Captain Reyes was a kind man, gentle and caring. Not at all like the hard stern man one might think of a shipping captain. If a lady walked by, he always smiled and doffed his hat. If the woman had a baby in her arms, his face would break into a prism of smiles and he could not resist an opportunity to offer the tiny fist his little finger to hold. Never a curse word or a bawdy comment had ever been heard to drop from his lips. He was also a jolly soul, full of humor and laughter, making the comfort of others his first priority. He was the epitome of a gentleman in every way.
He was married to the most beautiful woman in the town, though she would deny it if ever anyone suggested it. But she knew in Captain Reyes' eyes, she was equal to Helen of Troy, and his eyes were the only ones that mattered. She was also physically and intellectually the most capable woman in the region. She had a shrewd business head and a determination like a workhorse plowing unbroken ground. Perhaps she was more like the goddess Athena than the demigoddess Helen, for she was certainly a force to be reckoned with. Mrs. Reyes' radiance was a reflection of how she was the apple of her husband's eye, and he was equally proud that such a prized lady belonged to him. She was his motivation, and he was her hero. The Reyes' were a prominent couple, not for their wealth, but for the unequivocal devotion they had for each other.
It was upon Mrs. Reyes' insistence that her husband learn the shipping trade. With her by his side, Captain Reyes became a merchant. His wife kept the books, and he headed the ship. They made a good team. They always had. From the day they met, through the births of their three children, and throughout his days as a seaman.
But they underestimated the danger of the waters. Steering the ship was no problem, but the waters were rife with pirates. He was a man of heart and inspiration, not one of war and aggression. On his very first voyage, they were attacked by two ships that looted their cargo and destroyed the ship. The pirates killed his crew but left him and his wife stranded on their sinking ship in shame and humiliation. Captain Reyes insisted he go down with his ship and refused to board the life boat. But his stubborn wife refused to let him go and bound his arms and legs for his own safety. Come hell or high water, she was not going to let her husband sink to the bottom of the abyss.
The day Captain Reyes arrived back to port was the day he seemed to leave it in spirit. Instead of a throng of people greeting the captain with a hero-like welcome and bustling over new shipments, the port was empty, quiet and ashamed. The captain was the laughing stock of town, as it was known how he'd been too soft on his crew and how his wife had saved his sorry behind from drowning. The day after their arrival, a bouquet of calla lilies was delivered to the Reyes' home with a note attached. It was addressed to "The Lily Livered Captain" and read "One for every member of your crew that you failed." He was a captain with no ship and no one to employ him. He could no longer support his family, and his reputation as a noble steward was destroyed. He became all but a shell of a man, the light having left his eyes, his smile hardly to be found. Always in a stupor, Captain Reyes simply went through the motions of life instead of living it.
Mrs. Reyes did what she could to nurse him back to consciousness. She tried to assuage his ego and encouraged him to pursue the things he used to enjoy. She contacted other merchants and tried her best to beseech the lords of trade. But a woman could not steer the captain's ship, and she refrained from embarking on a business of her own, knowing it would obliterate any shred of virility her husband had left. After what seemed like an eternity of rejection, Mrs. Reyes happened upon a little known enterprise seeking a captain to pioneer an alternate trade route. She sent her husband to inquire about the position.
When he came home to report to his wife, he was excited to return to the sea. Mrs. Reyes was to stay behind with the children and defend her home from the landlord demanding rent. The new trade route was unknown and could be treacherous, no place for a lady, even one as headstrong and brave as the captain's wife.
Far away and unable to assist her husband, Mrs. Reyes worried for his life. Ever before, she had been his right arm. Even when he had lacked the courage and will to go on, she had forced him. Without her, would he succeed in this new venture? Though the light had returned to his eyes, she could see his trepidation and vulnerability. Sometimes, he admitted he didn't know that he could do it, and he would shrink back in fear. But she said she was depending on him and needed him to go out and conquer the waters. He consented to do as she bid, but his shoulders still stooped and his heart was not in it.
Indeed, the expedition proved challenging and dangerous, but they pressed on. At his first port of call, Captain Reyes received notice that he had a package already waiting for him, in addition to the merchandise he was to pick up. Mystified, he discovered a calla lily and a note from his wife, extolling his virtues. At his second stop, he received another. And yet another at the next port. He grew anxious to reach each destination, not so much to collect his goods, but to hear word from his beloved.
His confidence grew steadily at his wife's words of affirmation and encouragement. He found courage and strength he never knew he had. His constant grimace softened and he began to smile again. He stood a little taller, walked a little wider, held his head a little higher, and moved a little swifter. At times, his crew thought he'd gone mad when, for no reason at all, he would throw back his head and laugh. He was, once again, the mighty man of his lady's heart. Nothing was going to keep him from returning to the arms of his love.
The crew was unruly and inexperienced, but Captain Reyes was not a typical captain. He was not ruthless or cruel, nor was he over demanding. He was simply caring and motivating, and that was unlike any captain anyone had ever known. His determination to succeed, and his patience and gentleness proved effective in teaching his sailors the art of running a ship. With his encouragement, the crew grew in unity and efficiency. Voracious storms threatened to swallow them up like the jaws of hell, but they managed to stay afloat. They were, once again, invaded by pirates, but this time, they were not overthrown. What the crew had lacked in seamanship, they made up for in brute combat and tactical defense.
Word had reached the hometown of Captain Reyes' regarding the pirate attack. While considerably inflated, his nobility returned as the tale was told of his heroic escapade. The new route was more lucrative, and more direct, bringing in unique and unusual wares. His return was heralded a success and it seemed the whole town had come out to greet him like a soldier returning from war. His heart was bursting with joy.
Above the congratulations and welcome-homes, the reception he anticipated most was nowhere to be found. He scanned the crowd frantically, until, at last, his eyes fell upon the jewel of his heart. The din of the people faded and their presence all but disappeared as Mrs. Reyes emerged from the masses, kids in tow, holding in her hands a bouquet of calla lilies.
As he took her in his arms, she said, "you are my captain, and I will always bloom for you."
Today, Captain Reyes is a rich and well-known merchant of the seas. He owns his own shipping company, and his main vessel is known as Lady Lily. His home has a beautiful garden in which calla lilies flourish. And every Valentine's Day, he and his wife deliver lilies throughout town, reminding people that love never dies.
It is said that behind every great man, there is a great woman. She is not great because she is his arms but because she gives strength to those arms. And all that is required to give strength is to let that great man know he is great.
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