Chapter 17
Madeline watched him swim as the tears ran down her cheeks. She made no move to dress. Jack was right. It didn't feel good to hurt. She had hurt him terribly just as he had done to her. He didn't look at her. Madeline knew that she needed to talk to him about the past. As hard as it would be, she needed to do it. She slowly rose to her feet and walked towards the pool. Jack was near the waterfall as she swam towards him.
"Jack?" she said his name. He turned and the sight of him left her breathless.
"Maddy. What is it?" he asked.
"I'm sorry Jack."
"Well love, sorry is as sorry does. If ye was so sorry, then why did ye leave me? Why?" he yelled at her. Madeline shrank back a bit at the forcefulness of his words.
"Jack, I'm so sorry." Jack could see how hard this was for her. But she needed to feel the pain that he was feeling. The pain that he felt when he had discovered her gone all those years ago.
"Were ye sorry when ye scurried off me ship? Were ye sorry lying to me about our son? Were ye sorry for lyin' to me telling me that you were married?"
Madeline felt the tears pouring from her eyes. She moved her hand out to touch his arm, but he pulled away from her.
"Jack, please. Let me explain." She moved towards him, but he continued to move away from her. "Jack!" Madeline yelled. Jack got out of the pool and quickly dressed. Madeline was now sobbing. Unable to control her tears.
"Ye should've explained long ago Madeline." He said as he walked down the path towards the beach. Madeline watched as he walked away from her. She slowly got out of the water and dressed. As she did, all her thoughts were on Jack. Would he leave? Would he take JJ with him? Madeline curled herself into a ball. She couldn't stop the sobbing as it racked her body.
Jack hid in the trees. He heard Madeline sobbing. It tore at his heart. What else could he do? She now knew how deeply she had hurt him. Could he ever forgive her? He was happy that he had been united with his son. And he still did love Madeline. But it would take a lot of things to forgive her. He looked back at her and saw her on the ground. Crying. Yelling out his name. He wanted to run to her and gather her in his arms. Tell her that everything would be alright. But he had to make a stand. Madeline had brought herself so that she was sitting. Her arms wrapped around her bent legs. Jack watched. He felt his own eyes dampen at the site but he quickly pushed the tears away. He moved deeper behind the shrubbery as he saw Madeline get up and move towards the path. Her entire face was swollen from crying. He felt like a heel for doing what he did. But it couldn't be helped.
Madeline looked towards the dock as she walked on the beach. The Black Pearl was still there. She sighed in relief. She wanted to explain to Jack. At least try to explain to him. She heard a rustling behind her and she turned to see Jack emerging from the bushes.
"I thought you left."
"Would that have made you happy?"
"No. Jack, please look at me." He was looking out at the water. Madeline knew he wanted to leave. The sea was his life and it called to him. He slowly turned to look at her. Madeline had seen rage in him in fights, but the rage that she saw in his eyes now frightened her to death.
"Will you please listen to me?"
"Give me one good reason." Madeline felt the tears rising up once again. She gave herself a mental slap. Suck it up.
"I….I…."
"Well Madeline, what is it. What is the reason I should listen to you?" he had reached up and was gripping her arm. Tightly. Madeline winced in pain, but he didn't loosen his grip.
"I love you Jack. I always have." Jack flung her away from him and strode away from her. Madeline's heart broke once again.