Rating: K+


Father's Day

      Candy came home, completely disturbed.  She had spent two weeks with friends at a girls' camp. Her mother wasn't home yet when she got into the house. She threw her bag in full rage against the floor in the corridor, passed Martha without greeting her and ran up the stairs to her room and slammed the door behind her.
      Martha was completely baffled because she had never seen Candy like this. Not knowing what had so upset the girl, she went upstairs to ask Candy what had happened. She knocked at the door but gotten no answer, so she went in.
      Candy lay face down on her bed and had buried her head in the pillow.  It seemed that she was crying. "Candy, why are you lying down on your bed?" Martha wanted to know  with concern in her voice.  "Please tell Martha what has you so upset? Did you have some trouble  at girls' camp, or what's the  matter? Has somebody hurt you?"
     "Please Martha, would you leave me alone?  I won't talk about it   right now,  I only want to lie down for the rest of my live. And I   won't talk to anyone again." Candy called with a crying voice.
     Since Martha was sure she wouldn't get an answer from Candy, she  left the room and went back downstairs. She was just in the kitchen   when Captain Gregg materialized before her."Martha, I heard noises  like running steps and a slamming door. What's going on here?" Daniel wanted to know because he hadn't become aware that Candy had come into  the house.
     "Candy!" was Martha only comment.
     "Candy? I don't understand.  Did she come home just now? I  haven't heard her."
     "Naturally, Captain, Candy was the one who came into the house.  And of course you couldn't have heard her because she ran dumb as a  fish up the stairs to her room. And she was the one who slammed that  door. Captain, she doesn't want to speak with me, more exactly said, she doesn't want to talk to anyone. I don't know what I should do now."
      "Maybe I can do something. I'll try to find out what Candy has  so upset. I'll talk with her." and he vanished.
      "Good luck, Captain!" Martha called after him. 'I couldn't find out what's wrong with Candy, so how should a man/ghost like the Captain have more luck than I?  Men!' she continued in her thoughts.
         Candy was still burning her face in the pillow when Daniel  materialized beside her bed. "Candy, please looked at me and tell me  what has happened.  I know, Martha told me you do not want to speak to anyone anymore. But what about me, Captain Gregg?  You know, you can tell me everything. I know something terrible bothers you and I want to know what it is. Let it out and that will make you feel better."
          "I can't, Captain. Please..." she wanted to continue but stopped before saying something wrong. She knew she must talk with someone about her feelings, so why not with the Captain?  He was more than only a friend to her, he was like a father to her and Jonathan.
      Candy lifted her face up from the pillow, put her feet on the ground and sat straight on the edge of the bed. Daniel took the place beside her on the bed. "So, that's much better. And no more crying, my dear. Now tell me what has happened while you were at girls' camp and why you are so upset."
     Candy began with her story. "The first week was very fabulous, much fun and I got close to two new girls from another city and I spend most of my time with them. Till then, everything was wonderful but then...." Candy couldn't continue because she was too upset. New tears rose into her eyes.
      Daniel noticed it but what could he do. He knew he could touch everyone in the family if he wanted, but should he?  He wanted to hold Candy in his arms and show her that she wasn't alone, but he couldn't know how she would react. So only he sat beside her and tried to calm her down. He had the feeling that the whole thing must have something to do with things only adults talk about. "Please Candy, don't cry again, you know I can't stand it. Let out what really so bothers you and you will feel better."
     Candy lifted up her face and looked in the blue of Daniel's eyes. She knew she could talk with him about everything. "I'll tell you, Captain. It was in the second week, a new girl from Philadelphia came in to the camp to join us." the girl continued. "She was very arrogant, self opinionated and blastedly underhanded, no one liked her."
      Daniel had to smile about the word BLASTED which had come out of Candy's mouth. He wanted to tell her that BLAST wasn't a ladies word but couldn't bring himself to say it. "What happened then?" he wanted to know.
       Candy continued. "On the second day in that week, I was playing a game with Sarah and Sandy, that's the names of the two girls, when this other girl in her arrogant way appeared and our game was interrupted. The three of us were not filled with enthusiasm about that interruption. But this didn't seem to disturb her, on the contrary she had the nerve to tell me that she wanted to speak with  me, alone, without witnesses." Now Candy was in full rage and it was no longer difficult for her to speak about everything what had happened because she felt so safe in the nearness of the Captain.
        Suddenly Daniel came a terrible suspicion what Candy wanted to say but he wasn't sure whether his feeling were right about his thoughts.  So he encouraged Candy telling him the whole story. "What did she really want from you, Candy? Tell me!"
       "Alright, I'll tell you.  Because I was curious, I consented to speak with her, alone. She had had the nerve to tell me that her father wanted to marry my mother and that we both would become sisters. That was too much, so I told her very angrily that I didn't believe her and that my mother never would do such a thing. And then I wanted  to know where had she heard that and when this arrangement between my mother and her father supposedly happened."
      Daniel felt the rage and the jealousy highly increased in him. But  he tried keeping his real feelings under control in Candy's presence.  It was damned difficult for him but he managed it.  "So, what did she give you for an answer?" he wanted to know. "And more important, Candy,you haven't told me the name of that girl."
     "Oh pardon, Captain. Her name is Melanie Greenwood. And now, may I continue?"
      "Of course!"
      "Melanie told me that my mother and her father were once in the same high school and that he was very crazy about her at school. He had bothered my mother all the time, saying she should go out with him, but she always gave him the cold shoulder.  And then they met again when my mother was in Boston at her high school reunion four weeks ago. And he hit on her again. Melanie had the nerve to tell me  that this time their meeting ended differently. And my mother has fallen in love with her father and that they want to meet again. And  that they, at this next meeting, would plan their wedding. By the way, his name is Phillip Greenwood. BLAST! BLAST!BLAST!"
       'No wonder, Candy is so upset.' Daniel thought and he began to smile when Candy used the word BLAST again and his internal jealousy arose again 'That's my girl.' he thought. 'And I must find out what's  really going on here.' Now he remembered that Carolyn had come home from this class reunion very confused and absent-minded. 'That's what really bothered you, Carolyn. Now wait, my dear, we'll talk about  that. Now you can evade me no longer.' and in the direction of Candy, he said, "Leave everything to me, Candy. I'll take care of it." and with that, he vanished and left a very thoughtful but now happy Candy.
             **********
       Now Daniel was pacing the attic and thinking over the whole affair about which Candy had told him. His mood began to deteriorate. In his jealous rage, he produced a terrible storm with loud thunder.  At this time, he couldn't know that he was been watched by Mr. Turner, who was very pleased with the rolling thunder. 'This time I will win the game and take your soul with me, Captain Gregg.' he began to feel triumphant already.
     Very late that evening, Carolyn came home. Through that terrible storm and thunder, it had taken her longer to get home. Two miles before Gull Cottage, she had got stuck in the mud with her car. She had called for the Captain but  seemed that he hadn't heard her calling.  Somehow, she had managed to get out of the mud without any help from other people. Now she was totally soaked. She was in a very bad mood because she hadn't an idea why the Captain had made it so stormy and the way so slippery.
      Martha was waiting for Mrs. Muir in the living room. She had been worried because Carolyn hadn't come home at the time she had promised.  Martha had spoken with the Captain about that thunder and storm outside and that she was worried about Mrs. Muir. But he hadn't paidany attention to her.  He had simple vanished without saying a word. Now Martha wondered what Candy could have told the Captain that he was so reserved.  While her thoughts swirled, she heard the front door open. Martha got to her feet to see who was coming in.  She was taken aback when she saw it was Mrs. Muir and she was totally soaked and cursed terribly. "What's happened, Mrs. Muir and why you are so soaked?" Martha asked, curious.
       "Where is he?" Carolyn cried without paying any attention to Martha's questions.
       "I don't know, Mrs. Muir!" Martha tried to look confused. "I haven't seen the Captain since Candy came home." which, of course, was a neat lie from her.
       "Candy is home?" finally now Carolyn paid attention to Ms Grant.
       "Yes, she came at two o'clock. Mrs. Muir, you should get into dry clothes before you catch a cold." Martha suggested.
       Now Carolyn began to shiver as her anger left a little bit but not totally. "You are right, Martha. I think I'll take a hot bath and go to bed." While she ran upstairs, she yelled into the empty air.  "BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! Why?" but she got no answer.
        After she had taken a hot bath, she went back to her room.  Now she felt very tired, so she got into bed. She fell asleep the moment she lay down her head.  Then she was dreaming, but that dream was increasingly wild and full of jealousy and fighting. She couldn't know that Mr. Turner had given her that dream.
  ***************
     The next morning, Carolyn woke up with an internal heat she had never felt before. She sat straight in her bed now. She knew something was wrong, but what?  She tried to analyze her dream. She couldn't believe that she had actually fought with Captain Gregg like a man. Both had reacted very jealously again.  Could it be that she had had that dream because she was frustrated about the fact that she would never actually be able to touch the Captain, be held by him, kiss him or maybe make love with him?
      No, that couldn't be the real reason for that dream, that was silly.  She would try to continue the analysis of that dream later. First, she had to find out why the road had been so slippery so that she had got stuck with her car in the mud.
       Carolyn knew the Captain had been the cause for that terrible weather outside, yesterday. But why had he done that and why he hadn't come to help her when she had called for him?  And then she remembered, Martha had told her that Candy had come home. The bed couldn't hold her any longer, so she got up and put on her bathrobe. When she opened the bedroom door, she smelled coffee from downstairs.
       When she came in the kitchen door, she was greeted by Martha. "Good morning, Mrs. Muir. Did you have a good night's sleep, after your trouble with the car yesterday?"
       Carolyn noticed Martha's smug smile. "Good morning, Martha. To answer your question and tell the truth, I had a terrible sleep with a very violent dream. But I don't want to talk about it right now, okay?  I need some coffee first.  Oh, by the way, have you seen the Captain this morning?  I called for him last night but he didn't appear. Martha, tell me, has something terribly happened when I was in Keystone?"
      "Nothing that I can remember, Mrs. Muir. Really!" Martha tried to sound convincing but she knew it wouldn't work and she thought, 'Martha, why didn't you tell her that Candy came home like a fury, threw her bag with rage against the floor in the corridor, then was running up the stairs silent as a fish and had slammed the bedroom door behind her?  And that the only one to whom she had spoken had been  Captain Gregg. No, you can't do that, Martha. Think, Mrs. Muir has trouble enough.'
       Carolyn didn't believe her, she was about to ask a further question but was interrupted by a knock at the front door. "Who can that be, so early in the morning, Martha?"
        "I don't know, Mrs. Muir. But I'll take a look to see who is there." with that Ms Grant was out the kitchen door. She opened the front door and before her stood a young lady she had never seen before.
  "Can I help you?" Martha wanted to know. "And what's more, who are you?"
         "I am Ms Wood." the young lady answered, very richly. "And may I ask, with whom do I have the pleasure to speak?"
         "I'm Martha Grant, the housekeeper." came Martha's prompt answer. "May I ask you now, with whom do you want to speak and why?"
        "Very nice to meet you, Ms Grant. And to answer your question, I want to talk with Candace Muir." Ms Wood said.
         "Candy? I don't understand. Does she know you?" Martha was now very curious.
         Before Ms Wood could give an answer, Candy came running down the stairs in a big hurry, because she had heard Ms Wood's voice. "Hey, Ms Wood. Terribly sorry that I didn't say goodbye to you when I left the camp."
         Martha was baffled, Candy looked suddenly much happier then yesterday when she came home.  Martha was totally confused now. Her thoughts swirled. 'What could have happened between Captain Gregg and Candy that she is now happier then yesterday?' And now she remembered about the Captain's face the last time she had spoken with him. He had had a very devilish gleam in his eyes.
         Candy noticed Ms Grant's absent-mindedness, so she said to the lady. "Please, come in, Ms Wood.  We should go to my room. There we can have a chat, from woman to woman." Candy ignored Martha and her mother, who was standing in the kitchen doorway and had gotten half of the conversation.
         Ms Wood and Candy went up the stairs to the children's room. "Martha!" came Carolyn's yell and Martha jumped at her voice.
         "Yes, Mrs. Muir." Martha turned around and faced Carolyn. Both had a totally bewildered look on their face.
         "Did you see that? Candy totally ignored me. What's going on here?" This was too much, Carolyn must find out what was going on right under her nose. "Martha, you better tell me what happened yesterday."
         "You are right, Mrs. Muir." Ms Grant closed the front door and both females went into the living room and made themselves comfortable and Martha began to tell what all happened yesterday.
        After she had finished, Carolyn was a little taken aback. "Martha, did I heard right?  She only talked with Captain Gregg and no one else?" First, Carolyn must find out why Candy had been so upset and second, what she had told the Captain.
         "Yes, Mrs. Muir, you heard right, the Captain was the only one with whom Candy spoke."  Now Martha was curious, too.
          "Alright, Martha, I'll go upstairs and get dressed and then..." Carolyn didn't finish, she simply left the room.
          "Good luck, Mrs. Muir!" Martha called after her, knowing exactly what Carolyn wanted to do.  And she still had no idea what curious experience Carolyn had had at her class reunion, because Mrs. Muir had said nothing about the reunion.
          Carolyn reached the childroom, stopped and listened but she could only hear a whispering. She wanted to knock but then decided to talk later with her daughter, first she had to find Daniel.
      ************
         Two hours had passed for Carolyn without seeing the Captain. But before she could make a search for Daniel, she got a phone call. She picked it up and answered, not knowing who was on the other
 end. "Hello!"
          "Carolyn, is that you?" a rough man's voice called.
          "Yes! Who are you?" Carolyn was very indignant.
          "This is Phillip, darling." came Mr. Greenwood's amused voice.
          "Phillip, who? You tell me immediately who are you or...." Carolyn was very angry now.
          "Phillip Greenwood, my angel, of course. We met again at the class reunion, remember?"
          In her excitement, Carolyn dropped the phone. She had thought never to hear from this man again. She was tired of being annoyed by him every time. Why was he calling now?  She had given him to understand that she never wanted to see him again, let alone wanted to marry him.
          "Carolyn, are you still there?" Phillip called a little bit fiercely into the phone.
          Carolyn recovered from her first shock. "Yes, I'm still here, Phillip.  Just between us, once and for all clearly, I do not want to see you again. I hope you finally get this. And don't begin again that I shall marry you, my answer is and will be always, no! Is that clear!" Carolyn cried the last words loudly in the phone so that any clearly-thinking person would get it.
          Mr. Turner, who was standing beside Phillip during the call, had gotten the whole conversation, SO he said. "I told you, Mr. Greenwood, that it wouldn't be that simple to get Mrs. Muir as your wife. You must work a lot more fiercely to bring her away from the only man she wants." Of course, Mr. Turner concealed from Phillip that he would have the spirit of Captain Gregg as rival.
          "What shall I do now?" Phillip wanted to know.
          "I'll tell you, hang up for now, so that Mrs. Muir believes you will give up your plan to marry her. Which, of course, isn't the case!  Instead, go to Schooner Bay and bother her again. Believe me, that will work much better than anything."
          Mr. Turner was very enthusiastic about his new plan. He already looked forward to it fiendishly, this time definitely getting Captain Gregg into his hands.  But what he couldn't suspect was that an angel, in the form of Ms Wood, held her protective hand over Gull Cottage.
                   *************
       Daniel had retired for a while to think about his further strategy. He hated the thought of maybe losing Carolyn forever. Something must be done and this immediately. First he had to find out what really happened at the class reunion and what type of man this Phillip Greenwood was.  He must talk with Carolyn and that immediately. 'Served her right that she got stuck with her car in the mud.' he thought.
     Daniel materialized beside his telescope, unnoticed by Carolyn. When he saw her at the phone, his thoughts swirled again. 'Candy was right, Carolyn did plan a wedding with this miserable excuse of Greenwood.'  His jealous anger arose again. But then, what was that? Did he heard right? She actually told the man he should leave her alone and what's more, she wasn't going to marry Mr. Greenwood.
   Daniel felt much happier now. But wait, if Greenwood wasn't the man she wanted, who then?  Could it be that there was still another rival he didn't know about? So his jealousy was still there. He must find out.
     Suddenly, he heard a whispering of a female's voice. "Try it, Captain, and touch Carolyn. Only in that way will you know what she really feels about you."
     "I can't!" Daniel wasn't sure how Carolyn would react. Would she be frightened and tell him he should go away?  He couldn't stand it should she react that way.
      "Captain, do it!" came the angel's convincing voice again. "It's your only way, believe me. She wants you and no one else. But if you don't try it, you will maybe lose her forever."
     The voice was right, he wanted Carolyn more than anything else but he wouldn't admit it.  Carolyn had just hung up when she got the feeling she was been watched. She knew the Captain was in the room with her. She turned around and there he was, standing by the telescope as big as life.  Oh, how she loved him. "Captain, I thought you didn't want to speak with me anymore."  Now she had tears in her eyes because of her
  happiness. When he didn't answer her, she got up from her chair and joined him by the telescope.
      Suddenly she felt herself swept into the Captain's arms. "Wha....? she was speechless.
      Daniel misinterpreted her reaction wrong and wanted to vanish but Carolyn stopped him. "Please, don't go. How is it possible that I finally can feel you, Daniel?"
      "I should have known you wouldn't like it."
      "That's not what I meant. I like it very much. Do you realize how many times I have wanted to feel you, to be in your arms?  I'm only wondering how this is possible now."
       "We should take it as a miracle that just happened. Carolyn, I've wanted you from first moment I saw you."
       "Daniel!"
       "Yes, my dear!"
       "How long will it last?
       "I don't know, Carolyn."
       Carolyn put her arms around Daniel's neck and offered him her lips. "Kiss me! We shouldn't waste any more time." she suggested.
       Daniel didn't need to be told twice, he simply did it. The kiss they shared was long and fiery.  The angel watched them a few minutes longer, then disappeared and went back to the children's room and to Candy.
        Back in the children's room, Ms. Wood said to Candy. "Now that we have talked about the whole thing, Candy, I think you should go to your mother and tell her what happened in camp. That's the best way to find out what your mother really thinks."  The angel decided not to tell Candy that everything was alright between the Captain and her mother. Candy should find out by herself.
       "Ms. Wood, I can't. I...."  She didn't finish, but then she knew Ms Wood was right, she must talk with her mother. "I'll do it." Candy said finally.
        "Good girl."
        Candy made her way to the master bedroom. She knocked at the door and called. "Mom, are still in there? I must talk with you."
        Inside the room, Daniel was still kissing Carolyn. Both jumped when they heard Candy's voice calling from outside. "Daniel."
        "Yes, my dear."  He knew what she meant and vanished but he would be back later when they could be sure their time wouldn't be interrupted.
        "Come in, Candy." her mother called.
        The girl opened the door and came in. "Mom, I'm so sorry that I ignored you this morning. Can you forgive me?"
        "Of course, Candy. Now tell your mother, how was camp and what so bothers you?"
        Candy began to tell her mother the whole story.  Carolyn listened spellbound to Candy's voice. After the girl had finished, she asked her daughter a question. "Candy, did you really think I would marry a man I don't love?"
        "No! But Melanie was so convincing that I believed you would.... Oh, Mommy, I was so stupid. I should have known better, that you wouldn't do such a thing." and then she hugged her mother.
        "That's alright. I know some people have the habit of doing such bad things."
        "Oh, Mom! By the way, can Ms Wood stay for awhile?"
        "Was she one of your camp managers?"
        "Yes, Mother. Can she?"
        "Of course she can, Candy. If it means that much for you, she should stay for awhile. She can have the spare room."
        "Thank you, Mom." Candy was much happier now that she knew that her mother didn't want to marry Mr. Greenwood. She was on the way to the door when she stopped and turned around. "But what will the Captain say about us having a guest?" she was a little bit worried.
        Carolyn noticed it and calmed her daughter down. "He will let her stay, believe me, Candy. Now off with you!"
        Carolyn felt much better now that she had finally talked with her daughter about the whole affair. And that there were no more misunderstandings between her and Daniel.
                **************
        Later that day, Martha was with Ed Peevey again.  Jonathan got home from his trip. He ran into the house and called. "Anyone home? I'm back!"
        "We are in the living room, Jonathan." came Candy's voice.
        "Oh, there you are." Jonathan called happily when he came into the room. "I've missed you all."  Then he noticed that another female was in the room with his sister and his mother. "Oh, pardon, I didn't have any idea that we have a guest. Who are you?"
         "Jonathan." his mother called, a little bit angry.
         "Don't get angry with your son, Mrs. Muir. It's okay. I'm Ms Wood, my boy. Seems you had fun, too, during your trip, I'd say."
         "Hey Ms Wood." Jonathan said richly. "Oh yes, I had a lot of fun. And how did everything go for everyone here while I was away?"
         "Everything is fine here, Jonathan." Candy answered.  She had wanted to say something else but then she didn't after her mother had shot her a warning glance.
         "Oh good." but the boy wasn't quite convinced. "Where is....?" but he didn't finish because he had got the same warning glance from his mother.
         "Well, we're all home now, what does everyone think about a nice walk down the beach?" Carolyn suggested. "In this way, Jonathan could talk about his trip."
          "Marvelous idea, mom." came the children's voices at the same time. And Candy continued. "Will you come with us, Ms Wood?"
          "With pleasure!" Ms Wood was enthusiastic. "But, Mrs. Muir, if you want to be alone with your children, I will stay here."
          "No, Ms Wood, you should come with us." Carolyn had the feeling that Ms Wood was more than only a female.
          "Oh good, thank you." now the angel was sure that Carolyn knew who she really was.
         Before Carolyn got to bed that evening, she called for the Captain and he appeared beside her.  "Everything alright, my dear?" he asked, knowing exactly what her answer would be.
          "Everything is perfect now, Captain." she answered.
          Yes, everything was perfect. But something still bothered the Captain, he knew this Mr. Greenwood wouldn't give up so rashly bothering his beloved Carolyn again. But what could he do und why was this man so crazy about Carolyn?
          Carolyn notice Daniel's absent-mindedness and wanted to know, "What's the matter, Daniel?  Something's still bothering you, I know that. Tell me!"
          "Yes, there is something that worries me. This Mr. Greenwood, I have the feeling that you will face him again."
           "Don't worry about me, Daniel, we have us and no one can ever take us apart, believe me. Our love will stand against all storms we will have in future."  To show him how earnestly she meant that, she put her arms around him and kissed him.
           "Carolyn, my love. I promise you, too, that our love will stand against all storms forever."
                  ***************
      The next morning, when Carolyn came into the kitchen, she looked much happier. "I'm very hungry, Martha. I need a big breakfast."
      Martha noticed it. "Seems your appetite is back, Mrs. Muir. How come? Did I missed something yesterday?"
      "I'll tell you later, Martha, okay?  But first, my breakfast. Oh, by the way, Jonathan is back, too."
      "Jonathan is back! Wonderful, then we are complete again."
      "Oh Martha! I think there is something else I should tell you. We have a guest."
      "A guest! Who? Don't say it, Mrs. Muir, you mean this Ms Wood is still here?"
      "Yes, Martha! She is still here."
      "Oh, I wonder.  Does the Captain know about our guest?" Martha was a little curious now.
      "Yes, he knows, Martha." Carolyn said with a grin on her lips.
       "I see! So, then you finally have talked with Captain Gregg. Marvelous, then I think everything is back to normal in the house."  She couldn't know that the greatest disaster still lay ahead in form of Mr. Turner. And she also couldn't know that they had an angel under the roof.
                ***************      
     The following night, Daniel made again his final round through the house to make sure that everyone was safe. When he finally appeared in Carolyn's room to take a last look on her, he found Ms Wood standing beside her bed and watching her.
     The angel immediately knew that the Captain was in the room with her. "Fear not, Captain, I'm yours and Mrs. Muir's guardian angel."  She finally faced Daniel.
      Daniel was taken aback when he saw that the angel had the form of Ms Wood. He hadn't had any idea what was going on right under his nose, so he said. "You are an angel, you say?  How can I be so sure that you tell the truth?"
      "Because your heart knew it, Captain."
      "Alright, I believe you. But why you are here?" he wanted to know.
      "I'll tell you, but not here, let's go out onto the balcony." Both vanished and appeared a second later by the ship's wheel.
       "Now, I'm waiting!"
       "Okay!  This time I'm been sent here to protect YOU before the person which thinks that YOUR soul only belongs to him since your time on earth."
       "I don't understand. Who do you mean by saying that?" and then came it Daniel like a lightning bolt. "Don't tell me, you don't mean Mr. Turner?"
        "Of course, Captain. Mr. Turner is behind this again. But don't worry, this time *I* will spoil his soup. Sorry, chief!"  The angel sent an apology to the heavens.
         The Captain had to smile at the use of those words from the angel. "Well, however, I should have known that Mr. Turner had his hands in this game again. May I ask, what is your plan about the whole thing?"
        "Of course, you may, Daniel. Now, I'll tell you my plan." and she sent her voice to the heavens. "Only in this case, let me do it in my way, please!"
          And God gave her the permission. "But only this time. Remember, that's your last chance." he said but so that only the angel could heard it.
          "Thank you." the angel whispered back. "Now, where was I? Oh yes!" and the angel told Daniel her plan.
         After she had finished, Daniel was enthusiastic about her plan. "I didn't know that angels could be so underhanded."
         "They can. Maybe sometime, Captain, I'll tell you and Carolyn the story of MY life and death.  And how I got in to heaven. But, enough for now. Good night, Captain." the angel vanished and left Daniel to his thoughts.
                  *************
          It was on the day before June 15th when a very aggravating knock came at the front door. The sound of that knock was as if somebody wanted to open the door with his fists.  Martha was just in the kitchen when she heard that knock. She jumped right up at that infernal noise. "I'm coming!" she cried and was at the door and opening it before the door could crash down into the corridor. "Stop that!" she cried again when she saw a very aggravating man standing before her who wanted to knock again. "Who are you?" Martha wanted to know, in a demanding voice.
          "I'm Mr. Greenwood, and I want to talk with Carolyn Muir and that immediately."
          "How dare you talk in such a tone with me?" Ms Grant was very angry now. "You have nothing to demand here, you're not the owner of this cottage. And now, may I ask you another question?  Why do you want to see Mrs. Muir?  You aren't married to her."
           "But I will be!" came Phillip's aggravating voice again. "Because, I'm her groom!"
           "You are what?" now Martha was like a fury. She never had heard Mrs. Muir mention something like that.
            "I tell you, Ms...., I'm her groom and I want to see my bride right now."
            "My name is Grant, you unplaned block! And I don't believe you, that you are Mrs. Muir's groom.  She would have told me that. And for your information, she isn't here and I don't know when she will be back. Now, shove off!" In her rage, Martha slammed the door behind her and left Greenwood standing before the door like a pet poodle.
           After that, a crash of thunder was heard. But Martha didn't pay any attention. Now Mr. Turner stood beside Phillip Greenwood again. "Don't knock again, Mr. Greenwood, it wouldn't work, believe me."
          "And now? What's your next plan?" Phillip wanted to know.
         "Come with me, I know where Mrs. Muir is."
        "And where?"
         "Go down to the beach, there you will find her with the man I've talked to you about."
          The angel was near and had gotten the whole conversation. 'Now, Mr. Turner, you shall have the final meeting with me.'
          Mr. Turner couldn't know that Captain Gregg was very solid now and that he would give Phillip a fight which Mr. Greenwood would never forget in his lifetime.
                      *************
             Daniel and Carolyn were enjoying their walk down the beach. But suddenly their idyll was interrupted when they heard a man's voice calling for Carolyn. "Carolyn, darling, I finally have found you. Here I am, your new husband!"
             Only Daniel turned around at the voice of the man. "Greenwood!" he cried when he finally faced Phillip. "How dare you talk to a lady in this tone?" Daniel was very angry now. "Carolyn isn't and will never be your wife, if that is what you believe."
              Now Phillip lost completely his control. He rushed in wild rage towards the Captain and bumped into Daniel's right fist. "Carolyn is mine!" Phillip yelled and landed on the ground. But he  recovered fast from his first shock.
             Carolyn, who stood few steps away from the two men, was shocked. "Daniel!" she cried, not knowing what was going on right now. Finally she recognized the other man, with whom Daniel was fighting.  It was Phillip Greenwood.  The fight between those two men was now well underway when a big thunder clap filled the air again. Carolyn jumped, not knowing what just happened. Her thoughts swirled when suddenly Ms Wood appeared by her side.
              "Fear not, Carolyn. The Captain will be alright, believe me."
             Carolyn turned around and faced Ms Wood. "What do mean, by saying that?"
              "I'm not a ghost, if that is what you believe. I'm an angel. And I...." she couldn't finish because Mr. Turner appeared on the beach, too. And Carolyn recognized him as the man she had met a short time before. "Mr. Turner!" she cried again.
             She was about to ask what was just going on here and why Mr. Turner was here this time again, when her children came in a hurry down the beach. Martha had told them where they would find her mother and the Captain. Both saw the Captain fighting with another man and knew suddenly the Captain was solid. But how was that possible?  They would face reality later.
             A big cry came out of the children's mouth. "DAD, watch out!"
             When the Captain heard the children's cry and that they had finally called him DAD, Daniel gave Mr. Greenwood a last big blow into the face and the man remained lying immovable on the ground. It was too much for Mr. Turner when he finally came face to face with the Captain's and Mrs. Muir's guardian angel. "You?" he cried. "What are YOU doing here? The Captain's soul is mine."
       "No, he isn't." the angel gave him to answer. "The Captain is here where he belongs, by the woman who loves him with all her heart."
       That was too much again for the devil. He hated the word LOVE and with a loud clap of thunder he vanished and Mr. Greenwood with him.  The angel finally triumphed without having put a hand on the devil.
        Carolyn recovered from her shock without knowing exactly what had just happened. "Captain, are you okay?"
         "I'm okay, my dear." and to the children. "May I ask, what are you two doing down at the beach right now?" and then he remembered, both had called him DAD. Oh, how he loved his family.
          "We thought we would be needed." Jonathan and Candy were grinning over their whole face. Both had completely forgotten what just had happened few minutes ago. "Hey, Captain, how come that you can finally touch people?" Candy wanted to know.
        Daniel looked at the angel for help and she gave him the help. "Well, you all have a solid Captain now. Use the time well because I don't know how long it will last. Maybe forever, but I don't know that. Goodbye." and with that, the angel was gone, too.
        "Mom, was Ms Wood an....? Candy didn't finish.
        "Yes, Candy, she is an angel. And maybe sometime we will see her again." Carolyn was very sure about that. And then she remembered that her kids had called the Captain, DAD. Indeed, they were a family now. "Let's all go back to the house."
        "And tomorrow, why not have a picnic down here at the beach?" Daniel suggested.
        "Marvelous idea, Captain." the kids were very enthusiastic about having a picnic with Captain Gregg and their mother on Father's Day down here at the beach. Yes, it would be a big day. And so all four went back to the house, Carolyn linking her arm in Daniel's.
                    ***************
        They had picked wonderful weather for the Father's Day picnic. They had invited Martha but she had said that she was very busy because Ed had invited her for a trip to Boston and they would be back very late.  The kid's were playing games with their mother and the Captain.
       Suddenly Jonathan cried. "Watch out, Mom."
       Carolyn missed a step and landed full speed in the Captain's arms.  He had stopped her from falling down into the sand. Their eyes met and both knew what the other was thinking. But their time would come later this evening when the kids were in bed.  The intimacy of their moment was interrupted by Jonathan, who gave the Captain a push in his right side.
       "Now wait, my boy!" he called. He released Carolyn after he was sure she wouldn't fall down again. And then he ran after Jonathan.  Both squabbled like father and son.
       Meanwhile, Candy joined her mother on the blanket which they had spread for the picnic. "Men!" was Candy's comment when she saw Jonathan playing with the Captain.
       "Candy, I must talk with you!"
       "Yes, mom. About what?"
       "Yesterday, when you and Jonathan came running down to the beach."
       "Yeah!"
       "What were your feelings when you saw the Captain fighting with another man?"
       "Mom, you really want me to say that?"
       "Of course!"
       "Well, you mean that Jonathan and  I called the Captain, DAD?"
       "Yes."
       "I think, we are a right family now and Captain Gregg is more than only a friend to Jonathan and me.  He is more like a father for us."
       Carolyn's heart leaped at the words of her daughter. She was about to give an answer but she was interrupted by Jonathan's voice. "Mom, look!"
      When Carolyn looked up, she saw Jonathan riding on the Captain's back. And she burst out in laughter.
      "What's so funny, my dear?" Daniel wanted to know.
      "Oh, nothing!"  She continued to quietly shake with laughter.
      "Now wait, my dear! I'll pay it back on you, later." Daniel finally said.
      It was indeed an marvelous Father's Day and all four enjoyed it.

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