A TOUCH OF DESTINY | Henry Turner

13. What Lies Beyond Destiny

"SO WHAT'S YOUR NEXT STEP?" Amara asked, as they sailed towards Shipwreck Cove.

She was sitting around the table in Jack's cabin with Lyla and her husband, discussing their next moves after they saw to it that Will Turner was truly free of his curse. Jack had JJ in his lap, but the boy was fast asleep. Too much excitement for one day had worn him out, and he was snoring soundly in his father's arms.

Lyla shrugged. "I don't know. Henry's asked me to stay with him for a while."

"And you're going to?" Jack asked.

Lyla nodded. "I think so, yes. It's what I want to do, dad."

"Well, if that's what you want, then I'm happy for you to do that," Amara said. "But be prepared for us to visit you at every opportunity. After all, you are my little girl."

"But now you've got JJ," Lyla said. "And you can teach him everything you both taught me. Just promise me none of you will get trapped in a bottle."

Both Amara and Jack laughed, with the former saying, "I won't be intending to, if that's any consolation."

Lyla smiled. "Surprisingly, yes, that's very comforting."

Amara had a sad smile on her face. "I'm so proud of you, Lyla. You've become such a brilliant young woman."

"I'm proud of you too," Jack said. "Thanks for putting up with me."

"You're my dad," Lyla said. "I love spending time with you."

"Do you have to go?" Jack asked. "Can you not stay and only visit Henry instead of staying with him?"

"Jack," Amara said softly. "This is her choice. She knows what she's doing."

"One can only hope," Jack and Lyla said at the same time.

They both laughed as Amara rolled her eyes. "I can tell you're related."

"I should hope so," Jack said. "She got all of my good looks."

"Now, we both know that's not true," Amara replied.

As the two of them bickered playfully between themselves, Lyla smiled. Her family was, and always had been, the most important thing to her, but she was ready to take that leap away from the nest and free fall into the next chapter of her life. She was ready to spread her wings and learn to fly away from the safety of her parents' comfort, and now that she had Henry, she was certain that this was the time for making that leap.

When they docked in Shipwreck Cove, Jack stayed aboard the Pearl while Amara and Lyla went ashore with Henry and Carina. Before she left, however, Jack pulled his daughter aside for a final parting gesture.

"I want you to know I'm proud of you," he said. "And that you're always welcome back on the ship if you ever need to get out. And I... I want you to know that no matter what happens, you'll always be my Baby Bird."

"Dad," Lyla whispered, feeling tears prick her eyes. "I'll always be your daughter, no matter what happens."

"And I know you love Henry, but—"

"But you're the first man that really loved me," Lyla said. "And nothing can take that away from you, alright? Besides, it's not like I'm going far. You can come back whenever."

"And I will," Jack said. "Every week."

"Maybe not every week," Lyla smiled. "But frequently."

"Alright," Jack nodded. "Well, you better go. Be safe, Baby Bird."

"I will, dad," Lyla said. "Oh, and before I forget, this is for you."

She reached into her pocket and pulled out what remained of the gold from St. Martins. She handed it to her father, who laughed when he saw what he had been given. "Where did you get this?"