As he heard the thumping of suitcases on the stairs and the honking from the cab below, the Captain knew that Uncle Alfred was finally on heading back onto the road of a traveling salesman. He invisibly appeared on the master bedroom balcony, smiling as the family surrounded their departing relative. He congratulated himself on having been of service to Mrs. Muir in a moment of need. It was with some satisfaction he recalled the various steps, whether it was assisting Jonathan in understanding his duty, coming to the lady's rescue when her uncle was floundering in the midst of badly performed magic or merely being on hand when needed. He was deeply pleased to have been able to fulfill the needs of his 'family'. Mind you, he was not ready to call them that aloud, but to himself, he had to admit, they were indeed the closest thing to family he had ever had in this world.
Leaning forward, he grimaced at the last line between the cab driver and Uncle Arnold. "Sorry old pal, I'd hate to leave with egg on your face." Hugs and kisses completed, the cab door closed and the family shouted their farewells. "Bye!" " Bye!" "Goodbye Uncle Arnold!"
Wishing for a moment that he might be part of that throng, the Captain waved his own farewell, "Goodbye Uncle Arnold and good luck."
As the cab pulled away, Carolyn turned and saw the Captain on the balcony waving his own goodbye. The rest of the family still stood watching the cab until it was out of sight. Without thinking, she turned exactly where her heart prompted her to look. Standing, facing the balcony, facing him, she sighed and rested her hand upon her chest. To her surprise, the Captain paused and with the same mesmerized look, rested his hands on the railing, and leaned over, watching her carefully.
Wordlessly, the two stood, separated by space, air, time and physical reality. Their looks expressed many things, happiness, appreciation, respect, admiration, and if they would admit to such a thing, love and more than a bit of lust as well. But this day, they let the silence carry their emotions across the space separating them, and this day, despite the silence, they were brought closer together than they had ever been before.