CHAPTER 7

The first light of morning arrived too quickly for Captain Gregg. He drifted out of a dream and slowly became aware he was in an old but somehow new familiar place—the bed in his private quarters. His mind registered the sound of old pipes banging in the walls. The toilet down the hall had been flushed, he knew. The next sensation he became aware of was the presence of a comforting weight and warmth against his chest and shoulder. Her lingering fragrance graced his nostrils, Daniel knew he was reliving his happiest moments. Carolyn remained snuggled against him. His own body still hummed with low voltage current, sensations lingering from their lovemaking during the night. He was hesitant to move and break the drowsy spell it held on them both. Outside in the hallway he heard the heavy thud of feet on the hardwood floor and Brad Williams' morning sounds. Nose blowing, throat clearing. Gently and slowly as possible Daniel rolled away from his slumbering lady towards the edge of the great bed. He looked back at her sleeping, beautiful face and felt a rush of overwhelming love for the woman who had shared with him everything he cherished in this world and the next; her family, her love. He carefully leaned down to place his lips against hers in a feather soft kiss and then stood up and moved across the room to the small davenport. He quietly dressed in the new clothes she had chosen for him the day before and then stepped once again to look upon her. This was achingly familiar to him, so many nights he had stood in this same spot and gazed upon her peaceful face but could do nothing more, unable to touch, kiss or love her completely. Carolyn stirred only slightly, but the comforter slipped to reveal her bare shoulder and breast. Daniel reached down and adjusted the covering, a gentleman protecting the modesty of his sleeping beauty. He crept silently to the door and left her dreaming.

Martha Grant looked up with a smile when Daniel padded down the stairs and into the kitchen. "My! My! Don't you look sharp, Captain! Comfortable, too."

His response was modest as he looked down at himself. He was dressed in a blue Healey crewneck undershirt peaking out from below a tan rag wool V-neck sweater with charcoal colored corduroy slacks. He smoothed down the sweater with a sweep of his hands. "I'm fortunate Mrs. Muir has an eye for fashion."

"I'll say she does! I've seen some of her dry-cleaning bills. It's a wonder to me how she manages to fit everything into that bedroom closet and a set of bureau drawers!" she chuckled.

Brad Williams eyed Daniel over his morning cup of coffee as Martha disappeared down the cellar steps. "Captain Gregg—it's time you and I had a man to man talk."

The seaman knew the conversation was bound to happen with his future father-in-law. "At your service," he replied and busied himself making his morning pot of tea. "What would you like to discuss, sir?"

Brad cleared his throat; he had been pondering how to broach the subject and came to the conclusion to just use straight talk. "She may be a grown woman with two children to call her own but I am still Carolyn's father and I will continue to look after her welfare as long as I suck breath. Is that understood, Captain?"

"Aye, it is, sir."

"I need to know exactly what your intentions are as far as Carolyn and my grandchildren."

Daniel pinned Brad with his steely blue gaze. "To marry your daughter and help raise the children as my own. I love them all. I thought I had made that fact obvious."

Mr. Williams shifted uncomfortably in his chair, "That's all very commendable, Captain. Very fine and good…but tell me…where's all this money coming from you've been spending since you arrived? Groceries to last a month of Sundays, brand new car, Christmas gifts… retired navy pay must of gone way up since my service days." He took another gulp of coffee and waited for Daniel's response.

Daniel sat in a chair across the table from the man. "I can assure you Mr. Williams—"

"Call me Brad—or Dad—since you intend to marry my daughter," they both were distracted by the sound of something crashing down in the cellar. "Everything alright down there?!," Brad called out.

"Martha?!" Daniel made a move to stand up.

Her voice drifted up the stairs. "Fine! Fine! Just too much darn junk down here."

Daniel turned his attention back to the man across from him. "I can assure you, Brad, I am in a very comfortable financial situation. I will take care of my family's needs—now and in the future."

"Now tell me, Daniel, how you will manage to do that? Do you intend to take a job now that you've just retired?"

"I suppose I could if I wanted to but it isn't necessary. You see I have access to family funds which will keep Carolyn, myself and the children financially stable for the long term."

Brad leaned forward in his chair, "Oh?"

"Yes sir, the Greggs who came before me made wise investments. Unfortunately, my father couldn't touch the money but the bonds have now reached maturity. I could show you my portfolio if you don't trust what I'm telling you."

Brad Williams raised his hand to signify he believed what Daniel was saying. "No need. But when you say long term you mean what exactly?"

Daniel smiled, stood up and tended to his tea. "I mean Carolyn need not ever worry again about paying a household, hospital or college tuition bill." He looked at Brad Williams in the eye as he poured the hot water into a cup.

"So, my daughter need not continue working as a writer?"

"That is entirely up to Carolyn. You raised an independent, spirited daughter. The woman takes pride and enjoyment in her writing career. I'd be a fool to dictate to her what she can and cannot do. Believe me," he added with a chagrinned expression. "I have tried in the past and she nearly made me walk the plank. I learned my lesson." He chucked a bit and went on, "I will say she now has the freedom to choose what writing she does do; whether it is magazine articles or the great American novel. Whatever makes her happy is what I want."

Just then the men were interrupted by the sound of Martha coming up from the cellar and Jonathan and Candy roaring down the stairs. Martha held up the electric waffle iron in triumph. "Found the bugger," she announced. "Waffles in 20 minutes!" The kids came to a sliding halt at the kitchen entrance.

Jonathan wasn't thrilled. "Waffles? I want pancakes."

Candy plopped down beside Captain Gregg. "Same dif," she quipped. "Waffles hold the maple syrup better anyhow."

Daniel reached out to tousle the boy's hair. "We'll eat whatever our dear Martha prepares…and be thankful for it. Right, young sir?"

"Yes, Captain," the boy responded contritely.

Brad Williams drained the last of his coffee from the mug. Martha handed Jonathan a stack of plates. "Did you kids wash up?"

They had.

"Right, let's shake a leg. Candy sweetie, start pouring some milk and juice. Jonathan, set the table for breakfast, please." Martha was all business in her kitchen.

It wasn't long before Mrs. Williams and Carolyn joined the morning muster. "Good morning, all!" Emily said pleasantly. Carolyn added her own greeting as she slid her hand along Daniel's shoulders where he sat at the table. She moved directly to the coffee percolator. "Everyone sleep, okay?" Emily wondered.

"I think so," Carolyn's smile registered pleasure. "Waffles, Martha? Wonderful! For some reason I am starving this morning."

Martha cocked an eyebrow at this statement. Mrs. Muir was usually satisfied with a cup of coffee and a piece of toast and jam. But she was pleased her boss was in a cheerful mood and her appetite was on the uptick. "Must have been all that exercise you got.," she said aloud.

Carolyn flushed pink. Daniel sputtered into his tea cup. Brad and Emily shared a knowing gaze but said nothing. "Exercise?" Carolyn asked hesitantly.

"Why yes,", Martha replied. "You did walk all that way into town yesterday." She plopped a batch of waffles onto a serving platter. "Come and get 'em!"

"Oh yes, our walk," Carolyn said in chagrined relief. She took her coffee cup and found a place at the table. She smiled at Daniel as she sat down. "Those duds look very nice on you, dear Captain."

"I'm glad you approve, Mrs. Muir since you selected them." He gave her a little salute with his hand.

Candy piped up, "Are we going to get a Christmas tree today, Captain?"

"Yes, darling, we are," he assured the little girl. "Right after breakfast we'll head out on a new adventure."

"Adventure? I hope you two aren't biting off more than you can chew. Brad, are you sure you are in shape to go traipsing over hill and dale to cut down a tree from the wilderness? I wish you'd do the sensible thing and get a tree from town," Emily Williams said to her husband.

"Ha!" Brad spouted. "If I can walk into town, I can handle a dead tree. It won't put up much of a fight once I get an ax to it. The hardy members of this family will go on a great wild Christmas tree hunt for the perfect specimen. Right kids?"

"Right, Grandpa!"

Carolyn's mother was quick to take a pass on the road trip. "No thank you, slogging through the snowy woods is not my idea of fun. I'll stay here and find some other way to entertain myself."

"And I'm afraid I have some finishing touches to put on my magazine article that's due right after New Year's. I shouldn't go either," Carolyn admitted with regret. "The car keys are on the peg by the door, Dad." She popped a piece of waffle into her mouth and savored the syrup and butter covered pastry.

Her father took a sip of orange juice. Placing his glass down he jabbed his thumb in Daniel's direction. "Why don't we let Danny Boy here drive today? I bet you're itching to take the wheel, eh, Captain?"

Carolyn swallowed hard and waited for Daniel to reply to her father's offer.

His response was calm. "I'm afraid I cannot be of service in that department. I am not in the possession of a driver's license."

"How's that possible?" Brad frowned. "You're a grown man."

"Because he's a sailor," Emily reasoned.

Before Daniel could comment, Jonathan did it for him. "Grandma, Captain Gregg is an able-body SEAMAN, not a "sailor". Sailor is a landlubber's word. Pass the waffles, please."

Candy challenged her brother. "I thought you said you didn't like waffles?"

"I did not. I said I liked pancakes. 'Sides, I can change my mind, can't I?"

Their mother could see the direction the conversation was going to go between her son and daughter. "Alright you two. You aren't going anywhere until you finish your breakfast, make your beds and dress in warm clothing. Now eat up." She turned to her father and mother. "Daniel has spent a good portion of his life at sea. There was no need for him to learn how to drive. Isn't that right, Daniel?"

"Indeed, it is. When I was in port no matter where there was always public transport of some kind or I walked. I was never too far from my ship. Depending upon my…mission…often times I had military transport, a driver at my disposal."

Satisfied by the explanation Brad Williams helped himself to another waffle. "At any rate, listen to your mother kids. I suspect we'll have to get a tree harvest permit from the Forest Service headquarters, we'll have to call around. Did the phone ever get fixed?"

Martha was rinsing her mixing bowl in the sink and heard the question. "Why yes, it is. I called Ed yesterday afternoon. Phone was working just fine."

Breakfast ended with a clattering of dishes into the sink, Scruffy scratching at the back door to be let out and Daniel heading out to the garden shed to fetch a hand saw and hatchet. Carolyn escorted her brood out to the front porch to wish them happy hunting and safe travels. Her mother settled

herself in the family room and switched on the television while Carolyn took two stairs at a time up to the main cabin. Despite knowing her time in Gull Cottage was coming to end, she couldn't shake the shawl of pure happiness that surrounded her.