9 March 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3037: without suspicion

“OK, but, how did you know about Grandma, though?”

Six-year-old Grayson Ludlow had walked up to his grandfather, Capt. R.E. Ludlow, and just dropped that bomb of a question. The captain smiled. It was the second time a younger man had asked the question that day.

“OK, but, how did you know, especially after a terrible divorce, that Thalia Green was the one, out of all the beautiful women out here – and you could have gone younger, too!”

Lieutenant G.H. Truss was a new Christian and doing his best to resist temptation – and so, was looking for a wife because his strong desires had gone nowhere.

Capt. Ludlow had laughed gently.

“We think of it as cliché, but, truly, when you know, you know,” Capt. Ludlow said. “I wasn't even looking. I had been faithfully married for 18 years in my first marriage, meaning I wasn't getting caught up in looking at and chasing women all that time, so it was not that hard to ignore my desire for them after my divorce. I truly thought the way my first marriage had ended had killed the entire idea anyhow.”

“So, what did it?”

“Well, I still have eyes, Lieutenant, and of course they saw this gorgeous early middle-aged woman with auburn hair and a silver streak developing, all flowing green and confident, sitting in dappled sunlight at the cafe. She looked peaceful and composed, and she saw me looking and smiled … there was instant attraction, but she wasn't thinking about getting up. Nope. Not desperate, not grasping, not in need like that. Intense self-respect and strength. I read that immediately. Then, her order came, and it was wrong. She called for the waiter with a smile, and told him to ask for the owner. He did, and she read this owner the Riot Act in the nicest way possible, bookending her commentary with, 'I wouldn't be upset if I didn't know you have the capacity for a five-star restaurant.' She made him take back the food but said she would be back at a certain date and that 'I know you can convince me that you are a five-star restaurant. I know you can.'

The owner took the challenge – and I set my calendar up to be there on that date – it was like coming into a whole new restaurant! The food was much better, and the owner brought out her order himself. She tasted it and smiled and said, “I know you and your staff had it in you to be a five-star restaurant – I knew it!”

“Wow!” Lt. Truss said. “The woman has power!”

“Thalia ranks right with my own mother for quiet but immense power,” Capt. Ludlow said, “and immense power with love. I know who I am as a man; I don't get close to weak adults because I'll break them. But Thalia was mighty, and gracious; I knew we could ride this thing out together.”

“How did you get to trust her – how could you just move without suspicion, given your divorce?” Lt. Truss said.

“It never was an issue; when you know, you know,” Capt. Ludlow said.

Which is basically what he said to Grayson, some hours later.

“You know how good ground just smells good, Grayson?”

The little boy grinned.

“Yeah, we talked about this, and, when you know, you know.”