Chapter 16 - Normality
A year passed quite uneventfully. We settled down in Port Laurel, Nicolas and I in our very first home alone. Nicolas got a job working for the town's local blacksmith. He was disappointed at first in the fact that he no longer owned his own shop, but the good he felt just to be working again outweighed his dissatisfaction.
Jack continued to live aboard the Pearl, which was semi-permanently docked in Port Laurel's main harbor. For two schillings per week, the harbormaster allowed the Black Pearl to stay as long as the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow pleased.
Father rented a small apartment on the court opposite ours and began courting Lyn. He had been involved with Mother for so long that I'm not sure he knew what to do with his life without a woman around and the simple fact that Lyn resembled mother made a contribution to his feelings.
I know for a fact that Lyn enjoyed being with Father. She became more like a big sister to me than anything else. We confided in each other about nearly everything. I told her about my life with Nick, she told me about her dates with Father (which I confess that I didn't always listen to), and we gossiped about the other ladies in town and what they thought of the pirate who had taken up residence in their harbor.
Finally, the day came when I needed to speak with Lyn more than ever. I also wanted to run to Father and even Jack. Most of all, I wanted Nick. I wanted to shout it from the highest rooftop in Port Laurel. I was pregnant.
I went first to the blacksmith's shop to find my husband. The familiar smells of burnt wood and coals wafted around me. I went toward the back of the workshop where the main furnace was built into the wall and most of the work was done. Nick wasn't there.
"Mrs. Kingston," said a voice behind me. Mr. Darren Riafold, Nick's employer and the owner of the shop employer and the owner of the shop, stood across the room, his face covered in soot. He was tall, blonde, and muscular. He was good at what he did, betted (though I hated to admit it) than Nick and almost as good as Father had been in his golden years. "Can I help you?"
"Yes," I replied. "I'm looking for my husband. It's rather important." His face became concerned.
"Is anything the matter?" I shook my head.
"No, sir. For the first time in our lives, everything is perfect."