Peering up from her typewriter, Carolyn grinned to see the Captain pacing behind her, only stopping for a second or two to gaze out the telescope. "Captain" she said softly, "your pacing isn't helping my editing, and neither is it helping Jonathan with his baseball tryouts."
She turned as he stopped, so he couldn't see the twinkle in her eye. "After all, we agreed that neither of us would attend. There is enough pressure without living up to family expectations." "MADAM," she almost felt the grumble in his voice as he began to pick up steam. "Jonathan is certainly able to attend to his own sports, surely you do not intend to say that 'I' am unduly concerned . . ." His diatribe suddenly ceased, and at the sudden pause, she finally turned to look up at him. "Captain?" she asked, unable to quite interpret his expression, as he turned and walked away from her to sit with a pronounced thump in the corner chair by the fireplace.
Clearly, he was bemused by something, his expression was gentle, almost wistful, yet quietly happy at the same time. Pulling up the footstool, Carolyn settled beside him, and reached out a hand, letting it rest a whisper always from his own. "Captain Gregg? Where are you right now?" she asked curiously.
Looking up, he brought her face into focus. "Here, with you, M'dear. Nothing to be concerned about, so set that worried look on your face to rest, if you would." "I'd be delighted," she smiled, "but first you would need to tell me what's going on in your mind right now. As you know, we both have found it far better to ask than assume what the other is thinking, feeling. Or are we re-creating our relationship again?"
Laughing he shook his head, "Heaven forefend that you and I traverse that path again. And as promised, if you ask, I must respond." Reaching out, he let his fingers trail across her face. Closing her eyes, she gave herself time to focus, to sense the connection. Her satisfied sigh told him she had been able to 'feel' him again, and while it wasn't everything he would wish, he was grateful they had connected at last. "If only practice for Jonathan had this kind of. . . what did you call it?" the Captain asked, "an upside?"
"I'm not sure quite sure I'd want Jonathan to exactly have this kind of upside," she grinned up at him, "but I think I understand what you mean. It's true, he and baseball are not having a happy connection, at least not lately. But no changing the subject Daniel Gregg, back to your feelings, if we could?" "Indeed," he paused, appreciating yet again what a joy it was to have this woman not just in his life, but at the center of it, as she always should have been, "you caught me by surprise when you said he didn't need to live up to 'family expectations.'" "Yes, I think he needs a bit of space to . . OH!"
Leaning forward, he concentrated on placing a single ghostly kiss against her lips, "Family – you use the word so easily, with no concern, yet it still is new to me. All in all quite a precious gift. It's that realization that touched me M'dear."
Wiping a tear away from her eye, Carolyn hoped her smile, and the finger she rested against his lips communicated how much she treasured this latest revelation. "Our boy will be home soon," she offered. Sliding back she returned to her typewriter, and the Captain with a wry smile, returned to his pacing on the deck, waiting for their boy to return.