A 'Dream' Vignette

Christmas, 1868

Author's Note

This vignette takes place in an alternate universe of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. The timeframe is the late 1860s. It is a continuation of my previous story, "Prequel to a Dream," and both are prequels to "A Day in a Dream." At some point, there will be another story/vignette that will fill in the gap between this and "Dream."

As always, I do not own the canon characters, but oh, how I wish I did. Although this story focuses on the Daniel, Carolyn, Martha, Candy and Jonathan, several non-canon characters make an appearance, and other are mentioned. They belong to me.

Gull Cottage
Schooner Bay, Maine
Thursday, 24 December 1868

Candy and Jonathan Muir had long been asleep, Christmas Eve, when their mother, Carolyn, and the family's housekeeper, cook, and good friend, Martha Grant, finished putting the gifts under their small tree. As the women stood back to take it in, they were satisfied with the results. There wasn't abundance of presents, just enough to insure the magic of the season for the children, and that's what mattered most. In addition to those from the immediate family, there were a few from both sets of their Philadelphia grandparents. The packages had arrived by mail several weeks earlier and were kept hidden to surprise the children Christmas morning.

"Mrs. Muir, the tree is beautiful."

"Martha, you and the children did a wonderful job with the decorations. Between the cranberry and popcorn garland, gingerbread men, pinecones, and handmade ornaments, it's perfect. You all have been very busy."

"Oh, Candy and Jonathan did most of the work, but I think they ate more of the decorations than they put on the tree. They didn't have much of an appetite for dinner," she smiled.

Carolyn chuckled as she nodded her agreement.

"I'm so pleased they still get excited when you read, A Visit from Saint Nicholas, to them," Martha remarked.

"I know. I love how they snuggle up when I open the book. The wonder in their eyes is something I never tire of. I'm afraid it won't go on too much longer, though."

"Oh, I don't know, Mrs. Muir. There's always a chance there will be other children who'll want to snuggle in your lap to be read to . . . in a few years," her friend said, giving her a knowing smile.

"Martha!" Carolyn blushed and looked away.

Her friend chuckled softly.

The reality was, nothing would please Carolyn more than to have more children with Daniel. 'He's already a wonderful father. It would be interesting to see how he would be with a baby.'

When she looked back at her friend, she gave her an impish smile and shrugged her shoulders as if to say "why not?"

That caused Martha to laugh out loud. She certainly hoped that's what the future held for Mrs. Muir and the Captain. They both deserved all that a long and happy life together would bring them.

"Well, I think we're finally finished," Carolyn said, changing the subject. "If there's nothing else that needs to be done, I think I'll go up. The children will be awake at the break of dawn, if not sooner. Are you going to bed now, or will you be staying up for a while?"

"I just have a few things left to do. I won't be much longer."

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

"No. There are just a few odds and ends I don't want to wake up to in the morning, but thank you, Mrs. Muir. Goodnight."

"If you're sure?"

Her friend confirmed she was and shooed her out of the room.

"All right. Goodnight, then," Carolyn said, grabbing a candle as she left.

Martha went to the kitchen to make sure the back of the house was locked up, and lights extinguished, then checked the front door before making her way to her room. There was something she had to take care of for Christmas morning, but she wanted to be sure Mrs. Muir had gone to bed before she started moving around too much.

XXXXX

Upstairs, Carolyn stopped in the nursery to check on the children. Light from the nearly full moon made the room bright enough to get around without her candle. Leaving it on the dresser, she went first to Jonathan, who had, not surprisingly, kicked off his blankets. Covering him up again, she brushed hair away from his face and kissed his forehead. Moving over to Candy, she only had to straighten the covers and kiss her cheek, as she whispered an 'I love you' in her ear.

Taking a moment, she sat in the rocker by the fireplace and looked at her sleeping children.

How much their lives had changed since they moved here. This time last year, they were in Philadelphia living under her parent's roof, and she was being given advice from anyone and everyone on what she should do, how she should raise Candy and Jonathan, and anything else they deemed necessary.

Carolyn loved her parents, and knew they only wanted what was best for their only child and grandchildren, but they tended to take over completely, and that's exactly what happened after her husband was killed. As if that weren't enough, her in-laws, and some extended family members, felt they had the right to tell her what to do as well. She felt trapped and was no longer the independent woman she had grown into since marrying Robert Muir. So, after two and a half years of widowhood, she'd had enough and needed to get away from them all. In late September, after an unexpected opportunity presented itself, she, Martha, and the children moved to Schooner Bay, Maine to live with, and work for, her uncle, whom she hadn't seen since she was a child and didn't really know.

The move could have been a disaster. Her uncle, Claymore Ebenezer, turned out to be the first-class miser her father always claimed he was and could be a bit much to take – a lot of the time. His main goal in life was to make as much money as he could and spend as little of it as possible. The arrival of his niece and her family didn't expand his generosity. He saw them as a source of cheap labor to be exploited. He did allow them to move into his small cottage, but he didn't spend any money to spruce it up or do anything to make them more comfortable. He paid both Carolyn and Martha a minimal salary but if they'd had to depend completely on what they earned, the family would have starved.

In only a few weeks, though, her uncle saw the advantage of having both women in his employ. They quickly brought order to his life at home, and the office and, despite the children's rambunctiousness, he found he actually liked them. Claymore did have moments of being a considerate man, but those were few and far between, and never lasted long.

What kept the family's move to Maine from being a complete and total disaster was one man – one kind, considerate, generous, loving, and unbelievably handsome man – Captain Daniel Gregg. Carolyn had met him at the town's Seafarer's games, a few days after she and the family arrived, and it only took one look between them to light a fire that both had difficulty containing. They had fallen completely and passionately in love in an instant.

Remembering those heady days of their first meeting, first dance, first kiss, and all the wonderful moments in between, and since, Carolyn let out a sigh and smiled thinking of her Daniel. She had no doubt he was her soul mate, and the man she was meant to spend eternity with. He felt the same way about her and didn't hesitate to show the love and respect he had for her and the children. What they shared was something words couldn't describe, but she saw her feelings mirrored in his eyes whenever he looked at her.

The Captain and Mrs. Muir would have already been married except for one obstacle. Daniel Gregg was a sea captain, who owned his own ship, and was away more than he was home. She was confident their love would sustain them in his long absences, but she couldn't be sure how the children would handle him being gone so much of the time. Until she was, she couldn't take that step. After what they'd all been through, she wouldn't do anything that wasn't in the best interest of Candy and Jonathan.

Carolyn's husband, Robert, had turned out to be much less than he pretended to be before they married and before Candy, their first born, arrived. As a result, the children spent their earliest years with a father who couldn't be bothered to hide his indifference toward them or their mother. With Daniel Gregg, that past was becoming a distant memory for all of them.

He was wonderful with Candy and Jonathan, spending time with them individually and together, and giving them his undivided attention. Carolyn smiled as she remembered how, at times, he struggled to keep up with the questions they asked. They definitely kept him on his toes and had him shaking his head at some of the topics that were brought up. For a previously confirmed bachelor, Captain Daniel Gregg was already a good father. He was everything all three of them needed, with or without a marriage ceremony.

Oh, how she missed him. He'd been gone since early November and expected to be away until late April or longer. While life continued without him, she and the children felt his absence every day and missed him terribly, but living in his house, Gull Cottage, helped. She chuckled when she recalled his reaction to her stipulation that he rent the house to her, instead of the family living there for free to take care of it in his absence. How that man could bluster!

After he set sail, Candy and Jonathan made a calendar, listing when the Captain expected to be at the various ports of call, to keep track of his voyage. They hung it in the kitchen and, when they came down for breakfast every morning, they put an X over the previous day. They had been disheartened when they first finished the calendar. It showed them just how long he would be gone, but a cheer went up when the first month was out of the way. They were that much closer to him coming home.

Shaking herself back to the present, Carolyn looked over at her sleeping children, and thanked God again for the light and happiness they brought to her life. She prayed for his guidance in doing everything she could to ensure they had the lives they deserved. Glancing at the empty cradle in the corner, she couldn't help recalling Martha's comment about the possibility of having children with Daniel. The thought of filling the nursery with more children had her missing him more than she thought possible.

Pulling herself together, she gave Scruffy a scratch behind the ears, as she left the room, and received a tail thump as acknowledgement. The puppy had been a birthday gift for Candy and Jonathan, the previous month, and was well on his way to being a well behaved member of the family. He was smart, easy to train, and left no doubt of his love and loyalty to the members of his 'pack.'

XXXXX

Downstairs, Martha had changed into her night clothes and was taking presents out of their hiding place in her closet. Captain Gregg had asked if he could leave his gifts for the family with her, so she could put them under the tree Christmas morning, as a surprise.

She laid them out on the bed and noted there were gifts for both children, Mrs. Muir, and herself, as well as a few small items to put in the Candy and Jonathan's stockings, but there was also a fifth gift. She hadn't paid any attention to it when she hid them away, but now she was curious. Not seeing a Merry Christmas tag, she turned it over and found an envelope addressed to her. Sitting on the bed, she carefully opened it. As she read the note, she shook her head and commented quietly to herself, "That dear, sweet man."

Gull Cottage, Schooner Bay, Maine
Thursday, 5 November 1868

Dearest Martha,

Though, by your own admission, your birthday is a 'state secret,' I would not want that auspicious occasion to go by without an acknowledgement. In the event the anniversary of your birth occurs in my absence, I wanted you to have this as a remembrance of how grateful I am to know you, and how much I look forward to the years of friendship ahead of us.

As you know, the Muir family moving to Schooner Bay has changed my life and brought me more blessings than I can possibly count. Please understand, I consider meeting and getting to know you as one of them.

Happy Birthday, my dear friend. Whenever that may be, I wish you the happiest of days.

Your humble servant,

Daniel Gregg

Sighing, she returned the note to its envelope and placed it in the top drawer of her dresser. Finding her handkerchief, she wiped her eyes before the tears could dampen her cheeks.

'That man really is something special,' she thought. Taking a moment, she said a silent prayer for his safe return to this family that loved and needed him so.

Seeing her birthday gift on the bed, she reluctantly picked it up and returned it to its hiding place. With the anniversary of her birth not until September, it was best to put it out of sight so she wouldn't be tempted to open it early.

Relatively sure Mrs. Muir was in her room for the night, Martha took the gifts from the Captain to the living room and placed them behind the tree, but out of the way, so they wouldn't be easily seen. Putting a yo-yo and carving knife in each child's stocking, she knew the family would be surprised but wondered if the gifts would bring joy, or a reminder of the emptiness caused by the seaman's absence. Knowing Captain Gregg, she had no doubt each gift would be well thought out for its recipient, and she suspected the joy those presents provided would be tinged with sadness that he couldn't be with them.

XXXXX

Carolyn went through her bedtime routine, and her thoughts naturally returned to Daniel. She wondered where he was, and what he was doing. According to the schedule he'd left with her, and the children's calendar, she knew, weather, seas, and business permitting, he expected to be in London by Christmas. She hoped he and his crew were in port for the holiday and able to take time to relax and celebrate. She'd have preferred that he be here with them but, since he couldn't be, she prayed he was safe, warm, and dry. She was hopeful they would be able to celebrate together next year.

As she finished braiding her hair, she sighed as she considered what a virile man her Captain was. Having children with him would be wonderful on so many levels. Not only was he a fine specimen of a man, but he was also very sweet. Giving it some thought, she knew instinctively he would be wonderful with babies. She chuckled softly to herself when she pictured the expression on his face whenever she referred to him as sweet. He would preen at being called 'virile,' and a 'fine specimen of a man,' but calling him sweet would cause him to bluster and deny such a claim.

She so wished he was here with her but refused to fall into a game of 'if only.' She was determined to hold onto the thought that 'one day' they would be together as a family, but she knew, full well, their 'one day' couldn't come soon enough.

Crawling into bed, she blew out the candle and snuggled in. As always, her thoughts were of Daniel. She could feel his presence in every room of the house, and that helped her get through the long days without him. Closing her eyes, she relived the memories of when they first met until she fell asleep and dreamed of when he would come home to her.

Author's Note

I hope you're enjoying this look at what's going on during the Captain's absence. The plan is to release a chapter or two every Friday . . . eventually. Chapter Two will be released this coming Monday, and then there won't be another release for almost a week and a half. After that, we'll be back to Friday releases.