Chapter 6 – Strange Reunion
"Jack!" I shrieked as my "uncle" bounced through the door of the shop. I was sitting on a stool, doing inventory for Nick. I may not have been able to help him make things, but I could at least help him with his paperwork and supply shopping, so I did. Upon seeing me, Jack's hands flew up in the air and he strode flippantly toward the table where I sat.
"Ello, love," he said, grinning, as he strode over to me. His hips usually moved wildly from side to side when he walked and the beads in his hair jingled most every time he moved. When he smiled, I could nearly see my reflection in his gold covered teeth. He usually had a cheery sort of charm in his face that was stimulated by women and rum, but that day, the smile he was showing me was a fake. It was like he was wearing a mask. I didn't like the look in his face or the lack of bounce in his step. I didn't think anything could possibly ever be wrong with Uncle Jack, but it was. Something was very wrong.
He bent down to the stool and gave me a huge hug. I thought I felt a tear drip from his makeup-encircled eye onto my shoulder. Then he sat down beside me, all traces of sadness disappearing as quickly as they had seemed to come.
"What is it you're doing here? 'Rithmetic work, by the looks of it…" I grinned.
"Yes, I'm helping Ni…Mr. Kingston with some paperwork," I said, quickly covering myself. Jack shook his head.
"Your old man's already told me about you an' 'Mr. Kinston', love. No need to worry 'bout your Uncle Jack. Secret's safe here," he assured me. "He also told me you figured out the truth 'bout me…" He paused to look up at me from the math that was clearly confusing him. "No hard feelings, am I right? It wasn't like I was tryin' to lie to ya, love. Your granddad can be a real stickler when it comes to the kind of…er…messes that your parents and me made for him. He's not one to brag about his son-in-law the pirate or his friends. It's just not in 'im." Jack paused to think about what he had just said. "Not that I have anything against your granddad…" he added quickly.
"It's okay, Jack. I understand. I know that Grandfather can be a pain. I've lived with him my whole life." I waited to see if he'd say anything else. When he didn't, I added, "So, why did you come to visit?" The expression on his face changed quickly again.
"We've got some business to take care of at the house. You'd best come home quick. I don't want to see you left out of this loop," he told me, a twitch in his face. "Why don't you fetch the Kingston boy and tell him to get my blade that I'm waitin' on, and we'll head over to the mansion, the two of us." I looked at him strangely.
"I can't go get Nick. He's resting." I told him.
"What's a healthy young boy like him doin' resting in the middle of the day?" he asked me.
"Nick's not healthy," I explained. "He's very ill. He can't get around on his own. And he definitely is not going to be coming down those stairs as long as I have anything to say about it…I'll get your blade from his supplies. He's already got it made. He didn't know when you were coming." I began to walk to the supply case when Jack grabbed my arm and stopped me.
"Can't move around on his own, you said?" he asked, a worried expression on his face. "He'll be coming with us then. Fetch my blade, love. I'll carry the boy." He turned on his heel and half walked, half ran to the steep old stairs. He disappeared into the darkness above, leaving me wondering what was that important that Nick would need to be moved in such haste.