Chapter Eighteen

Onwards

Juan Marín gently placed his arm around his youngest daughter's shoulders and brought her closer to him. Instead of shying away from him she broke into a faint smile and leaned into him. They were standing on deck, in the early morning to watch the sun come up on the horizon. The ship was steadily making its way toward Vigo and city's lights where visible in the far distance. Barbara de Braganza was lit up across the decks and corridors while almost every porthole remained dark at this time of the early morning.

"I remember the first time we walked out to see the sun come up," Carmen whispered as she gripped the shining white railing with her hands and looked up at her father. "I was ten years old then and this ship was ours."

Juan sighed as he stared at the horizon. "I couldn't afford to keep her, you know that," he said. "Rosa had planned to bring her back into the company after a while. She seriously believed that both we and the Fábregas would benefit from working together."

Carmen smiled at that, it was bittersweet and forced. "Now that I know what she planned I am not so sure it would have worked in our favor, papá. What if she really had eloped with Fernando Fábregas?"

Juan turned to her and saw the man in question in his periphery vision as he walked towards them with his wife Carolina next to him. Carmen followed her father's gaze curiously.

"Good morning," Fernando greeted curtly as the two pairs came to stand opposite each other.

Juan and Carmen nodded.

Carolina turned to focus her attention on the woman who'd tried to kidnap her earlier. Her expression was one of sorrow and relief all at once, confusing the younger Marín.

"There is something you must know," Carolina said seriously. "Something that concerns Rosa."

Carmen felt her father's hand slip into hers to give it a gentle squeeze.

"Last night I received a telegram from Carolina's uncle that their maid had awakened and will recover from her ordeal," Fernando explained.

Carmen shook her head. "I am sorry but given the circumstances I can't bring myself to forgive her for what she did," she said in a subdued voice.

"Rosa feared her death was coming," Carolina began carefully. "However, not in the way it came."

"What do you mean?" Juan Marín asked.

"Mr. Marín. Your daughter got in the way of my brother-in-law and his accomplice; my wife's father," Fernando explained seriously.

Carmen hitched on a breath at the harshness in his voice.

However, Fernando's anger wasn't directed at Juan or Carmen but at Carlos Villanueva and Aníbal de Souza and, even more so, himself for not seeing what was going on.

"Don't you understand?" Carolina asked. "Rosa brought her gun because she feared she'd run into Aníbal or Carlos. I don't know what she was doing there that night but obviously she knew about them smuggling gold onto the ship behind Fernando's back."

Juan nodded sadly. "If I knew my oldest daughter correctly, she was there to confront them about it," he said.

"Instead of them she ran into Francisca who'd found out that Rosa and I had an affair. Francisca threatened to expose her and tell Carolina the truth," Fernando explained.

Juan smacked his lips in frustration. "Rosa pulled a gun on her," he guessed. "Her temper could be very short at times, especially under duress."

"They fought for the gun, it went off," Carolina added. "I am sorry, Mr. Marín. I know these words won't bring your daughter back but at least they might give you some solace."

Silence settled over the four people on deck in the early morning, the only thing that could be heard was a light whistling tone of the wind.

Juan finally nodded and reached out to shake Fernando's hand in appreciation. "Thank you for granting us the journey. You didn't have too," he said.

"Nonsense," Fernando replied as he shook the other man's hand. "I am glad everything has been sorted."

"We're just sad it couldn't have been under better circumstances," Carolina filled in as she looked at Carmen.

To her credit Carmen looked down at the floor in shame. "Carolina, I am so sorry. I don't know what to say," she finally apologized dejectedly.

"Mrs. Fábregas," Juan began seriously. "My daughter knows that what she did was wrong, there are no excuses. Even so I wish to congratulate you, both of you, for getting this ship in excellent shape. I am forced to admit I couldn't have done it better myself."

They shared a laugh at that.

"Now I just have to make sure we're not running in the same waters as you," he added smartly.

"Are you afraid of a little competition Mr. Marín?" Fernando asked quizzically, his tone light.

"Never," he replied with a twinkle in his eyes. "Perhaps you're up for a challenge in the near future?"

"Thank you for travelling with Fábregas shipping company Mr. Marín," Carolina said softly.

OOOOOO

/Two weeks later/

Nicolás walked across the gangway to Barbara de Braganza not as the first officer of the ship but as her captain. Santiago had given him his blessing and told him he was deeply proud of him, like any father would be after hearing that his son had acquired such a position. Nicolás had tried to decline several times, telling Santiago that it wasn't his place, but the older man had been adamant that he'd replace him.

Santiago had told him that he needed time to heal and that even though Casandra had been nothing but a fraud she'd ironically given him peace. Elena wouldn't have wanted him to stop living, she would have read him the riot for even trying to join her prematurely. Nicolás had smiled at that, having known the loving and kind but also stubborn Elena Aguirre he knew that to be true.

The old captain had said that it was time to stay on land from now on and that he'd help Fernando to find good people and to look for opportunities to buy another vessel through his vast network of contacts. Nicolás had doubted that Santiago would settle for that in the long run but he'd just shook his head and said that if he felt for it he'd always find some vessel to command and that Nicolás shouldn't worry about him.

They had said their goodbyes, hugging each other, wishing each other well and promised to see one another whenever they could.

"Captain," a sailor acknowledged as he walked onto the deck.

Nicolás lips curled upwards faintly as he nodded back.

"Captain," a very familiar voice spoke up from behind him.

Nicolás turned around to see Pierre smile brightly at him. The shorter man walked up to him and they embraced in a brotherly hug.

"First Officer Laganza," he teased and brushed his hand lightly at the grade mark on Pierre's shoulder. "Do I need to worry about a mutiny?"

Pierre chuckled and shook his head. "It's good to have you back Nicolás. You had me worried back there you know," he said seriously. "For a while I thought-,"

"Let's forget about that," he suggested kindly, then his eyes sparkled with mirth. "Is this old ship seaworthy?"

Pierre straightened. "Definitely, sir," he assured him proudly.

"Good, then I'll meet you up on the bridge later," he replied and broke into a grin as he spotted his beautiful wife coming his way.

Pierre took it as sign he should leave and prepare the departure.

"Hello handsome stranger," he greeted and clasped his hands behind his back as she walked up to him. "Is there something I can do for you?"

Eva's eyes twinkled and she smirked as she walked straight up to him and fell comfortably into his arms. "I don't know captain," she began mischievously. "I was looking for a dark-haired, tall and handsome officer who happens to be my husband. I don't suppose you've seen him around?"

"Typical," he teased. "I knew you couldn't be single."

She chuckled, tilted her head upwards and placed a soft kiss on his lips as he embraced her. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too beautiful," he replied sweetly. "I am surprised to see you onboard already though."

She shrugged. "I was finished so I hailed a cab. Carolina and Fernando are on their way too."

He nodded and frowned as he noticed she wasn't carrying any luggage. "Where are your things?" he asked curiously.

"In the captain's cabin," she whispered seductively.

"I see," he replied.

OOOOOO

The end