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This was very, very, very bad.
I hadn't meant to get lost. I'd just been combing through the sand for pretty seashells, and had wandered further and further from Mommy and Daddy and Percy and Annabeth. The sand was warm and soft between my toes, and was getting more and more squelchy the closer I got to the water. Now, when I turned around, there was a sea of beach tents, but none of them looked like ours. Oh no, I thought.
A wave crashed over my feet, getting the bottom of my shorts all wet. Slimy seaweed brushed my legs. It felt like a sea monster was trying to get me! I squealed and ran away, and as I did so I tripped on a rock and fell over.
'Oof!'
I landed face-first in the sand. Yuck! I lifted my head up and spat out a mouthful of salty water. It tasted horrible. I think some sand had got in my eyes too. I began to cry.
'Mommy!' I shouted, as tears splashed down my cheeks. 'Daddy!'
Just as I thought nobody was coming to help me, a voice spoke up.
'Why hello there.'
I looked up. A man was looking down at me. I'd never seen him before, but something about him seemed familiar. He held out a hand to me.
'Need a little help?'
'Oh, yes please.' I grabbed his hand and he pulled me to my feet. His hand was large and rough, and covered in lots of little scratches. 'Thank you.'
'You're very welcome, my dear.' Suddenly he looked very sternly down at me, like my kindergarten teachers sometimes do if I've been naughty.
'You know, you really shouldn't wander off on your own like that. Your parents are very worried. And you especially shouldn't come so close to the sea by yourself. It can be very dangerous.'
I didn't like being told off by a total stranger. Who was this guy anyway? What did he know about anything?
'Thank you, but, um…' I started to back away. 'Mommy says I mustn't talk to strangers.'
'Oh, but I'm hardly a stranger, Estelle.' My mouth dropped open. How did he know my name? 'Oh, and by the way, you'll find I know a lot about beaches. And oceans. So if I were you, I'd do as I tell you.'
'Are you a mind reader?' I asked.
He chuckled.
'Something like that.' His eyes were warm and twinkly, and very green. Like the sea. I could tell he wasn't really mad at me. I had a funny feeling that if he was, I'd be in big trouble.
I had sand all down my front from falling over. It was all scratchy and uncomfortable. I started brushing it off with my hands.
'Need a hand with that?'
'Oh, yes please.' I expected him to help me brush the sand off, but he just snapped his fingers and it disappeared! My shorts and t-shirt were clean and dry like they'd been before. There wasn't a single bit of sand on my face or in my mouth. I gasped. How had he done that?
'Wow. Cool!' I exclaimed. It was just like magic!
I looked up at him. He had dark black hair and a beard, and was wearing the weirdest shirt I'd ever seen. It was bright blue and green with a pattern of lobsters and palm trees. He wore a funny hat covered in pointy thingies and something written on it – but I couldn't read yet. He was also wearing bright coloured Crocs – with socks! It looked so silly that I burst out laughing.
'Hahahahaha!'
He raised his eyebrows.
'Do I amuse you, young lady?'
I giggled.
'Your clothes are so funny.'
'Oh, really?'
'Yes. Especially that shirt.'
He looked down at the shirt and pinched the fabric between his fingers.
'Hmm, yes I suppose it is. It's one of my favourites.' His lip curled in a smile. 'You're a cheeky girl.'
I just giggled more.
'Now, we'd better get you back to your family, hadn't we?' He reached down and gently picked me up by my armpits. He had a salty beachy smell.
I had a sudden thought.
'Are you Percy's daddy?'
He grinned as he set off walking down the beach, carrying me in his arms.
'I might be. How did you guess?'
'You look like him. You know who I am. And I know Percy has a different daddy than me.'
'That's right. Clever girl.'
'But he's still my big brother. I love him very much.'
'I know. So do I. I always knew Percy would make a great big brother. I have a big brother too. And a younger one, who just loves to boss me around. He's very annoying.'
Suddenly I heard a noise like thunder, even though it was bright sunshine. Percy's daddy held me a little bit tighter and rolled his eyes, muttering something that sounded like big drama queen. I had no idea what he meant.
'Aha!' he exclaimed. 'I think I see your mother over there.'
I looked round and caught sight of my Mommy.
'Yes! There she is.'
Holding me with one strong arm, he smoothed my hair out of my eyes.
'You are beautiful, just like her.'
I giggled and rested my head on his shoulder as he carried me along.
I felt a rollercoaster of emotions when I caught sight of Poseidon holding Estelle in his arms.
Relief crashed over me like a tidal wave. My baby was safe. I'd lost Percy for months at a time before, but it never got any easier – not knowing if they were going to make it home alive. And besides, she didn't have water powers like Percy did; the beach could be a dangerous place for her. Although...it seemed that she had the best possible person looking out for her. I wasn't really surprised. In fact, I should have known.
Paul, Percy, Annabeth and I had split up to search for Estelle, so we could cover more ground. We'd all been incredibly worried, but she seemed to be just fine. It looked like he'd said something to make her laugh. She was even leaning her head against his shoulder, as if she felt completely safe and secure. I'd always felt so safe in those arms. Now it was Estelle's turn.
'Oh, Estelle!' I exclaimed as he placed her down and she ran over to me.
'Mommy! I'm okay!' she cried as she raced into my arms.
'Don't you ever wander off like that again; do you hear me?' I reprimanded.
'Yes Mommy. Percy's daddy told me that too. He's very nice.'
'Oh, believe me, I know.' So he'd told her who he was - or she'd guessed. I released my daughter and glanced over to where he'd been standing – but he'd gone. Vanished into thin air – or probably water.
'Hey! Where'd he go?' Estelle exclaimed, looking confused and a little upset.
I rolled my eyes fondly.
'Back home, probably.' I hadn't fully explained everything to her yet. As she got older, I'd teach her all about Percy's world, but she wasn't ready for all the details right now.
'Didn't you want to talk to him?' she asked, pouting. I shook my head. I had my own life now, and he had his.
'It doesn't matter. He brought you back to me safely, and that's all I needed.' I kissed her forehead, getting a mouthful of the thick sunscreen I'd forced her to wear. 'Now, let's go and find the others, and if you're a good girl maybe we'll get some ice-cream.'
'Yay ice-cream!' she yelled. I laughed. Times like this reminded me of when Percy was little. He'd always loved the beach. And I still did; despite everything I'd been through.
'Come on then.' I took her hand, while pulling out my cell phone and calling Paul to let him know I'd found Estelle. Well…I hadn't quite found her. As we set off up the beach, I glanced over my shoulder towards the sea and whispered: 'Thank you.' And a warm sea breeze caressed my face and ruffled my hair as if to say: 'You're welcome.'