My fingersfiddled at my sides as I fought for words. Something caught my eyeon the table next to Henry and my heart sank when I realized it wasa pile of dishes, still full of food, days old. He wasn’teating.
“Look,my time is coming to an end here. When we find the Gaelic witch,I’ll be gone, and you can move on with your life. I just… I justcouldn’t stand the thought of leaving things like this. I want youto know… that I do care for you. More than I ever thought possible.It was never my intention to hurt your feelings. You captured myheart before I could figure out a way home, and then things justworked out the way they did. I just wanted to be honest withyou.”
Hedidn’t flinch, let alone respond. It was as if I weren’t even inthe room. The man waslike a ghost. Then again, I didn’t belong there, and my stomachclenched as I realized… I was the ghost. I turned to leave butstopped at the door and glanced back.
“You’reso good, Henry,” his name elicited a slight sigh, “It only took amoment for me to see it and, when I did, it captivated me. Pleasedon’t forget that, don’t let go of your heart.”
***
The sun wassetting on the horizon and I leaned against the side of the ship,taking it in. I’d watched hundreds of sunsets but none like this,out there on the open water. Calm, soothing waves lapped at theside of the boat while the orange and purple glow of the sun slowlyfaded into the distance, leaving behind a trail of darkness.
I watched thetransformation and relished the beauty of witnessing the ancientsun falling asleep, the moon taking its place to play with thewaves. It was an image I filed away in my mind, to revisit in thefuture when I needed another reminder of the grand adventure Ihad.
The tired menhad gone below, leaving me behind on the quiet deck. Finnapproached me before heading down for himself.
“Aye,lassie,” he said quietly and grabbed hold of my shoulders tosqueeze me in his crushing embrace. I’d come to expect it now.Enjoy it, even. “Are ye comin’ to bed?”
I wrapped myred jacket tightly across my chest and took in the sweet smell ofthe midnight ocean. “Not yet,” I replied. “I like it up here thistime of night. I can think.”
He rubbed hisbig red beard, unsure of what to do. “Look, I ain’t no fool, lass,”he told me, “We all ken ye and the captain are fond of each other.Whatever happened, I’m sure ye can forgive him, no?”
I wassurprised to learn that Finn assumed Henry had done something tohurt me, to push me away. When, really, it was me who’d messedeverything up. “Thanks, Finn, but you’re wrong. Captain Barrett–” Istruggled for words. There was no way to make him understand. “Ibetrayed his trust. I didn’t mean to, but I did, and he may neverforgive me.” My body turned, and I took the Scotsman’s freckledhands in mine. “You have to promise me something.”
“Ofcourse,” he replied and stood a little straighter, prouder.“Anythin’ for ye.”
Tears welled inmy eyes. Not in a million years would I have ever dreamed of suchgoodness in one man. He lived in a time not worthy of his heart. “Ineed you to take care of Henry. Make sure he doesn’t fall intodarkness. He’s going to be facing some demons when we hit land;when we find The Cobhams, and he’s going to need all the help hecan get.”
Finn shrugged,still unclear on what I was asking. “Well, yes, I’d lay down melife for the captain in a battle.”
I shook myhead. “No, not just physically. He’s going to need you afterward.You and Gus. Be his family. Don’t let him lose sight of his heart.He’s finally figured out how to use it again.”
The man letout a puff of air and chuckled. “Christ, ye sound like a damntragic fairy tale.”
I laughed,what little I could with the weight of a broken heart in my chest.“Oh, and I never said thank you.”
“Ferwhat?”
“Savingmy life when I first came aboard.”
He chortled.“Yeah, well, a good lot that did. Yer leavin’ me anyway.”
I feltmy heart sink. He was right. Finn was no damn fool. He knew I wasleaving. I didn’t know what to say so I just let the cool silenceof the night air fillthe space between us.
“Do yewant me to stay up here with ye?”
I managed asmile for my friend and shook my head. “No, go to bed. I’m going tosit up here and watch the stars.”
I laid down ona large crate and listened to the sound of Finn’s steps retreatingto the deck below until the waves, the creaking of the ship, and myown breaths were the only sounds to be heard. My fingers reached upto clasp around the large pendant of the necklace Henry had givenme and cringed as the images of his pained expression flashedthrough my mind. I’d never broken anyone’s heart before and theguilt was something I‘d carry with me forever. I wish I had time tofix things, to piece together the shards of his shattered heart.Then a strange and unexpected thought dawned on me.
Why did Istill want to go back home?
I had nothingwaiting for me back there. No boyfriend, no friends, definitely nojob. Maybe I could talk to the witch, find a way home but not useit yet. What kind of person would I be if I just left Henry in thepast after I’d crushed him like that?
At some point,I’d drifted off, lulled by the soothing rock of The Devil’s Heart.I knew I was dreaming for the fact that Henry was with me. He laidme down on the same sandy beach I dreamed of before, and his ablehands caressed my body. I felt his fingers fumble with the buttonsof my shirt, unable to get them undone. I let out a giggle andtried to look at his face but all I saw was a black figure,silhouetted by the blaring sun behind it. His hands grew impatientand began tugging hard.
My heart spedup as the bright
