First Class Voyage (First Class Novels – A Contemporary Romance Series) (7 page)

All aboard the tour bus, they headed off for Ella’s
adventure. She loved dolphins and water. Bath-time was her favorite part of the
day and The Little Mermaid her favorite movie. Matt had bought her a large
stuffed dolphin several weeks before the cruise and told her she could play
with a real one. Janie didn’t think she understood but Matt told her stories at
bedtime about playing in the water with the lovable creatures. And today she
would finally get to do it. She sat with Paul on the bus playing peek-a-boo and
singing ‘Incy-Wincy Spider’.

When they arrived at the aquatic center, Janie headed in to
feed the baby with Patty alongside her and the rest of the Lathem’s went to the
locker area to free themselves of their extra clothes and belongings before
entering the water.

“I think Matt is more excited than Ella,” Patty laughed.

“Ella has no idea what’s going on,” Janie grinned. “But yes,
I think you’re right.”

There were trainers with the dolphins and they all had to
sit through a short instructional session before being allowed into the water.
The dolphins were released into the huge pool and began playing.

All the men slipped into the pool after donning a life vest
and Ella went in with Matt. Peter stood next to him, wanting to share the
experience with his granddaughter. Janie and Patty returned with a sleeping
baby and sat by Maureen and Katy and they all watched as Ella’s sweet little
face lit up as a dolphin came close to say hello.

The morning was magical and Katy had captured it all on
camera so Ella could relive her swimming adventure back home.

*****

Paul was quiet on the bus back to the pier. Memories of the
day were being catalogued into his mind to bring him joy in the future, in case
he found himself back in a position where he needed to retrieve a memory to
keep him alive. Over the years, he had used this trick to keep the fear away;
to keep his body moving toward safety, rather than giving up in defeat. It had
served him well on many a mission.

He smiled to himself as he recalled the few hours in the
water with his niece, the sound of her laughing as she was pulled through the
water by a dolphin; the sound of her gasps as a turtle swam underneath her and
tickled her feet. That sweet little face as he uncovered his face and yelled
‘boo’.

Yes, this would serve him well, if he needed it again.

*****

Peter and a couple of his sons headed back to the ship. The
rest of the men and Katy headed off to parasail after lunch. Janie was
horrified at the idea so she, Patty and Maureen wandered around the slew of
little shops hawking their wares. Each of the grandmothers pushed a stroller so
Janie was able to peruse the myriad of souvenirs.

As she was selecting a couple of little t-shirts from the
piles on the table, she overheard them talking. She stopped and listened.

“Well she told me many years ago that she would never get
married again, so the fact that they are engaged is a huge step for her.”

“But they’re living in sin!” Maureen wailed. “I know
everyone tells me I’m old-fashioned, but my beliefs are my own and they cannot
be changed! My parents would have been horrified if I had just shacked up with
Peter for years on end. God wants them married and so do I!”

Janie chewed on the inside of her cheek as the conversation
went on. Her mother was right. It was a huge step for Katy to be engaged and
Janie was sure she would marry Mark eventually. The two of them were completely
committed to each other for better or for worse and nothing could change that.
But Katy was stubborn and did things on her terms, in her own time. On this she
would not be budged. And Janie knew that any coercion or
encouragement
from Maureen would only make Katy more adamant about
not
getting
married. Mark was a saint to be so patient. Matt had told her that Mark
desperately wanted to get married and that the only thing stopping them was Katy’s
reluctance.

“I love her dearly,” Maureen went on. “I think of her as a
daughter, just as I do Janie.”

Janie smiled.

“But,” continued Maureen, “Katy needs to marry my son, and
the sooner the better!”

Janie paid for her t-shirts and walked back to the strollers.
Ella was zonked out. The morning’s excitement had finally wound down enough
that she stopped fighting her eyelids and let them close. Christopher was
waking up.

“He’s going to want to eat,” said Janie. “I will take him
and we’ll head back to the ship.”

“Do you mind if we keep Ella with us?” Maureen asked. “I
would like to shop a little more,” she smiled.

“Of course not,” replied Janie. “I’ll see you later.”

*****

Mark and Katy sailed high above the water, gliding along in
the breeze. It was magnificent. It was Katy’s first time parasailing. Of course
Mark had been many times before.

Katy laughed and threw her head back, thoroughly enjoying
the experience.

“We should have gotten married up here,” grinned Mark.

Katy’s head whipped to face her fiancé to see if he was
being serious.

“Well this is the only place we are truly alone,” he
laughed.

Katy relaxed, realizing he was just joking.

“I did bring the marriage license with me though,” he said.

Katy’s eyes got wide and her mouth opened as if to say something.

“What?” grinned Mark. “I was a boy scout. I am
always
prepared.”

“You’re serious?”

“Well, not about getting married up here,” he chuckled. “But
about wanting to marry you? Absolutely serious.”

Mark kissed her hand that he held in his and they finished
their adventure without another word.

*****

The group of parasailers met up with Maureen and Patty as
they all were walking back to the dock to the tender boats that would take them
back to the ship. Mark kept their attention the whole boat ride back to the
ship with his comparisons of this parasailing adventure compared with some of
the others he had been on.

As they docked next to the ship, everyone boarded the cruise
ship and waited in the line to go through security. The officer greeted each of
them as they passed him.

“Welcome aboard, Mrs. Lathem,” he said as he smiled
brightly.

“Thank you,” replied Maureen.

“Hello Mrs. Graves.”

“Hello,” smiled Patty. “Thank you,” she said as the young
security officer handed her back her I.D. card.

“Mrs. Lathem,” he smiled. “Welcome aboard.”

“Oh no!” Maureen turned back to the officer speaking to
Katy. “She is not a Lathem…yet.”

Katy gritted her teeth and attempted a smile at the young
man handing her back her card.

“It’s Miles,” she said. “Katy Miles.”

“Well, welcome aboard Ms. Miles.” He looked very
uncomfortable.

Mark placed his hand in the small of Katy’s back and guided
her through the security checkpoint. Her anger was palpable and Mark wanted to
avoid a confrontation, at least in front of the other guests. Fortunately, his
mother and Patty had just stepped into an elevator and were on their way up to
their rooms.

“Is it that big of a deal that she would embarrass him?”
Katy spat.

“You know mom,” he sighed. “All about correctness.”

“Are you siding with her?”

“Of course not. I don’t think it’s a big deal. And I know,”
he said, holding up his hands in surrender as Katy began speaking, “that it is
to you because you don’t think she considers you one of the family but I’m
telling you for the millionth time that she does. She has said so many, many
times that she thinks of you as a daughter.”

“Well she would never have said that about Janie!” Katy
folded her arms and slumped her shoulders.

“Of course she wouldn’t!” Mark exclaimed. “They got married
in like ten minutes,” he chuckled. “There wasn’t even time to get used to the
idea they were engaged before they got married!”

Katy had to agree with that. Mark was right. But she was
still irritated.

DAY 6 – OCHO RIOS,
JAMAICA

The Lathem family broke into small groups and headed off in
every direction on the beautiful island of Jamaica. For most, it was their
first experience on the tropical paradise, so sight-seeing tours were the most
popular trips. There were also jeep safaris, snorkeling, the famous bobsled adventure,
and of course, golfing. Everyone left the ship ready for an amazing day with
the plan to meet up for dinner back in the dining room at seven that evening.

It was a perfect day too. A bright sun and blue sky held the
temperature around seventy-five degrees. Matt had changed his plans, with
Janie’s blessing, to spend the day with Paul. While Paul had always been a
quiet, somewhat introspective person, Matt had noticed, on more than one
occasion since he had been home, that he seemed quieter than usual, troubled
perhaps.

Paul was only too happy to spend the day with his big
brother. He admired Matt and loved him dearly. He couldn’t have wished for a
better big brother to love and guide him.

The two men arrived at the zip-line course to spend the morning
whizzing through the trees, high above the jungle floor. They were suited up in
all the appropriate gear and their adventure got underway.

Once in the trees, Paul forgot all his cares. His decision
was a world away. To play was the best therapy he could have asked for. The
views were amazing. It was a fantastic experience.

As the men were unbuckling and unharnessing at the end of
the course, Matt asked Paul if there was something on his mind.

Paul looked at his older brother and knew if there was one person
in the world he could talk to, it was Matt.

“I think I might be done with the Navy.”

Matt’s eyebrows shot up and his jaw dropped open. It was not
anything he was expecting to hear. Paul loved the Navy. He lived for his job.

“I think I want a life,” continued Paul. “A life that
includes a wife, kids, a house, you know, what you’ve got.”

Matt smiled and nodded. “And you aren’t willing to put that
at risk while you’re still a Seal.”

Paul shook his head. “I can’t.”

“That’s very respectful of you. But there are thousands of
military personnel who balance family and their careers.”

“I know,” shrugged Paul. “I’ve watched most of my buddies do
it. But I’ve also watched their wives as they are kissed goodbye, not knowing
where their husbands are off to or what terrible things they’ll see or maybe
have to do. Its heart wrenching and they aren’t even
my
wives.” He shook
his head again. “I won’t put someone through that. It would be too hard on them
and it would be too hard on me leaving them behind.”

“It sounds like you’ve already decided,” said Matt.

The two brothers headed back down the hill, bottles of water
in hand, to the waiting car that would return them to the pier and the ship.

“That’s the thing,” replied Paul. “I LOVE my job. I’m good
at it. I have worked hard to get where I am. Very few men get to do what I do.
Can I just walk away? Do I want to just walk away?”

“I guess that depends on what you’re walking to.”

*****

That evening, right around seven o’clock, the family started
arriving at the dining room for dinner. Maureen and Peter had arrived first and
were patiently waiting at the table. They were holding hands and deep in
conversation when Mark and Katy arrived.

“Hello,” smiled Maureen as they sat down across the table.
“Did you have a good day?”

“We had a great day,” smiled Mark. “We spent it together and
it doesn’t get any better than that.”

Mark took Katy’s hand and kissed it. She grinned at him, her
eyes shining brightly.

“Oh you too are just beautiful together,” Maureen sighed.
“Such a handsome couple. Why don’t you just get married already?”

Katy closed her eyes and bit her tongue.
Here we go
again.

Mark took a deep breath and answered his mother calmly.

“When we are
both
ready we will get married.”

“How long does it take to get ready?” Maureen asked.

Neither Mark nor Katy had to answer because several of the
boys arrived, including Derek, and sat down. Peter steered the conversation to
the days’ events and Katy’s shoulders eventually began to relax. Mark squeezed
her hand and Katy attempted a smile.

Paul was the next to arrive. He sat by his dad and listened
to the adventures of his brothers. His mind couldn’t let go of Matt’s words
from earlier in the day.  ‘What you’re walking to’ was being replayed over and
over in his head.
Nothing
was the answer he kept coming up with.

*****

Ella wouldn’t let go of her father. Matt sat with her curled
on his lap as she whimpered. She was over-tired,
extremely
over-tired,
and subsequently all but hysterical. She had refused to take a nap while she
spent the day with Patty. Janie and Maureen had gone on a sight-seeing tour of
the island and Matt had gone off with Paul. So Patty had been left to try
everything she could to get Ella to sleep but nothing had worked. Janie was
sure she was just missing her parents. They had never left her as often as they
had the past few days and she wasn’t dealing with it well. They would need to
correct that.

“I’ll just stay here with her,” Matt said, cradling his
precious little girl in his arms. “We’ll spend the evening together, won’t we?”
he kissed her cheek.

“Daddy,” Ella sighed and grabbed his arm tightly.

“Mom, why don’t you just give our apologies? Please? We’ll
have a family night tonight.” Janie sat down next to her husband and daughter,
the baby snuggled into her neck.

“What about dinner?” Patty asked.

“We’ll order room service. Really, just go without us.”

Patty headed off to meet the others for dinner.

“Do you want to play with your dolls?” Matt asked Ella.