Twin Boys!

 by Melissa W. 

1822-1832

  “Father! Father!” 10 year old Rebecca Carter dashed toward her father as he got off of his Ship.

“How’s my darling?” Captain Paul asked, picking her up and swinging her around.

“Mother had her babies and she lets me help change their diapers and lets me wash the babies, they don’t have names yet because mother said she was waiting for you,” Rebecca gleefully stated in a rush.

Captain Paul stared dumbfounded at his daughter, Rose wasn’t supposed to have her baby until May. 

“Becca, did you say babies?”

“Yes sir, mother had 2 baby boys,” she looked at him confused, “Are you alright father, did you not want mother to have 2 babies?”

“Come on darling, let's go home.” he said avoiding her question.

Taking her father’s hand they followed the servant back toward the buggy.  

   “Rose!” Captain Paul crashed into his room.

“Hush honey,” Rose grinned at her husband, “The boys are sleeping.”

“But the baby wasn’t supposed to be born till May.”

“Babies, Paul.” 

“Becca told me, she sounded really excited,” he said sitting down on the bed beside her, “So am I, it just came as a shock. Can I hold one of them?”

Rose handed him one of the boys. “What are we going to name them? We talked about Benjamin and Katherine Ann.” 

“We also vaguely talked about James.” Paul smiled down at his tiny son.

“Benjamin and James,” Rose looked at her husband “I like it.” 

“Alright, Mr. James Carter, we better hand you back to your mother so she can rest.” Paul said, handing James back to his mother.

******

  “Father, can I please go with you?” James begged, leaning over the railing overlooking Boston Harbour and Captain Paul’s ship.

Captain Paul went to stand beside his son.

“I’m sorry son, you're just too young. When you turn ten you can come with me.” Paul sighed he didn’t know how many times he had said that to phrase James.

Benji wasn’t like James, they may look alike thought Paul but exact opposite in character, James yearned for adventure and excitement, begged their butler to drive the buggy around Boston, and got into trouble when nothing was happening, Benji was quiet and thought things through before he did anything, He had never asked to drive the buggy, never begged for long voyages on the ship like James, and Paul had never seen his son get into trouble or get into a fight about who was stronger.

“But Father---”

“No but, son.” Captain Paul said sternly, hugging his children and wife before he boarded his own ship, he grabbed his luggage and walked up the plank.

“I’m 9 and ¾ close enough to ten.” James muttered quietly.

“You're never gonna go with Father,” Benji said as he stepped into the buggy.

“You just wait and watch, Ben,” James mocked, “You just say that because you get seasick!”

“Stop calling me Ben.” Benji snapped, his face turning red with anger.

Why did James always have to tease him about not being able to go to sea? He longed to be more like James; he just didn’t have the guts to be brave and tough like James.

“Boys, stop arguing.” Rose leaned her head against the buggy’s backboard.

“We’ll be home soon, mother, than you can rest.” Rebbeca reassured, giving the boys an angry look.

Benji and James looked at one another, thinking the same thing. One of mother's headaches that came for days, sometimes even a week, the headaches usually came after father left on one of his voyages. 

“Sorry, Benji, for teasing you.” Looking down at his lap, James turned red. He hated saying sorry; his pride usually got in the way.

“It’s ok.”

The buggy rolled through the gates into the Carters Estate, driving around to where the stables were.

“We’re here mother, do you want me to help you down?” Benji asked, being the gentleman he was, he took his mother’s hand and helped her to the house, where Miss Liza took her.

“Here, Mrs. Carter, let me take your coat. I'll get Jenny to bring you some tea.” helping slide off her coat Liza shooed the kids away and helped her up the stairs.

“Jenny! Get Mrs. Carter some tea.” 

“Yes ‘m.”

The children all went their separate ways, James went to help outside in the stables, Benji went into the library to draw, and Rebecca started to make herself presentable for an outing with her friend.

*****

  “Hey, Benji, Father is coming home today!” Whooped James bounding up the steps and crashing into his brother's room. 

“Quiet, James,” steadying the unlit lamp that James had rattled, “Now that you're ten, I’m sure you’ll beg Father even more to come with.”

“I was almost ten when he left on his last voyage.” retorted James, pounding his fist onto Benjamin's bed. 

“And how do you know that Father’s is coming home?” 

“Well, Um,” A guilty look crossed his face, “I have my sources.” 

“Did you go down to the pier again without mothers permission?” Benji accused James.

“No, I didn’t go by myself---” 

“What did you go with?” he scoffed, folding his arms.

“I took Daisy.” James sighed. He knew he was gonna have to go confess to Mother.

“Daisy!” Benji Choked on his laughter, “How in the world did you get back in 1 hour? She only has 1 speed, slow-motion walking.” 

Benji was still chortling with laughter as James soberly went to confess to Mother.

*****

“James, I'm disappointed in you,” Rose expressed, folding her hands in her lap.

“I know, Mother, and I won’t do it again.” 

“Your Father and I will have to think of a punishment for you.” Rose said, standing up to hug her son.

“Mother?” Rebecca stopped short. “Ummm, I’m sorry I’ll ask you later.” Spinning on her heels she walked gracefully back to the staircase.

“Becca,” James ran to catch up to her, “It’s ok, we’re done.”

Giving James a grateful smile she walked back.

Staring thoughtfully at his sister, James wondered why he didn’t appreciate her more. She was the one that always took care of him and Benji. He thought about it for a bit when he realized it wasn’t mother that had comforted him when he was sad, it was Rebecca.

*****

1848

 

Dear Sister Rebecca,                       

I just wanted to thank you for being such a wonderful sister. I will miss you when I go on this journey with Father. Thank you for always taking care of me and Benji. Don’t tell anyone this, it may not happen, but I would like to stay wherever we land at the end of our journey.

Love, James

  

Folding the letter, 26 year old James Carter slid it onto Rebecca’s jewelry box.

“Mr. James!” Miss Liza proclaimed. “What in tarnation are you doing in your sister's bedroom?”

James whirled around in astonishment, he had made sure no one was in the hall when he had walked in.

“Well, I’m uh, I’m …. was---” he stammered.

“Spit it out, young man.” Liza ordered hands on her hips.

“I was giving her a letter.” He said, getting over being startled.

“Well, alright then.” She said a little softer. “But get out here.” Liza demanded, returning to her bossy but loving ways.

The next hour he gave Benjamin and Rebecca a hug.

“Goodbye, Benji.” James said, patting his brother on the back. “I love you.”

*****

Captain Paul's ship sailed a few months before dropping onto the coast of California, where he gave his son his blessing in staying in California. 

Back in Boston, Benjamin decided to move to New York with his wife, Lydia.