“Really?” Iasked, beyond grateful.
She noddedhappily and pushed the box toward me. I fingered through its tinycontents; an array of napkin rings, keys, buttons, and beltbuckles, until a thick iron loop fell over the tip of one of myfingers. I plucked it from the wooden box, noting the simplicity ofit. The way the blacksmith opted for squared edges instead of roundwhich created a wide surface to carve a tiny Celtic trinity knot.The symbol for internal life. To make sure, I slipped it over mythumb and smiled at how it fit so right.
“I’ll takethis one,” I told the woman and she didn’t bother to hide her senseof surprise. I found the most perfect ring to give Henry in a boxof her discarded goods. Items she never would have sold or had ondisplay. To her, it may have been getting rid of something useless,but it was priceless to me. I’d never be able to repay her for thevalue it held for me.
“Are ye sure,Miss?”
“Yes.” Inodded and glanced at the box again. I knew how I could repay thekindness. “I’ll take the whole lot, actually. I insist on payingfor it. How much?”
After somemore looking around, I met with Lottie and we headed back to TheKraken’s Den. The sun was bright and warmed the frosty air, but asprinkle of light snow still trickled from the sky. It was magical.I couldn’t hide the sheer joy that seeped from my pores. I couldfeel it. Splashing across my face and running down over myskin.
I was marryingHenry today.
“Are younervous?” Lottie asked me, her hands gripping something wrappedheavily in cloth.
I didn’t evenneed to think about it. “No, not at all. It’s the only thing in mylife right now that I can be so sure of.”
“You’re goingto make Henry faint when he sees you in that dress.” She threw me aquick wink and glanced out the window. We were nearing the Den.
I laughed.“God, I hope so. That’s the whole point, isn’t it?”
She quirked aneyebrow. “Among other things, I imagine.”
The carriagefilled with girlish giggles as we came to a full stop and Cillianopened the door to let us out. I emerged to the street below, afterLottie, and turned back to our driver.
“Can you seeto it that this is delivered to The Siren’s Call?” I asked as Ihanded him a letter I’d written while at the market. Addressed toRoselyn Wallace.
He took itwithout question and slipped it inside his jacket. “Of course,milady. Will there be anything else today?”
“No, thankyou, Cillian.” I gave him a polite nod. “You’ve beenwonderful.”
He tipped hisflat cap. “I wish you all the best on your wedding day,milady.”
The docks wereempty of the usual crowd that bustled about the ships. The lateafternoon sun shone down from above and warmed the tiny snowflakesthat threatened to fall, resulting in a beautiful sprinkle butnothing on the ground. As if the universe saw fit to provide themost beautiful and delicate backdrop to my wedding day. I held thedress box in my hands and cast my face to the skies, smiling as thecool flakes kissed my skin.
Lottie and Iwalked toward the plank that led to The Queen. A rush of warmthspread over my body at the sight of her tall masts piercing theair, the cream-colored sails tucked back neatly. The bright red andgold paint, although now worn and patched from damage, flashedthrough the rows of black and browns. My Queen, my home. Gus waitedat the plank, dressed in the formal wear from last night, hisscraggly brown curls swept back in at the bottom of his neck.
“Hello, Gus,”I greeted happily.
He took thebox from my hands and tucked it under an arm while his other handreached and helped me step across. “Fine afternoon for a weddin’,don’tchya think?”
I smiled andgrabbed the thin rope that lined the sides, trying to contain myexcitement. “It is.”
My foottouched the deck of my ship and a strange calmness washed over me.That sense of returning home. Henry was right to choose The Queenfor the ceremony. I heard Gus and Lottie embrace and whisper toeach other behind me as I searched the surface of my ship. They’ddone an excellent job at repairing the damage and cleaning her up.Almost as good as new. If I didn’t know where to look, if I didn’tsee the damage happen with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have been ableto tell.
But the yellowpaint, brighter in some areas than others, the new boards,straighter and stiffer than most held the tell-tale signs. The mapof our grand adventures and near-death experiences. Today would adda layer of joy and happiness, though. A new adventure. A new memorythat the ship would forever carry. Finn’s heavy leather bootsstomps across the deck toward me and I turned my attention to him,taking in the sight of the giant Scot clad in his traditional garb;the kilt I got for him, thepressed coat as green as his emerald eyes and lined with goldbuttons.
“Goodafternoon, milady,” he greeted andbowed mockingly.
I laughed andpushed at his shoulder. “You fool.” He stood straight and his eyesgleamed with pride, making my heart melt for the friendship weshared. I wrapped my arms tightly around his massive torso, barely able to touch them behindhis back. “I love you.”
“Aye, I lovesye, too,” he replied in a whisper in my ear and then sniffled awaythe tears that threatened his manhood. “I had the boys bring aboardyer chests. Henry’s down in me quarters belowdecks, gettin’ready.”
“Excellent,” Itold him and pulled away of our embrace. “You’ve done a fine jobgetting the ship cleaned up. Thank you, Finn.”
“’Twas mostlythe boys, Captain. Ye should thank them.”
He movedaside, and I saw Charlie, John, and Seamus walking by with woodencrates in their hands, heading toward the bow. I caught Charlie’sgaze and motioned him over. He set the crate down, a jangle ofglass objects rang through the air and he ran over to me, smilingwide.
“Thank you forthe wonderful job you did on the ship,” I told him sincerely. “Withthe repairs and cleaning it up today. I really appreciate it.”
Still hesitantto use his hoarse voice in front of me, the boy
