Captain Gregg looked out of his large bay window from his telescope. He had been alone in Gull Cottage for over a week now and he was getting
very lonely. An eternity was an eternity and he had lived alone with little or no contact with anyone for one hundred years. But now his heart
was yearning for the sounds of the woman he loved and the children that he loved as much as if they were his own. He missed seeing Martha
as she came in to clean his room and her chatter.
Carolyn had been busy at her mother's house helping her mother go through some of the things that had belonged to her dad. They had donated
many large boxes to the local salvation army. Jonathan and Candy had worked tirelessly with her and her mother and Jonathan had nearly
packed their car by himself. Carolyn smiled knowing that she had the Captain to thank for her children in some ways. He was a very honorable
man had instilled an honor in her children that was the type of honor from one hundred years ago.
The house was done and the family was getting ready to head up to Schooner Bay. Carolyn had spoken to Claymore and he thought that he
had the perfect condo for her mother. She had been helping with the preparation of the sale of some of the condos for a little extra money
and knew the condo that he was speaking about. It was a beautiful place with two large bedrooms a kitchen dining room and living room. The
condo had large sliding doors that went out to the balcony with a splendid view of the ocean. She had agreed to have her look at it and he
was going to hold it until they got there.
It was decided that her mother would drive her own car up and Candy would ride with her the first day. They would make several stops and take a
little longer to get back home that it had taken them to get down to Philadelphia. Perhaps Martha would drive for a while to give Emily a chance to
rest from driving at some point. They were not sure of what was going to happen, they would play it by ear.
The ride up to Schooner Bay was a somber one but Candy told her grandmother all about the condo that she was going to look at. "Grandma the
place is beautiful. I know which place they want you to look at and the rooms are large and it's all brand new. We can come and see you anytime
you want because Jonathan and I can ride our bikes to the condo in less than five minutes." Candy told her.
The Muir's arrived home just after four that afternoon. Carolyn had wanted to arrive not too late as the children would have school in the morning and
she wanted them to go to bed a little earlier than usual.
Captain Gregg had seen the car pull up and had come right out to meet the family. He expressed genuine sorrow to Carolyn's mother Emily and
grabbed the suitcases for them. Between Jonathan and the Captain all Carolyn and her mother had to carry were small items. Martha and Candy
just supervised which bags were going in and which ones were to wait until Emily moved to the condo.
Carolyn walked into her mother's room and smiled. It was spotless and there were flowers out on the table. The captain had done what he said he
would do and she thanked him. Scruffy was so excited to see the family, but he was getting very old. He was ten now and did not jump up and down
as much as he once had.
Emily looked at her room and thanked the Captain for the way it looked. She could see that the sheets were newly changed and the room had been
thoroughly cleaned very recently. The only one that had been at home had been the Captain. She thanked him and then started to unpack.
Carolyn went into the children's room and asked them if they needed any help "Mother we are not little children anymore. We can unpack our own bags
you and Martha have enough to do." Candy told her with a scowl.
As Carolyn walked to her room she hoped that the Captain was going to be there. She had missed him terribly. She had admitted to herself long ago
that she was completely in love with the man who had died over one hundred years ago. They could not touch, but they had their own ways of conveying
their love for each other and she needed to be with him alone.
As Carolyn walked into their room she found him standing by the telescope. He smiled down at her and walked right up to her. "Gull Cottage has been
a cold dark and lonely place without you my love. Each moment without you and the children in my home seemed like an hour. I am sorry about your
dad but he is all right I promise you." the Captain told her in a very kind voice.
"Captain I missed you every moment that we were apart. You are a very large part of my life and I would not have it any other way. Thank you for fixing
up the guest room for my mom. She is very tired as it was such a long drive up here. I hope that she likes the condo that Claymore has set aside for her. It
is a beautiful home and is one of the condos that I worked with Claymore to ready for a showing." Carolyn told him as she took a seat on the couch that
adorned the room next to the fireplace.
Captain Gregg took his seat as close as he could get without touching to her. She was a beautiful woman with the bluest eyes that he had ever seen. She
kept herself up well and was a sight for his sore eyes. They sat together for a long while saying nothing but enjoying each other's company. After a while
Carolyn got up and started putting her things away. By seven she was all done and it was good because Martha was calling everyone down for a small
dinner.
The Captain went down to be with them for the meal and sat at the table talking with each of them about the things that had happened in the last week
while they were in Philadelphia. He did not partake in food often and did not eat that night either. But he enjoyed the family time and as they all went
into the living room he stood beside Carolyn who had taken her seat in her favorite chair.
The atmosphere was very light at the cottage that night and everyone was happy to have their grandmother at their home even though it was only going
to be for a short time. As Jonathan and Candy went upstairs they told their grandmother that she was welcome to stay as long as she wished.
Emily Williams was very tired. It had been a shock to lose her husband of over forty years. He had been at work when he had not felt well. They had
called an ambulance but he passed on from a heart attack before the paramedics had gotten there. She had never gotten a chance to say good-bye
but she felt good as the Captain had spoken to him. She had known that he had not been feeling well, but he had insisted on going to work that
morning. She was going to be all right, though. Financially secure and with her daughter just down the street she was sure that she could be happy
in her new life.
Once again Carolyn and the Captain found themselves in their room alone. Everyone in the house knew that they were to knock when they were in
there alone and so they could relax and enjoy their time together. Carolyn went out on the balcony to look at the sea. The Captain materialized
beside her and they stood outside watching the waves for a long time. Carolyn had learned to love the sea and the man that stood next to her
she was a happy woman.
The next morning Carolyn and her mother went to see the condo. It was beautiful and it had everything that she wanted. The Captain stood there
and made sure that she got a good deal and the condo was sold that day. Emily would need to go back one more time to Philadelphia to finish
up with the paperwork and Carolyn would go with her. The Muir's were happy and together once more and a new era began.