Chapter Fifteen

Land of the Living

Santiago stood in the doorway to Nicolás cabin. It was open, the nurse and doctor had finally allowed him to leave the infirmary after much pestering from his side. The captain was weary of Doctor Rojas and he supposed they all were considering his actions of late but the man had held it together and treated Nicolás well. Still Santiago didn't trust him entirely and had demanded that the ship's new regular doctor made sure Nicolás was all right.

As he'd taken a few steps inside the room he hesitated. Eva Villanueva sat next to Nicolás, holding his hand in hers while a sad yet cautiously hopeful smile creased her lips. Santiago didn't want to disturb so he quietly retraced his steps and walked back out into the corridor and shut the door behind him. He found that he had a smile on his own lips too as he headed toward the bridge.

The younger man and woman had been through so much together in such a short amount of time that Santiago was sure that if they'd survived everything up until now and still held each other dear then they'd stay together forever. It seemed to him that Nicolás was always smiling in Eva's presence and she clearly enjoyed his company. It was the way they looked at each other, trusted each other, and what they were prepared to do for one another that lit hope in the captain's old soul and he was sure that his wife was smiling in heaven.

Unbeknownst of the captain's brief presence in the room Eva continued to watch Nicolás sleep, she gently squeezed his hand in an effort to give comfort. He moaned slightly and then opened his eyes into slits trying to orient himself. He broke into a somewhat mischievous grin as his eyes settled on the petite dark-haired woman next to him.

"Eva," he whispered hoarsely. "How long have you been sitting here?"

"Don't you worry about that," she replied enigmatically as her lips curled upwards.

He blinked and swallowed as he focused on her seriously. "I am sorry for everything I've put you through," he said regrettably.

"Don't you dare apologize to me Nicolás," she returned. "You haven't done anything wrong. I,-" she trailed off and looked away. "-I understand if you don't want me here."

Nicolás looked at her in confusion and gingerly reached out to her with his hand and placed it on her chin to force her to look at him again. "Why would I not want you here?" he asked softly.

"Chantal," she began somberly.

He shook his head. "I don't know, Eva, that woman might have looked like Chantal but the woman I loved never returned from the dead. The Chantal I met in Brazil was not the one I feel in love with – to me she died that day – three years ago."

Exhausted by worry and despair Eva began to break apart before him. She broke into a grin and then began to sob, then buried her head in his chest.

"Hey," he called softly as he draped his arm around her shoulders.

Instead of leaning into his touch she jerked away and apologized as she thought that her action pulled on his injuries. "I didn't mean to hurt you Nicolás. I am sorry."

"You've never hurt me, Eva. If there's anyone who's been hurting someone, it's me," he offered kindly. "I can't believe you're still here."

She chuckled and dabbed away the moist under her eyes, then reached out to gently caress his cheek. "I am going to be honest with you because you've been that to me. When you told me about Chantal, I was disappointed and dejected. I thought I'd found the love of my life and I cursed her for returning to steal you away from me. I wanted so badly to tell you how much I liked you but I couldn't, it would have been wrong of me. Instead I encouraged you to answer her telegram."

They looked into each other's eyes longingly for a moment and then she leaned into him to share a deep passionate kiss.

OOOOOO

"Doctor Sabras," Carolina called as she and Fernando walked up to him where he was standing on deck. "I know what you told my sister earlier but I really need to know for sure. Please humor me. Is Nicolás going to be all right?"

The new ship's doctor looked at the pair of them seriously. "Barring any complications, I don't see any reason why our first officer should not make a full recovery," he said kindly. "He needs to rest properly and that means bed rest for at least a week. I want him to go to the hospital for a complete checkup when we dock as well."

Carolina let out a sigh of relief as she felt Fernando squeeze her shoulder. "Thank you, Doctor Sabras, thank you so much," she managed.

"Actually-, the older gentleman began, "-it's not me you should thank at all. It's Doctor Rojas and the nurse for taking such good care of him. Then especially your sister for being his constant support through the last couple of days, her presence has been important to the healing process."

"Very well, doctor," Fernando said appreciating the man's work and dedication. "I do hope that you'll stay onboard the Barbara de Braganza as the ship's physician despite your somewhat turbulent first voyage."

He smirked. "I must at least return to Brazil," he said kindly. "I trust not all the voyages across the ocean is this complicated? I had hoped I'd be able to enjoy some peace and quiet."

Fernando laughed. "I would say, Doctor Sabras, that as the ship's owner I wish you to be free and enjoy the entire journey."

"Sounds wonderful Mr. Fábregas," he concurred. "Now you must excuse me."

Carolina sneaked an arm around her husband's middle. "It's never boring on this ship," she said lightly. "Now, we dock in three days. That should give me plenty of time to arrange everything."

Fernando frowned. "Arrange what Carolina?" he asked.

"I need to clear the apartment in Vigo for Nicolás and-," she paused and then broke into a large grin. "Do you think the captain wants to marry them?"

Fernando raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "A word of caution, Carolina, since you know your sister. Don't smother her, let her make her own decisions. Maybe she's decided she don't want to marry Nicolás at all," he suggested.

Carolina snorted and shook her head faintly with a cunning grin. "She wants Nicolás. I have no doubt about that. It has been pretty clear to me for quite some time."

Fernando nodded, his lips curling faintly upwards at her words as he pulled her close to him. "Remember, you can be there if she wants you too but otherwise there are plenty of things for you to do when we get back. I want us to run the company together, no more secrets."

She leaned into him and placed a soft kiss on his lips. "You've become wise, Fernando," she whispered.

OOOOOO

Verónica was unable to hide her surprise as she opened the door to find Sebastian de la Cuesta on the other side. He gave her one of the most charming smiles he could muster even though he knew it was a lost cause.

"Sebastian," she acknowledged curtly. "I didn't expect to see you again."

He harrumphed and took off his sun glasses. "I won't be long. I just wanted to tell you that I still want to marry you-," he paused and raised his hand to stall her as he saw that she was about to open her mouth to argue with him. "Verónica, please let me finish. I know you don't want me and I respect that. I handled things badly and I tried to make up for it the only way I could think of. I'll be leaving shortly I just wanted to see the young woman who finally managed to snatch a piece of my heart and teach me what real love feels like one more time. I am sorry I blew it."

Verónica softened and managed a soft genuine smile at his confession. "Goodbye Sebastian."

OOOOOO

Nicolás opened his eyes to the sound of a faint knock on his cabin door and frowned as it opened. He broke into a faint grin as his friend and colleague walked inside the room.

"There you are," Nicolás teased lightly. "I was wondering where you'd got too."

Pierre made a face as he pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed. "I didn't want to intrude. It seems you're a popular guy," he said kindly as he took in the pale appearance and the vivid bruises across his friends face and chest.

"I was worried about you," Nicolás said softly.

Pierre huffed and shook his head. "I could say the same thing about you," he replied. "Nicolás, I am not the one in bed recovering from God knows what."

A wry smile spread across the first officer's lips. "A concussion, a vivid collection of bruises and a few cracked ribs, that's all," he assured his colleague. "I will be fine."

Pierre narrowed his eyes as he leaned forward in the chair, fixing his friend with an admonishing look. "That's not the whole truth according to the doctor," he said seriously. "That concussion of yours was quite severe and you have been bleeding internally. If you as much as lift a finger while we're talking, I am going to call him over."

Nicolás looked dejected for a moment at the seriousness in his friend's voice.

"I am not ready to lose you too. I can't. Not so close after Clara's death," Pierre reasoned. "I never had the chance to say it before but I'm glad to call you my friend and lucky to have your support. Both you and the captain have been kinder to me than I deserve."

"Pierre," Nicolás began. "I'll always be there for you. Don't you ever doubt that."

The second officer nodded faintly as he saw the genuine sincerity in the first officer's eyes. "Thanks," he murmured.

"But you still haven't answered my question," Nicolás said as the seriousness morphed into a light wry smile. "Are you okay?"

Pierre chuckled. "I am getting there," he admitted as he returned the smile. "That is the only answer I can give you."

"That is good enough for me," he encouraged. "Now, you can do one more thing for me while you're here. You can fill me in on what's happened. The whole truth."

Pierre hesitated. "I don't know if that's such a -,"

"Then I'll make it an order," Nicolás interrupted mischievously.

OOOOOO

To be continued