Edward Teach Died on a Beach (OFMD)

Chapter 21

Tea. Edward knew how to sit quietly and drink tea. They sat in the dining room.

It felt surreal. The kids (especially Alma) were happy to see Stede again. For once, the table didn't seem so long and empty. Mary sat at the head of the table. Doug sat to her left and the kids sat to her right. Stede sat across from her with Ed at his right.

The room was uncharacteristically jovial. Well, Stede knew how it was when he was gone, but even with him back, Doug and Mary chatted happily. The kids laughed and argued. It felt surprisingly more comfortable than it had all other times he'd sat at that table. It wasn't awkward. Well, Ed was a bit noticeably quiet, but Mary and the others didn't know that that was odd.

Ed was shaking his leg under the table. He felt Stede's foot touch his under the table. He smiled slightly. Stede was talking to his kids cheerfully. He looked happy. His daughter, Alma, was asking him about his travels.

Ed felt horrifically out of place. He couldn't relate to their fancy people topics. He didn't have horses (he didnt even remember the last time he'd seen one. He didn't have pigs or fancy dinners. He'd never gone to a child's recital.

Listening to them was better than having to talk, though. Ed didn't want to say anything wrong. He didn't want to scare them away.

As the servants brought out breakfast, Mary gave Stede a look.

"Enough about that, though," Stede said. "It's time to eat."

Ed had gotten used to the bread, crackers, and marmalade that Roach supplied them with. As a matter of fact, the marmalade was a treat.

Ed looked at the plates in front of him. There was bacon, cold turkey, sausage, and eggs. Ed's eyes widened when he saw a platter of fresh fruit.

He glanced over at Stede, trying to figure out how to proceed. When he looked back to Mary, he noticed her watching him.

"Alma, Louis, can you go help the servants?" Mary asked.

Alma nodded and got up. Louis followed her quickly. Ed heard them chattering as they ran away.

"So, Ed..." Mary said. "How did you and Stede meet?"

Ed glanced at Stede for a moment, wondering how truthful he should be.

Stede shrugged slightly. "Go ahead."

"Well..." Ed paused to watch Stede hand him a plate of everything. He glanced over at Stede with that same look that he'd given him when Stede had put that little bit of fabric in his pocket. He blinked. "Stede's ship was ambushed by the Spanish navy. I brought the ship I was on up and my crew fought them off. Caught Stede just before he was hanged."

Doug raised a brow curiously.

"So you had your own ship? Were you a captain?" Mary asked.

Ed glanced at Stede. "Yes."

Mary hummed.

There was a bit of silence.

"Why'd you join Stede's crew?" Mary asked just before she began to eat.

Ed smiled slightly, watching Stede start to eat. "We were sort of... both captains... of the Revenge for a while. It ended up being too much pressure."

Mary nodded. "I can imagine. You know... having so many people rely on you."

Ed nodded back. "It requires quick wits. You have to make tough decisions. I really admire people who can deal with that."

Ed's eyes flicked to Stede. Stede beamed with pride. Ed mimicked how Stede ate, using the same utensils and eating it in the same order. As they ate, they grew quiet for a while. Alma and Louis returned.