Second on the Right (23 page)

Patrick stopped chewing and swallowed the
mouthful of sandwich.

James glanced down for a moment. Raising his
head, his eyes were watery as he whispered, "I can't lose her. I
just can’t."

Looking directly at his friend, Patrick said
in all seriousness, "You won't. I'll see to that."

Eileen pulled a hooded sweater over her head,
tugging it down to her waist. She snuck out early, beginning her
jog in the crisp morning air. Feeling sick, she stopped and leaned
against a tree. Once the nausea subsided, she resumed at a slower
pace. When she reached the Sound, she paused for a moment. She was
trying to clear her mind, but conflicting thoughts came uninvited.
She sighed, unfocused eyes towards the ground.

I don't think I can handle this.

A twig snapped behind her. She spun around,
trying to identify the source of the sound. Her eyes darted left,
then right. She saw a dark green blur behind the trees. A laugh
came from the woods. Her eyes narrowed and strained to make out any
movement. She ran between trees, trying to gain the advantage and
hide. The rustling came from her left, with more snickering. Chills
ran down her spine. The laugh sounded like that of a young boy, but
it was not one of mirth, but something more sinister. The noise
grew louder, closer to her.

She turned and ran. Footsteps trampling on
leaves followed closely. Her heart pounded. Panic set in. Who was
chasing her? She felt threatened. As she moved closer to the house,
she collided with Benedict, knocking him flat on his back. She
screamed.

Rolling and scurrying off him, Eileen stood,
looking around her to see if her pursuer was approaching. She heard
nothing. At last, she gasped. She had been holding her breath since
knocking the captain down.

Benedict seemed confused by her reaction, as
if she were screaming at him. Eileen looked around like a
frightened animal. Standing up, he searched the wooded area with
his own eyes. He turned back to her and asked, "Eileen, be there a
problem?"

"I, I th-thought. Being chased," she said
breathlessly. Benedict took another look around the immediate area,
and then returned to her.

"Nothin' be here 'cept us," he stated, still
keeping an eye out.

She nodded, straightening herself. "Sorry
about that. The decal, the black spot, and the company threats.
I've been a little on edge from all of it." She glanced at him,
feeling like an idiot for being so frightened.

Benedict's face grew serious. "The black
spot," he began. "It be a curse placed on his head, if he were a
pirate. A warnin' of things ta come. Ofen times…means death."

She slapped him gently on the arm. "Please
don't joke about such things!"

"It be the truth I be tellin' ye. Not to
frighten ye, but ta warn," he insisted.

She looked at him incredulously. "But, he's,
he's not a pirate."

“Aye, but perhaps having the blood of the
Benedict family is sufficient. There must be some purpose ta all o’
this,” he said.

Still trying to catch her breath from the
recent sprint and panic, nausea suddenly took over, and she turned
away for a moment. When she turned back, he was staring at her.

"I've noticed ye been sick. What ails ye?" he
asked.

Still trying to regain her breath, she looked
again around them. Distracted, she simply said, "I’m
expecting."

He raised an eyebrow. "Expectin’ what,
now?"

She looked at him, his face full of concern.
She couldn’t help but smile. "I'm with child. I'm going to have a
baby," she explained.

Benedict rolled his eyes. “Do ye take me for
an
addlepate? Yer pregnant.
And, how is it
ye know?" he asked, glancing down at her belly, which was not
distended.

"We have…there are tests…ways to determine,
to predict. The test is highly accurate, I assure you," she tried
to explain well enough for him to understand. He nodded, giving her
the impression he did.

"James’ git?" he asked her.

“Of course,” she said after a brief pause.
“Please don’t say anything. He doesn’t know yet.”
Wasn't it
obvious James was the father? Who else would it be?

“Ye have me word.” He nodded with a forced
smile, looking off into the distance.

Moving to stand by his side, she asked
softly, "Robert, is something on your mind?"

He looked back at her, standing so close to
him. Sadness crept in. It showed in his eyes. He shook his head no,
but she knew him too well. Something was bothering him.

"I would hope whatever it is you would feel
comfortable enough with me to speak freely."

She placed her hand on his arm encouragingly.
Seconds passed by. She remained still and silent, waiting for him
to speak.

Eventually, he looked back up at her,
searching her eyes while taking her hand in his. She raised an
eyebrow. Clearing his throat, Benedict faced Eileen directly.

"Been wonderin' lately." He paused as he
struggled for the right words.

"Yes? Wondering what?" she responded, pushing
him to continue.

Clearing his throat again, he gave her an
uneasy smile.

"Robert, you're the captain of the
Mistral
Thief
and yet, here you stand struggling to say something to
me? Spit it out!"

He blurted the next part, before thinking of
the words, "Do ye love me?"

Her eyes darted back and forth, searching
his. Removing her hand from his arm, she stuttered for an answer,
"I, I. Love? Robert. Captain, you are my friend, but foremost, my
mentor. I've learned so much from you, especially during the time
aboard the
Mistral Thief
. I wouldn't be standing here, a
successful doctor, if it weren't for you. Everything I now have, I
credit to your direction, your guidance."

Benedict looked down, nudging a rock with his
shoe, a forced smile on his lips. He nodded as he listened to her.
When he finally looked back up, she saw the melancholy in his
eyes.

"Captain—” She again placed her hand on his
arm. "I greatly value your opinion. You are an intelligent man,
highly resourceful, extremely clever, a survivor. I can only hope
the child I bear shows even a fraction of the qualities you
possess. I do love you, but not in the way you were perhaps hoping
for."

He again nodded and turned his attention to
the woods around him. She realized she had not given him the answer
he had hoped for. He glanced down at her abdomen. After a few
moments, he surprised her by pulling her into his arms and kissing
her. He seemed urgent, as if he would not see her again.

Tis not meant to be. Time to come home
Captain…

The sound echoed around them. Eileen did not
recognize the female voice, but still she knew it was not a good
sign, especially once she saw the look of sadness on Benedict's
face.

"Goodbye, love," he whispered to her.
Benedict pulled her back for one final kiss, and a heavy mist
rushed in, swirling about them.

When Eileen opened her eyes, Benedict was no
longer there. She did a quick three-sixty turn, but knew he was
gone. His last words echoed in her ears. Falling to her knees, she
wrapped her arms around her body and wept.

The stars, having collided, the plan set in
motion,

The one was now called, back to the
ocean.

The new star born, would lose all
control,

How would the star redeem the soul?

One breaking heart, then two, then
another,

Her plans may fall asunder.

A champion she would create,

All back together, their paths nearly
straight.

August 22, 2008

"Robbie! Robert!" Eileen yelled after him.
Growling, she rose from her chair, knowing he was purposefully
ignoring her. Out of habit, she signed as she said, "Robert, get
out of that tree, now!" A mischievous pair of bright blue eyes
looked back at Eileen, a smirk on his lips. He signed back “no”,
and continued to climb the tree.

As she chased him underneath the branches,
she called back behind her. "James! Would you
please
help
me?"

It had been a little over three years since
Captain Benedict had disappeared. She missed him terribly,
especially since she had not been able to say goodbye. With the
evidence of his presence gone, she questioned if he had ever really
been there. If James had not remembered him, she would have thought
she had gone mad.

During the last three years, Patrick had been
a saint. He was able to provide necessary protection for the
family. Though James seemed more at ease, Eileen still had fears in
the back of her mind. Remembering what Benedict had said to her
about the black spot, she remained on guard. At times, she even
imagined glimpsing the same kid James had seen at the airport.

James came out of the house, grinning
broadly. His brown hair ruffed slightly against the breeze. His
blue eyes sparkled with delight, one of Eileen's favorite things
about him. She loved his laugh lines and how his face would light
up when he was in a good or mischievous mood. He walked over to
Eileen and gave her a sweet kiss on the forehead.

James looked up at the tree and called out,
"Robert James! You heard your mother. I suggest you listen to her
or straight to bed for you."

Robert James Benedict was a blue-eyed,
dark-red-haired three-year-old, named after his grandfather. The
boy glanced from his mother to his surroundings.

"Oh kay," Robbie replied. The branches
overlapped that of the tree nearby. He crawled his way across into
the other tree and gave his father a most satisfied look.

"You can tell he's your son." James glanced
at Eileen and winked. She stuck her tongue at him in response. He
turned to address Robbie. "So, to bed is it?" James asked.

Robbie looked down at his father with a
slight smile on his lips, "I did! Momma says outta that tree," he
replied to his father, looking quite pleased with himself. Robbie
watched his father step closer. Reluctantly, he slid down the
trunk, aided by his father on the last part.

James gave his son a hug and kiss, kneeling
down in front of him. "Robbie, you need to listen to mum. She needs
our help as much as possible. Please be a good boy, hmmm? Go play
in the sandbox until I call you for lunch." Robbie ran off, doing
as his father asked. He stopped, gave his mother a hug and signed
“I love you” before continuing on.

"Thank you, James," Eileen said wearily,
trying to manage a smile. "I'm sorry. I just don't have the energy
or patience right now."

James smiled, wrapping his arms around her.
"You have a very important excuse," he replied, placing a hand on
her abdomen. "I just hope she's as pretty and intelligent as her
mother. Robbie certainly has the intelligence, at least for
negotiating."

Eileen watched Robbie. He was roleplaying
with his toys. "Strike cowors, bwidge trats!" he shouted, shuffling
his toys about.

James chuckled. Eileen was surprised by his
speech. "Sweetie, where did you learn to talk like that?" she asked
him out of curiosity.

He looked up at her. "I a piwrate, momma!” He
rolled his eyes and gave her a smirk.

She could not help but laugh.
Why, he
reminds me so much of…

James continued to hold Eileen. Resting his
head on her shoulder, he continued to nuzzle her, taking in a deep
breath. With a happy sigh, he squeezed her tightly, and then
relaxed. He buried his face comfortably in the crook of her neck.
He felt a shiver of excitement as she ran her fingers up the back
of his neck and through his hair. She still managed to thrill him,
despite being together for over eight years.

"Let's have another," he suggested, trying to
snuggle even closer to her than before.

"Another what, exactly?" she asked him.