Page 67 of Enchanted By a Pirate
"Before we talk to the pirates, I have a matter to clarify with you, Toni."
The giant furrowed his bushy eyebrows. "What is it, Anemone? Any problems? Do you want me to protect you from the captain?"
"No, but… I have to ask you something."
Anton grinned. "You can ask me anything!"
Anna clasped her hands together. How should she start? She didn't want to offend him, but if she didn't confront him directly about her suspicions, she would never know the truth.
The giant tilted his head questioningly. "What is it?"
She just needed to close her eyes and go for it. She had to sort things out with him and if she delayed it, the conversation wouldn't become any easier. "Chris and I talked a lot about what might have happened back then — and also about how I was brought back."
Anton nodded. "Are the pirates who kidnapped you awake?"
She shook her head. "That's not it, but… they used fairy dust to bring me back, but Chris says he used all of it when he wassearching for me. So, they couldn't have used the dust I gave Chris back then."
"But who did they get it from?" Anton cocked his head. His expression was so innocent that she immediately felt guilty. Nevertheless, she could not back down.
She raised her shoulders questioningly. "Either the source of fairy dust has not dried up or it has been rerouted and someone other than the fairies is controlling it. Or…" She took a deep breath. Now or never. "Or someone who knows where the fairies stashed the remaining stock gave them the dust."
Anton nodded and scratched his head. "That sounds logical to me. But who knows about it other than the fairies?" He frowned. "You're not saying you suspect Iris and Margerite?"
"No, absolutely not. But… Who knows where the remaining fairies are?"
"Just the fairies and me. Otherwise…" He paused.
She looked up at him contritely. "I trust you, Toni, that's why I want to hear from you if maybe you… missed me so much… you were looking for a way… You were sitting in the meadow when I was returned as if you had known I would show up there."
Although half of Anton's face was covered by his scraggly beard, she could see the corners of his mouth turning down. "You don't think I had something to do with the fairies dying?"
She shook her head resolutely. "No! I do not believe that. I was merely wondering if you might have been involved in the effort to bring me back." She smiled to show him that she didn't have any reservations about him. She observed his every move, as much as his hair allowed.
Anton also looked at her. He shook his head slowly. "Anemone, I missed you a great deal and I would have done anything to get you back. If I had known about that possibility, who knows? Maybe I would have been able to do it. But I didn'tknow and therefore I had nothing to do with it. I've never taken anything from someone that wasn't mine."
His eyes remained clear and the expression in them was sincere. As she breathed a sigh of relief, she surprised herself at how much stress she had felt over that tiny possibility. But she hadn't been mistaken about him. Thank heavens. The feeling in her heart had spoken the truth and the weight was lifted from her shoulders.
Anton sighed, causing her hair to flutter. "I was in the meadow because it was our meadow. We spent a lot of time there, actually everywhere in the Kingdom of Flowers, but especially in that meadow. We would look out to sea and tell each other stories. And almost always when I was waiting for you, I would lie in that meadow and sleep or read. I've been so certain all these years that if you showed up, you'd come there. To me."
Anna smiled at him. Tears welled up in her eyes as she noticed the fervor with which Anton spoke.
"I've missed you so much, Anemone."
"I've missed you too, Toni."
He slowly brought his hand to his face and she stroked his cheek.
"I'm glad we talked about it."
"I bet the pirate planted the idea in your head, didn't he?" Anton scowled at Chris, who was watching them constantly. Had he heard their conversation? Anna still saw extreme skepticism on his face.
"No, Toni, I wondered about it myself."
"But you believe me, right Anemone?"
She nodded. "Of course." Which was the truth. "Now let him join me on your hand so that we can all talk to each other."
Anton sighed deeply as he reached for the captain. The latter's expression darkened even more, but he did not resistbeing set down next to Anna. He immediately placed his hand on her upper arm and examined her carefully. "Are you okay, Ani?"
