Forgotten Truths (The Forgotten Truths Series)

by Justine E. Domke

I stretched and yawned as light appeared in the sky. The sun was rising. James did the same thing and smiled when I yawned again, not able to stop it.

  “Go to bed. You look exhausted.”

  “Well, we have been up all night.”

  He stood up. “You’ve looked exhausted for the past few days. And when you did sleep, it wasn’t for long and didn’t look like it was a very deep sleep. Just relax and don’t worry about anything. I’ll get a few hours of sleep and come in and check on you later.”

  “I’ve gone several days without sleep and I’ve been fine.” I yawned again, but I didn’t want to admit defeat. The bed was very comfortable under me. There was no doubt that if I lay down right here, I wouldn’t wake up for several hours.

  “But you’ve been very stressed the past few days. Just don’t worry about it.” He pulled the chair back to where it had been originally and went to the door. He had his hand on the handle, but stopped and looked back at me.

  “May I ask you something?”

  I yawned in response.

  “Have I gained any of your trust since yesterday?”

  I gave him a tired look. “Was that what you were trying to do?”

  “No, I just want to know if answering your questions made a difference.”

  “I have more where those came from.”

  He looked down at the ground, and then met my eyes again. “So is that a no?”

  I closed my eyes for a moment and then opened them. “No. But it isn’t a yes either.”

  He smiled. “I’ll take that. Get some rest, and I’ll come in and check on you later.”

  After he left, I stood up and went over to the bench against the window. I watched as the sun rose above the town and how it glistened off the water. I leaned my head against the glass, not able to keep it up anymore. I closed my eyes and let the sun warm my face as I fell asleep.

  I dreamt that I was walking through a town, looking for Mark. We had somehow gotten separated. I picked up my pace, starting to get worried that I couldn’t find him. I tripped over my own foot and landed on the ground. I crawled over to the building next to me and sat against the wall, crying. I was never going to find him. I suddenly heard a voice in my ear say, “I’m going to pick you up, please don’t panic.”

  I turned my head and saw James leaning over me cautiously. He picked me up, and when he set me down, it was on something soft. I kept my eyes on him and said, “I can’t find him.” He smiled down at me. “We’ll find him. Don’t worry.”

  When I woke, the sun was filling the room with a bright light. I rolled over onto my side and stretched my back. The bed was much softer than anything I’d ever felt before. Then I had a thought. I hadn’t fallen asleep on the bed. I opened my eyes and saw James sitting in the chair, pulled up by the bed again, and blocking my view of outside. He was watching me carefully with concern on his face.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked quietly, my voice hoarse.

  James reached over to the table next to the bed where a glass of water was. I sat up and after he handed it to me, I took a big drink. When I was done, only half the glass was full. He took it back and set it on the table again.

  “Do you know how long you’ve been sleeping?”

  I shook my head. It didn’t hurt anymore.

  “It’s been almost two days. I was about ready to call the doctor because I thought it had to do with your head.”

  I leaned back down into the pillows. I closed my eyes as I sank into them. “This bed is more comfortable than anything I’ve ever slept in.”

  He laughed loudly. “You were just comfortable?”

  I looked at him. “I guess. Did you move me from the window?”

  He nodded. “Maybe I shouldn’t have though since you slept so long on the bed. However, you look much better than you have in several days. More rested.”

  “Your eye seems like its getting less black, too.”

  He reached up and touched his eye. “I guess. It doesn’t bother me.”

  My stomach growled, and I realized I was starving. James noticed, too. He stood up and walked around the bed. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

  “I can make it downstairs.” I tried to sit up, but stopped when he changed his direction from the door to me.

  “I’ll bring it up for you.” He insisted.

  It took me a minute to realize why he insisted. “Captain Brown is downstairs, isn’t he?”

  He shrugged and didn’t answer. “I’ll be right back.”

  He came back several minutes later with a tray of food. I saw eggs, bacon and toast. There was also an orange that had been peeled already and cut into slices. I sat up, and he placed it on my lap. I picked up my fork and dove right into the eggs.

  He sat down on the edge of the bed to watch me for a moment before he spoke again. “I know you’re wondering why I didn’t want you to see Captain Brown.”

  I glanced at him before quickly going back to my plate.

  “He’s still acting a little strange, and I don’t want you to get uncomfortable. I also don’t want you starting up a fight with him over something and being kicked out of the house. I don’t think you want that either.”

  “What type of fight would I start with him and why?”

  “I’m not sure, but he’s very blunt with his questions and statements. He likes things a certain way.” He ran his hand through his hair, but kept his focus on my body.

  I looked down at my shirt. “In other words, he’d comment on my wardrobe preference.”

  “That’s one thing. He made me go into town the first day after we got here and order some material for more dresses. Now, the material has come in, but they need your sizes to make the dresses. And before you protest, just let them make the dresses and then we’ll bring them back and you can pretend you wear them.”

  “What am I supposed to wear into town then?” I looked over at the floor where my dress had been, but it wasn’t there anymore.

  “You’ll just have to wear something of mine, and the tailors will understand that you didn’t have anything. You lost it in a fire or something.” He slid his hand through his hair again as he looked away.

  I nodded and slid my tray toward my knees. He picked it up and set it by my feet.

  “When are we going?”

  He shrugged. “Tomorrow maybe, if you’re awake during normal hours of the day.”

  “Why can’t we go now?”

  “The tailor isn’t there today. Plus, it’s much later than you think it is.”

  I looked at the tray next to him. “You brought me breakfast though.”

  “Yes, but it was really dinner. I just figured you’d like something that was a more breakfast style.” He smiled.

  “So tomorrow then.” I leaned back into the pillows.

  “If you’re up during normal hours, like I said.”

  I stretched. “I don’t think I’ll sleep much tonight after this. I’m not tired at all.”

  “We’ll see.” He leaned back against the bedpost and closed his eyes. He looked ready to fall asleep. I looked at him closer and saw that just underneath the black eye, I saw a black ring, the kind you get when you don’t sleep.

  “Do you ever sleep?”

  He shook his head. “Not really.”

  “Why not?”

  He shrugged. “I haven’t had a full night sleep in years. I’ll doze for a few hours, but then I wake up and stare at the ceiling until dawn. Usually once the sun starts to rise I get up and take a walk along the beach.”

  “That sounds like something I’d like to do, but we’re rarely docked, and it’s not the same just walking around the deck.”

  He opened one of his eyes to look at me. “You?”

  I rolled my eyes. “I told you, the only reason I slept for so long was because I was comfortable. How comfortable can you get in hammock surrounded by men who snore?”

  He closed his eyes now, a smile on his lips. “Good point. So do you want to join me?”r />
  “For what?”

  He opened his eyes and looked at me. “A walk on the beach tomorrow morning at sunrise.”

  I shrugged. “Sure.”

  He grinned. “I look forward to it.”

  We sat there in silence for a little while. I looked outside while he relaxed against the bedpost. Clouds were looming just above the horizon, and the water was getting choppy. A storm was coming in.

  “I don’t think tomorrow will work,” I said as a couple of leaves blew past the window.

  “Why?” He sounded tired.

  “A storm is coming in.”

  “Well, we’ll do it soon then.”

  I looked at him, about to ask him when, but his head was starting to droop.

  “Go to bed.”

  “I’ll only sleep for a couple of hours,” he mumbled.

  “Yes, but you’re falling asleep here, and I want to get out of this bed.”

  He finally opened his eyes and met my gaze. He was curious. “Why?”

  “I want to explore.” I lifted back the covers, but he leaned forward. I paused and frowned at him.

  “No.”

  “Why not?” I folded my arms across my chest.

  “I don’t want Captain Brown and you getting into a fight.”

  I was about to respond when I heard footsteps and turned toward the door. They weren’t near, and it sounded like someone coming up stairs. Then they started to get softer, as if the person was moving away, and then a door opened and closed. I raised my eyebrow as I looked back at James.

  He shook his head. “Just because he came upstairs doesn’t mean he’s going to bed.”

  “What’s the real reason you don’t want me looking around? Are you hiding something?” I challenged as I leaned closer.

  “No.” He looked me in the eye.

  “Then why not? If I have to stay here, then why can’t I get my own bearing of the place?”

  He shook his head again. “No.”

  I turned sideways but kept my eyes on his as I put my feet on the floor. “You can’t stop me.”

  He shifted his position so he was a mirrored image of me. “Yes I can.”

  “How?” I dared him.

  He was suddenly leaning over me. I wasn’t sure how I had reacted so fast, but I was lying on my back with his face right over mine.

  “Why don’t you want me looking around at things?” I narrowed my eyes at him. I wasn’t going to let him get to me and I made myself not think about how close he was.

  “Because this isn’t your house, and they aren’t your things.”

  “Oh please. It’s not like I’m going to steal anything.”

  “The answer is still no.”

  “I’m not asking permission.”

  “No.”

  I sat up a little so that our noses were practically touching. An uncomfortable look appeared in his eye, but he tried to hide it. “You said I had to live here, so I should have the chance to look around at my pace to get comfortable.”

  “And are you comfortable right now?”

  I raised my eyebrow. “Are you?”

  We stared at each other for a few more minutes before he finally closed his eyes and sighed. He leaned back and sat next to me, but with a little more space between us. “Look, you can’t go snooping around Captain Brown’s things.”

  “Who says I will?” I sat up all the way. “I just want to look around and get an idea for all the rooms. Is that hard to understand?”

  “Alone?” He glanced at me. The weariness was starting to settle in again.

  “Why can’t I look around by myself? You make me nervous when you stand behind me and watch me.” I looked down at my hands.

  “Why would I make you nervous? Don’t guys on your ship watch every move you make?”

  “Not the same way that you do.”

  He stayed quiet for a moment. I took this opportunity to observe him. He was rubbing his forehead with his hand, clearly debating. He caught me staring at him, and I immediately looked back down at my hands. How had this awkwardness happened? I just wanted to look around, and he didn’t want me to. I was used to being told “no” but somehow, this was different. I couldn’t threaten him with my father the way I could with the men on the ship. I also had no power here the way I did on the ship. I was at James’ mercy, and it bothered me. It bothered me enough to let this become awkward. I had every right to yell at him about him kidnapping me, and I should have had a right to look around since this was where I was going to be staying for a while. But he was protecting something.

  “Look, I just don’t understand why I can’t get out of this bed, go downstairs, and check out each room. I honestly didn’t mean to get you angry.”

  “I’m not angry.”

  “Maybe not, but you’re clearly upset.”

  “Don’t pretend to understand how I feel. You know nothing about me.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  I was about to say something that was completely inappropriate until I looked up and saw he had a small smile on his face. I pushed the hair back from my face and said, “Yes.”

  He yawned. “I don’t think you’d understand.”

  “You can’t stay awake all evening to make sure I won’t go downstairs.”

  “No, but I can sit in front of your door and fall asleep so that you can’t get out.” He tried to smile again.

  “What about tomorrow?”

  He shook his head. “No luck.”

  I studied him, not trying to hide it either. He was struggling to keep his eyelids open, but his gaze never left my face. He had a very innocent and open face, which made me wonder if he’d ever broken any rules or done anything adventurous. He had a very strong and lean body, which I was beginning to take note of more often. I wasn’t sure what I thought about this fact either, which was why I usually tried not to focus on it or the feeling I got when he caught me studying him. Focusing my thoughts again, I looked down at his hands. They were callused and scarred, which I knew already from the few times he had touched my skin. This made me wonder if he worked more than he had told me previously. But this wasn’t the time to ask about it. I wanted to look around, and I needed to focus on getting him to let me.

  I slowly brought my gaze back up to his face. He kept his eyes steady on mine. What was it that he didn’t trust about me? Or was that it itself, that he didn’t trust me? It wasn’t because I was a pirate, because to him I wasn’t. But maybe it was because he thought I’d run away and try to find a way back to my father. He’d suggested it when we were on the ship and when he was waiting for me to take his hand to get in the carriage. That had to be it.

  I leaned a little forward. I lowered my voice as I said, “Why do you think I’m going to run away when you already stated that it’s wiser for me to stay with the person who’s kidnapped me since my father would find out that it was you?”

  He blinked, surprised by my question. “What?”

  “Isn’t that why you don’t want me to go anywhere, let alone by myself? You think I’m going to run away?”

  He looked away, the setting sun filtering through the clouds to bring just enough light on his face. He stayed that way while the room became almost completely dark before he turned back to me. “That’s not quite the problem.”

  “You want me to trust you, but how can I when you don’t trust me?”

  “It’s not that easy of a situation.”

  “Fine. Then if I can’t look around alone, will you come with me?”

  “I’m dead tired, Andrea, and I know you know that.” He stood up. “Try to relax. If you’re still awake when I come back in after I sleep for a little bit, then I’ll take you on a tour and let you explore to your heart’s desire. Is that reasonable?”

  “Don’t call me Andrea.” I glared at him. “And I just woke up. What am I supposed to do for a few hours?”

  I leaned back since I assumed I was going to hit the pillows. I must have moved a lot during the conversation
because I suddenly found myself falling off the bed. I grazed my head along the side of the table next to me, and a gasp escaped through my lips.

  James was by my side in an instant. He put his arms around me and pulled me against him. I started to struggle.

  “Stop moving. Let me check your head, that’s all I’m doing.”

  I realized that was all that he was doing and rested my head on his shoulder. His hands were in my hair, feeling for a bump or a cut, but I barely felt his touch. I looked at his hands as he pulled them away but couldn’t see if there was blood on them since there was no light in the room.

  “I don’t think you cut yourself.” He sighed as I started to sit up. “You sure seem accident prone.”

  “I am not.” I put my hand on my head but didn’t feel anything.

  “You must be prone to hitting your head then.” He stood up. After a moment, I felt his hand touch my shoulder. “Do you need help getting up?”

  I shook it off and stood up. I blinked a few times and then I realized I was starting to fall backwards. I hit James’ chest, and he put his arms around me to catch me.

  “Let me help you.”

  “I’m fine.” I tried to push against him, but he kept his arms around me, not tightening them though.

  “I’m just going to help you to the bed. Okay? That’s it.”

  I felt too dizzy to be able to take the few steps to the bed. Feeling ashamed, I turned my face into his shoulder. “Can I ask you something?”

  “What?” His voice was right in my ear.

  “I… I can’t…” I reluctantly lifted my head and looked at him. He was staring into my eyes.

  “It’s okay.” He bent over and wrapped his arm under my legs so he could lift me with ease. He carried me the few steps I shamelessly couldn’t make on my own and set me on the bed. He pulled the covers over me and then stood still. He continued to watch me with a concerned expression.

  “I’m fine.” I managed to say softly. I felt an overwhelming sensation to sleep come over me. “Go to bed.”

  ~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~

  Bright light on my eyelids woke me. I turned my head and saw the reflection of the sun glistening off the water. So much for the storm I had anticipated. I closed my eyes and tried sitting up slowly. I felt no dizziness or pain as I had on the ship, which I took as a good sign. I opened my eyes and sighed. James was lying on his back at the foot of the bed, inches from my feet. He had one hand over his eyes, which looked closed, while the other one was behind his head. He looked peaceful, but had obviously slept there all night.