Aunt Batty in the Belfry
Part II
The next two weeks alternated between terrible, tolerable, tiring, pleasant, and hectic. Dave's parents flew in from Australia late Thursday, this time, Adam did not have to pick them up at the airport. When they arrived, he was at a high school football game with Jessamyn. Tristan would have moved into Gull Cottage, but Brad and Emily Williams and the Terrible Two, Harriet and Hazel, were occupying every available guestroom there. So, he found himself haunting the parsonage. Siegfried would have insisted on "baby brother" haunting at his place, but even though ghosts don't take up a lot of room, two women and two ghosts would have seemed crowded in Lynne's relatively small house. As usual, Brad and the cousins drove Daniel up a wall with questions, when they weren't visiting the newest family member, or driving to Skeldale to drive Thom and Candy insane, especially with inevitable sidelong glances and less than subtle hints that it would be nice if Amberly had a little cousin in a few months. The ghosts all found it especially frustrating to not be able to pop in and out at will. Granted it was nice to see them, but in such a protracted dosage, was wearing. Adam, ever the student of history, naturally muttered a comment or two about guests and fish, as Ben Franklin had noted once. Claymore would have found the lack of spectral activity relaxing, except he was forced to lay especially low so as not to be questioned himself, since he could be remembered as the "Captain." Finally, Amberly's christening came and went, signaling time for the various in-laws and out-laws to disperse.
Now, they could all relax and their lives or afterlives could become normal as they ever got again.
Or so the family fancied.
The day after the last guest had departed, Daniel Gregg found his wife with a troubled expression on her face when he returned from a "Parent/Teacher conference" with Fontenot about Elroy's slow progress.
"Whatever is the matter, my dear?" he asked, taking her in his arms. "Surely you aren't missing — everyone? I was rather looking forward to resuming our privacy."
"Well, I hate to tell you this, but it's about to be — " she began, wincing when the thunder anticipated her next words.
"Not that scalawag Thompson, again?" Daniel fumed. "Ralph coming back to steal more of my Madeira? Or — "
"No," she sighed. "I just got calls from both Candy and Jenny..."
"What's wrong?" Paternal concern overrode his ire in a second.
"Jenny is ahead of us on the mail route, and Skeldale is as well...so I'm sure it will be confirmed in triplicate when the postman arrives here... Aunt Dotty is coming, and she's bringing — the monstrosity. She has chosen our house for her headquarters, but expects to see both girls during her time here... which will be as long as it takes to complete her project. This project has lasted the last fifteen years or more."
A dozen questions popped into the Captain's mind. Grabbing one at random, he asked, "What is the — monstrosity, love?"
"The couch... the one she has been re-covering for the last fifteen blasted years, at the least. It's not nearly finished, either."
Once Carolyn said the word "couch" Daniel knew to anticipate stormy seas. "Would you like to tell me about it?" he offered, leading her to the living room.
"Not long before Bobby — ran into the tree, he inherited his grandfather's sofa. It was a bit shabby, but it was classic. I didn't think it was worth the bother of moving it home; he did not agree. My Aunt Dotty was visiting at the time and overheard our 'discussions' on the matter." Carolyn paused to collect her thoughts. "She instructed Bobby to bring it home and she'd look at it. When she saw it, she agreed with him, that it was a wonderful couch, and insisted that we get fresh material and she would re-upholster it. It took some time for us to find material she approved of, but we did, and on her insistence, shipped the seat cushions and the material to her. Not long after that, Bobby had his encounter with the tree. The sofa became the last thing on my mind. Not hers. She came back and tried to work on it, but you remember the chaos after Jack and Laura died — it was just as bad or worse after Bobby died, so working was impossible for her. She took the whole thing with her that time. Back cushions, frame, cloth, seats, all of it. It was good riddance."
"I don't recall ever meeting her," Daniel frowned.
"She was very angry with me for moving, for not letting her advise me on how to bring up my children, and so on. So, I haven't heard from her since coming here, until now. I guess — she must be nearly eighty or more. Maybe she's decided to mend fences before she dies. Candy and Jonathan barely remember her, but she made a lasting impression on Candy anyway. Jack was her nephew also, and didn't get written off, so Jenny's only crime has been moving in with me. She's not any more thrilled than Candy. Dear goodness, I hope she doesn't become a ghost!" Carolyn paled at the even dim chance of that happening. "We'd never get rid of her!"
"If she's mending fences, then wouldn't she be — nicer?" Daniel suggested.
"Her idea of 'mending fences' is giving us a chance to obey her again. Candy read me her letter, and she said the original material Bobby picked out is too worn, so when she arrives, Jenny, Candy, and I are to be prepared to make a trip to the largest fabric store we can find and pick out new material."
"Why all three of you?" the Captain asked.
"Because she is not sure which one of us will get the couch. She understands from Harriet that I have a new couch — a ten-year-old new couch — "
"I suppose it depends on one's basis of comparison," the ghost chuckled tentatively.
"And Dave's sofa is also relatively new; he has Jack's, and it was brand new when — when Jenny came here. However, Hazel did tell her what a large, fine home Candy and Thom have, so the monstrosity should fit there, nicely, only she did not call it a monstrosity, of course."
"Revamping Dash's house without his permission," Daniel mused. "That should be interesting to see. He's become complacent since he hasn't had to fight relatives."
"I don't think Fontenot could stand up to her," Carolyn sighed. "Trust me, she's — let me put it this way, in a day or two it will be October, the month witches are supposed to love, and that is appropriate." Mrs. Gregg's eyes closed. "I have to call Martha, there's no way we can get the house in shape in four days without her help."
Daniel looked around. "What's wrong with my ship?"
"Nothing, but she won't see it like that. It needs to be spotless... maybe Dakota should be boarded at the Wights while she's here..."
"If Dakota truly needs to be out of the way, and I would rather not do that, Sean and Molly can take her until she can return," Daniel corrected. "I'm not sure I should allow this harpy enter. Not if she's going to fluster you so."
"We can't do that," Carolyn shook her head. "Even though I would love to."
"Why?"
"It's just not — nice."
Smiling, he reminded her, "Madam, I repeat, I am not nice. Would you like me to prove that?"
After a moment's consideration, for effect, Carolyn nodded. "Yes, I would, since we won't get a chance to prove it later."
XXX
Some time later, over a late morning cup of coffee, Daniel and Carolyn took up the issue of Dakota again. "She's really a sweet dog, love," he pointed out reasonably. "I'm sure that Aunt Batty..."
"Dotty," Carolyn smiled.
"If you insist," he winked. "— can tolerate our dog. If she can't, then that might cut her visit short."
Setting down her cup, Carolyn did a double take. "That is an excellent point." Rising to her feet, she circled around the table to kiss him. "Thank you... ah... do you realize how ironic this conversation is?"
"If we had not had the 'discussion' you refer to, my dear, Dakota might not exist."
"Well, thank you nonetheless."
"Ahem!" a voice called from the ceiling.
Together, the Greggs looked up to see Tristan lounging overhead. "Don't mind me. I felt a slight disturbance in the Force, but I would have come anyway... I wanted to bring you your belated anniversary gift."
"You didn't need to do that, Tris," Carolyn called up to him.
"That is the definition of a gift," he insisted, drifting slowly down to floor level. "Something that someone who cares for you gives you because they don't need to, just want to. However, the desire to give could be defined as a need, so in that sense, I did need to. Do you want it, or should I pop out and let you go on?"
"Whenever you prefer, Tristan," Daniel said. He looked around. Tristan must be hiding it to pop in, for he could see no present.
"Well, it's not something that can be wrapped," the young ghost confessed. "You know, I've had the chance to become rather — rather — bored these last days, and normally, that could be potentially hazardous. However, I have made an effort to be good."
"We have noticed, and appreciate that," Daniel encouraged.
Tris smiled. "During this time, I've been working on something, a project that someone should have long ago, really. As you know, ghostish-ness is not a bad thing, for the most part. It's quite enjoyable, but there are one or two drawbacks, even the most tactile of us could not overcome, until now. One of the two, well, there's no way for me to work on that one," he turned a bit red on that note. "However, the other, I have partly remedied." Theatrically, he paused, then went on when Carolyn nodded. "Captain, I have slept for several hours every night now. It's not exactly sleep, more of a trance, during which I recharge — but when I come out of it, I feel as if moments have passed, but up to three hours have elapsed and I feel refreshed. So, it's as good as sleep — and I guess you might be the one of us to benefit most from this discovery." A broad grin lit his face.
Daniel and Carolyn exchanged stunned looks. "I admit, I have kind of missed being able to lie beside my husband," she softly said. "I know you stay with me until I sleep, but..." Now, it was her turn to pinken. "Thank you, Tristan."
"It's not hard to learn," Tristan went on, pleased with himself. "Merely concentrating... like hypnosis. I'll can show you in no time — Sig already knows, I wanted to make sure I could teach someone before I told you. IF I can teach my brother, I can teach anyone. Not that he's an idiot — he's not. But he's infuriating, and I infuriate him, so if I can hold my temper with him and the reverse — you get the idea."
"Right, Daniel only infuriates women," Carolyn grinned.
"Beautiful ones — or one," he countered. "Thank you, Tristan."
The young ghost rose to take a bow. "Now, I caught a fragment of conversation, unavoidably, but it troubled me. You aren't thinking of getting rid of Dakota, I hope. Sig would be shattered. He adores anything with four legs, but that horse and — and your horse over there are special. I don't want to be around him if he loses one of them. She's not sick, is she?"
"No, we're about to have unwelcome company and thought it might be easier if she stayed with the O'Caseys or the vets," Carolyn sighed.
"More?" Tris groaned. "Who now?"
So, he was told, concluding with, "So, now I really need to get to cleaning, swabbing the deck, dusting, and so on and on and on," Carolyn grimaced. "In fact, the whole fleet does, really. She's going to visit Candy and Jenny too, maybe even Adam's office or the Beacon."
"We'll let Mark Finley worry about the Beacon," Daniel frowned. "Tristan..."
"Who ever thought I'd be thrilled my brother is here?" the seaman rhetorically asked. "Right up Sig's alley. But we'll all help."
Just as Carolyn was opening her mouth to thank Tristan, again, he popped off to get the troops rounded up.
XXX
The next few days were a blur of activity. The only truly positive thing was that, just as predicted, it only took Tristan a few hours to teach Daniel the technique that would give him a verisimilitude of sleep. Thom was reported to be in a state of consternation; why were the ladies so in a swivet over one little old lady? Blackie shrugged, said he had no idea, but they were, so get busy. Thanks to Martha's memory, however each household was careful to leave on very obvious flaw in their cleaning for the old woman to find, in hopes that it would keep her content. That rankled Siegfried a bit; he felt that perfection was doable, so it hurt his considerable pride to leave things imperfect. Martha assured him it was necessary.
XXX
On the scheduled day of Aunt Dotty's arrival, Daniel was sure he'd go insane. Martha was there to help during the day. At the moment, she was helping Carolyn pace and run to the window at every sound. Since Dakota could sense that something was up, and she had been given a bath the day before, after Sean had noted she looked like a dump truck had overturned on her. The dog was on her upper keys, jumping and barking at any provocation. A full complement of ghosts was on hand, standing by to lend support, albeit invisibly.
Finally, from his perch on the roof, Tristan sighted a tank of a car with a trailer hauling a couch that he could only agree was in fact a monstrosity behind it. The plates on the vehicle were from Delaware, the state that Carolyn said she'd be arriving from. Instantly, he popped down to announce, "Pirates sighted off starboard, Captain. Prepare to be boarded."
At once, all specters but Daniel became invisible to everyone's eye but Carolyn and Martha's. Daniel put on his "Daniel Miles" face and snapped on Dakota's leash. Martha took the end from him. "You're going to have to hug her, you know."
"Of the two, I'd rather hug Dakota, if there has been no exaggeration about Aunt Batty," Daniel silkily returned, but ceded dog to Martha's control.
"Dotty!" Martha hissed back, but grinned to herself.
As Carolyn crossed to the front door, Tristan counted down in a low tone, "Five, four, three, two, one, boom."
"Aunt Dotty," Carolyn smiled as warmly as possible, stepping onto the porch, followed by Daniel.
Captain Gregg's first impression of Dotty was that of overly vibrant colors. Her hair steel gray. Her outfit would have been drab, by the cut of her clothes, but the coloration was — loud was the only word for it. Chivalry kicked in, forcing him to go to the car and finish helping her get out.
"You must be Aunt Dotty. How charming to meet you," he smiled genially. "I'll just help you to the house and then be back for your bags."
A moment later, he regretted being solid as her cane whacked his leg. "I can manage on my own, so keep your hands to yourself. Get my bags. I heard thunder a second ago, and I don't want the couch getting soaked."
He had no choice then but to let her hobble up the path to Gull Cottage. Silently, he asked Sean and Dash to find a way to arrive looking mortal so they could "help" him get the thing in the house. From what he could see of it, the alternately blue, gold and green piece of furniture was far worse than the sofa that Carolyn had sent to the rubbish heap. They'd be better off taking it down to the beach and tossing it in the sea.
A few minutes later, from the general direction of the cottage Sean and Molly haunted, four men appeared, walking up the road. "Ah, Danny. We heard that you might be in need of our help," Dash called out. "Would you be?"
"Indeed I would, Dash, thank you." He could have levitated it, had he not felt the Wicked Witch of the East's eye's boring into him from her stance on the porch.
"Little brother and I will get the bags," Siegfried offered.
If there had been any selfish motive on his part, thinking that bags might be easier to carry, it was frustrated by the volume of suitcases there were. Two overnight bags, three giant suitcases, and four smaller bags were crammed into the back seat.
"Is she moving in?" Sean hissed.
"I don't know what she plans, but no," Daniel grimly whispered back.
"Jess had fewer bags, and she's staying for good!" Siegfried muttered.
"Is it confirmed? The twit is going to be a stay at home mother, freeing the job for Jess?" Dash asked.
"We don't know," Siegfried sighed, hefting as many bags as he could get away with carrying while watched. "Can't you put her inside? That would make life easier."
"Ssh. Bet she's got ears like a hawk has eyes," Tristan advised.
"Get out of the way — this thing is awkward," Daniel ordered.
So, the ghostly parade made their cumbersome way up the walk. For a moment, whether or not the thing would make it through the door was in dispute, but with a bit of maneuvering, they made it. Martha had to fight Dakota to keep her from trying to jump four feet in the air to climb all over what appeared to be a new toy to her. One word from Siegfried calmed the poor girl.
"Where do we put it?" Daniel huffed for effect.
"Well, you'll have to move the living room furniture around," Dotty said in a tone that implied he was simple for not realizing that and it should have been done by now.
"What about the basement?" Tristan asked with a too nice smile that made Dash and Daniel choke.
"Don't be silly, I can't work in a cellar! Who are you?"
What Tristan wanted to say was, the guy holding your bags, and who is about to take them back to your blasted car and shove them and you in it then drive you away. Instead, he said, "Tristan Matthews. Family friend." He didn't say nice to meet you, an omission that normally would have his brother scolding, but not this time.
"I think introductions can wait until the couch is set down," Carolyn said. "Aunt Dotty, let me show you to your room."
Firmly, she led the disagreeable old lady out of the living room, freeing the ghosts to shift things around with their powers.
Now, they could get a good look at IT. Molly cocked her head and sighed. "And why'd anyone want the thing?" Bits of it were a nubby aqua fabric, others were in crushed green velvet, and still other parts were a shabby, gold brocade. "Looks like it's been redone at least twice, part way. Nor does it look like 'twas ever comfortable."
"If she thinks it's going in my house, she'd better think again," Dash intoned darkly.
"Shh," Martha warned, looking back toward the steps.
"Martha, we can control who hears us," Daniel told her in a voice silent to all he did not allow to hear.
"I know," she whispered. "But you enjoy reminding me." Dropping her voice further, "Don't worry. From all I remember and hear, she always brings several times too much luggage."
"One suitcase would be too much," Daniel mumbled.
"Shh," the housekeeper cautioned. Footsteps indicated that Carolyn and Dotty were returning.
"Come on, Sig, let's take the bags to her room, now that the furniture has been rearranged," Tristan said. Deftly, the brothers navigated past the two women to haul the assorted bags upstairs.
When they returned, Sean and Dash were on their way out; there was just not a logical excuse for them to stay. Not a polite one anyhow.
However, Carolyn did hear a chorus of very male voices instructing her that if they were needed, they would be there immediately, if not sooner, and Molly invisibly gave her a sisterly hug.
XXX
The remainder of the tense afternoon elapsed until two more cars arrived, one bearing Thom and Candy Avery, the other Dave, Jenny, and Amberly Farnon. Normally, the two young families would eagerly look forward to an evening at the "Flagship home." This was not a normal night.
The obligatory hugs were endured with as much grace as the four young people could manage. Then, the battery of questions began, barely letting up for a dinner that Dotty found to be improperly seasoned, consist half of dishes she was allergic to, and Carolyn should have remembered she'd never liked most of the rest. Therefore, Carolyn wound up making a peanut butter and apple sandwich for her. No one had ever heard of that combination before, not even Dave who'd had to cater to a weird craving or two in the last few months.
At least her griping gave the girls a slight break. Jenny found herself grilled on every aspect of what she was doing with her baby. Most of it was not correct. Thankfully, when Dotty announced she would naturally take the time to come and decorate the nursery, Dave put his foot down.
"Ma'am," he said in a voice firm enough to rival the Captain's, "that is — kind — of you, but two dear friends spent considerable time decorating the nursery, and it will stay as it is, unless our daughter suddenly develops an unusually advanced vocabulary and announces, 'Daddy, I don't like my room.' In which case, I will ask her what she wants, and it will be done." But not by you.
Thom muttered, "Just don't tell Clay, he'll have her on a talk show."
Aunt Dotty didn't hear him, she was too busy looking offended. "Well, I'm sure you will understand that I don't visit you, since you don't care for my well-meant advice, that I only give out of concern and love."
Before either parent could decide what to say, she had turned on Candy. "Now, when will you be starting your family, young lady? You've been married over a year, and nothing? Are you one of those women who doesn't want a baby to mess up her career? Best not wait too long, or you might not..."
"What we do in that area is not going to be discussed over the dinner table!" Candy yelped, glancing around, hoping that none of the rest of the family was in earshot. "And I think Adam would let me have time off if I needed it for — a baby."
"You call your boss Adam? What ever happened to respect?"
At least she was off of babies, Carolyn thought with a mental sigh. "She grew up with Adam, it's hard to call a friend 'Mister'."
"And I do, at work," Candy added, almost petulantly.
"We just aren't ready," Thom said uneasily.
"Dave and I'd been married over a year before we had Amberly," Jenny softly said. "I need to go change her. Excuse me. Sis? Want to come? I think she misses her favorite aunt."
"I don't know why you let those two pretend to be sisters," was the last thing the girls heard before they ducked into Martha's former room with the baby.
When the two girls were alone, Candy fumed. "We are sisters, just because we want to be, not because we have to be."
"Best kind," Jenny agreed. "Would you hold your niece while I get out the necessary stuff?"
XXX
The rest of the evening, short as it was, passed in a state of high tension. There were enough leftovers that another meal could easily be served; no one but Dakota had much appetite. To Aunt Dotty, the girls and their husbands made polite goodbyes. For Daniel and Carolyn, they had sympathetic looks and sincere hugs. Candy made a point of addressing the Captain as "Dad," dropping the "Captain" part as she had been more wont to do over the passing years.
Tisking under her breath, Dotty sighed theatrically. "Well, I can't get any work done tonight, I'm too disturbed..." It took a commendable effort on Daniel Gregg's part not to say a hearty aye! to that.
"...So, I'll get my Scrabble board out. You look like you might be able to give me a good challenge, Dan. Set up a card table." On that note, she stalked out of the room to fetch her supplies from her room, pausing to say, "Well, I hope that storm doesn't break before the children get home. They may have been raised improperly, but I'd hate for anything to happen to them."
"I am certain that the weather will hold up for them," Daniel seethed when she was gone.
In a soft tone, Carolyn advised, "We'll talk about it, later. Right now, let's just humor her, and hope she leaves soon."
When Dotty re-entered, she glared at Carolyn. "Lyn, I don't know why you stuck me upstairs. I prefer to be downstairs, it's closer to my work and it's not so hard on my poor, old legs. While I trounce your charmer of a husband, switch out my room." Somehow, she made charmer sound like an insult.
"The game will wait until after I move the bags for you," Daniel said in a dangerous tone. "Darling, sit and rest while I attend to it."
"Daniel," she very deliberately said, emphasizing his name, "I'd like to help you."
He nodded. He would NOT allow her to tote heavy bags, but the company would be more than welcome.
XXX
"She's fortunate I don't move these out the door or send them into the sea to join Vanessa's trunk," he growled, lifting the first valise.
"I can't just kick her out," Carolyn sighed. "As much as I want to. She is my father's big sister, he'd be very hurt if I did that. But — Daniel, I'm worried about our girls."
"I'll never know why you put a phone in our cabin, love, but why don't you go on up there and call them? Or I can summon Tris and Dash; they'd know by now, if all is well."
"I want to hear THEIR voices."
"Understood, my dear. I promise to be up shortly. I am anxious to practice sleeping beside you."
"Not too anxious, I hope," she smiled.
"Never." He grimaced. "I take back every ill word I said about Uncle Arnold, Harriet, or Hazel. I might even reconsider Ralph. Now that I have a proper standard for comparison, they are only minor irritants."
Giving him a quick kiss, Carolyn retreated to the master cabin where she soon learned Candy and Jenny were fine. Thom could be heard in the background inventing some very colorful names on her first call. According to Jenny, Dave was so mad he could not talk, but was considering finding a swamp to bury Aunt Dotty under, headfirst.
XXX
Daniel did not get to practice sleeping beside his wife for quite some time, but not for the reason he had hoped. It was four a.m. before he managed to extricate himself from a six-hour game of Scrabble, and that only after being threatened with a re-match so his adversary could beat him. If a ghost could get tired, he'd be exhausted. Naturally, his beloved was asleep, so he settled for merely settling down to lie beside her, watching over his Carolyn until it was time to rise and face another day of Dotty. Watching her sleep gave him a peace he desperately needed to quell his anger.
XXX
At seven, he and Carolyn came downstairs right before Martha was due to arrive. As their dear friend opened the fridge, she frowned. "Is something wrong with my cooking? It looks like you just put everything I made back in here."
"According to HER," Carolyn explained, "everything. It was fine, but the rest of us, lost our appetites."
"Care to clarify?" Mrs. Peavey asked.
"Don't be concerned," Daniel hrumphed. "She ought to sleep until noon, we were up playing that blasted game until four. Say what you will, my dear. Say it in any case, I don't care if she hears it."
With smoke almost pouring from her ears, Martha shook her head. "Dakota, I'd tell you to bite her, but you might be poisoned. Of all the gall. Jane Shoemaker has more tact. Not much, but some."
At nine forty-five, their peace was disrupted when Dotty came out of her room demanding to be taken to Keystone or Skeldale to buy fabric.
"We do have work to do, Aunt..." Carolyn began.
"You can write any time. If you had a job, I'd understand, but you don't, so get a move on."
With the thought that the sooner this was done, the sooner they'd be free, Carolyn gave way. Obviously, since the girls had been defiant, they were being excluded. How she envied them at the moment!
Several exhausting hours later, the two women returned to find Blackie had stopped by. Before their arrival, he'd told Daniel that as pastor, he felt obligated to show up in times of crisis or other disaster. According to Dash, who had paced a path in his ceiling, Candy and Thom were both still virtually radioactively angry. He was quite glad, for Adam's sake, that it was Saturday. Candy like as not would not be at her best work-wise. For that matter, since Thom made his living drawing blood, if he'd had to prick anyone with a needle, it would not have been pretty. However, he said none of this.
Rather, the young pastor donned his best smile and introduced himself. "And, I would like to invite you to join Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Daniel at our services tomorrow."
"He's related to you?" Dotty asked Daniel.
"No exactly, but he is Thom's cousin."
"You people have no comprehension of family. Blood is what makes a family, not just going around saying you — or you are my family."
Blackwood smiled. It was not a friendly smile. "Ah, but just look at all the Biblical examples of how well families got along. Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Esau and Rebekah, Absalom and David... for that matter, I've always wondered if Saint Andrew was very annoying. You will note that when Saint Pete asked Our Lord about forgiveness, his words were 'how often must I forgive my brother?' Gotta wonder. So, I think, I'll keep my adopted aunt and uncle."
"Huhn. Well, what about the commandment to be fruitful and multiply? Do you approve of Thom and Candy not obeying it?"
"Well, when the command was given, there were less than ten people in the world, so I think the world has been re-populated quite well," he continued to smile. "Sometimes, I wonder if it hasn't been overly so."
"Hmph. Well, I won't be seeing you tomorrow... for one thing, I have to finish that couch. Lyn liked to never agreed on the proper fabric for it. And another, I don't approve of those five points of yours."
"I will see you tomorrow, won't I?" Blackie settled on asking, looking over at Carolyn.
"Yes, Blackie."
"Excellent."
"Are you going to be seeing Jess today?" Carolyn asked. "She wanted to look at Captain Gregg's older logs, and I got a couple out."
"Aye. Are they in the wheelhouse?"
"Yes — you've never seen it, have you? Daniel — "
"I thought you had," the Captain looked startled. "Darling, why don't you show Blackwood my office?"
On that note, Carolyn escorted her "nephew" upstairs.
"Thank you," he said when they reached the attic. "I was about to bite my tongue off, and there's something satisfying about saying what one wishes to someone." He paused, then very deliberately said, "Damn her."
In mid-reach, Carolyn stopped to turn away from the breakfront and stare at Blackie. "I always said she could make a saint cuss, now I have proof."
"Sorry," he looked abashed. "But I just absolutely had to say it. She probably argued with Calvin himself — no — with Saint Augustine and Pelagius! Or Saint Paul. I've spoken to Dave and Thom both before coming here. Not to mention Dash and Tris who have ranted and raved more eloquently. Oh, don't worry, Tristan won't try anything he wants to, not if there's an off chance an innocent bystander could get caught in the crossfire. He does, however, wish that she were Blair instead of herself. He's more fun to run off."
"Well, maybe now that the cloth is purchased, she'll get the thing complete and be gone," Carolyn sighed, lifting two leather books from a drawer. "I hope Jess enjoys these."
"She will. Now, does any particular flower express appreciation? I have a sudden profound surge of that emotion for my two natural aunts and for you."
"Just find out what the lady likes," Carolyn suggested. "But when in doubt, roses."
He nodded. "Any messages for Aunt Lynne or Jess? And do you know how confusing it was for me to hear you called Lyn?"
Carolyn smiled. "Just give them my love. And tell them they might want to avoid Gull Cottage, at least for the duration of the siege."
"That's the surest way to get them over here," he grinned. "Well, no help for it. Shall we go down?"
Supper was a silent affair, after which Daniel refused to be inveigled into another game. They had an full day planned tomorrow, and he wanted to go to bed before midnight, much less four a.m.
XXX
Blackie almost laughed to see the sheer gladness on the Greggs' faces as they entered the church. Truly, the service was held in a sanctuary that day.
Afterwards, Martha insisted on having everyone over to her house for lunch... a long lunch.
One would expect that Daniel and Carolyn might have found significant progress made by the time they returned to Gull Cottage. The upholstery was off the seat cushions, but patches of the various refurbishings lingered on the rest of the monstrosity. None of the golden orange cloth that Carolyn had accepted yesterday had been so much as cut. Dakota shot them a reproachful glare that said, why did you leave me here with her?
Any one else might have asked how the service went. Not Dotty.
"Daniel, I want you to take that horrible picture down. The eyes keep staring at me, and I can hardly concentrate. Why you keep it up, I have no idea."
"That is out of the question. M — Captain Gregg's portrait has hung there since the house was built, and it will continue to be there, where it belongs," Daniel bit out. "If you can't work with it there, then I suggest the project be KO'd and you go home."
Carolyn held her breath as the two indomitably willed souls glared at each other. Was it possible this might end now?
Finally with a huff of air, Dotty thinned her lips and snapped, "Very well. Would you kindly get that — flea-bag out of here then? It's glaring hasn't been any more welcome than his."
"Come along, Dakota. We'll all take a walk along the beach," Daniel instructed, a bit smugly. "If you are at a breaking point by supper time, we're having a guest or two."
"Well, I hope the cooking is improved," Dotty snapped.
Daniel threaded his arm through Carolyn's. He could hardly wait to see what Adam made of the old bat.
XXX
At five thirty, Adam and Jess arrived for their date. It might not be a conventional date, but those just didn't work for that pair. Both had heard about this lunatic of a relative and were curious. Lynne would have come, but one of her patients had had surgery the day before, so she was in Skeldale to visit them. She planned to combine the trip with a stop at Candy, Thom, and Dash's.
Aunt Dotty asked to just have a salad on a TV tray in her work room, but escape was not that simple.
After a light dinner, Adam strolled to the chaotic living room. For a few moments, he stared at the sofa, then the woman who had her back to him at the sewing machine, working on one of the cushions. Estimating her rate of progress, he'd guess she might be done sometime around Christmas, if she continued at this steady rate without slowing. That was unthinkable. So, the attorney cleared his throat. No response was made. A bit louder, he called out, "Hello. We haven't met, I'm Mr. Pierce, Carolyn's attorney, friend, etc, etc. and so forth."
Dotty turned to stare at him, offended by the interruption. "Adam."
"To my friends," he smiled tightly. "From what I gather of this situation, there is one question that has become rather — prepossessing." He paused, lips pursed, then went on, dimly aware that Carolyn, Daniel, and Jess were watching. "I get the distinct impression you are not very pleased with Mrs. Miles or her children, so why are you going to so much effort over a piece of furniture for their benefit?"
Dotty glared back. "And what business of it is yours?"
"It simply is," he replied. "Heck, who knows, maybe ifCarolyn knew why you were doing this, she might be more amenable to doing it your way." Or maybe not, but he did not say this.
"Because, young man, when I say I will do something, it gets done. I'm not as young as I once was, so now is the time to do it." On that note, she turned her back on Adam, but did not stop talking. "Dan, I expect you to finish that game I let you out of last night, tonight. I will be ready to take a break in three hours."
"If I'm still up, we'll see, " he said very formally.
"Well, I do have a long drive home," Adam said regretfully. "So, Jess, are you ready?"
"Guess so. School night."
The two couples walked outside. There, Jess exhaled abruptly. "Man alive, she is a trip."
"I wish she'd take one," Daniel rumbled.
"Well, if you start to try and get rid of her," Jess grinned, "I want to watch. Could you try — haunting her, like I read about you doing with Callahan or some of the other — stowaways?"
A light came on in Adam's eyes and he kissed her soundly. "Brilliant girl. Callahan — the cellar, perfect solution."
"What if she haunted?" Carolyn asked. "And what about, 'if you do something like that, don't tell me'?"
"Blast. Justifiable self defense, of your sanity," Adam insisted. "But I can't get around your other point. Would Jess' idea work?"
"She doesn't sleep enough to pull it off," Daniel frowned.
XXX
There was no avoiding another game of Scrabble that night. However, Daniel had learned that Dotty hated to lose; therefore, for the first time in his existence, the Captain chose to do his utmost to win. Victory is, after all simply getting what one truly desires, and he truly desired to retire for the rest of the night. What earthly good was the lad teaching him how to simulate sleep if he never got the opportunity to do so? Nonetheless, it was after two a.m. before he was able to escape her. When he attempted to give her an easy win, his knuckles were rapped soundly for his trouble. Therefore, he made an effort to look like he was attempting to achieve the highest score, while working for the opposite. Thus, it took longer for Dotty to get two or three games ahead of him.
Immediately after breakfast, Daniel informed his wife that he had an errand to do, though he regretted leaving her alone with her aunt.
XXX
After so much time, hearing knocking coming from nowhere in particular had lost the power to startle Claymore Gregg. However, he could not suppress the "gaak" when his uncle popped into the office just on the other side of his desk.
"I wish you wouldn't do that," Claymore sighed. "I thought that giving you back your property that really was my property would get me some peace."
"That's what you get for thinking," slipped out before Daniel could check the words, but he offset them with a chuckle. "Claymore, you have always insisted we are — family."
Claymore did not reply, just gave Daniel a wary look.
"While I'm not prepared to concede the point, yet, you have shown yourself to have a bit more heart than I previously might have thought, in recent years."
"Heart, that's right. I have one, and it's delicate. You don't want to make it act funky do you? I might become a ghost, too and then..."
"Claymore, dear boy, I have no intention of frightening you... this time. I was merely noting that we have not seen much of you, lately."
"That's because Mrs. Muir's family might think I was you, but I'm not you, so I was trying to — to — not confuse things... or get more confused myself... and..."
"Quite right," Daniel cut him off approvingly. "However, I do recall that you have a fondness for games?"
"Uh — well, the ones with money, even if it's not real money," Claymore allowed with trepidation.
"Yes... 'Monopoly' and 'Life'? I thought so. As you may have heard, Carolyn's aunt, Dotty, is visiting for some time. You have not met her, have you? Just so. She has a fondness for games also, so I thought perhaps you might enjoy meeting her and playing a game or two with her." Daniel smiled, intending to look non-threatening, but Claymore knew that smile. It never meant good things for him.
"What's the catch?" Claymore asked.
"No catch. Just come to dinner, tonight, and play a few rounds of Monopoly or something with her. " Daniel's tone was smooth.
"Are you trying to set me up with her, like with Aggie, on a date?"
"Good grief, no! " What a horrifying thought, the two of them marrying, her staying there. Mentally, Daniel shuddered. "She's far too old for you."
"Old? Hmm. Could be an easy win," Claymore mused, "and you'd give me a meal?"
"Oh, yes," Daniel agreed.
"All right, I'll be there."
"Excellent," the ghost beamed.
XXX
Back at Gull Cottage, Carolyn was pouring her second cup of coffee when she heard a knock on her back door. Curious, she went and opened it after looking out. She did not recognize the handsome man's face on the other side of the door, but she knew the eyes.
As she opened the door, his deep voice rumbled, "Now, then, young lady, should you be opening the door to strangers?"
"Only if they are strangers, not just friends trying to make me think they are," she grinned back. "Fontenot."
"What gave me away?"
"Your eyes. If I can get close enough to see them, they never change."
He shrugged, morphing into a more familiar, grey haired, terribly handsome man. "That can't be helped. I understand that this place is a marvelous one for a coffee break? Working with Elroy, one needs those, from time to time."
"Sit down, I'll get you one. Black?"
"Indeed. I'd ask for Madeira, but it is early. When we're done, could you direct me to Jessamyn? I've never been to her actual home, and she did mention wanting to ask me about authentic history."
"I think she's desperately trying to make herself indispensable so she can stay," Carolyn sighed. "But — the teacher she's subbing for is a — twit — and with twits — well, you can't predict what will happen next."
Fontenot nodded. "Yes, very true. Then, I will stop in and see Tristan. Is he still living with your heart's daughter and her family? I hear he has some brilliant innovation he wants to show off."
"It IS brilliant," Carolyn smiled, then tensed. The distinct clumping of a cane could be heard approaching. A march from Jenny's favorite movie, the Imperial Theme, played at the back of Carolyn's head.
The kitchen door burst open to let Dotty totter into the room. Her mean eyes settled on Fontenot. "Who are you? More 'family'?"
The ghost looked a bit taken aback. Few women had ever sneered at him. "Well, if I am, it is an honor." Rising elegantly, he began to cross the room to be a gentleman and kiss her hand, saying as he went, "Fontenot — just Fontenot, I'm — "
"What kind of name is that? And what are you doing entertaining a handsome devil while your husband appears to be gone?" Dotty turned to stare a hole in Carolyn, moving away from Daniel's mentor, so that he'd have to go out of his way to give his greeting. He chose not to. Perhaps his rule that all women were lovely needed revision, or he had found the exception.
"Fontenot is Daniel's good friend, and mine," Carolyn said firmly. "May I get you some coffee, Aunt Dotty?"
"I'm looking for hibiscus tea, tried to find it last night, but I can't find where you keep it."
"Because we don't," Carolyn replied. "We do have Earl Grey and Cinnamon blended; I'm sure Dash would let me share it with you."
Dotty snorted. "If I wanted that, I would not be looking for hibiscus. When you go out, you'll need to get some, immediately."
"I shouldn't wonder if tis not impossible to find in Schooner Bay," Fontenot pondered. "Perhaps I can find you some oleander instead?" His ghost sight revealed a dried up, shriveled soul that grated on his psionic senses, making him want to leave; but not willing to leave a true lady he considered a sister alone with such a one, he stayed.
"No, ah — Jess will still be in class for sometime yet," Carolyn smiled. Someday, the ghosts would all get attuned to mortal time, perhaps. "But — I'm sure Tristan is available. I'll give you a lift to — to his place and maybe the general store has some kind of tea you'd like, Aunt. I'll check while we're out. If Daniel gets home from visiting Claymore, please tell him I'll be home soon."
"Didn't he take your car? So how will you get anywhere?"
Oops. "Daniel is a huge fan of walking," Carolyn covered hastily. "So, I have the car here, now."
"It's not an — Alpha Romeo by any chance?" Fontenot asked. "I've heard so much about them."
"No, that was Blair's car, before he got a Trans."
The big man looked rather disappointed, but shrugged it off as Carolyn retrieved her purse. "Do you need anything else, Aunt Dotty?"
"Just the tea," she sniped. "For now."
"Madam, I would suggest you tell your niece what you might need later," Fontenot instructed. "She might not wish to go back out."
"That will be all," Dotty seethed, flouncing out.
The senior ghost shook his head. "Unbelievable," he murmured as he opened the door for Carolyn.
In a low tone, she said, "Well, it is Aunt Dotty McNaughton."
"Quite well named too," he agreed.
XXX
Seeing Jenny and Amberly truly soothed Carolyn's heart as she took a few minutes to visit with them while dropping Fontenot to see Uncle Tristan. Apparently, the young ghost really saw Jenny and her daughter as the chance to be an uncle he'd missed with his twin sister. Perhaps he didn't seem to take much seriously, but he did this. In the middle of her visit, Daniel arrived. He has realized that he would need to appear to have taken long enough to walk two miles round trip before coming home, so had delayed his return. When he sensed his wife reaching town, he had simply focused on her and headed in that direction. Therefore, the visit extended a bit; male ghosts enjoyed chattering among themselves just as much or more than women. Besides, Daniel could help Tristan explain the mechanics of sleep to their guru.
The time to return to Gull Cottage came too soon though. Neither the ghost nor Mrs. Gregg had ever imagined they'd dread going home, but they did now. Frankly, Carolyn didn't give a — Rhett Butler — whether or not Aunt Dotty got her blasted hibiscus tea, but stopping to look for it was a welcome delay. Daniel suggested that perhaps Skeldale would have it? However, the market did have Celestial Seasonings tea; upon examination, the elusive flower was blended into most of the mixtures. It wasn't pure hibiscus, but she could make do. Carolyn did select a blend she knew she had a chance of liking, Peach Zinger, just in case it didn't go over well. Over the years, Dash's fondness for tea in general had infected her as well, allowing her to pretend that she wasn't trying to please her unwelcome guest.
The O'Casey's were standing by the gate invisibly when the Greggs came home. Seeing the car, they became visible. "We wanted to check on you, but Dakota was the only family we could feel inside the house," Sean explained. "Figured you were taking a break, so we waited.
"Are ye holding up?" Molly asked, concern written on her sweet face.
"Pretty well," Carolyn nodded. "At least it's not one of those sectional sofas."
"I peeked in," Sean admitted. "If it were, she'd not live long enough to finish, the rate she's going. Elroy could sew faster."
Daniel grimaced at the truth of that. "Once he got the blasted needed threaded."
"It can be tricky," Molly pointed out as they went inside. Instantly, Dakota was jumping over them, paws everywhere.
"I thought Sig trained that out of her?" Sean frowned, gently pushing the miniature horse off his white shirt. "Ah, no, girl. I only kiss Molly."
Prompted by the name, Dakota turned her attention to the redhead. Had she not been a ghost, she might have been knocked over.
Firmly, Carolyn pulled her down, but wimped out on scolding her harshly as she looked into the huge golden-brown eyes. The dog wiggled away when Daniel answered Sean, almost cutting off his response mid-word. "He… oof… did."
Clump, clump, clump.
"You finally got back," the nasal voice called ahead of Dotty's slow trek to the foyer. "Did you find my tea?"
"All Ollie had was a blend of teas, but hibiscus is in there," Carolyn informed her.
"Where's that slick fellow you took off with you? Dan, did you know she entertained handsome men while you were gone?"
"I met Carolyn and Fontenot at Jenny's." Daniel paused, trying to cool the instant anger he felt rising. "I do trust both my wife and my friends implicitly."
Dotty shook her head, but made no comment. Instead, she stared at Molly. "What kind of dye to you use? I've been thinking gray might not be the right color for my hair."
"You'd have to pray about it. I don't know what shade the good Lord used when putting color into my hair," Molly returned.
"I'll go brew you some tea," Carolyn said. "Is there much progress on the couch?"
"You can't rush these things, you know," Dotty said. "Do that, and you wind up with something you don't want. I really should have gotten some stuffing material when we were at the millinery. This needs replacing."
"We'll make do," Daniel barked. "You — don't trouble yourself on that matter. It will be fine." Because the moment you are gone, it's going in the scrap heap.
"I'll give ye a hand, Carolyn," Molly offered, and the two women disappeared into the kitchen.
XXX
A high-tension level kept the visit brief. Carolyn retreated to the master cabin to try and type, but after two pages, she was appalled to see the number of typos she produced. Content wise — she'd not even turn that garbage in to the Beacon. Daniel appeared when he heard the clacking keys still. "Ready for me to proof your latest?"
"It's not worth reading," she sighed.
"Nonsense, you are too hard on yourself," he chided fondly. "You never think it's good enough." Against her protests, he floated the sheets over and began to read. Not even super-human control could keep a flicker of dismay off his face.
"Told you."
"Blast the woman. I dare say that if I tried to chart a mile of coastline, it'd come out looking like a map of — China. Darling, why are you putting yourself through this?"
"Not to mention you? She's my father's older sister."
"Yes, I know..."
"And when he and mother was first married, it was hard for them... she took them into her home. He's always felt in her debt... I guess I felt so, too."
Calculating the years, Daniel said, "The Depression was hard on many people, I'm sure that two incomes in one home were welcome."
Carolyn shrugged. "Wouldn't Blackie say 'do unto others'... and so on?"
"There's also a verse that says 'flee from evil'."
XXX
Claymore arrived promptly. You could call him many things, but late for free food was not one of them. He was immensely cheerful to be invited over.
Toward the end of the meal, that miraculously, Dotty was eating with them, Daniel asked, "Clay, you do still play Monopoly, don't you?"
"Yes," the little man beamed.
"Aunt Dotty just loves games, so perhaps you two could play a round or — two?" the ghost smiled.
"I'd love to!" Claymore announced.
"Scrabble is my game," Dotty groused.
"You can get— inured to a game after — how long have you been playing?" Daniel asked.
"Thirty-eight years. I have all the scores recorded in notebooks, by date."
"How — efficient." Claymore faltered a bit.
"Yes, well, a change might be nice, and I'm sure that after a hand or two, or round, whatever you call it, Claymore would be delighted to engage you in a round of Scrabble or two." Daniel glared at Claymore, telling him with his eyes to agree.
"Oh, yes, yes. I can spell all kinds of sea-talk words — barnacle, ah — mizzen, jellyfish..."
"We get the idea, Claymore," Carolyn smiled. "Daniel, would you set up the game table and I'll wash up."
XXX
Two hours later, the gamesters were still at it. At ten, they showed no signs of stopping. Claymore had won one game of Monopoly and was on his way to a second. Through a yawn, Carolyn bid her former landlord goodnight, then she and Daniel went upstairs for some privacy. By this time, even Daniel was accustomed enough to Claymore to not feel obligated to stay up while he entertained Dotty for them.
When Daniel popped down to get coffee going for his wife, he had to go invisible in a split second and return upstairs. Fortunately, Claymore was facing in his direction, but the pair was still at it.
For a moment, the ghost stood in his cabin, pondering the scene he'd just witnessed. The jellyfish had more stamina than he imagined. With a sigh, Daniel donned his 'mask' and walked downstairs the conventional way, feigning shock at seeing their two guests still up.
"Heavens, Claymore, I had no idea you had spent the night," Daniel said, quite truthfully. "Would you care for some coffee?"
Pushing his slipping glasses back in position, the little man looked up. "YES. I need a nap... can we quit now?"
"You're still a game ahead of me," Dotty slurred.
"He'll come back, to — "
"Not tonight — it's — it's my — my thing tonight. You know, uh — the important one I can't get out of," Claymore blurted, panicked.
"One evening, he will return, and you can trounce him," Daniel promised, giving his 'nephew' a look that mingled a touch of sympathy with a stern order.
"Anything," Claymore vowed with a gulp. "Please, I need my rest. I'm — I'm exhausted." Proving it, he yawned broadly.
"You wouldn't want to win just because your opponent is — fried, would you?" Daniel asked pointedly.
"All right," Dotty huffed. "If you're getting him coffee, I want my tea."
"You would." Turning on his heel, Daniel went to the kitchen to start the coffee brewing and let Dakota out. He noted with a frown that the door bore faint, new scratch marks. It appeared that Siegfried would have a task to do soon. Remedial training for Miss Dakota.
A moment later, Claymore staggered into the kitchen. "Next time, just nail me to a mizzen-keel. Mast-haul me."
"Mizzenmast, keelhaul," Daniel corrected on reflex. "Did you really play all night?"
"Not one break. I know you can't stand me — but please, can I take a nap in the guestroom or the alcove or somewhere? Please? I'll fall asleep driving."
"Of course," Daniel nodded, adding sternly, "I have no wish for you to become a spirit."
Martha showed up a few minutes later. Once she got over her startlement at seeing their former landlord slumped over a mega-coffee cup, she asked if he'd want breakfast before or after he slept a few hours, then went on to make it.
