Page 55 of Ghosts and Ginger Tea

The water was clear as a crystal, something I was not used to, but that I adored. I could get used to living in this kingdom–if I survived.

Don’t think about it too much, Oli.

By the time we finished, a few rainbow colored fish sat in the canoe, and the sun began setting. As we pulled our canoes to shore, I couldn’t help but smile. I had missed this so much, that returning to the ocean to fish had filled my soul. I had to soak it in, even if it was for a moment.

“Did you think of a riddle while we were out there?” Keanu asked, drawing me from my content thoughts.

I chuckled. “I did, but it’s silly, just like all of the other riddles I’d come up with.” Not to mention it was darker than the other ones I came up with. But being here made me realize I was somewhat free. While I wasn’t free from the curse that bound my life to a strict time limit, I was free from my father. I was free from Pulu. I was free from poverty, as was my family.

“I want to hear it,” Keanu said, pulling my canoe in and taking the line of fish to carry back to the palace.

“Let’s see how long it takes for you to get it.” I couldn’t help but smile, hoping I might stump Keanu.

“He hunts the sea but not his kin,

The bottle’s his prize, his family thin.

Words escape him, his love has turned,

For in his drink, his heart is burned.”

Keanu frowned. “A drunk fisherman?”

“Ae.” I laughed. “How did you solve that so quickly? Do you know which drunk fisherman this riddle refers to?”

His eyes grew dark. “Your father?”

“Ae.” I reached out and took Keanu’s hand, but he didn’t hold it like he normally did. He seemed distracted.

“Did your father ever hurt you?” he asked.

“Not often.”

“Oliana–”

“Oli,” I corrected, feeling rather light at the moment. I hadn’t really ever felt so free as I did then. I wanted to enjoy the moment.

“Oli?” Keanu looked bothered, but perhaps he was just thinking about too many things.

“You can call me Oli.” I stopped and faced him. We were alone on the path, and to say I was feeling drawn to Keanu was an understatement. It had been a lovely day spearfishing. Keanu was easy to teach, and enjoyed listening to my stories out at sea. Truly, I was feeling more free than I had in weeks, months, maybe even years.

“Oli…” He seemed worried. “Look. I wanted to tell you something…”

That he loves me? My heart was on fire. He had said so many things, but never that. Would his words of love cause me to recognize the budding feelings I had for him?

I faced him, realizing that I was starting to trust Keanu. Starting to share things with him I’d never shared before. I hadn’t even told anyone about the riddles, not even recited one to another person. But here he was, enjoying it. Enjoying being with me.

“Oli, the first person I bargained with… the one before you…”

I wiped my sticky, salty hair from my face and whipped it back into a big, messy bun.

“It was your father, Iosefa.”

My hands dropped and a sinking feeling went into the depths of my stomach. Life had improved since father was not there to hurt my family anymore but still… he was my father. There would always be a part of me that longed for his love and acceptance.

And maybe, deep down, I always hoped father would change. That one day he’d stop drinking.

Everything made sense now though. My father had received an inordinate amount of riches, but he would not say who it was from. He spent it all on drink, and died so quickly after that, I thought it was alcohol poisoning but…