Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen- Day Five at Sea, the Afternoon, Near the Manchester Harbor

The next day, Dianna stood at the side of the ship, watching the Manchester docks come closer and closer. She was almost home. She could practically feel her father's arms around her, hugging her enough to make up for all the hugs they couldn't share this past year. She could practically see their mansion in Manchester, tall and big and richly glistening in the afternoon sun. She could practically taste Klara's delicious home cooking, foods so rich and flavorful, expensive foods she hadn't eaten in a year. She could feel her heart fluttering with happiness inside of her.

At the same time, she could picture Arnold, plain, boring Arnold, waiting to put a ring on her finger. She could picture her white wedding gown sliding on the church floors as she walked down the aisle towards Arnold, wrongly wearing white to show her nonexistent purity and virginity. She did not even want to think about the honeymoon, about lying in bed with Arnold. Worst of all, she felt tears prick her eyes as she thought about Josey sailing away from her on his ship, never to see her again.

Dianna didn't know what to feel anymore. She wanted to be happy to be seeing her father again, and to be back home. But at the same time, being back home would be the death of her, for surely she would die if she had to be without Josey.

Josey watched Dianna looking at the approaching harbor as he steered the ship. He felt just as confused as she did. He was happy for a rescue mission that had gone perfectly, and happy that Dianna was happy. But he knew that bringing her home would be the end of their love, the end of their happiness. Josey had never loved before, no matter how many women he had been with. He could see now what others meant when they said love was bittersweet, the best feeling and the most painful too. He had felt bliss and joy and pure ecstasy take over him when he was with Dianna, but now he felt the pain sting his heart. He had completely forgotten about Dianna's engagement to another man. He knew her father would never let her marry a poor, thieving pirate like Josey when she was already engaged to a rich businessman.

Josey had given his heart to Dianna, completely losing it to her. He would never be able to love another ever again, she would be his only one. How could he love with no heart? She had taken it, and now it had been crushed to death as he brought her closer and closer to her life with another man. Josey began thinking about her wedding, her vows and promises of love to another man. He didn't want to, but the image of Dianna in bed with another man came into his head, crushing his soul. Dianna being kissed by another, touched by another. Her body being ravaged by a man not Josey. Her breasts and legs being massaged and felt by hands not Josey's, her hair getting tangled in another man's hands as he shoved his tongue down her throat. Her body, that Josey had claimed as his, the body that she had allowed Josey to see and feel and gave to him so lovingly and tenderly, being seen and felt and given to another.

Josey could feel his body burn with anger and sadness. He felt something cool on his cheek, and brought one hand to his face. He brought his hand back out in front of him and saw a drop of water on the tips of his fingers. He looked up to the sky to see if it was raining.

It took him a minute to realize it wasn't raining, but that he was crying. Josey Thatcher hadn't cried since he was a newborn baby. Nothing had ever hurt him enough. But now that he knew he couldn't be with the love of his life, tears began to fall silently down his cheeks. He quickly wiped them away with the back of his hand before anyone saw, but the sad, sick, dead feeling inside him that had come with the tears remained, enveloping him and torturing him as the ship finally reached land and the crew anchored the ship into place at the docks.

Everyone cheered at their completed mission, happy with their successful work. They all began to climb down and off of the ship, most of the men carrying Dianna's suitcases. Dianna, Josey, Mack, and the rest of the crew stood on the docks, all but two of them with smiling faces and happy demeanors.

"Dianna!" They all turned to see Dianna's father running down the pier towards them, Klara and Tobias Franklin behind him. Dianna ran towards them, a big smile stretching across her face as she saw her father. He was a bit thinner than when she last saw him, but other than that, he looked just the same as she remembered. They embraced each other, hugging tightly, and never wanting to let go. After some time, they finally let go, stepping back to look at each other.

"Look at you!" Walter shouted happily. "Your skin is so much darker! And you're thinner, too!"

"You are, too! I'm dark from working under the sun all year." Dianna replied, still holding her father's hands. She let go so she could hug Tobias. "Hello, uncle. Hello, Klara. I hope you've been taking care of my father." Everyone hugged and kissed each other's cheeks, smiling and shedding happy tears. Josey and Mack came forward.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Thatcher! I could never pay you enough to amount to the happiness you have brought me," Walter told Josey, shaking his hand enthusiastically.

"It was no trouble at all, Mr. Desmond. Your daughter was a big help around the ship, and she won her way into everyone's hearts. She will be greatly missed." Josey replied quietly, trying not to look at Dianna. Dianna looked at the ground, forcing herself not to cry.

"I'm glad you all got along," Walter continued happily. Suddenly, he snapped his fingers as he thought of something. "I know! Come stay for a few days at our mansion. We are going to be throwing a ball in honor of Dianna's return tonight. It is also her birthday celebration. Exactly one year since we last saw each other," Walter said, turning to Dianna. She had forgotten about her birthday altogether with everything else that had been occupying her mind. "Also, her wedding to Tobias's son is in a few days, and since you're all good friends of hers, it would be delightful if you stayed with us till then." Dianna and Josey felt pangs of sadness hit them again as her wedding was once again mentioned. Walter patted Tobias's back and the two friends laughed heartily together.

"I don't know--" Josey began, but Walter interrupted.

"I insist! You and your men will be much taken care of; we will give you rooms in our mansion and you will be fed and everything else you need will be handled."

"We don't want to intrude. I could pay you--" Josey tried again, but Walter stopped him again.

"No payment! I'm the one who paid you, remember? You'll be our guests! And I never ask my guests to pay," Walter said, smiling. Josey snuck a look at Dianna. If they were to stay until the wedding, perhaps they could think of something for them to stay together and put a stop to the wedding. Josey looked back at Walter and smiled.

"We'd be honored," he replied. Dianna quickly looked up at him, confused. She didn't know he was planning something.

"Excellent!" Walter said. Then he, Tobias, Klara, Dianna, Josey and his crew packed everything up in Walter's carriages and they drove to the mansion, everyone thinking about the ball tonight.

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