Chapter Thirty One (Mr. Perfect)

A stranger delivered a piece of paper to Carolyn tonight. I barked at him to let him know that he shouldn't be bothering us so late. Carolyn was in her bathrobe but looked quite pretty when Captain appeared. He seemed concerned about the piece of paper she received. Captain is curious though, I see him pull the paper from the fire after Carolyn has gone upstairs. He is muttering and seems unhappy, apparently Carolyn knows someone that Captain doesn't approve of.

I enter the room and look at Captain he is still muttering to himself.

Captain?

"Scuffy?"

What is wrong?

"Nothing, nothing at all." He says but I see the scowl on his face.

You're pretty upset for a nothing. I cock my head at him, studying his face.

"An old friend of hers is coming to visit."

That's good, isn't it?

"I do not know, Scruffy, we shall see," he said and then faded from sight.

I hate when he does that.

We go down to the wharf the next day to meet Carolyn's friend, his name is Blair. She seems excited to see him, and he greets her with a big hug. Then introduces himself to the rest of the family. Captain is here and unhappy I see the rope move across the wharf, he is trying to trip the other man. Carolyn sees the rope and stops it, she knows what he is up to as well. I don't know why she doesn't think it is funny; I would like to see Blair fall on his face.

She confronts Captain later at home, she knows he is unhappy with her friend Blair. Is Captain upset because this living man is a potential mate for her? Blair has brought presents for the family, except for me! How could he ignore a lovable terrier? He insults the house we live in and the Captain, something that never goes over well. Captain is quite put out. He interrupts Carolyn's conversation with Blair by using Candy's radio, and then the sprinkler. This is very funny! I laugh to myself and cheer for the Captain. I like him better than Blair anyway. Even Carolyn laughs at Captain's antics. I do not think she takes Blair seriously either. Maybe Captain should not be so worried.

Later they said they were leaving the house to go to Blair's ship, Captain follows them, I know he will play tricks on the new man. When he returns I find him in the attic and question him.

Captain, I greet him.

Scruffy, he nods at me.

What did you do? My eyes sparkle in anticipation of a good story.

"Me? Why do you think I would anything to anyone?" He pretends to be innocent.

Because I know you and I know better. You cannot fool my terrier self. What did you do to Blair?

"That foul, slobbering miserable excuse for a man?" He rubbed his hands together and smiled. "Oh, Scruffy, I had a delightful time.

Tell.

"He's not much of a seaman. He was there with Carolyn trying to ply her with drinks, how dare he! So I thought I would test him, see if he could stand a few rolling waves." He gave me a satisfied smile. "He cannot. He was getting sick before I even got started."

Captain. I try to get his attention but he is very pleased with himself. I wait for a few moments and try again. Captain.

"Scruffy?" He finally looks down at me.

They are downstairs. I think Carolyn feels bad for what you did to him. She brought him home.

"What? How dare she?"

It is her house.

"It's my house!" He said and I saw the blue fire in his eyes. He was angry now. "I'll take care of him," he muttered under his breath, and then disappeared. Again. Resigned to following him around at the moment, I went downstairs to see what was happening.

Carolyn is mad at Captain, but I do not think it is because she wants Blair, I think it is because he is interfering. I see the look on his face when she tells him that Blair is human and he is not, and I know that she has hurt him. Captain wants her for his mate, why doesn't he tell her so? I am surprised that he listens to her, even helps her with Blair. I know it hurts him to do so but he does it anyway. Humans are so complicated.

Captain is in the kitchen and they have words again. He is helping her and she is unhappy about that as well. Female humans are very demanding. Captain admits he is jealous of Blair, but says that marriage would be best for her and the children, for everyone he says. Everyone but him is what he doesn't say, but I think Carolyn knows, I mean I know and I'm a terrier.

Carolyn then says something that almost makes me want to bite her, she agrees to marry Blair. I am shocked! It is clear to me that she feels more for the Captain than this man. I am confused, why would she want him when Captain is still here? But something strange is happening, this Blair is trying to escape, saying that he doesn't want to marry her. What? Captain watches and is as confused as I am. Carolyn seems to know what she is doing. It was her way of getting rid of Blair, she explains to Captain. She and Captain drink together and share a long look of desire.

I am content that they still want to be together. More and more I want this for them, but I feel I must take this upon my terrier self. They seem stuck, unable to go forward. I must help them, slow as this process may be.