All For Her

"Oh honey, stop crying, please stop crying."  Cassandra Turner said as she gently rocked her baby son to sleep.  She feared that he had colic.  He had been crying all day and was only a few days old.  She had feared something would be wrong with her babe.  She had a miscarriage before this one, and now this one was two weeks early. 

        "William, please stop crying, I'm here to take care of you…nothings wrong."

        But the babe kept crying.  She got up and walked around the room.

        If only your father was here…maybe you wouldn't have had colic.  Maybe things would've turned out differently.  But no.  Bill Turner had to go and sail the seven seas.  The Black Pearl he said, I'll be back before you know it, he said, but is he here now?  Was he here when you were born?

        "No." she said out loud.  "No.  He's not here and he's not going to be here.  He's left me and now a son."

        He wouldn't leave you.  Not when you're pregnant.  Her self-conscience argued with her.

        How do you know?

        He left on a merchant ship!

        So?  That doesn't prove anything,

        It doesn't disprove anything.

          Oh, who asked you anyway?

        The piercing cry of William broke through her thoughts.  Each time he took a breath, his scream seemed to get louder.  "Are you hungry?  Is that it?  That I'm just ignoring you're needs, thinking of my own?  Well let's see."  She opened her shirt and he gratefully started feeding. Figures. 

        "Thank you for stop crying…dear William."  She sat down and leaned her head against the back of the chair.  She had tried feeding him about two hours ago, but he refused.  But finally silence ruled over the house.  Something Cassandra hadn't gotten used to yet.

        Her thoughts once more wondered, about her lost husband.  The husband who had left a month ago and now she gave up for leaving her.  She knew the man had loved the sea ever since they had met.  He had made berth in Port Royal in fact when they did meet.  But up to this day she didn't completely know what he did while he was gone.  She had never met his captain or any of his crew. 

        She had only been sixteen when she met him and eighteen when they were married.  His parents were in the higher class, upstanding citizens who cared for their son, but thought that he was a merchant.  Cassandra had doubts, but never told anyone or asked Will about them.

        "Ma'am, there's someone at the door…"

        She looked at her servant.  "Show him in, but tell them to hold on."

        Ten minutes later little William was done eating and had stopped crying temporarily.  She sat him up against her shoulder and started patting his back.  When she walked into the entry way, she saw a man with dark, longish hair and full beard.  He looked somewhat familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on where she knew him from. 

        "Sir?"

        He turned and she immediately recognized him.  It was Bill.

        "Bill!" She ran up to him and hugged him, she kissed him and then drew apart, "Bill, where have you been?"

        "The shipment took longer than expected, Cass.  I'm so sorry."

        "It's fine.  When do you leave again?" 

"Tomorrow."

        "Tomorrow!?"

        He nodded.

        "Why?"

        He paused, "We have…other shipments to deliver."

        "But can't you stay a little longer?"

        He shook his head, "I'm sorry honey, but we just can't."  He looked at his son, "Who is this?"

        "You're son.  William."

        He looked up, "You named him after me?"

        "It was the least I could do."

        He smiled and gently took the baby from her.  As he cradled the young baby in his arms, she ventured.  "Bill, who is you're captain?"

        He looked up.  "What?"

        "Your captain.  The Captain of your vessel?"

        "Uhm…Jack…Stone.  Jack Stone."

        She eyed him, "Who is that?  Does he live on Port Royal?"

        He shook his head, "No…no he lives…well lived in Kingston.  He's a friend of the Commodore…"

        "Is he old like the Commodore?  He must be in his late fifties…sooner or later he'll have to retire…" She said, mostly talking to herself.

        "Don't worry about it Cass." He said smiling.  She nodded.  He sighed, Thank you lord. He thought.  It is so bloody hard lying to her!  But I can't let her know I'm a pirate…can't let her know that I'm on a pirate ship, raiding ships…if she knew her life could be at stake…let alone her reputation…

It's for her…just keep tellin' yerself that.  It's for herJack's words came to him.  He had told his Captain, Jack Sparrow, that he had a wife here in Port Royal, and Jack only said those words when he told Bill not to tell his wife. 

It's for her…just all for her…and you're son…or daughter. 

"Cassandra honey?" He asked, after they sat down, "Tell me everything that has been going on…I missed you so much."