When Maya finished telling the story, her daughter whimpered and hugged Phinny, who returned it.
"Mom, why?" he asked. Maya sighed and looked at Luna, Roxy, and Tank.
"Can you leave us alone for a minute, please?" she asked them. Tank and the girls nodded and left. When they were gone, Maya turned to her two children and smiled.
"You know, I didn't name Bailey after my best friend because she's a mermaid," she told them.
"You didn't?" Phinny pondered. His mom shook his head.
"No, I named your sister after my best friend because she's very sweet. Heh, and right now, I'd probably do anything to see her again."
Phinny and his sister looked at each other. Initially, they wanted to meet their mom's friend. But now, they weren't sure.
——
That night, Phinny sat on his bed. He couldn't stop thinking about the fact that his mom's friend's a mermaid. Just then, his bedroom door creaked open. He looked and saw his mom and sister coming in.
"Phinny..." Maya started to sadly say, "I am so sorry I never told you." Phinny looked at his mom and sister, feeling a mix of emotions.
"It's okay, Mom," he said softly. "I understand why you kept it a secret." Maya smiled, relieved."
"Thank you, mijo. I just didn’t want you to think I was hiding something important from you."
Bailey, still hugging Phinny, looked up at her mom.
"Do you think we could ever meet her?" Phinny asked. His mom's eyes sparkled with hope.
"Maybe one day. The ocean is vast, but who knows what adventures await us?"
Phinny’s curiosity grew.
"Mom, can you tell us more about your adventures with Bailey? What else did you two do together?"
Maya nodded and began to share more stories about her time with Bailey, the mermaid princess. She told them about the underwater kingdom, the colorful sea creatures, and the magical moments they shared. As Maya spoke, Phinny and Bailey listened intently, their imaginations running wild. They could almost see the vibrant underwater world their mom described.
Soon, Maya joined her two children for a good night's sleep.
——
The next morning, Maya sat in the briefing room, looking at the necklace her friend gave her all those years ago.