Setting things Right

Neither Jack nor Bridgid were opposed to getting up with the chickens. On this morning they were especially chipper because they’d have a chance to use their sailing skills for something good.

Following a delivery of two by fours and drywall to the Mill, they arrived there with the same tools they had aboard ship. Every sailor has to have diverse skills and carpentry is one of them.

Colin had been at the Mill with the clean up crew so it was time for Jack and Bridgid to do what they could to help Alistair and Ahnna. Replacing the wall that was burned was on the agenda.

After a short assessment, they strapped on their tool belts and went to work. If they worked steadily they could have this done in a few hours, hopefully before the residents returned home. It would be a nice surprise for them to have their home in some semblance of order.

The pair worked without saying much. They were all business and it was the way things went. They both knew what to do without having to converse as Bridgid removed old nails, freeing the burned studs from the wall and Jack carried them outside. Once they were all set they began the construction of the new wall. Jack climbed a ladder to work on the higher parts while Bridgid worked on the lower ones.

Each one of them carried on, hammering new studs into the framework. Bridgid handed a few nails to Jack and he slipped them between his lips to hold. Removing one at a time, he put them in place expertly, without the use of modern things.

"Perfect, Jack." Bridgid said as she reached into a box for more nails. When he opened his mouth to answer her, the nails he held fell to the floor with a ting, ting, ting sound. He looked down at her from the ladder he was on with the expectation of her picking them all up.

"I’ll get them." she said. Bending down to sweep the nails up, she spotted something that seemed out of place. Bridgid reached for it and brought it up to look at. To her surprise it was a ring and a very beautiful one at that.

"How did this get here? Do you think Ahnna may have lost it?"

"I do not believe so, Siren." Jack replied

"How could you be so sure?"

Looking up at him she took quick note of the look on his face. He had that trademark Aubrey smirk and at that moment she knew exactly what was up.

"Jack Aubrey is this ring mine?

He climbed down from the ladder, still wearing that deadly handsome smile. Taking the ring from her, he raised her left hand and slipped it onto her second finger.

"It does fit you perfectly, Bridgid, much the same way I fit you perfectly. Hells bells woman I man not be the most romantic chap in creation however I am not without knowledge of tradition. When I saw this magnificent blue colored diamond it reminded me of you."

Her jaw dropped as she eyed the beautiful ring then she raised her eyes to his. A tear slipped down her cheek and he quickly brushed it away.

"Are you struck dumb, Bridgid? I do not believe it has ever happened before," Jack said. "Have I done something wrong again?"

She shook her head. "No, no you’ve done something very right. I never expected you to…."

"To what?"

"Jack, it’s beautiful, you are beautiful and I love you so much."

Fisting her hands into his hair, she pulled him down and kissed him deeply. He returned the passion, never noticing the hammer that fell to the floor so close to his foot it would have ruined the moment they shared.