A Pirate's Love

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Jack eyed her.  He still had so many unanswered questions running through his mind.

"Loving you isn't the problem Maddy."

"Than what is?"

"Forgiving you."  They were silent once again.  They watched each other.

"Do you want me to leave?" Madeline asked standing up.

"No I don't want ye to leave.  How close of friends were ye with this Captain Jacquette?"  Madeline appeared nervous at the mention of his name.  She began to wring her hands together and pace at the same time.

"What are you insinuating Jack?"

"I'm not insinuating anything Madeline." Jack stood up in a fury.  "Were ye his lover?" he practically yelled.

"No Jack! He wasn't my lover.  You are the only lover I've ever had!" she yelled back.

"What?" Jack asked.  Totally perplexed.  His thoughts not even on Captain Jacquette.

"I was a virgin Jack.  You have been the only man I've ever been with.  Despite my mother's rantings."  Jack ran his hand through his hair.  He didn't know what to say. 

"Ye still hid my son from me Maddy.  How could ye do that to me?  If ye loved me so damn much, ye shouldn't have hid him from me!"

"What was I supposed to do Jack?  Sail with you with a baby?  What if he would've gotten sick? Needed a doctor?  Being out at sea for days, months on end!"

JJ could hear the yelling from the dock of the ship.  At least they were speaking to each other he thought.

"Boy, what are ye doin' here?" he turned and saw Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Taylor approaching him.  They turned their heads towards the Black Pearl as they heard the yelling also.

"I was going to talk to me mum and da.  But I don't think they want me around right now."  He hung his head.  Saddened.  Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Taylor looked at him.  They wanted to help JJ.  As well as Madeline and Jack.  Too many years with too many secrets.

"I have an idea."  Mr. Gibbs said.

"What is it?"  Mr. Taylor asked. 

"Let's put them out to sea."

"Put them out to sea? I don't understand?" JJ said.

"We put them out to sea and they have no choice but to rely on each other." Mr. Taylor said.  "Might teach them both a good lesson."

"Aye Mr. Taylor." Mr. Gibbs said.  "Okay, quietly now.  We go and raise the anchor and get back to the dock to give them a shove off.  Savvy?"

"Savvy." Both JJ and Mr. Taylor replied.  They hurried to the Pearl.  Aware of the loud voices being carried up from below.  They quickly raised the anchor and made way for the dock.  They untied the Pearl from dock and stepped back.

"Now they can just float out with the tide."  The trio turned away from the Pearl and headed back to the house.

"You would think that you would want your son to have an education.  To have a good life Jack!"

"He could've had a good life with me!  Not with all of the dandies in Port Royal!"

"Are you calling Will a dandy?"

"No I'm not calling Will a dandy.  Ye know what I mean!"

"Or would you have preferred I left him here on the island with my mother Jack? The state that she's in!"

"Argh!"  Jack yelled out loud.  "Enough Madeline!  Ye helped to contribute to her state!"

"I know that.  I don't need reminding of that Jack!"  Silence.  They eyed each other once again.  Madeline couldn't stand being under his angry gaze.  She turned towards the window in the wall of the ship.

"Jack, I'm sorry.  I don't know what else to do or say to you.  I love you more than life.  And I can't change the past or what I did.  All I want is your…."

"All you want is me what Maddy?"  he looked at her but she wasn't responding to him.  Her gaze looking out the window.  "Maddy?"

"The ship is moving."