I shook myhead, confused. “Okay, what do you want?”
She appearedoffended. “Nothing.”
I cocked myhead to the side.
“I truly wantnothing from you, Dianna,” she insisted. “I’m just curious, is all.You show up here, you have ties to one of the most notorious shipsaround, yet… you know nothing of the recent events. Where have youbeen? What are you really doing here?”
“I alreadytold you,” I choked out in a whisper and gripped the pillowtighter. “The Devil’s Heart was my ship, my home. We had beenspending some time in Cupers Cove when we were attacked by TheCobhams.” I stopped to suck in a deep breath. “I-I was taken awayagainst my will. I only just found my way back.” It was the closestto the truth I could divulge.
Lottie turnedquiet as she seemed to digest my words. I picked at a piece ofplain toast and sipped the tea she’d brought me while a strange,but comfortable silence hung in the air around us. I could hear thecrashing of the waves not too far from the tavern, the bustlingtown roaming the streets and docks just outside the window and thenlooked her in the eye.
“Can you tellme more about what happened?” I asked Lottie.
She shrugged.“It’s hard to know what’s rumor and what’s true,” she began, “but I’d heard that The Cobhams seizedthe ship, tied the crew up, and set it ablaze.”
“Nosurvivors?”
Her head hungas she diverted attention to the hem of her dirty apron. “No, nonethat I know of.”
“And peopleare going to the site to scavenge the ship?”
“Yes,” Lottiereplied. “Apparently, The Cobhams took nothing, that it was an actof revenge. So, whatever treasure may have been aboard…”
I nodded andleaned back against the headboard. “Would still be there.”
I thoughtabout the crew, tied together and left for dead as the ship burnedaround them. They must have been wishing for it to hurry up andsink, to stop the flames. The sound of their screams came to lifein my mind. A lump formed in my throat and I forced it down. Icouldn’t afford another breakdown, not in front of Lottie.
“So, what’syour story?”
She appearedconfused. “What do you mean?”
“Who are you?Where are you from? How long have you worked at The Slippery Cod?”Lottie remained puzzled and I rolled my eyes. “Just distract me,please.”
“Oh,” shereplied with a nod. “Well, I don’t have much of a story. I grew uphere in Harbour Grace. My father was a sailor. My parents are nowdead. I’m not married. And I run this tavern for my uncle while hetravels abroad.” She chewed on herbottom lip. “My life is quite dull, actually. I despise it. It’sterribly lonely.”
“I know thefeeling,” I blurted out. But I immediately regretted it. Lonely.That’s what I would forever be if I remained there in the past. ButI had no sure way back to the future. I was stuck in limbo.
“Y’know,”Lottie began, “you could stay here.”
A surprisingsmile found its way to my face. “What do you mean?”
“Here, in thetavern. I could rent you a room, long-term. Lord knows I could usethe help around here, too.” She swallowed hard. “And thecompany.”
I was touched.But I could never accept. I had to find a way back to the future,there was nothing there in the past for me. But I couldn’t leavejust yet. Not without putting the men I love properly to rest.“Thank you. I’ll… think about it.”
Lottie stood,straightened out her apron and poured me some more tea. “Well,you’re welcome to stay here as long as you need.” She walked towardthe door but paused before leaving, seeming to have more to say but decided against it andshut the door behind her.
***
A short whilelater, I found myself wandering the beach, staring out at the sea. My feet took careful steps alongthe rocky shore as I wrapped my coat tightly across my torso and the cool misty air caressedmy face. I felt lost. Not only in time, but in life. Henry wasgone. Admitting those three words sent a pain unlike anything I’d ever experienced justsearing through my body like a hot knife slicing into my flesh. Irepeated it over and over in my mind, trying to make sense of it,willing my broken heart to believeit. Now, I was faced with a choice to stay or go home. I wonderedif the sea would grant me another wish or if I were just luckyenough to get the one that was given to me. But I had asked to betaken back to Henry. I guess the laws of magic didn’t care whetherhe was alive or not.
But itmattered to me.
There was noplace for me there in 1707 without Henry. I couldn’t possibly builda life for myself and our child there. At least back home I’d haveAunt Mary. I’d have a house. The answer seemed so simple. Go back.But why did I struggle to accept it?
I did have onething to do before I left. I had to find a place and bury thenecklace Henry gave me. A final resting place for my beloved, forthe man who took me prisoner and stole my heart, but gave me his inreturn. He deserved more than a watery grave at the bottom of theharbour. I pulled it up frominside my shirt and held the heavy ruby pendant on my palm, myother hand lovingly caressing my stomach.
“We’ll saygoodbye to Daddy,” I told the baby, “And then we’ll go back home.We’ll find a way.” I sat down on a large, wet rock, the watersoaking into my pants. But I didn’t care. “One day, I’ll tell youall about my adventure and how I found your father. I’ll tell youwhat he was like, and how much he would have loved you.” I inhaleddeeply, fighting back tears. “God, he would have loved youfiercely.”
I could feelthe pain and sorrow sitting heavily in my stomach, just waiting tobe released. I let it out, let it seep from my body with a streamof loud wailing and cries toward the sea. I was heartbroken, but Iwas angry. Angry at the
