Chapter 21 #2
“We got them!” Roley yells, and comes to a halt in front of me. Fin sidles up beside him, and I crouch down, wrapping Roley in a tight hug.
“Be good, Roley. Remember to keep your back elbow up.”
He pulls away, nodding fiercely with a look of determination on his face like he’s trying to commit that to memory.
He turns to Fin then, both of their faces etched in sadness, and once again my heart shatters into pieces.
“Bye, Fin,” Roley says.
Fin gulps, his tiny face falling as he looks at his friend. “Bye Roley. Thanks for being my friend.”
They come together, wrapping their arms around each other in a hesitant hug, before backing away, each with tears in their eyes.
“Voyagers forever,” Roley mumbles.
“Castaways forever,” Fin replies.
Mara extends her hand to Roley, and he takes it. Without hesitation, she reaches into the outstretched pouch and grabs enough dust for the two of them, sprinkling it over their heads before they disappear.
A tiny sniffle meets my ears, and I can’t bear to look down and see Fin crying. Each goodbye has been harder than the last, but this…
This feels like I’m losing the brother I never had.
“Come here, little guy,” Jorn says as he walks toward us. He scoops Fin into his arms and tosses him into the air. Peals of laughter break the silence, halting Fin’s crying instantly. “Want to climb the mast one last time with me?”
“Yeah!” Fin cheers, and Jorn sets off, lifting Fin onto the first beam and following closely behind him.
Sig steps in front of Weston and me, and it’s the first time I’ve actually seen her face since we walked back through the portal. She’s just as much of a mess as I feel, with her eyes puffy and her cheeks tear stained.
She holds her hand up to us, her eyes averted. “I’m not leaving tonight. I—I—can’t. Not yet. If that’s okay, Cap.”
“It’s alright, Signee,” Weston murmurs. He moves to step toward her, but she steps back.
“Don’t.” She shakes her head and squeezes her eyes shut. “I can’t take any more tonight.”
Weston nods, and she turns away, her shoulders shaking as she wraps her arms around herself and disappears below.
Weston’s arms wrap around my shoulders, and he pulls me into his chest. If I thought I wasn’t holding back earlier, I was wrong. Sobs wrack my body as I bury my face in his hard chest. He holds me tightly and lets me cry, one hand wrapped around the back of my head as he gently strokes my hair.
After a few moments, I feel the rumble of his voice against my cheek.
“I’ll bring Fin home, then I’ll be back.”
I can only nod and cry harder, the reminder that this is final, too overwhelming to utter any words.
I told Fin I would try to visit him, but I have no idea when that could be.
I have no idea what is going to meet us back in Blackwood, if my father’s wrath will have effects that last years, or if he will be too caught up in both of our return that he will forget.
I don’t ask Weston to leave some dust here when he goes. He knows I trust him to come back for us. He wouldn’t ever leave Sig or Jorn or me behind. But this is his one final act as the captain, and I know he wants to see it through.
I barely hear when they approach from behind. Fin’s sadness is gone, his excitement from racing Jorn up the mast overshadowing it all.
Weston’s arms loosen around me and I pull away, pressing the heels of my hands into my eyes and sucking in air, trying to steady my breaths before crouching down to talk to Fin.
“Is it time to go?” he asks softly.
“It is.”
His chin quivers as he throws his arms around my neck and squeezes tight. I hold him, and let the tears fall silently now, shocked that I even have this many left in me.
“I love you, Lennox,” he says, the sound muffled against my shoulder. “I wish you were my sister, too.”
“I love you, Fin. I may not be your sister, but I’m so glad I get to be your friend.”
I lean back and hold him at arm’s length.
“Weston is going to bring you home safe, alright? He’ll know where you live, so maybe one day we can visit.”
“Will you practice your stories so you can tell me more?”
“I will do that.” My voice cracks on the last word, and I pull him into another hug before letting him go.
For how long, I do not know.
I now know how overwhelmed Sig felt because it feels like the world is crashing down on me.
The deck is too empty. The island is too quiet.
I can’t watch two more people I love disappear, even if I know one of them is coming back.
My head drops between my shoulders, and I feel the urge to wrap myself in my arms, just like Sig did, but the moment I step away, a hand clasps mine, tugging me back.
“Hey,” Weston grumbles, lifting my chin with his thumb. I force myself to meet his gaze, even though it makes my eyes well again. “I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but get some rest.” He leans in, pressing a firm kiss to my lips. “I will be back.”
I nod and roll my lips together, trying to keep from falling apart, but his eyes don’t break away. They won’t until he’s satisfied that I know he’s serious, that he won’t leave me behind.
I spin around and stride quickly across the deck, my only focus is getting to our room. I barely make it to the opening before I have to slam my palm over my mouth when I hear Fin’s voice carry on the breeze.
“Eew. You kissed her. Do you love her, mister Weston?”
“Yes, I do, kid.”
My breath catches, because even though he’s told me himself, hearing him say it to someone else is more love and devotion than I’ve ever had.
“I do too, but not like that. Blech.”
Weston chuckles. “Give it a few years and you’ll probably think differently.”
“But I already love Lennox. Will I find someone like her?”
“One day you will, Fin. Even if you have to wait a really long time.”
I almost break when I take the first step down into the ship as I hear Weston’s last words.
“She was worth the wait.”