She's amazing."
Galen turns to Dr. Milligan, who's standing beside him and staring at Emma as if she were floating in midair. "Yes, she is," Galen says.
Dr. Milligan looks at Galen, a knowing smile plastered on his face. "Looks like she's enchanted more than just the little fish. In fact, looks like you're worse off than any of them, my boy."
Galen shrugs. He's got nothing to hide from Dr. Milligan.
Dr. Milligan lets out his breath in a whistle. "What does Rayna say?"
"She likes her." The good doctor raises a thin gray brow. Galen sighs. "She likes her enough.."
"Well, can't ask for more than that, I suppose. Shall we, then?"
Galen nods. "Emma. Dr. Milligan is here."
Emma turns. And freezes. "You!" she chokes out. "You're Dr. Milligan?"
The older man bows his head. "Yes, young lady, I am. You remember me, then."
She nods, walking slowly toward them as if she smells a trap. "You tried to give me free season passes. You talked to me at the petting tank."
"Yes," he says. "Of course I offered you season passes. How else could I study your fascinating interaction with the specimens?"
She crosses her arms. "I didn't know I could talk to fish at the time. How did you?"
"At first I didn't," he says, closing the distance between them and gently taking her hand. "But when I saw your eye color, I knew you had to be Syrena. I remembered Galen telling me about that gift, but I never really believed it. Which is silly, I suppose. I mean, if I believe in mermaids-ahem, excuse me Galen, Syrena-then why not a gift like that?"
"And what do you think now, Dr. Milligan?" Galen says, a little perturbed at the revelation that his friend thought he lied. Also, "mermaids" was uncalled for.

Autor: Anna Banks