Page 73 of Crossbones
“He said he didn’t believe in what the Crown was doing, and that it wasn’t our fault we ended up in such a horrible situation.”
My mind is racing, running away with the implications of it all.
Caspian’s words hit me:“I don’t need my father and brother finding out what I’m doing…”
The gold really isn’t for De’Vero—it’s not even for him—it’s for this place—
For anyone ever wronged by the King.
May watches me gape like a fish out of water for a moment, amusement on her face before she takes my hands, growing serious once more.
“But enough about me—I thought you were dead, James.”
“For a while I was convinced I was,” I say quietly. “It was a bad time, May. I was angry, forced to do things I didn’t want to do for a kingdom that had just taken everything from me.” I shake my head. “I’ve been seeking my revenge ever since I got out from De’Vero’s clutches. I thought you were dead or I swear I would have—”
“Shh—I know,” May says gently, patting my hand. “I don’t blame you. The world is a big place. I’m just so happy you’re alright —you are alright?”
Am I alright?I nod slowly.
“He—he isn’t who I thought he was,” I say, my eyes drifting back out the front window.
I feel May watching me shrewdly. She always was good at reading people, and I’m sure that hasn’t faded much over the years.
“People rarely are,” May says sagely.
When I look back at her, she’s looking at me mischievously, a slight tilt to her head. I can feel heat creeping up my neck and I clear my throat. I’m saved from answering that look she has in her eyes when the door bursts open and a flock of children rush in.
Well, it’s only three, but it feels like a whole pack as they’re all shouting at once. Two girls and a little boy, faces flushed from the cold air, race up to May. They tug at her skirts, all of them trying to get a word in at once.
“Alright, alright—” She laughs. “One at a time!”
“Can Fox come to dinner, Ma?” The oldest asks.
She can hardly be over seven, and once more I’m left speechless as soon as I see the resemblance.
“Yes, yes, he can but first—” May looks up at me with a soft smile. “I want you to meet your Uncle.”
Three small faces turn to me.
I don’t know what to say. I look at May in shock. “They’re yours?” I whisper.
“Aye.” She says proudly.
I feel a small hand on my knee and look back down. Large bright blue eyes stare up at me, and I instantly melt. She lifts her hands as if wanting to be picked up. I’ve never held a child before, but I pick her up carefully.
“My name is Gabrielle,” she says solemnly. “What’s yours?”
My smile is wobbly as I struggle to speak around the emotions bombarding me.
“James.” I look up at May—she’s smiling with tears streaming down her face. “I guess I’m your Uncle.”
Gabrielle’s little face brightens. “Then you have to come to dinner too!”
The evening was one out of a dream. Caspian and I had dinner at May’s house where I floated along on a cloud of warmth, family and hilarious chaos. I was feeling so many emotions I often felt adrift, like it wasn’t real and at any moment all those feelings would dissolve and leave me bereft again. It was like something I’d always imagined but never thought I’d have in a million years.
I thought this was all beyond my capacity to experience in this life. Something I didn’t deserve.
After dessert and helping May put all the children to bed, I’d needed some air so I walked out into the garden and followed a small path from May’s house to this overlook.
