A Hidden Queen

Chapter 89

Josephine's heart stops. She stares at her grandfather, unsure of the words she just heard. The red eyebrows furrow in bewilderment as they get tossed about in her head. She was a queen? Surely not, why would they keep such things from her? She wonders. The deep blue eyes glance at each man, none wavering in their stares.

"Queen? Have you lost your bloody minds?" Joe howls, shooting from her chair.

"It's true." Gibbons offers weakly.

"The hell it is true! This is just a bunch of folly to prevent you from telling me what is really going on!"

"Sounds like a bunch of folly to me." Charlie chimes in, stretching his back.

"Shut up, Austin." John snaps harshly. "We don't need your commentary to add to her delirium."

"Do not tell him to shut up!" Joe challenges him hotly.

"Don't come yelling at me!" John counters.

"Then don't come verbally attacking my husband."

"Hey now, young lady. That is no way to speak to your uncle." Gibbons corrects also coming to his feet.

"Oh, pipe down old man. I am a grown ass woman! I will speak to him anyway I want!"

Albert sighs heavily as the four begin to argue, raising their voices every few seconds. Josephine had to admit that her own anger surprised her, but it flew right through her to hear John being so harsh with Charlie. They had never had the most loving relationship, but never has she heard him use such an abrupt tone with him. The situation would have quieted down if not for like her, John was up on his feet, snapping right back.

"That is enough!" Albert yells, silencing everyone in a breath. "Everyone sit-down and shut the hell up." Albert eyes Joe as she straightens her back, turning her glare on him. "I said sit-down little girl."

Josephine pinches her lips together, her body vibrating with the overload of adrenaline. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell her grandfather to shove off as they kept their hostile stances. However, she had seen that parental sternness one too many times to know now was not the time to keep pushing his buttons. Joe sighs heavily, breaking the contact and slowly lowering herself to her seat. She was too tired to deal with this battle.

"Thank you." Albert clears his throat, settling in a seat across from her. "Josephine, I know it is hard to believe but that is the truth."

"You're going to have to do better than that, Pops. Telling me we are some-type of royalty to a bunch of outlaws is not good enough. These men became pirates to escape kings; not have one ruling over them! God." She shakes her head, resting it in her hand. "I swear you're playing this cruel joke just so you do not have to tell me what is really going on."

"Josephine, how much of your past do you truly know?" Gibbons questions quietly, quickly changing tactics as she deeply furrows her brows. "I mean like your ancestral past, not your personal one."

Joe purses her lips, "Not much, I'm afraid. I only remember the stories dad would tell me. But they were just stories, things dad made up to make events more interesting." Joe shrugs, glancing about as the room grows increasingly quiet with nervous tension. "I mean right? They were just stories, were they not?"

"Clinton may have taken some creative leeway, but no Joey, they weren't just stories. They were real events that happened to real people." Albert corrects calmly.

"What? I.." Joe pauses, trying to gather her tongue. "I still don't understand. You're telling me that they were true? That there have been Carter's who have been kings?"