The conversation regarding the children's behavior in church was not difficult. Despite the extenuating circumstances, Candy and Jonathan knew they behaved badly and shouldn't have laughed at Reverend Conklin. Daniel watched quietly by the door as Carolyn talked with them. Understanding their predicament, he crossed his arms and rested his hand in front of his mouth, once or twice, to hide the smile fighting to get out. Their mother, reading the humor in his eyes, struggled to keep her own amusement in check. Neither could fault the children, too much, for their reaction.
The discussion about people staring at them was more involved and led to questions Carolyn had hoped to avoid, but suspected would come up.
"Mom, you said people stared at us because they were surprised to see the Captain sitting with us, right?" Candy asked.
"Yes, sweetie."
"But, why? I mean, everyone was looking at us, and I don't understand why they would."
"Yeah, he walks you home most nights, and he's here a lot. I don't get it either," Jonathan added, then turned to the quiet figure by the door. "Captain, why do people care if you come to church with us?"
Daniel looked at Carolyn. They wordlessly confirmed their approach, and the seaman came over and sat next to their mother. Facing the children, he cleared his throat before beginning.
"Well, you see . . . there are some things a man shouldn't do when he's courting a woman unless . . ."
"Are you and Mom courting?" Candy asked excitedly, interrupting him.
His eyes met Carolyn's with a look of resignation. He took her hand in his and looked at the two eager faces in front of him.
"Yes, we are. And when . . ."
"Do you love each other?" the little girl interrupted again.
"Sweetie, give the Captain a chance to speak," Carolyn reminded her, suppressing her smile at the situation the seaman found himself in.
"Oh. Okay. Sorry."
Daniel started over.
"When a man is courting a woman, he has to be very careful not to give her the wrong idea about his feelings. There are some things that shouldn't be done, or said, unless a man is serious in his intentions toward a lady."
"Like what?" Jonathan asked.
"Like escorting a beautiful woman and her two precocious children to church," the Captain smiled as he answered.
"What's pre . . . precocious?"
"The two of you! You are both much smarter than you should be," the seaman responded, tugging his ear.
"You think mom is beautiful, and we're smart?" Candy asked.
"I do."
"That doesn't explain why all those people stared at us, though."
Daniel looked to Carolyn for help.
"By escorting us to church, and sitting with us, the Captain has indicated to the whole congregation that his intentions toward us are serious."
"What do you mean by 'his intentions are serious?"
"It means my interest in your mother, and you two, is honorable, and I am not toying with the family's affections."
"What does that mean?"
Daniel looked to Carolyn to bail him out again.
"Honey, do you remember what I told you about flirting?" Carolyn asked Candy.
"Yes. You said flirting is when a man, or woman, pretends they like someone, but they're not serious, they're just doing it for their own fun."
"That's it exactly. The Captain is not flirting with me, and he is not toying with my affections. He is an honorable man, serious about having a relationship with our family, and he let everyone in church know that today."
Jonathan looked lost, but the couple could tell Candy was thinking things over and wasn't finished yet.
"So, he loves you?" she asked her mother.
"He does," he answered and gazed at their mother.
"Does she love you?"
"She does," Carolyn answered for him, and they smiled at one another as Daniel kissed her hand.
"Does this mean you're going to get married?" she asked excitedly.
Jonathan had finally caught up, and the thought of having Daniel Gregg as part of the family caused his eyes to shine as bright as a lighthouse.
"Yeah, does it?"
"Oh kids, we don't know yet. There's so much we need to learn about one another before we make that kind of a decision."
"But you love each other, right?" Candy confirmed
"Yes," the couple answered together.
"What more do you need to know?"
'Out of the mouths of babes,' Daniel thought.
"I know it seems like we've been in Schooner Bay a long time, but it hasn't even been a month yet. The Captain and I need time to get to know one another better."
"But, what you do know about each other, you love?" her daughter asked, looking for confirmation.
"Yes," Carolyn said chuckling. Her oldest was like a dog with a bone and was not going to let this go.
"But the Captain is going away in a few weeks, and for a long time. How will you get to know each other when he won't be here?" Jonathan asked, clearly puzzled.
"That is one of the things we have to find out," his mother answered. "Can we handle being away from each other for long periods of time?"
"Oh," he answered quietly before looking up with bright eyes. "But think how great it will be when he comes home!"
The Captain sat quietly with a small smile playing on his lips, as Candy and Jonathan pleaded his case with their mother.
"Yes, I know," she admitted, shyly glancing at Daniel. "But right now, we really don't know how we will handle those separations, and we won't find out until we've gone through it a few times. So, we have to wait and see," Carolyn answered, trying to bring things to a close, but the serious expression falling over Candy's face changed her plans.
"What is it, sweetheart?" her mom asked.
"Well, father wasn't home much, but when he was, there was a lot of yelling," Candy said quietly, as the memory of raised voices and ugly words flooded her thoughts.
"Oh, honey, this is nothing like it was with your father," her mother said and moved to sit between her children, putting her arms around them. "When the Captain is away, it will be because he has to be."
"Didn't our father have to be away too?"
"Sometimes. Yes, he did."
"But, when he was home, he yelled a lot and said mean things."
"Honey, I'm so sorry, but . . ." she said, beginning to flounder.
"Carolyn, may I?" Daniel asked.
"Please," she answered, relieved to have him with her.
"Children, I promise you, I will never say or do anything to demean your mother, or either of you, regardless of whether or not we become a family. I value you all too much to treat you that way."
"What about yelling? Will you yell at us?" Jonathan asked.
"Now, I can't promise you there won't be loud voices used on occasion. As captain of my ship, the safety of my crew is of the utmost importance, and my responsibility. I'm required to shout commands and warnings when necessary, and I'm afraid it has become a habit in certain situations. I also have to discipline my men when they don't do their job, or do something dangerous," he explained. "On occasion, we may find it necessary to discuss your behavior."
"So, you might shout at us if we do something wrong," Candy clarified.
"Perhaps, but if I do, maybe we could just consider it a very loud discussion," he smiled at her.
She gave him a tentative smile, but he could tell the wheels were still turning.
"Lass, do you have a question?"
The little girl was quiet as she pulled her thoughts together.
"How do we know?"
"Know what, dear?"
"How do we know . . . you won't be like our father?" she finally asked, not meeting his eyes.
Daniel leaned across and took her hands.
"Candy, I will do everything I can to prove to you, Jonathan, and your mother, you can trust me and what I say. I never want any of you to doubt my feelings for you, or how important you are to me."
The children didn't say anything, and an uncomfortable silence fell over the room. It seemed everything that was going to be said, had been. Neither Carolyn nor Daniel expected the conversation to end so abruptly, and both wondered if they'd uncovered a major roadblock to a life together.
"If there aren't any more questions, the Captain and I have to talk with Uncle Claymore and Martha. We'd like you to stay in here and play or read for a while. Once we're finished, we'll all go to the park," their mother told them.
Not receiving a reply, she exchanged an uncertain look with Daniel, and they both made their way to the door.
"Captain," Jonathan called after him.
"Yes, lad?"
"You don't have to prove anything to us."
"Yeah," Candy added. "You've already shown us you aren't like our father. We know we can trust you."
"Thank you both," he smiled back at them, relief clearly on his face. "We'll come for you when it's time to go to the park."
The couple left the bedroom, closing the door behind them.
XXXXX
They walked quietly to the living room expecting to see Claymore, but the room was empty. Daniel turned to Carolyn, and she was immediately in his arms.
"You know you don't have to prove anything to me, don't you?"
"I do, and I can't tell you how much that means to me," he replied, kissing her forehead.
Carolyn gazed up at him, her hands resting on his arms.
"Thank you for helping me with Candy and Jonathan. I couldn't have done it without you."
"Oh, I wouldn't say that. I'm sure you would have been fine on your own. Toward the end, though, I thought we might have a real problem on our hands."
"I did too," she said absently smoothing the lapels of his jacket. "I hate that Robert's behavior still impacts our lives. It's bad enough for me, but that the children . . . especially Candy . . . have memories of what our life with him was like breaks my heart. "
"Carolyn, the only thing we can do is continue what you've done all along . . . give Candy and Jonathan the love and attention they deserve. They are amazing children, thanks to you, and I have no doubt they'll be fine. You and I will make their father's unforgivable behavior a vague memory at best."
Carolyn slid her hands up his chest and around his neck, and pulled him into a kiss that pushed all thoughts of Robert Muir far away.
"I do have a question," Daniel said breaking the kiss and gazing at her beautiful face. "When do mothers start teaching their daughters to be so . . . female? So totally, eternally, female?"
The lady in his arms laughed and buried her head in his chest, as it rumbled with his own laughter, and his arms tightened around her.
"She did keep you on your toes didn't she?"
"Without a doubt," he continued to chuckle. "Madam, you have most assuredly done your job. That one will never be a wallflower."
"Thank heavens."
"Are you sure we were right to tell them how we feel about each other? Only a week ago you thought it was too soon."
"If we look at the calendar, it may seem too early, but when we look in our hearts . . ."
". . . We've got a lot of time to make up for," he smiled and kissed her gently.
"Yes, we do," Carolyn said, as her effort to pull him back to her was interrupted by Martha stopping in the doorway.
The couple separated, but maintained contact by keeping their arms linked, as she came in the room.
"Mrs. Muir, your uncle had to run to the office to pick up a contract he needs to review before tomorrow. He should be back any time. I put the roast in the oven, and the rest of the food can be taken care of later. We should be eating at the regular time," Martha finished her update. "Captain, you will be staying for dinner, won't you?"
"I don't know. Carolyn, am I staying for dinner?"
"Can you? We'd love for you to stay."
"I can, and I will. Thank you both for the invitation."
