Her father took the ropes from her mother’s hands. “Hold her, Ann,” he said. “Don’t let go of her.”
The waves grew violent, splashing water over the edge and rocking the boat. Her father was barefoot and shirtless and struggled as he wrapped the rope tighter around his hands. Amaris clung tightly to her mother, who pressed her lips to Amaris’s forehead, muttering under her breath. She couldn’t hear her. Maybe it was a prayer to see them home safely.
A crack filled the air, and the mast snapped in half. “Russel!” Her mother screamed, but it was too late. Her father no longer stood in the center of the sailboat with his feet braced against the decking.
“Where’s Daddy?”
Her mother turned to her, her eyes puffy and raindrops streaking her face. “Sit right here. Don’t move till I come get you, alright?”
Amaris didn’t have time to nod before her mother ran across the deck, screaming for her father. Her heart raced in her chest, but not because the ice cream truck was down the road or a butterfly landed on her nose. Fear wrapped around her heart.
Amaris let go of the railing and crawled onto the deck. Ocean water sprayed her cheeks, but she squinted and called out, “Mommy! Daddy!”
Her only answer was a bright light, but Amaris made out her mother standing at the edge of the ship. Before Amaris could crawl closer, her mother was running toward her. She took her in her arms and squeezed the life out of her. She matted down her hair and rubbed her thumbs against her cheeks.
“I need you to be brave, sweetie. It’s going to be cold, and you mightbe scared, but I need you to keep your vest on and keep swimming. Can you do that for me?”
“Swim?”
Her mother kissed her forehead and wrapped her arms tightly around her. Amaris felt her legs lift from the deck, and then frigid water soaked through her clothes. She screamed when she bobbed to the surface. Amaris flailed her arms and legs, attempting to grab onto something, anything.
“Swim, Amaris!” Her mother dove into the water. She lifted parts of the broken sail and followed lines of rope.
A piece of driftwood bumped Amaris’s shoulder. She dug her fingers into it and steered from the wreckage.Mommy said swim.She kicked her little legs but took one last look over her shoulder as her mother sucked in a large breath and dove beneath the surface.
She could see it all flash before her eyes.
“They both died in the shipwreck.”
“I’m sorry,” Theodoric whispered.
“Don’t be. It’s fine.” Amaris wiped the snot dripping from her nose.
“You don’t need to lie to me.”
“I didn’t lie.” She bit her lip as the waves from the night rolled through her head. She’d grown exhausted and didn’t know if she’d ever make it to land. She’d never looked back to see if her mother had found her father before they inevitably drowned. It was a moment she didn’t know if she regretted or was grateful for. Her last images of her parents were of their undying love for each other, sacrificing their lives for one another.
“You’re a terrible liar,” Theodoric said with a small laugh.
Amaris wanted to snarl at him. “What makes you say that?”
“You bite the corner of your bottom lip when you’re lying.”
“It’s a nervous habit,” Amaris stammered. “Hardly indicative of someone lying. Besides, what would I have to lie about regarding my parents? It’s been seventeen years. I should be over it by now.” A twinge sharpened in her chest.
“I was only five when my mother passed away.” The deep violet circles beneath his eyes grew. “I miss her every day.”
“What happened?” Amaris asked, before she thought better than to pry.
“She died in childbirth.”
Amaris had gathered there were at least three Fastrada children after Ms. Borstad had spoken of Luther the other day, but there had also been the boy named Jeremiah, who seemed important to Theodoric.
“Adelaide,” he began, answering the pondering look upon her face. “Jeremiah is a half-brother. After my mother’s death, my father eventually married Genevieve, my mother’s sister.”
“Your aunt?” Amaris blurted out. “So does that make you and Esaias cousins and half-brothers?”
He laughed. “No, Esaias’s father is my mother and stepmother’s older brother, but it’s not uncommon, especially for families of nobility. I didn’t understand when I was younger, but now I realize it was for the good of both our families.”
