Cupid Calls the Shots - A "The Ghost & Mrs. Muir" story by Judy Moore, February 14, 2003

   Captain Gregg heard a sound. He listened carefully, then straightened from his bent position at the telescope.  "Who is it? Who's there?" he asked, sure he had heard something. Hearing the noise again, the ghost twisted around; it was a youthful giggle, an annoying childish pitch of the type that ground on one's patience. "Who's there, blast it?" he questioned. "I demand you appear immediately," he implored scanning the room. But for Scruffy the family dog, his only other companion seemed to be the breeze of mid-February swirling in from the open bay window.  "Applegate?" The Captain thought back to the inept seaman who was as worthless as a beach towel in a storm. He asked out loud again. "Seaman Applegate, is that you?" He waited. No answer.
   After searching every corner, he realized the silly laugh could not be Applegate's, unless the bumbler had dumped his ballast and tightened his britches since they'd last met. No, this was definitely a small
intrusion and as suddenly as the noise came, it abated.  Captain Gregg knew the soft cackling couldn't be Mrs. Muir's children playing a trick on him for Jonathan and Candy were in school. And Carolyn, the dear girl, had been in town with Martha all morning. With a raised brow, he glanced down at Scruffy deciding, no, it couldn't be the mutt, for the source was definitely not from the human realm. He saw the terrier's ears perk up as the echoes of giggles began anew once again grating on his nerves.
   "Blast it all! Whoever you are, I demand you appear at once or I'll ..."
   "Or you'll what, Captain?" came a scant voice which finished his sentence.
   Finally! The spirit thought as he squinted his eyes, whomever it was had a tongue after all!
   "You're a spoiled sport, Captain, that's what you are. Can't a Cupid have any fun?!" pouted the voice, sounding as if it inhaled too much helium from a balloon.
   "Cupid?! By the powers! Did you say Cupid???" the Captain blared, disliking intruders.
   "That's right, Captain."
    "I don't believe it! What nonsense is this?! Who are you?! Where are you?! Show yourself!"
   "Despite your doubts, Captain, I am Cupid. Don't look so surprised," the myth giggled from somewhere in the room.
   "I'm not surprised," the seaman rubbed his beard, using every sense he had to spot the intruder's location, "I am intrigued, maybe, but not surprised, for there is no such creature. Who are you really? Appear at once!" he ordered but nothing happened.  He changed his tactic and asked, "Is it that you are afraid?"
   "I'm never afraid, Captain," Cupid laughed with confidence, "it is you who should fear me."
   "Ha!" the seaman responded, "I fear no one, especially a myth!"
   "Oh, I see...once again, I must convince you, like the others, that I exist, Captain," said the tiny voice behind him. The spirit turned quickly but saw nothing. He tried to keep the conversation going.
   "You can certainly try to convince me, my feathered friend, but I don't see the point, especially if you exist as a mere fantasy."
   "A fantasy?! I am as real as you, and like you, I have plenty of time to cure your  uncertainties," said the impish voice as it whooshed from place to place.
   "I'm afraid your time here is up, my dear fellow. I know what is and you are not."
   The voice was in front of him now.  "My, my, are you always this rude to visitors?"
   "Only those I can't see," Captain Gregg challenged, still unable to pin point Cupid's source. "And, of     course, no one who has any sense at all would believe in Cupid." Captain Gregg then attempted to bring the invisible creature forward with a bluff. "I think I should tell you I have friends in all the right places," he charged, "so it would be in your best interest, dear Cupid, to appear at once for the game is over!"
   "Oh, fluffabows and arrowtots! Very well then, sir, here I am!"
   "Where?"
   "Up here, my un-feathered friend."
   The Captain glanced behind him and up. "Ah, pity you can't stand on your own two feet," he cracked, for there, on top of the figure head near the window, sat a diminutive cherub-like creature. It was a sort of darling-looking thing with curly brown hair though not distinguishable as either male or female. The only clothing visible was a diaphanous rendition of a diaper, a pint-sized archer's bow and several red arrows snugly gathered together in a quiver slung over the left shoulder. The seaman observed that the tiny spears in the quiver glowed brilliantly, turning the corner of the room a gaudy Pepto Bismol pink.
   The little intruder hung onto the figurehead securely as if it were riding a horse and grinned sweetly at the Captain. The spirit in turn, found himself inexplicably drawn to the being and couldn't help but stare, partly from amazement, partly from a sense of familiarity.
   Cupid, tiring of the Captain's inspection, swung a chubby leg over the lady's head and slipped off the wooden perch. The action caused a flutter of pink wings as Cupid moved to hover near the telescope, its mouth turned up in a child-like smile.
   "By now you should know, Captain, that as a spirit, you are not to be believed in, yet some people do believe in you," Cupid shrugged. "It's the same for me. As Cupid, I am not to be believed in, yet here we both are."
   "Unfortunate that...," droned the Captain, closing his eyes to another bevy of sugary sweet snickers.
   Cupid went on.  "Yes, if more people believed in me, Captain, I'd be more productive instead of spending half the time convincing people like you I exist."
   "All right," the seaman conceded, weaving his fingers together, "for the sake of brevity, let's say you exist."
   "That's more like it! As I said, Captain, you should fear me. I may be small, but I am responsible for the success of your desires, your sensual indulgences."
   "Indulgences!" the Captain fumed.  "Sensual?! Listen here you giggling gargoyle, whatever I feel is my own business, not yours!"
   "But I am your guide to ultimate happiness," Cupid finished.  "You must trust me, I have been at this job a long time. I can change lives with the flick of my finger, Captain, like this...."  Without warning, Cupid shot the Captain with an imaginary arrow. Naturally, the spirit recoiled.
   "Why, you cheeky ...!" the seaman bellowed, going over to look in Carolyn's dresser mirror. There on his forehead was the imprint of a small red heart. Disgusted, he rubbed it off.  "That was unnecessary!"
   "Ha, hah!" Cupid cut in.  "You believed or you wouldn't have seen the heart! You see, my arrows here..." he patted his quiver, "... contain the poison of desire. It is you, my dear fellow, who should wish that my aim be straight and purposed with kindness for the effects of my shaft could easily go astray and pierce the unintended heart." Cupid licked a finger testing the wind direction in the room as the Captain turned back around. He was completely unintimidated for Cupid was no more than a child.
   "Ahem, little one," the ghost cleared his throat, "Now that I ‘pretend' to believe, I find that your talent over the years leaves very little to be desired."
   "Oh?"
   "I know for a fact, that in my colorful seaman's life, every choice I have made regarding my libido has been of my own accord because I wanted it."
   "So you think."
   "So I know! I have been responsible. You've had nothing to do with it."
   "I see." Cupid rubbed his toes together, then informed the Captain.  "This is the opinion of most people, but in the end, they change their minds, believing quite seriously in the effect I have on them."
   "Piffle! If they must depend on you, I pity their lack of ingenuity in love!" the Captain stated. "You, my dear fellow, or whatever it is you are, are nothing more than an agent of anguished hearts, a match maker of minute making, an interfering go-between determined to play a game by your own rules!"
   "Now, now, Captain, that's a bit below the quiver line, even for you!" Cupid sighed. "As I said, most hearts are happy to believe in me the moment they become thankful for having found their soul mate. My job is to find destined lover's and unite them. What they do after a visit from me is their own business."
   "That, little fellow, is where you fall short." Captain Gregg began to pace. "I have learnt, albeit the hard way, that lovers' destinies are left to circumstance, many who should be loving happily are left without the means to carry it off, therefore, I am not at all convinced that what you profess to be and do is morally right or even necessary."
   Cupid sighed again.  "You are partially correct, Captain. There are times when love happens naturally, without any help from me.  Other times, folks need a boost in the behind." Cupid let go of an imaginary shot to the Captain's bottom.
   "Stop that!" shouted Captain Gregg, covering his buttocks.
   The cherub giggled and clapped.  "Captain, when the love between two people blossoms, it's Cupid they thank every day of their lives, including you."
   "Poppycock!"
   "Oh no?"  Pink dust rose up around Cupid's wings.  "I can show you in a flurry that I am right. My
archives are impeccable." Cupid pulled a yellowed scroll from the quiver, unrolled the paper and put the document before the Captain's eyes. Captain Gregg squinted unable to read the small squiggles purported to be writing. Cupid sighed at the spirit's incapacity and dutifully summarized the text aloud.
   "Dear sir, you've been thankful to me...uh, no less than a thousand times, though I see a brief period of resistance...when you were alive."
   "Alive?"
   "Fairy cakes that!" said Cupid, momentarily distraught.  "I can only think the wind must have been up
then."  The little one sighed again.  "I may not always get the lover's combination right, but when I do, it's fireworks, don't you agree?" squeaked Cupid, rolling up the paper.
   The Captain leaned against the mantle with folded arms.  "Tell me, my little friend, why haven't I seen you before?"
   "Oh, you have, my good man, but the moment my arrow strikes you can only see past me to your true love."
   "Really?" the seaman said flatly.  "Might I suggest you see the nearest chemist?"
   "Why ever for?"
   Captain Gregg smiled and straightened, noting the sudden concern across the imp's face.  "You need glasses, you overgrown flea!  When I was alive, your pauncy arrows missed the blasted target!" He leaned back again. "And more than once I might add."
   "No reason to be testy, Captain. What you and the rest of you humans fail to recognize is that you only have one true love."
   "Ah, do we now?"
   The Cupid folded its hands.  "Yes, and you keep trying for more. I may have the time, but I'm consistently overbooked... overworked. Still, I advise you to side with me, Captain, it's important that you do."
   "Or you'll do what?" the seaman glared, "Twist the ends of my moustache ‘til it hurts?"
   "He-hee-ha!" Cupid giggled turning a tornado spin, "Don't tempt me."
   "Confound it, you undersized sea urchin, as I said, my love life, such as it may be, is none of your business!"
   "You're right, it is not."
   The Captain's mouth gaped, "Then why are you here? Were you sent just to irritate me or were you thrown by the wayside by some fed-up Casanova. Blast! Where is that fly swatter!"
   "Temper, Captain, I'm here officially." Cupid's irresistible gleam shone again and almost instantly the Captain quieted down.
   "Officially? In what capacity?"
   "Speardinkers, Captain! I find you're not only stubborn, you've blinders on too. Am I not the archer of
love???"
   "Really," the Captain deadpanned. "I couldn't have guessed, especially with that silly quiver on your back. You need to buy some decent clothes, man, or whatever it is you are."
   The cherub sighed. "Oh, dear, dear, dear. I am glad."
   "For what?"
   Cupid pointed a tiny finger which meant business. "Glad that YOUR arrow has been spent."
   "My arrow? I don't need an arrow, especially one of yours, I've found my soul mate," he said rather
proudly. If he was to really acknowledge Cupid at all, Captain Gregg needed to believe that his own Cupid's arrow had pierced him the moment he first set eyes on Carolyn. No other encounter mattered before or since she arrived on the scene.
   "Well, thank heaven, then, you believe you have found your soul mate. That is a supreme relief for me, Captain, but I'm not here for you." Cupid drifted over to Carolyn's desk and hovered closely in front of the photograph of the woman hugging Candy and Jonathan, her children. Carefully, the cherub pulled a neon arrow from its holding place and touched Carolyn's face with the tip.  "I'm here for her. Hers has not."
   "Hers hasn't what?" The Captain suddenly felt a fearful pang in his stomach. He straightened up again.
   "Her arrow's not been spent. This is her arrow in my hand." Cupid presented the shaft to the seaman, its length flickering and buzzing with electricity.
   "As you can see, her arrow is still alive. Long ago, like you, she too resisted. Her foolish heart listened to the wishes of another and without my help, her love failed to blossom; the passions then were real, but the love was not true."
   "You're referring to her marriage to that sod. Yes," the Captain rubbed his beard, "that union was a folly from the start, but I don't need you here to tell me that," he grumbled then set himself against Carolyn's desk.  "Go on, have your say, what is it you want with Mrs. Muir? Mind you, she is quite happy here despite her un-sprung arrow."
   "It's simple, Captain. Carolyn Muir's arrow must be spent before it dies, I have been carrying her shaft too long." Cupid gently placed the flickering arrow back in the quiver. "It's time."
   "For what?"
   "For her to find her true love; a man whom she can live with happily until the poison of passion fades and lasting love takes over."
   "You must be joking!" the seaman cringed in disgust.  "She's to find a man, here in Schooner Bay?
Happy hunting is what I say," he blustered.
   "Captain, all of Carolyn Muir's sensual desires, her indulgences and happiness are my responsibility. She must feel the sting of my arrow regardless of you."
   "Piffle again! As well as needing glasses, you sightless spongecake, you don't seem to be able to hear too well either. I told you, she is content! Why are you so intent on disturbing what is already acceptable to both of us?"
   "She must be pierced, Captain. Remember, you have no real part in this, you are a spirit, nothing more. It would be wise not to overstep your territory more than you have already."
   "Damn my bloody territory!" the Captain fumed.  "I don't understand. Why have you come now? Mrs.
Muir has lived here almost three years! If she needed piercing to meet and marry some other man, why on earth was she allowed to come here in the first place? Why in heaven's name were we allowed to meet at all?"
   "I was on vacation," Cupid admitted rather sheepishly.
   "Confound it, you red-faced runt! That is not my fault! I won't have us paying for your petty indulgences in the sun!"
   "Come now, Captain, everyone needs a vacation now and then. If I don't use it, I lose it."
   "The devil you say. What ARE you anyway?" the ghost asked again raising a brow.
   "I am what I am, as you are what you are."
   "Ha! You're seagull fodder for starters! Can't you see," Captain Gregg moved to the front of the desk,
"the two of us together in the same house, naturally something was bound to happen. You can't take what we have away from us."
   Cupid flew to the telescope and sat on the barrel. "Tell me, Captain, what exactly is it you and Mrs. Muir have between you?"
   Irritated that he couldn't put his thoughts into words as quickly as he'd like, instead, the Captain disappeared and re-materialized at the binnacle, his demeanor more serious.  "You must leave us alone, leave here at once!" he shouted, spinning the telescope's barrel, propelling Cupid into the air.
   "Tsk. Tsk." Cupid said, dodging the Captain's grasp.  "It is her arrow, Captain! She can not be denied its influence. Remember, you had yours."
   "And it didn't work!"
   "I didn't factor in your stubbornness! Never the less, you were given your chance."
   Anger and fear flashed in the Captain's eyes as the seaman stepped back into the hollow of the bay window, his lips growing thin with inevitable torment of truth.  "Don't you see? I couldn't bear to see Carolyn with anyone else, just as I couldn't bear to be without her."
   Cupid fluttered near his shoulder.  "She is deserving. As you were once."
   "Who are you to say what she is deserving of? For a being who professes to be all heart, I find you devastatingly heartless."
   "My heart goes out to you, as it does to everyone."
   "Augh! Take your blasted arrows away, you shrimp eating firefly! You know where you can stick them!" the seaman glowered, making a fist.
   "I do. That's my job." Cupid answered calmly.
   Captain Gregg inhaled deeply, looking out at the glistening sea, the late morning sun was just overhead.  "Cupid, I don't think you know, or perhaps you do, that your latest athletic endeavor concerning Mrs. Muir will undoubtedly put a period to my existence." The morose spirit subconsciously put his hand to the window glass, caressing a pane as if it were the most precious thing he owned. He put his hands in his pockets, then sighed, gazing at the waves beyond. He knew they would continue to roll onto shore long after he was gone. After the few seconds of observance, he whispered, "I love Carolyn and I truly believe she loves me."  This was the first time he phrased his feelings about Carolyn aloud, though sadly they were not directed at her. Swallowing hard, his voice broke upon his next words.   "Though it pains me, I love her enough that I would leave Gull Cottage should she choose to stay here with another man. And, if she were to leave Gull Cottage, well, there would be no use for a broken heart left behind, would there? No real use but to throw it away. I would have no choice but to ..." He faced Cupid who now rested on the edge of Carolyn's desk.
   "Very poignant, Captain, I nearly had a tear in my eye," the cherub said ignoring the seaman's aching heart. The Captain cast a steady eye Cupid's way.
   "Now it's your turn, Cupid. What do you really know about any of this? Of real, lasting love?"
   "I invented it."
   "Balderdash."
   "Think what you like, Captain. Are you finished now?" the archer asked.
   The Captain was finished all right. Even though he disdained the little creature, he knew what must be done. Breathing in deeply again, he disciplined his heart to the truth.  "I can not deny Carolyn her destiny. Tell me, Cupid, in all of Schooner Bay, which lucky imbecile do you have in mind for Mrs. Muir? Ooh," he then looked to the heavens putting a weary hand to his forehead, "I shudder to think what's in store..."
   Cupid then, happy to see that progress was being made, popped into the air and landed against the pillows on Carolyn's bed.  "I am aware that Mrs. Muir's in town," Cupid announced.
   "By the powers, you're not thinking of shooting her with your infernal arrow now, it's too soon?!"
   "For whom? Why should I wait any longer? Trust me, Captain, after I shoot her, her gaze will fall only upon a gentleman judged to be a ‘true love'."
   "Why, of course!" the Captain said dryly.
   Cupid's lips squirmed. The ghost was being difficult. "I've been thinking, Captain. I am a fair Cupid."
   "That is a matter of opinion," the ghost countered.
   "Captain, I do owe you a favor for my vacation lapse, though I will not take complete responsibility for this broken heart you carry."
   "It's my heart. Don't you even think of getting near it."
   "Don't worry, I've no use for it, but yes, Captain, since this is a special case, I shall be generous and give you an advance screening of Carolyn's true love candidates. This way you won't be surprised."
   "Oh, by heaven, this I've got to see," the seaman muttered under his breath.
   The cherub giggled again.  "Simply look through your telescope lens."
   "As easy as that?"
   "Mmm. See for yourself," Cupid said from the bed, resting his arms behind his head.
   Captain Gregg braced himself and dared to look. The first man to appear from the fog at the end of his lens was Mr. Ted Newberry, the banker, who was himself a widower and downright bug ugly. Captain Gregg knew the man had about as much passion as a dead mackerel in the sun, but the fellow did have money in the bank, which would definitely help Mrs. Muir's financial future, but he could never allow
such a match. Never!
   "Augh!" the Captain rolled his eyes, "Go on, please!"
   Next appeared Mitch Barber, the muscularly handsome, dark-haired fellow Mrs. Muir chatted with at the gas station when he pumped her gas and washed her car windows. The children liked him enough, especially Jonathan who knew him from little league.
   "You can't be serious!" groaned the seaman. "That ape? That man is all muscle, all teeth! He's more interested in building his physique than building a relationship! Can't you see he's all brawn and no brain and he certainly has no money! He shifts gas. In more ways than one!"
   "But he has a heart and you know money can't buy love," Cupid squealed.
   "Next," the Captain said dryly.
   Mr. Hampton, the school principal appeared, the Captain watching the man itch his nose under thick bifocals.
   "Cleveland Hampton?! That old bugger? If HE'S on the list, Mrs. Muir might as well stay single. At his age, his greatest sensual desire is a hot water bottle, his indulgence an extra bicarbonate of soda! Come now, Cupid, I don't think he can even SEE what he's doing or to whom!" After scratching his nose, Mr. Hampton popped an ant-acid tablet in his mouth.
   "I suppose you think no one can compare to you," Cupid chirped while polishing an arrow with the tail of his diaper.
   "Ah," the Captain cooed, "there is a light in that head of yours after all! You are more astute than I thought for a bird with a brain the size of a pea and I am not being in the least bit vain when I say no one can compare to me!"
   "You are the one and only, Captain, but you're dead. Remember?"
   Humbled by that doleful reminder, the seaman rubbed his beard again.  "My patience is wearing thin, Cupid, are there more fools or is this charade over?"
   "A few more."
   Captain Gregg found the eye-piece again and sighed as he witnessed the faces of Chuck the delivery man, Eric, the tall Swede who owned a farm outside of town, Barry, the insurance broker who came through Schooner Bay once a month, Wilbur the post master and a handful of others. Naturally he found fault with each, but the real poop hit the deck when Claymore Gregg's image surfaced among the
contenders. The angry spirit spun the barrel again having had enough.
   "You can't be serious! Is this some sort of cruel joke?" he fumed. "You wouldn't dare have Carolyn fancy Claymore!  Why, that male misfit needs a license to prove himself a man! The blasted imitator doesn't know a full bosom from a full ballast! He wouldn't know what to do with a female, let alone a beautiful woman like Mrs. Muir. This is insane! Absurd! That's enough!" he pounded a fist on the desk.
   "Am I to assume you don't want to finish the list?" Cupid smiled, taking the Captain's fit in stride as if  this caliber of tirade was nothing new.
   "It's blasphemous! You think me a fool to accept your game! When I get my hands on you, you dysfunctional flower, you'll look very sweet pressed in my memory book!"
   "Captain Gregg, if you don't lighten up, I might really shoot Carolyn now."
   He swallowed hard, humbled.  "No! No! You can't. Please! For God's sake, I apologize! Though you will only hear me say it once," the spirit begged.  Just then, the Captain heard the familiar sound of the Muir's station wagon pulling up in front of the house.  "She's here!" he said.  "Please don't pierce her, not yet. Not before I've had one last chance to be with her."
   "As you wish, I am not unreasonable." Cupid floated up from the bed and rested on the Captain's shoulder like a parrot might do on a dashing pirate. "Fortunately for you, my good man, there aren't any real lucky bachelors in the vicinity just now."
   Captain Gregg, knowing he could actually lose the love of his life at any moment humbly said, "You will tell me before you pierce her, won't you? Promise me that at least." Hearing the front door open, he recognized Martha's heavy feet heading toward the kitchen and Carolyn\rquote s light steps coming up the stair.
     "I can't guarantee anything, Captain. When the time is right, I'll strike. Remember, you've no real say in this and she is deserving." With a giggle, Cupid disappeared leaving a trace of pink cloud behind.
   Carolyn entered the room.  "Hello, Captain." She sniffed the air.  "Mmm, it smells sweet in here like raspberries or strawberries. Have you been eating?"
   "Uh, no, Madam, you must be smelling flowers from outside, perhaps one or two have blossomed early."
   Carolyn hugged herself, rubbing her arms for warmth. The Captain reacted quickly and closed the French doors.  "Blast! I've let the chill in." He latched the doors tight as if to keep intruders out then turned to her. "Better?" he asked.
     "Mm, yes. Thanks, Captain." Carolyn pulled her jacket off still pondering the flower scent. "It's funny. I
don't remember my flowers smelling so sweet, especially like strawberries. I'll make it a point to go and look in a little while."
   "My dear, any flower touched by you couldn't help but smell as sweet."
   Surprised by his sudden charm, Carolyn smiled back at him, her visual connection vibrant, her lovely face a joy to behold. Without taking his eyes from her, the ghost nodded at the hearth.  "Shall I light a fire, Madam?"
   "You already have, er, I mean...you haven't already?" she regretted the slip.
   "Have I?" The Captain posed a wry smile knowing exactly what she meant.
   Carolyn swallowed.  "Please, uh yes, a fire would be nice,"she said, slumping away to the closet for a hanger.  "And please make it a small one? Remember, after dinner tonight, we're all going back into town for the Valentine display at Curly Jones' Pier."
   "To town? Oh, yes! I'd completely forgotten. Valentine's Day." It was a good thing she had mentioned it
for he had forgotten and must find her a gift.
   Meanwhile, she adjusted her coat on the hanger. "Looks like the whole township will be there."
   "The entire town!? By jove! All of them??" the Captain moved to the mantle thinking of all the eligible bachelors that would surely swarm around her. Naturally, he must do his best to keep the interlopers away. Though he understood the truth as it must be, he needed more time.
   "Mm-hmm," she said, "even Claymore's going. I guess he volunteered to sponsor part of the display as long as his picture appeared on the posters. Can you believe it?" She laughed.
   "Mmm, typical, whatever you say, Madam."
   Carolyn realized the Captain hadn't heard a word she said.  "Captain, you are coming tonight, aren't you?" she hoped. "It's Valentine's Day."  She wanted him there, it could be 'their' day too, even if he was a ghost.
    His thoughts went back to her. "My dear, I wouldn't miss this evening for the world, I wouldn't dream of missing Valentine's Day with you." He set to building a modest fire for the lady, quite possibly his last for her if Cupid had his way.
               * * * * * * * * * * * *   
   Carolyn always looked marvelous in red, Captain Gregg thought as he spied the Muirs stepping out of their car. The little family, in cheery Valentine spirit, was wrapped in layers of coats and hats and smiles. They hung together closely, moving easily into the crowd which had formed in Gold Lantern Street, the old alley which led to the pier. Right away, Jonathan and Candy spotted friends from their school and waved them over to talk. And typical of Mrs. Muir, she greeted everyone she saw with a smile. Though the Captain ached to join them, the spirit remained at his self-appointed post atop Tully's Warehouse. From there, he scoured the panorama for anything unusual, especially anything in a pink diaper.
   While standing watch, the seaman grinned to himself remembering his jaunt of half an hour ago. Before the Muirs arrived, he had ignored all spirited rules and been naughty having had difficulty containing his desire to play. Curious about the festivities below, he remained invisible and sauntered over to the fair's kissing booth. Quite patiently, he waited in line with all the other men for a smooch with the beautiful brunette with the lovely long lashes. When his turn came, the woman closed her eyes and he pledged there and then to make her job worthwhile.
   After planting a sensuous kiss on her lips, he laughed heartily when she opened her eyes and saw nothing in front of her but air! To the rest of the men, she had kissed an invisible man, but they loved watching her anyway and groaned when the kiss was over. To the Captain, the prank was worth a good chuckle and the kiss was one she'd not forget. Chuckling to himself again, he thought her kiss wasn't too bad either!
   Shaking his head at the thought, he brought his focus back to the business at hand. Peering over the building's parapet, he studied the scene below with a critical eye. He approved of the fact that Gold Lantern Street, usually littered with rubbish, had been magically transformed into a Valentine fairyland. From top to bottom, this antiquated corridor to the sea had been scrubbed clean of debris and any remnant odor of fish from the docks was nicely covered by the delicious smell of popcorn wafting into the night air. He wished he could smell it.
    Again, the spirit let his interest run along the small booths lining the narrow passage. Yes, there was the kissing booth among the clusters of stalls with vendors hawking everything from hot dogs and hot chocolate to those notorious lipstick kisses. And adding spice to the romantic atmosphere, were plastic Cupids pasted all over the damp brick walls, their gaudy faces glimmering alongside cutouts of passionate Valentine hearts. The Captain tisked and shook his head again while looking down at the crowd with a sigh. What did those sots know of the real Cupid? What fools they all were, trusting their hearts to a pygmie with a poisonous arrow.
     Suddenly a spotty gust of wind drew up prompting the seaman to pull his pea coat closed. The breeze swirled through the alley making the drapes of colored paper lanterns sway this way and that, reminiscent of a soiree he remembered from long ago.  And Cupid, the little rascal, hadn't seemed to have appeared yet. As the minutes passed by with no obvious action, the Captain's awareness edged slightly into boredom; if he were human, he thought, he would have yawned and nodded off ages ago.
   He watched as Carolyn and her children continued their exploring, nothing really warranting his attention until Martha met up with Ed Peevey.  Even though Carolyn's children were with her, the shift of characters left Mrs. Muir alone and unprotected from Cupid's strike. His interest now piqued, the ghost watched more closely as Carolyn tended her youngsters by buying them puffs of cotton candy then herding them toward the pier. Realizing he might lose track of them, he disappeared from his lofty vantage point and materialized walking beside her.
    "Evening, Madam," he greeted her.
   "Captain!" she was relieved. "I was wondering when you'd get here, the display is about to start." Someone bumped into her; she turned to see who it was.  "Oh, hello, Mr. Newberry," she recognized her banker.
    "Evenin', Mrs. Muir," replied the man, tipping his hat.  "Thought I might see what all the noise was about since I own a piece of it. Heh, heh, would you believe I sponsored the kissing booth?"                          
   "The kissing booth?" said a surprised Carolyn, always having thought the man dull as a dollar bill. Apparently, his thoughts weren't dull after all. "Uh, I haven't come across THAT particular booth yet," she told him.
     "Just down a few yards, Mrs. Muir and we're looking for lip replacements. He-heh, Shirley's lips are bound to wear out sooner or later. You interested?"
   "Me?!" she put a shocked hand to her chest.
   "Not by a long shot!!" the Captain aired aloud.
   "Sshh!" Carolyn shushed the Captain but the banker thought she was talking to him.
   "Sorry, Mrs. Muir.  Thought I'd at least ask, since it's around town you're not exactly tied down. After all, you are beautiful and...you are over twenty one."
   "Why you!" the Captain fumed with a fist up. Carolyn tried to shush him again. "Madam, I shall feed him to the sharks for that remark!"
   "Never mind, leave it alone!" she begged under her breath.
   "As you wish, Madam." He glared at the beady-eyed man.  "Ugh! It's always the quiet ones, isn't it?!" he exclaimed, then vanished with a flip of his hand.
   "All right, Mrs. Muir. I'll leave you to enjoy yourself." Mr. Newberry found he wanted to escape himself for he couldn't believe the deep sound of Carolyn's voice. Even though she was beautiful, he didn't think that tonal aspect of her voice would go over too well in the kissing booth. His intention was to make money, not lose it.  "Beg your pardon then, Mrs. Muir. No harm in askin'." He tipped his hat again and disappeared into the crowd.
   Carolyn sighed, relieved he'd gone, then found she'd lost sight of the Captain. Invisible again no doubt! She often wished she could do that.  Then without warning, a hand pulled at her elbow making her lurch forward. For a second she thought it was the children until she saw them trailing behind!
   "What the..." she exclaimed, realizing the guilty person was the one with the invisible hand. "Captain?!" she whispered firmly, trying not to look conspicuous.
   "Yes, Madam?" he materialized beside her, but Carolyn didn't have a chance to rebutt as she saw Mr. Hampton, the school principal, coming her way. She made the Captain stop.
   "Hi, Mr. Hampton!" the children said together.
   "Hey, kids," the older man said, rubbing Jonathan's head. Both children immediately saw that their principal had eyes only for their mother.  "My, my, Mrs. Muir, you're a knock-out as usual. Red becomes you."
   Carolyn returned the smile, enjoying the compliment, "Why, thank you, Mr. Hampton, that's more than some have said," she answered, hoping the Captain heard.
   "Have you a place on the pier yet?" the older man asked. "The program's about to start."
   "We were just going," Carolyn said, when Captain Gregg's voice boomed in her ear making her jump.
   "Are you all right, Mrs. Muir? I didn't mean to startle you." Mr. Hampton laid a comforting hand on her arm but the Captain brushed it off.
   "Um, you didn't startle me, Mr. Hampton, and yes, we were just going!" Again Carolyn felt a tug on her elbow but she declined to budge.  "Uh, as I said, Mr. Hampton, we were just going and we do need to hurry, the children have picked out a spot at the end of the pier and they don't want anyone to take it."  She took Jonathan's hand and turned to go.
   "No, we haven't, Mom," corrected Candy with a mouth full of fluffy cotton.
   "Yes, YOU HAVE, dear. Now let's go," Carolyn emphasized, meaning they'd all better get a move on
before something happened. She didn't know what, but some kind of storm was brewing. The children obeyed and waved goodbye.
   Their principal waved back.  "Right, Mrs. Muir, see you on the pier."
   "Over my dead body!" the Captain took Carolyn's arm and dragged her along.
   "You are dead! Remember?" She tried to wriggle free.
   "A mere technicality, Madam." He didn't let go until they almost reached the end of the pier. There, Jonathan and Candy immediately spotted more friends and engaged themselves.
   "Don't wander off," their mother urged, while wondering what had got into the Captain.
   "We won't," promised Candy.
   Meanwhile the pier was getting very crowded. Carolyn smoothed her coat down. She didn't know what to say to the Captain. He was being very protective of her and she hadn't the foggiest idea why. She didn't know whether to be angry that he made her appear rude in front of friends, or be elated that he had touched her, or dragged her or whatever it was he did. "Captain. Captain?" she wanted his attention.
   "Yes, Madam. What is it?" he answered while searching the crowd for signs of Cupid.
   "What just happened?"
   "Happened?" he said, continuing to ignore her, then realized of course that Mrs. Muir couldn't know he had a mission; that is, to save her life from the shear drudgery of a male slug. He must not fail. Not only was he searching for the groupies of bachelors to keep at bay, he knew that if Cupid were to strike Carolyn, it would be that night. The blasted fruit fly could be anywhere, he thought, even watching them now.
   Then suddenly, truly fearing for them both, he gave up his quest of searching for Cupid, thinking he may only have minutes before his life with Carolyn Muir was gone. He tried to think what to do, feeling that their precious time together was waning away before his eyes. In times of need, didn't drastic times call for drastic measures? Of course they did. He made an important decision. Instead of words, verbal symbols of love and admiration, he would attempt to kiss Carolyn, giving her a more lasting memory than the fleeting words ever could. It was high time he did so.
   His heart wished that just for a few moments, he could deny his spirituality and prove he was still a man by kissing her. Really kissing her, not like that foolish nonsense he participated in at the kissing booth. However, hadn't that little exercise proved that such a feat was possible? He had forced all he could into the energy of that kiss, and it was a marvelous kiss, wasn't it? No, he told himself, the kiss had not been real and
the plain truth of it would not go away.  No matter what happened this night, he would still live a spiritual existence, his ethereal distance from Carolyn a sad and regrettable state. And except for a few raw feelings to keep him company, all his human senses would remain impeded forever, for that's what death did, it disembodied one from those one loved. And if there ever was a time the Captain needed human senses again, he needed them now for he did not know the air around them was filled with the telling sweet smell of strawberries, a clue that Cupid near.
   "Yes," Carolyn asked again, "what happened? Those are my friends and if this behavior of yours keeps up, I won't have any."
   "Do you really want that banker fellow as a friend?" he asked.
   "No, but he has my money. I have to be nice."
   "He's a charlatan!"
   "But a rich one," she pointed out.
   "Mrs. Muir, to answer to your question of what happened, I truthfully don't know. A lot of tonight isn't making any sense. I only know that you're here with me now and that I have something important to say to you." The ghost then deliberately made another effort to take her by the arms as the crowd pushed in around them.  "We don't have much time, Madam, and I must say my piece before it's too late."
   "Before it's too late? What are you talking about?!" She glanced down feeling his hands gripping her. She
didn't understand how he could be holding her. More to the point, could she handle him holding her like this without flat out fainting?  An unexpected marathon of chills ran up her spine. Even though everything seemed right, something was very wrong.
   "This may be my only chance..." the seaman said gazing into her eyes.
   "Chance for what, what's going on?" she asked, now becoming agitated.
   The Captain, making good on his decision, quickly leaned in to kiss her, but before his lips touched hers, Carolyn turned away and sniffed the air.  "There it is again! That smell, like strawberries!"
   "Strawberries?" He remembered that was the same odor she smelled when Cupid was skulking around! "Are you sure, Madam? I don't smell anything," the seaman glanced around.
   "Well, you wouldn't would you, you're a ghost. But it's definitely, strawberries, just like at Gull Cottage."
   "Are you sure it's not the candy floss, Madam?  Lots of it going around."
   "No, I don't think so, this is different."
   "Blast!" the spirit gripped her harder, "No, it can't be! Not yet!" The Captain squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them and cursed, "Blast that feathered rodent!"
   "What?? Captain, tell me what's going on! You're starting to worry me," Carolyn demanded, real fear creeping into her face. And did she just imagine it or had he tried to kiss her?
   In her semi-panicked state, Mrs. Muir visually located her children to assure herself they were safe, which they were. The crowd thickened and pressed in more against them, all vying for the best place to see the holiday boats. Someone bumped into the Captain nearly knocking him over. The pit of his stomach sank as the seaman realized who it was. His worst fear had come to fore; Claymore had arrived.
   "Oh, pardon me," the town clerk apologized, doffing his hat.
   "Not in your life!" the Captain glared.
   "Eee-ahhh!!!" Claymore wailed, seeing who it was he nudged.  "Captain Gregg! What are you doing here?"
   "Go away you pathetic pinball!" the ghost shouted, edging the man away. Nephew or not, the bumbling barnacle was on the bachelor list for Carolyn and he didn't want the nitwit around.
   Claymore adjusted his jacket collar.  "I've as much right to be here as you, Uncle, my picture's on all the posters."
     "I've no doubt those are ‘wanted' posters.....for being an imbecile!!" he snorted.  "Shove off!"
   "Oooh, who stirred your ectoplasm?" Claymore asked, while acknowledging Mrs. Muir and her children, but Captain Gregg lost his chance to return the spar as the first notes of a fanfare drowned out all intelligible sound.
   "Blast," winced the Captain, as everyone's attention was drawn to the Valentine boats anchored in the harbor.
   The crowd cheered as the festive boats blew their horns and chugged around the big fire-boat as it spouted continuous plumes of water. The Captain however, still adamant to connect with Carolyn, stepped in front of her again and tried to take her to him, perhaps for the last time.  With one forced blink, he made himself visible to all, not caring who saw him or what they would say. And he would say and do whatever he wanted, never regretting his choices. Just as he opened his mouth, Claymore turned around and yanked Mrs. Muir away.
   "You've got to see this, Mrs. Muir," he shouted over the din and pointed, "watch how the lights on Hogie's boat light up in a big red ‘C'! That was my idea!  ‘C' for Claymore!"
   "Oooh, how nice," Carolyn yelled back.  "Did you see that, kids?
   "Yeah! Neat!" they chimed waving their empty cotton candy sticks above their heads.
   Meanwhile, the Captain was stricken, his dispirited heart floating aimlessly in his throat. He knew Cupid was on the rampage and upon chancing to glance up saw that the spear-laden sprite was hovering only a short distance away. Cupid smiled sweetly and waved.
   "Fair warning!" the imp shouted doing a double flip in the air.
   All at once, as the Captain saw it, time began to wind down. Images around him slowed to a crawl as seconds stretched into eternity. No one moved or if they were moving, it was imperceptible. And finding himself as helpless as the rest, the Captain watched as Cupid pulled Carolyn's arrow from its quiver and set the shaft taut in the bowstring. The cherub brought the bow up, closed one eye and directed his aim at Carolyn.
   "No!" the ghost cried out, hearing no other sound but his own ghastly wail. In sheer agony, he tried to move but his appendages were heavy, completely ignoring his will. It was as if he was in a nightmare and could not escape. Running and not moving. He wanted only to run to the dream he knew existed on the other side, the dream which included Carolyn, but he had a mission to complete and he must not fail!
   Knowing Claymore was with Carolyn, he forced himself to turn back around. He couldn't let Claymore be the first person she saw after she was hit by Cupid's arrow. Slowly turning back to Cupid, he laboriously raised his hands in a desperate attempt to catch Carolyn's arrow when it sprung, but he was too late, Cupid had let go of the string.
   Now released, the arrow glowed magnificently, its legendary magic burning from desires held so long. The love within it could simply wait no longer. The neon arrow sailed along slowly, with much the same purpose as an unyielding torpedo heading for its lone target. The shaft passed smoothly over the Captain's head, his grasp far too slow to capture the shimmering object which would ironically crown the end of his existence. In horror, he followed the arrow with his eyes until it pierced Carolyn's heart.
   Fortunately for Mrs. Muir, she didn't know what hit her as the faint pink glow of passion spread from her head to her toes. She blinked, and looked at Claymore as regular time came up to speed. The noise level deafening.
   The Captain's nose crinkled in distaste. Mrs. Muir had done it. She had seen Claymore first. Though clearly not her fault, she had eyed the dunderhead quite innocently after being hit and now it was all over. The Captain sighed. At least it was all in the family. He had been a fool to try and stop what must be; Carolyn was human after all. Who was he to think he had any real power over her. He had no real power,
especially in matters of love. Glancing around, he saw that Cupid was gone and that his mission had failed. He had failed her. Now he had nothing better to do than to watch the results of love's poisonous arrow.
   Another cheer went up on the water front as a silly looking man, dressed as Cupid, lit the first round of fireworks on the floating platform. Red and white pinwheels sparked and spun in an anxious fervor as the crowd oohed and aahed, clapping their satisfaction.
   Carolyn commented to Claymore.  "The council's done a wonderful job, Claymore, this is fantastic!" she shouted over the din.
   "Why, thank you, Mrs. Muir. That means a lot coming from you," he answered, really looking at her for the first time.
   Seeing this, the Captain cringed. Carolyn smiled sweetly back at the man knowing he could always use a few kind words after an encounter with the Captain. No one really knew Claymore like she did and he knew he could always count on her to say something nice. He put a friendly hand on her back and pointed up at a newly launched skyrocket. They watched the streak in the sky explode into a feathery red starburst.
   "A rose for a rose," he chanced to say.
   "Thank you, Claymore." Surprised by his poetic reply, Carolyn kissed him on the cheek. The Captain winced again, his mouth agape. What drivel! What slobber! Worst of all, she kissed him! That wart- laden toad! Fully disgusted at the sight, Captain Gregg stood with his arms firmly crossed, totally unbelieving, yet heartbroken as well. That pink bumblebee, Cupid, had been right, he grumbled.  The prospect of Carolyn and Claymore coming together was plausible, but he never thought it possible. And not that anyone cared now, but he, too, felt he'd been doggedly pierced through the heart. It certainly felt that way. Who really was the victim of Cupid's arrow?
   Captain Gregg sighed. His destiny now was not to live happily, but to die another hollow death cushioned merely by thoughts and memories of lovely Carolyn. He found he could watch no more of their pandering and dematerialized sadly knowing that he had no right to interfere, that he must let nature make its own course without him.
   Moments later, Carolyn turned around to see if the Captain was enjoying the show, but he wasn't there! Was he invisible again? Her heart skipped a beat as she panicked. Where had he gone to this time and why was he so upset? She asked a favor of Claymore.  "Claymore," she hollered in his ear, "will you watch Jonathan and Candy for a few minutes while I look for the Captain?"
   "Oh, sure, Mrs. Muir. Come on, kids," he told them, herding them close. "Stay with your Uncle Claymore."
   The children nodded agreeably as a blue dandelion of sparks exploded above them.
   "Okay then, thanks, Claymore, I'll be back as soon as I can," Carolyn smiled, squeezing their shoulders.
   "Leave everything to me, Mrs. Muir, we'll be fine," he assured her. "Remember, if anything should happen, I know where you live."
   "That you do." Carolyn felt good about leaving the children with Claymore and began sifting through the crowd. At first, she scouted for the Captain in silence, but as her apprehension grew, she found herself calling for him aloud.
   "Captain? Captain? Where are you?" Finally she saw Martha and Ed. "Martha! Am I glad to see you! Have you seen the Capt..." Carolyn stopped mid-sentence, realizing Ed was there. "Er, I mean, have you seen my friend, he seems to have...disappeared," she said with a meaningful look.
   "Oh, oh no, I haven't seen him, Mrs. Muir, but if I do, I'll be sure to tell him you're looking for him."
   "Thanks."
   "Uh, Mrs. Muir, there isn't a problem, is there?" Martha asked over the roaring booms above. "Where are the kids?"
   "Claymore's got them."
   "Claymore?!"
   "Yes, while I look for...my friend. I've really got to go."
   Ed piped up. "Mrs. Muir, if ya' don't mind, I'm takin' Martha home tonight."
   "Home?! With you?!" Carolyn's eyes widened.
   "Not to Ed's house, Mrs. Muir," her housekeeper clarified while jabbing him in the ribs.
   "Ouch!" he moaned and supported her claim. "For heaven's sake, Mrs. Muir, I meant home to Gull Cottage o'course. Whad'ya think I meant?"
   Martha cut in to support his support. "It just came out wrong, that's all," she chuckled lightly.
   "That's right," the lanky man smiled. "No need to worry none about Martha here, Mrs. Muir. You just keep lookin' for your friend."
   "I will and I've got to go now. Happy Valentine's Day, you two!" Carolyn said as she hurried off. Her mind raced keeping pace with her feet. Before she knew it, she was off the pier and paused in the alley, nearly emptied of people. Not seeing the Captain, she found her way onto the street stopping in front of Norrie's Lobster house to catch her breath. She grabbed the old lamp pole in front and inhaled deeply as
she began to think. What was it the Captain had said? ‘That he had something to say?'  And he touched her and it wasn't her imagination that he had tried to kiss her, but where was he? Certainly, Carolyn surmised, even if the Captain went home to Gull Cottage he would have heard her call out for him. He always heard her; she had tested the method, it worked. So why wasn't he answering her now? Then she remembered something else he'd said. ‘He had to make his peace before it was too late!'  Too late for what?! she wondered. Why would it be too late? More importantly, was it too late already? She glanced in the
direction of Gull Cottage. Had her worst fear come true? Was the Captain gone? Was that what he was trying to tell her? Salty tears sprung from her lashes.
   "Captain Gregg, where are you?" she gripped the post, her nails digging into the peeling paint. "Where have you gone?" She slid down the post, the wet in her eyes falling in droplets on her red coat. "Don't you remember, Captain? It's Valentine's Day."
                * * * * * * * *
    Back at Gull Cottage, Captain Gregg stood his lonely watch on the widow's walk as the night sky continued to light up with color. It had literally just been minutes since the pageantry started, but it seemed an eternity to him. Within this short time, his world had collapsed and any thought of the future, a future he could not imagine without Mrs. Muir, crowded into his mind blocking the raucous noise from town.
   Curious, the seaman peered down the road toward Schooner Bay, his beloved seaside town. The air was so clear, he could almost hear individual voices.  What was that??? He tuned in his hearing to the maximum. The sound was faint but familiar. He leaped forward, grabbing the wood rail.
   Among the voices, he thought he heard Carolyn's calling his name, but it couldn't be, she was otherwise engaged with that idiot of a nephew.  Or was she? He leaned over the rail listening harder. Yes! The cry was unmistakable, it was Carolyn's! He would know her sound as sure as he knew a nor'easter coming on the horizon! He pounded the rail in anger. Only ten minutes had gone by since he'd  abandoned ship and she was already signaling an S.O.S.! What could that bilge blister Claymore have done to her in so short a time? Captain Gregg vanished promptly and following his heart, found Mrs. Muir sitting on the wooden steps of the lobster house, her head buried in her hands. He materialized a few steps away and stayed quiet just looking at her. Even after a few moments she still did not sense him. Then...he could not help but speak.
   "I always abhorred women crying," he said gently, though this woman was beautiful no matter what her emotional state. Carolyn looked up, suddenly coming alive, a show of immense relief at his return.
   "Captain!" she cried out with joy at seeing him.  "I-I thought you were gone ..."
   He came a step closer, "Madam, what has that wart-faced widow-wooer done to you?!"
   "Who? What widow woo-woo?" she smeared her tears away.
   "By the heavens!" he steamed.  "Claymore! Claymore! Who else?"
   "Claymore? He hasn't done anything to me, he's watching the kids," she answered with a bewildered
expression.  "Captain. I don't understand," she sniffed and walked over. "I called to you. Where did you go? Why are you putting me through this?" she asked.
   "I could ask the same of you, Madam."
   "Me?! I'm not the one being mysterious. I'm not the one who disappeared without saying 'good bye'."
   "You might as well have, however, I am aware your situation is not entirely your fault, you've had help and to make the transition easier, I shall vacate Gull Cottage as soon as possible. Perhaps even tonight."
   "You're going to leave Gull Cottage? I don't understand! Why?" Carolyn's fear crept in again. "You...you can't leave!"
   "Madam! You don't really think we can all live under one roof! At least spare me that!"
   "You mean, you with Martha and the children?" Carolyn was hurt. Was he having trouble saying he wanted them to leave? "I don't know if you noticed, Captain, but they are my family and they go with the territory. If this makes you upset, we'll leave."
   "And go where.....to Schooner Bay to live in that hovel Claymore calls a home? That's ridiculous, Madam, you deserve better."
   "Did you say.....Claymore's home?!"
   "Of course," he said, regretting every syllable of the ninny's name that rolled from his lips.
   "Why would I want to live with Claymore?" she asked quite perplexed.
   "You must take up residence somewhere after you and he are married," the seaman folded his arms.
   "Married?!" she repeated.
   "As I said, Gull Cottage is yours, it's the least I can do," he offered formally.
   "So the house is mine and I'm marrying Claymore, am I? Not again..." she made a doleful face.
   "It's inevitable, Madam."
   "Captain, you can't give me Gull Cottage, he owns it!" she pointed out.
   "I own it," he rebuked. "And 'tis no concern of his, Madam, the cottage is yours. I will make it so."
   Regardless of that fact, in a nonsensical way, Carolyn was beginning to understand. For some reason, the Captain thought she was going to marry Claymore! She almost laughed, it was too ridiculous to even consider, but how could such a misunderstanding have happened? Clearly Captain Gregg was showing his jealousy and he was even hurt, but she knew in his heart he was trying to do the right thing. He loved her
enough that he would give up his precious cottage.
   "Uh, thank you, Captain, if I do need Gull Cottage, you'll be the first to know."
   He seemed satisfied but could hardly look at her, "I apologize for my hasty departure earlier, Madam, but you must now pardon me again as I must retreat to the wheelhouse to pack."
   Although she didn't have all the answers yet, Carolyn couldn't help but tease him.  "Uh, what about the telescope? It is your favorite thing..."
   "The telescope?" he rubbed his beard, "Yes..."
   "It is big, and it does take up a lot of space," she said waving her hand in a circle over the ground.
   "If you would, Madam, keep it as a sort of keepsake. Nothing would please me more, dear lady, than when you would chance to look through it, you might think of me."
   "Oh, I'll do that."
   "Good," he forced himself to gaze at her one last time.
   "Uh, before you go, Captain, will you be saying goodbye to the children? And Martha?" she asked, but Captain Gregg abruptly turned away putting his hands in his pockets. Deep pain registered in his shoulders.
   "I was hoping perhaps YOU ...would..." his voice trailed off, the anguish of missing the children too much to bear.
   Carolyn instantly regretted baiting him and huddled in close behind.  "Oh, Captain, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have teased you. I'm not sure I understand myself, but there's been some kind of mix up. I don't know what or who gave you the idea, but I'm not marrying Claymore."
   He still couldn't look at her.  "You kissed him."
   "Kissed him?! You mean back there on the pier? I kissed him to thank him for a compliment."
   "Mrs. Muir, please, don't make this more difficult than necessary. You see, although I'm having trouble accepting the idea, the two of you were meant to be. I have it on the best authority."
   "Says who?" she demanded stepping in front of him. "I'm in charge of whom I marry or don't marry! And I'm not marrying anyone!"
   ‘What was this?' the Captain wondered. He could tell she was sincere!  ‘She wasn't to marry Claymore? Had Cupid, that prepubescent polliwog with wings been lying to him all along? Had Carolyn's poison arrow of passion fizzed out after all?'  He suddenly felt the greater fool, his gaze commanding hers to meet his eyes.
   "Do you mean to tell me you feel no passion for Claymore, no ache in your heart to spend the rest of your life with him?"
   "No!" she shook her head.  "Should I??"
   "Do you mean to say you are not in love?"
   Carolyn drew in closer, thinking rationally before she answered. She had to say it, here was her opportunity. There was no better time for the truth.  "Oh, yes...yes, I'm in love, Captain." Her engaging smile nearly burned the aura off his ectoplasm.  "You might even say I'm over the top," she whispered sincerely, "but I'm not in love with him."
   "Not with Claymore?" His eyes narrowed, "If not him, then who!?"
   Carolyn's dreamy eyes misted again, her throat catching as she said, "With you."
   "Me?!" the seaman's core almost bubbled over the top.
   "Mm-hmm," she nodded. "Will you be my Valentine?"
   As if on cue, Cupid appeared in a powdery flutter behind Mrs. Muir. She couldn't see Cupid of course, but  the Captain could and raised a hand and swung as if swatting a pesky fly. The gesture was fruitless for once again, real time became distorted.
   "Oh, no, not again! Why aren't you off to Bermuda?!" scowled the Captain. Excluding himself, everything around him ceased to move including lovely Carolyn, her smile frozen. Cupid giggled happily, quite overjoyed at another chance to annoy the stubborn seaman.
   "Hello again" Cupid squeaked.
   "You nasty nymph! What have you done? Look at the woman, she's frozen!" He waved a hand in front of her face, finding her unresponsive.
   "Relax,Captain. I've taken only a moment, only a blink to you or me." Cupid flew around to Carolyn's face and recognized her expression as one of being in love. The Captain leaned in to look too and saw her green eyes shine like emeralds.
   "Augh! You ought to be spanked for these childish tricks!" he reprimanded. "You've created nothing but havoc in Schooner Bay."
   "Thank you, Captain. I have tried. This is my busiest season, as I told you." Cupid did a loop in the air and settled on top of Norrie's lamp post.
   Captain Gregg pointed a finger at Cupid. "In my opinion, you've spread yourself too thin, you half- baked cookie. Why aren't there more of you?" the Captain asked reasonably.
   "There are."
   "Oh, Lord. And I suppose it was our great misfortune to have you!"
   "You're premature in your anger, my friend."
   "Am I?" the seaman asked. "Am I not correct in saying that nothing you've said so far has come to pass? You shot Mrs. Muir with your blasted, blinking arrow and only a moment ago, she said herself she wasn't in love with Claymore."  The seaman began to pace as Cupid sighed at the man's stupidity.
   "She's not in love with Claymore because she's in love with you!"
   "What?! In love with me. She can't be. I thought you said I could have no part in this!"
   "You must listen more carefully, Captain, for I said you could have no REAL part. There is a difference. I have nothing against you being involved spiritually. Love is love."
   The Captain popped himself in the forehead for being a dolt. "But...you yourself showed me the candidates. After Mrs. Muir was struck, she saw Claymore first, he was on the list.                                  
   "And so were you," nodded Cupid.
   "I....was on the list?" he gulped in surprise.  "I am one of the lucky ones?"
   "If I remember, it was you who chose not to finish the viewing."
   "Augh! My blasted temper! But....she saw Claymore first, why didn't she fall for him?"
   "Her love for you was in the way. I told you, Captain, in some instances, true love happens naturally, without my help."
   "Then why did you pierce her, why did you put us through this agony?!"
   "I had to spend her arrow," Cupid admitted.
   "Unnecessarily!"
   "Not quite, for credit actually. I have my quota to fulfill."
   "Why, you conniving crow! She didn't even need it, but you shot her anyway! I'll have your quiver for
this!" He lunged for the sprite, but Cupid flipped out of the way.
   "Tut, tut, Captain. Save your energy or I won't tell you the good news."
   "The news that you're leaving, I hope!"
   "Not so fast. You see, you are to be recompensed for my vacation absence."
   "Oh?" At hearing this, the Captain stilled himself and smoothed his beard to listen carefully, fully intrigued.  "What form shall this compensation take?"
   Cupid nodded in Carolyn's direction.  "Answer her question with your heart and you will see."
   "Answer her question with my heart? What question?!" the Captain asked.
   "Farewell, Captain!" Cupid spun like a top, then disappeared in a puff of pink sparkling glitter as the gears of time began to move forward again.
   "Blast! Come back here, you prepubescent pipsqueak!" the ghost cursed, but Cupid was gone.
    "Captain?" Carolyn waited for an answer. She thought herself extremely brazen asking him to be her Valentine, but she meant every word and hoped he'd accept. She loved him, after all.
    The seaman scratched his head, "Er, what was the question again, Madam?"
   "Will you be my Valentine?" she repeated harmoniously, the way that always melted his heart.
   A lump caught in his throat. Her asking him to be her Valentine really meant ‘would he be her love?' She was asking if he would love her! Of course, this was the question Cupid refered to and advised him to answer with his heart. The answer was easy, for every particle of his being urged him to say ‘yes' and because he loved her so much, there was no other choice.
   "Yes," he answered softly, "I will be your Valentine, if you'll honor me by being mine."
   Carolyn's face brightened at the response she longed to hear and when nodding her acceptance, she wiped a scant tear away. Then, as any man would, the Captain naturally pulled her in close, aiming to kiss her, but suddenly realized what he was doing. Carolyn gasped.
   They were feeling each other, but it was a more solid feeling than on the pier. How could it be? And if she could feel the grip of his hands, the pressure of his body against hers, what else could she feel?
   "Captain! I'm feeling you! Really feeling you this time, not like I did on the pier!" she exclaimed, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
   "And I, you! It' not just energy, oh, Madam, it's real!" his reaction mirrored hers. "By the powers, this must be what Cupid meant! Hold on a minute, did you say....just like on the pier?"
   "Yes! You did the same there too!"
   "I did?!"
   "Yes, and what does Cupid have to do with this?" Carolyn asked, equally at a loss of explanation.
   "Never mind Cupid. Oh, Madam, it can't be true, I 've dreamed of this!"
   "It must be real, we can't both be dreaming, can we? How long do you think this will last?" she asked excitedly.
   "I don't know, but I don't intend to waste a minute." He cradled her face in his palms, cherishing the opportunity to hold her worth in his hands. "Oh, my darling," he chuckled, "This is truly a special day. I know I don't have a fancy Valentine message to give you, or a box of chocolates, or flowers, but I do have this..."
   He covered her mouth with his, kissing her deep, their long harbored passions released in this miracle of love. Carolyn responded happily, her arms wrapping around his waist. There, in front of Norrie's, their fires burned until the interruption of exquisite fireworks exploded overhead.
   "Did you hear something?" Carolyn asked, taking a breath.
   The Captain glanced up at the night sky and smiled, his answer a hearty, joyous laugh. "Ha ha, Madam, those are fireworks you hear!  Lovely, irresistable fireworks!" Carolyn craned her neck too. Another white streak rocketed into the heavens exploding even larger than the one before. The Captain found himself remembering Cupid's simple wisdom and the blind absence of trust in his own faith. Cupid had said, ‘When the combination is right, it's fireworks, don't you agree?'
   "Oh, I agree," Captain Gregg said to the heavens, his face sharing a grin with the stars. His gaze then fell to Carolyn's eyes, which were surely born of emeralds in the sun. Actually hoping Cupid was still in the vicinity he admitted, "You were right all along my friend..., and I shall be forever thankful."
   Carolyn searched the Captain's face. "Who are you talking to?" she asked softly.
   "No one of any importance now. Let me just say, Madam, that it pays to have friends in high places."
   "I should have known better than to ask, " she said, knowing he would keep his secret until his dying day. "Shall we find Jonathan and Candy? By now they'll think they're abandoned."
   Captain Gregg embraced Carolyn once more and nodded. In his new state, whether temporary or not, he couldn't wait to find the children and finally hug them close to his heart. With a spring in their step, they headed back to the pier before their luck disappeared.
   As they neared the water front, Carolyn stopped. "That's funny," she said, "I smell strawberries  again."
   "Strawberries! Oh, not again!" the Captain cringed. Cupid was relentless! Couldn't he find some other prey?
   Then a man walked by, gobbling a huge, impressive looking strawberry sundae.
   "Oh, that's what I smell," Carolyn said. "May I?" she studied the dessert closely. "Oh, it looks delicious! Where'd you get it?"
   "Smitty's got a little stand down the road," the heavy man said, "better hurry before he runs out of strawberries."
   "Oh, let's!" Carolyn begged the Captain and turned to go, but the ghost pulled her aside into the shadows drawing her near again.
   "Have I told you I've a sensitivity to that particular fruit?"
   "To strawberries? Since when?"
   "Since very recently." He stretched out an annoying itch in his collar.
   "Oh, we can't have that," Carolyn observed. "Tell you what, Captain, if you don't mind trying it, I think I have just the cure," she offered with a grin.
   "Oh?" his eyebrow went up.
   "Mm-hmm. A romantic night in Gull Cottage should ease that painful itching in no time."
   "Ah, but, Madam, some say the place haunted...by a gregarious ghost. Are you sure you want to risk it? You could be eaten alive."
   "Well, if I'm frightened at all, I'll hold onto you."
   "That's the spirit!" he said, wishing the lovely cure of her could be bottled.
   "That's MY spirit," she corrected, laying her hands on his cheeks.
   "You mean your Valentine?" he asked, stealing a kiss.
   "No...my love," she whispered, having found her dream.