A TOUCH OF DESTINY | Henry Turner

06. Days at Sea

"WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?"

Jack's voice startled Lyla out of her daydream, from which she had been thinking about Henry and reminiscing on their childhood memories. When her father's voice interrupted her thoughts, she turned to him.

"Nothing," she replied, turning back to look out at the sea.

The sky had darkened considerably now, and the stars were beginning to appear as the day turned to night. Lyla loved watching the stars, because they reminded her of her mother. All she wanted to do was free her family from their respective curses.

"Didn't look like nothing," Jack said, leaning on the railing beside his daughter. "Come on, tell me what's got you looking so glum."

"I was just thinking about mum," Lyla replied. "And about Henry and when we were kids."

"Ah, is this some strange childhood fancy come back to haunt you?" asked Jack, his tone teasing.

Lyla rolled her eyes. "Even if it was, I wouldn't tell you, and besides, it's quite clear that he has his eyes on somebody else."

As she spoke, her gaze wandered over to Henry, who was staring at Carina across the ship. Both of them had been freed by the crew, and Carina was mapping the stars in her diary, trying to uncover the map.

"Well, that doesn't matter," Jack said. "You don't want to be filling your head with boys and all that nonsense."

"Says the man who's happily married," Lyla muttered.

"True, I am happily married, but you know all the stories of what happened between your mother and I," Jack said. "Terrible curses that damn near tore us apart forever."

"I don't want that," Lyla chuckled. "But I don't know, I guess I always hoped I'd find somebody."

"And you will," Jack said. "And when the time comes, you'll know that they're the right person."

"How?"

"Because you'll feel different with them," Jack replied. "Like your mother, for example. She came aboard my ship all those years ago and when I first laid eyes on her, I just knew there was something about her. Destiny is written for us, my love, and I believe that your mother and I were destined to find one another, but that doesn't mean we can't take control of it and write it ourselves."

"Destiny," Lyla muttered. "Everybody's always talking about destiny, like your entire life is already mapped out for you. Well, if that's the case, then my destiny must be to be alone and miserable."

"Now, you know that's not true," Jack said. "Your life hasn't all been miserable."

"No, I suppose it hasn't," Lyla said. "I'm sorry, dad. I guess it's just... I miss mum."

"I miss her too, Baby Bird," Jack said, pulling out the bottle containing the Pearl. "But we've got her. We just need to get her back."

"I just want a hug," Lyla said. "Like, a mum hug. She always gave the best hugs."

Suddenly, she was enveloped in her father's arms, face pressed against his chest as he pinned her arms to her side as he hugged her. "I know I'm not your mum, but I'm doing the best I can."

"I know, dad," Lyla whispered. "And I love you."

"I love you too, Baby Bird."

—

When most of the crew were asleep, Lyla was still awake, sitting on the railing overlooking the sea, feet dangling over the edge. One wrong move and she would fall, but she loved the thrill she got whenever they hit a particularly large wave or the boat rocked a little more than usual.