Ten Years at Sea
By S.D.
Chapter 10 – Birth Announcement
Dearest Will,
I wish to be the first to offer you congratulations… your son was born on May 15 (just two days ago as I write this). He arrived after six hours of great effort on my part, but the midwife told me I had it quite easy as some first-time mothers will be at labor for more than ten. When he was born, he had dark blue eyes, but I suspect they will darken to brown eventually. He has a fine covering of soft dark hair on his head, and he is long and lean like you. I'll trace his hand and foot at the bottom of this letter, so you can see how tiny they are. No doubt he will grow quickly.
I named him William Joshua Turner after you and your father. Please share this letter with your father for me. I am a bit sad to think that William will not have the pleasure of knowing his grandparents. I have sweet memories of my grandparents in England when I was a little girl. But William does have the benefit of a very warm and friendly community. There will no doubt be many old ladies willing to treat him as their own grandson. They have been like mothers to me ever since I arrived.
I have to admit, I am a bit nervous about being a mother. I have been without my own mother for most of my life, so I cannot say that I have had a role model to look to. These sweet ladies assure me it will grow on me naturally, and I know I always have them to turn to for advice. Doña Miriam is rocking little William in the nursery as I write, no doubt singing him a Spanish lullaby. What a lucky little boy he will be to grow up in this village – so different than Port Royal or London. And I will teach him to look out to the horizon every evening and send love to you.
I must close now, darling. There is so much to do whenever William is asleep! I shall send this letter as soon as I can.
With all our love,
Elizabeth and William
P.S. I hope that Jack reaches you in a timely manner. I know your ship is difficult to find, so don't judge Jack too harshly if it takes him awhile. However, judge him as harshly as you like if he comes up with excuses or has wasted time in Tortuga or on side-trips. I will request quite strongly that he sail directly to where your ship was likely to appear. I plan to take the compass reading myself, and if he follows my bearings, there should be little delay.
Bootstrap saw his son roll up the letter and stuff it into his pocket. He walked over and clapped him on the shoulder. "So Jack came to bring you news from Elizabeth?"
"Aye. She and the baby are doing well." Will's face twitched into an awkward smile, as if his features had forgotten how to form that expression.
"That's good news, Will." Bootstrap said with relief evident in his gruff voice. "Is it a girl or a boy?"
"A boy." Will said in quiet awe. "I have a… son. His name is William."
Bootstrap looked startled, but pleased. Another William in the family! "Ah, well, then I suppose Elizabeth doesn't think too poorly of you and I."
Will's small smile broke into a grin. "I suppose not." He paused. "And apparently Jack doesn't either, as he named his monkey Willy."
Bootstrap grunted. "That pesky sea-rat! He took three barrels o' rum from our hold in exchange for bringin' you that message. Does he ever do somethin' for nothin'?"
Will laughed and shook his head. "Not that I'm aware of. But he does occasionally manage to do some good without trying. So I put up with him as best I can."
"Aye, that's all you can do with a rascal like that. He's a good friend to have, but only if you've got a bit o' patience." Bootstrap shrugged. "Did you give 'im that whale you've been carvin' for the baby?"
"I did. I just hope it makes it to Elizabeth. I don't exactly mistrust Jack, but I haven't a great deal of confidence in him either."
"I've known Jack Sparrow for a long time. And I reckon he cares more about you and Elizabeth than he'd be willing to admit. He'll get the gift to her. Mebbe not in what you'd call a timely manner… but eventually."
Will nodded. He pulled the letter back out of his pocket and turned it over, looking at the tiny hand Elizabeth had traced there, bearing the initials WJT. He looked from the tiny fingers to his own, trying to imagine what it must be like to hold a child that small. He noticed Bootstrap watching him out of the corner of his eye.
"It's incredible. Unbeleivable." Will said in a low voice. "I'm a father."
"It's a grave responsibility and a great joy." Bootstrap said thoughtfully. "But those who shy away from the first never fully experience the second."
Will noticed a tinge of regret in his father's words, but didn't know what to say to alleviate it.
"You'll be a good father, Will. Little William the Third is a lucky child, though he don't know it yet."