family that it made Rhea wonder.

Who is Leslie?