Page 2 of Beauty and the Beach

Chapter Two

Ana Simpson didn’t want to drown. But her costume was too heavy and the current took her out too far, too fast. If she could only get this damned fish tail off her, she wouldn’t be so weighed down.

“Help!” she cried out, waving an arm in the air. She should have stuffed her pride and called out earlier. But the waves hadn’t seemed rough and she was enjoying the swim. Her abs were getting quite the workout, swimming like a mermaid. The new costume was a little stiff and Ana thought it would be nicer to come out on the beach and practice with it, instead of going in after hours to use the tank in the theater.

The Merry Mermaids was a new attraction in Lahaina and it was her first paying acting gig. She had been about to throw in the towel when screenwriter Don Kramer hired her as mermaid in his underwater play. He encouraged all the women to stay in character as much as possible, even going as far as to give them wheelchairs to roll around the theater in. It was like Lady Gaga’s Yuyi the Mermaid meets Bette Midler’s Delores Delago in a West Side Story-like dance/swim off.

Personally, Ana hoped that this would lead to bigger and better things. The salt water was hell on her eyes and even worse on her hair. And as opening night came closer, Don was acting odder and odder. Ana wasn’t a squeamish person, but lately she didn’t want to be alone in the same room with him. He was drinking more and broody as hell. The way he stared at her and her cast mates made her nervous. Don had suggested that they do one number without their sea shell bras, but thankfully one of his patrons was there and reminded him that this would need to be a family show to make any money.

Don had replied, “It couldn’t hurt to practice the scene that way.”

No.

That was the one area that the rest of the cast put aside their passive aggressive backbiting and agreed with each other on. This wasn’t going to be a titsy-bitsy burlesque routine. This was art. Or maybe underwater ballet. Either way, if the fin had to stay on in public, so did her bra.

“You need to stay in character. We want there to be mermaid sightings. We need the buzz. We want the kids to be excited. If we don’t have a big opening week, we’re sunk,” Don had ranted this over and over again until Ana and the rest of the cast could hear it in their sleep.

Now, she was going to have to hear it from Don that she ruined opening night. She could just see the news: Mermaid drowned. Opening night canceled.

Wiggling her feet and hips, she tried to get the stupid tail off, but it was attached too well. Every night, she had suction marks on her torso when it finally got it peeled off. Maybe, her rescuer would keep it quiet.

If she got rescued.

Refusing to panic, Ana flapped her arms in the water, desperately turning in circles. Her stomach was beginning to cramp and her legs felt like lead. She didn’t want to drown. She was so tired, but she was afraid if she just floated, the current would take her farther out into the ocean.

What if a shark came by and thought she was a snack?

A burst of adrenaline fueled panic coursed through her and she flailed wildly towards the shore, but it seemed farther away than ever. Just as she was starting to give up hope, a flash of white left the beach and was heading towards her. With the last of her energy, Ana swam towards it. Coming up on her fast was a zodiac boat with a rider who was waving at her. Ana would have sagged in relief, but she wasn’t sure she could come back up again.

“Hurry,” she whispered.

The man in the small powered raft cut the motor and the boat glided towards her. She could see her rescuer clearly now. He was a big man, native Hawaiian, with tribal tattoos over his large arms. He had shaggy black hair and gorgeous brown eyes. Smiling down at her, he reached out his hand to pull her into the boat.

“You’re a long way out, wahine. I almost didn’t see you.”

Ana could barely breathe, let alone speak. Relief coursed through her and she felt too weak to even help pull herself into the boat. It was all right, though, because her rescuer was strong, in addition to being handsome.

“I’m Makoa,” he said, hauling her into the boat.

“Ana,” she whispered.

She was confused at his expression and then realized that he was staring at her tail.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I thought you were drowning. I should put you back in the water.”

“No, don’t,” she croaked.

“Was there a shark?” Makoa looked around, brandishing a paddle. “Don’t worry, you’re safe now.”

Had there been a shark? She shuddered and closed her eyes. She was safe. Her whole body trembled and she willed herself not to cry.

“Would you like something to drink?”

Ana forced her eyes open and stared into his kind face. Laugh lines crinkled at the corner of his eyes and she wondered what it sounded like when he laughed. Makoa handed her a bottle of water and she drank it all, coughing and spluttering.

“Easy,” he said. “Are you not used to breathing air?”

“What?” she asked, and then gave a half laugh. “Yeah, seems that way.” How long had she been in the water? Hours? Felt like days. Her arms were so sore. She’d be lucky if she got through rehearsal tonight. At least, her breath control was getting better. Don screamed if they used the emergency air hoses. He said it took away from the authenticity of the show.