Taking a moment to blow a sweaty bit of hair off her forehead, she stopped in the children's doorway while shifting the books in her arms as she smiled to herself. As proud as she was of Jonathan's accomplishments, she had to admit she was even more pleased by the actions of the person ('can a ghost be a person too?' she wondered) who made this happy ending possible.
As if he were called by her musings ('if he can, let's hope he cannot hear them all,' she thought) he appeared at her side. "Well Captain, all's well that ends well," she smiled, placing the books on top of the chest in the hallway. "Let's say all's well that ends," he offered, with a bit of regret in his voice, and she noticed, in his expression. "Aren't you happy the way things turned out?" she asked, knowing what he was probably feeling at the moment. "Oh Mrs. Muir, it was not without price" he said, staring off into an unseen past. "I'm afraid Jonathan will never again see me in the same infallible light." A twinkle appeared in her eye as she looked up at him, "Perhaps he sees you in a better light. A more human light?" He began to understand her meaning, but still continued to dispute with her." I human? Mrs. Muir, as a writer, I would think you would choose your words carefullier."
Looking up into his eyes, she realized all the things she might say, the words she wouldn't say, and instead tried to put all of them into her simple, "I do."
They stood quietly together letting all the meanings of the feelings unsaid surface between them. They paused, listening to the children chatter on for a bit. Without another word, they waited for the moment to end, or perhaps become awkward. To their mutual surprise, that moment did not arrive. With a look of understanding or perhaps inspiration, Carolyn turned toward the stairs leading to the attic. 'So, Captain, I realized that with all the competition events, we missed our Tuesday glass of Madeira. Would it be wrong to share that moment now?"
"Never. I welcome that moment with you now, today and always Mrs. Muir, shall I lead the way?" "Now, today and always Captain," she smiled as they walked up the stairs together.