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Chapter 14
Routine
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Samantha's family decided, since Edward had been caught and was almost certainly being sentenced to death, that they would remain in their lovely house and have a major ball to celebrate the girl's arrival. Even though she loved having parties at home, with many officers and possibly new friends, this idea did not please her at all. First of all, she was definitely not in the mood for social relations and making friends, the sadness in her heart made it too hard even just to get out of bed every morning. Then there were her looks. A long very appreciated bath helped with all the filth the pirate ship had provided her with, but the bruises on her face were still visible and hard to disguise. She knew well what everyone would think had been done to her and it was hard enough to bear her family's pity looks as they greeted her every day.
The days went by slowly and so did the balls. Most of the time, Samantha would ask to be excused from parties or late nights. That adventure she had lived was constantly in the back of her head and there was nothing she could do about it. Edward had been right: she did not feel free there.
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Moments turned to minutes… minutes to days… and days to months…
One day, Mr. Jackson arrived home with 'horrible' news. It was night, the servants took his coat and he requested that the family would gather in the main room. He sat with his wife and Samantha, and said in a serious tone:
-The pirate escaped.
The words were sudden and random and they caused a great deal of nerves to Sam. Did that mean…? No, it couldn't be!
But it was. Edward had escaped his awful fate and somehow had managed to escape Port Royal, leaving a great mess to be cleaned behind him. He had not been seen since the night he escaped and it is almost certain that he had help from someone on the outside. Samantha was filled with such a sense of relief, that tears appeared in her eyes. He was alive!
-Do not worry, my dear. – Mr. Jackson said as he noticed the tears. – He will never find you because we will leave Kingston for a while.
-What?!
-I spoke with my superior and he understood. – The man added. – We will spend a few months in Florida with your aunt and uncle. We will be safer there.
-Florida?! We're moving to Florida?! – Sam snapped.
-For limited time, yes.
-That is not necessary… in my opinion.
-Sammy, that man may come back for you. He may blame you for his sentence. We may come here every now and then, to visit your sister. But for now we go.
-I think that his plans should be leaving Kingston perhaps forever, he knows everyone is searching for him!
-It is a safety measure and I have dealt with everything. We leave in two days.
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Before hoping on the ship, the family visited Lydia's new house. They informed the girl and her husband of their intentions and suggested they did the same. After all, the pirate could still somehow connect Lydia to Samantha and go for her.
It was a surprisingly pleasant visit to Samantha. She was alone with Lydia for some time and the girl spent most of the time apologizing for her actions and telling Sam of how she was different now, in that home. She seemed legitimately happy and said that everything in her life was perfect at the moment, that marrying Marcus was the best decision in her life. She made some more questions regarding Sam's kidnap, but nothing that upset her. Sam was admired and happy that Lydia was living the life she had always wanted: she was married to a navy man and Kingston had indeed been the city that made her life perfect, just as she had planned. In the end, she had worked hard for all of that, followed all the rules and had been the best at it. In the end… perhaps she deserved it.
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Late 1721, Florida
Looking back, it seemed unbelievable that so much time had passed. Months and months of living normally, away from that chaos that never left Sam's mind. Things slowly got back to the old routine and the kidnap was hardly even mentioned anymore. The time that took so long to pass was now behind the Jackson family. Life in Florida was almost as the life in Kingston for Sam, except her father spent most time home now. From a letter, she got the news that Annabelle and Jacob had gotten engaged a few months after her parture and although a bit surprised and conflicted, she was happy for the couple. Lydia and Marcus were also leading a happy life back in Kingston, with no trouble at all.
Sometimes Sam wondered if she'd ever see Edward again. Probably not. After all, he must had gone far away after escaping Port Royal. And she could not judge him. She was slightly happier now, after all that time, but still asked herself many questions.
A certain day, sunny as all the others - a normal day in general - Mr. Jackson had a visitor. Sam heard him talking to a man downstairs as she doodled in her bedroom and swore she recognized that second voice. Praying her father would not find in an vulgarity that she would enter the room, she walked down the stairs and through the door into the main living room of the house. Mr. Jackson was asking Fiona, the maid, for two drinks and the visitor was educatly sitting on the sofa. Sam recognized him almost immidiately, although she could not believe her own eyes. Could he be him? Could he be... Joe?
-Sammy, come in. - Mr. Jackson invited as he spotted her, for her surprise. - There is someone I would like you to meet.
Samantha slowly entered the room, not taking her eyes off Joe for one second. How could he be there? In a second, she remembered the moments they had lived together in a pirate ship. A pirate ship which had been taken by Joe and the rest of the crew when they... Fled. Joe was a pirate and Mr. Jackson was pouring him a drink? She remained silent and forced her cheeks not to go as red as the blood that had suddenly began to flow so rapidly through her veins.
-This is Mr. Joseph Finnigan. He works at the harbour of Florida. - Richard Jackson introduced.
-Pleasure to meet your aquaintence, Miss Jackson. - Joe said.
Samantha saw the nerves in his eyes and made it easier for him, giving him her hand and allowing him to greet her properly.
-The pleasure is mine. - She said, although her voice did crack a bit.
-Mr. Finnigan here knows a great deal of ships and sailing in general. I am thinking of recommending him for the navy. - Mr. Jackson laughed.
-Does he now? - Sam murmured.
-Oh sir, I do not think the navy is the best job title for a man such as myself. - Joe said and Sam couldn't help to smile to how subtle he was on the matter. - I enjoy working as a salesman at the harbor.
-And it is a most honorable job as well, of course, but it would indeed be a shame to waste such knowledge. - Richard completed.
-I appreciate it, sir. It means a great deal coming from someone as yourself. But my wife and I are perfectly happy this way.
-Of course. By the way, how is Mrs. Finnigan?
-Well. We are going through prosperous times.
-I am most glad. I shall write a letter immidiately for you to take home, so Mrs. Finnigan accepts to acompany you to a supper here at the house.
-Oh, sir, that is very kind, but...
-Oh I'd be most glad if you joined me. Please, I will return in a second. Sammy, go find Fiona and tell her she forgot Mr. Finnigan's drinks.
-Of course, father. - Sam replied.
Mr. Jackson left and Sam and Joe were alone. For a second, she stood in silence wondering whether she should say something or merely obey her father's command.
-It's good to see ye, Sam. Ye look more beautiful than ever. - Joe said.
That was when Sam truly looked at him: he had shaved his red beard, his mean looks were gone and his clothes were clean and had a nice scent to them. The pirate in him was gone, now remained only a gentleman.
-Thank you. But... how can you be here?
Joe approached Sam and hugged her, making her feel surprised yet happy. She had missed him as well and it was nice to feel appreciated. He gave her a big smile when they pulled apart and the poor girl did not know whether to feel angry or glad. Of course... He had said he lived in Florida...
-You fled on Edward... - Sam remembered and looked Joe deep in the eyes so he'd feel her pain. - You let him to die.
-Kenway didn't die, Sam.
-Well I know that now. Yet you still fled on him and allowed such to happen. And did the same with me.
Sam took two steps back. The last time she had seen this man, he was allowing her to walk the plank.
-I never agreed to that, Sam. You know that. - He apologized, quietly so her family would not hear. - I thought it was wrong, but I could not fight na entire crew. What does it matter now anyway? Ye're alright, ye look wonderful; Kenway is alive and he gave me my share of the fortune.
-What?
-Kenway, he did it. I told ye he would. He came here a while ago and said he had gathered the crew once more and he knew where to find our fortune. And he did! He split it with all of us in equal shares.
-Edward was here?
-Aye. Made us all sail to various places. Said he was going to Kingston next.
-Kingston?! Is that not the worst possible place for him to go?
-He can keep low, Sam. He can take care of himself.
Sam looked around, making sure her father was still taking his time. The thought that she might see Edward once more made her heart race.
-Why are you here?
-Met your father back at the harbour. Took me a while to understand I was speaking to Richard Jackson. Asked a few questions when I did and turns out he is the father of Samantha Jackson, girl who was all over the papers a few months ago for living na adventure among pirates. Had to see ye.
-And I am glad you did.
-When I saw you walk in, barely recognized you. Then the fear that you would tell your father who I was out of revenge for what we did, filled my soul.
-And yet, I did not. - Sam smiled.
-Thank you, Sam.
-Shelly, was it not? Your wife... How is she?
-Aye. She is happy. We are happy. I gave up on piracy. - Joe said, whispering that last word.
-I am proud...
-Ye should see Kenway, if ye can.
It was a strange suggestion, so Sam did not reply.
-I understand if ye don't want to, of course... - Joe added. - But he asked about ye. I honestly think he truly wants to see ye.
The conversation was interrupted by Fiona, who walked in in apologies for taking so long with the drinks and placed them on the coffe table.
-Miss Samantha, would you care for something? - The woman asked.
-No, thank you.
Mr. Jackson also stormed in with his short written letter. He gave it to Joe and sat with the man. Samantha realized her father probably wished for her to leave, so she said goodbye to Joe the most polite and brief way possible and left.
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A few days later, when Joe joined the family for supper, he and Sam did not get one chance to be alone and speak. Sam met his wife, Shelly - who was in fact a beauty of a woman, as well as lovely and calm - although his small son had not come. She could not be more surprised - and happy - to see Joe so happy and actually thanked the heavens she had met someone like him (even under the conditions that surrounded them at the time).
All they got was a few moments- as Shelly said goodbye to Mrs. Jackson and Mr. Jackson took two seconds to go put his glass down. Joe turned around, to face Sam, and in those two seconds (of despair, since they might not meet again) whispered words as random as they were shocking. No context, no nothing. Just those sudden words that would keep Sam awake all night:
«I think the Captain's in love with ye.»