"The End of the Beginning…"

A Ghost and Mrs Muir Story

By TunnelsOfTheSouth

※※※※※

"Death isn't the end, it's the beginning…"

Jennifer Love Hewitt

Carolyn walked down the stairs, and into the foyer of Gull Cottage, seething with resentment. She was being forced to take her children, their dog, and Martha, and leave this amazing house. And they were leaving in the middle of the night! All because of the pig-headed stubbornness of one, impossible ghost!

She'd tried to be reasonable and fair. Captain Gregg was the one who was being extremely unreasonable and unfair! He'd point-blank refused to leave the house instead of her family!

She'd done her best to make him see sense. They couldn't possibly all live here as one big, happy family. It simply wouldn't work. He'd roared his refusal at her, before vanishing, right in front of her eyes.

Carolyn was at her wit's end. She had no intention of sharing the residence with the man, alive or dead! He was rude, opinionated and had no patience with anyone who crossed him. If he wouldn't leave, then she would have to. Even if it was dark outside, the power was off, and it was after the children's bedtime.

None of it mattered because she intended never to return. All four of them carried their luggage down the stairs and left the house behind, climbing into the family station wagon.

However, they had barely made it five minutes down the road, before her car was forcibly turned around and driven back up the hill towards the house. Someone else seemed to have other, very different, ideas.

Carolyn tried desperately to apply the brake, but the car carried on. "Let go of the wheel! Stop it! Stop it! You'll cause an accident!" She was horrified by such under-handed antics.

"Cut it out!" She tried to force the car around, and back onto the road.

"What's the matter, Mom?" Jonathan demanded to know.

"Get out of the car! Let go!" His mother fought for control of the vehicle.

"Who're you talking to?" Martha asked, totally mystified.

"To myself!" Carolyn snapped, as they drove up the hill and along the headland.

"There's Gull Cottage," Candy cried happily.

"You changed your mind." Martha frowned.

"Oh, no, I didn't!" Carolyn replied grimly.

"We're home! We're home!" Jonathan shouted gleefully, as the car swept up the cottage gate and stopped.

Scruffy barked excitedly. It seemed he was also pleased to be back.

Martha and the children all looked out. They began to open their doors.

"Don't anyone get out," Carolyn instructed. "We're not staying."

She tried to re-start the car. The engine completely refused to turn over.

"We're not going, either," Martha observed drily, watching her.

"This is ridiculous!" Carolyn fumed.

"You out of gas, Mom?" Jonathan asked helpfully.

"Can't you get it started?" Candy leaned forward.

"Children...please..." their mother begged.

"Kids, don't talk to the driver while the car's not in motion," Martha advised.

Carolyn's fingers clenched on the steering wheel. "If I could lay my hands on Captain Gregg, I'd kill him!"

"I thought he was dead," Candy offered helpfully.

"He is," Carolyn muttered. "I'll go in the house and telephone for help."

"Oh, swell...and we'll sit out here and freeze," Martha approved.

"All right." Carolyn sighed. "We'll all go in."

Needing no more encouragement, the children and Martha piled out of the car. Carolyn followed. As they opened the front gate, all the lights came on at once.

Before their hurried departure, there had been a raging storm and a complete power failure. They had left the house in almost total darkness. Now, the storm was gone and the cottage was welcomingly lit. Two handsome ship's lanterns illuminate the front porch. The front door stood open, invitingly.

"Hey, the lights are back on," Jonathan observed helpfully.

They walked inside, looking around, incredulously. In the living room, a fire glowed cosily in the fireplace, reflecting on the captain's portrait, above. Scruffy trotted in and curled up before the fire. The family stood in the doorway, mystified.

"I wonder who built the fire," Candy asked.

"Well, it wasn't Peter Pan," her mother observed, drily.

"Can we stay now, Mom?" Jonathan wondered.

"Yeah, Mom," Candy added. "It's so warm and cosy."

"Be it ever so haunted, there's no place like home." Martha shrugged.

"We're leaving," Carolyn stated firmly, ignoring the disappointed faces around her. "I'm calling the garage for a mechanic." She walked back into the foyer.

"Anyone hungry?" Martha asked the children.

"I am," Jonathan stated.

"Me too." Candy wasn't about to be left out.

All three left the living room, heading for the kitchen. Carolyn was standing at the telephone, listening to it.

"Hello?" She jiggled the receiver, but to no avail. "Operator?" She hung up. "Blast," she said, with feeling.

Martha paused in the kitchen door. "What's the matter?"

"The phone is dead."

Well, I guess we're here for the night," she said with satisfaction, as she followed the children into the kitchen, leaving Carolyn alone in the foyer.

Carolyn seethed at the unfairness of it all. They were all being held prisoner against their wills. By a ghost, no less!

It was not a situation she was used to dealing with. As she stood there, her suitcases came floating in through the open front door. They went right past her and up the stairs, firmly in the grip of unseen hands.

It was the final straw! "On no, you don't!" She dashed up the stairs, following them.

She burst into the main bedroom. Her valise and luggage were standing in the middle of the floor. The Captain, keeping his back to her, was looking out the window to the sea. He didn't appear to know she was there.

"How dare you bring us back!" Carolyn accused hotly.

The captain turned slowly from the window, his expression full of weary resignation. "What? You again. I thought I was rid of the lot of you."

Carolyn ignored that quip. She crossed the floor to stand beside him. "Why did you stop us?"

The Captain looked deeply offended. "Me - stop you." He walked past her. "You're mistaken, Madam." He bent to look through his telescope.

Carolyn stood her ground. "I insist you spirit our things right back into the car!" She slapped her hand over the other end of the telescope.

The captain frowned at her, as he leaned on the telescope's mount. "I'm not surprised you forced your way back in here. After all, it's a marvellous house."

"With a marvellous ghost." Carolyn stood her ground.

"And you're in so deep. First and last month's rent. All that money wasted." Daniel looked mournful, but Carolyn wasn't fooled.

"That's no concern of yours…" she replied, loftily. She walked away and picked up her bags, before walking to the door.

"I'll admit, the house is a bit run down, but it can be fixed."

Carolyn ignored him. She was determined to leave.

"And it's ideal for the children," Daniel continued.

"Those are my words," Carolyn accused hotly, turning back from the doorway. "You don't want us to leave, but you won't admit it."

She turned away, intending to leave the room again.

"You're afraid to stay, but you won't admit it," Daniel replied, softly.

Carolyn stopped. She turned back to face him, looking stricken.

Daniel relented. "Well, I suppose, since you're here, I might as well let you spend the night."

Carolyn couldn't believe what she was hearing. She walked back towards him and dropped her cases. "I don't need your permission. I have a lease."

"Quite. Well, um, I'll keep watch on the bridge. Right above our room." He looked very pleased with himself.

"Our room?" Carolyn gasped, staring at him in astonishment. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Well, it was my room at one time – No need to blush, Madam. After all, I'm only a spirit, remember?" the captain reminded her smoothly.

"But, I see you…" Carolyn frowned.

"Only an illusion. Now you see me – now you…"

He clicked his fingers, and he was gone. Carolyn turned slowly, startled and annoyed.

"You come back here!"

"As you wish." Captain Gregg materialized behind her.

Carolyn turned, as she squared her shoulders. "I won't agree to stay unless I'm completely free to go…"

Daniel watched her with sympathy. "M'dear, when you really want to go, I won't be able to stop you…"

"You stopped me this time." Carolyn stared at him, wide-eyed with disbelief.

Daniel leaned closer, watching her with rich amusement in his blue eyes. "Did I? Did I?" he questioned, softly.

Abruptly, Carolyn realised that she could find no answer to such a bold accusation. She frowned, nonplussed. She couldn't think of anything else to say.

They both stood still, staring at each other, at a total impasse. The only sound in the room was the ticking of the clock on the bedside table, and the soft echo of the children's laughter, floating up the stairs...

※※※※※

Ten minutes later, Carolyn returned downstairs, without any resolution to her issues. She was aware they could not stay, but neither could they leave, tonight. Not in a car that refused to start.

The captain was no help at all. He'd simply left her to her thoughts, dematerializing before her eyes, with a knowing look.

"Men..." Carolyn sighed, shaking her head.

She occupied herself with getting the children washed up and changed, before putting them to bed. But, all too soon, that simple task was done.

She walked down the stairs, checking that the front door was now securely locked and bolted. It gave her an odd sense of security that she couldn't fathom. She was aware that a locked and bolted door was no barrier to a determined ghost!

She grimaced at her folly. Intent on avoiding going up to her room again, she spent time in the kitchen, sharing several cups of hot chocolate and a plate of sandwiches with Martha. Eventually, the clock in the foyer chimed the hour of midnight.

"I'm bushed." Martha smothered a yawn. "I don't know about you, but I'm for my bed. No doubt we will be up and out of here, early enough," she said, with real regret in her voice. "Shame, though. I was just getting the hang of this place. It is a charming house." She got up and washed the two cups, before up-ending them on the draining board.

She crossed the kitchen, pausing in the doorway to look back at her employer. "Turn the lights out after you, okay?"

"All right." Carolyn nodded.

She was left alone in the warm kitchen. The shadows seemed to move and whisper to her. She couldn't decide if they were occupied or not.

"Now, you're imagining things that aren't really there," she decided crossly. "He isn't in here, either." She sighed. "I don't know what to do, for the best..."

A gentle draft appeared from nowhere, to caress the back of her neck. It almost felt like fingers, drifting caressingly across her skin. Carolyn started badly. She was sure she heard a virile, masculine chuckle, mocking her indecision.

"Stop doing that!" she commanded the shadows. "Go away, and leave me alone! I will not be toyed with for your amusement!"

Frustrated and on edge, she got up and left the kitchen. Pausing in the foyer, she looked into the living room. The fire had died down, but it still glowed warmly.

The room looked so inviting, but she wasn't tempted to enter. Above the fireplace, the captain's portrait seemed to be watching her, and she could have sworn it smiled at her.

"Good night, Captain." She saluted the painting stiffly. "I don't think we'll be seeing each other, in the morning. I've made up my mind that we'll be gone first thing. So you won't have to put up with us cluttering up your house, and disturbing your peace, for much longer. I hope you're satisfied?"

Hearing her voice, Scruffy got up from his self-appointed place before the fire and stretched. Yawning and wagging his tail, the dog trotted to her side.

"Hi, Scruffy," Carolyn greeted him, reaching down to rub behind his ears.

Oddly, now that she had made the hard-won decision, she felt like crying. What is wrong with me, tonight?

Scruffy rubbed against her hand. His open and cheerful face calmed her ragged nerves.

Carolyn stroked her hand along his back before straightening. "Shall we go up the stairs, and beard the dreaded dragon in his own den?"

The dog barked his approval, taking the stairs at a run. Carolyn followed at a much slower pace.

Entering the bedroom, she found it unoccupied. Somehow she wasn't surprised to see the bedside light on and the covers neatly folded back. She could admit she was suddenly feeling very tired.

She walked across the room to stand irresolute at the side of the bed. "All that's missing is a long-stemmed red rose," she addressed the empty room, in a mocking tone. But it remained stubbornly silent.

She immediately regretted her words. She knew she was being unkind. "I know my decision is for the best…" she murmured. "And you do, too. If you'll only admit it." It didn't make her feel any better. "I doubt you'll miss us, once we're gone. You said you never wanted us coming here in the first place."

Scruffy curled up on the mat beside the bed. He had no trouble falling asleep and was soon snoring, softly. Carolyn envied the dog his total lack of concern.

"I trust you've also retired to bed. Or wherever it is that you haunt at night..." She checked the room again, for any sign of movement, before she made ready for bed.

She was just about to get beneath the covers, when she heard the Captain's voice, further down the hall. He was in the children's room! Drawn by intense curiosity, she pulled on her dressing gown, before creeping out of the bedroom and tiptoeing along the hall…

※※※※※

While Carolyn had been deciding what to do for the best, Daniel had been pacing the Widow's Walk restlessly, making and rejecting each and every decision. He'd come no closer to any kind of answer. He felt so unlike his usual self. He was usually a man of such sound decision.

Why couldn't he decide something that seemed so simple? He wanted them gone. Mrs Muir was more than willing to leave. Without the family beneath his roof, constantly getting underfoot and distracting him, his life would go back to how it had always been. Blessedly peaceful and serene.

"That's it!" He'd finally thrown up his hands. "They've evicted me from the sweet enjoyment of my own house!" He shook his head.

"Blast!" His hands had clasped tight on the railing. "Blast and confound the woman! Why does she plague me so?" He'd frowned up at the moon, before dropping down through the roof to enter the children's room.

Candy and Jonathan were sound asleep in their beds. Beautiful lullaby music, with a feeling of the sea, filled the room. Daniel stood looking at each child in turn.

He sat down gently on the end of Candy's bed to watch them sleep. He sighed, as he came to a new and different decision that strangely felt right. He didn't stop to question the feeling of contentment it gave him.

He began to speak, his voice gentle, even tender. "When you wake, you won't think of me as anything unusual. And you won't be frightened. In fact, you'll find me quite likeable. I was considered a very amusing fellow, in my time…"

He became aware he was being observed. He got up and turned to find Carolyn standing in the open doorway, watching him.

"You know, I could almost believe that..." she said, softly. She smiled at him tenderly.

He couldn't prevent answering her smile with one of his own. It banished the wary and confused look in his eyes.

"You finally smiled," Carolyn gasped. "For the first time, you smiled at me."

"Madam, I find you witty, charming and beautiful…" Daniel began.

"Thank you, sir." She nodded in smiling acceptance.

Daniel's smile vanished as if it had never been. "I also find you indecisive, careless, and inquisitive."

Carolyn's expression reflected her astonishment. "I beg your pardon?"

"Moving in and out of my house, leaving lights burning, and eavesdropping!"

"Eavesdropping?"

"Remember, you're here on trial. I suggest you trim your sails. Good night, Madam!" He vanished, immediately.

"Good night!" Carolyn closed the door, then opened it again. "Sir…" she said, to the darkness of the room.

※※※※※

Returning to her bedroom, she frowned around the room. "Careless and inquisitive, indeed!"

She appeared to be alone. Not that the idea gave her any comfort.

She turned to lock the door behind her. A futile gesture that made her feel a small amount of comfort. Knowing I can keep things out makes me feel secure. When did that start being so true? Was it after my husband died? Or before?

She sighed, as she took off her dressing gown, before slipping beneath the covers and laying down. The bed seemed to welcome her in a warm and comforting embrace.

She tried to stifle a yawn, as she reached to turn out the bedside light. The room settled into multi-layered patterns of darkness and shadow. She could hear the wind in the trees outside. It almost sounded like a lullaby. She felt soothed, even as she sighed deeply, feeling worn out by the tumultuous events of the day.

The sound of the wind, the distant ocean… Peace. In its way, it's so peaceful, here. So beautiful, here. Am I now questioning my own decision? Surely it was better to leave Gull Cottage, and all its frustrating confusion, far behind?

Have I made the right choice? There was no true answer to any of it. "Blast," she declared, without heat.

As she fought to understand the way ahead, her eyelids began to drift shut. She tried to keep them open, to watch the shadowed room, but a deep sense of lethargy suddenly overcame her, and she was asleep almost in an instant.

In that same moment, the shadows began to change and move. The curtained windows opened slowly, and the telescope swivelled to look outwards at the dark waters of the bay.

Daniel appeared silently, beside the bed. His expression was pensive and filled with undefinable longing.

He stared down at Carolyn, sleeping so peacefully. In a fleeting moment of weakness, he wished he could join her, hold her close in the darkness, and keep her safe for all eternity. Make her his own, even as he tried to fathom the strength of the strange appeal she held for him.

"I never once allowed a woman on board my ship," he began slowly. "But, if I'd known you a hundred years ago, I would've carried you off to sea, and shown you how beautiful the world can be. I'd have met my match in you. Lord knows, I waited for you and hunted for you. How was I to know you hadn't even been born yet?" His tone held real regret.

Curled on the mat beside the bed, Scruffy raised his head, staring quizzically up at him. In the bed, Carolyn smiled, as she snuggled deeper into the covers.

Captain Gregg recovered himself, and he chuckled wryly. "Oh, ho, you won't remember any of this when you wake up, Madam. You shan't have that advantage over me. How sad, that you were not born in my time. Nor I, in yours…"

He turned away sadly, walking slowly out of the room, through the closed door. He materialized again on the Widow's Walk above the house. He stared up at the uncaring moon.

A woman on board my ship at last! And with children in tow, no less! I've been boarded, out-flanked and out-gunned! And damn me if I know what to do about it, exactly.

"Blast..." he said, with feeling.

He resumed his pacing, back and forth, keeping watch over the house, and its sleeping occupants, throughout the remainder of the night…

※※※※※

"A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back or from which to look ahead…"

Graham Greene