Owned by the Ocean by Christine Steendam Page A

towards his childhood it pained him to see his father
suffer with each passing day, yet he sat by his side and kept him
company as long as he would allow. Sometimes his father would tell
him tales of his glory years when his was a common sailor in the
King’s navy, working his way up the ranks. He had come from a
middle class family that did not have a lot of money, but Calvin
had worked incredibly hard in the navy and pulled a good wage as
commodore. He saved his money and as soon as he had enough he
invested in a merchant company that dealt largely with the sugar,
cotton and coffee trades out of Jamaica. It was through that
investment that Calvin grew interested in owning his own plantation
in Jamaica. As he grew in favor with the King and the court Calvin
suddenly found himself in a whole new class and had vowed that his
children would have a better life. That was why he had refused to
allow Brant to join the navy.
    “ Did you visit our plantation at all while you stayed over in
Port Royale?”
    “ No, I didn’t think I’d be welcome.”
    His father’s
face grew cloudy and Brant quickly changed the subject. “How is
Leo?”
    “ I hear he is doing well. His father told me he settled in
Jamaica to run their plantation a few years back. Such a shame that
a young man with such promise would confine himself to that
backwoods island, but the plantation is a good
business.”
    “ James tells me you plan on keeping the plantation but selling
this house.”
    “ The plantation is a good source of income. James will be in
school so there will be no use for this house. When he is of age he
can purchase a new one if he wishes to stay here.”
    “ When summer is over you understand that I must leave. James
will have no one left.”
    “ Yes, I understand you have a duty as captain to your crew.
James and I have discussed all the arrangements that will be in
place, you need not worry. Now leave me. I am tired.”
    Calvin ended
their time of visitation abruptly, as he usually did when he was
too exhausted to talk anymore. Brant just nodded and forced a tight
smile.
    “ I’ll bring you dinner later, Father,” promised Brant as he
left the room.
     
    * * *
     
    After Brant
and James had eaten dinner that evening Brant filled a plate and
climbed the stairs to his father’s room. He knocked before entering
but didn’t wait for an answer. Quite often his father was asleep at
this time and Brant would leave the plate by his bedside for when
he woke up. Tonight, however, Calvin was awake and sitting. Papers
were strewn about his bed and he seemed completely immersed in
reading them.
    “ Is everything okay, Father?”
    “ Yes, yes.” He sounded strong, stronger than he had since
Brant had come home, though still far from his old self.
    “ Can I get you anything?”
    “ No, nothing. I just have a few things to go over.”
    “ Alright, well here’s your dinner.”
    “ Put it on the night stand. My lawyer will be coming first
thing in the morning so I would like breakfast at
seven.”
    “ I’ll see to it that you get it.”
    “ Thank you. Goodnight, Brant.”
    “ Goodnight, Father.”
    Brant left the
room but he felt uneasy. He had seen men die before, he was no
stranger to death and he had seen men become stronger in their last
moments. Sometimes it would almost seem like they would pull
through, and then a few hours later they would die. Brant already
knew his father would not survive. The doctor had said there was no
hope, and Brant wasn’t so naïve as to think he could be wrong.
Seeing his father energetic and seemingly strong had him worried
and he couldn’t help but feel a darkness descend on him. This could
very well have been the last time he saw his father alive.
     
    * * *
     
    As morning
dawned Brant was woken up by a scream. One of the maids came out of
Calvin’s room sobbing. Brant took one look at her and knew what had
caused the commotion but he had to see for himself. He went over to
his father’s bed