~ November 5th, 1927 10:30am

As I sit here in my office easy chair writing this journal entry, I can look up and see everything in my world that matters to me. This is the way life was meant to be.

Sitting at the desk, my beautiful, bright Anna, is working on the hotel books and sipping her tea. And it's so nice to be able to turn that job back over to her capable hands. She always was better at it than me. Not that I can't do it, I just don't enjoy it, and thankfully, she does. So we're once again working side by side.

And there's Will, under the desk attempting to read a book on his own.

Daddy, what's k-n-o-t? Ka...ka not?

Knot, Will, the K is silent. It's how they measure speed on the sea. What are you reading?

Oh, just a pirate book.

He's obsessed with pirates and the sea lately. He told me when he turns seven he's setting sail. Such an imagination!

My girls are on either side of me in their baskets. It's tummy time and their little heads are raised high and they're squealing happily for all they're worth. Yes, this is working out nicely. Just the way we'd hoped it would. They'll grow to love being at the hotel as much as Will does.

Sarah just popped her head in asking if Will wanted to help her change the bedding in our two vacant rooms. She says he does a pretty good job for a four year old, under her supervision. That's because he's been making his own bed since the twins were born. I can hear them heading up the stairs now, Will regaling her with tales of the high seas.

We're all ready for the Pub Quiz tonight. Anna's quite excited and figures we're a cinch to win. I have a feeling with her as our leader she might be right. I hope so. We've chosen our charity to be the Christmas baskets for those less fortunate. A worthy cause. A neighbor, Mrs Beamish, will be coming to the house to watch after the children.

It looks like the girls are getting restless, Fee especially. Anna says it's time for their feeding. I need to entertain Finn while she puts Fee to her breast first.

Yes indeed, this is all working out splendidly.

~ John Bates

Captain Finn Is Real?

The pub was noisy, filled with talking and laughter. Winners and losers alike gathered now, putting aside their rivalries from earlier in the evening..

The quiz had been an overwhelming success! Anna predicted they would win and they did. She couldn't wipe the smile from her face. She was beaming with pride at such an accomplishment. As she had told John, winning in a pub tournament was so much better than when they used to play in the servant's hall. Here the victory had been harder to achieve and therefore all the sweeter.

The night had been hers, and now John watched her proudly from the bar. She was circulating the room making everyone feel welcome and special. She was so good and genuine when it came to the 'social' side of life. He couldn't help but admire that in her. He could see that Will took after her in this aspect and he hoped the girls would too and not after their old dad. It wasn't that John didn't like people. He was friendly enough, polite and all, but if truth be told all he needed in his life to make it complete was Anna and the children.

She called him then, with a beckoning smile on her face, motioning for him to join her.

As he walked up behind her she continued talking to an older man. 'Is that so? Now I know what William has been going about it lately! We thought it was all his imagina- Oh! There you are,darling,' she said, looping her arm through John's.

'Captain Finn, this is my husband, John Bates.' Anna introduced them, eager to explain the whole story.

'Captain Finn?' John spoke with a surprised look on his face. 'Nice to meet you.'

The two men shook hands, their eyes locking for a fraction of a second. Captain Finn was an old man. He looked to be in his mid-eighties, although it was hard to tell with his weathered complexion. He had snow white hair and beard and he was a tall, robust figure with bright eyes. He seemed friendly enough, but John had an unnerving feeling about him.

'Nice to meet you too... Mr Bates,' the older man replied, looking back at Anna with a smile. 'I reckon your husband is as surprised as you were, after hearing my name.'

'I reckon he is. As I was saying, we both thought Captain Finn was an imaginary friend,' she said, looking over at John. 'Didn't we?'

'Indeed...we did. Captain, you say?' John asked, eyeing the man.

'Yes, that's what folks call me anyways. I ain't no captain though, just a man of the sea. A sailor without patent. Folks respect my old age, that's about it.'

'I see…' John nodded. What was is about this man that did not sit right with him?

'We have a daughter called Finola whom we call Finn. John kept telling William he should have come up with another name for his friend because of that.' Anna continued to talk.

'And another one called Fiona, isn't that right?' the old man asked.

'That is right!' Anna answered.

'Your boy is quite a blessing, Mr Bates.' Captain Finn turned to John now, his eyes rather furtive. 'Never met such a smart lad, not in a long time anyways. Ever the polite little man as well.'

'That he is...' John said, still unsure.

'Where are you from, Captain Finn? You never said,' Anna asked, very interested to learn more about this man. After all, their son had been talking about little else lately.

'I'm from...I'm a man of the world, I have no landing, I'm afraid...and I should go now. It's getting late for me,' the old man said, pursing his lips and tipping his cap as he prepared to take leave. 'Goodnight, Mrs Bates. Tell William I'll be waiting for more chatting whenever he feels like it. Mr Bates.'

John managed a slight nod of the head and a small smile as Captain Finn picked up his cane and walked away. It was then John noticed he had a peg leg. His sixth sense was telling him that the Captain was not to be trusted. Why? He didn't know, but his story sounded fishy, and John just didn't like his looks of him..

He returned to the bar then, with Anna following. 'Whatever is the matter, my brooding boy?'

she asked.

A chuckle escaped from him at her playful words. 'I don't know. There's just something about him...he looks familiar, you know, but how could that be? And...his story…' John wrinkled his nose.

'Familiar? Well...he's all mysterious and an ever so imposing figure of a man.' She shot him a mischievous look. 'He kind of reminds me of what you might look like in thirty years. Maybe that's why. Two of a kind.'

John crooked his eyebrow at her. 'I don't think so.' But he wasn't too sure.

'And his story is fine, John. William likes him and they have wonderful chats about the sea, according to Captain Finn. No harm done.' Anna caressed his cheek before placing a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth. The background noise from the pub giving them a strange kind of privacy. 'A much better friend for him to have than that rascally Percy, if you ask me,' she giggled, ' I just hope Will doesn't bother him too much. You know how persistent he can be.'

'Well, yes. I guess you are right. But...I don't know, there's just something about him.'

'You probably have come across him in the village, that's why. He said he's been staying in Mrs Hadley's boarding house for couple of weeks now. You're just being a fussy worrier.' She rolled her eyes at him.

'Know what? I think it's time for us to go home to our children. It's rather late, they must be wanting to go to bed,' John suggested.

'Spoil sport.' She winked at him. 'Let me just tell Sarah we're leaving and I'll will be with you in a minute.'

He nodded, smiling at her, before letting Sam know they were about to take off. There was nothing better than to know they could trust their staff with their business. That they could go home earlier and be able to still spend a little time with their children by the fire, drinking some tea in their own parlor.

He walked outside shortly after, waiting for Anna who was having a hard time saying goodbye to everyone. The night was chilly and the wind could be heard blowing against the treetops. Winter was coming, he could tell. Christmas would be soon around the corner and they should start thinking about presents...William surely wanted a boat now, or maybe a patch for his eye.

And then again. That feeling of being watched preyed on his mind. He looked around but saw nothing worth fretting over. Maybe he was the one imagining things all along. That had to be the only explanation…and then he thought he heard a shuffling in the leaves...

'John?' Anna said, laying a hand on his shoulder.

He nearly jumped out of his boots. 'Anna! You gave me a fright!'

'Whatever is the matter?'

'I was just...nevermind. Let's go home, all right?' He offered her his arm and she took it, looking up at him as she did so.

'You've been acting jumpy lately. You need to settle down.'

'What I need is my children and my wife with me at home. A good mug of tea and a few kisses. That will make me feel better.'

'How many is a few?' she asked him playfully.

'I think we can knock out the details once the children are asleep.' He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close as they walked through the back garden and neared the kitchen door.

...eyes followed them until they were home with their children, and when morning came, they would be there again, following the family's every movement. Lurking in the shadows... nervous, anxious. Waiting, praying, for just the right moment. But...would it ever come?

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November 5th, 1927 10:50pm

This will be very short, as it's so late. Oh, what a night! We won the Pub Quiz and that was so much fun. I'm not one to brag but I must say I did myself proud and we made quite a tidy sum for our charity.

Something else happened tonight. I met Will's Captain Finn and he's as real as I am. I had a nice, long conversation with him. I liked him and I can see why he would appeal to a boy's sense of adventure. I asked him how they met and he told he was sitting on a bench outside the hotel one morning a couple of weeks ago. He said the front door opened and a red ball came bouncing out, followed by our son. The ball stopped between the Captain's feet and he handed to Will, who promptly sat down and started asking questions and carrying on the most intelligent conversation he had heard from a young boy in many years. Those were his words but I couldn't agree more. Will is older than his years.

I said I hoped he hadn't been bothering him with his prattle, because I well know how he can go on. But he said, 'No, no, lass. I enjoy the little landlubber.' And you can't argue with that, I do too.

John didn't seem much pleased with him though. I called him over to introduce them, and I can't say John was rude to the man, but he certainly was standoffish. Afterwards John told me he just didn't feel all was right with his story. I think he's being silly, but I will keep closer tabs on Will until we know more.

My eyes are crossing so I'd better close for now and crawl into bed with my warm and cuddly husband. He looks like he's brooding.

~ Anna Bates

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November 6th 6:25am

Anna had hoped to sleep in a bit this morning, but here she lay staring at the back of her husband's head, his hair sticking out in all directions. He'd had a restless night, in fact this was the first time he'd been still, and with all his flailing around, Anna hadn't slept well either.

With little chance of drifting back off now she decided to get up and take a rare uninterrupted

bath. Slipping quietly from the bed she tiptoed to the door hoping the light from the hallway wouldn't wake him, when -

'Anna? Where're going, love? Come back to bed, huh…'

Anna sighed, she had so little time alone she hesitated to give up on her bath idea.

John opened an eye to peep at her poised in the dim light from the hall. 'What?'

'I...I was just looking forward to a quiet bath before the children woke up is all.' She made no movement toward the bed.

John considered this for a moment. 'Mmmm, a warm relaxing bath does sound good.'

"I suppose you could join me, if you wanted too…' she offered.

It sounded rather like a reluctant offer to him. 'No,you go on. Enjoy it. You deserve some Anna time,' He gave her an understanding smile. 'But save your water for me. I'll take one after.'

"I will. Oh, you don't mind a bit of rosewater in it, do you? Or do you think that will drive Daisy to distraction?' she teased.

John threw his pillow at her.

An hour later John walked into the kitchen, pink cheeked and freshly shaven, as indicated by the tiny pieces of toilet paper stuck to his neck and cheek.

He looked a little rough around the edges and Anna didn't hold back from telling him this, after all he'd kept her up all night with his tossing and turning. 'You look rough, John. You didn't sleep well last night?' She handed him a mug of tea and set a plate of buttery toast and some raspberry jam on the kitchen table.

'No...oh, did I keep you awake? You should have said and I would have moved to the sofa. It couldn't have been any worse. I'm sorry, darling.'

She waved him off with her hand. 'It's fine. I wouldn't have gotten my nice bath if I'd been able to sleep through your thrashing around. So, what is it?'

'Hmm, what's what? This jam is wonderful!' He tried to divert the conversation.

'Don't do that with me, John. It's that Captain Finn, isn't it?'

'No, of course not...alright, fine, yes.' He had a hard time hiding anything from Anna. 'I know you think it's silly, but I just don't trust him, Anna. And I'll tell you something else, I think it's him who has been following me around. All of us. The whole family. And I'm going to get to the bottom of it. You honestly like him, don't you? Why?'

'Well,' Anna searched her mind trying to find a reason John would understand. It was instinct or woman's intuition, she supposed. She just liked him. 'It's hard for me to explain. I just do. So when you're getting to the bottom of it just don't hurt anyone's feelings, especially your son's.'

John downed his tea and stood up from the table. 'I'll tread lightly, I will. But now I need to get to work. Give us a big old kiss, beautiful.'

And she did. 'John? The toilet paper.'

He stopped on his way out the back door. 'Huh?'

Anna motioned to her face. 'The pieces of toilet paper on your face.'

'Oh.' He reached up and pulled it off his cheek. 'There.'

'And your neck too…' And she booted him out the door.

'Oh, Anna…' He turned to look at her over his shoulder. 'Are you coming over to work today?'

'I will if you want me to.' Anna winked at him.

'You know I do. I like keeping my family close. There's nothing wrong with that, is there?'

'Nothing at all. See you in a couple of hours...and John, stay out of trouble.'

He just grinned and blew her a kiss.