A Tale of Skeptical Sailors and Mischievous Mermaids

Part 8

Laurens and Hamilton sat on volcanic rocks on opposite sides of the lagoon. Close to the ocean, Alex was leaned over the mermaid who had bewitched him earlier, whispering something to her as she smiled and pressed soft kisses to his face.

On the side neighboring the forest, John had brought some trinkets and keepsakes from the ship to show to Philip. The siren seemed interested in one of the gold coins John presented to him, taking and hiding it almost as soon as Laurens had taken it out of his pocket. John laughed a little. "Well, if you like that, you're going to mesmerized by this." He pulled on the chain by his hip and pulled out his pocket watch. He showed Philip the gleaming, engraved front and back then pushed the button on the top to reveal the timepiece inside. Philip looked at it closely, running his fingers over the face. "Now you can't steal this." John laughed. "I'm always running late as it is. I'd be lost if I had to rely on telling time by the sun."

He heard a splash and looked over at the other pair. The sylph had her arms around Alex's neck and John blushed when she was revealed from the waist up. He quickly turned back to Philip. "Who is that with Alex?"

The naiad looked over at the couple. "Liza."

"Hamilton! Her name is Liza." John called out but received no response. Alex had slipped in the water beside her and his face was obscured by her long, ebony hair and her hand on his cheek as he kissed her passionately. John smiled and turned back to Philip. "I don't think he cares what her name is."

He then reached into his shirt and showed Philip the locket he wore. When he opened it, there was a picture of a boy, similar in features to John. Philip studied it then looked up the sailor. "John?" He asked, pointing at the painting.

Laurens shook his head. "No, it's not me. My son." He sighed as he looked at the tiny portrait that had been painted inside. "Do you want to hear a story? I know you won't understand much of it, but may I tell it? It is something I don't share lightly." Philip looked up at him with an encouraging smile. "Very well then. When I was younger, I was in a relationship my father did not approve of. He forbid me from ever seeing this person again. He even sent me far away, to France, without even letting me say good-bye. I was furious and heartbroken and I stormed into the first tavern I could find, just wanting to wash away all the hurt. I ended up going home with a woman that night. I don't even know if I bothered to learn her name. I didn't really think too much about it until a few months later when I got a letter that said that woman was now carrying my child. She wanted money and she also wanted to remain respectable. In addition, she had written my father, who was more than eager to see his son take a wife, so I had to marry her. I was stuck in a life I never chose. A nagging wife and squalling newborn in a Mayfair townhouse that was too small and cramped but was in a posh neighborhood, which is all she cared about. I was miserable and decided since I had given up all my plans for happiness, I may as well give up my hopes for making it as an artist or writer as well. So, I joined the Navy. My family's wealth enabled me to buy a commission, so I instantly became an officer. My first tour, I was gone for almost an entire year. When I returned, I was greeted by a toddler who now unquestionably looked like me. I think I had been in denial about it, secretly accused her of setting me up once she realized who I was, but the proof was now staring me in the face. I tried to be a father, but my service was required on increasingly frequent patrols of the Atlantic and I was gone all the time. My absence and lack of affection for my wife put an irreparable strain on our household and she eventually found someone else. They ran away together, taking my son with them. They wanted to make a new life in America so like many before them, they sailed off from Liverpool to New York." He looked down and noticed his hands had started to tremble. "A few days later their ship disappeared; nobody on board was ever seen again." He took a deep breath and looked over the horizon. "Every time I'm out on the water I look for him. When I first saw you, I almost thought..." He shook his head. "but you're older than he would have been. And you know... not human." He smiled sadly and sighed. "It just would have been nice to see him again."