The Sea & The Storm

four

Aidan

"He's just this way," Oliver's voice was hushed. "But he isn't doing well, Aidan. It's not looking good at all."

"Marie and Prudence?" I tied my hair back in one of the ribbons I bought for Natalie.

"Marie is a mess. I wouldn't stare. She nearly took my head off when I did it. Prudence... Well, she's Prudence, and she wouldn't cry if she thought she'd upset someone by it. My mother, my mother is worse than Marie....Louisa's come to visit." Oliver looked over his shoulder at me hesitantly.

I wasn't going to react.

"Oh, and Sarah's come, too."

That surprised me. "My sister, Sarah?"

"Yes," he hurried me along impatiently. The maids fell into curtsies as we passed. "Your nephew, too. She said Tom's busy with Plainter."

"Good. He's finally got some ambition that one, only took a wife and child to scare him."

"Right." Oliver wasn't listening to my grumbling. He was focused on the door in front of him. The paint was peeling around the ornate carving, but I remembered how this house used to be. Oliver, Sam, and I used to run from this door to avoid a tanning from Oliver's father. "Here we go."

The door opened and I thought I'd seen this all before. When Father died.

Marie didn't look up from her prayer beads and Prudence gave me a somber smile.

"Aidan," Uncle Marcus murmured. He was delirious, I figured. He never cared much for me. I was his older brother's only son. I was the reason for all of his strife.

"Aidan, come." It was Sarah. I nearly sighed with relief when I saw her sitting in the corner, Thomas sitting content in her lap.

I crossed the room and crouched beside her.

"Oh, Aidan." She wrapped her arms around my neck gently. Thomas squirmed uncomfortably at the movement, and I ruffled his hair. My sister's blonde brows knitted at me in reprimand. "Where have you been? You weren't by the docks these past two days."

"I had some trouble." Yes, if trouble was named Natie Braye.

She didn't look quite convinced. "You didn't come home."

"I-"

"I won't hear it now. Uncle will want to speak with you. But you will tell me later, Aidan Gerrard."

I chuckled. That was more of a threat than anything else. With luck, I wouldn't have to tell her anything.

"You would leave me waiting, boy? Knowing I might die any minute now-"

"Papa!" Marie hissed.

"It's the truth, Marie," he replied curtly. "And I won't have my own daughter reprimanding me, young lady."

Marie pouted, just like she always did when we were all younger. She was the youngest, if that gave her any excuse.

"Aidan, come," my uncle beckoned me over to his bedside. Marie shot me a glare when I passed in front of her, upsetting her beads and knitting.

He never looked worse. His wrinkled skin was green, and his white hair was nearly gone. Since I'd seen him last week, he'd deteriorated much more than I had expected.

I noticed Marcus, his eldest son, was missing, dealing with their own fishing business probably and putting all rumor to rest that he couldn't handle his father's legacy.

His father didn't move when I came near. It looked as if just lying pained him.

"Good man, to come and visit me here. My family will need you more than ever now. My girls, especially."