They all ate Sancocho, some with more appetite than others.
"It is very good, Tara," Ching hummed, at ease for once, and clearly enjoying her meal. "You used cilantro, aye?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"We use it often in our traditional dishes as well. Very good, Tara. Very good."
Repetition had never been so scary to her. Seeing her kids slightly in fear in front of their food was her worst nightmare.
And she wasn't even sure who was to blame.
She, herself, because she was foolish enough to get involved with Ching's dirty business in the first place, or Jack for coming back into her life after making her believe that would never happen again.
No, Jack was not to blame for once. It was all on her …
"Mistress Ching," Tara therefore couldn't hold back any longer, "I don't mean to be rude, but may we address the issue at hand bluntly? I've never been out of line when working for you, for years I –"
"It was good work you did. Yes. I know that." Ching took a sip of wine, clearly enjoying her performance. "However only one condition I had before I let you work for me. And that one condition, not being involved with another Pirate Lord, was non-negotiable – you knew that. And still … Still you let Sparrow in your life again."
"Ching, he's the father of my children." It sounded like a plea, from woman to woman. But Jack knew better. Ching was not the kind of person to be impressed by empathy.
"I never dared to ask you for anything," Tara went on, "but in this regard, Iask youto be lenient."
"People have only ever stopped working for me once they were dead."
"Oh, please," Jack couldn't hold it in any longer himself now. "No need to flash your muscles here, Ching, we know who you are. We know what we're asking."
"Then you know I never let things slide –"
"Make an exemption, obviously. It's a free world. We're pirates. We do whatever the hell we want."
"Do we now? Is that also why they say you killed the Cove's Catholic priest the other day?"
Tara took in a sharp breath while trying to meet Jack's gaze.
"Who, me?" Jack looked around, even at Tara – innocence personified. He could lie so well. "Killing saints? Ching." He leaned forward, a tad over the table. "Ching! You know me. I'm actually quite a lazy man. I would never kill a priest, way too much fuss over a bit of red, holy blood. Besides …" He shrugged, his eyebrows raised. "The Cove has … had … a Catholic priest? Are you being serious?"
Tara didn't know what to make of it. He clearly lied through his teeth, heknewabout that priest, she herself had told him. Yet he claimed this to be new information for him, just like he claimed he didn't harm the man.
But the man was apparently dead.
And he who lied …
Jack had, very likely so, killed a man, just because she'd told him a tale from years ago. She gulped. As flattering as it was how he wished to take care for her, as scary it seemed.
They would have to discuss this further in case she survived …
"You're saying," Ching interrupted her running thoughts, still turned to Jack, "you didn't murder him in cold blood?"
"I didn't even know such a man existed around here. And did you not advocate for me when you heard those ugly rumours? I'm hurt. Really am. How do they claim it happened?"
"He fell down stairs, with a bit of … help … they say. He split his head open."
Jack screwed up his face in mourning disgust. "What a poor fellow!"
"People claimed they'd seen you with him a bit earlier."
"Did they now? Me and a priest? Sounds like the beginning of a fairytale, doesn't it." Teague even chuckled. "Why would you care, anyway?"
"It's just curiosity, Jack. We haven't seen each other in a long time, you know?"
Jack bit his lip to not laugh or add some teasing on top of that through ball. "Aye. Indeed." With a sigh, he added, "Well, a shame he's dead, could've saved us all. No more, huh? Now that he's dead. But you know who I want alive?"
For the first time, Ching laughed. "I can follow you, aye. But see, Sparrow, I'mnotkeen on keeping her."
Alive she didn't even have to say. Quite kind of her in front of the kids, as kind as she could get, actually …
"Well, but that's no way to treat a helping hand, Ching," Jack retorted, "she's bright, hard working, doesn't talk back – at least not at you – you should appreciate that more."
Ching remained silent. So much so that Jack simply began what he could best.
"Everything has its price. Pray tell."
"Quick to the point, Sparrow."
"Much to see and do. And I'd bet you've been in a hurry to find your only daughter for years as well, aye?"
She was thunderstruck, putting down her glass even. He had her hooked, and there was no denying it.
"Speak!"
"Quick to the point all of a sudden as well, are we? I know who keepsherfrom seeing much. So let's exchange loved ones and live happily ever after – what say you?"
"You know where my daughter is?" Ching stood up, her face reddening despite the white powder. "Why shouldn't I torture you until you scream it out?"
Tia and James gasped in fear just when Jack laughed out loud to their sheer surprise, leaning back in his chair and shaking his head. Tara felt oddly relieved to see that he didn't even contemplate fearing the devil, as he'd called her himself …
"Why even bother, Ching." Jack shrugged and winked. "Let's do this the convenient way. I'll let you know where your family is and you'll leave mine alone. Simple, easy to remember."
"How am I supposed to know you are not making a story up?"
"I may be many a thing, but I'm not stupid," Jack said. "I'm fully aware who the hell you are, and I don't wish to face any of the demons you unleash if I cross you."
"But Tara has already crossed me!"
He snorted, giving a dismissive wave of his hand. "Come, come – crossed you by falling back into her children's father's lap again? You blow this completely out of proportion and you know it. I'm not, let's say … Villanueva. I've never cared for business or money, in fact I'm usually lacking both."
"ButIalways make a profit!" As if possessed, she whispered, "I win."
There it was. Jackknewit was about to come out. Her daughter wasn't enough, sheneededto feel like she'd gotten an even better deal.
"You do win," he still played it off. "By finding your child! Hurray!"
"A woman for a woman? When yours is carrying your child under her heart? No. That's not enough!"
"You sound just like old Jonesy here," Jack sighed. "Do you crave souls? You look a bit like it, to be honest. Wouldn't be impossible, you see, since I'm used to organizing those –"
"Stop talking! I need to think."
Jack gave her a complacent smile. "Sure." Halfway there. She already thought about closing the deal, just what he wanted.
She took her time, clearly, Tara even poured her another glass of wine.
Basically there was only one thing that wouldreallyhurt him. If she'd ask for the Pearl –
"Your ship," she began in a low voice as though she was about to list her conditions, and Tara's heart already sank, "I can't make proper use of, it's not advanced like those of my fleet …"
Heavens, thank you for her arrogance, he thought in utmost relief and tried hard not to let it on, just like Tara – so Ching wouldn't change her mind just for the sake of challenging him.
"But I could make use of … your title." Ching thought out loud, but now she nodded at her own words. "Aye, your title!"
"My title?" Jack was truly puzzled for a moment. Then his attitude caught up, his face did, and he knew exactly that he needed her tobelievethis hurt him more than anything.
"Aye. I want your title. I claim it, as well as the information you have on my daughter."
"You claim my title?" He played dumb, wasn't that his master discipline? Leaning forward, much inclined, just so she could hear his voice nearer, he clenched his jaw and moaned, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You are Pirate Lord of the Caribbean Sea, are you not?"
"He is," Teague plainly said and then proceeded to let the situation unfold.
"Right." Ching nodded. "I claim that."
The twins exchanged quick glances, not quite understanding why their father hadn't just agreed already.
Tara, however, was quite sure this was exactly what Jack had implied, and that he just played along, as should she.
Or was the prospect of losing his credit to these waters really vexing him? She could imagine the latter, too, and very well so.
After some calculated hesitation, Jack simply shook his head. "No. Absolutely not."
Teague really tried not to bat an eye, but didn't seem indifferent at all. To the contrary, those words did irritate him – and only the heavens knew whether that was him acting or not.
"No?" Ching clearly wasn't too used to hearing that word.
"No." Jack seemed indignant by the very idea of it. "You don't know these waters, you can't appreciate them," he gravely said. "You can't tame them."
"How dare you!"
"Not the title, Ching."
"Not the title?" She smirked, clearly enjoying this supposed dilemma she'd created for him. "Is it more valuable to you than the woman that gave you children?"
"I'm a pirate, am I not."
Tara felt her heart break a bit, he sounded dead serious.
And how often had he told her not to expect a thing from him because he was but a pirate back in the days when he very much meant it …
But no. No, the man that had come back to her, had jumped into the water to save his children, not the Pearl, the man that had wished her to trust him and wanted to expand the family yet again – that man didn't mind a bloody title. He was careless of conventions and forms, free of limiting pride in that regard.
He didn't mean it.
But Ching had to believe he did, and he was acting his part well. Tara was sure of it, only the kids were not. They truly believed him and looked hurt and mad already.
Still he repeated, "Not the title."
Tara inwardly counted to three, then she really felt like it was time to support him, too, despite the children.
"Sparrow, ¿lo estás diciendo en serio?" She'd been mad at him so often, it wasn't to hard to pretend to be now. And he knew that just as well. Not that it would necessarily be fun, too much was at stake – but it wasn't too exotic either.
"Tara, damn it," he sighed, frustration lacing his tone so audibly for Ching, "how many times do I have to repeat to you that I don't understand a bloody word you say whenever you talk Spanish to me?"
"Don't evade the issue! You aren't willing to trade your title for me?"
Ching couldn't quite hide her amusement at their exchange, unlike the children.
"Teague, say something!" Tia shouted. "Make him come to his senses!"
"You little bilge rat don't get to talk about me as though I wasn't standing right next to you, savvy?"
He was never strict or dismissive with Tia – his little princess she was. And she got to behave like one if she wished to – at least when it was up to him. But for now, to work the trick, he simply had to be careless. Each puzzle piece had to fit the picture.
And it did. Tia's mouth fell open, only unfortunately, she didn't have to act for her fury. "Are you crazy? Papá! What's gotten into you?"
"Yeah, how can you even think about not giving Ching your stupid title?" James even tried to push his father away in defiance. It didn't do much, of course, but the gesture had meaning. "She's our mother, she took care of us for you when you weren't even here, how dare you –"
"Neither do you get to talk to me like that," Jack hushed, inching down to face his son so quickly James almost fell back. "Sit down and shut up. The both of you, or I'll see to it."
James gulped, shaking his head. "I'm not letting you threaten Tia!"
"I just did, and trust me, you don't want to find out what's after the threat."
"Sparrow, cómo te atreves a hablar así a los niños …" Tara hushed overly dramatic, both hands on her hips. "Your own flesh and blood!"
"Shall I now get rid of him for you?" Ching offered in exuberant kindness. "That," she said, turning back to Jack, "would by the way also result in me getting your title, aye?"
"You're asking too much and you know it." Jack circled the table, not even looking at Tara while doing so, just to offer a hand to Ching. "Let's discuss this in private, shall we?"
"I'm not changing my mind in private." Still she took his hand and followed.
Jack didn't look back, but the twins watched him leave in puzzled anger.