Chapter Twenty Five

Carolyn is ready for bed and I am settled on the covers at the foot of it. She has changed into her nightwear and looks pretty. As I watch her it occurs to me that her nightwear has become prettier, and also shows a little more of herself than when we moved here. Now why would she do that? She seems a bit uncertain as she looks around the room and I realize she is wondering if the Captain is around. I decide I am bored and would like to see something interesting so I jump up in the bed and bark at Carolyn.

"Scruffy, Shh, be quiet."

I bark anyway, ignoring her.

"Scruffy." Laughing she tries to grab me but I avoid her grasp. Now we are playing as I run about the room with her chasing me. Chase is one of my favorite games. I bark again, and she tries to shush me.

"Mister! I need you to be quiet, the children are in bed!"

I bark noisily knowing that I am disturbing Captain and he will be here soon.

Almost immediately he appears, spares a glare for me and then looks over at Carolyn.

"What is all of this noise about?"

"Scruffy! He won't be quiet." She gestured helplessly.

The Captain crossed his arms and glares at me. "Scruffy, you must behave yourself, you will wake the children."

I'm not waking anyone up, they're still awake, I assure him with glee.

He gives me a look that tells me not to tell that to Carolyn. I bark at him again.

"Scruffy!" Carolyn says, exasperated but giggling. I am good at making her laugh. When I look over at Captain I see that he is smiling too, but instead of looking at me he is looking at her. Now I jump up on the bed, find a comfortable spot, lie down, and settle back to watch the show.

"Captain, since you're here, well, there's something I wanted to tell you," she blurted.

"And what is that?"

"That is, well, I didn't mean to be so….aggressive in putting this house in order." She glanced at him and then turned away from him, walking back and forth across the room. "

Meaning what exactly?"

"Meaning that… that I should have taken more time before I decided what to dispose of, besides being antiques, I'm sure some of those had some…sentimental value to you?" She raised an eyebrow and regarded him.

He sighed and looked at the floor.

"Captain, I'm sorry. I should have worked with you instead of against you."

About time she apologized.

"Is this an official apology?" He asked, his blue eyes looking into her green ones.

"Yes, yes it is. Will you accept it?" Her voice was soft again. "

Most humbly. Thank you, my dear."

He stood just before her, in front of her, very close together. For just a moment he leaned into her and I thought they were going to do this thing humans call a 'kiss'. And I admit I was most interested to see this. My keen eyes were fixed on them.

At the last moment he stopped as if he remembered he wasn't human or something stupid like that. He stepped away from her.

"Goodnight, my dear," he said and vanished.

Carolyn stared at the space where he had been for a long time, and gently touched her lips. This was encouraging. I think she wanted him to kiss her. I will have to work on this carefully; if I push them too soon they will be discouraged.

Thinking of how this might best be accomplished I fell asleep. A terrier's work is never done.