Once We Were (4 page)

“
What are you talking about, boy? You
are
engaged to Miss Luckett. We sign the papers tonight. It's only a matter of time before we can make it official. Her father, who I remind you is an ally to our business in America, has agreed to offer you Miss Luckett's hand in exchange for a partnership. At last we'll go neck and neck with the global monster called American business. No more battling for the victories. With my top American competitor eliminated, I can gradually spread our influence unchecked across the East American coast. Just imagine. A Saier empire. If Mr. Luckett finds you suitable for his daughter, and he
will,
won't he?”

“
Do I have any say in this?”

“
You're not required to say anything. This is between Mr. Luckett and I. After your marriage to Miss Luckett, you will take your seat with us, accept your inheritance, and be utterly grateful.”

“
What if I don't like Miss Luckett?”

“
That is not a matter of question. We don't require you to like her in order to marry her.”

“
What if I won't marry her?”

“
Now you listen here boy!” his father hissed, turning him around fiercely. “You will stick to this plan like a whore on the king's arm and sign with Miss Luckett. You will attend Claireton Business Academy like we discussed, or I will have nothing to do with you! Do you understand? No more silly talk of joining the navy or sailing school or whatever useless rubbish you think you'll get yourself into. This is your life and your obligation, and you will accept it.”

“
Well I won't like it and I won't like you either! I will hate you and your name until the day I die!” Ioan declared.

“
Hate me! Think me the bloody devil then! But you will not ruin this plan, and one day, you'll thank me.” Ioan's chest heaved with resentment as he watched his father stride down the hall, tipping his hat to gentlemen as he went.

The men desperately kept Ioan and Miss Luckett inseparable. Ioan begged to be hit by a train. Miss Luckett's tutoress was strict and obsolete about visitors distracting her pupil. Her beaky nose wrinkled in disgust when the men tried to imprison Ioan in a corner for the lessons. Whether it was claustrophobia or her general hatred for testosterone, she roared and fired her books at them. “Get out, you fools!”

“
Now you see here, madam!” Mr. Luckett protested.

“
These are
ladies
classes! Men have no business listening to matters of sewing and  posture! Out at once!”

“
I will not tolerate this kind of behavior under my roof!”

“
Sir, as long as I am sweating in my heels teaching a lady, this is
my
roof. It is
my
law. This is
my
throne. If you do not leave me to make a lady out of this child first, she'll make no man a proper wife! Now get out!”

After the door slammed in their faces, Mr. Luckett hissed, “Frightful, beastly woman! I don't know why I put up with her kind!” He and Mr. Saier walked away  with no more notice of Ioan. He didn't hesitate to ask questions. He quickly made a run for it.

He crept out the front door and bolted into the crowded streets. He didn't exactly know where he was going. Just that he needed to get as far away from that house as possible. The sun perched against the harbor, its golden rays spilling over the gently lapping waves. All the anger and entrapment faded in the breeze. Something about the ocean swept away the burdens of the heart. It was bewitching. It forced a beholder to think of it and nothing else. Its breath was his breath, his blood, his lifeline, and all his courage. He could do anything in its midst. He could sail away from this place and have nothing else to do with Miss Luckett or his father.

He stopped by a fishing shop on the pier. A book of ships and ocean scenes immediately caught his eye. His father would never agree to him having the book. The last book Ioan bought turned into fire kindling. The book enticed him. It was small enough to fit in his overcoat, and would provide an escape from the dreary Luckett house. He'd gladly take the risk.

“You like that book?” a soft voice asked. He quickly shut the cover and pushed it back on the shelf. A girl stood beside him. “Relax,” she smiled. “I won't tell anyone. I promise.”

“
It's not that,” he said, abashed that he'd been startled by a girl. “It's just a book.” Blushing with embarrassment, he turned to leave.

“
I like this book too,” she told him. She stood on tip toe to reach it. “See?  Monterrey Bay at sunset. Isn't it gorgeous? Can you imagine what it must really look like? I'm jealous of this photographer.”

“
It
is
beautiful in actual life,” he told her.

“
You've been there before?”

“
No, but I've seen plenty of the ocean, and one day I'm going to sail all around it.”

She smiled at him. “My father's been there. He says he'll take me some day, but we can't afford to travel as often as we'd like,” she said.

“Well if you do manage to go, and you care about my honest opinion, I'd spare Monterrey and go further south,” he pointed at another photo. Perfect crisp waves crashed against castle rocks and clouds sailed like ice cream curves. “Say, Cancun, Mexico or the Caribbean. No matter where you go you'll always be surprised. There's no hue the ocean can't make. The prettiest I've seen is its refreshing blue. Or sometimes, on rarer occasions, it takes on a playful green color. A lot like your eyes. It's right breathtaking.”

She giggled. “My eyes or the waves, mister?”

“Saier,” he replied. “Ioan Saier.”

“
Ioan,” she whispered. He liked the way she said it, but he couldn't help noticing the hesitation in her stunning green eyes. Her hands fidgeted. She nervously glanced around.

“
Are you expecting someone?” Ioan asked.

“
It was a pleasure meeting you.” She walked away without giving him a chance to say goodbye.

“
Aren't you going to tell me your name?” he called.

“
No,” she said.

“
But the book. Don't you want it?”

“
I can't afford it. Goodbye, Ioan.”

“
I'll buy it,” he insisted, “So we can read it together.”

She gave a nervous sort of smile, excused herself, and hurried out the door. Ioan quickly piled all the money in his pocket on the counter. He didn't mind how much he gave away. “Keep it,” he said hastily to the baffled clerk. He ran out of the shop with the book under his arm.

By the time he made it outside, she disappeared. She couldn't have gone far. He dodged the fruit barrows and strolling umbrellas. His heart fell when he thought she'd gone. He stood lost in the crowd until by chance he spotted an array of brown hair drifting on the docks. He quickened his pace and found her standing on the rocks for the ferry.

He slid down the boulders until he landed behind her. “I thought maybe we could share it. You know, you keep it sometime and then I can have it. There's no harm in that,” he suggested. She gasped, upsetting the delicate balance between rock and foot. Like a gutted bird, she collapsed backward into the water. She heaved a huge terrified breath. “Help!”

“Miss!” Ioan shouted as she sank into the waves. “Miss, can you swim?” She kicked to the surface, but in vain. “Give me your hand, miss! I'll pull you in!”

“
I can't!” she cried as water filled her lungs. The current's monstrous claws drug her down.

“
Don't swallow the water! Hold your breath!” he called. It was pointless coaching her. She was panicked.

“
Grab ahold to this!” He hoisted a wooden crate into the water. It was useless. Her body was tired and her hands aimlessly knocked the crate about.

Ioan quickly stripped his overcoat. He shivered violently against the chilling water, but had no time to regret his decision. The girl fell deeper into darker waters. He darted for her hand. His fingers slipped against hers before grasping her wrist tightly. He secured her against his chest.

Breaking through the waves, they gasped for air. She coughed up sea water as he led her to the crate. “Grab hold to this, miss. Hang on tight and I'll pull you back to shore,” he told her.

“
You stupid, thickheaded, birdbrain, blockhead, ninny!” she cried. “What were you thinking?”

“
You were drowning!” he protested as he towed the crate to shore.

“
And you weren't?”

“
Obviously not. Why do you neighbor an ocean if you can't swim? That's a rather stupid decision.”

“
I don't go looking for water, you dolt! We could've been killed!”

“
I accept your gratitude for saving your life.”

“
If you hadn't snuck up on me, none of this would have happened! Who do you think you are to jump in after me? What would happen if you got pulled down too?”

“
Well, since you find drowning so romantic,” he said, yanking the crate  away from her. Her arms fought wildly as she dropped under the waves. Ioan grabbed her before she sank too low. She clenched him tightly. “There, you see? Are you grateful I saved you now?”

“
Don't let me go,” she whispered utterly terrified. She trembled in the frigid water. Ioan couldn't stop thinking how pretty she looked, like a mermaid he'd captured in the depths. Though whether she be mermaid or maiden, he still felt like a lucky fellow. He'd never seen anything more beautiful at sea. He was oblivious to the onlookers that  gathered to watch the rescue. Mr. Luckett and Mr. Saier tailed after the crowd. They waddled down as best they could in their fancy suits. Miss Luckett ran ahead of them.

“
Cora!” she screamed frantically. “Father, do something! She'll catch her death in there! Get her out immediately!”

“
Give her here!” a few helping hands offered. Ioan absently handed the girl over. He glanced between her and Miss Luckett. Cora didn't look at him. She'd tried to warn him before. They threw a blanket over her shoulders and guided her back to the pier.

The men hoisted Ioan out and draped his shoulders with their coats. They all  applauded and praised his bravery, but his eyes stayed on the girl they called Cora. Miss Luckett threw her arms around her friend and kissed her hair. “Cora, are you alright? Are you hurt?” she asked anxiously.

“Just quick a swim, Bea. I'm quite refreshed,” Cora smiled assuredly, through chattering teeth.

“
You're so pale! It's a good thing my fiance was there to rescue you in such a nick of time! Father, we should get her to a doctor! You know how sickly she is!”

The Harlows assured Ioan they were indebted by his bravery, despite his efforts to take the blame. Mr. Luckett refused to let Beatrice visit Cora until the illness subsided.  Beatrice filled Ioan's head with frantic horrors about the girl's condition. She swore Cora had only a few precious moments left on earth. Ioan sat quietly at his chest board as she sobbed. Cora hated him. He knew it. He lamented the thought of her dying alone at home, but a Saier shows no remorse. He played off strong and unaffected to please his father. The clock ticked like a gabble as he picked up a rook to take out his  knight.

A quiet tap came at the door. Beatrice shot up before Ioan could stand. “Good evening, Miss Luckett,” the messenger greeted. “News from the Harlow house. Miss Cora is steadily recovering.”

Beatrice shrilled. “Ioan! Did you hear that? She's better! She's all better!”

“Thank you, sir,” Ioan calmly excused the messenger as Beatrice bounced around the room. “I suppose we can all sleep soundly now.”

“
No!” she cried. “How can you be so unmoved? I can't sleep until I know she's absolutely perfect! Please tell me you'll see her for me!”

Ioan stiffened. “That isn't my place.”

“Please! I beg of you! If you do nothing else for me in our lifetime, make it just this one favor!” she wailed.

“
Can't it wait til morning?”

“
No, it can't and you very well know it! I beg of you! Just this one small favor! I'll write her a get well note and you can take her lavenders. They're her favorite. They'll make her feel so much better.”

“
I'm not walking around town carrying flowers,” he said.

“
Catch a buggy then but you
will
go or I shall never forgive you or grant you a moment's peace. Just ring the bell and leave the flowers at the door. Is that so hard?”

“
Am I a servant now?”

“
Get on with it!” she threatened. “Or should I ask your father if he has any idea where this came from?” She held up Ioan's oceanography book.

“
Give it back to me,” Ioan demanded.

“
Or what?”