1Standard disclaimers apply. Some of these characters are owned by 20th Century Fox and some details have been gleaned from other Gamm-ers' stories (and to you I am very grateful). All other characters were invented by me, as was the plot. Please do not use any part or parts thereof without my consent. Time: June, July and August 1972. A sequel to "Captain Gregg and the Surprise." Thanks to Kathy, Susan, John Mortimer, Pablo Neruda, The Library of Congress. Are you kind? Suspend rational thought.
"And summer's lease hath all too short a date:"
-William Shakespeare
Summer's LeaseCHAPTER 3
They had planned, for sometime, to go to Keystone to watch fireworks. Candy and Jonathan had told their mom and the Captain that this year they really wanted to be able to all go together. "It was miserable last year in Schooner Bay, everyone was looking at us and the Captain couldn't even be visible," Candy said and her brother agreed. So, it was decided that the thirty-minute drive to Keystone would be worth it for the Captain to attend with them. Moreover, Keystone's Fourth of July celebration included a fun fair and street dance.
For the festivities, Daniel changed out of his usual turtleneck and pea coat and opted for his ivory, banded collared cotton shirt. "I suppose I would look daft walking around in this heat in a sweater and wool coat," he told Carolyn when he appeared in the main cabin.
"I think you look very handsome," she replied. She brushed her hand over the front of the shirt, tracing the row of pewter-colored buttons that went three-quarters of the way down.
"Thank you," he answered.
When they arrived in Keystone, things were well underway. They parked the car and headed for the Municipal Park where most of the events were being held. Daniel and Carolyn walked hand in hand down the main street.
"It's been a long time since I attended a celebration such as this," he said smiling and taking in all that was happening around them. The smells of popcorn and hot dogs mingled in the area with the scent of trampled grass and humid, summer air; the faint tang of the sea threading its way in, too. The park was bustling with people. There were food vendors, games, and a few rides. The local Lions Club chapter was sponsoring the fireworks and had a booth set up to accept donations and take applications for new members. They were also running the beer tent.
"We'll have to come back for one of those later, my dear," Daniel whispered to her. Carolyn nodded her head in agreement and smiled at him. Small beads of sweat dotted his forehead and she wondered how he could do that. She had seen him blow out a candle once and wanted to ask him if it was an illusion or what, but hadn't. One of these days she would sit him down and make him tell her all his secret tricks.
"Cotton candy! Mom, can we get some?" Candy asked as they passed by the booth where a man was spinning the sugar delight.
"Sure. Here," the Captain answered for Carolyn as he handed Candy a crisp one dollar bill.
Carolyn noticed that Daniel had a roll of new bills in his pocket and she wondered where he had gotten them. She had a fair idea, but didn't want to address it now; they were all having too much fun.
Candy had a giant swirl of pink cotton candy on a paper stick. "Mmm, it's so good," she remarked pulling off a hunk.
"May I?" Daniel asked before reaching over and nipping off some, too.
"Go ahead. Mom, you want some?"
Carolyn had a small piece followed by a bigger piece and Daniel chuckled as mother and daughter consumed the rest of the spun sugar.
The game booths were set up at the south end of the park and they headed that way. "Step right up! Step right up! Ring the bell and win a prize!" A rotund man in a straw boater barked to the people passing by. He spotted Daniel Gregg and called out to him. "Come on, Mister, step right up. Ring the bell and win your girl a prize!" He beckoned to the seaman. "You look like just the man who can beat this contraption."
Daniel glanced sideways at the man, not sure if he should respond. "Go on, Captain and do it. You show him," Jonathan stated. "You can do anything."
"Yes, Daniel, have a go. You are the strongest man in New England," Carolyn added. She winked at him.
Daniel grinned, "All right, I will." He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and handed the man fifty cents for three chances. The carnie handed the giant sledgehammer to Daniel.
"Just hit the plate there. If you ring the bell you win a prize. It's a cinch."
Daniel stepped back, raised the hammer and let fly with a fierce blow that barely moved the striker up the pole.
"Ha! Pretty Boy!" Jonathan laughed. Candy snickered, too. But Carolyn's face was just a smile
"Oh, come on, man, show us what you're made of," the carnie said.
Daniel let out a sigh and let heave with another blow to the striker plate. This time the striker flew up the pole and clunked into the bell. "Ah, Hercules!" Daniel announced. He curled his right arm and flexed his biceps, "Go on, feel that, missus," he said to Carolyn in his smoothest voice.
Carolyn ran her hand over his arm. He did have nice muscles and he felt good under her hand. "Mmm, Hercules, indeed," she purred.
"You win a prize, Mr. Hercules," the carnie said, rather disgustedly. This fellow wasn't supposed to win.
"What's your pleasure, my dear?" the seafarer asked Carolyn.
"Oh, well, the blonde-haired Kewpie is cutest."
"Yes, she is," Daniel said with a smile.
The carnie handed Carolyn a blonde-haired Kewpie Doll and thanked Daniel for playing.
Carolyn cradled the Kewpie in her arm and linked her other arm with Daniel's. She leaned her head on his shoulder as they strolled through the games area. She looked up at him, "You're smiling," she said.
"I'm happy," he answered. "Happier than I've been in a long time."
"Me, too." Carolyn hugged Daniel's arm a little tighter.
"I'm having a grand day with my family and it's something I never thought I'd have. But...well… here it is." He placed a soft kiss on the top of her head "I have you and your children to thank for that, my dear."
"We have you, too, Daniel." Carolyn's answer was heart-felt and she knew, now, that she, Candy and Jonathan needed Daniel as much as he needed them. It was a feeling she never thought she would recapture. Bobby's death had been so difficult and she wasn't sure she would ever want to rely on anyone again. But, lately, she had grown to rely on Daniel's steady presence and, yes, his love. She knew that Candy and Jonathan wanted and needed Daniel in their lives. Jonathan had treated the spirit as a father since they had first moved into Gull Cottage, Carolyn reflected. It had taken Candy a while to warm to the Captain, but she had, in her way, and now... Carolyn thought about her daughter and Daniel folding the spinnaker and going over the diagrams of the rigging; they were a lot alike, Candy and the Captain: stubborn, opinionated, short-tempered, but they also had great respect for each other and had developed a solid camaraderie. Carolyn knew that her children loved Daniel as much as he did them. She couldn't ask for more than that.
"Captain, look, let's do this one! C'mon!" Jonathan grabbed the seaman's hand and dragged him over to a small shooting gallery. Carolyn laughed as her son herded Daniel over to where Candy was standing at the counter pointing at the row of moving paper ducks and targets. Daniel handed the man three dollars and they each got a BB gun. They would have one hundred shots a piece, most hits wins. After a brief lesson in how to aim and fire the gun, they were off. Carolyn stood back watching. Jonathan was firing frantically at anything that moved whether they were moving ducks or spinning targets. Candy, she noticed, was concentrating on aiming for the bull's eye of as many targets as she could. But, Daniel was methodically working his way from left to right starting with the row of moving ducks, then the ducks that spun on a circle, and then the moving targets. It didn't seem very long until three hundred BB's had been fired, but in the end the man running the booth tallied up the scores and Captain Gregg had the most hits, Candy was second and the man remarked that Jonathan may have done better if they had been using shotguns instead of BB guns. Daniel's prize was a wooden whistle that made a noise like a train's steam whistle.
"No fair, Captain, I mean you were in the Navy and everything. How were we supposed to win against a professional?" Jonathan said.
"You're just mad because you hardly hit anything," Candy teased.
"Yes, lad, the scatter-gun approach is not the best one for target practice." The Captain gave a blow on the whistle.
"You even got a groovy prize," Jonathan said. He folded his arms across his chest.
"Look, I see a game at which you'll beat us all." Daniel pointed to a booth a few down where the object was to knock a pyramid of milk bottles over by throwing baseballs at them. "The Flying Fish's star relief pitcher can certainly master that."
"Hey, neat." Jonathan trotted ahead.
"Nice shootin', Tex," Carolyn said to Daniel as he came over to show his prize to her.
"Thank ya, kindly, ma'am," he replied. "This whistle is quite ingenious. It does sound very real." He gave it another toot then stuck it in his back pocket. "Would you care to try your skill at the baseball throw?"
"No thank you, I'll watch. I'm saving my energy for my all-time favorite, the ring toss," Carolyn answered with a mischievous grin. "You go right ahead.
Daniel walked a bit ahead of her to pay the carnie at the baseball throw. He, Jonathan and Candy each got six baseballs. Candy went first and did fairly well; "three out of six isn't bad…. for a girl," Jonathan said. It was good enough, the carnie told them, for a small prize. Candy chose a small stuffed dog. Daniel went next and did miserably. Two out of six. Then Jonathan stepped up and got five out of six. Good enough for the big prize, which was a Boston Red Sox baseball cap. As Jonathan fitted the cap on his head, Daniel thanked the carnival worker; he was sure that to win that prize the player had to get six of six.
"It's all right, mister, I like to see the kids win, and your son seems like a nice kid."
"Thank you," Daniel replied. "I'm proud of both of them." He shook hands with the man.
"Check it out, Mom! A Red Sox cap."
"Looks great, Jonathan. You're ready for the Major Leagues."
"Aye, you'll make it one of these days, if you keep practicing," Daniel added.
Candy and Jonathan walked ahead of their mom and the Captain, looking at all the vendors and chattering to each other. They stopped in front of a small table where a young woman was doing face painting. A girl about Candy's age was having a heart painted on her cheek. Another girl had just had a peace sign.
"Mom, can I get one?" Candy asked.
"Sure," her mother answered.
"Here, Candy." The Captain handed her a quarter.
Candy sat in the chair and told the young woman, whose name was Claudia, that she wanted a flower. "Like a daisy, but with groovy colors."
"Right on. I think I know what you mean," Claudia said. She painted a big daisy-like flower on Candy's cheek with each petal a different bright color. When she was finished, she held up a mirror for Candy to look at the finished product. "Like that?"
"Yah. Groovy. Thanks."
Jonathan stepped up to the young woman and whispered something to her and she nodded. "Mom, can I have her paint me a tattoo just like the Captain's on my arm?'
Carolyn looked at her son and then at Daniel. "You and those tattoos."
"Come on, me Bucko, let's have her do it." Daniel walked over with Jonathan and showed the anchor tattoo on the inside of his forearm to her and she painted an exact copy on Jonathan's arm.
"Just give it a few minutes to dry before you touch it. And try not to get it wet. It'll come off later with soap and water." Claudia brushed it with a little talcum powder to help the pigment set. "It's non-toxic body paint. They use it in the movies. Works great for doing face painting. But, you're the first tattoo."
Jonathan looked at the anchor on his arm and the one on the Captain's "Wow," he said in a low voice.
"At least this one isn't permanent," Carolyn muttered behind Daniel.
"Aye. It's just for fun." He turned and gave her a sweet kiss. "Besides, you've never complained about my tattoos."
"Well, on you they seem right. But, they don't on my nine-year-old son."
"This one is just for today. I promise I won't influence the lad to run off and get any tattoos." He smiled at her. "At least not until he's eighteen."
"Look, Mom. It looks just like the Captain's." Jonathan held out his arm and admired the painted tattoo.
"Well, enjoy it while you can, because it's the only tattoo you're ever getting," Carolyn said.
"I know," Jonathan muttered. "One day I'm going to get a real one."
"Just don't let your mother know about it," the Captain warned.
Jonathan looked up at the seaman, "Mothers."
They stopped in front of the dunking booth where the Keystone Fire Department firefighters were taking turns getting dunked. The money raised was to go to a new pumper-truck. A handsome, young firefighter sat on the seat, in full uniform, and shouted at the man throwing baseballs trying to hit the target that would knock him into the tank. The crowd watching was chuckling at the banter between the two and it became obvious that the pitcher was the brother of the fireman.
"I do love a man in uniform," Carolyn said. "And there is something about a fireman." Her eyes took in the dark-haired fellow. He was quite striking.
Daniel slid his arm around her shoulder. "I thought you said there was something about a sea captain?"
"Did I?" She leaned against him. "I recall saying that there was definitely something about a cowboy. I can't imagine why I would say that there was something about a sea captain," she replied in mock seriousness.
Daniel leaned down and whispered in her ear, "You said it was because I was charming and sexy and made your blood boil."
"That's true." She turned and smiled at him "There certainly is something about one sea captain in particular." She smoothed her hand over his chest. "You do make my blood boil," she whispered, letting her lips linger over his earlobe. She felt a little shiver come from him. "And, you are sexy."
"Oh… well… thank you," he said shyly, caught off-guard by her candor in public, even though no one else heard her words.
The foursome clapped and cheered just as loudly as the rest of the on-lookers when the fireman was finally dropped into the dunk tank. His brother accepted congratulations from the crowd, hands clasped above his head in victory.
Carolyn slipped her hand down into Daniel's and gave it a light squeeze as they walked on. Candy spotted the ring toss game just ahead of them. "Mom! Ring toss, your favorite."
"Oh, so it is. Well, pigeons, who's for a turn?" Carolyn challenged.
Daniel stepped up and handed the man running the game forty cents for twenty rings; each of them getting five. Rings started flying and clanking as they hit the glass of the soda pop bottles that were the prizes. A ring on a bottle and you won that soda. In the end, only Carolyn had managed to ring any bottles, her practiced and deliberate tosses garnering four out of five. The one that was a miss, she said, had been a practice toss. The carnie handed each of them a soda. Jonathan took the Orange Ne-hi, Candy the Dr. Pepper, Carolyn, the Coca-Cola and Daniel the 7-Up.
"Mom, how come you're so good at that game? I mean, I like it that we all got soda, but, will you teach me how to do it?" Jonathan asked.
"It just takes practice and patience, honey." She took a swig of her Coke. "Perhaps you need to spend more time at carnivals."
"I think it's cool that you can do that. I bet Mrs. Hassenhammer can't do anything close." Candy remarked.
"Yes, my dear, you have been hiding your light under a bushel," Daniel added. "And, I must say that this concoction is unlike anything I have ever had before. It's quite refreshing."
They walked on for a bit, stopping at a park bench. Carolyn plopping down on it to finish her cola. "Can we have fifty cents to play the darts game?" Candy asked the Captain.
"Certainly." He fished two quarters out of his pocket and handed them to the girl. "I hope you win."
"Thanks, Captain." Candy smiled at the seaman before running off with Jonathan toward the game booth.
"Having fun?" Carolyn asked the spirit.
"Indeed. And, you?"
"Very much." She took his hand in hers and let them rest comfortably in her lap. "The kids had a great idea to come up here for the day."
"Aye." Daniel leaned back against the bench and stretched out his legs. He interlaced his fingers with hers. "It's wonderful to be here with you, my dear." A smile coming to his lips. "I fear that after this day I shall crave many more like it."
"Me, too." She leaned her head against his shoulder and sighed. "Perhaps we can think of more outings."
"Certainly. And, we do always have the Surprise. It's been a long time since you and I have had an evening cruise."
"It has, and I would love to join you for another, my dear Captain."
After several minutes, Candy came running over to where her mom and the Captain were sitting; she was clutching a stuffed animal in her hands. "Look! I won! I beat Jonathan!" She plunked down next to the Captain. "It's a sea monster! Isn't it groovy? I got it 'cause it reminded me of you, Captain." She held the cuddly toy out to him.
"It looks nothing like me," he replied.
"No… It's a sea monster…that's why. Sea-Monster. Sea-Captain. Get it?"
Daniel gave the girl a quizzical look. "No, but, I am pleased you won."
"Me, too." She leaned against the Captain's shoulder and cuddled her prize. "I won!"
Jonathan came dragging over to them and flopped down next to his mom. "So what? Who wants some stupid stuffed animal anyway? It's for girls."
"Oh, Jonathan, you won at the baseball toss," Carolyn said.
"Don't ya think it's the cutest little sea monster ever, Captain?"
"It is indeed," the seafarer remarked, his arm going around Candy's shoulder in a fatherly embrace. "Much nicer than the beasts I encountered."
Carolyn looked at her watch to see that it was already five-thirty. "Should we get some hot dogs for dinner?"
"Yah, I'm getting hungry," Jonathan answered.
Captain Gregg suggested that he take the day's winnings back to the car for safe keeping and then meet them at the hot dog stand. It seemed he was only gone a few seconds and was already waiting for the threesome as they arrived.
"Daniel, will you have something with us?" Carolyn asked. Not needing to eat, the spirit sometimes preferred to just sit with his family at meal times and share in the conversation instead of the food.
"Certainly, my dear, I want to experience everything this day has to offer." His hand caressed the small of her back as they stood in line. "And, these frankfurters do smell delicious."
After ordering, they found an empty table and dove into the array of hot dogs, Italian sausages, and French fries.
"What was the Fourth of July like when you were a kid, Captain?" Candy asked.
"Oh, very different from today," the seafarer started. "When I was a lad, before Mam died, we used to have a family picnic at the shore. I remember it always being very hot, and we would swim and eat. My mother would sometimes sing to us." He had a faraway look in his eyes. "Of course, it wasn't a holiday as it is now, we just celebrated what the patriots had done for us by remembering their sacrifices and wisdom."
"Did ya have fireworks and stuff?" Jonathan asked, stuffing French fries in his mouth.
"We had some, but I remember mostly that on July 3rd my father and uncles and some of us boys would pull pranks on the neighbors." He started to laugh. "Once we dismantled Hiram Tuttle's outhouse plank by plank and just left the wood stacked as neatly as we could! He was furious, but would have been more so if we hadn't done something to him."
Jonathan and Candy laughed as the Captain continued. "It was almost expected that neighbors would surprise one another with some mischief. I remember my mother being so angry when she woke up early one July 4th only to find that the wooden steps from the summer kitchen had been pulled away during the night. She nearly went arse over teakettle off the porch! I thought she was going to skin the Miller brothers alive when she found out it was their handiwork!"
"That sounds like something I'd like to try." Jonathan announced. "Wouldn't Claymore be surprised to wake up and find the front door of his house missing!"
"Aye, that bumbling nincompoop," Daniel smiled. "We may have to keep that in mind for next year, lad."
"You'll do no such thing, you two." Carolyn admonished them cheerfully, a chuckle in her voice.
"Then, when I was older and wasn't at sea on Independence Day, which wasn't too often, I remember there being political speeches. I did have the privilege of hearing the Great Man himself speak once. It was very heartening. I had been away most of a year and was out of touch with things here at home and happened to be in Washington. President Lincoln gave a stirring monologue on the Union." Daniel picked up his cup of beer. "The Union of the states--May it never be broken by despotic power or aspiring demagogues."
"I'll join you in that toast, kind sir," Carolyn tapped her paper cup of beer against Daniel's.
"You really got to hear Abraham Lincoln give a speech?" Candy asked.
"Yes, and I shall never forget it. He was as very great man. He kept the Union together."
"Wow! I wish you could have come to our social studies class and told that," the girl answered.
Daniel smiled at Candy. "I do too, Candy."
"I'm curious, Daniel. What was the day typically like?" Carolyn asked. She was enraptured by his tale. They had not spoken of such common things in his memoirs.
"Well, the day was ushered in by the ringing of church bells and perhaps the firing of cannon. When I was a lad, we'd set off firecrackers that were all gunpowder and made a terrific noise. My mother hated them! But, Pap would always have a dozen or so for me. There would be a parade of the soldiers from all the wars, with musicians and the like."
"Were you in the parade, Captain? I mean you were a hero at Vera Cruz," Jonathan asked, his eyes shining with admiration.
"I was once, right after Vera Cruz. There were a few of us just back and well, there were a number of pretty girls watching. But, I never did it again. As, I said, I was at sea much." The Captain hastily changed the subject. "Then over at the church there would be an Oration, and afterwards my father and the other men would play cards or horseshoes and go to the tavern. The women and children would eat picnic suppers at home, sometimes we'd have ice cream."
"Yah, but what about fireworks?"
"Schooner Bay was too small and remote, we rarely had them. I saw a nice display once in Philadelphia, but that was about it."
"Well, I heard that Keystone's are pretty spectacular for a town this size." Carolyn sneaked a few fries from Daniel. "We'll get a chance to enjoy them together."
"Aye." Daniel swigged down the rest of his beer. "Now, who's for some dessert? I saw the most amazing funnel cakes earlier and I haven't had one since I was about fourteen."
Candy and Jonathan voiced their agreement with a giant funnel cake and the Captain gave them the money to go get one, "loaded with whatever they put on them these days."
Carolyn reached over and put her hand atop Daniel's, "Thank you for coming today. It means a lot to all of us."
"Not half as much as it means to me, my dear." He didn't care if anyone would see, he leaned over and kissed her.
"Mmm, now that was lovely."
"Aye."
The funnel cake that Candy and Jonathan brought back was smothered in strawberries and powdered sugar. The edges of the pastry oozing over the sides of the paper plate. They devoured the treat between the four of them in short order.
"Ugh, I couldn't eat another thing, so don't even ask me," Carolyn said. She slouched in the chair.
"Not even one small ice cream cone?" Daniel asked, leaning close to her, his smile coy.
"Not even one small lick from an ice cream cone, darling." She pulled him closer, "But, I will take one small kiss from you." She placed a kiss on his lips.
"Really Mother, do you two have to do that out here where everyone can see?" Candy rolled her eyes.
"Yes, daughter, sometimes we do," her mother answered. Carolyn pressed her lips to Daniel's again. "Mmm, strawberries," she whispered. "I sometimes forget what a delectable combination you and strawberries are."
"Perhaps a refresher is in order." Daniel grinned a wicked grin at her.
"On a moonlight cruise for two?"
"Exactly."
"Can I have some money for another Coke?" Jonathan asked.
"Sure," Daniel handed the boy another dollar.
They hadn't realized it when they sat down, but the table that they were at was a ringside seat for the street dance. A band started to play Moonlight Serenade and the saxophone player announced: "We are The Moonlighters and we welcome you to the annual Keystone Independence Day Street Dance."
Carolyn scooted her chair closer to Daniel's and leaned her head on his shoulder. She started humming along. Daniel sat back in his chair and put his arm around her. They sat and listened to the next few numbers, watching as people gathered in the street in front of them. Then the band started playing Night and Day. "May I have this dance?" Daniel asked her and led her out where the other people were dancing.
Carolyn smiled as she fell into his arms. She knew it was a huge step for Daniel to hold her this close in public, even if they were dancing. She leaned her head against him, his hand still against her back. Slowly they stopped actually dancing and just started swaying to the music. Carolyn was perfectly content in Daniel's arms as the music closed in around them. Night and Day had never been one of Carolyn's favorite songs, but when Daniel started to sing it softly to her as they danced, she knew she was going to change her mind.
The Moonlighters' tenor took the stage and the band started Moonlight Cocktail. Carolyn had heard the Glenn Miller version and thought how similar this fellow sounded to Ray Eberle. She and Daniel stayed and danced to the song and the next one before Daniel noticed that Candy was sitting with her arms folded across her chest, doing her best eye rolling. "Your daughter apparently does not approve."
"Well, she'll just have to get used to it. I'm having a lovely time."
"Perhaps she feels left out. Shall I invite her to dance the next one with me?" the Captain asked.
"I think that would be wonderful, Daniel." Carolyn smiled at him. "One kiss, if you please."
"My dear." Daniel's mouth went to hers in a sweet kiss that spoke to her of his longing for her.
The song ended and Daniel led Carolyn back to the table. He turned to Candy and gave a slight bow. "Miss Muir, may I have this dance?"
"What? With me?"
"Yes, if you please." He offered his hand to her and they walked out into the street, the strains of Skyliner floating around them.
Carolyn could see the two talking as Daniel guided her daughter around the dance floor, a big grin on Candy's face. When the song ended and Daniel started to head back to the table, Candy grabbed on to his hand wanting him to stay.
"We're going to speed it up a bit now, everybody get read to 'Jump, Jive-n- Wail'!" The singer announced.
"Come on, Jonathan, how about a dance with your old mom?" Carolyn suggested.
"Uhm, okay."
Mother and son joined, what Carolyn could help but think of as father and daughter. Carolyn and Jonathan showed them that they weren't the only ones with some moves. The four stayed out for several more songs, happy that the band had decided to play some faster numbers.
Around eight-thirty they decided to stake out a spot to watch the fireworks. Daniel had retrieved the blanket from the back of the station wagon. They found a nice flat spot of grass not too near where other people were already sitting, but with a good view of the bay from where the fireworks would be launched. They spread the blanket out and sat down. Fireflies were rising all around them, the rhythmic chirping of crickets echoing in the darkness, and out on the bay they could see the running lights of the boats that were anchored to watch the fireworks display from the water.
Daniel's thoughts went to past Fourths; so many had been spent at sea, where the date meant little more than an entry in his log book and perhaps another ale with his ship mates and a toast to the Union. Tonight he felt completely different. He was with his family, yes, his family, and had spent one of the most enjoyable days of his existence with them. He longed to have more days like this. He felt so alive and vital. He would never have believed it four years ago when Carolyn and her children had moved into Gull Cottage. Yes, this afterlife was more than he could have ever hoped for. He said a silent prayer of thanks to God for giving him this chance and he promised he wouldn't waste it.
Somewhere down near the water a marching band started playing Stars and Stripes Forever and the crowd came to its feet. As the song ended they heard a public address system come on. "Welcome to the main attraction of the evening! The Keystone Lions Club is proud to present the 35th Annual Keystone Fireworks Extravaganza. Please stand as we salute America and all those who have served our country in the armed services with the playing of our national anthem."
As the tune began, people around them started singing, Carolyn, Candy and Jonathan included. Daniel stood silent, watching as a huge spotlight illuminated the American flag. Tonight was the first time he had really heard the words to the Star Spangled Banner, though it had been written before he was born.
Daniel helped Carolyn down on to the blanket as the anthem ended. She sat next to him, her legs curled under her. The first of the fireworks went off in the sky above them. She smiled at him and said softly, "Daniel, I know we've not talked about it since we did the book, but I am so very proud of you… what you did at Vera Cruz. I know it must have been terrible and frightening and that's why you don't talk about it, but… well I wanted you to know that you're a hero to me."
Daniel turned his eyes from hers, "I did nothing more than any other man."
"You did do more, I know you did." She leaned over and placed a soft kiss on his lips. "And, I love you and I'm proud of you."
Daniel took her hands in his and smiled. "Thank you, Carolyn. That means a lot to me… that you care."
Carolyn looked Daniel squarely in the eyes and said, "Never think that I don't care, Daniel. You know I do."
"I do know, and thank you." He kissed her.
"If you lie down, then your neck doesn't hurt," Jonathan proclaimed. He and Candy stretched out on their backs on the blanket.
The fireworks were far different from those Daniel Gregg had seen in his life. He found himself somewhat mesmerized by them. The colors were more brilliant and the designs awe-inspiring.
Carolyn looked over at him, the flashes of colored light from the exploding shells reflected in his eyes, his face bright with wonder. It had been a while since she had seen Daniel so relaxed, in fact, she thought maybe she had never seen him this relaxed. She reached her hand up and stroked it through his hair. Oh, she loved his hair…especially at the back where the curls fell over the top of his turtleneck sweater, or, as tonight, just how they curled against his neck. They begged her to touch them and she couldn't resist. She let her fingers slide through them, rubbing the ends between her fingertips. Daniel turned and looked at her, a broad smile on his face.
"My dear?" His words were a question, but his eyes told her that he was thinking the same thing as she.
"A kiss, if you please."
"It would be my pleasure." Daniel pressed his lips to hers, Carolyn's hand playing through his hair, pushing him a bit closer to her.
When he broke the kiss, she leaned into him, her lips caressing his ear, "Daniel, make love to me tonight."
"As you wish," he replied, very matter-of-factly, but his smile told Carolyn that he couldn't wait until they were home. They shared a few more gentle kisses and settled back to watch the pyrotechnic display. Carolyn snuggled against Daniel, his arms enveloping her in a loving embrace.
When the grand finale started, the marching band regaled the crowd with more Sousa; everyone on their feet. As the music and fireworks hit a crescendo cannon fire joined the cacophony. Applause and cheers rained down on the park and the bay as the last of the fireworks exploded overhead, thick smoke from the fireworks and cannon blasts hanging in the air, the pungent smell of sulfur and gunpowder lingering around them.
"Wow! That was so neat!" Candy exclaimed. "Captain, Mom, didn't you just love it?"
The Captain hugged Candy to him, "It was spectacular! I have never seen anything quite like it."
"It was so cool! Didn't you think so, Mom?" Jonathan asked.
"I thought it was wonderful. The finale was just perfect."
It was after eleven o'clock by the time they arrived back at Gull Cottage, the traffic out of Keystone was heavy from the celebration. Jonathan announced that he was exhausted and had to be cajoled into walking Scruffy before going to bed. "Jonathan, poor Scruffy has been locked up the whole time we've been gone so you need to take him out," his mother said.
It was close to midnight before Carolyn was able to settle in the main cabin. She stretched out on the bed, glad to be in her nightshirt, the images of the day playing through her mind's eye. Daniel materialized by his telescope, having a brief survey of the beach and bay in front of the house, then he opened the French windows, a light breeze coming in off the water, the sounds of the waves on the beach amplified.
"Carolyn, are you asleep?"
"No… I'm just thinking about today. It was wonderful."
He pulled off his shirt and slid on to the bed next to her, his arms coming around her waist. "It was indeed." He placed gently kisses over her neck and shoulders. "Thank you, my dear, for the day. I know I shall never forget it."
"None of us will forget it, Daniel." Carolyn snuggled in to his chest.
Carolyn felt Daniel get out of bed and knew it was early, perhaps just dawn, as it was his habit to make rounds of the house at that time. He enjoyed the quietness of that time and he would stand on the widow's walk looking out at the sea contemplating the day past and the day ahead. She had fallen back to sleep for what she thought was only a short time but it was closer to ninety minutes. When she rolled on to her other side and stretched, her hand made contact with a book. She saw a piece of paper sticking out of the middle. She opened it to that page and read the note there, written in Daniel's handwriting.
"My darling, I only wish my words were as fine and stirring as these." The poem on the page of the book was Night on the Island written by one of Carolyn's favorite poets, Pablo Neruda. It was a poem she knew well.
All night I have slept with you
next to the sea, on the island.
Wild and sweet you were between pleasure and sleep,
between fire and water.
Perhaps very late
our dreams joined
at the top or at the bottom,
up above like branches moved by a common wind,
down below like red roots that touch.
Perhaps your dream
drifted from mine
and through the dark sea
was seeking me
as before,
when you did not yet exist,
when without sighting you
I sailed by your side.
and your eyes sought
what now –
bread, wine, love, and anger –
I heap upon you
because you are the cup
that was waiting for the gifts of my life.
I have slept with you
all night long while
the dark earth spins
with the living and the dead,
and on waking suddenly
in the midst of the shadow
my arm encircled your waist.
Neither night nor sleep
could separate us.
I have slept with you
and on waking, your mouth,
come from your dream,
gave me the taste of earth,
of sea water, of seaweed,
of the depths of your life,
and I received your kiss
moistened by dawn
as if it came to me
from the sea that surrounds us.
Carolyn hugged the book to her and smiled. She loved this sea captain from a past time more than she could ever express and she knew he loved her, too. The poem was his way of telling her just how much. He could be bombastic and overbearing at times and was never at a loss for words when vexed, but when overcome by his emotions for her he was a different man, very often struck dumb. Carolyn found the contrast one of Daniel's most endearing qualities. When she would find the love notes and poems he would leave for her, she knew how deep his love ran. "I love you, too, Daniel," she said in a whisper, knowing he could hear.
Neruda, Pablo. Night on the Island. In The Captain's Verses, translated by Donald D. Walsh, 24-27. New York: New Directions Publishing, 2004.