CHAPTER 3

He hadn't heard her call his name as he closed the front door behind him. Candy and Jonathan, the grandparents, Martha and Scruffy were all still abuzz, all talking at once, knocking snow free from boots and shoes and shirking off whatever winter wear they had on at the moment. Daniel's beard was mostly snow covered and his dark blue pullover sweater with the emblem of the British Naval Command was also coated with white. Then he looked around expectantly and finally saw her midway down the stairs, staring at him. Carolyn's facial expression telegraphed all the emotions she was feeling; surprise, relief and speechless joy. His eyes locked onto hers.

Carolyn would later have no memory of how she launched her body down the few remaining steps and ended up in his arms. Daniel held her tightly, tenderly and buried his face into her hair. He looked up briefly and he saw the curious stares of Brad and Emily Williams. He freed his right arm and reached out a hand to Brad, "I don't believe we've met, sir. I'm Daniel Gregg." Mr. Williams accepted the greeting robotically, not knowing yet what to make of the flurry of activity and the reactions of his daughter and grandchildren to this man's arrival. Daniel offered the same greeting to Emily. The woman smiled graciously; her own heart warmed by Carolyn's emotional response to Daniel Gregg's appearance.

Carolyn Muir's shock gradually waned and realization overtook her. She became aware she could feel Daniel's embrace, she moved her hands over his chest not believing her own sense of touch. "Daniel…you're really here…" she murmured in a daze.

The Captain quickly hugged her tighter and silenced her with lips against her ear to whisper so only she could hear, "Ssh, love—don't say anything. I'll explain as much as I can later." He pulled away with a regretful smile. He reached for his pea coat and began buttoning it up. "I'm afraid I'll have to leave you again-" Carolyn's panic was instantaneous, she reached out for him again as Martha and the children protested with squalls of disbelief. "Calm down, all. I can't leave the supplies stranded in the middle of the road to be buried in a snowdrift and then blasted to kingdom come when that beast of a snowplow makes it up our road—if in fact it ever does. Turn me loose," he smiled fondly at all of them.

"Supplies?" Brad questions.

"Provisions to feed my crew," the Captain clarified. He briefly explained what he had been doing when Candy and Jonathan spotted him and came running out of the house.

Emily wasted no time and turned to her husband. "Bradley, put your coat on and help the man."

"I can help, too!" Jonathan declared.

Daniel put his hand on Jonathan's head and gently mussed the boy's hair. "You just stand by, mate, we'll need your help carrying supplies into the galley."

Emily was immediately impressed by Carolyn's beau. "He's very…nautical…isn't he?"

Carolyn was still stunned by events. He's home, I can touch him, he's home. She nodded in response to her mother's question and then watched anxiously as the two men ventured back into the stormy weather. Daniel readjusted his shoulder harness and resumed tugging the sled up the remaining portion of the trail while Brad Williams pushed from behind. In less than 20 minutes they had the load positioned near the entrance to Gull Cottage's stone wall and the flagstone walkway now buried under snow. Brad clumsily stepped up upon the porch, his glasses fogged over by the snow's moisture and his heavy breathing, stomping snow from his boots. The front door opened again. His daughter, grandchildren and wife were framed in the doorway. "Cold as a witch's—"

"Language, Brad, language!" his wife warned.

By this time the entire family had winterized with warm hats, gloves and jackets. Daniel wearily motioned with a wave of his hand. Sled to house. No further instructions were needed as they scurried back and forth, each loaded down with whatever they could carry. Soon the entire kitchen table, counters and half of the floor were laden with food to last the family at least two weeks if not longer. "It's the proverbial feeding of the 5000!" rejoiced Martha as she clapped her hands in glee.

Emily Williams drifted unnoticed across the entry hall and into the front parlor. She walked directly to the portrait of Captain Daniel Gregg, stood staring for a long moment and then looked back towards the kitchen, wondering with a dozen questions ricocheting inside her mind.

Daniel slumped with exhaustion into a chair at the table, Scruffy immediately jumped up into his lap. "I see you noticed I brought your favorite tin of doggie biscuits, eh, ragamuffin?" He scratched the dog behind his ears affectionately, the terrier mix leaning into the Captain's touch.

Carolyn was still not quite believing what she was seeing and experiencing but she did take note Daniel was beginning to shiver, the adrenaline coursing through his veins slowing ebbing away. She placed her hands on his chest and shoulder. "You're soaking wet from the snow."

"Mostly sweat, I think. I was daft thinking I could pull that load up the hill." He ran a hand through his hair and Carolyn reacted instinctively, her fingers weaving a path through his beckoning curls as well.

"But you did it!" beamed Martha as she began unloading boxes.

Scruffy jumped down off his lap, but Candy and Jonathan immediately climbed up, each sitting on one of the Captain's knees, arms around his neck. Carolyn brought Daniel over a large glass of water, he accepted it gratefully, not realizing how thirsty he was. Carolyn smiled hesitantly and watched her children interact with the Captain. Neither of them had mentioned one word about their newfound ability to touch him. Finally, she reached down for his hand. "Off kids, the Captain is half frozen. He's got to get upstairs and into a hot bath."

"Darn tootin'!" her father agreed. "It's a miracle he hasn't gone into hypothermia pulling a stunt like that."

Daniel did not resist as Carolyn led him upstairs and into the main cabin. As soon as the door closed behind them Daniel wrapped his arms around her. He was chilled to the bone but was intent on savoring their first kiss. His blue eyes darkened with emotion as he lowered his head. Carolyn closed her eyes as their lips came together. Her arms circled his neck, her fingers weaving through the reddish-brown curls at his neck. Reluctantly he moved his mouth to her cheek and breathed in deeply after a long moment of tender bliss. His heart was pounding in his chest. She lovingly stroked his bearded face. "Soft. Somehow I knew it would feel soft."

"I'm glad you approve," he chuckled briefly. "The beard came in handy today."

"Yes," she nodded but soon her motherly instincts pushed to the forefront of her emotions. "But now it's time to get you out of those wet clothes before you catch your death of cold…," she stopped herself and gave him a questioning look. "Is that possible? You…dying…of cold?"

Daniel went over to the bed and collapsed onto the disheveled quilt and blankets. He turned his face against the softness and smiled gratefully. He inhaled deeply. It smelled of his Carolyn's sweet, delicate perfume. "Yes," he sighed wearily. "I'm afraid it is, well, pneumonia at any rate." He lay still in the comfort of the mattress and closed his eyes, weariness overwhelming his body. She knelt before him and gave a stout tug to first one of his boots and then the another. He smiled as a memory floated to the surface of his mind but made no comment. She gazed down at him and then stretched out beside him, one hand behind her head and the other on his chest, her fingers clutching reflexively against the heavy sweater's fabric.

"Daniel, how is it possible I am touching you? And why am I the only person who seems shocked that you can touch them?" She stammered and tears threatened, "Where have you been all this time? I thought I'd lost you."

He didn't answer her immediately but took the opportunity to run his fingers through her hair. "Like silk," he mumbled.

"Daniel?" she insisted.

He tiredly began to explain the unexplainable. "My death all those years ago was accidental, never meant to happen as it did. So, I was entitled to another chance at life and so I'm here, love."

She traced a finger down his cheek and across his lips. "It can't be that simple and why—"

He placed a gentle finger against her lips to silence her before he went on. "…as it happens in situations like mine…when a soul is separated from their body before its… scheduled departure date, let's say…if they so choose…after all who have known them on this plane of existence have crossed over…they may return to resume their existence to finish the natural course on Earth the soul was originally supposed to have. Most don't because all they have known and loved have joined them on the other side. But in my case," he stroked her face tenderly.

"I don't understand," she shook her head slowly.

"You are not intended to understand. These….matters…are beyond your comprehension and that's the way the heavenly universe works. Souls on this plane are in a kind of learning situation, a school with lessons to learn before they…graduate…and move on."

"To Heaven?"

"Yes" is the simplest explanation I can provide which you would understand." Her eyes searched his for more information. "Carolyn, when you were a small child…did you understand how electricity worked…or about radio waves?"

She shook her head, "No, of course not."

"Precisely, because you were too young to understand and you didn't need to know about such things. You had other more important lessons to learn. How to tie your shoes laces or learn your A, B, C's. It's the same with the Other Side, you are in school in this realm of existence to learn your A,B,C's. as it were. Don't worry about the rest."

"What about the kids and Martha? Why don't they question about your ability to touch?"

His body shook with another involuntary shiver and he sat up, running a hand across his beard. "A mind block was placed on them before I returned to you…this life." She sat up beside him and again silently demanded an explanation. He sighed deeply. "They remember completely the emotions and feelings they had-have for me. But their memories of me being a spirit have been replaced by a new narrative. Same with that twit Claymore. Your parents were more of a challenge, never having actually met me. I had to vacate their memories of Claymore masquerading as me."

"…and me? I remember all of our time together."

Again, he raised his hand to her hair. "No secrets for us, eh? I couldn't bring myself to have your memories altered in any way. We are who we are because of our past." His thumb moved to her cheek in a gentle caress. "Now," he stood and pulled his soggy sweater over his head and handed it to her, "I have so much more to share with you and all I've had to do these past months in order to get back to you… but that can all wait until later. You mentioned a hot bath? I'd loved that." He smiled as his hands rested on her shoulders, massaging gently. He too relished the ability to touch her.

Carolyn took his sweater and caught herself staring. His torso was covered with a sparse thicket of copper chest hair which trailed down to his navel, his stomach flat, he was lean and muscular. She stood momentarily mesmerized; her previous prurient curiosity now satisfied. His blue eyes shone with mirth. He could read her mind and she knew then he was doing just that. She took a step back and trained her eyes on his sweater. "You'll have to get into some dry clothes."

"Might be a problem, my rucksack with what little gear I had seems to have jumped ship."

"Not to worry, I think we can find you something to wear around here," a thought suddenly came to her. "As a matter a fact-," she strode to the door and opened it. "Kids! Come up here a minute!" She kept the door partially closed.

Candy and Jonathan soon appeared. "Yes, Mommy?"

"Listen you two. Jonathan, run up to the attic and find the Captain's dress uniform. It's in a garment bag in the chifforobe. Bring down the trousers, sweetie. Candy, hon, you start the hot water running in the tub and then sneak into Grandpa's drawer and borrow some socks for the Captain to wear. His feet are freezing."

"Mom, Martha says to tell you supper will be on the table in an hour or so. Is that okay?"

Inside the room Daniel overheard. "I'm starving."

Carolyn smiled and relayed the message but Candy had heard. "That's fine. Now scoot, you two!" They both took off on their missions. Carolyn stepped back inside. Daniel was seated on the bed pulling off his socks. "That should take care of most of your lower decks, now for your upper quarters." She placed her index finger to her lips and gave it some thought. "Oh! I know." She went to her closet and balanced on her tiptoes, stretching to reach something on the top shelf. Daniel watched in interest. She turned around with a wrapped Christmas present in her hands. "I got this for Dad but I can get him something else. This should fit you, might be a little baggy." She unceremoniously tore open the wrapping paper to reveal a blue soft cotton pullover cardigan. She lifted the sweater and with trembling fingers held it up against him. "I still can't believe this is all happening." She released a self-conscious, nervous laugh.

Daniel gifted her with a tender smile. He took the sweater and then wrapped an arm around her, pulling her body against his. "I am home m'dear. I'm home to stay…that is..if you'll have me?"

Carolyn merely tilted her head and leaned in eagerly for his kiss. "You just try to get away from me, dear Captain, and see what happens."

Neither one of them noticed the bedroom door creak open and Candy and Jonathan's wide-eyed stares. A bare-chested Captain Gregg was hugging and kissing their mother! Jonathan gasped, "Wow!" and a startled and embarrassed Carolyn attempted to pull away from Daniel's embrace.

Daniel wasn't disturbed in the least and tightened his grip on her. "A wise man once said the best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. Clearly children, I do." Carolyn pushed him away firmly, her cheeks blushed red. She snatched the trousers from Jonathan's hands and the pair of socks her daughter was holding out. Then she grasped each child by their shoulders and spun them around. "Thank you, kids. Candy, make sure the tap is turned off in the tub. We don't need leaky floors to go along with the roof."

"Okay, Mom," she responded and then whispered to her brother out in the hallway. "Cool! That was better than seeing mommy kissing Santa Claus any 'ol day!"

"Yeah!" Jonathan agreed.

A flustered Mrs. Muir shoveled the clothes into Captain Gregg's hands as he chuckled, enjoying himself despite the chill which had taken hold of his body. Carolyn moved to stand behind him to give him a playful shove out the door and down the hall to the bathroom. She gasped when she saw angry red marks down his shoulder and back. "Daniel!" she exclaimed. "Oh, your back!" She traced her hand very lightly across the bruises.

He went to the mirror and twisted to look over his shoulder and shrugged in indifference. "It's the price I pay for being fully human again. Aches and pains come with the bargain, I'm afraid."

"I'll put some salve on it later for you. Go, get into the tub before the water cools."

He turned back to her to lean close once again and quickly pecked her cheek. "Yes dearest." A few moments later the tall mariner sank down into the old-fashioned claw foot tub and instantly felt relief as the hot water warmed his flesh and soothed his aching muscles. He rested his head back for a few moments and then opened them. On a small shelf by the tub were assorted bottles of shampoo, conditioner and one large bottle labeled "Mr. Bubbles". Intrigued, the Captain lifted the bottle, twisted open the lid and dumped a generous amount into the water. He let out some water from the tub and then started the tap again. Soon he was up to his bearded neck in his bubble bath. He sighed in contentment; second life was going to be wonderful!