Making an accurate assumption about the relationship between the handsome seaman and her daughter-in-law, Marjorie rose from her seat and walked toward the couple. Ralph, still unsure of what was happening, could only watch as he tried to figure things out.
"Captain Gregg, I'm very glad to meet you."
Daniel tore his eyes away from his love to greet her mother-in-law. Remembering some of the things he'd learned about the woman's treatment of Carolyn, his demeanor was formal.
"Mrs. Muir," he said, bowing. "I hope you're enjoying your stay at Gull Cottage."
"I am. You have a lovely home."
"Thank you."
They stood there a moment expecting Mr. Muir to join them, but Marjorie had to prompt him to come over.
"Ralph?"
He was staring at the bearded man then, swaying slightly, turned to glance at the portrait. Finally making the connection, he turned back toward the others and walked unsteadily to the seaman.
"Captain."
"Mr. Muir," the seaman replied, shaking his extended hand; although, he'd have preferred to throw the arrogant sot out of the house.
There was an awkward silence as the two men took measure of each other.
"Why don't we all sit down? Daniel, would you like a cup of coffee?" his lady asked, purposely using his Christian name.
"I'd like that very much, Carolyn," he answered, following her lead. It seemed she wanted to make sure her in-laws understood the seriousness of their relationship, and he was happy to oblige.
Realizing there were only three cups on the tray, Carolyn excused herself and went to get another. She was met in the hallway by Martha who handed her the needed cup and saucer. Turning to return to the others, for whatever the rest of the evening brought, she smiled as she noticed her friend taking a seat on the bench just outside the living room.
XXXXX
Upstairs, Scruffy was whining and scratching at the nursery door to get out.
"What's the matter, boy?" Jonathan asked.
"Maybe he needs to go outside again," Candy suggested.
"I don't know why; he did everything he was supposed to do a little while ago."
They went over and tried to distract him but couldn't dissuade the pup from wanting out.
"I'll take him down," Candy volunteered, grabbing her robe.
When she opened the door, Scruffy darted out of the room and headed for the stairs. She followed, but when she reached the top of the stairway, she heard the captain's voice and ran back to the room.
"Jonathan! The captain's home! He's downstairs!"
That's all her brother needed to hear, and he ran into the hall in his nightshirt.
"You better put your robe on," she reminded him. "You'll be scolded by Mom and Martha if you go down like that."
XXXXX
The living room was quiet. The Muirs were sitting together on the couch, and Marjorie was carefully handing a cup of coffee to her husband. The uncertain look on her face was a good indication that she was afraid he might spill it. The captain had remained standing and silently observed the couple. He was quite sure the children's grandfather was more than a little drunk and that his wife was being carefully solicitous to keep him happy.
As Carolyn returned to the room, Daniel turned slightly to face her. He looked quite impressive, standing by the fireplace with his portrait as the backdrop, and her heartbeat quickened as she watched him taking her in. His eyes betrayed the desire he felt . . . being so close but unable to touch her. It didn't help, either of them, that her emotions mirrored his.
Feeling her blush rise, she broke eye contact with him and glanced over to her in-laws, wondering if they'd noticed. To her surprise, Marjorie was staring appreciatively at the captain. Carolyn was familiar with the look; she saw it often from certain women in town when she and Daniel were out together. She was never surprised that his presence drew the attention of the ladies, but it never occurred to her that he would have the same effect on her mother-in-law. Marjorie obviously had better taste in men than she'd originally thought.
Moving to the coffee service, she lifted the pot and offered to top off the Muir's cups, but Marjorie politely refused for both of them. Ralph was taking a sip, trying hard to seem unaffected by all the wine he'd helped himself to earlier.
As Carolyn poured coffee for herself and Daniel, he came over and accepted the hot, steaming brew. Moving away, he remained standing until she returned to her seat then took the chair beside her. After sharing a 'we're in this together' gaze, they turned to face the Muirs and were more than a little curious as to what direction the conversation would take.
Before they could begin, though, everyone's attention was drawn to the noise coming from upstairs. Scruffy's barking could be heard and grew louder as he drew closer. In his excitement to welcome the seaman home, the pup ran down the steps so fast, he couldn't make the turn at the bottom. His legs churned in an effort to keep his balance but eventually slipped out from under him, and his momentum caused him to slide right past the living room door.
Daniel got up to make sure he was all right but, before he took more than a few steps, Scruffy had regained his sea legs, scrambled into the room, and leapt into his arms. Once there, he happily licked the seaman's face and wagged his tail, obviously excited to see him.
Ralph was having trouble keeping up, but the ladies started to chuckle, and Daniel joined them as he returned the show of affection by rubbing Scruffy's head and scratching behind his ears.
"Hello, mate! It's good to see you too," he laughed. "You'd think I've been away for months instead of a few days."
"It is him!" Candy's excited voice reached them. "I told you the captain was home!"
"He always keeps his promise," Jonathan was heard replying.
The sound of their footsteps couldn't be missed, and, in an instant, they were running into the room. Completely forgetting about their grandparents, Candy and Jonathan ran to Daniel, who quickly put Scruffy down to embrace them.
"Welcome home, sir!" Jonathan said, happily hugging him tight.
"We're so glad you're home!" Candy said, adding her hug to the mix.
"Thank you! I'm very glad to be home."
Carolyn's contentment was obvious, but she glanced at her in-laws to see how they were reacting. She found Marjorie watching the scene closely, while Ralph looked much like Claymore did when Daniel and the children got too loud for him. It seemed her father-in-law wasn't fond of barking dogs, any more than he enjoyed the exuberance of children.
She couldn't help wondering, though, what they were thinking. The joyous reunion, playing before them, was not something they'd ever seen directed toward their son. Robert never received a greeting remotely like the one being showered on Daniel. Would they pick up on the difference? As she pondered the question, she realized she couldn't be sure they were fully aware of the way their son treated her and the children. Their little family had gotten extremely good at putting up a false front, and her in-laws never left any doubt that they thought their Bobby could do no wrong.
"What are you two still doing up?" Daniel asked.
"We were hoping you'd get home from Boston in time to help put us to bed," Jonathan explained.
"You did say you might be home in time," Candy reminded him.
"Ah, so I did. What do you think, my love? Would it be all right for me to help you tuck the children in tonight?"
The look on her face was mixed. She really wanted him to join them but was concerned about what her in-laws would think of a man being on the second floor. Noting the hesitation, and understanding her dilemma, Daniel proposed a solution.
"Perhaps Mr. and Mrs. Muir would like to join us. I'm sure the children would be happy to include them, wouldn't you, mates?"
For the first time, Candy and Jonathan realized their grandparents were in the room, and they were afraid they'd let the cat out of the bag. Looking to their mom and the captain, but not seeing a negative reaction from them, and since he did call her 'my love,' they decided their grandparents must have been told how much they liked each other.
"That would be great!" they replied.
"Ralph, Marjorie, would you care to join us? We usually read for a little while before the children go to sleep," Carolyn explained.
"I'd enjoy that very much," Marjorie replied without hesitation.
Everyone in the room looked to Ralph, but he was staring at the contents of his coffee cup and unaware of the invitation.
"Dear, would you care to join us?" his wife asked.
"Wha'?"
"It's time for Candace and Jonathan to go to bed. Would you like to help tuck them in?"
He stared at Marjorie for moment, until her question made its way to his addled brain.
"No. I'll stay here and wait. Perhaps I'll have another glass of that tasty Madeira," he said slurring slightly.
Daniel's eyebrow shot up, and he immediately looked at Carolyn.
"Not my Madeira?" he asked, so quietly only she could hear.
Unable to reply, she nodded slightly and almost laughed at the look on his face.
"I think you've had enough," Marjorie told Ralph. "You stay here, then. We'll join you once the children go down. Before we do, though, let me refresh your coffee."
He surrendered his cup without complaint and watched, bleary eyed, as she poured.
Martha, still sitting comfortably in the hall, took that moment to make her way to the kitchen through the back of the house. She didn't mind Mrs. Muir or the captain knowing she was eavesdropping, but she'd rather the in-laws didn't.
XXXXX
Leaving Ralph in the living room, the party headed upstairs, with Scruffy happily leading the way. Once they reached the nursery, it was quickly decided that Daniel would read from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and the women would each cuddle with one of the children. Scruffy settled himself next to the captain, comforted that he was home to help him watch over their family.
Marjorie had modestly lowered herself onto the bed and was sitting against the headboard, her arm around Jonathan, who snuggled right in as the seaman began to read. Listening to his soothing voice, and considering what she'd observed downstairs, she couldn't help forming a few opinions about him.
'By all appearances, Captain Gregg seems to be quite a man. He must be successful at what he does, the children mentioned his ship, and his reply indicated he owned it; he designed and built this house, which is quite impressive, and Carolyn said he assists the local retired seamen and their families. He seems to have it all and, it certainly doesn't hurt that he is very good looking."
Knowing those few facts about him, questions ran through her mind. She wondered how long he and Carolyn had known each other, how they met, how often they saw each other, how frequently he was away and, when he was away, just how long was he gone?
She still remembered how much her sister missed Colm when he sailed on that first voyage after they'd met. Abbie continued to pine for him, when he was away, up until the day she died. Marjorie was curious to know how Carolyn and the children handled the captain's absence.
Candace and Jonathan obviously loved him; they actually welcomed him 'home.' That made her believe he was with them a great deal, but she was sure he didn't stay at Gull Cottage. She knew her daughter-in-law well enough to know she wasn't that kind of woman, but she couldn't help wondering how much time he did spend with the family.
After considering those, and other thoughts, she found herself being drawn in by his amazing baritone. She easily got caught up in Alice's adventures but not without one last thought about the seaman.
'If the captain is everything he seems to be, he would certainly be a man to hold on to.'
By the time Daniel got to the end of the chapter, both children were drowsy and too tired to ask for more. While he returned his chair to its place, the ladies eased off the beds and tucked in who they'd been sitting with, then traded places to kiss the other child goodnight.
After wishing her grandchildren 'sweet dreams,' Marjorie moved over by the door to wait, taking advantage of the chance to observe the couple. The captain went to each child, smoothing covers, and kissing them goodnight. He received a sleepy 'I love you' from Jonathan and an "I love you; I'm so glad your home,' and a hug from Candace. Hearing him quietly say 'I love you' to each child, she found herself surprised that he would express his feelings so openly; he was a seaman after all. As that thought came to her, though, so did memories of how kind and attentive Colm had been, not just to Abbie, but to their mother and herself. All those years ago, the much younger seaman had tried his best to win over their father but nothing he said, or did, could change Owen MacKenna's opinion of 'sailors.'
Pulling herself out of the past, Marjorie couldn't help noticing Carolyn's feelings for the captain; they were written all over her face. She watched as her daughter-in-law stood at the foot of Candace's bed, with a look of absolute love and contentment at the exchange of affection between the seaman and her children. Thinking back to when her son was alive, Marjorie didn't recall ever seeing a look like that directed at Robert. While the young couple seemed happy enough when they were courting, and right after their elopement, things changed quickly once the children came along. She had to admit, the happiness and contentment she thought she was seeing back then, didn't look anything like what she was observing now, and she never saw her son look at Carolyn the way Daniel Gregg did.
'She literally glows when she looks at the captain,' she thought. 'But I guess, if a man had ever looked at me the way he looks at her, I'd have glowed too,' she admitted.
When the children were tucked in, Daniel joined Carolyn and was about to slip his arm around her when he remembered they weren't alone. Instead, they gazed at one another for a few moments; their feelings unspoken but clearly understood. Finally, breaking eye contact, he picked up Scruffy and they joined Marjorie at the door, where he placed the pup gently in his bed.
Leaving the room, all three wondered what they would face when they sat down with Ralph. Daniel and Carolyn assumed he would want to argue with her about the family moving back to Philadelphia, since she had so decisively told him 'no.' Marjorie had a good idea of her husband's frame of mind, but his drinking could muddle his thinking, and his mood might go either way. She decided all she could do was hope for the best.
XXXXX
Coming down the stairs, they met Martha just outside the kitchen.
"Mrs. Muir, I was just going in to get the coffee. I thought I'd replace it with a fresh pot before I go to bed."
"Martha, I'll take care of that. You go ahead," Carolyn suggested.
"All right. I'll just finish up a few things in the kitchen before I do."
"We'll finish the washing up for you," the captain insisted. "I promise you, my friend, we'll take care of whatever dishes remain, so when you get up in the morning, you won't find a thing out of place," he said, bowing formally.
"Oh, you . . ."
Daniel smiled and winked at her.
"I guess there's nothing left for me to do then. Goodnight everyone," she said, and then with a look at the seaman, added. "Captain. It's very good to have you home."
"Thank you, Martha. I'm always happy to be home these days."
XXXXX
In the living room, they found Ralph still on the couch; teacup and saucer in his lap, his head back, and loud snoring coming from his open mouth.
"Oh, dear," Carolyn remarked quietly.
Daniel's face gave nothing away, but he so wanted to chuckle; Ralph Muir obviously couldn't handle his liquor. It seemed any discussion with the Muirs would have to wait for another time.
Marjorie was embarrassed, but not surprised, to find her husband in this state. Her only concern was how she would get him upstairs.
"I suppose we could just leave him here," she sighed; not seeing any other alternative.
"That might not be a good idea," Carolyn remarked. "The children tend to rise early, and I wouldn't want them to wake their grandfather before he was ready."
"Mrs. Muir," Daniel said, looking at the older woman. "If you will allow me, I'd be glad to help him to the guest room."
"Captain, I hate for you to have to do that. It's a terrible imposition; he's not a small man."
"Madam, it's no imposition at all. I believe he would more comfortable sleeping in a bed, and it would also allow the children to maintain their usual morning routine," he replied. Unspoken was his real concern that if Candy and Jonathan were to come downstairs early, they would run the risk of seeing their grandfather drunk or hung-over. Additionally, there was the possibility that they would face his wrath if they were to wake him.
"Well, if you're sure?"
"Indeed, I am. I believe it would be best for all concerned."
"All right," Marjorie gave in. Moving over to her husband, she carefully took the teacup and saucer out of his hand and put it on the tray.
Daniel moved the table out of the way and took stock of the sleeping man to determine the best way to rouse him and get him upstairs. Making his decision, and knowing he had an audience, he touched Ralph's shoulder and shook him gently.
"Mr. Muir? Wake up. It's time to get you up to bed."
The drunken man's head lolled around until his chin came to rest on his chest.
"Come along, Ralph," the seaman prompted again, hoping familiarity would bring him around. "It's late. You don't want to sleep on the couch; the bed in the guest room is much more comfortable."
Somehow, he managed to lift his head, briefly, before it fell back against the couch.
"That's it. Come on, man; open your eyes."
Once more his head came up and he opened his eyes, blinking rapidly as he tried to focus.
"Wha'?" he slurred.
"Ralph, dear, it's time to go to bed," Marjorie told him, stepping up next to the captain.
He didn't reply, just rolled his neck in her direction.
"Mr. Muir let me help you stand so we can get you upstairs," Daniel volunteered.
"Why don' we have some more of tha' nice wine?" he mumbled.
"Not tonight, Ralph," Marjorie replied. "The decanter is empty."
"Oh, tha's too bad."
"Isn't it," Daniel said quietly. "Come along now. On the count of three, we're going help you stand. Are you ready?"
"Yup!" he said trying to nod. He had little control of his neck, and his head wobbled like that of a month-old child, until he was finally able to steady it.
The captain took hold of his left arm, Carolyn moved around to his right to lend a hand if needed, and Marjorie stepped out of the way. The couple exchanged an 'are you ready' look and then Daniel prompted Ralph.
"All right; here we go. One. Two. Three," he said, pulling the drunk to his feet and trying to hold him upright. As Ralph started to totter, Carolyn grabbed his other arm to help steady him. There was no doubt, it was going to take both of them to keep him from falling back onto the couch, and Daniel realized it very well could take them both to get him up the stairs.
"Mrs. Muir," he said, looking at Marjorie. "Why don't you go ahead of us and turn up the gas lights and light a few candles? Carolyn and I will help him up the stairs."
"Oh, really; this is getting to be too much. He's much worse than I thought he'd be. I don't want anyone to get hurt."
"Marjorie, we'll be fine," Carolyn insisted.
"I'll see that no one gets injured," Daniel asserted. "But it will be easier to get him up the steps with two people instead of three; there's just not enough room for all of us."
"I suppose your right," she agreed reluctantly. "You will call me if you need my help?"
"Of course," Daniel replied.
As she left the room, the couple found themselves with a drunken Ralph Muir teetering between them and started to chuckle. Ralph's head wobbled around from one to the other and joined in the laughter while focusing on his daughter-in-law.
"Ya know . . . I always thought ya were a priddy lil' thing, an' ya still are," he slurred.
"Thank you, Ralph, but it's time to get you upstairs. All right?" she asked, encouraging him and getting a better grip on his arm.
"Are you ready, my love?" Daniel asked.
"I am, sweehear'," Ralph replied, his head lolling toward him. Seeing the bearded seaman beside him, his eyes opened wide. "Oh, i's you! You're that sailor in the pain'ing," he said, swaying. Then, with a lecherous look on his face asked, "Are ya bedin' this priddy thing?" Then, elbowing him in the ribs, he added in a load whisper, "I heard she's good . . . real good."
In an instant, Daniel had him by his lapels, to the point his toes were barely touching the floor.
"You . . . drunken . . . sot!" he growled. "I don't care if you are the children's grandfather. Drunk or sober, you will treat the lady with respect." Holding him tightly with his left hand, he drew his right arm back to punch him, but Carolyn moved quickly to stop him.
"Daniel, don't! He's drunk!"
The captain didn't care what condition he was in; no one was going to speak about his Carolyn like that. She gently touched his arm, and, seeing the pleading look in her eyes, he reluctantly lowered it. It took everything in him to comply with her request, and he took several angry breaths in an attempt to settle himself.
Ralph looked at him in confusion.
"Wha're ya gettin' so ubset about?" Tha's high praise comin' from my boy. He had plenty of women ta compare her with, and he wuz very comlamen . . . comlapent . . . complimenariry of how good she wuz. He tol' me she wuz a really good fu . . ."
Before the crude word could get completely out of his mouth, Daniel shoved Ralph so hard he stumbled back onto the couch, and its front legs rose off the floor by the force. Grabbing him again, he dragged him to his feet with every intention of smashing his fist into the blasted drunk's face.
"Daniel, please don't! It's not worth it; he's not worth it," she added softly.
Ralph hung limply in his grasp, and looked from the seaman to his daughter-in-law, but had no idea why he was being treated so roughly.
"Carolyn . . . I'll not have him, or anyone, speak of you that way or use that kind of language in front of you!"
"Wha'd I say?!"
In utter disgust, the captain let him go but had to grab him again, to keep him from crumpling to the floor.
"Let's just get him upstairs to bed," she sighed.
Daniel didn't reply, but his anger continued to course through his body, as he struggled to maintain control. Handling Ralph less than delicately, he put the man's arm over his shoulder and grabbed him around the waist, so they were hip to hip. With Carolyn close by, in case she was needed, he marched the stumbling drunk to the hallway. When they stopped at the bottom of the stairs, Ralph looked up.
"Tha's a lotta steps. Why don' I jus' stay here?"
"No, Ralph. We're going to help you up the stairs, so you can sleep in a bed tonight," Carolyn explained with more patience than she knew she had.
"But I don' wanna walk alla way up there," he mumbled and tried to sit down on the steps.
"Ralph, you're either going to sleep upstairs or out in the barn," Daniel said, righting him. "But you will not be sleeping downstairs tonight!"
"Oh, I'm not gonna sleep ina barn!"
"Right, then. Come on; get moving. We'll take it one step at a time."
Reluctantly, and with a definite lack of coordination, Ralph began climbing the stairs. Daniel was holding his left arm, which was draped over his own shoulder, while his right arm held him tightly around the waist to help keep him upright.
Carolyn followed Ralph, knowing, if he were to fall back, she would have to shove him forward, as hard as she could, and pray she didn't fall. Realizing where she was but unable to get her in front of them now that they'd started up, Daniel told her to stay behind him. He would do everything he could to keep the drunken sot from falling but wasn't going to take any chances with her safety.
It was slow going due to Ralph's stumbling, but they eventually reached the landing.
"Are we there yet?"
"No. You have another ten steps to go."
"I don' wanna."
"MOVE, you miserable barnacle, or I'll throw your sorry hide overboard."
"Ya can' do tha'. I can' swim!" he said desperately.
"Then you'd best get a move on, hadn't you?"
Ralph looked at Daniel as though he couldn't believe he was being spoken to like that, but the seaman was near the end of his rope and wasn't going to put up with anymore of his dawdling.
"MOVE, YOU BLASTED SEA SLUG! WE HAVEN'T GOT ALL NIGHT!" he roared.
"Daniel; the children." Carolyn reminded him.
Ralph had forgotten she was behind them and tried to turn around to say something.
"Now!" the seaman said in a loud whisper and grabbed the waistband of Ralph's pants and lifted him to the next step.
"All righ', all righ', I'm goin'. I jus' wanned ta tell Carolyn wha' a priddy thing she is."
"I think she knows. You've mentioned it once or twice already."
"Did ya know, I'm the reason Bobby convinzed her ta el-ope insteada havin' a big fancy weddin'?"
"No, I can't say I did," Daniel replied, hoping that, by keeping him talking, they could move him along faster.
"Yup. He knocked up some little chit again, an' she refused ta get it taken care of. I even offered ta pay for it, but she wouldn' do it. The lil' bitch. She wuz quick enough ta spread her legs for Bobby but . . ."
He stopped suddenly, as if a thought had just occurred to him.
"I bet she did it on purpose! Yup she wuz probly tryin' ta trap 'im! But her plan didn' work. Nope! No siree!" he said, slurring the words and waving his bandaged hand. "If she reeeeeelllly thought my Bobby wuz gonna marry someone as insig . . . insignafet . . . insigfat . . . as triflin' as her, she wuz more ignrant than I thought. We ended up havin' to pay her and her whole fambly ta go away." Grabbing Daniel's coat, he pulled him toward him and whispered loudly. "That one cost me a lot more than any of the others, but it wuz worth it ta get rid o' her. She woulda ruined all my plans, and I couldn' have tha.'"
Carolyn stopped in her tracks. His drunken ramblings had just confirmed, and clarified, what she'd learned shortly before Robert died. Daniel looked back at her, and, from the look on her face, she didn't seem surprised. Her expression was more of an 'ah ha!'
Appalled by what he was learning, the captain roughly pulled Ralph's hand off his coat and let go of him. In a split second, the drunk tripped and fell, smashing his face into a step further up. Struggling to get him back to his feet, the seaman, sarcastically, acted as if he was concerned.
"Be careful there, old man. We certainly wouldn't want you to get hurt, now would we?"
"I'm all righ'," he murmured, righting himself and gingerly touching his right cheek. "Where wuz I? Oh yeah! I knew those 'straigh' laced Williamseses would never let their priddy daughder marry my Bobby . . . if they found out . . . Nobody with money woulda let their daughder marry 'im," he said sadly. Suddenly brightening, he added, "Wuzn' tha' a great idea I had, gettin' them ta el-ope?!"
"Brilliant," Daniel said, his voice flat.
"My Bobby marryin' Brad Williameses daughder wuz a real coup . . . and very good for my binis!" he bragged.
The seaman was disgusted by the man's lack of decency. He was especially bothered that Carolyn was being exposed to his coarse boasting.
She was quietly taking it all in. The bits and pieces she'd picked up over the years were finally coming together. Learning the truth from Ralph was as good as hearing it from Robert, and, after all these years, she finally understood why her late husband had pushed so hard for an elopement.
Daniel was trying to get Ralph moving again when Marjorie suddenly appeared at the top of the steps. By the expression on her face, it was obvious she'd heard her husband's ramblings about their son. Before the captain or Carolyn could acknowledge her, Ralph stumbled again, and the seaman turned quickly to make sure he didn't fall and take them down with him. When he looked up again, he realized Mrs. Muir was looking past him and Ralph.
As she met Carolyn's eyes, the pain and profound sorrow the older woman was feeling was clear, and she quickly looked away. Not only was she embarrassed by what she'd learned about her husband and son, she was embarrassed at the way she had treated her daughter-in-law all these years.
For a moment, no one said a word, and the drunk on the steps was oblivious to his wife and what had just transpired. Daniel quietly cleared his throat and took a hold of his arm.
"Come on, Ralph; we're almost there."
"Ya know, tha' wuzn' the only time I had to bail 'im out. Tha' boy jus' couldn't keep his pants buttoned. I 'member one time, righ' before Johnny wuz born . . ."
"Ralph! That's enough," Daniel said to shut him up.
"But I wuz . . ."
"Captain Gregg is right, dear. It's time we got you into bed," Marjorie said calmly, from her position a few steps above him.
Ralph's head jerked up at the sound of her voice, and he was coherent enough to realize he'd said too much.
"Oopz," he slurred and was suddenly more cooperative. He kept his mouth shut and made it up the remaining steps without saying another word.
Marjorie led the way to the guest room and, when they finally arrived, Daniel maneuvered him through the door and waited for instructions.
"Captain, if you would just help him to the bed, I can take care of the rest."
"Certainly, Mrs. Muir."
The covers had already been turned down, so he sat him on the side of the bed, helped her remove his coat, and then pushed his upper body toward the pillow. Finishing the job, he lifted Ralph's legs onto the mattress.
"Thank you for your help, Captain. I'm sorry this turned out to be so much trouble."
"No need to apologize, madam. I'm glad I was here to assist you both."
"I'm glad you're here too," she told him, meaning more than just getting Ralph upstairs.
"Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"No, thank you. You've done far more than he deserved."
They were interrupted by a quiet knock from the doorway.
Marjorie looked up, relieved to see her daughter-in-law and not one of the children.
When they finally got Ralph to the second floor, Carolyn had slipped away to retrieve a bucket from the washroom.
"I thought it might be a good idea to have this handy," she said, putting it next to her father-in-law's side of the bed.
"Thank you, dear. I'm sorry about this . . . about all of it," Marjorie replied, still mulling over what she'd learned.
Carolyn nodded and said goodnight, and she and Daniel left the room.
Marjorie looked down at her husband with disgust. He'd passed out as soon as his head hit the pillow, so he didn't hear what she really thought of him.
"What an unscrupulous, contemptable man you are, Ralph Muir," she said as she began roughly removing his boots. "And you groomed our son to be just like you."
Author's Note
If you haven't guessed, I am not a fan of the Ralph Muir character. I know I've made him truly despicable, but I never liked his character in 'Strictly Relative.' He was a jerk the whole show and then gave in way too easily when he thought Claymore - yes Claymore - was a man Carolyn could be interested in. REALLY?! I shudder every time I think of that. Yuck! And that stupid grin on his face when he met Claymore pretending to be Captain Daniel Gregg! That alone gave me the idea to get him sloppy drunk!
Well, now that I've got that off my chest, I hope you enjoyed this episode. There more to come as the Muir's visit continues.
Once more, I have to thank Mary for being my beta. She keeps me in line, but I continue to edit my work after she's proofed it. As a result, any and all errors are mine and mine alone. Thanks for your interest in the story, and I hope this finds you and yours well. Stay safe.