"Cap'n!" Bill Turner calls out, standing outside the door to Elizabeth's cabin. "I have another letter for you!"
He hears her walk quickly across the floor and within moments she is in front of him.
"Forgive me for disturbing you, but…" He trails off as she waves off the apology, taking the letter from him.
"I did tell you to bring it to me. Thank you." She sits down at her desk and opens it eagerly.
He enters her cabin, walking slowly across the room to stand opposite her. Elizabeth isn't the only one who wants to know how Will is fairing. This has become a routine.
She reads in silence, and smiles at length.
"He says more about Emily than he does himself."
"I don't blame him. I'm sure she's a wonderful girl."
"She's just turned five. He wrote the letter on her birthday."
She continues reading. The mildest of blushes rises to her pail cheeks as she comes to the end of it; Will has quite a way with words sometimes.
Her eyes widen at his last few sentences, though.
I dreamt of you last night, as I always do, and the strangest of ideas has come into my head. I was wondering, perhaps if Emily and I were on a ship, what would stop you from paying us a visit? I cannot recall anything about the curse that says you cannot see us; only that you cannot step on land…
"Elizabeth?" Bill asks, his voice taking on an almost fatherly quality, as he is known to allow it to every so often. "May I ask what he wrote that has you looking so happy?"
She folds the letter back up and pulls open a drawer in her desk, placing it inside with care.
"Just an idea he's got into his head. A very interesting idea." She stands. "Have we got any spirits on board, Bill?"
"Cap'n?" He gives her a questioning look.
"I feel like celebrating a bit. I think one night off would not hurt." She heads out of her cabin. He follows behind her.
"I'm sure it wouldn't. I believe we do have rum. What are we celebrating, if I may ask?"
She smiles at him as she heads up on deck.
"My daughters birthday, of course."
He knows there is more, but Eilizabeth's mood has so brightened that he feels it's not fair question her. Instead he helps to bring out the rum as she instructs him to and enjoys the much lighter atmosphere the ship has taken on along with her captain.
Elizabeth approaches Marie as the girl stares blankly down at the bottle of amber liquid she's just been handed.
"You've never had rum before."
Marie shakes her head.
"Vile drink if you ask me. No offense, Captain."
Elizabeth chuckles.
"I once said the same thing, believe it or not." Elizabeth responds before taking the bottle from her and bringing to her own lips. She takes a long swig without so much as flinching, then offers it back to Marie. The girl accepts it and, her curiousity getting the best of her, takes a small sip…
…then hands it back to Elizabeth as her eyes widen and she coughs.
Her captain only laughs, a geniune, musical sound that isn't often heard from her.
"Drink up me hearties, yo ho." Elizabeth sings as she takes another sip.
Emily Elizabeth Turner is more curious than frightened when she wakes to see that her papa is not in his bed. She gets up and runs over to the door way, looking into the small room that serves as a kitchen for them. He's not there either. It's hardly like Papa to just leave her alone.
Where could he be?
She goes back over to her bed and pulls on her shoes, then makes her way out of their cabin. She is immediately met with the sound of music playing somewhere not too far off; the tune is lively, meant for dancing.
Oh! Now she remembers. One of her papa's friends has just married today. They are having a party. She makes her way down the street, knowing exactly where to head now.
In a town as small and calm as the one their in, everyone knows everyone, and anyone is welcome to celebrations like this one. Her papa would have had little reason to worry about her, sleeping soundly in her bed, with few remembering she was even there.
Miss Jade was probably the one to make him go. Miss Jade was always doing that, trying to get her papa to leave, especially when it meant Miss Jade could spend time with him.
The party is being held at the largest house in the town, and the gate has been left open, welcoming all to join in. Emily walks in and tries to weave her way through the crowd of people, looking for her father. When she finally spots him, his is dancing with Miss Jade, and she hesitates to go up to them.
Miss Jade sees her though and smiles wide, pointing towards her. Her papa looks to her now, and lets go of Miss Jade's hands, coming up to her.
"I'm sorry, Papa." She says, sheepish, expecting him to be upset. "I woke up and you were gone."
"It's alright, Emily." He says, breaking into a wide smile to match Miss Jades. "I'm not upset. Would you like to dance?"
Her eyes widen and she nods her head, returning his smile. He takes her tiny hands into his and begins to dance with her, going on like this for a few dances before a slower tune is played and Miss Jade insists she have him back. Emily sits at a table off to the side and watches, her little arms crossed over her chest.
She remembers in perfect detail all the stories her papa tells her about her mother and why she is not their with them. She believes every word of them.
Which is why, as the very perceptive five year old watches her papa dance away with Miss Jade, she decides that she really doesn't like the woman. She really doesn't like her one bit.