Leaving the Pirate (Book Three)

31. Released Tension

It was hard - alright, damn near impossible - to attend to Christopher, especially for the first few days. I had to find excuses to sneak outside and past maids doing laundry as well as avoiding Narciso when he was outside smoking. It was even harder trying to get by Leonardo who was constantly in the kitchen, so I could get food to feed Christopher. After a few days, however, the stress became easier to manage with the schedule we found.

My days were spent doing my best to manage my normal work life. I cared for Matteo and attended to my other chores such as mopping the hallways every day and sewing back together the toys Matteo broke. It was only thanks to that damn trainset that I could handle him a bit easier too.

Night times were much more difficult. After putting Matteo to bed, I went back into my room and waited until a certain time to creep downstairs and check up on Christopher. My constant fear of being caught where I wasn't supposed to, resulted in me becoming lighter on my feet as I walked and training myself to hold my breath before I entered a room.

It was during these delicate hours that I made a makeshift meal (usually a sandwich) that I snuck outside. Even outside, I forced myself to become alert. The stables weren't all that far away and even from the courtyard, I could make out the glow of some light of a midnight poker game.

Christopher would be awake at this time waiting for me. He would be sat up against a table fiddling around with some tool he found or tossing loose flower seeds in an empty pot. Once I even caught him disassembling an old wicker basket. He'd look up at me with surprise each time I came in the shed as if he still wasn't used to our schedule. I gave him a reassuring smile to calm him each time.

I kept that pitcher there for him to use during the day so I wouldn't need to keep bringing him water while I should be working. It was the first thing I did once I got in the shed every night. I'd run back inside with it and fill it up since it would be much more difficult to use the spigot near the stables - the only other water source.

Christopher would already be licking his fingers by the time I got back, his plate empty, and I'd smile at him, feeling like I did something I could finally be proud of. And every time he finished, he'd thank me for the meal, as if some mediocre sandwich could be mistaken for a grand feast.

It shouldn't have made me feel as honored as it did, honestly, but when Christopher briefly met eyes with me with genuine kindness in his eyes, I'd feel at peace.

In addition to bringing him food and water, it was necessary to bring him inside to use the bathroom. He was forced to hold it until I got back to him. During that time, I'd lead him inside and bring him to the closest bathroom. I'd wait outside the door nervously. It was only then that I silently prayed no one would appear.

I managed to steal some clothes off the drying line when I saw the opportunity. There wasn't much that could be done about what he was wearing then. The clothes were falling off him and smelled of who-knows-how-long sweat. I also took the time to bathe him to the best of my abilities with a rag and a bar of soap. In any sense, he badly needed a bath.

What's more, is that it became easier and easier to talk to him now that I didn't feel like there were eyes watching us from outside the shed. Most of the talk fell into things that I'd missed.

"Twins!?" I gasped in bewilderment. "Tristain is a father to twins?"

"A boy and a girl," said Christopher proudly. "Apparently their names are Bonnie and Beau. Bonnie, a Scottish name meaning beautiful, and Beau, a French name meaning handsome."

"Impressive. Those are perfect names."

"Aren't they?" he smiled at that. "It makes me glad that they found each other. From Jack's face, he couldn't have been more happy. He said that they have a place in the castle just for themselves. His Majesty found it necessary with Jack's position and all. As for Tristan, he's just relieved he doesn't have to work...a normal job that is. Jack said he's adjusting to becoming a father."