Disclaimer: The characters from 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir' belong to 20th Century Fox and David Gerber productions. No infringement is intended, no profit is made, and the characters will be returned unharmed from whence they came. This story is for enjoyment only. All other characters, plots, story lines and development of GAMM characters belong to the authors and may not be used or changed without express written permission. Set in the From this Day On Universe, between When The Stars Come Out and Ghost Riders. We do not own GAMM or its denizens. Sean and Molly O'Casey are Mary's, forever on loan to Amanda. The rest of the new characters are Amanda's, borrowed from the following: Skeldale, Tristan and Siegfried are names and characters in part borrowed from the fabulous James Herriot books, All Creatures Great and Small, etc. Blackwood, from Andrew Greeley. Linden from Stephen R. Donaldson. Adam from Panzer/Davis. Many, many thanks to Susan Griffith for the always needed beta read.
Serendipity
Mary and Amanda
PART TWO
September 14 – Monday
Shuddering at the chaos in which he suddenly found himself, Lord Dashire tapped imperiously on Claymore's desk to get the little man's attention.
"Aaayngh!" Clay yelped, jumping a bit. Then, adjusting his glasses that had dislodged when he startled, he saw who was there. "Oh, it's you, for a moment I thought it was him."
"Not at present. But it is about him."
The landlord muttered something under his breath; it sounded somewhat like he said, "What isn't?" but Dash didn't ask him to clarify, so that might be debatable. Louder, he said, "Well, what is it?"
"It's about the breakfront and the chart rack," Dash explained.
"What breakfront and chart rack?" Claymore asked. If he was playing dumb, he was doing a great job of it.
Mentally counting, Dash informed him, "The ones that Carolyn gave away at the time she got the new sofa and cut down Danny's tree." He winced a bit mentioning the tree.
Now, Claymore did look panicky.
"Let's not talk about that. I wasn't involved. It's one of the few things HE doesn't blame me for, so I — don't get me wrong, Mrs. Muir is wonderful... one of the best tenants I ever had," on the last note, he shouted, just in case he was being eavesdropped on. "But that was a major boo-boo. I wouldn't even do that!"
"We know," Sean announced, popping in. "But she wants to get them back now, and we're helping her, and we want your help too."
"But it's been two years! And I repeat, was not involved in that! Who are you? And why am I infested with ghosts all of a sudden?"
The two ghosts exchanged wounded looks. "Infested? Claymore, I thought you liked me," Dash frowned.
"And we're only two — that's not an infestation," Sean scoffed.
"Four. There's you two and HIM, and that one that takes his head off," Claymore corrected sulkily.
"Who else is here?" Sean asked out of the corner of his mouth.
"Elroy," Dash whispered.
Sean moaned slightly. "No better these days, huh?"
The nobleman shook his head. "Afraid not."
Thumping the desk for attention, Claymore glared at the Irishman. "Excuse me, I said WHO ARE YOU? and never got an answer. So who are you?"
Dash's eyebrows shot up, as he murmured approvingly, "I do say, old son. I think you're growing a backbone, at last."
"I'm Sean O'Casey, the Captain's oldest and dearest friend."
"Older than him?" Claymore sniped.
"Watch it," Dash warned. "Or you WILL need courage. Now, you were going to help us find those very valuable antiques..."
"Valuable?" Claymore gave Dash a cagey look. "I didn't know they were valuable..."
"That's for you to speculate, Clay," Dash answered. "Anything over a certain age becomes an antique, sooner or later, so yes, the furniture is worth something."
"But I'm sure you will agree that the items are worth far more to Daniel Gregg and Carolyn Muir than they are to you, old boy," Sean continued.
Claymore's head bobbed up and down. "Uh, huh, which is exactly the reason I never tried to sell any of the Captain's stuff!"
"Beg to differ, old chap," Dash interrupted, "But you most certainly did SO! Danny's told me you did!"
"He did?" Sean turned to his friend. "What did he sell?"
"His Tunisian incense burner, his Chinese war god, and his watchamacallit."
"His fire screen?" Sean 'tisked.' "For shame, Claymore. That was NOT very nice of you..."
"Well, uhm..." Claymore paused, frantically trying to think of a good excuse. "Well, I didn't get away with it... even had to buy them back, so that doesn't count. And I've never tried it again, either," he added, for good measure.
"Well, that's fine," Dash continued. "But now Carolyn is trying to remedy the rest of the situation by getting the things she gave away back, also."
"Well, what do you want ME to do about it?" Claymore whined. "She ditched that stuff almost two years ago."
"We just need some information," Sean soothed him. "And maybe permission to mention your name if things get touchy. Now then, Carolyn said that two men, Seth and Abner, hauled the furniture away that day. Who are they, exactly?"
Claymore's face brightened. "Oh! Seth Jackson and Abner Dawes. They have a business... do a little of everything in Schooner Bay... salvage, delivery, a little repair work here and there, and..." He stopped.
"And... what?" Sean prodded.
"...and, well, I know you two didn't have to worry about it a hundred years ago... wish I didn't have to worry about it now, but if they delivered or hauled away anything, like those antiques, they would have to have records..."
"Records of what?" Dash asked. "Speak up, man!"
"Pickup, delivery, who they sold it to," Claymore finished. "For income tax records. There would have to be files."
Turning in the direction of Claymore's overflowing filing cabinet, Dash sniffed and rolled his eyes heavenward. "Records... files..." he moaned. "Oh, joy. We could be hunting for another hundred years."
Claymore shook his head again. "Uhm, I'll ignore that comment, just this once, since you have a point, sort of. Seth Jackson's wife, Paula, handles all his bookkeeping and filing. She majored in Accounting in college. His files are... well, just a bit better organized than mine are."
"You mean to tell me we might be able to find out what happened to them just by making a call on one person?" Sean demanded. "Why didn't you say something before?"
"I did," Claymore argued. "I just told you!" He turned to Lord Dashire. "Sheesh, your friend here is excitable!"
"Thanks, old man," Dash patted the nervous man on the back. "Just one more thing. Can you give us directions to this Jackson fellow's place?"
"Go out the front door, make a right. Go down two blocks, make another right turn, go two more blocks, and it's the first house on the left," Claymore answered. "But Dash, you're still dressed just a little on the... uhm, dandy side, if you get my meaning. You'd attract less attention if you would dress just a little more like the seventies... nineteen seventies, that is."
"Well, it gives us a place to start," said Dash. "Maybe by some wild chance Danny's home port being in a small town will make things simple, after all."
"We won't know until we get busy," Sean answered.
Thanking the man in one breath, the two spirits shimmered and were suddenly redressed in fashionable, but not too formal business suits of the period, and on their way down the street.
XXX
Considering almost two years had gone by, finding the Captain's antiques turned out to be much easier than they had ever hoped. Telling Paula Jackson that they were representatives for Mrs. Muir, interested in preserving a "great man's (Daniel Gregg's) memorabilia..." and that they were on the trail of furniture 'accidentally' removed from the Gull Cottage, the two spirits were able to learn that, as suspected, the sofa had been summarily junked. The breakfront and the chart rack, however, had both been sold to an antique shop in Keystone.
"How far is Keystone, again? Sean asked Dash as they exited the Jackson home.
"Twenty miles. Nothing at all," Dash answered as the two made their way down an alley, preparing to vanish. We'll be there in no time."
Arriving in Keystone, behind "Treasures and Trifles," Keystone's largest antique shop, the two spirits became solid again, walked around the building and entered the front door. Once inside, representing themselves as they had to Mrs. Jackson, they were more than pleasantly surprised to learn that the items were once more in... Schooner Bay!
Lord Dashire smiled when he heard the names listed as the buyers. "Sean, old friend, we're halfway home."
XXX
Landing in front of the quaint cottage, Dash donned his best smile before knocking on the pink gingerbread door. When it was opened a moment or two later by a lady of advanced years, his smile broadened. "Good day, Ma'am. Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Charles Dashire, and I'm hoping you can help me. I need to talk to Mrs. Daisy Stoddard?"
"I'm Daisy Stoddard — but I'm not a Missus, just Miss," the woman said uncertainly.
Lifting his brows, Dashire blinked. "Are the men of this town blind idiots? What an utter pity. Miss Stoddard, I do hope you can help me."
"I don't see how..." she frowned, and I'm right in the middle of packing..."
"Ah. Some Lothario has found you after all, and is carrying you off... on a cruise? A world tour? My loss..."
"Oh, no. No. I'm moving, and trying to pack... well, as much as I can... and I need to go over to the Beacon and place an ad..." Miss Stoddard began to appear somewhat flustered and troubled.
"An ad?" Dash prompted.
"Yes... I shouldn't be telling you all this, you're a stranger and you did say you had important business..." she twittered.
"Tsk. Not at all. Perhaps listening to your troubles I can help? I can delay my business a bit for such a worthy cause."
Miss Stoddard sighed. "I'm to move in with my niece, into a rather small apartment, you see..."
Glancing around the room, primarily to locate the breakfront, Dashire noticed the front room alone was rather jumbled with knick-knacks and miscellaneous treasure. "Of course... and you are being forced to sacrifice your lovely things... now that is a terrible pity... but one I perhaps can help with..." His slow smile would melt a woman of any age's heart, or set it on fire. "You see, I'm associated with Mrs. Carolyn Muir's book, the one about Daniel Gregg," he began, reminding himself tacitly that he had to rouse Adam later and see about getting a release signed so Carolyn could write his book. "When she first moved here, well you can obviously empathize with her on the chaos of moving, and in the process she mistakenly parted with some of the great man's possessions. Of course, it was a terrible error, and never should have happened, but be that as it may, it did. Now, her position is a bit less tenuous and certainly in less upheaval than it was immediately after her transition, so it would mean a great deal to her to restore Gull Cottage to its original glory... but she can't do that you see, unless she can regain what was lost. Of course, the sofa is gone, but perhaps the rest can be found again..." His face morphed into a masque of sorrow.
Wide eyed, Miss Stoddard breathed, "Oh, dear! I can certainly understand, but how could I possibly help? I really don't have the time to research where it all went to."
"Oh, there's no need of that," Dashire rushed to assure her. "Though I'm certain that my quest would have gone more smoothly if I had simply asked you to begin with, I can see your acumen in these matters is surely without match. I do know where the two items in question are, and my associate is seeing to recovering one of them as we speak. Captain Gregg's dear aunt Violet, who raised him, left him a fine, antique breakfront, that very one over there, in fact. If I could persuade you to part with it, I'm sure that in whatever place his spirit is now, he would rest easier, knowing that from the hands of one dear, sweet aunt, HIS dear sweet aunt's gift has been returned to its home."
"I had no idea that it belonged to Captain Gregg, I mean, no one ever got to go into Gull Cottage until Mrs. Muir moved in!" Miss Stoddard gasped. "Had I but known..."
"Oh, to be sure," Dash said, not certain what he was supposed to be sure of, but it seemed the thing to say. "So, you do see how much it would mean to see the piece back to its first home?"
"Yes, and I would feel better about leaving it, knowing it was going where it really belonged... I really didn't want to sell it to Deke..."
Dash's brilliant smile returned. "Oh, dear lady, you have made my day." Gallantly, he seized her hand to kiss. "Now, though it pains me to be so trivial, let's make a deal..."
XXX
The scene confronting Sean was, at first glance, much the same as the one his partner in salvage faced. When the chart rack's owner opened the door, behind him could be seen boxes stacked and in the process of being filled, scattered all over the modest home.
"Doctor Ferguson?" Sean asked the harried man who opened the door.
"Yes? Office hours are..."
"Oh, I'm not here on a medical matter, sir," Sean shook his head. "I can see that you are busy, so I will try to not take up too much time, but it is rather important."
"Well, come in. Sorry about the... mess," Bruce Ferguson apologized. "Uh, I'm in the middle of moving to Boston, and trying to pack everything up is a nightmare, but I didn't want to leave it to the movers."
"Of course not. You have some fine pieces here, I see," Sean nodded, spotting the object of his visit. "I hope that your men are insured well — that chart rack there, I'd hate to see it get broken."
Glancing to where Sean pointed, Bruce sighed. "Yeah. That. To be honest, I'm not sure I'll move that. Maybe just leave it and let Doctor Avery deal with it. I know Deke'd give me next to nothing for it. I don't even know why I bought the thing. It struck my fancy, but it's useless! And I don't have room for it in my new place... oh, you don't want to hear my troubles. Sorry. What is it you needed again?"
Smothering both his irritation at the dismissal of the rack as useless, and the grin of relief, Sean cocked his head. "As it happens, I can solve your problem and mine, at the same time."
XXX
As agreed earlier, the two ghosts met back at Claymore's office, much to Mr. Gregg's discomfort, as they popped into his cluttered room with no warning.
"Someone should bell you two!" he fumed as he dabbed furiously at the coffee that had spilled all over his suit when he jumped out of his skin upon their entries.
"I'm not sure him getting a backbone was a good idea," Sean noted calmly.
"Oh, you!" Claymore scowled.
"Did you have any luck?" Dash chuckled.
"Aye. Doctor Ferguson will be happy to sell the chart rack to us — for one-hundred and fifty dollars. He figures it'll save him moving costs. You?"
Dash grinned. "Well, two hundred isn't quite the good deal you got, but Miss Stoddard did need the money to help her move, so, it's all good."
"Do I have to pay for it?" Claymore asked suspiciously. "Is THAT why you're here?"
"No, Clay, old son, you don't have to buy the antiques," Dash sighed. "But — it would be good of you to pay for someone to haul them to Gull Cottage."
"Why should I?"
"Think about how pleased Daniel will be," Sean suggested.
Claymore's face screwed into a knot. "Not good enough. Can't you just—" He waved his arms. "Do a little ghost trick?"
The shipmates exchanged looks. "Well, we could, but then everyone would know for sure that Gull Cottage is haunted. Hate to think what that'd do to the property value," Sean shrugged.
"Of all Clay's places," Dash sagely agreed. "If one is haunted, couldn't they all be?"
"Sure they could," Sean nodded.
"You're trying to scare me," Claymore accused, stabbing a finger at them.
"Yes. Is it working?" Sean asked.
"Claymore, we will leave, once you agree to do what we want," Dash added.
"Oh! Well, okay. I'll get Ed Peavey to do it."
"Excellent! We'll call you with the details. "Waving cheerily, Dash and Sean popped out.
XXX
When Martha heard a noise in the foyer at 3:30 that afternoon, she made a run for it as fast as she could — but Carolyn Muir beat her to the front door by a minute.
"Hi, Mom!" the children said together, reaching to give both her and Martha a hug.
"Hi, you two..." Carolyn embraced them in return, giving her housekeeper a sideways look. What were they thinking? If Dash and Sean had returned, they would have popped into the living room, or alcove, or Captain's cabin... not entered by the front door! The children dashed ahead to the kitchen, where an after-school snack awaited them. Carolyn and the housekeeper followed slowly behind them.
"You know, Mrs. Muir," Martha said quietly, "I'm glad you told me what you, Sean and Dashire have in mind, but the wait is driving me crazy! Do you think they've had any luck?"
"I have no idea, and I'm trying not to get my hopes up," Carolyn murmured back, as they reached the kitchen. "That's why I haven't said anything to the kids yet. Jonathan especially would be very disappointed if they can't find anything — he knew a long time before I did what those pieces meant to Daniel."
As the two women reached the kitchen, the children looked up from where they were seated, grinning. "Guess what, Mom?" Jonathan asked, but before Carolyn could open her mouth, he had continued. "We don't have school next Monday!"
"You're a week ahead of yourself, Jonathan," Martha smiled. "Memorial Day is a week from next Monday."
"No, Martha," Candy interrupted. "We know about that! But we don't have school Monday the twenty-first, either!"
Carolyn and Martha looked at each other. Did they remember what Monday was?
"Uhm, why?" Carolyn asked.
"There's an all-district Leadership Training meeting or something for all the teachers," Candy started to explain. "So no school."
"Except for the teachers!" Jonathan interrupted, and both the children laughed.
"Remind me never to become a teacher," Candy went on. "Anyway, it's a GREAT day to not have school, because..."
"...Because that means we'll be home when Captain Gregg gets back, AND get the day off to celebrate our moving in anniversary!" Jonathan finished. He looked up at his mother. "Can we do something special, Mom? A picnic, maybe?"
Candy rolled her eyes. "Well of COURSE we can, Jonathan! It's our anniversary! Don't you remember last year? I had found out about the Captain, and Martha was visiting her sister, so you and me and Mom and the Captain spent the day at the beach." Jumping up, she gave the housekeeper a hug. "We can do that again this year, if you want, Martha," she said. "We'll even help you pack all the stuff to eat and drink, and this year will be even better because this time you know about the Captain, too, and Uncle Dash, and Sean are here, and they can celebrate with us." The girl put an arm around her mother. "We can do that, can't we, Mom?"
Carolyn nodded. A thought coming to her. Surely Daniel WILL be home in time to celebrate the family's anniversary! She nodded her head. "I think a picnic sounds like a lovely idea, and kids..." she paused, unsure if she should take the plunge and tell the children what else was in the works. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "Kids, pay attention to me for a minute. I have some more news for you."
XXX
Dash and Sean popped into the kitchen at five-thirty, just as the Muirs and Martha had sat down to dinner, their faces glowing. Starting with their initial conversation with her landlord, the two ghosts recounted their search for the antiques, right down to imitating some of Claymore's more comic mannerisms.
The children had giggled themselves silly, and even Martha had laughed out loud at their antics. Carolyn, wiping the tears of laughter streaming from her eyes, said, "Yes, that's Claymore to a 'T' you're right on target — but Lord Dashire, how did you know about the watchamacalit? I mean, the fire screen, and so on?"
Dash smiled a bit ruefully. "Well, one afternoon, Daniel and I were comparing notes, as it were, on relatives and he mentioned it... and if you think I can imitate your landlord, you should see HIM do it!"
"I can see it now," Martha laughed. "Just a little game of my miserable relative is worse than your miserable relative?"
"So-called, in Clay's case, but yes," Dash grinned. In a voice that could have been Claymore if one had closed their eyes, he added: "Ohhhh! P-p-p-lease don't s-s-s-care m-e-e! I'll pass out, and I j-j-just c-c-an't today, it's the first of the m-m-month... I have to c-c-collect the rent!" He chuckled. "Truthfully, I suppose we could have figured out another way to get the items here, but I thought the old boy needed to have some part in bringing Daniel's things home."
They all laughed harder, and after they had recovered again, Candy and Jonathan excused themselves politely, saying that they had homework to finish. Once the two had left, Carolyn looked at the two spirits, her face serious again. "I can't tell you how grateful I am to both of you..." Looking directly at Dash, she added, "I don't know how many stories Daniel has told you about me... us... the last two years, but to tell you the truth, I was a little scared of how much it might cost to get the antiques back, even if you could find them... especially after..." She made a face. "Well, after I found out how much scrimshaw can appreciate in a hundred year's time."
Sean's eyebrows went up. "I don't quite understand, missus."
"I do," Dash nodded. "I'll explain later, Sean. And I was crossing my fingers that inflation wouldn't be a factor either, too, but our timing was good. Our two sellers needed to sell as much as we needed to buy. Serendipity."
Carolyn smiled again. "Anyway, the amounts you've mentioned, I can afford."
"Marvelous," Sean nodded. "If you can write the checks out tonight, Dash and I can drop them off tomorrow — that's really the best plan, since Claymore said Ed would have the items loaded and delivered here by ten tomorrow morning."
"That means I need to make a trip into town, too," Martha commented, rolling her eyes. "I'll need to add cherries to my grocery list. Ed'll be wanting his customary cherry pie for his trouble!"
"Then I'd like to make a request for more of your cinnamon cake, my dear." Dashire gave her a wistful look. "I'll be in on the unloading tomorrow, you know."
The smile on Carolyn's face faded. "Omigosh! Tomorrow! So soon!" Her face went white. "Sean, Dash, I had NO idea you would find the pieces so fast! Now we're back to 'where on earth are we going to put them'?"
"Front porch?" Sean shrugged.
Dash shook his head. "No. Outside isn't a good idea. Climate, you know. It could rain, or something."
"Carrie, my dear, you mentioned the attic, before," Sean said, "What happened to that idea? That's where Daniel keeps his charts, Dash says, and the breakfront WOULD be a lovely place to store and display everything he has collected over the years."
"And I've really wanted to get the attic cleaned up, ever since we moved in here," Martha added. "The breakfront will be perfect for display, and if his papers and all can go in the drawers, it will give us enough room to make some order out of everything else."
"But not throw anything else away," Sean added, quickly.
"Never again," Carolyn blushed. "Without having it in writing, but..." She shook her head. "I don't know. There's only that small stairway leading to the attic, and... Do you think there's room? How can we get the pieces up there? Ed is going to need help just getting the pieces as far as the foyer, and I doubt if he is going to be thrilled about waiting while I push stuff around in the attic to make room... not to mention carrying those heavy pieces up the stairs... I..." She broke off, overcome.
Dash and Sean looked at the Lady of Gull Cottage and grinned.
"What?" She stared back at them. "Did I miss something?"
"Only that once an area is cleared, we don't have to carry anything, Carolyn," Dash chuckled. "When all is ready, Sean and I can 'pop' the items up to Danny's wheelhouse."
Carolyn started giggling. "You can, can't you? Gee, you guys have snuggled in so comfortably here, I almost forget you ARE spirits!"
"I take that as a compliment, dear lady." Sean rose and bowed, and Dash did likewise.
"So we're there?" Martha asked as the two men sat down again. "Delivery tomorrow, put the pieces in the foyer, or the living room, or something, temporarily, and..."
"...and by the end of the day tomorrow, the decks should be cleared enough in the wheelhouse for us to take care of the rest," Dash said briskly.
"Not all of the rest," Carolyn said. She glanced at the calendar on the wall that Candy had made in art class. "We still have a lot to accomplish in a short time," and... She added to herself: Now I'm not sure what I want more... time enough to complete your surprise, Daniel, or just you... with me... safely home again!
XXX
Shortly after ten the next morning, right on schedule, Ed's old truck rattled up to Gull Cottage, loaded down with Daniel Gregg's treasures. In the front seat beside Ed, Sean was being treated to his first horseless carriage ride.
Hearing the old vehicle clatter up the road, the Muirs, Martha, and Dashire came out to see. Until the truck stopped and the other men got out, Dash remained standing with the family; his arm draped casually over Martha's shoulders. Sean looked up the walk to yell, "Come on and give us a hand, 'old son,' and earn that chocolate cake."
As Ed glared, Dash removed his arm from Martha to salute Sean. "Of course, sir. Right away."
"Can I help?" Jonathan called from the porch.
"Sure, lad," Sean replied. "Hold the gate open for us... and Candy, be a love and hold Scruffy."
Though somewhat hampered by Mr. Peavey's presence, Sean and Dash still were able to make their loads a touch lighter, even if they did appear to be moving them in a strictly mortal fashion. Once the two heavy items were deposited inside, Ed pulled off his cap, shaking his head. "Want me to hang around and help ya move furniture and stuff, Miz Muir? Not sure why you want this stuff back... sure takes up a lot of room."
"The intrinsic value is greater than the trouble involved," Dashire explained before Carolyn could. "But no need to worry yourself, my good man. O'Casey and I are here, and will remain until the furniture is reshuffled to the satisfaction of both good ladies."
"Hmph. Well..." Ed began.
"We've got it under control," Dashire insisted.
"Do you need anything else done, Martha? Light bulb changed or plumbing?" Ed asked nervously. Something about these two guys struck him as off-kilter.
"Oh, if dear Martha needs anything at all done, we'll see to it," Dash beamed. Impulsively grasping her hand, he declared, "Speak, and it is as good as done. Name a noble task and I will not rest until it is accomplished."
Giggling, Martha shook her head. "I don't need anything, your lordship. But Ed, I do have a cherry pie out in the kitchen for you... and the cake for you two is almost ready to go in the oven... I didn't want it to fall if there was a bang or bump."
"Thank you, kind lady," Sean nodded. Watching Ed follow Martha to the pie, he continued, "Just direct us, Carrie."
"I think you can take a break, for now," she whispered, with a significant glance toward Ed. "I really don't want to explain how the furniture will move so quietly upstairs."
"Right. Come on, Dash. I want to see where we'll pop it in," Sean nodded.
XXX
An interminable time later, Ed left, taking leftover pie with him. Then, it was only minutes before the overbearing antiques were re situated into their new home. Then began the tricky part.
They decided to have lunch before the dusting process began, then, they returned to the attic to tackle the clutter. After a while, Carolyn frowned. Something was missing, but... what? The figurehead was still there, in all her "glory." What...?
Surveying her surroundings, she concluded, with a small shock, that one particular chest was gone. Vanessa's trunk was not there anymore. Maybe it had been moved? But, no, she couldn't see it anywhere. Now was not the time to ponder the meaning behind that... she did not dare hope, did she?
"Aaaahchoo!" Martha's second sneeze broke through Carolyn's ruminations. "Aaahahaahachooo!"
Producing a lacy hankie, Dash handed it to her with a slight frown. "My dear lady, while in most cases I would never think to interfere in the running of your realm, you are without parallel the queen of cleanness. I must ask your indulgence, for I cannot bear to see you or Carolyn suffer further. Sean and I can dispose of this pernicious dust in a trifle, if you will allow it. So, I ask you, sweet sovereign, let me cast off this... this..."
"Dirt?" Sean suggested, cutting off his flowery diatribe.
"To be blunt, yes."
Stepping back and sneezing one more time, Martha gave a royal wave, "Have at it."
Moments later, a hazy cloud rose from the furniture, papers, and so on, drifting outside through the open porthole window and strewed itself to the four winds.
"I hope you hang around for spring cleaning," Martha commented wryly.
XXX
Over the next few hours that turned into days, the ghosts and mortals worked together to organize the wheelhouse, all the time exchanging stories. Martha gained fresh insight into incidents that had puzzled her across the almost two years they had lived in Gull Cottage; such as when the seal had taken residence in their bathroom, or the time Mrs. Muir had been in denial about living with a ghost. In turn, Carolyn heard stories that she could fill volumes with about their new friends' years with the Captain. Most of the names they mentioned were only barely familiar, but more than once, Elroy's antics cropped up, proving that Daniel's declarations of the seaman's ineptitude were precise. He even had trouble managing a wake-up call properly.
"After all," Dash scowled in memory. "How hard is it to say 'six bells to arise, Captain?' Did he have to blame it on me? 'Mister Dashire says 'get up'?' Indeed."
Pausing as he adjusted a bit of scrimshaw, Sean quirked his brows. "But, your grace, you did tell him to tell Daniel it was time to get up."
On Tuesday afternoon, the kids received a pleasant surprise when they jostled upstairs to see how things were going. Dash had left the work to Sean's able hands while he dictated a bit of his story to their mother, since he had roused his hapless attorney early one morning to secure permission for her to pen his life story. As they opened the door to the attic carefully, a familiar tune with different words reached their ears.
Suddenly aware that he had an audience, the Irish ghost stopped.
"Wow, you sing better than Tim," Candy admired.
"Yeah, but you got the words wrong," Jonathan felt obliged to add. "Love Me Tender goes different..."
Candy held her breath, hoping her tin-eared brother wouldn't sing.
"I think Mr. Presley set his song to an older tune — when I learned it, the song was Aura Lee," Sean instructed patiently. "But the recent song is pleasant, I just — sometimes the older songs are easier to sing, lad."
"It's still pretty," Jonathan shrugged. "And it's cool that you know the song, even if it's not the same."
"Will you sing more?" Candy asked. "You really are good."
"I'll consider it," Sean promised with a smile.
"Groovy," both kids agreed.
XXX
Indeed, life did seem rather "groovy," all of a sudden. Sean and Dashire might have been engaged in "treasure hunting," but Danny already had a real treasure in his family. Yet, there seemed to be a place for the two spirits as well, if one, especially, were willing to let go of his loneliness.
Children waiting for birthdays or Christmas could not have felt as impatient as the occupants of Gull Cottage did over the next few days. At first, they were sure they could never get everything done in time, but then, it was done and all they had to do was wait, making them wish there was one more thing to do. As a consequence, Daniel's fragments of memories were readjusted, dusted, straightened and moved about a dozen times between Friday and Sunday evening. In the evenings, Dashire and Sean had more stories to relate, making television rather passé,' and Sean's talent as a singer was put to good use.
Sunday was spent on pins and needles, wondering if maybe, just maybe, Daniel Gregg would come home earlier than hoped. At every sound, they looked up, only to be disappointed. Martha joked that it reminded her of the surprise 'death-day' party they had inadvertently thrown him.
XXX
Carolyn woke early on September twenty-first. Slowly opening her eyes, she became aware of the feeling of eyes upon her.
"It is about time you woke, Sleeping Beauty," a dear voice rumbled. Sitting up rapidly, she looked all around, and then Daniel appeared beside the bed.
"You're home," she beamed, stating the obvious, but lacking words to contain how overjoyed she was to see him. Any doubts she had evaporated looking into his face, seeing the happiness that mirrored her own.
Carolyn reached for her bathrobe at the end of the bed, slipping it on before swinging her legs over the side and standing up. Looking down at the floor, suddenly shy, she tied the cord carefully before gazing up at him again.
"I don't think you have any idea how much I… we have looked forward to today," she said simply. "We've missed you."
Leaning toward her carefully, almost, questioningly, he reached out and stroked her cheek, his hand trailing down to the base of her neck and the hollow of her throat. Cupping his hand, he gently tipped her chin up, and gazed into her green eyes — still dewy with sleep. No. Brimming with unshed tears.
"Did you think I wouldn't?" he asked softly, now cupping her face in both his hands. "I had to return. You are here."
"I … I didn't know what to think, Daniel," she blushed, reveling at his soft touch. "I knew you would, believed you would, told the children you would, and Dash SAID you would, but…"
"But I've never been gone so long from here… you, before," he interrupted softly, and she nodded.
"Never," she swallowed slowly.
Bending his head, his lips hovered only inches from hers. "Carolyn, I swear I will never be gone so long from you again."
"I'm glad," she whispered.
"Now…" he said huskily, as one hand dropped to her waist and he drew her toward him. "Do you think you can welcome your returning seaman properly?" and as she nodded, his lips settled firmly on hers. Bringing his arms up to her shoulders, he drew her still closer, and with a small sigh, she relaxed into him.
Neither one saw Sean appear at the bedroom door. He'd been waiting impatiently for it to be early enough to begin the day for the humans; truly, there were times he wondered if ghosts could learn to sleep — to kill time if nothing else. Sensing a spirit in the Master Cabin, he figured Dash had decided it was time to get up, and decided to see if that was so. The possibility of ribbing him about that after the Elroy story had appeal.
It was, of course, not his lordship, but his Captain in the room ahead of him. Seeing the two of them, and how they had eyes only for each other, Sean vanished before they could detect him. Back in the attic, he sighed deeply. It really was true then. Daniel had found his soul-mate. A part of him felt a stab of loss, remembering Molly, but the greater part of him took joy in what he'd witnessed. There was a 'rightness' about the two of them. He'd never seen that look on his oldest friend's face before, in life or death. For that, Sean owed Carrie a debt of thanks.
"Woman, you will undo me in a moment!" Daniel's voice rasped, his lips moving down her neck and then to her ear. "I cannot tell you how glad I am to be home," he whispered.
Carolyn giggled. "Hey, your beard tickles!" Odd, what a difference two weeks could make. That had never happened before, had it? "I should get dressed," she murmured, pulling away from him, regretfully, but not before reaching up to kiss him again. Homecomings were wonderful things!
The Captain sighed, his arms falling back down to her waist. "I suppose so, though truthfully, I could spend an eternity being welcomed home by you." She blushed again, still reveling at being held in his arms.
"And I could spend an eternity doing the same. Give me ten minutes?" she asked. "Come back then, and we can go downstairs together."
Daniel nodded. "Ten minutes, my darling, but please don't make me wait too long. We have too much to catch up on."
Carolyn nodded, and as he started to dematerialize, she blew him another kiss.
XXX
Reappearing in the master cabin exactly ten minutes later, Daniel took his lady's arm and led her downstairs to the kitchen where the children and Martha were starting their day.
"Look who's home," Carolyn called, getting their attention.
All three turned toward them, their faces lighting up instantly. Flying across the room for hugs, Jonathan yelled, "Captain!" and Candy cried out, "Captain Dad!" Over their heads, Daniel looked at Carolyn in slight askance, but her grin provided no answers. Yet, he did not really need any specific ones. Over the last two years, he'd grown to see the children as his own. Candy had simply closed the circle, putting into words that they felt that way too. Even through Scruffy's frantic barking, he could hear them exclaiming how glad they were to see him back.
Though she hung back a bit, Martha was beaming as well. "I'm glad to have you back, too, Captain. I just don't get as noisy about it."
Quirking a brow, he grinned back, "Oh? Really, Martha? Glad to have the 'ogre' back underfoot?"
Blushing, she gruffly clarified, "Well, you do make my family here happy. I never have seen such blue faces as those they had with you out of pocket. Downright depressing."
"Oh? You didn't miss the old barnacle at all on your own behalf?" he baited her.
"Maybe, a little, yes," she allowed, then added sternly. "I'll admit it ONCE, that's all you're getting. I — I'm coming to see that ghosts can be rather charming." Her eyes looked over his shoulder as she spoke.
"Now then, are you talking about me, or Dashire?" Daniel asked, frowning as he looked around. "Where IS Dash?"
"Not just him," she smirked.
At the same time, Dashire cleared his throat, "Right behind you, old man."
"And not just him, alone," Sean chimed in.
Whirling, Daniel grinned. "Sean! How long have you been here?"
"Since a day or two after you left, but I waited for ye. Catching up with Dash here, and yer family's kept me busy."
"Among other things," Martha said under her breath.
"Sounds like you've had quite an interesting life, lately," Sean nodded. "And 'tis some fine family you have to be sure."
With a rueful look, Dash put in; "I'd say that's saying the least. Ah, Danny, did that business work out to your — satisfaction?"
"Beyond expectations."
Profound relief flicked across his lordship's face. "Excellent."
Carolyn shot them both a puzzled look, but shrugged. One of her uncles had been a Shriner, and that had taught her not to ask men about their 'stuff.'
"You will stay and let me enjoy catching up with you, too, I hope?" Daniel continued, turning to Sean.
"At least today," he smiled.
"More than that, we hope," Martha said.
"We'll see," was all Sean would give in to.
Accepting that, she took over, instructing them all to sit — breakfast was ready. Hoping the Captain might be there, she'd made the blueberry pancakes she knew he liked so well. Jonathan suggested making the blueberries look like smiles, but the best she could do on that was to say, "They are smiles, if you take a modern art perspective."
"I don't intend to let them stay on the plate long enough to care if they are smiling, frowning, or yawning," Dash declared.
"Captain Dad," Candy said, bouncing a bit, "Do you know what today IS?"
"Yeah, do ya?" Jonathan repeated.
Looking thoughtful, Daniel pondered. "I haven't kept track of the days of the week well, where I was, but I do believe it's Monday. And rather late for you two to be here on a school day, unless I'm a week late."
"It's our anniversary!" the two kids virtually yelled in unison, making Martha wince.
"And we have the day off, so all the teachers can go to school," Jonathan announced.
"Hmmm?"
"To learn to be leaders," Candy added. "And, my paper about you got an 'A.' and won a prize! Uncle Dash and Uncle Sean helped me. They had a lot of good stories."
Neither child noticed the startled, yet pleased looks the two ghosts gave each other over their 'promotions.'
"And they helped me make a volleyball net, so we can play with it on the beach, later. Mom said we can have a picnic on the beach to celebrate," Jonathan said. "You DO want to go on a picnic with us, don't you, Captain? The weatherman said it's supposed to be real warm, all day today."
"Of course I do..." Leaning over from his seat, he enveloped both children in a bear hug, and as he sat back in his seat, he turned and kissed a startled Carolyn sitting next to him, not really caring if his friends and Martha saw him do it. "I think a picnic on the beach is a marvelous idea."
"Like last year," Candy nodded. "Only this time, Martha and everyone can come!"
He smiled, and regarded their glowing faces. It was, indeed, good to be home again.
XXX
Breakfast was a leisurely affair, but through it all, everyone could feel the undercurrent of anticipation. Finally, after a third cup of coffee, the Captain's eye glanced over the whole blooming bunch... especially his two former shipmates.
"You two look..." He looked around the table. "You ALL look like the cat who swallowed the canary... I know you're happy we're back together again, but... what's up?"
"Well," Carolyn started. "We have a special surprise for you, in honor of our anniversary..."
"A surprise?" The seaman looked startled, then pleased. "Well I thank you all, but the greatest gift I could have in honor of the day is already coming... our picnic. Our day together." He gave Carolyn's hand a squeeze. "Nothing could be better, today of all days, than that."
Sean shook his head. "I dinna think you should be saying that, Danny Boy..." he smiled. "There's been way too much planning and plotting for ye to just say 'not necessary.' Besides, I'm sure you will agree that this... gift is long overdue."
"Very." Carolyn nodded, and she brought her hand up to his face and stroked his cheek. "I'd say about one-and-
a-half years overdue. Daniel, please, come with us?"
"I never could resist you long in anything," Daniel said as he rose from his chair. "Where you lead, my dear Carolyn, I will follow."
"Wish I could get Ed to talk like The Captain and Dash do, if it was only half the time!" Martha said to herself, but Candy overheard her, and nodded.
"Right, Martha!" she agreed. "The man I marry will have to have a neat voice like Captain Dad, and talk a little like him... that's for sure!"
"We should blindfold Captain Gregg," Jonathan said, as the made their way to the foyer.
"Why?" Carolyn asked.
"'Cause we can't wrap his present," the boy went on, maybe a bit impatiently. "And if we can't WRAP it, he can't open it, so if he has a blindfold on, and then he takes it off, it's sort of like unwrapping a present, see?"
"The boy had a point," Sean agreed.
"I rather like the plan," Dash smiled. Deftly, he removed a large silk handkerchief from his pocket. "Will this do?" He gave the kerchief to Carolyn. "Milady..."
Carolyn smiled back at him as she took the object, beginning to form a silken tube. "I think it might be better to wait until we get upstairs. No sense blindfolding and then making him walk the stairs."
"Don't I get a say in this at all?" Daniel grinned, loving the attention.
"None whatsoever, just smile and go along with it." Martha offered. "You'll like it better that way."
With Daniel holding Carolyn's hand fast in his, they all ascended the stairs the mortal way and made their way down the hall of the second landing, finally coming to the stairway leading to the attic.
"NOW we blindfold you," said Candy, firmly. "Mom, can I do it? I can tie a knot too, you know." Carolyn handed her the silken cloth, and the Captain leaned over slightly, allowing the girl to place the cloth over his eyes and tie it at the back of his head. "Tell me if I get it too tight, Captain." The spirit did not protest, and in a few moments, they stood at the wheelhouse door itself, breathing a sigh that they had made it this far without anything going wrong. Carolyn opened the door and led her Captain inside. Once they were all there, upon a signal from Carolyn, they all shouted, "Happy Anniversary, Captain!" and with a flick of his wrist, Sean undid the knot holding Daniel's blindfold in place.
Flabbergasted, his eyes wandered around the room. "Oh, my..." he started. "How clean and orderly everything looks! I..." Then his eyes focused on the chart rack.
"Dare I hope...?" His voice was hushed, and full of emotion. "Carolyn, is that...?"
"It's yours, Daniel," she said softly, her voice almost as quiet as his had been.
"I... I don't... MINE? Really?"
"Really, Captain!" Jonathan gave him a wide grin. "Now look over here!" He pointed to the breakfront.
"Aunt Violet's..." He stopped again, overcome. "Is that really what I think it is?"
"Really. Daniel." She nodded happily. "We... that is, Dash, Sean and I found your furniture and brought it home to you."
"The breakfront... My chart rack... How did you... where did you... who had my..." He was squeezing Carolyn's hand so hard it almost hurt. "Oh, my dear ones, what have you done?"
Carolyn smiled and gave him a happy look. "Just putting right what I did wrong," she said. "I trust it meets with your approval? You are... happy, aren't you, Daniel?"
Slowly, the seaman reached out and stroked the curved wood of the chart rack. "Happy doesn't BEGIN to describe what I am feeling at this moment," he answered. "They were special before, but now, they are twice over so."
"Come see, Captain," said Candy, grabbing his hand from where it rested on the rack. "I helped decide what got put inside the cabinet — for display, I mean. Do you like what we did?"
Finally letting go of his love's hand, the mariner gazed at the pieces in the cabinet, his sextant, his mermaid statue, assorted shells, a Chinese puzzle box, a lacy fan, every item, no matter how oddball, a treasured memory. Shaking his head in disbelieving wonder, Daniel said, "I'd forgotten I had all of this."
"I wonder why?" Martha noted, with a trace of sarcasm. "Don't tell me you collected all of this in ONE lifetime?"
"Aye," Sean grinned. "As Dash mentioned before, our beloved leader was and is, rather a packrat." With a wink to Martha, he continued, "I think, sir, you'll see that I put them in order you liked things in, back on the ship, and arranged them that way. Your papers are in those drawers. I did my best to recall how you liked things to be."
Pointing, Dash added, "And your newer charts are in order in the rack."
"You two really DID keep busy," Daniel complimented.
"We all did," Jonathan corrected.
"How did you manage to find them again?" Daniel marveled, running an appreciative hand over his gifts.
"That's our secret," Carolyn beamed. "But we couldn't have done it without the charm and talent of your two shipmates."
The two men grinned. "It was your idea," Dash demurred.
"Cut the mutual appreciation society, we're a good team, period," Martha blustered.
"That we are," Sean nodded.
"Yes, I can hardly wait to work on my charts now that I have this splendid work area," Daniel admired. "I believe I'll —"
"Oh no, you don't!" Carolyn cut him off. "We have a lovely day waiting for us and a beach picnic planned. The charts will wait. We're going to enjoy today in the sunshine."
"I know when I'm outranked," Daniel acknowledged, and allowed himself to be led downstairs again after one lingering glance over his 'sanctuary.' I'll have to think of a new name for it, he thought. I really don't need a place in which to seek refuge from humans, any longer.
XXX
Some days are meant to be stored in the recesses of your mind and remembered forever, and the afternoon and evening that followed was one of them. No day, if it could have been especially written or filmed for the occasion, could have been better. Martha packed a fabulous lunch, and had remembered to include everyone's favorites... Fried chicken for Carolyn, German potato salad for Jonathan, apple-raisin salad for Candy, boiled shrimp for the Captain, Aunt Belle's cinnamon cake for Dash, and her special homemade pickles for Sean. During the two ghosts' two-week visit, Martha had gone out of her way demonstrating her culinary skills... as her way of thanking them for finding the Captain's antiques, and Sean and Dash very much appreciated her extra attentions.
Bringing along the poles, the three spirits and Jonathan set up the volleyball net first, Daniel praising the lad for his fine job. The net was an intricate pattern of knots, far beyond the design in a store-bought net, and Dash and Sean both privately told Daniel that Jonathan certainly had them beat in knot-lore.
"Well, Danny," Sean had shrugged. "Knots... not exactly something a ghost needs every day!"
"Unless you need to teach them to someone as bright as Jonathan!" the seaman had grinned back.
"He is, that," Sean agreed. "All we heard while you were gone and we were making the net is 'the Captain says this... the Captain says that!' Knots, fishing, models, sailing... you've taught the boy a great deal for only two years... and him being so young."
"Cabin boys were younger," Daniel objected. "And they learned."
"Not so quickly, though," Dash maintained stubbornly.
"Ah, but Danny wasn't able to teach them on such a consistent basis," Sean grinned. "He did have the rest of the ship to run."
"Hey, Captain!" Candy ran up to them. "Mom says we're all going down the beach and look for tide pools and starfish and other stuff... are you ready?"
"I thought we were playing volleyball?"
"We ARE," Jonathan maintained, coming up behind his sister. "And look for caves, too, but we have all day... Come ON!"
XXX
During the long afternoon, the family did those things and more, including a sand castle building contest, Daniel and Candy being declared winners, bird watching, Scruffy barking at everything in sight, racing, looking for seashells and sand dollars and for a change there was time enough to do everything. After eating the delicious lunch, the children wanted to jump in the water again, but Carolyn, remembering the rules, insisted they stay beach-bound for at least forty minutes and suggested playing the postponed volleyball game, instead. The children agreed, excited to have enough people to really play. When the game was over, Dash and Jonathan and Sean pulled out a narrow victory over Carolyn, Daniel and Candy. During the volleyball game, Carolyn had noticed that her children's noses were turning a bit red and she bade her children to come to her while she applied more suntan lotion. She glanced at Sean. Rather than turning red or brown, he was actually looking a bit pale. The Irishman said nothing though, and manfully pulled his team to victory. When it was over, he dropped to the blanket, maintaining gently that he needed to 'rest.'
"Oh, but we were going to play football next!" Jonathan protested.
"We're nowhere ready to go home yet, lad," the Captain said gently, laying a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Of course not," said Dashire, coming up behind him. "Sean's just not used to keeping up with you two." He grinned at Candy, who had joined them to see what the delay was. "Martha, my dove," he added, extending his hand to the housekeeper who was seated on a blanket under a beach umbrella, "What do you say you and I take the children and do a little beach-combing?"
Martha smiled and looked at Carolyn who was now sneaking a sideways glance at her Captain. "I think that sounds like a great idea, Dash."
"You coming with us, Mom?" Candy asked, looking at her mother, who was now holding the Captain's hand.
"Daniel..." Dash said, interrupting smoothly. "I thought I noticed a slight error on those beach charts of yours." He pointed in the opposite direction of the way Jonathan was pointing. "Why don't you and Carolyn go check out that area, and the kids and Martha and I will go this way? I think there's more 'stuff' down that way." He gave his former commander a wink.
"I think that sounds like a marvelous idea," Daniel winked back, taking Carolyn's arm. "Thanks, Dash."
XXX
Some walks take longer than others, and Carolyn and Daniel had not returned when Dash had returned with Martha, Candy Jonathan and Scruffy forty-five minutes later.
Sean opened his eyes. "Back so soon?"
"You're still asleep?" Jonathan looked unbelieving. "I thought you guys don't get tired."
"Not in the way you do, lad, no, but I do need to recharge a bit at times. That is, if you want me to last the rest of the evening!" Sean smiled, but his eyes were still tired.
"'Course not!" Candy agreed at once. "We need to keep you... healthy?" She looked doubtful, wondering if that was the right word for a ghost.
"Exactly so," Martha agreed. "Candy, Jonathan, if you two still want to build a fire and roast marshmallows, you'll need to find some driftwood. Why don't you come and help me do that?" She looked, concernedly, at the two ghosts. "You two need to rest a mite. Sean, you still look pale. Dashire, you will be if you don't stop. We'll go get what we need to build a fire. You two... go... be ghosts for a while. Dematerialize, or whatever. Come along, children."
As the three humans started up the beach, Dash turned to his friend. "Sean, old son, are you all right?"
"Of course I am. I haven't had lessons in being — whatever you call it that you and Danny are."
"And?" Dash probed.
"I'd forgotten what a stubborn one you can be. Very well." He sighed before continuing. "I don't know... it feels odd...for the last hundred years, give or take, the three of us have been adrift... no apron strings... and Danny the only one that didn't even want them... It seems, odd, 'old son'."
"Well, there was Vanessa." Dash recalled.
"Pfft. That'd never have worked, and you know it."
"Indeed I do. I've told Danny so, and besides..."
"I know. Fluff is a nice way to describe her, all things considered. As I was saying, he never wanted any, and here, you and I both missing the love of our lives, or after lives. Now, you and I are still wishing for our ladies and he's found one, a live one at that..."
"Well, he IS the Captain. Perhaps he's simply leading the way for all of us?" Dash shrugged elegantly.
"Nay. Perhaps for ye, but no one will ever replace Molly."
"Can't blame me for being hopeful, can you? Just look at Daniel and his lady." The nobleman pointed in their general direction. "They are right together. Maybe he never wanted apron strings because hers weren't available yet. Even missing Aislynn, I can't wish him anything but joy."
"Nor can I. She seems a kind soul. And she's made my best friend happy... so, she's family now, whether she wants it or not."
Looking first down the beach to where the driftwood-collecting party wandered, then back toward where the Captain and his lady were coming into view, Dash mused, "Judging by all the evidence, I'd say that the family has a place for both of us, if we'll take it."
Sean nodded, but did not commit himself. Daniel and Carolyn walked over to them as Dash's words faded.
"You two okay?" Carolyn asked, causing Sean's brow to quirk.
"Aye, though I don't think I ever, even when my health was susceptible to not being okay, had so much concern expressed for it." Jerking his head at Dash, he added, "I'm just not as able to go without recharging as some of us."
Carolyn glanced at Daniel, but he indicated no need for similar refreshing.
"And I, dear lady, merely wished to keep my old friend company while he recharged. Martha and the children are gathering wood for a marshmallow roast, I believe."
Sensing an unspoken cue, Carolyn smiled. "Well, you three haven't had any time alone since Daniel came home. Why don't I go help them?"
Shaking off the polite, obligatory protests, she went off to do just that, leaving Dash to pick up his prior thought. "I was just telling O'Casey that it seems like he and I might be welcome here."
"Of course! I wish we'd not needed such extreme events to prompt the crew's reunion, well, at least this portion of the crew's reunion," Daniel heartily avowed, tugging his ear. "I'd not want ALL of our former comrades here. But you two are always welcome. I can tell my family's grown very fond of you both."
"I can't stay around all the time, Danny," Dash shook his head. "My blasted family," he snorted, "would have my house turned into the saint's-only-know what. The new lawyer is good, I can tell already, but he needs me around to inspire proper fear, from time to time anyway."
"Sean?" Daniel asked. "Will you stay around, then? Help me keep watch?"
"I donna want to be an extra wheel, Danny," he dissented. "And what about Molly? I just have a feeling..."
"Sean, you've searched a hundred years..." Daniel said, helplessly.
"I know if she is there, she's looking for me, Captain," his friend said with matchless conviction. "If she..." he nodded toward Carolyn, "...were lost... wouldn't you look for her?"
"Yes, and I am sure that Molly is looking for you — which is why you should stay here. She would remember your home is here — and the two of you are likely just missing each other, passing in the night like ships," Daniel insisted. "Wouldn't it be terrible if she came here and you were out looking for her a hundred leagues away?"
"He has a point," Dash affirmed. "And, you could learn from Danny here, how to be more corporeal."
Conflict contorted the spirit's face, then, he nodded only a bit sadly. "Aye. The way Molly got lost, she's bound to be somewhere, heading here, I should be here, when she arrives, not out trying to find her. I'm not giving up, and I'll keep looking, but I'll try this way. My method hasna worked so far."
"And I expect you to keep a close eye on Martha and the children for me, when I'm not here," Dash instructed severely. "His eyes will only be seeing one thing, so someone has to watch the rest of them."
XXX
Twilight fell, the stars came out, and Daniel, Sean, and Dash built a bonfire on the beach. Not only did Martha pull the promised marshmallows out to toast, but the makings for S'Mores as well — graham crackers, and chocolate, which earned her cries of delight and hugs from the children. Songs followed, Sean and Daniel taking the lead, and as they sang one after another, Carolyn leaned back into her Captain's arms, more at rest than she had been for months.
As Sean finished the last line of Tu a lura lura, he looked down. Candy was asleep, her head in his lap, her hand curled up in his. He smiled. "Now this makes my century," he whispered softly. "Never has a child fallen asleep on me before!"
"You can take it as a compliment," Dash murmured, and nodded to Jonathan, asleep at his side. "It means they love you and trust you, my dear fellow."
"I suppose it's about time to head back," Daniel said, more than a bit regretfully. "These two should be in their beds. Sean, if you can carry Candy, I'll take Jonathan and..."
"No, Daniel," Dash interrupted him. "The night is still young — for some things. Sean, you take the lass, I'll carry Jonathan. Martha, love," he helped the housekeeper to her feet before gathering the sleeping boy in his arms. "Can you manage the picnic basket and volleyball? Danny, you can bring the blanket when you come." He glanced toward the house in the distance. "We'll have them home in a jiff. You two can follow... later."
"Sounds great to me," Martha yawned. "I'm a bit sleepy myself."
"You're sure you don't mind?" Carolyn asked, giving her children each a soft kiss, trying not to sound too happy about having just a little bit more uninterrupted alone time with her Captain.
"Nonsense," Sean grinned. "All part of the service. Now you just take all the time you need, and don't worry about a thing." Before the couple could voice any other polite protests, the three were off with their various burdens, Scruffy trotting along behind them.
Carolyn turned to the man in front of her. "I feel like I'm in a fairy tale, Daniel," she whispered. "I'm almost afraid for the day to end, for fear the enchantment will break. Everything has been perfect."
The spirit smiled. "I promise you. I am not Cinderella, Carolyn. The spell will not come undone at midnight."
"First Sleeping Beauty, now Cinderella," she grinned, looking up into his beautiful eyes. "You're in a mode."
"I'm more than happy to live in a fairy tale, as long as I can be your Prince," he said simply, and leaned down toward her, his lips meeting hers. Uttering a slight moan, she responded in kind as the kiss grew more intense, a kiss of passion and power. Gently, his mouth traveled down her throat and circled around to her ear. "Oh, Carolyn," he breathed, "How I did miss you!"
"Oh, and I you, my love," she murmured, and for a moment, there were only the two of them in the world. "Daniel. Are you all right?" She asked, her head clearing a bit.
"I haven't felt this 'all right' in years," he chuckled. "Don't I feel all right?"
"More than all right," she sighed, kissing him again.
"I feel wonderful, darling," he continued. "I've never felt better."
Carolyn smiled at the overpowering 'rightness' of the moment, then stepped back and looked up at him. "Well, I'm glad of that, my love, but, I guess I'm..."
"What is it, my dear?"
"I... well, it's just that you have been corporeal a lot to day... maybe ALL day. I don't think I've have seen you recharge or anything, unless you did when you were talking with Sean and Dash... not nearly long enough to do that. You're going to need to leave soon."
"No, I won't," he smiled again.
"You won't? Why not?" Her voice was puzzled.
Suddenly the seaman looked sheepish. "Carolyn, I didn't want to tell you until I was sure, but..." He stopped speaking for a moment, but seeing her worried face, he continued quickly. "Carolyn, the reason I left. It was spectral business, just as I said, but not the fraternity's business. My business. Mine and yours."
"Mine?" Her eyebrows rose. "I don't understand."
"Carolyn," he blurted out, "I've been at school... in a manner of speaking, learning..."
"Learning, Daniel? Learning what?"
"Uhm... how to be more corporeal... for longer... so we can be..." He looked almost shy. "...Together more, that is, if the idea pleases you."
"Really?" Gently she took her index finger, and starting at the hairline at the center of his brow, she traced his profile — over his perfect roman nose, his lips, and chin, down into the hollow of his throat. "Longer... what a lovely thought!" Moving her finger away she slid her small hands into his large ones. "Daniel," she said, her voice serious, "I... couldn't you have learned how to do that at Gull Cottage?"
"Can you write in the middle of the living room?" he grinned.
"No..."
"Love," he went on gently, "some things require more concentration than others. I had to go about it uninterrupted, Carolyn. I... I never could concentrate with you within a hundred feet of me. Can you see that?"
Pulling him close to her she placed her hands around his neck, and she played with the soft curls there for a moment. Reaching up on tiptoes, she kissed him soundly.
"Does this mean you forgive me my little fib?" the mariner smiled, looking down at her. "It WAS spectral in nature, and it's for you... your anniversary present. Yours and the children's."
"Yes," she sighed happily, kissing him again, then stepped back to face him. "It was a wonderful, terrible two weeks, but considering... well... everything, it was worth it. Of course. I forgive you. You did it for us. Besides, she added with a smile, If you had been here, we never could have surprised you, either."
"Quite true," he nodded. "So with that in mind, my dear Carolyn, I'd like to ask you something else..."
"What? Daniel, today... tonight... you... I have everything."
Reaching into the pocket of his jacket, Daniel pulled out Candy's transistor radio and flipped the dial to the 'on' position. Waltz music came pouring out. Putting it down in the sand, her turned back to face her. Slowly, he reached for her hand and drew her to him.
"Dance with me, milady?" Daniel asked, his voice gruff with emotion. Carolyn nodded, and as they started to move together, the world slipped away. For that moment in time, they were alone in the universe once more. And if you had asked, neither would be able to tell you the music they danced to. It was only the two of them, a waltz under the stars, and the kiss that followed. They were together, and that was all that mattered.
XXX
As the story ended, the listeners became aware of the present once more.
"So, that's how we remember Sean's homecoming. It was memorable for many reasons," Carolyn smiled.
"Of course, I still left, from time to time," the Irishman added with a warm look to his wife. "I may tease ye about getting lost, love, but until I found you, I was totally lost. I did know I'd found a family though. Now that you're back, I really am home, my heart's back with me."
"Aye," she smiled sweetly. "Tis true for me, also."
"And I must say, our third waltz was the first of many perfect ones," Carolyn smiled up at Daniel, with a light akin to the one in Molly's eyes. "The first was lovely, the second..."
"Somewhat lacking," Claymore sighed. "I know. But that wasn't my fault. I told you I couldn't dance."
"But I did appreciate it," Daniel nodded, struck by a benevolent mood.
"And I was going to say delightful," she concluded. "The third was..."
"Something I don't understand, my dear lady," Daniel protested. "I do recall the one that required Claymore's assistance, and the one you are calling the third, but I confess, the first escapes me."
"That's all right," Carolyn smiled. "It's one only I remember."
"And you've never explained it," he prodded.
"I may never, either."
"Well, if you aren't, I guess that ends our filling in the gaps," Dash commented.
"So, we'll just have to make new memories to create more stories," Adam rebutted, struck by an unusually poetic moment.
"And do you have any plans for making memories?" Tristan asked.
"No. If my world is going to be turned upside down, I'll leave it to fate. Otherwise, I'm just me, and will remain so."
"We like you that way," Martha assured him.
"But," Dave grinned, "having one's world turned isn't a bad thing."
Sighing profoundly, Blackie injected, "Fate, destiny... everything happens for a reason. There is a plan. I keep telling you all. This proves it. Sean showed up at precisely the right moment to help with Daniel's surprise and find his home base so he'd be in the right spot to meet Molly again. It's an ideal sermon, but if I preach it, Adam will make me into a new basement ornament."
"Oh, I might go easy on you. I'll just tell everyone you're nuts," Adam commented, taking a last swallow of his Madeira.
"That's plausible," Thom agreed.
"Well, since your prediction proved true for Sean, what of you, your lordship?" Molly asked.
Several eyes turned to watch him closely.
"But — everyone keeps snatching the most delightful ladies away from me first... of course, they are ideal couples, but really, with examples like you and Sean, Carolyn and Daniel... and so on, how could I ever hope to find something so sublime. I could not accept less."
"On behalf of all unspoken for women, gee, thanks," Lynne returned, a bit snippily.
"There are those women, of course, I am not worthy of," he covered hastily.
"Amen," Ed muttered.
"Well, if you're all-knowing, what about a stock tip or two?" Claymore asked. "Put the predicting to practical use."
"Buy low, sell high," Dash answered without missing a beat. "And always have a plan B, or even C."
"Ha, ha, ha. Funny. I mean a prediction. A practical one."
"Fine. I predict that if you don't be quiet and refrain from being an idiot, I'll put you in the stocks."
With a sulky expression, Clay shut up.
"What I want to know..." Thom said, "... is how we ordinary men can live up to..." he gestured at Daniel and Sean. "...them?"
"Whoever said you had to?" Candy asked.
"It's impossible, don't try," Claymore blurted. "Sorry, shutting up now."
"Actually, that was very astute," Daniel remarked.
Given time, lots of things change... But some moments are constant.