Carolyn, teary eyed at the effect their surprise had on Daniel, took his hand as they stood just inside the room.
"Merry Christmas, my love," she whispered.
"But . . . I don't understand . . ."
"Daniel, we all missed you very much and wanted to do something special to welcome you home. We didn't have enough notice to do it Friday . . . and there was that other issue that had to be dealt with," she smiled. "Yesterday, we didn't know if the other issue would stay for dinner or not, so we decided, regardless of what was going on today, we were going to celebrate the Christmas you missed."
"This is amazing. How did you accomplish this without me finding out?"
"We had a little help from a friend."
With that statement, the children and Martha filled him in.
"Mr. Peevey came up to the house yesterday morning, and we went out and got the tree," Jonathan told him.
"But, how did he know to come up?"
"He . . . ah . . . he just happened to stop by Friday, when you went to town to pick up the children," Martha explained.
Daniel raised an eyebrow and flashed a teasing smile, which caused her to blush.
"We'd picked out the tree already, and he helped us dig it up and wrap the root ball in burlap so we could replant it when we were finished," Candy added. "And then he helped us cut the greens for the other decorations."
"I still don't know how you had time to do it all."
"Oh, it didn't take as much time as you'd think," Martha commented. "We had a plan and worked on the decorations and food when you weren't here. Even though you have been here quite a bit the last two days, we still managed to get everything done."
"It helped that we hadn't put all the Christmas decorations away," Carolyn told him. "And that you didn't make an effort to come into the dining room."
"Thank goodness we could close the doors," the housekeeper added. "It didn't hurt that your attentions were otherwise occupied," she said with her own mischievous smile.
"But . . ."
"Captain, why don't we sit down to eat? We can tell you all about it over dinner," Martha prompted.
After a heartfelt prayer of thanks, the family ate a delicious meal of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, candied yams, and Martha's homemade cranberry sauce. The discussion included all the details of how Daniel's Christmas in June came about. He was truly touched and amazed that they would go through so much trouble for him.
"This is simply wonderful. I don't know what to say. Thank you doesn't seem to be enough," he told them honestly. "Where is Mr. Peevey, though? He should be here to enjoy the feast."
"No, this celebration is for the family only," Martha told him.
"Yeah, mom even told Uncle Claymore he couldn't come for dinner today," Jonathan said, smiling.
"Oh?" Daniel said turning to Carolyn.
"Well, that's not completely accurate. I ran into him, after we left Norrie's yesterday, and spoke with him while Blair went to bring the carriage around. When I explained we would be celebrating Christmas again – since you couldn't be with us in December – he decided he'd rather stay home."
Carolyn exchanged a look with Martha, that the seaman didn't miss, making him suspect there was more to the story.
The meal was delicious, and the family reveled in being together, doing something special for the man who was responsible for the previously unimaginable change in their lives. When dessert was finished, and table cleared, the children were anxious for the captain to open his gifts, but he insisted they all help Martha clean the kitchen first.
"It will be a much more enjoyable if, after the gifts have been opened, we know we can relax for the rest of the afternoon. Don't you agree?"
"Yes, sir," they replied half-heartedly.
XXXXX
Forty-five minutes later, the kitchen was cleaned to Martha's high standards. The children, anxious to continue celebrating 'Christmas in June,' grabbed the captain by the hand, to lead him back to the dining room, but were met with resistance. He explained that he had something to take care of first and would join them in a few minutes.
True to his word, just as the children and Scruffy had settled by the tree, the seaman returned, carrying several items wrapped in brown paper and four larger boxes.
"Oh boy!" the children responded when they saw all the packages.
"Daniel, what have you done?"
"My dear, I just picked up a few things for everyone while I was away," he said, placing them under the tree.
"You shouldn't have. We don't expect you to come home bearing gifts every time you sail."
"I know you don't; that's why it's such a joy to do so," he smiled. "I'd already planned to pass them out today. What better time than now? I don't want to be the only one opening gifts; it wouldn't seem right in such a festive room."
Candy and Jonathan shared a happy smile. Martha, who was sitting at the table, quietly watched the exchange and shook her head at the seaman's thoughtfulness and generosity toward this family. Carolyn walked up beside him, her eyes meeting his as she ran her hand affectionately down his arm and fought the urge to kiss him.
"Jonathan, why don't you hand out the gifts?" she suggested, trying to take her thoughts away from her desires.
"Before you do that, lad, hand out those big boxes first," Daniel suggested. "You'll find a name on each one. They're not fancy, but I think everyone will appreciate having them."
Doing as he was told; Jonathan gave the appropriate box to each member of the family, and they opened them together. Inside they each found an unusual looking pair of boots, and everyone looked at the seaman expectantly.
"I picked them up in Germany. They're called Wellingtons, although in England they refer to them as Wellies but, most importantly, they're waterproof," he smiled. "I thought they'd come in handy when there was work to be done outside or in the barn. They might even help when it snows."
"Nifty!" Jonathan exclaimed.
"Daniel, do we wear them with our regular shoes?"
"No, my dear, you just slip your feet in them and go. The sizes were a guess, so I hope they fit. If they're too big perhaps wearing an extra pair of socks would help."
"I've never seen anything like them," Martha commented eyeing hers. "What are they made of?"
"They were originally made of leather and popularized by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, back in the first part of the century. He was given a pair of Hessian boots and liked them so well, he instructed his shoemaker to modify the boot to his specific standards. The "Wellington" boot soon became a staple of practical footwear for the British aristocracy and middle class."
"But these aren't made of leather," she remarked.
"No, they're made of a product called rubber, which is made from a process called 'sulfur vulcanization,' invented by a man named Charles Goodyear. From what I've been told, it involves heating and removing the sulfur from rubber, a substance discovered in the Amazon rainforest of Peru. Goodyear used the process to manufacture rubber tires and, about fifteen years ago, a man named Hutchinson bought the patent to manufacture footwear. He started his business in France and, a few years later, introduced rubber to the Wellington boot. The new boots were first given to French farmers who had been wearing wooden clogs for generations. Working in wet fields, the clogs offered little to no protection from the mud, so the introduction of the "Wellington" boot was an instant success. Now they're a staple on farms and in cities around Europe."
"Martha, think of how much time we'll save not having to clean our shoes or the mud they track into the house."
"I think I'm going to insist they be taken on and off in the utility room. It will make my life a lot easier," she said smiling. "Thank you, Captain. I've never heard of them before, but these . . . what did you call them . . . Wellies? I think they may turn out to be one of the best gifts this family ever received," Martha marveled.
The others thanked him for the boots, but the children, while appreciating not having to clean their shoes after working outside or in the barn, were anxious to get to the remaining gifts.
Daniel didn't miss their eagerness to move along.
"Son, I think you can pass out some of the other gifts now."
He didn't have to be asked twice. Jonathan made beeline for the tree, picking up two gifts for the captain and handing them to him. One was a rolled-up sheet of paper with a ribbon tied in a bow, and the other was in a burlap bag tied at the top with a ribbon.
"Sir, these are from Candy and me."
"Should I open them now?"
"Yes, sir. We open the gifts one at a time, so everyone can see what they are," Candy explained.
"But I have two," he smiled.
He got down on the floor with Jonathan and was promptly joined by Candy and Scruffy. She sat right next to him, and the dog snuggled between them.
"Yes, sir. We already had our Christmas, so you have more gifts to open," the boy reasoned.
"I suppose that makes sense. I can't image what this can be," he said, picking up the burlap bag and taking in it's unusual shape.
"That's from me," the boy told him in an unusually dull voice.
Daniel opened the bag carefully to find a handmade, three masted, ship. He wasn't sure it would be seaworthy, but Jonathan had carved it out of a piece of driftwood and cut up a handkerchief to make the sails. It looked like he'd used his knife to bore holes to set the masts in, but they weren't deep enough; the masts were more than a little unsteady. The seaman smiled as he examined it.
"This is marvelous! Lad, did you make it yourself?"
"Yes, sir. The masts didn't turn out very yar, though."
"They're fine, son. You did an excellent job with the limited tools you have, and I like your sails; using a handkerchief shows real imagination, and your sewing is really coming along," he told him. "I like the ship very much but, if you're not satisfied with it, we can go down to the workshop later and fix the masts . . . but only if you want to."
"You mean you really like it?"
"Of course, I do. Jonathan, you've done a wonderful job in all aspects of the ship. I will treasure it, always, because you made it for me. Thank you."
"And you wouldn't mind showing me how to make the masts steadier?"
"Not at all. I find a job is always easier when you have the right tools."
"Oh, boy," he smiled happily, giving him a hug.
Daniel wrapped his arms around him and held him close. When the lad moved away, Daniel looked at Candy.
"So, what have we here?"
"I hope you like it."
"I'm sure I will. By the looks of it, I'd say it's a picture, and I can't wait to see what you've drawn."
As he reached for the ribbon to untie the bow, he glanced at Carolyn, who was sitting at the table watching. Taking the end, he pulled it ever so slowly until it came undone, and the ribbon fell to the floor. Watching him, her eyes got quite round as she realized he was teasing her. She could feel the blush rising to her face and brought her hand up to shield it from Martha. Giving him a look, indicating he should 'behave,' she watched him look away to keep from chuckling.
"Now, let's see what this is," he said smiling at Candy.
When he unrolled the paper, he found an excellent, detailed sketch of Gull Cottage. He spread his arms wide and opened it completely. The young artist had included the stone wall and gate, the front yard with the monkey puzzle tree, all the other shrubbery, and the house itself. The front steps included the sentinel lions, with a dog, who bore an amazing resemblance to Scruffy, resting between the front legs of one, as if guarding the house right along with them. The front door was the focal point of the porch. To the left, she'd drawn how the house jutted out because of the window seat in the living room and, to the right, the inset kitchen window. If he wasn't mistaken, a middle-aged woman was looking out the window. On the balcony, the ship's wheel stood proud with the French doors behind it. Over at the nursery, she'd captured two children looking out the windows. Finally, on the widow's walk, the figure of a woman was standing at the rail, steadfastly facing the sea.
For a moment, he didn't have words. His eyes fell upon the young girl beside him as she looked up at him, eager for his response. He put his arm around her and pulled her to him.
"My girl, this is the best drawing of Gull Cottage I've ever seen. You are truly an artist and have captured what no one else ever has."
"What's that?"
"You've brought it to life."
"Huh?"
"My darling girl, by including all the members of the family, you have shown what I've always wanted for this house. You've made it a home."
Candy smiled as if she'd won a prize and hugged the seaman happily. Looking over her head Daniel noticed Carolyn and Martha, doing a good show of keeping a stiff upper lip.
"Have you all seen this?"
"I saw it when she first started," Jonathan answered. "She had to show me; we share a room."
"Martha and I haven't," Carolyn replied. "This was something Candy wanted to do on her own."
"Oh, you must see it. It's absolutely marvelous."
Daniel took it over to the table and spread it out for everyone to admire. After the women marveled at the picture, and Candy's cleverness at including everyone, Jonathan spoke up.
"You left someone out."
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did. You left someone out."
"Who?" she asked puzzled.
"The captain!"
"No, I didn't."
Everyone glanced at the picture one more time.
"I don't see him," her brother finally replied.
Candy smiled and walked around to the other side of the captain and tapped on his left hand. When he lifted it, underneath was the figure of a seaman in his uniform and cap, carrying his duffle bag over his shoulder.
"Well, I'll be. I didn't even notice that. I must have had my hand over him the whole time."
"Sweetie, you did a wonderful job, and, with the captain in the picture, you really did make Gull Cottage a home," Carolyn sighed.
"Yeah, and we're a family," Jonathan added.
"A family just like Revered Farley talked about in church this morning. We may not share a name, but we love each other," Candy stated.
"Children, I couldn't have said it better myself," Daniel said softly as Carolyn moved next to him. "Now, I think it's time for someone else to open a present; don't you?"
Jonathan handed out a few more gifts; one each for his mom, Martha, Candy, the captain and himself, leaving only one package under the tree.
Candy's gift was a copy of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It had been published in England several years earlier and included forty-two illustrations by John Tenniel. The book was already available in the United States, but those printings didn't contain the same superb artwork. Candy knew Alice's story and was thrilled to have her own copy with the beautiful illustrations. She recognized it was a book to be treasured and thanked the captain with another hug and kiss on the cheek.
Martha smiled when she opened the wrapping on her gift to find a small cookbook of favorite English dishes. It just happened to be bookmarked at a recipe for Cornish pasties. The bookmark, itself was also a gift. It was made of silver, shaped like a shepherd's staff and had a musical note at the end of the hook.
"Thank you, Captain. This will ensure I get those pasties right for everyone. I know Claymore will be especially pleased. The bookmark is too much, though. You shouldn't have."
"Let's not start that, Martha. I do admit to having ulterior motives with the cookbook . . . but I found the bookmark first and needed something to go with it. I do hope you like it."
"I do. Thank you."
Daniel nodded and looked to Jonathan.
"Son, I believe it's your turn."
Jonathan made short work of the wrapping and uncovered a small, brass sextant.
"For me?!"
"Of course, for you."
"Will you show me how to use it?"
"Yes, but you have to remember it's not a toy. A sextant is a necessary tool for any seaman, and it's important you understand how it works."
"What does it do?" Candy asked.
"It's a seaman's most essential instrument for celestial navigation. It was invented in the last century by British mathematical instrument makers to allow mariners to find their position much better than we can without it. It's used to find the angle of a celestial body above the horizon, which is often referred to as 'shooting the sun.'"
"How does it do that?" Jonathan wondered aloud.
Daniel chuckled.
"It's not magic, and it's not complicated. It measures the angle between two objects by making use of these two mirrors," he said pointing them out. "With this sextant, one of the mirrors is half-silvered and allows some light to pass through. In navigating, you look at the horizon through this one, and the other mirror is attached to this movable arm. Light from an object, let's say the sun, reflects off this mirror. The arm can be moved to a position where the sun's reflection off the mirror also reflects off the other mirror and through the eyepiece. What you see when this happens is one object, in our example the sun, is superimposed on the other, usually the horizon. The angle between the two objects is then read off the scale. It's amazingly accurate and can measure an angle with precision to the nearest ten seconds."
"Wow!" both children exclaimed.
The captain smiled, realizing they had no idea what he was talking about, but appreciated their enthusiasm.
"Your mother tells me you're both very good at arithmetic. That's marvelous; it will not only help you with the sextant but also throughout life."
Their mother smiled at the subtle suggestion about mathematics being useful.
"Now, I believe there's one more package to be opened," Daniel remarked, looking at Carolyn so she'd open her gift.
"No, Captain there are three presents that still need to be opened," Carolyn reminded him. "I think you should open the next one."
"If you insist, Madam," Daniel smiled. "But you will open the next."
She smiled as she nodded.
The seaman took a seat at the table with the ladies, and Jonathan handed him his gift. It was from Martha and, holding it in his hands, he noticed whatever was inside was soft but substantial. The seaman looked at her with a puzzled expression that was met with a slight shrug. Inside, he found a natural wool jumper. It was a shawl collar cardigan that reminded him of jumpers he was familiar with from Ireland. His pap had one in a similar pattern that was upstairs somewhere in an old sea chest.
"Martha, did you make this?" he asked in disbelief.
"I did, but I had a lot of help."
Daniel looked at Carolyn, assuming she had assisted her, but she shook her head.
"I don't understand; help from whom?"
The ladies shared a smile and Martha nodded to the younger woman to give the background.
"I've been writing to Johanna Callahan since the families left Schooner Bay last fall . . . By the way, you'll be happy to know she and John had a healthy baby boy in February and named him Liam, after his grandfather. Anyway, in one of her first letters, after they'd returned home, Johanna wrote about a jumper she had started for Paddy. In my reply, I mentioned that Martha enjoyed knitting and, before we knew it, she and Johanna were writing to one another too," Carolyn explained. She looked back to her friend, who took up the story.
"Johanna had questions about a few household concerns, so I shared tips on cooking, cleaning, and other things, and she wrote to me about the progress she was making on the jumper. I'd never undertaken a project quite like that and must have asked more questions than I realized," Martha went on. "One day, along with her letter, a rather large package arrived from Ireland. Johanna had sent me everything I needed to make a jumper for you. She included instructions on how to do the different patterns, including the pattern of your mother's clan, and even the wool to make it."
"This is Irish wool?"
"To be specific, it's Aran wool."
Daniel didn't know what to say and, unconsciously ran his hand over the soft wool. He was familiar with Ireland's Aran islands off the country's West coast. They were at the mouth of Galway Bay, about nine miles into the Atlantic. It was a wild and wintery place with no trees and few shelter places, a land completely at the mercy of the unrelenting Atlantic. Most of the island's inhabitants were either farmers or fishermen. According to his family history, which had been handed down from generation to generation, his Keane ancestors were fisherman in Kilronan at one time. Somehow or other, one of his greats – he couldn't remember just how far back – left the islands and eventually ended up in Cork, which is where most of his mother's family remained.
"My dear Martha, I can't believe you made this for me. It must have taken a tremendous amount of time," he said, awed by the effort, kindness and love that went into such a gift. "I know a little bit about the patterns, but can you help me?"
As Martha got up to walk around to the captain, she and Mrs. Muir exchanged a glance. Carolyn knew such a gift would touch Daniel deeply, but Martha had no idea and was surprised at how interested he was.
"I recognize this," he pointed to a rope-like pattern that ran down both sides of the buttons. It's called a cable stitch isn't it? I only remember because it represents fisherman's ropes."
"That's right, and this one next to it is the honeycomb stitch, representing both hard work and its rewards," she told him.
"This diamond stitch on the sleeve is familiar, but I can't remember what it symbolizes."
"It's said to resemble the shape of the fishermen's nets, and is the symbol for wealth and success," Martha prompted his memory.
"That's right."
"And this basket weave stitch, on the underside of the sleeve, symbolizes the fisherman's basket and an omen of a good catch."
"What do these stitches mean?" he puzzled, pointing to the pattern along the bottom of the jumper."
"Those, my dear Captain, are zig zag stitches. I've been told they're also known as 'marriage lines' and represent the typical highs and lows of married life," Martha said, giving both Daniel and Carolyn a pointed look.
By this time, the children had come over to examine the jumper. They'd seen Martha working on it but didn't pay much attention unless she was fussing at herself for messing up a stitch.
"Wow! This turned out great!" Candy said, running her hand over the soft wool.
"Yeah, it's nifty," Jonathan added.
"Martha, I don't know how to thank you. You really shouldn't have; it's too much," he said, hugging her.
"Now, Captain, stop that right now. You already know the materials didn't cost me anything. It only took my time, and I am more than happy to give that up for you," she said. "If it will make you feel better, consider it a gift from me, the Gallahers, and the Callahans."
He didn't know what to say and just looked at her gratefully. Martha, feeling she was going to get misty eyed, pulled herself together and used a 'take charge' tone with him.
"Before you get too excited, we should see how it fits. Take off your coat," she ordered.
Smiling, Daniel started taking off his jacket, only to find Carolyn behind him waiting to take it. She put it over the back of the chair and did the same with his vest.
Martha undid the jumper buttons and held it for him to put on. When he did, it was a perfect fit. The sleeves were just right; the length was perfect. The jumper even had pockets.
"How? How did you manage to make it the right size?" he asked, utterly bewildered.
"Well, a certain someone told me you left your dress uniform here. I used that to get your measurements."
"Martha, you are truly a wonder. Thank you. I will treasure it always," he said, giving her another hug, and a kiss on the cheek.
"It really is beautiful. Martha, I don't know how you taught yourself how to do those patterns with just written instructions," Carolyn said, taking advantage of the wool's softness to caress Daniel without raising suspicions.
"Johanna provided very detailed instructions, even drawing diagrams for me and, I suppose, it helped that I already knew how to knit."
". . . And knit very well," her friend added.
"It would have gone faster if I could have seen her do some of the stitches, but once I got the hang of it, it wasn't difficult. She sent me instructions on how to do other stitches too, but the patterns on your jumper are specific to your mother's clan."
"How did she find the right one?"
"She sent John and Liam in search of your relatives, and, as it turned out, it wasn't that difficult. It seems Liam's cousin's daughter is married to a cousin of yours. Do you know a Michael Keane?"
The seaman chuckled.
"There are several in the family; I wonder which branch he belongs to?" he pondered.
"That, I couldn't tell you, but the young man asked his parent's if you were related, and there you are," she said, pointing to the jumper.
Daniel's smile lit up his face as he looked down at the gift she'd made for him.
"I'm so glad Johanna was able to find your family's pattern. It fascinates me the way each stitch carries its own unique meaning," Martha commented. "It's really a history of the people who lived on those islands so many years ago."
"The next time I sail to Ireland, I'll have to take this with me so I can show the family," Daniel said, smiling. "And I will have to find a way to thank the Callahans and Gallaghers for all they did to help you make it."
"I hope we get to see them again someday," Carolyn remarked. "They're such lovely people."
"We'll make sure we do. It's not as though we don't have the means to get there or bring them across the Atlantic to visit us," he replied. "Actually, I'd like to take all of you to Ireland; I know Mam's family would like to meet you," Daniel said quietly, looking at Carolyn.
"I'd like that very much," she replied softly.
Martha watched the couple slip into another of their longing gazes and coughed to remind them they weren't alone.
Startled, the couple pulled their eyes from one another reluctantly, and Daniel handed Carolyn the gift he'd brought home for her.
"My dear, I believe this is yours."
"Thank you, Daniel."
The package was small but had some weight to it.
Inside was a small, oval shaped, sterling silver box with a hinged lid. The top and sides were decorated with a pastoral scene.
"This is lovely, Daniel. Thank you."
"You're welcome, my dear. Open it."
Inside, wrapped in a soft cloth, she found a hand painted porcelain medallion. It looked very old, as the painted scene depicted was of a couple dressed in clothing from the previous century. Looking up at him, she smiled, shaking her head.
"Daniel, you shouldn't have spent so much money on us."
"If not for our family, my love, then for whom?"
"But . . ."
"No, buts. These gifts are a token of my love and affection for all of you. Etiquette dictates that you accept them and not argue with the gift giver," he scolded teasingly.
Knowing better than to disagree with him, she smiled.
"Thank you, Daniel. They're both lovely."
"That's better," he smiled.
"Mrs. Muir, may I see them?" Martha asked.
"Of course," she said handing them to her friend.
"Captain, these look very old. Where did you find them?"
"I picked them up in Germany."
"Well, they are lovely. You have a good eye."
Daniel's eyes rested on Carolyn.
"Thank you, Martha. I couldn't agree more."
Carolyn didn't miss his gaze, and her face turned a lovely shade of pink.
"Oh, brother," the older woman signed, causing the couple to chuckle. "All right, there's one more gift waiting to be opened, and I believe it's yours, sir. Jonathan, please bring it over here to the captain."
"Yes, ma'am."
As he was carrying the package over, Carolyn realized that, in the rush to get everything ready, she'd brought the wrong gift down from her bedroom.
"Oh! Jonathan, please bring that to me."
The boy did as he was told and brought the gift over to his mom. As soon as he handed it to her, she excused herself and quickly left the room.
Everyone exchanged a puzzled expression at her abrupt departure. Not knowing what else to do, Martha engaged everyone in the story of making the jumper to keep them occupied.
"Captain, I thoroughly enjoyed making this for you," she said running her hand over his sleeve. "I'll admit it was a challenge, but when I look at the finished product, I'm very proud of myself."
"As you should be, Martha. This is marvelous; it's a work of art."
"Thank you. It's funny you say that, though. Johanna was a wealth of information when it came to the history of knitting jumpers like this. She wrote me that many of the stitches I would be using are reflective of Celtic art, and that the patterns resemble those found in ancient burial sites in a place called Newgrange."
"Aye, Newgrange is in County Meath, which is about thirty-five miles north of Dublin. They have ancient burials ground there that are thousands of years old."
"Wow!" Candy and Jonathan exclaimed.
"Children, you might find it interesting to explore those sites. The stones there are a good deal older than what we have in the church yard."
"Could we?!" Jonathan asked.
"I don't see why not. One day, I would very much like to take you all to Ireland."
"Oh, boy!" they both exclaimed.
Carolyn stepped into the room just as the children were settling down.
"It seems I've missed something."
"The captain wants to take us to Ireland to see a really old cemetery," Candy told her.
Her mother looked at Daniel with a puzzled expression.
"We were talking about ancient burial sites in Ireland," he said smiling.
She still looked unsure, so he clarified.
"Martha was telling us about the patterns on my jumper, and how they are similar to Celtic art found at ancient burial sites in Newgrange . . . it's in County Meath . . . north of Dublin."
"Ahh!" she said. "That helps . . . I think."
"I'll explain later."
Carolyn smiled and handed him a small package.
"Merry Christmas, Daniel."
"Thank you, my dear. I wonder who it could be from?" he teased.
Upon opening his gift, he found a lined, black tapestry waistcoat, and a burgundy tapestry tie with a pearl stud holding the items together. He held them up to get a better look.
"Did you make these?"
"Is it that obvious?"
"No, that's just it, they're both wonderful and the stud is something I can use with other ties. My dear, I knew you could sew, but I didn't know how good you really were. I suppose I should have realized it when I saw Candy's new dress this morning.
"This waistcoat and tie are as good as anything I've ever had made by a tailor. Thank you, my love; I will wear them proudly," he said, putting his arm around her waist and kissing her hair.
"I'm so glad you like them. It's been a long time since I made anything like that," she replied, tears pooling in her eyes, despite her smile.
Her response was not missed by Daniel, and Martha was quick to pick up on her emotional reaction too.
"Kids, why don't you help me clean up this paper, and we'll take it out to the kitchen?" she suggested.
Carolyn blinked her eyes a few times, and she and Daniel helped with the cleanup. Once the others left the room, he took her in his arms and held her close.
"That's not the response I expect to see when I show my appreciation for such a thoughtful gift."
"Oh, don't mind me. I'm just being typically female," she said, smiling up at him.
"Really, my love, is something wrong?"
"Oh, nothing is wrong . . . everything is perfect . . . Well . . . almost perfect," she said, meeting his eyes briefly before lowering them, blushing.
"Please tell me what it is. I want to help if I can."
She pulled him to her for a kiss and smiled.
"I just can't believe my good fortune at having found you. You are always thoughtful and considerate toward all of us, and so generous with your praise. That's not something the children and I were used to," she explained. "Oh, my parents are always wonderful and encouraging – when they aren't taking over my life – but, after I married Robert, we didn't spend as much time with them as we should have. The only encouragement the children received on a regular basis was from Martha and me. We spent too many years in a situation that couldn't have been more different than the one we find ourselves in with you," she smiled even as tears threatened to spill onto her cheeks again. "After living through all of that, sometimes I still find it hard to believe this life is real."
"Carolyn, as much as I'd like to, I can't undo the harm that man did to you and the children," he said, using his handkerchief to gently wipe her tears. "But I will do everything possible to mitigate the affect he's had on all of you. I want to give you and the children the lives you should have had, and will have, once we're finally together. As for being generous with my praise, it's always well deserved. Even when Candy and Jonathan make something that is far from perfect, if they did their best, that's all that matters. I have found that encouragement will make most children want to do better, far more than criticism will."
"And how did you get to be such an expert on children?"
"My dear, you forget . . . I was a child once too," he said, kissing her nose. "That was the way Eliza and I were treated by both of our parents, and by Mam after Pap died. I think I turned out quite well," he teased.
She smiled up at him and was rewarded with a promising kiss that ended sooner than he'd intended when she pulled away unexpectedly.
"Daniel, you do know I don't need to be pampered like some women? I don't want you to treat me like a child. If you aren't pleased with something, you would tell me, wouldn't you?" she said, running her hands up his chest. "I want you to be honest with me . . . always, and I promise I won't hesitate to tell you when you're wrong."
Her remark had him fighting a smile.
"Madam, I am rarely wrong," he replied. "And while I can be generous with my praise, make no mistake, if I'm not happy, you'll know it . . . The whole house will know when I'm not happy," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "You seem to have forgotten; we had a few minor skirmishes before I left."
"We did, didn't we."
"Yes, and as a result, I know you are more than capable of standing your ground," he said running his hands gently up and down her back. "I do look forward to an occasional clash with you, though. Making up can bring untold pleasure to any disagreements we might have. Don't you agree?"
She gave him a brilliant smile and buried her head in his chest as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Captain?!" Jonathan called out from the hallway and ran into the room. "Can we go down to the workshop and fix the masts on your ship?"
XXXXX
The 'men' worked in the barn until they had satisfactorily stabilized the masts of the driftwood ship. Daniel introduced Jonathan to a gimlet, how it worked, and how to use it effectively. Grabbing a piece of wood from the scrap bucket, he had him practice using different sized gimlets, to learn how to drill a straight hole. When the lad was ready, the seaman led him through the process of boring holes in the ship's deck, at just the right depth.
The finished product pleased them both. The masts stood tall and steady, while the sails lay slack, waiting for a sea breeze to send them on their maiden voyage. Jonathan was excited at how well it turned out, but he was happiest to have had the captain to himself. He was equally pleased that the seaman trusted him to use his tools. Working with his hands, and being taught something new by his hero, was fun – not a chore – as his schoolwork was at times.
The 'women' kept themselves busy in the dining room, enjoying the Christmas tree and decorations. Scruffy, having had a treat of turkey, had been asleep under the tree for more than an hour. Candy had her nose in her new book and shared the beautiful illustrations every time she came to one. Martha was just as engrossed in her new cookbook, bookmarking recipes she wanted to try. Carolyn had her sewing in her lap and, as she let down Candy's hem, thoughts of Daniel's reaction to their June Christmas celebration made her smile. She was so pleased they were able to surprise him and let him know how important he was to all of them.
When Jonathan and the captain returned to the house, the children wanted to go for a walk on the beach, but dark clouds were rolling in, and the seaman warned that a storm was coming. Instead, he suggested a game of tag in the front yard.
"Are you going to play?" Candy asked the seaman.
"Of course!"
"Mom, do you want to play too?" Jonathan asked.
Daniel caught Carolyn's eye and raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, madam, won't you join us?" he smiled mischievously.
By the look on his face, she suspected he would take a great deal of pleasure in a game of tag that included her, and promptly came up with an excuse.
"I'm not really dressed for a game of tag," she said looking down at her Sunday best and good shoes.
"Aw, Mom!" the children whined as one.
"My dear, there's an easy remedy for that."
"Yeah! Just go change your shoes, Mom. We'll wait," Candy told her.
"Mrs. Muir, I really doubt the children and the captain are going to be knocking you to the ground," Martha said, putting in her two cents.
"We won't knock you down, Mom . . . we promise," the children assured her.
"Captain?" Martha prompted.
"Madam, I am a gentleman. I would no more knock a woman down than fly to the moon," he replied.
Although he acted insulted, the look in his eyes gave the women reason to wonder.
"Please, Mom; it'll be fun," Jonathan begged.
"Please!" Candy added.
Carolyn looked at the children then cast her gaze on Daniel, who smiled roguishly.
"All right. I'll change my shoes and meet you out front."
"Yay!" the children cheered.
"You come with me Scruffy. You should stay in the house, so you don't get run over," Martha said, leading him to the kitchen.
Ten minutes later, their mom arrived wearing the old shoes she wore to work in the garden and an apron over her dress.
The players met on the porch and realized the captain had been right. There was no mistaking that storm clouds had moved in; the sky looked ominous. Realizing it would be a short game, the rules were quickly discussed, and boundaries decided. They had to stay in the yard and couldn't go any further around the house than the side door. To determine who would be 'it' first, Candy gathered four twigs, making one shorter than the others. Each player selected a twig and held it in their hand until everyone had one. On the count of three, they revealed them together. The lady of the house found herself holding the short stick so, with a smile on her face and waggle of her eyebrows, the game was on.
In an effort to protect herself, Carolyn went after the children, avoiding Daniel at all cost, a strategic move not missed by the seaman. Squeals of delight and laughter filled the yard when, after several missed attempts, she finally tagged Candy. Her daughter set her sights on her brother and, after chasing him around the side of the house and back again, caught up with him at the gate. Jonathan, as he was prone to do, set his sights on the captain, who dodged several tags before being caught close to the monkey puzzle tree.
Taking a moment to locate his prey, Daniel spotted Carolyn by the corner of the house and set out after her. She was fast, but her skirts hampered her speed. Sidestepping several attempted tags, she escaped but, as she ran across the yard, the seaman within a breath of tagging her, she tripped over an uneven flagstone and started to go down. Faster than either could imagine, Daniel grabbed her to keep her from falling, but tripped over another stone and began going down too. As he did, he managed to rotate their bodies so he wouldn't fall on her. When they landed, Carolyn found herself lying atop of Daniel in the middle of the lawn, her hands resting on his chest, and their lips within a breath of one another.
He was very still beneath her, and, for a moment, she thought he'd been knocked out; his eyes were closed, and his arms were spread wide on the ground. Looking at his face for signs of consciousness, she felt his arms go around her back and realized he was unhurt. They're eyes met, and they both started chuckling. Then, as suddenly as they'd started, they stopped; the position they found themselves in giving them pause. The look of longing they shared spoke volumes of their mutual desire but, before they could give in to those feelings, or step away from them, happy squeals of laughter broke through their moment, as Candy and Jonathan jumped on top of them. From the bottom of the pile an 'oof!' could be heard from Daniel, and the family, lying in a heap on the ground, laughed uncontrollably together.
Martha picked that exact moment to step out on the porch. She wanted to see how the game was going so she would know when to serve supper. Seeing her charges stacked on the lawn like a cord of firewood, laughing heartily, had her shaking her head. She watched as the smaller bodies tumbled to the ground, this way and that, until the couple on the bottom was revealed. She watched the seaman roll to one side, with Mrs. Muir in his arms, and gently place her beside him – their eyes fixed on one another. As the housekeeper opened her mouth to call out, a flash of lightning, followed by a crack of thunder, got everyone's attention. The sky opened, pouring with rain.
The children, still laughing, jumped up and ran to the porch, shouting for their mom and the captain to follow. Daniel and Carolyn shared a frustrated chuckle as the seaman quickly helped her to her feet, and they ran for cover. Reaching the porch, they were stopped in their tracks when they came face to face with Martha. Only the sound of the pouring rain could be heard until Candy started explaining what had happened.
"I thought Mom was going to fall, but you should have seen the captain, Martha. He moved so fast Mom landed on him instead of the ground!"
"Yeah, it was great!" Jonathan added. "He kept Mom from getting hurt."
"Uh huh," the housekeeper replied looking at the couple. "Captain, I thought we agreed no one would knock Mrs. Muir to the ground."
"My dear Martha, it would seem we forgot to inform the flagstones."
"Uh huh," she repeated.
"But rest assured, I will level the stones, as soon as time permits, so accidents like that can't happen again."
"Uh huh," she said. Having heard enough, she turned toward Mrs. Muir. "Would you like me to get you a towel?"
"No thank you, Martha; we're not that wet. I think we'll be fine."
"All right. Far be it from me to try to keep you from catching your death," she said walking into the house.
"Gee, that was fun! What can we do now?" Jonathan asked excitedly, ready for the next adventure.
"I thought we would sit on the swing and listen to the falling rain," the captain replied, gazing at their mother and receiving a tender look in return.
"Oh. Okay," Candy agreed, dragging her disappointed brother along with her.
As they sat on the swing together, Carolyn had to smile. The children had laid claim to each side of Daniel, and she found herself shunted off to the end, separated from him by her daughter. Over the girl's head, the couple exchanged a smile, and the seaman rested his arm along the back of the seat, to maintain at least some contact with his lady, while they listened to the rain.
Being quiet and sitting still was not something either child excelled at – at least not in the middle of the day – and it wasn't long before they both got fidgety. Listening to the rain, and increasing thunder, could only hold their attention for so long. They lasted a few short minutes before asking if they could go inside to find something to do. With permission granted by their mother, they jumped ship and disappeared into the house.
"It seems we're finally alone," Carolyn smiled, moving over to sit by Daniel's side.
"Alone. What a lovely word . . . positively musical," he said softly, pulling her in for a soft kiss. "Do you remember Coleridge's Ancient Mariner?"
She did but, before she could reply, he recited a line from the poem in a low, intimate voice that made her heart race.
"Alone, alone, all, all alone,
Alone on a wide, wide sea!"
After a slight pause, he continued, gazing lovingly at her.
"Never again shall I be on my own
With you in my arms through eternity."
"I know that's not from Coleridge . . . but I prefer your verse," she whispered; her eyes unable to pull away from his.
A bolt of lightning flashed over the bay and thunder cracked and rumbled. Its proximity startled Carolyn, and she sought the protection of Daniel's arms. His face clearly showed his contentment as he held her close. Looking down at her, he shared what he was thinking.
"I would love to take you on a voyage with me, where we could be truly alone; just the two of us for miles and miles."
"I'm not sure about being in the middle of the ocean in weather like this. The storm is nearly on top of us."
"Aye, but nothing will happen to you while you're in my arms."
Her fingers moved to his face, running down his beard, while her eyes focused on his lips.
"The Kitty Keane is too big for just the two of us. I wouldn't be able to help you. I'm no sailor."
"It's seaman, madam . . . or in your case sea woman . . . and you're right; she is too big for just the two of us. I was thinking of taking you out on a small sloop."
Another flash of lightning, followed immediately by thunder, startled her again, as did the spray of rain reaching them on the porch.
"Oh!"
Daniel was unaffected by the storm, and the spray that blew in on them.
"It would have to be large enough for the family . . . if we chose to invite them . . . but small enough for one man, and one very special woman," he smiled, completely oblivious to the storm bearing down on them. "My dear, I would like to share my love of the sea with all of you. I want you to know just how exhilarating it can be."
"I can only imagine how terrifying it would be during a storm like this, but . . . do you want to take the whole family, or do you want to be alone with me?"
"My love, if I could, I would sail you around the world . . . just the two of us. While it's not possible right now, rest assured, 'one day' we will be able to get away without a chaperone, or children, and I will show you how beautiful the world can be."
"It will be a long time before we're able to be gone as long as it would take to sail around the world," she replied softly, enjoying the effect running her hand over his chest was having on him.
Her caresses were driving him to distraction. In an attempt to maintain his composure, Daniel took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. When that did nothing to help, he gave up and followed his heart.
"In the meantime, . . . I suppose . . . we will just . . . have . . . to . . . improvise," he whispered, nibbling his way down and around her neck. "Sooner . . . not later . . . I will take you . . . on the water . . . and share . . . those dreams . . . I have . . . about . . . the two of us."
Carolyn lost all thought of the storm, as his lips overwhelmed her senses, and her own dreams flooded her memory.
"Oh, Daniel," she gasped, melting into him.
Their mouths met in a frenzy, as fierce as the storm around them. Their tongues danced and explored together, demanding all that had been denied them, causing moans of pleasure from both as their passion overtook them.
Suddenly, the wind shifted as thunder cracked, and the driving, horizontal rain reached them on the swing, claiming their attention. It felt as if cold water was being thrown on them. Startled, they turned and looked toward the front door; not at all sure Martha wasn't standing there with an empty bucket. Realizing they were alone, but getting soaked, Daniel helped Carolyn up and, after a few last-minute kisses, they hurried into the house for cover.