Chapter 3 Lighthouse story

Ok this isn't really chapter 3, but it is the 3rd installment. here goes:
He proceeded to the kitchen and found the beef stew from last night still in the pot on the stove. As he was heating it up, he helped himself to a few spoonfuls. ‘Mmmm’ he thought, as good as it was last night. his wife could make a gourmet meal out of a few potatoes, an onion and a piece of shoe leather.
“A watched pot never boils” he said to the empty kitchen. So he stepped outside, habitually gave a short ‘come here’ whistle, and started down the walk to the beacon. Not three feet rom the steps he came upon his old dog Pilotis, and the two of them trotted of together, Owner and Best Friend. Upon assurance that everything was in working order at the beacon he returned to the house, his faithful sidekick returning to his spot on the back door porch. He did as he was asked and ladled two steaming spoonfuls of stew into a bowl and grabbed a bits of bacon and bread. he was careful to leave a few of the tastiest morsels for Pilotis.

The kids were perched outside the door to the spare bedroom, intent on listening to whatever tidbits of conversation floated their way. So enthralled were they by the quiet murmurs from the other room that they didn’t notice him till he was standing behind them.
“Well, make yourselves useful and open the door why don’t chya” he said.
His son promptly lept to his feet and turned the knob, pushing the door open as he scooted back into the hall with his sister. Whatever it was that happened to the man inside, they knew he was trouble and wanted to stay just far enough away to still fuel their curiosity.
“I brought you some grub” he said as he placed the tray of food down on the bed.
“Eat up, my wife and I have duties to attend to and we will return shortly”
He guided his wife out into the hall and sent the kids once again scurrying into the shadows. With a worried face he looked at her and said “This man is no good, I think that was opium he was smuggling in his boat, as soon as he is well, I am taking him to the officials on the mainland and they can deal with him”
“He seemed like a good man, albeit one who lost his way” she replied.
“Regardless, I will not let him stay here and endanger my family, anyways, if the Coast Guard or the Borders and Customs finds him here and I haven’t reported his arrest, it's my ass on the line Mary, and its a charge like-amount to treason” at this he turned back towards the kitchen, grabbed the last bit of food he was saving for Pilotis and walked out to where the day lay on the porch.

“Here you go boy” he said as he fed him a few pieces of bacon. After a few good scritches behind the ears he stood up, dusted off his jeans and walked out to the carpenter shop. There was a project he had been working on for some time. A wooden box for their upcoming anniversary. A few months back he had eyed a large madrona tree that had fallen over at the edge of the cove. He walked out there with a saw and after several hours of cutting away at this dense log, he removed a sizeable chunk and rolled it back to the shop. Mary would never think to look in here for her gift, but just in case, he had hid the pieces behind the workbench. Today was a special day, after countless hours of sanding, cutting, and planing, today was the day he was going to start the detailed carving on the lid. He needed no drawing, the image was seared in his brain. He picked up a large chisel and started to chip out an outline of the lighthouse. He could think of nothing better to represent their happiness, then the shining beacon of their paradise.

He loved the way the wood curled up, and the feeling in his left hand every time he tapped the chisel with the mallet. Things quickly fell into a rhythm as he worked around the face of the box. Tap, tap, tap, brush the hand across the wood, tap, tap, tap, brush, tap tap tap. It continued on till he had outlined the lighthouse structure and cleaned up the frame of the carving. He could hear footsteps outside the shop, so he placed the piece behind some tools on the workbench. Mary, opened the door, the light of the sun set her hair all aglow. Instantly he was taken by her beauty and when her lips parted, the angel said “Lunch is ready”
“Right away dear, let me hang my tools up” He replied.
She turned and shut the door, and he pulled out the carving, was this good enough for her. He placed the gift back in its hiding place behind the workbench and straightened up his tools before heading towards the house.