Will's big quote in this is actually a quote from none other than Orlando Bloom himself! So, I need another disclaimer:
The words "People come into your life and people go. Certain things happen for a reason. You just have to trust that life has a road mapped out for you." are not an original composition of mine. They belong to Orlando Bloom, and he reserves full credit for such an inspiring quotation.
Review replies are at the end of the chapter.
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Aletté's brown leather boots clattered across the clean-scrubbed cobblestone walkway as she ventured up towards the Turner Manor, as it had come to be called. Elizabeth had given her the evening off, and she was just returning from a twilit stroll. She wound her way up the stony mosaic path towards the atrium, enjoying the peace that came from Port Crowne at night time.
"Taking the evening off?"
She whirled around to face Will, his wavy brown hair hanging down about his face, skin smeared with soot from the forges at the smithy. A smile spread across her face.
"Miss Elizabeth gave me leave." She said, moving closer to him. "Little Jacky was asleep." She reached up and rubbed at the black soot off of his cheek playfully. "You're all dirty."
Will didn't smile back, but took her hand and gently brushed it away. "The forges can make messes sometimes."
"Will?" Aletté frowned. "Is something wrong?" She reached up to stroke his hair and again he pushed her away, roughly this time. "Will?" She massaged her wrists, where he'd pushed her, and glanced up at him worriedly. "William?"
"Aletté," He didn't want to look at her. "I have a son, and he needs me. I have a wife, and I love her! She's my reason to wake up each morning. I don't even like being a blacksmith, but I'll do it for her. You have to understand… I'm sorry, but I-"
"You said you loved me." She croaked in a half-whisper. "You said you'd provide for me." This was too painful to bear.
"I'm sorry, Aletté, I just-"
"You lied to me!" Tears seeped out from under her eyelids, sliding down her cheeks with a salty sting. She turned away, not wanting him to see her cry. Suddenly she felt his arms engulf her from behind in a brotherly embrace.
"Aletté, people come into your life and people go. Certain things happen for a reason. You just have to trust that life has a road mapped out for you."
She stared up at him, tears streaming down her otherwise flawless skin. "I think you'll understand, Mr. Turner, if I ask you to send for Jack while I wait for him at an Inn."
"Aletté," He pleaded, "You can stay here. You can-"
"Please, just send for the damn ship!" She wriggled free of his arms and took off down the pathway towards the Inns at the waterfront. Will didn't love her, he didn't want her love. He wasn't going to care for her. She had been a fool to think life could get better. The life of Aletté Malycho was doomed. If what Will said was true, if life had a road mapped out for her, then hers was leading in a downward spiral, sinking lower than hell.
Will stared after her, his chest aching with what felt like the brands of a forge. Did he love her? Was he a fool to think it had been pity? He shrugged the thoughts off. Elizabeth was his wife, and they had a wonderful son. He had to be faithful to them, no matter where his heart lay.
No matter if his heart was breaking.
Hell, he thought, since when does emotional pain actually hurt?
Aletté stopped at the end of the walkway to take a last glance at the man she would always love. "Goodbye, Mr. Turner." She muttered to him, though she was decidedly sure that he could not hear. As she ventured towards the Inns, she replayed his words in her head again.
People come into your life and people go. Certain things happen for a reason. You just have to trust that life has a road mapped out for you.
Little did she know these would be the words to haunt her for the next ten months, never finding closure until then. And when she did, it would be from a strange place…
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Review Replies:
Erin Richards-
I am so sorry for not replying fully before! I hope you don't think you're low priority because I just love replying to you and getting your reviews! So here we go…
Yes, I admit poor Jack… poor shirtless Jack, um, was I the only one who found bullet wounds and brands incredibly hot? (Answer- yes, you obsessive idiot!) Oh well, maybe it was just me!
Anyways, I totally take to heart your words about it being my story, but I still feel better if I know my readers' input is going places. And besides, they can only alter things so much. As in, Will and Aletté aren't through yet! *will say no more as of yet!* I would love to read India's history… *laughs* that would be amusing, to say the least. Or just a pirate story with India in it, but either way.
You're not the only one who would like to see (experience) Jack's technique first-hand. *giggles uncontrollably* I'm sick, I know…
