Chapter Fifteen
Hello, Captain Gregg!
The following morning, Jonathan was standing at the bathroom sink in his nightwear, making a half-hearted attempt to brush his teeth. He wasn't paying much attention to what he was doing.
Also still dressed for bed, Candy was seated on the side of the bathtub holding her toothbrush. She was waiting her turn with ill-concealed impatience.
"Can't you brush your teeth any faster?" she complained. "This way we'll be here all tonight and half of next morning. And we don't have the time."
She tapped one foot. "It's Friday and a school day. You can waste all the time you want, when it's tomorrow. I'll be busy then, when my gang comes over."
Her brother pulled a face. "Yeah, well, I don't feel like brushing them. Not when Martha's leaving us for good. It isn't fair!"
"You don't feel like brushing them even when Martha's here!" Candy snapped back. "That's not fair, either!"
"Well, now I don't feel like brushing them double!" her brother moaned.
"Yeah, it won't be the same without Martha telling us to brush them all the time."
"Why does she have to go, anyway?"
"'Cause her family needs her, silly. It's what families do when they need each other."
"Well, we need her too," Jonathan defended. "Don't we? We're family too!"
"Sure!" His sister nodded. "If she's not around to remind us to brush twice a day, we're liable to lose all our teeth!"
"If she's not here we won't need them. There won't be any cookies." Jonathan walked away from the sink to wipe his hands and face.
"Yeah…" Candy stood up to take her turn brushing her teeth with slow, disinterested motions.
Finally finished, the two of them walked back to their bedroom where their mother was waiting to help them get dressed. Scruffy was lying on Jonathan's bed with his head on his paws. Not a single face was happy or smiling.
"Did you brush your teeth?" Carolyn asked.
"Yes, ma'am…" Jonathan replied morosely. "Does Martha really have to go, Mum? Can't you tell her to stay? She will if you say so."
Candy brightened. "Yeah, she would listen to you."
Carolyn shook her head. "I know how you two feel about Martha leaving us. But please, just remember, Martha is as sad about this as we are. But there's no getting around it. Her family needs her more than we do. We have to accept that and make the best of it."
"Well, nobody's as unhappy as me," Candy complained as she got dressed.
"Except me…" Jonathan sighed as he pulled on his clothing.
The Captain appeared behind them. "You know I am going to miss the good woman myself. I'll admit that's a rare thing for me to say. More than once, she's chased me from room to room with her confounded broom or that dreadful vacuum cleaner."
He shrugged. "But she is a rare woman who knows her place and keeps to it."
"I know it's wrong and we'll all miss her," Carolyn replied. "But it isn't fair to mope about it. We should be thinking about how we can make it easier for Martha to leave us. She's heartbroken enough as it is. We can't go on adding to her misery."
She hugged both the children. "So, what do you say? Let's put on some smiles for Martha. We want her to leave with happy memories, don't we?"
"Your mother is right," the Captain concurred. "I'm rather sorry she has no memory of me to take with her. I would like to wish her a fond bon voyage."
"Now, Captain…" Carolyn said warningly.
"Quite so, Madam. It is too late now, sadly. A crying woman unmans me. And a fainting woman is more than I care to handle. We must work to make Martha smile and remember us all with deep fondness. That's the ticket."
Candy brightened. "Mother… we had Jonathan's party. And we gave the Captain one, too. So, why don't we have a 'Going Away' party for Martha, tonight? I think she'd like that. We could give her presents for her trip and a cake."
"Good thinking, Candy," the Captain approved. "That will surely brighten the dear lady's aspect."
"She could bake us a whole barrel of cookies and cakes!" Jonathan added brightly. "Enough to last us for a while."
"The idea was to give her a party," his mother countered. "Not for her to give us one. And she'd never let us do it anyway. She'd hate us to make a fuss about her leaving. I can't say I blame her."
The Captain stroked his chin with one hand. "Then, might I suggest a surprise party, Madam? It has worked before. You kept mine from me very deftly."
"Good thinking, Captain!" Jonathan approved. "Yeah, that'd work!"
"Oh, yes! Can we, Mum?" Candy asked. "Please…"
"Yeah, can we?" Jonathan wondered. "I think she'd like that."
"Well, I'd have to pick you both up right after school today so we can go shopping and make the preparations…" Carolyn replied thoughtfully. "But, yes, I guess we could have a little dinner for her tonight before she leaves to catch her flight."
"All right!" Jonathan punched the air, and his dog began to bark.
"Thanks, Mum!" Candy hugged her.
"Shhh…" Carolyn waved her hands. "Keep it down, kids."
"Yes…" the Captain added. "Your mother said no long faces now Martha is leaving. But we wouldn't want her to think we're cheering about it either. We need to clear the decks, chart our course, and lay our plans with fine precision."
"Okay, Captain…" Jonathan saluted as both children nodded and smiled.
"Now, you two go on down and eat…" Carolyn encouraged. "I've already had my breakfast before Martha got up. But I think she has something special planned for you."
"Okay, Mom." Candy nodded.
"Race ya!" Jonathan shouted.
The children grabbed up their books and ran from the room. The Captain and their mother listened to them clattering down the stairs.
The Gull Cottage ghost rubbed one hand across his bearded chin. "Sadly, this new crisis of ours will call another necessary halt to our work on the manuscript. First my rules, and now this. It cannot be helped."
"Yes…" Carolyn sighed. "I know it must, for Martha's sake. And yet, she is my biggest fan, and she wants me to do so well with it all. She's heartbroken that she will not be here when we finally get it finished and send it away to Bridget."
She shook her head. "But my mind just isn't on the work," she said as she stood up from the side of the bed. "I miss Captain Webster, and I do miss dreaming about him. It has been too long now. But too much is about to change and not for the better."
"He will be there, waiting for you, my dear," the Captain reassured her. "That is the beauty of dreams. The pleasure of picking them up again from where we left them."
"I do hope so…" Carolyn nodded as they left the room together. "Because all our futures depend on Captain Webster and the Mary Anne even more so now that Matha will soon no longer be with us."
※※※※※
Martha was busy spreading cinnamon sugar on slices of buttered toast when the kids walked into the kitchen. In accordance with their mother's wishes, they were both smiling and cheerful.
"Good morning, Martha," Candy said brightly.
"Yeah. Hi, Martha," Jonathan added. "Nice day outside."
They took their seats at the table and continued to look happy and content. Martha frowned at them as she worked. "My, you two are bright and cheerful this morning. I've never seen such a smile, Candy."
"I'm smiling too, Martha," Jonathan pointed out, beaming widely.
"Well, I'm going to brighten those smiles even more, this morning. I've made your favourite breakfast, cinnamon toast." She placed the plate full of food on the table.
"Oh, boy!" Candy tucked in with gusto.
"How come?" Jonathan asked around a mouthful. "It isn't Tuesday."
"Well…" Martha replied. "It's your favourite and I just thought… well, that it would be nice for your last… uh…"
She frowned at both of them. "Didn't your mother tell you anything this morning?"
Candy frowned as she looked up from her toast. "The usual… brush your teeth… finish dressing… and hurry up so you won't be late for school."
Martha's brows knitted. "Didn't she tell you anything about my leaving tonight?"
"Oh, sure…" Candy nodded, trying to look casual. "She mentioned it."
"Kids…" Martha pulled her handkerchief from the pocket of her apron. "I know it's not going to be easy for any of us. I wish it didn't have to be so. I'm really going to miss you all."
The kids pretended to be ignoring her as they began to argue. "Your pieces is bigger than mine," Candy asserted.
"Yeah? Well, yours have more cinnamon on them," her brother countered.
"They do not!"
"They do, too!"
"Well, anyway…" Martha sighed. "I know it's not going to be easy on one of us!"
As she turned away, the kids quit squabbling and watched her sadly. The school bus honked outside as it drew up to the gate. When the housekeeper turned back to them, they quickly resumed their cheerful smiles.
Martha took a step forward. "Look, why don't I send the bus on, and I can drive you two to school for my last day here. We could have a nice cosy chat."
Candy wiped her mouth on her napkin and jumped up. "Thanks anyway, Martha! But we're good. Come on, Jonathan, or we'll miss the bus."
"So long!" Her brother waved as he jumped up from his seat.
Martha shook her head as she handed them their lunch boxes. "I'll tell you what. Why don't I pick you up after school and we'll have a little final outing in the park. We could take in the rides and then go for ice cream and—"
"Sorry, Martha," Candy replied quickly. "We can't make it today."
"Yeah, we've got something a lot more important to do after school," Jonathan added for good measure.
"See you later, then…" Candy waved one hand as she encouraged her brother to leave the kitchen ahead of her.
"See you, then…" Martha looked after them as they left the house.
She shook her head as she went back to her work. She knew Mrs Muir would be down soon and Martha had a whole list of things she needed to tell her.
※※※※※
After clearing the breakfast dishes, Martha decided it was a good idea if she showed Carolyn around the house, detailing some of the short cuts she used to make her work easier. The two women walked together into the service porch off the kitchen.
"I thought I'd better point out a few things 'cause I have a particular way of doing things. When you turn on the dryer and there's a clanking sound, don't be alarmed. Just turn it off, open the door and take out the electric iron." She opened the door and took out the appliance.
She smiled. "I keep it in there to remind me there's ironing to be done. I also have to remove Scruffy's bone."
She removed the offending article. "And when you need the ironing board, it's in the living room behind the curtains. I keep it there 'cause I like to watch the television while I'm ironing. Saves me time for later."
She turned back to the house. "Now, in the kitchen…"
"Could we please do the rest of it later, Martha?" Carolyn asked, following her.
"Just trying to be helpful, Mrs Muir," Martha replied stiffly. "You know how much I like to keep an orderly house. Even if I'm not here…" Her bottom lip quivered.
"Of course," Carolyn was quick to reply. "It's just that I've got a lot of things on my mind today. I've got a couple of people to see. Um, and then there's that P.T.A meeting I need to attend. Mrs Post wants to finalise the details for this year's A.G.M that we are having on Sunday over at Maybelle Gilbert's house. I'll be gone all day."
"And there's my leaving, of course," Martha added quietly. "You won't want to miss that."
"Oh, yes and your leaving," Carolyn agreed as she picked up her handbag from the table. "But I'll be driving you over to the airport tonight, so we can chat then."
She glanced at her wristwatch. "Well, I really have to get a move on…"
"As long as you're going to town, I have a list of things I need from the market…" Martha stalled her and pulled a folded piece of paper from her apron pocket. "Make sure you get the small onions… And have Stanley cut the meat personal for you…"
Carolyn accepted the list. "What's this for, Martha?"
The housekeeper pulled her handkerchief from the pocket of her apron. "Well, I know you wouldn't want me to leave before I've cooked everyone's favourite beef stew for our last dinner tonight. It seemed only right."
"Oh…" Carolyn waved one hand. "Don't worry about that, Martha. You've got enough to do with your packing and everything. You'll be far too busy getting ready to leave us."
She'd decided to drive into town to order the cake for the party. Then she would see Claymore and Ed Peevey. Once they knew Martha was leaving town, she knew they would want to come out to attend the surprise party. She was aware Ed would be particularly upset, but it was better this way to make a clean break. Send Martha on her way with all their best wishes.
Carolyn turned to leave the kitchen. "It's better if I whip up something for dinner. The kids will just have to get used to my cooking sooner or later…"
She put the list down on the table. "And don't you worry, I'll pick up the kids after school. You concentrate on making sure you pack everything before you catch your flight. I'll see you later on this afternoon. Bye, Martha." She managed to smile as she left the kitchen.
Martha stared after her. "It's sure nice to leave a family that doesn't cry its eyes out when they know you're going."
※※※※※
Claymore was sitting in his office chair behind his desk, wearing his green eyeshade of business. He was listening intently to a phone call he'd just taken.
"Some days, every time you pick up the phone, it's bad news, Martha," he said as much sympathy as he could muster at such short notice.
Privately, he was rejoicing. Maybe this was the first crack in Mrs Muir's armour, and she too would soon be leaving Gull Cottage behind. How would she cope without her housekeeper? He tried not to smile.
Once she and her kids were gone, he could pull the old place down and sell the land as he'd always dreamed of doing. There was an outside chance that Marcus Cornell was still interested in buying the land. He'd heard the property magnate wasn't happy with any of the offerings over in Beacon Cove.
He gathered himself from the pleasant daydream as he listened to the Muir's housekeeper prattling on. "Oh yes, I see. And the news of your leaving must the worst, Martha. I mean, I know how much I've truly valued our association. It's been cordial, warm and friendly…" He stopped talking, thinking he'd said enough.
"… and profitable, Martha," Martha replied with a sniff.
"Yes, well, what's a little profit between friends," Claymore wheedled. "All I know is a very good compadre is leaving me for pastures greener than Schooner Bay. No more snow or northerly gales…"
A new thought occurred to him. "Say, who's handling your flight insurance?" He tugged at his green eyeshade and cleared his throat.
"The airport," Martha replied tersely. "I get twenty-five thousand for twenty-five cents."
"Great deal…" Claymore grouched.
"Claymore…" Martha continued. "I just phoned you to tell you to transfer the policy you've already sold to me. I thought maybe you could come by the house tonight and drop it off. We could have a goodbye cup of coffee together."
"Come over, you say… Well, I—" Claymore was about to make his excuses when Carolyn opened the door to his office and walked in. She immediately waved her hands in a shushing motion to indicate he wasn't to reveal her presence.
"Oh, I see, Martha. Ah ha…" Claymore pointed to the receiver. "Come over tonight? Well, I don't see why I couldn't come over, but—"
Carolyn shook her head as she quickly crossed the floor to the chair before his desk. 'No, you can't…' she mouthed silently. 'You're too busy…'
"Um… just a second, Martha…" he prevaricated. "I'll need to consult my diary. I could be busy tonight." He lowered the receiver and covered the mouthpiece with his hand.
Carolyn leaned closer. "We're planning a surprise party for Martha tonight. Tell her you're busy and you can't make it. Be convincing."
Claymore nodded quickly. He returned to the phone call. "I'm really sorry, Martha. I just checked and I seem to be busy tonight. All night. In fact, I have date with a lovely lady of long acquaintance."
He smiled at Carolyn and gave her a thumbs up. "Why don't I just mail the policy to your new address, instead? Makes sense to me. Um, goodbye, Martha. Happy trails."
He dropped the receiver back into its cradle before Martha could reply. He frowned at Carolyn. "I'm not used to telling lies to those I care about," he said stiffly.
"Since when?" Carolyn shook her head at him. "It's never worried you before. But we all want it to be a surprise. We want her to leave for Florida with only happy memories of her time with us."
"Well, I do like surprises…" Claymore nodded. "Especially when they're for me. But for Martha, I'll make an exception."
"Good…" Carolyn stood up. "Can you be there by eight?"
"I'll be there. I might even bring a little going away present. In fact, I know just the gift. I'll give her flight insurance." He shrugged. "What's twenty-five cents between friends?"
"Claymore…" Carolyn replied in a long-suffering tone as she walked toward the office door. "Don't anyone ever tell you that you don't have a heart. I need to see Ed Peevey now." She smiled at him as she left, closing the door behind her.
"I'd pay double that amount if you and your kids decided to leave for good," her landlord grouched. "You're sitting on a fortune in property, and I can't sell it because of him. But, if you decided to move on, then maybe good old Great-Uncle Gregg would follow you. Without him around, I might even find his stash of gold and jewels. I just know it's there somewhere…"
He tugged his green eyeshade more firmly onto his forehead. "If only all such dreams would come true…"
He frowned down at his blotter. The note with Marcus Cornell's telephone number was still tucked under the edge. His fingers itched to be able to dial it and make the magnate an offer he couldn't refuse.
"Blast…" Claymore's shoulders slumped with chagrin.
※※※※※
Ed Peevey shook his head slowly in disbelief. "Martha's leaving us? I can hardly believe it. She never said a word to me."
He was behind the counter of his home repair shop, still working on fixing the plug for a lamp. But his attention was no longer on the task. "Don't seem possible somehow," he said to Carolyn, who was watching him with sympathy.
"She only found out last night. It's a blow to us all, Mr Peevey. She's a fine woman. I know you like her a lot."
Peevey nodded. "She's one of the finest, Mrs Muir. Always thought my sister was a good cook. But Martha nips her by a nose when it comes to cherry pies. Sure gonna miss her."
"We all are. It's a very sad day for our family."
"Well, me especially…" Peevey sighed as he finished with the lamp and turned to plug it into the wall socket. "Band concerts and square dancing. We sure know how to cut a rug. Then there's the Saturday night movies…"
He sighed again. "Thursday nights are always a half-price special at the drive-in. We never miss unless it's raining. If so, then we stay in and watch her favourite television show. She surely likes them song and dance men. And she's all into those musical stage shows."
He raised his sad eyebrows and sniffed. "You know, us old bachelors don't often find as fine a woman as Martha. She surely knows how to treat a man right."
His shoulders drooped. "Yeah, it's gonna be mighty lonely around here without her, Mrs Muir." He pulled the chain on the lamp he'd just fixed and nothing happened. He pulled it again with the same result.
Carolyn smiled gently as she picked up a light bulb from the counter and held it out to him. "Might help if you put a bulb in it."
Peevey took it sheepishly and tilted up the lamp to look inside the shade. "Even more shook up than I figured. I's totally discombobulated and that's a sure fact."
Carolyn nodded. "I know. We're feeling the same. Look, the children and I are having a little dinner party for Martha at the house tonight. We're hoping you'd come."
Peevey inserted the bulb into the lamp. "A band of wild, flamin' Hottentots couldn't keep me away! It'd be my pleasure! One last dance, you might say."
"But we really want to keep it as a surprise," Carolyn cautioned. "You know how Martha hates any fuss or bother. She can't say no, if she doesn't know."
"Don't worry, Mrs Muir…" Peevey beamed at her. "My lips are sealed."
"Good." Carolyn nodded. "Now if you could come around—"
The telephone beside Peevey rang and he excused himself to pick it up. "Just a minute, Mrs Muir…"
He cleared his throat. "Ed Peevey speaking… Oh, hello, Martha. How nice to hear from you. I trust there's nothin' the matter with that vacuum cleaner I fixed for you the other day."
"Ed…" Martha replied quickly. "There's no way to sugar coat it or gussy it up. I've got some kind of sudden news for you. I hate to tell you like this, but I have to go away. I have to fly down to Florida. I'll be leaving on the last flight out tonight."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, Martha." Peevey winked at Carolyn. "I do hope you get some nice weather for your flight. I hear Florida's lovely at this time of year."
"I guess you don't understand me, Ed…" Martha tried again. "It's not just for a visit. I'm going… well, indefinitely. Tonight's my last night in town."
"Oh, is that so, Martha?" Peevey clung to his bright tone. "And you thought you'd call and tell me. That's right nice of you."
Martha sighed. "Tonight's my last evening here, Ed."
"Well, it sure looks like you'll have a nice night for it…" Peevey gave Carolyn a thumbs-up and she nodded as she held up seven fingers to indicate the time for the party.
Peevey nodded and winked as he watched Carolyn left the shop. His expression fell as he went back to his conversation. "A fine night for it, for sure."
Martha gave a small sigh. "I thought you might have a suggestion that'd make it an even nicer one!"
"Oh yeah," Peevey agreed. "Maybe I do at that."
"You do?" Martha asked.
"There's that real good show on the television you don't like to miss. They got all sorts of new acts. There's some good singers on it too. Remember, there was that fine looking young man who sang some songs from that 'My Fair Lady' show that you like so much. And they've got some great dancers, as well."
"Thanks a lot, Ed!" Martha fumed down the line. "I thought I might bake a nice cherry pie. How about us watching that television show together like we always do?"
"Sorry, Martha. Can't make it tonight. If I get a chance, though, I'll stop in during the day. If not, I'll call you tonight to say goodbye and bon voyage. Bye…" Peevey smiled as he hung up before Martha could answer.
※※※※※
"Well, I guess I didn't need to sugar coat it or gussy it up for him…" Martha frowned at the telephone receiver in her hand. "So long, Ed. Two whole years of my best cherry pies, washed right down the drain…"
She replaced the receiver in the cradle and walked back into the kitchen. She spent some time in the kitchen, taking out her frustrations on some hapless bread dough. She finally plonked the well-kneaded lump into a nearby bowl and covered it with a clean dish cloth. She was wiping her rinsed hands on her apron when she heard the telephone ring.
She walked out of the kitchen and answered its strident summons. "Muir residence?" She nodded. "Yes, operator, this is she… Oh, hello, Evelyn."
She listened. "Earlier? Yes, of course, I can manage that. I guess I can try and catch the earlier plane later on this afternoon. No, it's no trouble…"
She sighed sadly. "No trouble to anyone at all. It seems I'm not needed around here as much as I thought. Bye, Evelyn. I'll see you soon."
She put the phone down, shaking her head. Pulling a handkerchief from her apron pocket, she blew her nose and wiped her eyes. She cast one last look around the warm, cozy kitchen and grimaced.
"See ya, Martha. It's been nice knowing you. We'll really miss you. Come back any time…" She turned from the room and walked with lagging steps toward her bedroom at the back of the house.
The Captain materialised in the open doorway behind her. He'd overheard her telephone call, and it had alarmed him.
He stared after her pensively, stroking his bearded chin thoughtfully with one hand. "If there's one thing I cannot stand, it's to see a woman cry…"
※※※※※
Martha walked into her bedroom and stopped. She leaned her shoulder against the doorframe for a moment, gathering herself for the lonely task ahead. She was about to pack up her whole life and move on. Leave behind all the people who mattered to her. People she had come to love as her own family.
"And they don't seem to care if I go or stay…" she complained as she pushed away from the door and walked to her wardrobe. "So much for the last seven years that I've given them…"
She pulled a suitcase from the top shelf of the wardrobe and opened it on the bed. She walked to her bureau drawers and dragged them open. She began to carry neatly folded piles of clothing to the case. She resorted to her handkerchief again as she continued her lonely task.
She stopped and picked up a framed photograph from the top of the bureau. She stared at it with her handkerchief pressed to her trembling lips. It was an informal shot of Carolyn and the children, smiling happily at the camera.
"Well, at least, I'll miss you!" Martha said in a broken tone. "Even if you won't miss me…"
She rallied and went on with her packing. More piles of clothes were added to her suitcase as she continued to mutter to herself.
The Captain stood outside the bedroom, listening to Martha's soft crying. He began to pace uncomfortably. Scruffy was sitting on the chair beside the half-open door. The dog whined softly.
"I feel the same way, Scruffy," the Captain replied. "If there's anything more, I cannot abide, it's having to listen to a woman cry."
He looked up and down the hallway restlessly. "Where is Mrs Muir? Or the children? They're like a policeman. Never around when you need one." He continued to pace as he listened to the soft sounds of distress.
He turned back in agitation. "We simply cannot allow her to leave before the party… and thinking no one of us cares for her."
He stared at the dog. "But what can we do about it?"
Scruffy whined and sat up.
"That's it!" The Captain replied. "Maybe some of your tricks will help distract her and cheer her up. In you go, lad! Do your best!" He pointed into the room and the dog jumped down and dashed inside.
Martha had just taken a dress from the wardrobe when the animal dashed in and jumped up onto the bed beside the open suitcase. He barked for her attention.
Martha looked up. "Well, it's nice to see that at least one of this family cares about my leaving. Thank you, Scruffy."
Scruffy barked again and stood up on his hind legs, turning a slow circle. Martha stopped crying and watched. Emboldened by her attention, the dog did a couple more tricks.
Martha is so entranced she reached out and hugged the dog. "Why, you sweet thing. Trying to cheer me up like that. If only…"
That thought made her sad all over again and she resumed her soft crying. The dog whined and looked helpless. He jumped down and ran from the room. He jumped back onto the chair beside the door.
"Gallant try, lad," the Captain approved. "I guess it's up to me to stop the woman from leaving before anyone gets home." He shook his head as he dematerialised.
In her bedroom, Martha was still packing from her bedside cabinet. She stopped every now and then to wipe her eyes. She turned away from her suitcase and didn't see the dress she'd just packed float back out of the suitcase and hang itself up on the inside of the open wardrobe door.
She turned to pack her personal items and stopped to stare. She frowned as she turned to the wardrobe to see her dress hanging up. She stared at it for a moment, unsure of what to think. She walked to the dress and took it down again.
Behind her back, a pile of folded sweaters floated out of her suitcase and back into the bureau's top drawer. Martha returned with the dress in her hand and stopped dead.
"Oh, now this is getting silly," she exclaimed. "I could have sworn I put my sweaters in there just now."
Worried now and confused, she put the dress down and walked back to the open drawer. She frowned at the neat pile of sweaters right where she had got them from.
"I'm so confused I don't know what I'm doing any more!" she declared in a trembling voice.
She picked up the picture of Carolyn and the children. "I should have listened to the employment agency ten years ago! One family is much like any other. Don't get attached and don't ever look back!"
She walked back to her suitcase with the picture still in her hand. She fought not to break down completely. "After all we've been through. After everything that's happened. I can't truly believe that this really is goodbye…"
She slumped down onto the side of the bed. She stared at the picture. "Go on, smile your heads off while my poor heart is breaking."
She placed the picture carefully into her case. Scruffy ran back into the room. He jumped up onto chair beside the bed and stared at her, whining pitifully.
The Captain appeared in the corner of the room in front of the open wardrobe. He watched the housekeeper with sympathy and deep concern. "Martha…" he said softly. "Please do not cry. Not over a family who loves you as much as this one."
Martha frowned at the dog with tears in her eyes. "I just can't help it, Scruffy. I—"
She froze, staring at the animal. She realised there was no one else in the room but her and the dog. "Scruffy?" she questioned in shock. "Is that you?"
"No, it is I, Martha," the Captain replied gently.
Martha turned slowly, her eyes widening with shock. Her mouth worked but nothing came out as she stared at the man standing in front of her. She could barely assimilate that he was the very image of the man downstairs in the painting above the fireplace.
But he seemed even more handsome and looked very much alive. And in her room!
"Oooohhh…" she groaned and fell back onto the bed in a deep faint.
"Blast…" the Captain exclaimed ruefully. "I was afraid something like that might happen. And I was doing my best to appear unthreatening."
He sighed as he looked up at the dog seated beside the bed. "What to do now, boy? What to do? And where in God's good name is Mrs Muir!"
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