God...Im so bad. Please forgive me, my few, yet loyal readers/reviewers. I just get into different moods. LOVE YOU!
Chapter ten: A rescue worth four shillings
"Jack! Jack! It's the ship!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. We had been on the island for a grand total of two months and three weeks. And sure enough on the horizon was the unmistakable bulk of the Pearl. I wanted to cry, I was so happy. I fancied a good bath and some clean clothes.
Jack had scoffed when I told him I refused to wear my mother's old things. They were secret, and special. I only treated them with reverence, because that was the only things I really had, that she touched often.
"What?" A loud bellow came from somewhere in the island. He had said that the Pearl should be around shortly, but we had no clue as to when. We only knew that it would come.
"The Pearl!" I screamed back, my voice cracking in excitement. Jack came running out of the brush with only his short trousers on. I held a bit more modesty, but it was natural.
I tried not to blush as he came up to me, and I saw his tan and strong chest. The wounds from previous battles showed when he flexed, but I thought them all the more attractive.
"Im gunna miss just you and me alone." He said, putting an arm around my some-what bare shoulders. I felt his warm through the thin muslin cloth of my shift, and reveled in it. I still couldn't get over the warmth of his touch when...well...you know. Use your imagination.
"Oh pish." I scoffed, scooting closer to him. "I think it will be better on a ship. Because I will be clean, and not so mad at you. Im sure we can both use a bath." I fanned the air in front of my nose, then laughed at his hurt expression.
"We go swimmin' ever day in the–"
"Jack, I was joking. But that salt water really grates your skin. Look, there are row boats now. Oh, it looks like Will!" I could feel Jack's muscles tighten, and a look of stoney indifference stole upon his face. He lowered his arm and relaxed his grip. I felt hurt.
"Bout damn time, whelp." He growled, as Will, as the young man pulled the small boat onto the beach. A very disgruntled looking Gibbs was sitting in the boat also.
"Do you know just how many islands are out here, Jack?" Will snapped. "How many times are we going to save your arse?" Jack rolled his eyes and helped me into the boat, before getting in himself.
Gibbs gave us a questioning look, but the glare that Jack shot him was murderous. We glided back to the Pearl in silence. I was thinking, Jack and Will were sulking, and Gibbs was plain out confused as to it all. After we were on deck and the sky opened up to torrents of rain, Jack grabbed my hand and dragged me to his cabin. After slamming the door behind us, I looked up at him, bewildered.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" I asked loudly, crossing my arms over my chest. I was slightly shivering from being soaked and the cold breeze that unusually swept through the cabin combined to freeze me.
"Nothing!" He yelled back, slouching in his large chair. He threw his arms up and let out a disgruntled noise. I made sure the door was locked, then pulled off my soaked clothes. He didn't look up as I passed him to get to the wardrobe, and dug around for a shift to sleep in.
"Listen, if you think Im going to leave, or runaway agin, you don't have to worry. And if ship life gets in our way...well we'll just have to push it away." I sat down on the large bed, marveling at the softness of the mattress.
"Come on. Lets get to bed. Im dead, and you cant do anything but sulk, so at least save your forehead from wrinkles. I still have no clue why your so pissed." Jack got up and shed his wet clothes for a clean pair of trousers. He climbed into bed and snuffed the last candle that was remaining.
He rolled over without saying goodnight or I love you, and I rolled over also, trying hard not to cry out of sheer confusion.
Four days later we were in Port Royal again. Elizabeth was feeling unwell, and Will wanted to join her at home. It was a shock to me to find out they were married. But I thought they suited each other.
Jack and I were slowly strolling around the marketplace, and I was uneasy. His mood had lifted somewhat, but he still had that unsettled look to him. I tried putting it out of my mind as we walked around.
"Jack, I think we are being followed," I said as we were browsing herbs. He looked behind him and obviously saw nothing.
"Your just tired." He passed it off.
"Jack! We are being followed!" We were heading towards Will and Elizabeth's house a back way, and once again, I saw the same lady. He nodded, then turned around sharply. He saw her.
Her must of known her, because his jaw dropped.
"Jack..." I trailed off, but stopped when the person who was following us started to walk towards us.
"Jack," I said again, feeling slightly scared. But when she did approach us, I found it was a pregnant woman.
The first thing she did...was slap him. However, his face remained motionless and took the blow. Her face was streaked with tears, and her eyes were bloodshot and red rimmed. Her cheeks were puffy, and she was far along.
"You bastard!" She screamed next. Her voice was broken and hoarse, most likely from sobbing, and had a squeak to it. She then turned to me.
"Get away from him while you still can!" She hissed, shooting him a sideways glare.
"Who..?"
"My name is Diedre. I was once acquainted with this scum. And look where it landed me! I had a life! I was rich! Now Im in rags!" She closed her eyes in horror at the thought come up afresh. I looked and saw that she was indeed in a tattered burlap type of dress. I glanced up at Jack who had a look of revulsion on his face.
"Its your baby!" She screamed, clutching at her stomach. "I don't want it more then you!" She tried to compose herself, and was holding back great rattling sobs.
"Are you certain?" Jack spoke at last. I was in total shock, not knowing what to do.
"Its your goddamn baby, tosser. Its yours! I don't want it, and I curse you. I will most likely die from this brat! And if I do...I will make sure your life is a living hell! I swear it!" She spat at Jack feet, but I had seen enough. I turned on my heel and ran all the way to Elizabeth's house. I heard Jack call my name numerous times, but I didn't look back. My hair fell out of its net and flew out behind me in a wild tangle of red. I blindly made my way through the streets until I got to the decent sized manor.
"Elizabeth!" I gasped out, rapping on the door. I was so out of breath, I could only call her name twice. The door opened, and Elizabeth herself stood in the doorway.
"Mack? What the...what's wrong?" I pushed past her, clutching at the stitch in my side.
"Shut it!" I managed, and slumped down on one of the small benches lining the entryway.
"What happened?" She asked, sitting next to me. "May! Go fetch a water pitcher." She ordered a staring maid.
"Tell me what's wrong" Elizabeth cooed. I took four deep breaths, then quickly told her all that happened. She listened, a small brow delicately creasing her brow. After I finished, and had taken a few sips of water, Elizabeth sighed.
"You shouldn't care about this..." She started, then put a hand up when I tried to speak. "It happened a while ago. Before you and Jack met. And before you realized you loved him. The feeling is mutual. If anything, you need to stick by him. Don't abandon him." I nodded, looking down at my hands.
That night everyone went out to the ship for a small get together. Elizabeth had announced her pregnancy to an ecstatic Will, and her small children couldn't wait for the new sibling to emerge from their mummys belly.
I feigned a headache and weaseled my way out of the small party. Jack gave me a piercing stare, as if knowing why I stayed in the guest bed with my eyes closed. But, with every cloud, there is a bit of darkness. I was labeled the designated babysitter for the youngest child that was asleep before dinner.
I was still uneasy.
I still felt like I was being watched, and every time I put my book down, or finished a small drawing, my mind would wander back to the small alleyway. It should bother me. Elizabeth was right in saying it wasn't my problem. There were most likely a million other children by Jack. And he was with me now. But it also taxed my trust. I had difficulty in not telling Elizabeth to watch his every move, and instead almost broke a vase.
When there was a small scratching at the door, I knew who it was. I wanted desperately to stay in the small chair by the lamp and finish reading, but something, like a fish hook, drew me out of the easy chair, and dragged me across the floor and to the door. I stood before it for a moment, gathering my breath. And then the moment came.
I jerked the door open, to find nothing there. No one was standing around. I stepped out to look down the street, but my foot made contact with something.
Looking down, I noticed a small basket– something you would put bread in– lined with raw cotton. Something was covered up in a blanket, and as I slowly drew my hand down, I saw that it was shaking. I knew what it was. I knew what it was. I knew what it was.
But I still let out a gasp when I pulled the blanket away and saw a tiny newborn baby asleep, unaware of the bomb-shell it had just dropped. In a small pouch to the side was four shillings and a note that read; "Give it to him when he is older" nothing more or less.
I could leave it on the street, I thought. Claim no one ever knocked on the door. I fell asleep...from my headache. But I couldn't. With a deep weight in my chest, I picked up the small basket and carried it into the house.