Chapter Twenty Eight (Madeira My Dear)

Captain told me his plan; he said he would leave a note for Carolyn asking her on a date. I am happy; it is time he did this. I can't wait to see what will happen. I don't know when he left the note, but I think she must have found it because when she gets home in the afternoon she is in a hurry. She runs in the house, dumps the groceries on the table, and quickly goes to her bedroom. She nearly steps on me in her haste and I retreat to a safe place where I express my displeasure. I know she is going to meet Captain.

I cannot wait to find out what happens, so I creep up on the stairway and listen. Captain is unhappy with her because she is late. I don't know why he is so grumpy, she showed up didn't she? They meet in the attic for a few minutes before the water in the house starts to run out in places where it shouldn't. I run down to see what the fuss is about and if I can help out. I am in the middle of cleanup and unfortunately it is decided that I should be given another bath. Martha, in a no nonsense voice, threatens to put me in the dryer. I don't know if she is serious or not and I don't like that. No dryer for me. Sometime later I hear the Captain talk to Carolyn in the kitchen, he compares the things in his life to hers, and for a short time she seems quite taken with what he says. I do believe he is courting her.

I help tuck the kids into bed, going to my bed in their room and Carolyn says goodnight to me.

The next day Carolyn is daydreaming, it has to be about Captain. I think they do this a lot. I catch him doing the same about her too. She tries to tell the captain that she will be late but he is nowhere to be found, and she goes to town. She doesn't make it back on time to meet with Captain and he is irritated and leaves her a note.

She complains to Martha about Captain, when a day ago she was happy with him. I just do not understand. Now she is yelling at him so he appears. She says he doesn't understand her problems, and maybe she is right. He is from a different time. I guess they will not be sharing wine with one another. Captain watches Carolyn and Jonathan play ball, and I wonder what he is thinking. I see him as I play with my family. Maybe he needs to understand what things are like in this time. I shall help him.

He is in the attic again. He needs to get out more; I will talk to him about that at a future date. Now I have something else in mind.

"Scruffy, what do you want?" He grumbled, he was in a foul mood.

Why are you so cranky? No point in beating around the bush.

"I am not cranky."

You most certainly are. So what if she was late? She came to see you, didn't she?

"It is important that people be punctual, that they honor their obligations."

Even when stuff happens? I was shocked. For a smart man he didn't always understand things.

"Yes, even then. You simply plan around things."

I shook my head and looked at him. You are being silly. We are a family and things are always going on with families. Have you ever had a family before?

He didn't answer me, but after a long moment, shook his head.

Then how do you know what it's like to be part of one? How would you know how busy Carolyn is taking care of all of us?

"She takes care of everyone? But Martha…"

She looks after Martha too. She has no mate to help her. You certainly don't.

"But I am not her mate," he gave me a patient look and I gave it right back to him.

But you want to be don't you? Do you want to understand better?

"Of course."

Then help out. Help her work around the house. Mates share work; it is not left for one or the other.

"You expect me to do woman's work?" He started to get angry.

She worked on the plumbing, didn't she? You didn't offer to help with that and that's considered man's work.

He rubbed his chin in thought but said nothing.

Fine, do what you want. I try to help but you ignore what I say. Now I'm going to disappear! I turned on my heels and left the room. Damn ghost!

Later that evening Carolyn gives the kids some chores to do. They complain but know they have to do it anyway. Captain is busy that night, appearing all over the place. I continue to ignore him as I am trying to get Jonathan to play with me. First I go after the vacuum cleaner. Terriers hate vacuum cleaners. They must be put in their place, monstrous things! Jonathan finally takes a break and throws the ball for me – yay, we are playing now. I see Captain go into the kitchen; I hope he is doing Candy's chores. But really, I don't care, the kids are playing with me and I am happy.

Captain invites Carolyn for wine again but she is not excited this time. When she gets back home she finds out that the kids didn't do their housework, and understands that Captain did. Good for him. Maybe he will understand this family better. Maybe he is truly becoming part of our family now. Suddenly she wants to go and see Captain for wine. He is impatient for her to show up and when she does she is dressed up, and he thinks she is beautiful. It must be a date.