A Pirate Calling

Chapter Eight: Family History

Jacob glanced around the room he was standing in. A stiff breeze ruffled the curtains in front of the open window. A dresser with a mirror hanging above it rested against one wall, an assortment of pictures scattered on the dresser top.

He walked over and picked one up, a smile crossing his face. A little girl sporting a gap-toothed smile stared out at him, her grey eyes glinting in the sunlight. She couldn't have been any older than five.

Jacob turned his attention away from the family pictures and gazed at the rest of the room. A full bed occupied the wall opposite the dresser. He ran his fingers over the soft comforter, tracing the floral pattern slowly. The bed sank under his weight as he sat down.

"Mom says dinner is almost ready."

Jacob looked up to see Fay leaning against the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest. "She's trusting, your mom," he replied.

"Why?" Fay asked, her face scrunching up.

"Allowing a strange man in her house," he started, and then paused. "Come to thing of it, you're the same way. Does it run in the family?"

Fay gave a snort of derision. "You're no stranger than the last guy I brought home."

A grin crossed Jacob's lips. "Really? Do tell."

"Not on your life. Come on. Walter will be home soon. We'll eat then."

"Walter?"

"My step-father. He owns the ice cream shop a couple blocks from here by the beach."

Jacob watched Fay as she spoke. Her eyes never quite met his and her fingers tightened around her arms. There was something that she was not saying.

"You don't like him, do you?"

Fay's gaze snapped to his. She stared at him for a moment, attempting to read his expression. "My mother does," she finally answered. "Now come on. Let's go eat."

Knowing he wasn't going to get any more of an answer Jacob stood up and walked towards her. He placed a hand on her cheek, his thumb rubbing her skin gently. Fay's eyes flinched at the caress.

"So what's this?" a voice asked behind them. "New boyfriend?"

Fay jerked away and turned around. "Angie, hey."

The small black haired girl looked up at her from behind thin-rimmed glasses. A single diamond stud was nestled in her left nostril along with a tiny loop in her bottom lip. Her black hair was tied back in two haphazardly balled up pigtails, little strands dangling down. A backpack was slung over one shoulder, hanging heavily from the strap.

"You've come to visit then?" Angie asked, her eyes never leaving Jacob. "How long will you be here?"

"Long enough to get what I need. How's school?"

"Oh please," Angie replied as she pushed her way past Fay, "like you care."

Fay rolled her eyes as Angie slammed her door behind her. "She's such a child sometimes," She turned her attention back to Jacob. "I think you two will get along fabulously."

Jacob laughed. "And what would you do if we did?"

"Hope that your relationship goes well," Fay retorted as she began to walk away. "Then maybe I could get you both out of my hair."

"He seems nice."

"Who?" Fay asked, looking up from setting the table.

"Mr. Galvin."

Fay held back a snort. "I suppose so."

Her mother looked at her knowingly. "So, are you two dating?"

The plate slipped through Fay's fingers and clattered on the table. She quickly picked it up. "God no. He's just a . . . friend."

"Oh," her mother replied, pausing as she put some seasoning in the spaghetti sauce. "Well. I guess that's okay then. Having friends like that is common nowadays."

Fay stopped her actions and turned to her mother, the plate still clutched between her fingers. "Friends like what?" she asked haltingly, already knowing she wouldn't want to know the answer.

"You know . . ."

A look of utter disbelief crossed Fay's face as her mother's words sunk in. "Oh. God. No."

"There's nothing wrong with that."

Fay put one hand over her eyes, incredulous that her mother could be asking such a question or even having this conversation. "Mom. Please. Just stop. He's just a friend. We met through a mutual friend. We have similar interests so we became friends. Nothing more than that."

"Oh," her mother repeated. She was silent for a moment. "Are you seeing someone?"

Fay sighed. "No, mom. I'm not."

"What about David? He was such a nice boy."

"And he was five years ago."

"I just want you to be happy Fay."

"I am happy. I don't need a man to make me happy."

"I know sweetie. It's just . . . well, you haven't been the same since your father died. I just worry about you. You live so far away. You never call; you never visit. I never know if something's happened to you."

Fay was silent as she contemplated her mother's words. "You know why I don't visit. Last time," she stopped, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Last time I got in a fight with Angie and you-"

"Adele! I'm home!"

Adele wiped her hands on her apron and gave Fay an apologetic look. "I'm sorry honey. We'll finish talking later."

Fay watched her mother walk out of the kitchen and shook her head. "Just like normal," she whispered.

The stiff breeze played with Fay's hair as she sat on the porch swing, swaying slowly back and forth. The trees created a whispering sound as the wind blew through the dry leaves. She could hear the waves from the ocean about a block away.

She was tired. It had been a long day and having to deal with her mother was not helping any. This was the reason Fay stayed away. Her mother's new family always took precedence. She was always asked so many ridiculous questions. God she hated it here.

A puff of steam hit her nose as a plate of food appeared before her. "Your mother said you weren't hungry," Jacob said as he sat down next to her, cradling his own plate in his other hand.

Fay took the plate reluctantly. "Then why did you bring me a plate?"

Jacob shrugged. "Figured you were lying," he replied as he took a bite of his food. "This will save you from sneaking food from the fridge later tonight."

Fay stared at him, incredulous, her mouth slightly open. Jacob looked over at her after a moment, one eye brow raised. "What?"

Fay turned away quickly, shaking her head. "Nothing. I just never new you could be so . . . nice."

A look of pure innocence crossed his face. "I'm always nice."

Fay laughed around the mouthful of food she had taken. It was the first actual laugh Jacob had heard ever heard from her. "I would describe you more as menacing."

Jacob chuckled. "Can't say as I've ever been called that before."

"Well now you can."

Fay dropped into silence after a moment. She wasn't sure what to make of Jacob in these last couple hours. He'd had no snide comment when she told him about her past; about her father. He almost seemed courteous when she spoke to him earlier in his room. Fay had been worried about how he would act around her family. As psycho as he normally acted around her when they were alone, she had wondered if he would act like that around them as well.

She had to say that he surprised her. He was nice to her family; even the crude step-sister who never seemed to like anything. Maybe he did have multiple personalities. There was no way one man could act in so many different ways. If he didn't piss her off so much he would probably frighten her.

A soft touch at the corner of her mouth startled her, almost making her drop her plate. Fay turned to Jacob, her heart pounding. "Sorry," he said softly as he turned back to stare at the trees blowing in the wind. "You had some sauce."

"Oh, um, thank you," she replied, unconsciously wiping at the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.

Jacob didn't reply. His head was turned slightly to the left as if listening for something. A look of longing flickered across his face. His eyes narrowed slightly as his mind wandered.

"Are you alright?"

He was silent for a moment. "Have you ever been sailing?"

Fay dropped the fork she was holding and placed the plate aside. She licked her lips, her mouth suddenly dry. She cleared her throat before answering. "Not in a long time."

"But you have been?'

"Yes."

"Did you enjoy it?"

"Yes," she answered slowly, confused.

Jacob didn't reply back but simply nodded. His eyes were still gazing at nothing. "Do you sail?" she asked after awhile.

Jacob laughed softly. "Not in a long time," he replied, repeating her earlier words. "A very long time."

Fay paused, unsure what to say. There was that cryptic part of him again. He always said things that seemed to have so much more meaning behind them. Finally the silence became unnerving. "So should we try to find those files?"

He turned to her, confused until realization dawned on him. "Do you really want to leave that badly?"

Jacob watched as Fay's face fell, the setting sun casting shadows over her face. She turned to him with numb eyes. "Yes."

Jacob stood at the open window. He could hear the ocean down the block from the house, the sound of the waves rushing up to the beach gave him a thrill, something he hadn't felt in a long time. There was a feeling in his bones that he didn't like. He knew it was only going to get worse from here. It was something that they really didn't have time for. He ran a hand through his short, brown hair, scratching his head. Maybe Fay was right. Maybe they did need to find her father's papers as soon as possible. The sooner they had them the sooner they could put this whole thing to rest.

His brow wrinkled. It just didn't make sense. They were all there. They were all accounted for. Not one of them were missing, so who could she be? Why did it seem like she was so damn important? And why did it seem like she was always trying to kill her? Jacob ran his hand over the day old stubble on his chin. It didn't seem like any answers would be forthcoming any time soon.

There was more to her family than met the eye. He just couldn't figure out what it was. There was something they were hiding; at least Fay and her mother were. He had no idea what it was but had a feeling that it had to do with her father's death. Jacob knew it was a touchy subject for Fay, it drew out too many memories, but she would have to confide in him eventually.

A muffled scream followed by a thump jerked his attention away from the window. His head tilted to the side slightly as he listened for any more sound. Another cry made its way to his ears; a cry of anguish. Curious he left his room, leaving the door open slightly so that light shone into the dark hallway.

Rain pounded against them, soaking their already drenched skin. The rolling waves rocked the small life craft they were resting in. Through bleary eyes she could see him, standing, talking to someone that she couldn't make out. They were talking nonsense; shouting words to each other over the storm. Phrases jumped out at her every now and then when the storm's ferocity would ease.

" . . . has to live! . . .things to do . . .she'll kill her! . . .please . . ."

Nonsense. All of it was nonsense. Then he was there, running fingers through her wet strands. "It'll be okay. Everything will be fine. You just stay strong okay? Just stay strong and everything will be fine."

He kissed her forehead, his lips trembling with an emotion she didn't understand. And then he was gone.

Jacob stood outside Fay's room, his hand on her doorknob. She was crying in her sleep. He could hear it. Her troubled voice filtered through the door as Jacob began to turn the handle, a cry for help, for someone not to leave her.

"You should just leave her."

AN: Yay another chapter! So things are definitely starting to get under way and I thank everyone who has stuck by me since the beginning. I'm sure it probably started slow (I seem to do that a lot, but then it gets better) but I promise that it's all starting to come together now. I do hope that you liked the chapter! And what's going to happen next? Who told Jacob to leave Fay alone? Will he finally find out what happened to her?