Jeff the Accountant Escapes the Wretched Burning Depths of Hades

A Different Perspective

Doug, looking at Ed and Mary, didn't remember ever seeing anyone's eyes grow so big, so fast.

Mary, looking at Doug and Ed, didn't remember ever seeing anyone's eyes grow so big, so fast.

Blackbeard, looking at Mary and Doug, didn't remember ever seeing anyone's eyes grow so big, so fast.

A huge, overwhelming, breath-robbing question was working it's way through Blackbeard's system. Strangling him. Setting off every happiness neuron his overworked brain possessed.

"He's alive?" a meek start.

He looked at Doug.

"He's alive???" getting stronger.

He looked at Mary.

"STEDE IS ALIVE???" The question boomed from Ed's lips, so much so that Mary attempted to calm him down, worried that outside passers-by might hear.

"Yes, Ed" Mary smiled and laughed. Infected with the joy exploding off her incongruous house guest.

"It's true?" Blackbeard asked Doug as he jumped up.

"It's true" Doug freed his hand. The one Ed grabbed when he asked his question.

"HE'S ALIVE!!!" Ed lifted Mary and spun her around. He lifted Doug and spun him around.

"This is, this is great. I can't believe it."

"But... where is he, then? Why hasn't he found me?" He walked over to a window, peered out past the gardens, looked to the billowy white clouds in the blue sky.

"...ineptitude?" Doug offered, quietly.

They all laughed, and it felt so good, to all of them.

They talked for another half hour, Mary and Doug filling Ed in on the details of their well planned deception; the pantomime of "the death of Stede Bonnett" performed for the whole town.

Soon Mary and Ed went back to the studio. Ed's disposition lending itself to a different way of seeing - everything - now. He looked at her paintings differently. She told him that she owed a great deal of her success to Doug.

"But, I'm sure there was a good deal of talent there, for him to work with. To nurture." His face graced Mary with one of the many expressions of admiration that Stede had grown to love.

Mary marveled at the enigmatic presence of the man standing with her in her studio. Clad in black leather, tattoos up and down his arms. Talking of her talent being "nurtured". "Stede, You've got to find your way back to this man" she said.

"Yes, Stede. You've got to find your way back to this man!" Ed echoed. They laughed together comfortably.

Mary took his hand, much like she would have with a friend she'd known for years, and led him to the area of her studio with works in progress.

"Mary, this is fantastic!" He was gazing at a painting of a sunset that was partially finished. "You haven't really seen a sunset, though, until you've seen one at sea."

Doug joined them.

"That could be arranged, you know." Ed said as Doug went to Mary's side, putting his arm around her. He looked from one to the other. "I could take you to see for yourselves."

Mary's brow furrowed.

"No, no, you'd love it." "Okay," he said when he saw the looks of uncertainty on their faces, "I'd love it. Having someone aboard to talk about Stede with. Someone who doesn't care how...unlikely...a pairing we are."

"For a short while. Half a fortnight, no more. It's the least I can do to thank you for your hospitality."

Mary felt the words "you're family, Ed" trying to be heard. It was inexplicable. But there it was. Yes, she felt confusion over what she was feeling, but it wasn't unsettling or uncomfortable.

What happened next confused Doug, as well. Maybe it was surprise more than confusion.

"Okay!" Mary said, looking from Blackbeard to Doug. "I mean, we only have this one life, right?" "Doug, the kids won't be back before we get back home. You're always telling me to look everywhere for inspiration, to take note of different perspectives. Aboard a ship, at sea, with colorful characters - I'm assuming you have 'colorful characters' " she said, looking for the hundredth time at Blackbeard's leather togs, "in the middle of the ocean..."

Ed was picturing Fang and Ivan, Jim, Izzy. "Colorful characters? You might say that. But, Mary, I'd have to be honest with you. We won't have enough time to, a, make it to the middle of the ocean."

They all laughed together yet again. Such an easy comfort had settled on them. Such an unlikely comfort. The three of them planning the next week's adventure together. Art instructor and student, who fell in love and married, and the bloodthirsty pirate loved by and in love with the student's ex-husband.