Disclaimer: I still don't own Bloody Jack.
"My god!" I cry, staring at the ship sailing towards us.
"It's El Diablo Rojo! It's Flaco's ship! Quick! Someone haul up the Jolly Roger, let him know it's us!"
My crew is bustling about, hoisting colors, making ready. Higgins has slipped below decks, to make preparations for a meeting with Flaco. Only Jaimy is idle, still as a statue, and looking like he's just swallowed something unpleasant.
"Aw luv, don't you worry about Flaco," I soothe, unfurling his clenched fist.
"I'm your wife now, ain't I? Didn't I promise myself to you, and you only?"
His stony expression begins to soften, and he draws me into his arms for a kiss and a pet. Oh Jaimy...
In no time at all, Flaco Jimenez is strutting across my deck, resplendent in his silks and bells. He wastes no time at all; he strides towards me, grabs me by the waist and plants a firm kiss upon my mouth. I do not melt into his embrace as I would have done before. I am a married woman.
I rip myself out of his embrace, and slap him hard across one handsome cheek. He seems genuinely surprised, and slightly hurt. I put on The Look.
"That was for taking up with Clarissa! You Dog! Perro!" I snarl. Flaco gives a shrug, and a forgiving smile. Of course I'd be outraged over that. And I still am. But I can seethe over that later...
Before he can say anything, or try to kiss me again, I slap his other cheek, harder than the last strike. His smile is gone, and now he looks confused, and angry.
"And that is for kissing a married woman" I say, stiffly. I show him my left hand, where my golden hoop glimmers on my finger, along with a small and lovely emerald and pearl ring. Jaimy surprised me with it when we stopped to resupply in Charleston. A belated engagement ring, he said, a proper engagement ring, for a proper lady.
Flaco stares dumbstruck at my glittering hand, and then looks around at all my men on deck, wondering which one is the lucky bastard who snatched up his little Jalapeno. Jaimy steps forward, and bows stiffly to my former paramour.
"Captain Flaco Jimenez, this is my husband, Lieutenant James Fletcher." I gesture towards Jaimy. Flaco bows in return and addresses him:
"I wish you all the best, Lieuenant Fletcher. You are the luckiest man in the world to have a wife such as this chiquita. Take care of her amigo, as she deserves the very best,"
Jaimy nods, and thanks him for his best wishes. Then Flaco adds:
"Had I known she was your bride, I would not have greeted her so. Lo siento, forgive me."
Another nod from Jaimy, and I lead Flaco, to my cabin for some wine, and talk. Later, if they decide to stay long enough, Jemima will put on a fine supper.
Once seated, and once Higgins has served some of our best wine, we catch each other up on the past three years. I tell Flaco of my adventures in the East, and show him, my Golden Dragon.
You met Cheng Shih herself!" He gasps.
"She is a legend among every pirate, and you met her!"
"And shared her bed," I wink.
" I was her beloved 'Round-eyed Barbarian"
He chuckles lasciviously at that, no doubt imagining Cheng Shih and I in that bed, doing whatever filthy things men like about women doing together. Men, I swear...
Next, I tell him about my time with Chopstick Charlie and Sidrah, and my escapades in London society. He especially enjoys my retelling of the plot against Flashby. From there, I tell him about my time in Spain, working in Goya's studio, posing for La Maja, escaping The Inquisition and traveling with gypsies. He likes these adventures the best, and laments not being able to see a copy of the painting.
"There's an excellent copy of it in The House of the Rising Sun. Stolen by Clarissa," I tell him. In fact, I intend to swing by New Orleans and reclaim my property, once I get a chance. She may have helped save my ass, but she had no business stealing my painting, my money and my friends. Or Richard for that matter...
Finally, I tell him of my troubles in Boston, (though not all of them, I choose not to discuss Jaimy's betrayal of me with Jaimy sitting right beside me), my run from the law, including posing as a governess and joining the circus. And I finish with the story of my staged death, the very real death of Flashby, and my wedding. By the time I have finished catching him up on two or three years worth of adventures, we have gone through four bottles of wine, and are all quite tipsy.
"What about you, Flaco? What have you been up to since I last gazed upon you?" I slur, resting my head against Jaimy's shoulder. Our best wine, is apparently our strongest wine. Perhaps I should have stopped five glasses ago. Or Jaimy should have stopped me, he's my husband ain't he? I look over at my love. He's drunk just as much wine as me, perhaps more. I know he did it so he could bear some of the more...difficult parts of my story. Parts that had caused him heartache. Parts he'd rather forget.
"Nothing so exciting as you, querida," Flaco replies, looking wistfully into the bottom of his glass.
"We sail, we plunder...you know how it goes,"
I nod. I'm curious about his time with Clarissa, but I hold my tongue. I don't want to seem...jealous. 'You're Jaimy's wife now,' I remind myself. 'That's what you wanted, that's what you've waited for. You vowed to forsake all others. No more Flacos, no more Robin Raeburnes, no more Jean-Paul Valdons, No more Amadeo Romeros, no more Marcellos, no more Randalls, no more Joseph Jareds, and definitely no more Richard Allens. And that one's mostly because Clarissa would rip your heart out and eat it before your very eyes. So be good.'
"Will you sail alongside us to Cuba?" I ask. Busy mentally scolding myself, the room had fallen silent. Flaco was fetching himself more wine (Higgins having gone to discuss dinner with Jemima), and Jaimy was being too stubborn to talk to a rival.
"We're visiting our brother Tink and his wife. We're staying out of American waters until my name is cleared." I continue.
"As much as I would love sailing with my favorite Chica Inglesa, I must decline," He frowns, shaking his head so the bells in his hair and beard tinkle.
"My crew and I are headed to the Gulf of Mexico, searching for some rather legendary Aztec gold. They say it is cursed, but I do not believe it. But there are tales, of a crew that had been cursed by the gold. They sailed on...I cannot remember, The Black Diamond? No, that's not it. The Black Something,"
"The Black Something, how very threatening," Jaimy says dryly. Flaco laughs, and stands up.
"It is time I bid you my farewell," He announces, but I stand up and insist he stay to dinner. After all, who can resist Jemima's cooking? She could make a dead man hungry. He recalls her gumbos, and roasts, and the finest, fluffiest biscuits you could ever want. He changes his mind.
After a fine supper, I play a few songs on my guitar, much to Flaco's pleasure. I sing him the songs I learned in Spain, from the Gypsy Maestro, Django. Then, when one of his crewman wields the guitar, I dance a flamenco, that I had also learned from my time in Madrid. Flaco applauds and sings my praises, while Jaimy scowls. Oh, Jaimy. In all the time he has known me, he should be aware of how much I like to show off, right?
And then it is time for Captain Flaco Jimenez to take his leave. With a flamboyant bow, and chivalrous kiss to the back of my hand, he bids me farewell.
"Vaya con dios, Jacky. I wish you and your man joy, and many beautiful children," he says fervently. He bows to Jaimy, and thanks us all for our hospitality.
"Farewell, Flaco" I say, smiling.
"I hope you find your gold, and I hope it is not cursed,"
And soon the Nancy B. Alsop and El Diablo Rojo part ways. We sailing one direction, and they another. I watch them go until they slipped past the horizon, wondering if I'll ever see my old friend again. It seems like just yesterday, that I was curled up in his lap, feeling the tickle of his moustache as he kissed me. I was captain of my Emerald then, free as a bird, and answering to no one. I give a sigh. That was then, and this is now. I turn, and go to find my husband.
That night, Jaimy is in no mood for his Saucy Sailor Girl. Claiming a headache, he rolls onto his side facing away from me. It's obvious he's upset with me though. He's been acting distant and cold since Flaco left. No, since Flaco stepped onto the ship. What did I do now? When Flaco kissed me, I rebuffed him. I did not flirt, nor did I encourage flirting. I treated Flaco like an old friend, no more and no less. I don't have time for this, I'm on Watch tonight...
Around ten, Higgins brings me some coffee, the good stuff, laced with cream and sugar. Sensing my troubled mood, he asks me if I am alright. I look up at him, seeing nothing but concern. Sometimes, I am certain that Higgins is the only person in the world who gives a damn about me. I take a sip of the rich, hot coffee and tell him about Jaimy.
"What did I do wrong? Everything was going so well, and now he's not talking to me," I frown.
"Miss, I don't think you did anything wrong." Higgins says, taking my empty cup from me.
"You were your usual charming self, though you refrained from some of your more...flirtatious behavior. But I think your Mr. Fletcher is still unsure, and insecure in regards to your loyalty and faith. I think he's afraid of losing you to a former rival, even if you're his wife now,"
That makes sense. That makes perfect sense. We've almost lost each other quite a few times. War, romantic rivals, accidents, bad luck and Jaimy's Mother have all tried to tear us apart. I shouldn't be surprised that he might still be scared of losing me. Even I wonder is this is all some sweet dream I'm going to wake up from. Sometimes I even have nightmares about that, waking up and finding myself back in the jail cell in Plymouth, preparing for my execution. No rescue in sight, no hope, only despair. I wake up from those dreams, and I have to roll and make sure Jaimy is beside me, that this is all real. And if Clementine, or Sidrah, or Mai Ling and Mai Jing were to suddenly appear and start making eyes at him, I can't say I wouldn't be in a sour mood.
"What should I do, Higgins?" I ask.
"How can I reassure him?"
"Just give it time," Higgins says, taking my empty coffee cup from me.
"Give it some time. Or, we could strand the two of you an on island for a week, and have you work it out that way,"
I look up at my dear old friend, and see a cunning and mischievous glint in his eyes. Higgins may be the very model of a gentleman, and an excellent steward, but he does have a wicked streak in him. One I like to think I've brought out. Perhaps that is a good idea, Jaimy and I spending a week alone on an island. No interruptions, nothing for us to do but be together. But somehow, I think even that would be ruined for us. A typhoon could strike, or British Intelligence might drop by. I shake my head, imagining the unlikeliness of such an event, and resolve to remind Jaimy that I chose him above all others.
When my watch is over, and Jim Tanner takes over for me, I return to my cabin. From outside the door, I hear tortured sobbing and thrashing. What on Earth... I open the door, and find my husband in the throes of a nightmare, crying out for me.
"Jacky...Jacky please don't go...please, Jacky no!"
