2.4 Undercurrent

Having a baby was a huge adjustment for Alex. He was used to doing his own thing and being gone for days at a time on dives. That life was no more. He'd taken a sabbatical from work, at least until Phoenix was done being a baby, and devoted most of his time to his care. Of course, his mother Jamie was a huge help in the whole ordeal. Alex hadn't exactly known what to do with babies off the bat.

She visited often, helping care for little Phoenix and evening helping Alex keep the place tidy. Without her, Alex probably would have been a mess. He was still sad over Maya's departure, but he kept the thought of her coming back close to his heart. He believed her when she said that and he kind of knew what he signed up for when he got involved with a mermaid.

Jamie worried about Phoenix's possibility of taking after his mother, but it was too soon to tell. A mermaid's magic didn't fully present itself until puberty, though the signs started to appear a little earlier than that. They'd know for certain soon enough.

Even with his mom's help, Alex was exhausted. New babies were a handful. He hardly ever slept during the night, so he grabbed quick naps when he could. He missed the ocean and his job, but he was adamant about sticking around until he was absolutely sure Phoenix would be all right with a babysitter.

It was amazing how quickly time flew by when caring for a baby. Phoenix was getting bigger with every passing moment. Alex was finally okay leaving the houseboat and grateful for that fact. He'd definitely missed being in the ocean.

Alex was determined to make money now. He had a child to support. His job before had always been a casual fancy, it paid the bills, but it was more about the exploration and his love of the ocean. Now, however, he was ready to cash in on the truly big money-making opportunities.

He was still home as much as he could be, helping Alex learn all the necessary skills for his next stage of life. The babysitters he hired were all screened by Jamie, so Alex didn't have any fear of leaving Phoenix behind with them. Life took on a rhythm.

Eventually, Phoenix approached another milestone. He was going to be a child and he'd be attending school. This meant Alex could really step up his business endeavors. He'd have plenty of time to explore while Phoenix was in class during the day and they wouldn't need a sitter anymore. It was definitely a bittersweet relief to be rid of Phoenix's toddler years.

Phoenix didn't know much of his extended family. They'd all kind of gone their separate ways. He met some of them, but mostly he only saw his grandma Jamie and his Aunt Xandra. Auntie X was always good fun, she had the strangest stories.

Phoenix also loved going along with his dad whenever he was able. Alex couldn't take him along on dives, but they did go boating quite a bit. Phoenix had his own special appreciation for the ocean. It called to him. He'd been born with an affinity for it. Alex hadn't talked to him about it yet, but Phoenix knew he was different, though not the extent of why.

He started asking questions about his mother, which Alex answered without hesitation. There was a sadness there, though.

The way his dad spoke about his mom, you'd think she was some sort of goddess. If she were so good, why wasn't she there with them? It was clear his dad missed her and Phoenix wanted to know her, too. Unfortunately, his questions about that went unanswered. All Alex would offer were vague: "she's just gone away for awhile. She'll be back."

At least Phoenix was able to spend time with his dad. He liked that. They'd go to the ocean and swim around and just be goofy. Phoenix liked those days. It was better than going to school or doing homework.

Most of the other kids at school had moms who baked them cookies. Phoenix had something better. Not only did his dad make him cookies, but he made them amazingly. He was a really good cook.

Cookies were Phoenix's favorite. They failed to satiate his hunger, but he couldn't deny how happy the taste made him.

Unfortunately for Phoenix, his dad was a lot more coordinated for him. Alex often joked about Maya's failed attempts at skating, comparing them to Phoenix's less-than-stellar attempts in the present. Phoenix didn't understand it. He just seemed to be such a klutz when it came to his legs.

Phoenix wished he was able to go diving with his dad. Alex had recently been contracted to help out with a movie filming on location. It required him to wear a really goofy diving suit that was completely impractical, but it paid well.

Phoenix continued to ask questions about his mother. It was just hard for him to understand how his dad was still technically married to her when she wasn't with them. Why did she go away and when was she coming back? Alex didn't have any concrete answers for him. He would always just say things like "soon" or "it's just the way it is."

Of course, Phoenix wasn't the only one growing older. Alex was advancing in age, too. It was crazy how quickly the years sped by. It seemed like only yesterday that he'd left his home and moved into the houseboat. How many years had Maya been gone now? It felt like an eternity. Still, he didn't give up hope that she would return as she had promised.

At least he was making money hand over fist. Jobs were rolling in and it seemed as if every time he went on a leisurely dive, he discovered a new treasure or a ship. It was definitely invigorating to see his career take off. He was becoming a household name with his exploits.

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You know how I said Phoenix looks like Maya? I was wrong. He's a complete clone of Alex. It's kind of crazy. I'm hoping some diversity introduces itself soon! All of these guys are going to have the same brown hair and the same faces, lol.

Phoenix is a mermaid, but I'll cover that later. I assumed he would be. It always seems to happen like that when it comes to supernaturals and babies.

I'm being forced to randomize his traits. He's an Eccentric Heavy Sleeper who is also a bit of a Snob.