115~Lady Cyann~
Enjoy!
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Spinning Yarns: The Tale of Tori Law
Chapter Thirty-Six - Ever After
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Tori slept easily that night, to the sound of the waves, of the wind, and of Zia breathing beside her. Tori felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her chest; Zia knew of her feelings for Jahson.
But until those feelings were somehow resolved, Tori would have to live with them.
Zia woke up at around seven o'clock. Tori still lay asleep beside her, and she poked her in the ribs. Tori sat up, chattering undecipherable syllables. Zia laughed and poked her again, which woke her up completely.
"What? Where's the fire?" Tori asked, rubbing her eyes wearily with her fists.
"No fire," Zia said, "I'm hungry, let's go eat." Tori looked at her, bewildered. She was not ready to be awake yet. Nonetheless, Tori dragged herself out of bed, the long braid that Zia had made trailing down her back.
The two ladies, not bothering to dress, walked down to the galley to see if anything had been prepared. When there was no food to be found, they decided to cook themselves some breakfast.
"I'm sick of hardtack and dried fruit!" Tori moaned. Zia laughed.
"I can make a mean ambrosia with these ingredients," she said, digging through the cupboards.
Ten minutes later Tori and Zia were outside on the deck, eating fresh ambrosia contentedly. When they were through, Zia patted her stomach with love.
"The baby likes strawberries," she said with a gentle smile. Tori couldn't help but smile back, but in her mind she was constantly reminded that it was Jahson's baby.
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Tori didn't see much of Nick that day. She mostly sat and talked with Zia, or watched Jahson monkey around up in the rigging. She felt a pang of sickness every time she looked at the Jamaican, loving him, and at the same time knowing that he would never be hers.
And at the same time she was thinking those thoughts, another part of her mind was scolding her for being stupid. She already had a wonderful man who loved her in Nick Jones. Why did she need someone else? Especially someone who had been just a friend!
Zia, being the smart woman that she was, often saw the way Tori looked at Jahson. She knew that Jahson loved her, and her baby. She felt sorry that Tori had those feelings. She was never jealous, or spiteful. She understood that Tori could not help her feelings, and as long as she did not act upon them everything would be fine.
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At suppertime, Nick made his first appearance to the women.
"I'm beat," he said, wiping sweat from his forehead, "All day long I've been looking through cupboards and cleaning things out. Not to mention dumping a whole lot of sour rum off the side." He smiled at Tori, who found she just did not have the heart to return the gesture.
Zia had cooked again that night, turning salt pork and flour into a feast. They ate primarily in silence, except for Zia and Jahson whispering sweet nothings in each other's ears.
Nick stared at Tori the whole meal. She did not seem to notice. He realized that her mind was elsewhere, and didn't have anything to do about it. What was on her mind? Did he do something to offend her? Nick's thoughts swum in his head. He felt like Tori was drifting away from him, no matter how hard he tried to hold on.
He guessed it didn't matter anyway, though. They'd land in Ocho Rios at dawn anyhow. All good things had to come to an end.
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After dinner, Jahson and Zia left the galley, while Tori sat in silence at the table. Nick cleared the dishes and was washing them in the tub. He eyed Tori as she sat, staring into space. It was strange how he couldn't reach her lately, and she never responded to his acts of affection. He had thought that she loved him.
"Tori," he said, his voice sounded weird in his own ears, "I think I'm going to miss you."
As he expected, she did not answer.
"We'll be arriving in Ocho Rios at dawn," he said stacking the last of the dishes and laying down the dishrag.
Tori did not move. Nick turned his back to the leave the room, his head down. Tori slammed her palms down onto the table and rose, her eyes shut tightly.
"I need you," she said breathlessly, and tore towards Nick. He encircled her with his arms, and they kissed.
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Tori had thought all their other kisses had had true love and meaning behind them. She had been horribly, horribly wrong. This kiss was the most unbelievable thing she had ever experienced in her entire life. Tori was agonizingly aware or every place their bodies touched, their lips, hands, waists. Her blood pumped hot through her veins, and her heart beat in rhythm with Nick's. Suddenly, there was no table, no galley, no ship, no Jahson or Zia, no ocean around them. It was just Nick and Tori, bound forever in true love's embrace.
All in a single kiss.
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When they finally tore away from each other, it was only because they had to breathe. Tori smiled at Nick, shining as bright as the sun. She had made a realization! Nick was the only one she would ever truly love, and she had known that from the moment he kissed her the first time in the field! How could she have ever thought she loved Jahson?
'Nick, Nick, Nick!' her mind screamed.
Tori pulled completely away and began to sprint out the door. Nick tried to stop her.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his strong hand clasped around her arm.
"Yes, yes, never better!" Tori sang.
He gave her a questioning look, brows furrowed. Tori could hardly bear it, how cute he looked with his mussed hair and confused expression.
"Really, what's wrong?" he asked.
Tori was gone, but he could hear her voice, "Just a lapse of judgment!"
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Tori skipped out onto the deck, thrilled that her problem was finally solved.
She found Zia and grabbed her hands, dancing around in a circle.
"I don't love Jahson, I don't love Jahson!" she screamed, laughing. Zia looked at her strangely.
"That's great, darling."
Jahson saw her pass, singing her song. For a moment he looked offended, but Tori explained.
"Jahson, you're my dearest friend, but I don't love you 'in that way'," she explained, and a smile split Jahson's face. As Tori ran around the deck, she shed her heavy dress in the heat. She skipped and frolicked and danced around the deck, her shift flying in the wind.
Thinking she was sick, Zia insisted that she go to bed.
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Tori could not sleep that night. She just lay in bed, reliving the kiss over and over. And she could not have been happier.
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At dawn, Nick came and knocked on her door. She rose and opened it, having been awake already. Nick did not say anything, just smiled sadly. Tori slipped her hand into his and they walked out onto the deck.
No one else was awake. Everything was bathed in a pure gray light, the sun not yet up over the horizon. Nick had just dropped the anchor into the harbor at Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Tori looked at him, both love and tears in her eyes.
Nick watched her begin to walk away, down the gangplank and out of his life.
"Aw, hell!" He cried, and ran to embrace Tori.
"Return to me," Nick whispered, their faces inches apart. His voice dripped with passion.
"Wha-what?" Tori stuttered, looking deep into his eyes.
"Come now, love. Pack your things. Come away with me, as part of my crew." He tightened his grip around her, and kissed her deeply. When their lips parted, Tori looked at him slyly.
"What post would you give me, captain?"
"My wife," Nick whispered into her mouth as he moved to kiss her again.
She pressed her finger to her lips and pushed him away.
"Yes, Nickson-er, Nicholas," she smiled, "I love you."
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The End
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