With dinner well in hand, the baby being changed, fed, and occupied by the children and their grandparents, and Mrs. Muir in the bath, Martha left Claymore in the kitchen with his snack and went to see what needed to be done in the living room. She quickly realized it wouldn't take much and decided to sit down for a few minutes, while she had the chance.
As she admired the Christmas tree, Martha found her mind wandering and started thinking about all that had happened since the family had moved to Schooner Bay.
So much had changed for all of them since the move to Maine last year. Although she felt Mrs. Muir worked far too hard for that tightwad, Claymore, since meeting Daniel Gregg, she'd never seen the young woman so happy. It was obvious she had fallen deeply in love with the Captain, and he with her.
Martha did worry about him being away, so long and so often, leaving Carolyn and the children alone, but knew they both understood the challenge they faced, otherwise, they'd have married before the seaman left for Europe last year. The young widow was determined not to make another mistake. Candy and Jonathan were the most important people in her life, and she needed to be sure they would be fine with the Captain gone for long stretches of time.
What a different life Mrs. Muir would lead as Mrs. Daniel Gregg. Not only would she not have to work for her miserly uncle anymore . . . that in itself was a blessing . . . but the Captain was a leader in the community. His family had been an important part of Schooner Bay, almost since its founding. He was a man people admired and, as captain of his own ship, took good care of his crew. Men who sailed with him were paid good wages and treated fairly, but he did not suffer fools gladly. The Captain was a man of substance, and Carolyn's life with him would be nothing like it would have been had Robert Muir still been alive.
The Philadelphia Muir's acted as if they were the cream of the crop but, in reality, they were small minded people who took advantage of whomever they had to, to increase their wealth and position in society. Martha suspected that was why Robert Muir had married Carolyn in the first place . . . to make a good society marriage. She never understood what the young woman saw in him. Yes, he had been handsome, but he took after his domineering father, and Ralph Muir was no prize. From what she understood, once Robert married Carolyn, he treated her as if she were a possession . . . window dressing to make him look good. He treated his children the same way.
Daniel Gregg was a different man all together. Except for her own Jeremiah, Martha had never seen a man so taken with a woman. From the moment the Captain met Mrs. Muir, he was smitten. It was written all over his face whenever he thought of her, gazed at her, or spoke of her. The more he came to know Carolyn, she and the family's welfare became utmost in his mind and actions.
It was the Captain who suggested they move into Gull Cottage. He had seen the deplorable accommodations the family endured living with Claymore, whom he already had a low opinion of, and insisted. He told her he would move out of the house so they could move in. His voyage to Europe was coming up and he would be gone for six months or more, so it would certainly be proper and above board. When Carolyn tried to protest, he told her they would actually be doing him a favor. His housekeeper had left for Bangor, to care for her daughter, and would not be returning to Schooner Bay. Her replacement turned out to be unsuitable, and there was no time to find someone else. Carolyn, Martha, and the children could live in the house and take care of it in his absence. When he returned, he would stay at the Inn until more permanent arrangements could be made.
Despite his persuasive argument, Carolyn refused his offer unless he agreed to rent the house to her. Though Martha wasn't privy to their discussion, she understood the young widow held her ground until he finally agreed.
Before they moved in, he had craftsmen go over the house, from top to bottom, to insure everything was working properly. He didn't want them to have to deal with any maintenance issues while he was away. The roof was inspected, chimneys cleaned, and any and all repairs were taken care of.
Daniel's biggest concern was the gas heaters that had been installed several years ago. They did a nice job keeping the rooms warm but, one evening, the pilot light of the heater in his room went out. Fortunately, he saw it happen and turned it off right away, but he stopped using it immediately. He had all of the gas heaters checked and was going to have the one in the master cabin repaired, but, not wanting to take any chances, opted to replace it. When the Muir's moved into Gull Cottage, in early November, the previous year, it was ship-shape and Bristol fashion.
Martha was also struck by how good he was with the children. In her experience, most fathers paid little attention to their children. They were to be seen and not heard, and must always be on their best behavior. Candy and Jonathan weren't even his children, but the Captain loved spending time with them. He took them fishing, taught them both how to carve and do every day repairs around the house, played games with them, told them stories and treated them as if they were a prized treasure, because, to him, they were. He let them have their fun, but expected their best. He ran a taut ship, but a fair one. Both children flourish under his attention, and the housekeeper couldn't have been more pleased.
The Captain had won them all over. He had even charmed Carolyn's parents, except for the misunderstanding about the baby, which she had to admit, she found very funny. He truly was a good man . . . an impatient man . . . but a good man.
When he returned from his latest voyage, the day before, after taking Mrs. Muir into town and Candy and Jonathan to get a Christmas tree, she and the Captain discussed when the wedding would take place.
"Have you set a date yet?" Martha asked.
"No. How do you think Carolyn would feel about Christmas Day?"
"Tomorrow?!"
"Yes."
"Well, I couldn't possibly be ready."
"Pity you couldn't. When could you be ready?"
"Well, New Year's would suit me fine."
"Oh . . . well that will be my second suggestion," he replied cheekily as he kissed her cheek and claimed a warm tart from the pan, and slipped out of the kitchen.
Apparently, the Captain didn't make any suggestions to Carolyn about a wedding date. He didn't consult her at all. He just arranged the whole thing with the help of their family and friends.
Martha smiled to herself. She knew exactly why Daniel was so anxious to marry today, and when Carolyn found out, she had put on a good act too, but Martha knew neither one of them wanted to wait a week to be married. She had never seen two people revel in simply touching one another. It was almost as if they were afraid they would lose the ability. After everything Mrs. Muir and the children had been through with her late husband, this marriage was going to be a blessing for the whole family.
