Chapter 4

And this routine continued for several days. I was beginning to get very bored with it myself. And I was getting nothing for my story… except that it was obvious that Captain permitted nothing in his house that reminded him of his wife. It was truly a pity though. I felt that these children deserved a better father than the one they had. Or at least one who could handle loss better. I would have thought that a man who was used to watching his men die in battle would be accepting of death. I had to find out why he grieved his wife so much.

And then my opportunity came. I finally had a moment alone with the maid. I would try and pry some information out of. I slipped my recorder in my pocket, sticking out so it could catch her words as well as mine. She was putting in new curtains in my room and I was checking my email and such. I decided it was now or never if I wanted to get the story.

"So why is the Captain so insistent about routine?" I asked, one of the questions that had been on my mind for a long time. She paused for a moment, to think about the answer. Soon she resumed what she was doing but eventually answered my question. She began to look around as if to make sure than the Captain was not watching her.

"Well ever since his wife died, he runs his household like he does one of his ships. He is an extremely heart broken man. I met them when they were only newlyweds. I had never met anyone so… happy. They were so in love with each other. But of course she is no longer here and he is left an unhappy and extremely grief stricken man." She replied is a quiet tone. I pulled my recorder out of my pocket, knowing that if she stayed busy that she would never notice it.

"But if he was a naval captain once, don't you think he was used to the idea of death."

"I suppose so." She said as she finished one window.

"Why do you think he never reacted this way in that situation?"

"Well people act differently in battle than they do at home. Plus no one here could say he didn't grieve for his men. A man like him gets easily attached to good people. I hear he was one of the greatest naval captains in history. He would not risk the lives of many to save the life of one but would always do things that would keep the most people alive." She said finishing the next window. Only one more left. I had to get a few more things in.

"So when exactly did his wife die."

"About five years ago." That is right around Gretchen's age. "She died in childbirth with the youngest. I am surprised that he ends up treating Gretchen most like a child. Perhaps because she is the only thing that can still remind of his late wife. I don't really know all of it. I can only guess." She finished the last window. "But if you really want to know some more about the Captain, I'd ask the oldest ones. If you'll excuse me now."

The main dumped the curtains in the waste basket and I looked at them curiously. I knew that I could not make play clothes on my own. But if I sold them then I might be able to buy the children some. I could use some of my left over cash that I had before I took this job as well. I had a smile on my face and turned my recorder off. And lucky for me, the captain was going out of town tomorrow.

Perfect.

Two weeks had gone by. I had managed to call a cab into town the day after the Captain had left. I went and purchased two sets of play clothes for the children and bought The Sound of Music on DVD. I felt that they should watch it so I wouldn't be the only one laughing at what may be considered inappropriate times. When I came back they were surprised and delighted.

But I never stopped hearing about how I was destined to fall in love with the Captain. Leslie and Louise never let me forget that parallel. But during the month their father was away we managed to do a lot less marching and a lot more playing. I taught them all kinds of card games; I even taught the older ones poker. Curtis was becoming quite good at it. They learned many other games as well. Everyone in the household seemed a lot happier, including the staff.

And I almost forgot something about Leslie. Just like in the movie she had a thing for the, well he was the UPS guy. Something today say about modern times. But anyway one night at dinner she found out that there was a delivery and she volunteered to go and sign for it. At first I thought it was nothing but after dinner I looked out my window to see her sneaking back in the house, later than I expected. She must have known I saw her because when there was another delivery I told her to go and get it.

A few days before their father's expected arrival I wanted to teach them a song to sing when he came home. I should have guessed that their reply would be that they don't know any. The older ones remembered the movie and laughed along with me. I smiled and told them not to worry that would learn something in due time. So I went out once more to purchase sheet music for the song: The Sound of Music. It was one of my favorites from the movie.

By the morning of their father's arrival all the children were sitting in the den practicing. Little did we know that the Captain had decided to come home early and little did we know that he wasn't coming alone. They were all standing around me and I was playing the guitar for them. They started singing just as the Captain opened the door.

The hills are alive with the sound of music
With songs they have sung for a thousand years
The hills fill my heart with the sound of music
My heart wants to sing every song it hears

My heart wants to beat like the wings of a bird
That rise from the lake to the trees
My heart wants to sigh like a chime that flies
From a church on a breeze
To laugh like a brook when it trips and falls
Over stones on its way
To sing through the night
Like a lark who is learning to pray

I go to the hills when my heart is lonely
I know I will hear what I heard before
My heart will be blessed
With the sound of music
And I'll sing once more

All was silent. Normally the children begged me to play once more but they were silent now. I couldn't understand why until I saw that the captain was standing in the doorway staring at all of us. I put my guitar away quietly, not wanting to stare into his eyes again. I then looked up at him to see a female companion at his side. I was shocked but I didn't show it. I should have seen it coming though. He did not smile but he sent the children up to their room. I then walked out of the room, not wanting to look at him.

"Wait here." He said harshly to me. I stopped in my tracks and a wave of fear came over me. I could hear his lady friend going on and on about how wonderful that was but he told to her go on up to the guest room and that he wanted to talk to me alone. I became even more frightened, not that he would yell. But I was frightened because I was being left alone with the captain.