Begin!
~Beatrice's POV
Bertrand and I had climbed onto the submarine with considerable difficulty. I'll remember to be careful getting back off the ship too. Once situated we knocked on the hatch asking for entrance. From a loudspeaker I heard Sammie's voice ask for a password. I've actually never boarded the Queequeg before and I don't recall Sammie saying such a thing was needed. Thankfully, we were able to make an easy guess.
"The world is quiet here."
Without another word, the hatch opened and Bertie helped me inside first. Climbing a ladder wasn't easy in my current state, but I managed. Upon the two of us reaching the bottom, we took a moment to examine our surroundings. I think Bertie was fascinated by the machinery around him, which I found adorable in a way.
"Bea!"
I smiled as Sammie had come to greet us in the hall. She quickly gave me a hug. It was nice to see my friend again; it gave me a serious mood boost regardless of how the world had changed since we last spoke. She gave Bertie a friendly hug as well before taking a step back and noticing my condition.
"There's something different about you, I can't quite place what it is."
I rolled my eyes. "Yes, Sammie, I'm pregnant, I've been very aware of this fact for months."
Sammie smirked. "I was gonna say your hair is longer, but now that you mentioned it-"
"Very funny," I interrupted. "Anyway, will you guys mind taking us to Briny Beach? We could use staying in a more comfortable environment for the rest of our trip."
"Of course you can! You think we'd just toss you back out in the middle of nowhere? I already asked John and he said it was fine. He's in his office answering some telegrams."
"Do you mind if I ask him about any news from the Duchess," Bertie asked. "It'd be nice to get a full report first hand we haven't had much to go off of in the past year."
Sammie nodded. "Down the stairs first door on the right." Once Bertie left she smiled at me. "When was the last time you ate today?"
"Not yet," I replied sheepishly.
She told me to follow her downstairs to the kitchen. And she scolded me about keeping my diet up for my baby's sake. I didn't mind; she was right after all. We walked past an open bedroom door, where I saw her son Fernald lounging on a bed reading a book, about marine biology I noticed, while little Fiona was sitting on the floor within his line of sight playing with a plush seal toy.
Once Sammie and I had reached the kitchen she asked, "So do you know what you're having?"
I sat down on a stool at the counter, "Not yet, we didn't have a chance to find out unfortunately."
She poured me a glass of water. "Some would say that's more exciting to not know until it's here. Either way, if you don't let your kid be friends with Fiona I'll be very insulted."
I snorted. "As if I would ever say otherwise! I'm sure they'll be very close."
She continued talking as she started cooking something for me. "Well, unless you're having a boy, then you have to get permission from my boys first."
"Protective, huh?"
"You haven't the faintest idea…"
I chuckled. It was nice to see her happy though. She had clearly spent the past year settling into being the wife of a submarine captain and was perfectly content with it. But that did raise a question I had for her.
"Isn't it a little dangerous raising a baby here?"
She glanced back at me while pushing her glasses up her nose. "Extremely, but we took that into heavy consideration. But word of advice since this is your first kid: tell Bertrand to update his prescription. Because they will get out of your sight eventually."
"I'll have to convince him, he doesn't trust optometrists. What happened?"
"Well just a couple days ago I had two, almost, fully grown men have a full on panic attack because they couldn't find Fiona for a solid 30 seconds."
I couldn't help laughing. "I'd freak out too! Where was she?"
"Under her crib. This is what happens when you take your eyes off of them for even half a second."
"And you were the calm one?"
"You're damn right I am." She smiled. "I understand your concerns, but we are very careful. There are a million places in here that she could get stuck in, or worse, so we keep her close and don't let her wander."
I sipped my drink before bringing the subject to a much less pleasant topic.
"Any news of Olaf?"
She had finished cooking me a plate of eggs and toast and handed it to me. "Funny you mention that cause I just saw him last Tuesday."
I nearly choked on my eggs, "What?"
"He tried to steal the submarine."
I gaped at her. "Why?"
She poured herself a cup of sparkling water before sitting down beside me. "We were at port, John and Fernald were out getting supplies while I stuck behind to watch Fiona. She was taking her nap. Next thing I knew I heard the hatch creak open. Upon investigating, I found Olaf in Fiona's room trying to throw thumbtacks into her cradle. Naturally, I beat the shit out of him."
"What was his pathetic excuse?"
"I dragged him out into the hall and asked him exactly that. He told me that he heard a rumor from one Karen Denouement that Beatrice Anwhistle's corpse was lying at the bottom of the ocean and he was going to take the Queequeg so he could 'check.' As for why he tried to harm my baby; he wanted her out of the way."
"And he didn't count on you being there," I said. Though inside I was processing the fact that Karen told him I was dead…
"Did you… tell him that I'm-"
"Hell no! We heard from our scientists that you and Bertrand were on the island facility. Karrie covered for you so he thinks you're dead. The Duchess gave her and Quinten awards for special services to the organization for it. I dumped Olaf out the airlock we use for diving. Through our periscope I saw him get dragged out of the harbor by a big goon and they drove away in a black car. Nobody's heard anything from him since. He really believes you're dead."
My chest felt lighter. I was a ghost. I was invisible. I could raise my baby in peace. I'd never be able to repay Karrie for this. As I continued eating she asked me some more questions about what's been going on.
"So how did this happen anyway?" Obviously, she was referring to my baby.
I felt myself become uncomfortably hot. "Well… umm… it wasn't really 'planned…' It just happened and we're fine with it." I showed her my ring, "We're gonna get married afterwards."
She nodded in understanding. "I'm happy for you, but I can't wait to hear how your brothers react."
I frowned. "Do you know about-"
"Yes." She interrupted bluntly. "I wish you had told me that was why you needed the bowl that day. I'd have done more to get it to you."
"Then it's been disclosed to the public?"
"The sugar is complete. We haven't been able to transport it yet. The Duchess sent Jacqueline around to a few select groups to tell them what was happening. She came by last month, and said we were chosen in case we were needed to transport it to the headquarters. They're thinking of hiding it first, have people pick it up from various locations."
I sighed in relief. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear that-"
"Keep it quiet from my children, please. They think it's best that more experienced volunteers handle this situation quietly." She said eyeing me warily through her glasses.
Obviously, she and John didn't allow Fernald to be a part of that meeting; or perhaps they simply told him to keep his sister out of trouble at the time as an excuse. I didn't think much of this decision at the time, but someday that decision might have seriously hurt their family. But I nodded without protest. We had done enough to cover this as much as we could. We couldn't risk blowing it now.
I had finished my meal at this point. I also had something else I should say to Sammie now that she knows my guilty secret.
"I'm sorry about what I did to your friend…"
"Essy? It was a bad thing for a good reason. I had to give several possible locations where she might be right now, but I've not seen or heard from her since the night before the opera. Last I talked to her she said she would give me a present for Fiona but then she disappeared after that night. The whole thing was pure chaos."
So she didn't know about me being "dead," I'll have to figure out later how bad of a thing that was.
"Do you forgive her?"
Sammie took a drink of her water and avoided the question.
"She's a compassionate woman, but that is a hard question to answer," I thought. "Especially when there were other lives on the line."
I was then interrupted by the baby kicking again. "Oh, you calm down. It's probably mad at me for waiting so long to eat."
"Restless kid?"
"Yeah it is, hey can you tell what it is by the kicks?"
She shrugged, "I can try." She then put her hand on my stomach and was quiet for several moments.
She then smiled, "No idea."
"Helpful," I replied dryly.
She picked up my plate to wash it. "I'm serious Bea, I'm completely clueless."
I could tell she was lying. But there was no way for me to get the truth out of her.
"So what are you gonna name it?"
"If it's a girl, Violet. If it's a boy, Lemony."
"Naming your child after your ex?"
"Well, either way, we're going to ask Lemony to be its godfather. Has there been any news of him?"
"Last time I spoke to Kit, she said she and Jacques were happy to see him get married. He's still living in the same place I'm sure."
So Lemony and Moxie are married now. I'm happy for them. And I hope they accept my offer to be godparents. Under normal circumstances I would have chosen Karen and Quinten for such a task, but I felt that going with Lemony was the right choice. Call it a hunch.
"Bea."
"Yeah?"
Sammie gave me a serious look, "Maybe you don't want to listen to me, and you don't have to, but I think that Gregor has every right to know about this baby's existence. Even if you never want to see him again. Just think it over first."
I considered her suggestion. In many ways, she was right. But I was unsure. It would require more time to think.
"Anyway, you're our guest, so follow me and I'll show you where you can sleep. Trust me this submarine has more room than you'd think."
~End of Chapter!
I enjoyed writing this one a lot. :)
