Audacious//JJ Maybank (Outerbanks)

Chapter 85

{Home sweet Home}

The night air was still and thick, wrapped in a cloak of darkness that seemed to hush the world around us. As I emerged from the cabin, I spotted Big John standing just outside, illuminated by the faint glow of the lantern hanging from the boat. He was peering intently at a weathered map spread out on a small table, the lines and symbols hinting at secrets buried deep in the earth.

"Hey, Dad," John B called as we stepped closer. Big John looked up, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "See, most people think the golden city is here," he said, pointing decisively at the map, his finger hovering above a spot marked near the Orinoco Basin. "Up above the Orinoco Basin. That Spanish ship—the one with the cross and the gold."

"Yeah, the San Jose," John B chimed in, the recognition flashing across his face. Big John nodded vigorously. "They were rumoured to have found El Dorado. That's where all the gold came from." He gestured towards the artefact, the Signpost of Orinoco, resting on the table between us. "And this stone piece is supposedly what led them to El Dorado."

I leaned in closer, curiosity bubbling inside me.
"The captain of the San Jose wanted to be the only one who knew how to get there, so he dug this up out of the jungle and kept it with him," Big John explained, his voice rising with enthusiasm. "At least that's the story. The idea is if you can translate this stone piece, then boom—it tells you how to get there."

I couldn't help but interject, "Um, that little stone piece is broken."  Big John groaned, and the excitement momentarily dimmed. "Yeah, well, Singh thinks that the diary holds a clue to the missing piece. I think he's probably right."

"Yep," John B confirmed, nodding in agreement. Big John straightened up, his eyes shining with determination. "Only one way to find out. This is the big one, kids. I've been obsessed with this since I was your age—going out into the blank spaces, hunting for treasure, and finding it. But as I got older, I began to think that all those spaces had been filled in, that there was nothing left to discover. Till I got on this." He pointed to the artefact, his voice thick with passion. "I've been dreaming about this my whole life. We find that diary, kids, we decipher those scribblings, and we're on our way to El Dorado."

A moment of silence hung in the air, a shared breath of anticipation between us when suddenly, a magnificent splash broke the stillness. We all turned as a whale breached the surface of the water nearby, its massive body glistening in the moonlight.

"Whoa, look at that!" Big John exclaimed, his eyes wide with wonder.  "Look at that beauty," I added, awe washing over me.

"Sure is!" Big John laughed, the sound echoing in the stillness of the night. "It's a sign, kids. We're gonna find it... together."

At that moment, John B and Big John clinked their beer bottles together, the sound ringing out like a promise under the stars. "Together," I muttered softly, my heart swelling with a mix of excitement and fear.

The next morning, the sun rose over the horizon, casting a warm glow on the familiar shoreline as we pulled the boat up to the Château. I felt a surge of relief wash over me. After a month of being lost on an island, uncertainty had hung over us like a dark cloud, but now, the sight of home brought a lightness to my heart.

"It's good to be back!" Big John exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air, his voice full of joy as he cheered. The sound echoed against the walls of the Château, and I couldn't help but smile, the corners of my mouth lifting involuntarily. It was everything we had ever wanted—to have our father home again.

Big John made his way to the bell, ringing it twice with an exuberant flourish. "Bring it on in, kids!" he shouted, his voice filled with nostalgia. I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes, the weight of everything we had endured suddenly lifting.

"I sure have missed this place," he said, looking around with a smile. "Yeah, me too," I replied, my voice thick with emotion. John B nodded in agreement, his eyes shining with a mix of happiness and relief.

Big John stepped in front of the memorial tree dedicated to him, where we had once placed a headstone when we thought he was gone. "Check it out. Got my own headstone," John B muttered to Big John, a wry smile on his face.

Big John laughed, shaking his head. "Would you ever give me one of those?"

"Never," John B said emphatically. "Welcome home, Pop," I said, wrapping my arms around him, and he squeezed me tightly before we all headed inside.

A few hours later, the night had settled in, and we were lounging on the porch, the stars twinkling above us. The air was cool and soothing, and I felt a sense of peace enveloping us as we soaked in the familiar sights and sounds of home.

"Hey, John B," Big John said, breaking the comfortable silence. "You know where the diary is, right?" John B sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Well, we have a copy. But it's in the Twinkie, which is probably in the impound lot with the police. Gotta figure that one out."

"Yeah," Big John muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Hey, Pop?" John B asked, his tone suddenly serious. "Yeah, kid?" Big John replied, turning his full attention to him.

"Remember the last time we were together?" John B said, looking down for a moment. "We had that argument?" Big John's expression shifted the memory surfacing. "Yeah. Yeah, real knock-down drag-out," he admitted.

"Yeah," I chimed in, recalling the tension of that day.  "I shouldn't have said that," John B continued, his voice steady. "You're not the worst father ever."

Big John scoffed, a laugh escaping him. "No shit, Sherlock." John B smiled, the tension dissolving into something warmer. "Love you, Pop."

"I love you too, Dad," I added, feeling the bond between us strengthen. Big John chuckled, his heart swelling with warmth. "I love you too, kids." John B rolled his eyes, trying to lighten the mood. "Enough of this sappy shit. Let's go to bed."

We all laughed, the sound mingling in the night air, a beautiful symphony of relief and happiness. As we settled into our beds, the weight of the past month began to fade away, replaced by the comfort of family and home.

To be continued...