CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: The Truth
"You never did tell me what happened in the Money Pit." A few days had passed and the Black Pearl was sailing under a very starry sky. Jack and Katie were sat on the stairs on deck, Katie a step below Jack and leaning back against his body. The sea was very calm and serene here, and the rest of the crew were asleep, even Angelica. Katie's voice was quiet enough that it didn't disrupt the mood. They'd hardly had a moment alone since that morning in the cabin after they'd shooed Angelica away.
"I… didn't really know what 'appened," Jack replied slowly, after a long pause. "Me an' Elizabeth were tryin' to get out of there an' this… this water appeared… it was chasing us, almost, as we climbed. It doesn't sound very dramatic but… it had this 'orrible feeling about it. It made me think about…" He trailed off, not completing his sentence. It had been some old, but powerful, curse. "It wasn't really there. We came out dry, an' it just disappeared."
"You could have told me." Katie pointed out, though not in a tone that scolded.
"Not much scares me, love, but that…" Katie reached back and Jack took the hand she offered. He wasn't sure why he hadn't told her, really. But he did know that Elizabeth had also kept it to herself.
"I wonder what it would've done if you'd been trapped by it." Katie speculated with some interest.
"I don't. I've 'ad enough supernatural occurrences for a lifetime." Jack said, and Katie laughed. The world they lived in was certainly a lot stranger than she'd ever have believed back home in England, where the oddest thing you heard was a rumour that somebody was marrying below their station. If only those society people could see her now! She smiled fondly at Jack, who glanced around them to check nobody could hear, especially no cats, before he whispered: "I've been tryin' to think of the perfect place to tie the knot. What did you dream it'd be like?" Katie frowned, thinking back.
For some reason, she'd never thought much about her wedding day before she met Jack. Not even as a little girl. She'd spent years worrying about who she might end up married to, and had been to many weddings. But she had never been one to sit doe-eyed, dreaming about white gowns and churches and so on…
"It doesn't matter much to me, as long as it's done." She said decisively. Jack looked surprised.
"Angelica was always goin' on about weddings, you know. Weddings to me and to God." He indicated the sky on the last word, also rolling his eyes.
"Angelica wanted to marry you?" Katie asked. It'd strangely never arisen in conversation, but then they'd always avoided the topic of Jack and Angelica's relationship if they could help it. It didn't seem they could help it any longer though, given that she was with them.
"She never said it in so many words, but I never wanted to marry 'er."
"Why not? You did love her." Katie said.
"Yeah but I could 'ardly stand to be around her all the same." They both laughed a little at this. It was true; Jack had always left Angelica, no matter what feelings he may have had for her.
"I think we should just port somewhere and do it quickly, somewhere quiet. The first little church we see that we might convince to marry us." She suggested to him after their chuckles subsided. Jack grinned a little, and not just at the idea of marrying in a church; there was something quite romantic about this plan, a mix of tradition and a lack of convention that summed them up nicely.
"I can't wait." Jack smiled, and leant down to kiss her.
They sailed for a few more days but didn't come across anywhere they could stop, other than a few sandbars and uninhabited islets. Jack and Katie hardly got another moment alone after the night they'd sat on the deck, as though Angelica couldn't attack them physically or verbally, she seemed to have resolved to make a nuisance of herself by stalking the pair of them. Jack was proving quite adept at shutting her in the rum cellar 'by accident', though it was never long before another pirate went in there for more rum and opened the door, letting her out. Katie often had Angelica's eyes on her as she cooked, and was glad of any chance to shut herself up in the cabin in order to escape. Angelica had at least heeded Jack's words and stayed out of there.
"Ye could try leavin' her somewhere." Teague suggested one afternoon. He and Katie were at the bow, watching the cheerful waves racing each other towards the Pearl before breaking around it.
"I don't see us getting away with that." Katie smiled wistfully. They both looked at Angelica, who'd perched herself on top of a pile of netting and sailcloth.
"No closer to forgiving her then?" He asked.
"No. And I don't even want to, I don't think. I want to be rid of her… but she doesn't deserve forgiveness." Katie had been searching herself for a grain of clemency ever since Tia Dalma had told her the catch, but there wasn't even a small part of her that wanted to forgive Angelica, even if it meant getting rid of her. Every time those yellow eyes found her, her back gave a painful throb as if she'd just been stabbed again. As far as she was concerned, jealousy was no reason to attempt to kill somebody. Teague said nothing, but she knew he understood all this without needing further explanation. Being closer to the old pirate as usual made her feel more reassured- even Angelica's presence (and light hisses in their direction at the content of their conversation) didn't irk her quite as much as usual, though it was no more welcome.
"She wouldn't forgive me, if our roles were reversed." Katie only spoke again after several minutes of silence, and her gaze was on Angelica; the latter stopped hissing and spitting at the words, though her fur was still on end. Teague didn't miss a single detail of this.
"I could still pitch her overboard," Teague offered, "But ye might do better to make the most of the situation now an' worry about solving yer problem later." Katie looked around at Teague. "I'm not sayin' that's an easy thing to do," He added, "But I was under the impression you an' Jack were planning something."
"Oh." Katie said, noting the emphasis on the last two words. Teague was aware they were planning to marry for real, of course. "Well, that's just it. We won't be able to, if…"
"I could 'elp. Ye'll need my help anyway with the rest of this lot." He flourished his hand in the direction of the rest of the crew.
"I thought you were going back to Shipwreck Island." Katie murmured, surprised.
"I can wait. Barbados is not more than a day's sailin' away. I'll drop ye off and we'll take a little side trip. We'll come back later an' collect you." Teague couldn't help but think it was a miracle they were managing to discuss this in front of Angelica without revealing anything. Katie glanced down at the cat; her yellow eyes were narrowed suspiciously. A smile spread across her face.
"Thank you…. Thank you." She said, before hurrying away to tell Jack.
Jack smiled at the suggestion of Barbados; he had not visited the island in some years, since before he had been marooned the first time. Then, settlement had been very scarce as it had only just been colonised by the British, and the Spanish before them had never inhabited the island. It had been a beautiful place though and had grown significantly since then, especially in the Town of Saint Michael, otherwise known as Bridgetown.
"There were people there before, the natives," Jack explained enthusiastically, "They left nought but a bridge be'ind." It was evening, but the pair had not emerged from their cabin since Katie had told Jack of their news. Now they lay in bed together, looking up at the ceiling. Though neither was looking at the other, both were smiling constantly.
"And we'll be able to get some sugar cane, if we're lucky." Katie said thoughtfully. Jack laughed. "What?" She demanded.
"Just you, still worryin' about the good of the crew on the night before yer wedding." His hands moved down to her bare stomach then and tickled her, causing an involuntary outbreak of squirming and giggling that lasted for a few minutes until Katie managed to fight Jack off.
"If any of the crew could hear you talk you'd make them sick." She teased him. He grinned at her.
"No more sick than your cooking." He teased, and Katie hit him playfully on the arm. "I'm joking! Yer not that bad."
The mood was electric on the Black Pearl. Though the crew had no idea what had put their captain in such a good mood, it was an infectious good mood nonetheless. The Caribbean in the late spring was sparkling beautifully, the sun was hot and there was no sign of trouble on the horizon. The problem of Angelica shrank in the face of Katie's excitement in the morning. This was her wedding day.
She was stood facing out to sea, her face aching from smiling already, when the island appeared on the horizon. Jack and Teague appeared behind her then.
"Are ye ready?" The latter asked in his gravelly voice. "We can't go closer and risk getting caught by the navy so ye'll have to row." Katie nodded and looked at Jack. He smiled widely at her. "Good. Now then…" Teague bent down and picked up Angelica, who had crept along in Jack's wake. Clutching the spitting cat in his arms, he raised his voice. "Prepare a boat! Don't lose speed!"
"Are we going ashore?" A crew member asked, as several others including Gibbs looked around with interest.
"I said a boat!" He growled, smacking the man around the back of the head.
"Aye sir." He mumbled, ambling away, rubbing his head disgruntledly. Teague gave his son and his soon-to-be-official wife a last look, something of a cross between happiness and pride, before marching away, his grip on Angelica was restraining as her. Jack held out his hand to Katie and she took it, letting him lead her to where a boat was being lowered into the bright azure sea. Katie climbed down into the boat first and steadied it as Jack followed. When they were a few oar strokes away from the Black Pearl and out of earshot, Katie allowed herself an uncharacteristic squeal of excitement. Jack smiled again and looked up at the vivid morning sun through half-closed eyes, calculating.
"It's about nine in the morning. We'll make good time findin' a priest." He said pragmatically.
"Don't get technical now please, I want to enjoy this moment." She said it in a familiar tone of voice, one which he recalled her using when he indicated he didn't want to help her escape London. The memory made him chuckle.
"Sorry, love." They rowed together, Jack facing Barbados and Katie looking back towards the horizon, which soon swallowed the sight of the retreating Pearl.
When they reached the jetty, they were greeted by a small slave boy, no older than six.
"'Ow much do I owe ye to tie up me boat?" Jack asked him kindly. The boy raised three fingers. Jack whistled. "Gettin' pricey in these parts." But he winked and flicked the boy an extra shilling on top. "You be a good boy." He touched the boy's head as they continued. Katie looked back curiously.
"I didn't know you were so fond of children." She commented.
"I don't mind 'em," Jack shrugged, glancing around at the busy dock before lowering his voice, "Nothin' worse than seein' a slave that age. He should be playin', not workin'." Katie glanced towards the boy's master and another, older slave boy accompanying him, arguing with a merchant who wanted to dock for less money. "Showing 'im the ropes, I suppose." Jack's voice was bitter and full of disgust. He'd been forever haunted by the sight of human beings packed tightly in the hold of the Wicked Wench, hearing them cry and watching them die.
"Jack." She touched his arm and he paused to look back at her. Her expression was consoling. "I know how you feel about this but… don't let it upset you today." His expression cleared a little and he offered her his arm. They were heading into the town now, and both their eyes went to the rooftops, trying to spot the sign of a steeple. There was of course one, but further in.
"This is a lovely place." He waved his arm at their surroundings, as much to distract himself as Katie. She peered around at the faces. English faces, dotted here and there with domestic slaves. She swallowed, more aware of the state of the world than she'd ever been before. She focused instead on the fringes of a market opening out before them. The smell of fish greeted her, smoked meat and cheeses, giving out further along to other fare. The island was stunning and the weather was beautiful. Katie could love the place for itself.
It took the rest of the morning to make it through town, where constant work was being done, whether the work be selling produce or building new settlements. The locals called out friendly greetings, though gave them slightly strange looks. Things were much quieter in the residential areas. As they reached the start of the lane leading towards the church, Jack stopped Katie and pulled her by the waist towards him.
"If we're lucky, this could be it." He muttered to her. She smiled, her green eyes meeting his brown ones.
"Do you want this?" She asked him quietly. He frowned.
"Of course I do." She tiptoed in order to brush her lips against his briefly. But he noticed now that a frown was creasing her forehead. "What? What is it?"
"Jack… you've been nothing but honest to me. And you've been so…" Katie's eyes fluttered closed for a second as she tried to find the words. Her good mood had been punctured by the realities of life on land among what used to be her contemporaries, and now a roaring truth hung like a cloud over the church. She had been waiting for the right moment, but now she knew that this had to be it whether she liked it or not.
"You can't marry me for real without knowing everything about me, Jack. And I suppose in a way the reason I haven't told you…well at first it was because it was painful, you know? But it isn't anymore. I can think about it now, anyway. The reason I haven't told you why I ran away, and how this came to be, is because I suppose I was afraid you might not want me if you knew everything." Her words were a lot less garbled than she had guessed they might come out, though she spoke quickly. Jack reached down and brushed her hair out of her face, his eyes not leaving hers.
"Nothing could stop me from wanting you now, love." He promised this knowing it was true. "But you don't have to do it now on my account. It… it's not that important to me anymore."
"I know. But I have to tell you… for myself." Jack took her hand and led her to the church. Instead of heading inside though, he turned left and opened a gate leading into the graveyard. Lots of tropical birds fluttered spiritedly there and there was a bench. Despite the fact it was a place of resting, it was serene. They sat on the bench and stayed holding hands, though Katie faced out ahead, gazing unseeingly at a tomb.
"I'm ready when you are." Jack prompted gently after a pause, his thumb stroking circles on the back of her hand. Katie swallowed decisively, and began quickly:
"I suppose you could say it began with my mother."
A/N: I'm really sorry that it's been so long since an update! I rewrote it about 1000 times but then decided really that the moment of truth has somewhat arrived now for something that's been underlying this entire story. It's not over yet though, there is still quite a bit to come! Thanks to everyone who reviewed last time, it means a lot. Please feel free to drop me some feedback now!
P.S. I think I should explain that although I try to be historically accurate to some degree, I know very little about Barbados in this period. I just think it's a beautiful place and researched a little on its history, though I may have gotten it wrong. I mentioned the slaves because, well, that is something that was definitely going on at that time, sadly. So please take any facts with a pinch of salt. I only really have here what Wikipedia gave me.