First Class Voyage (First Class Novels – A Contemporary Romance Series) (17 page)

“All the food,” David said as he loaded another stack of
pancakes onto his fork. “If I even have breakfast it’s cereal. This is way
better.” He put the fork in his mouth and sighed.

Paul chuckled. “You could make breakfast.”

“I can’t. I can’t cook. Somehow I even burn toast. It’s
pointless. I’ve given up.”

They both cleaned off their plates and David headed back for
seconds. Paul downed the rest of his orange juice and looked around the
restaurant. This was the emptiest he had seen it. Most of the passengers were
leaving. He could actually hear himself think.

His eyes stopped. She was sitting alone, only a cup of
coffee in front of her. It looked like she was sending a text.

Paul stood, straightened his shirt and walked the short
distance to her table.

“Hey.”

Nic looked up and almost smiled. “Hi.”

Paul pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down.

“So it’s back to Virginia, huh?” he said.

“Yep, assuming April shows up. I have no idea where she
slept last night. I’ve been texting her all morning and she hasn’t returned any
of them.”

“What time is your flight?

“Oh, not until three so we’ve got plenty of time.”

“Do you need a ride to the airport?” Paul asked.

“No thank you. We’ll just grab a taxi.”

This time she did smile but Paul was strangely disappointed.

Nic’s phone dinged.

“Ah, it’s her. She’s back at our cabin.”

Nic stood up and Paul did too.

“If I’m ever in Virginia I should look you up,” Paul smiled,
hoping.

“Do you ever come to Virginia?” was her reply.

That wasn’t an answer
, he thought.
What am I
doing?

“Um, well there is one of the largest naval stations in the
world there and I
am
in the Navy,” he smiled.

Nic just smiled and put her phone in her purse.

“It was nice to meet you Paul. Take care.”

And she turned and walked away. Paul watched her leave
through the double doors and out of his sight. She had given no inclination
whatsoever that she was even remotely interested in him, even as just a friend.
But Paul couldn’t deny that he felt a distinct pull, an attraction to her, one
that wouldn’t go away.

*****

The family was going to meet in the lobby so they could
disembark together. Angela, Matt’s secretary, had arranged for a car service to
pick up the family and send a van for
all
of their luggage. It would be
there after ten o’clock, but they could meet the drivers whenever.

Of course, Peter and Maureen sat in the lobby and waited for
the rest of the family to arrive.

“Most of the luggage has been taken care of by the porters
already. What is taking them so long?” Maureen frowned.

“Maybe they aren’t as anxious to get off the ship as we
are,” Peter chuckled.

“I am not anxious to get off,” Maureen sighed. “We need to
do this again…soon!”

Patty and Ella exited the elevator and made their way over
to the grouping of chairs. Ella ran to sit with her granddad and show him her
doll. Peter hoisted her onto his lap and Ella began chatting away, Peter
pretending to understand what she was saying, nodding his head and smiling.
Patty sat down next to Maureen and sighed.

“Matt is trying to pack up the cribs. It’s gonna take him a
minute…or two.”

She settled in to the corner of the couch and got
comfortable. It would definitely be more than two minutes.

Andrew and Rory came racing down the stairs in a total state
of panic.

“What’s wrong?” Maureen asked as the men ran to her.

“We just got a call from Jim and…”

“Who’s Jim?” Maureen interrupted.

“Our adoption attorney, mom! Anyway, the baby has been born!
Last night and all went well.”

“But it’s early!” cried Patty as she stood up to try and
calm them down.

“Two weeks!” yelled Rory. “But she’s fine and healthy.”

“A girl!” smiled Patty. “Congratulations!”

She hugged them both and Maureen finally caught up on the
conversation.

“So? What’s next?” she asked.

“We will fly to Albany as soon as we land at JFK this
afternoon. Jim’s secretary is making the arrangements for us. And then we go
and pick up our baby girl! Our daughter!” Andrew exclaimed.

“Daughter?” David gasped.

Andrew and Rory swung around to see Tim, Paul and David and
they quickly filled them in on their exciting news.

“Why are you going to Albany?” asked Ben as he walked to the
group with Derek, Adam and Tyler in tow.

David told them of the new baby that was joining the Lathem
clan and everyone was hugging as Janie stepped off the elevator holding her
baby with Matt two steps behind weighted down with bags and portable baby
furniture.

Adam and Tyler rushed to help Matt and alleviate him of some
of the bags and Janie asked what was going on. Patty quickly filled her in and
she hugged Andrew and Rory and congratulated them both.

“What’s up?” asked Matt as he finally joined the group.

“Andrew and Rory’s baby has been born,” grinned Janie. “It’s
wonderful news, isn’t it?”

“What’s wonderful news?” Mark said as he and Katy, the last
of the family to arrive, joined the group.

“Those two men over there are adopting a baby and she was
born last night in Albany. Everything went smoothly. It’s a girl. Yay! They are
going to go and pick her up as soon as they land at JFK this afternoon.” The
entire family turned to look at the man standing off to side of the lobby,
dressed in all white, obviously an officer on the ship.

“Well, thank you,” Katy grinned as she turned back to Mark
and snickered. “I guess you guys are a bit loud,” she laughed.

“You’re welcome,” he smiled.

*****

The family strolled down the gangway and into the terminal.

Their luggage was waiting for them with several porters to
assist in getting it to the awaiting cars. The Lathems moved on through the
terminal, their path ahead laid out like the yellow brick road with ropes and
employees making sure they stayed in line and heading in the right direction.

“Ever want to know how cattle feel?” joked Mark as they
shuffled along.

“Does everyone have their custom forms filled out?” the
cruise line employee was yelling as the passengers were herded by.

Everyone retrieved their forms from their pockets of purses
or wherever they had been stashed and made their way towards immigration. As
they walked to the I.C.E. station, they were met by another employee who
directed them to the VIP line. One by one, or couple by couple, they moved
closer to the front of the line where their forms would be collected and their
passports reviewed.

“Mrs. Lathem?” came the voice from the agent’s desk in front
of them.

Maureen stepped forward and presented her passport. The agent
shook his head and Maureen stepped back.

“Mrs. Lathem!” The name was called again.

Janie made her way to the desk and the agent reviewed her
passport. Again, the agent shook his head and Janie returned to Matt’s side.

For the third time the agent yelled. The family looked
around wondering what he could possibly want.

“Mrs. Katy Miles Lathem?”

There was a group sigh and Katy spun around as her name was
called.

“That’s me!” she laughed. “
I’m
Mrs. Lathem!”

Maureen patted her arm and grinned.

“Yes you are, my dear. Yes you are!”

Just over a month had passed since the Lathem family arrived
home from their fourteen day vacation. Planning had been in top gear for the
simple
reception to celebrate the marriage of Mark and Katy. Katy had married Mark in
a perfect setting and in a simple fashion, just the way she imagined her ideal
wedding to be. It was all she could have hoped for. So her heart had softened
just a bit when it came for Maureen’s ideas for the celebration, although many
ideas were immediately scratched off the list.

Like the Waldorf Astoria hotel. It wasn’t going to be held
there; Katy could never have given in on that one. Tavern on the Green was also
suggested, and although closer to Katy’s style than the Waldorf, it didn’t feel
right. Instead, with her complete love of the water known to many members of
the family, Maureen suggested a small gathering aboard a yacht as they sailed
around New York harbor. While not the most modest of choices, Katy had actually
been thrilled with the idea. And with Matt and Mark’s friendship with Ryan
Little at MEL Holdings, the use of his father-in-law’s yacht was quickly
secured for the occasion. Once the venue had been secured, Katy, Maureen and
Janie had planned the joyous event in a matter of minutes.

Keeping it within their circle of friends, Aaron, one of Mark’s
best friends from high school, whom Matt had helped launch his first of three
restaurants, and subsequently his career, would cater the event. Maureen’s
long-time florist was supplying dozens of tubs of beautiful fresh flowers that
would be scattered throughout the yacht in all the magical colors of the sea.
They reminded Katy of the pillows on the bed of their wedding night. She was
very pleased. In fact, she was downright thrilled.

It would be the first time the entire family would be
together again since their cruise. Adam had started his residency and even
though the hospital wasn’t far from his parents, he rarely saw his family now.
His time was no longer his own. Andrew and Rory had remained all but
quarantined in their apartment for the prior three weeks in order to attempt to
keep all the nasty little germs and viruses from their infant daughter whom
they had named Isabelle.  Tyler had received his first overseas assignment from
Matt and had travelled to Manchester, England, for a week. Ben had taken his
on-again-off-again girlfriend to Boston for a weekend only to come home with
the news that they had broken up once and for all. Maureen had been kind of
happy about that piece of news, as she certainly hadn’t measured up to her two
perfect daughters-in-law.

The day finally arrived for the reception and the weather
remained perfect for the early evening event. Guests began arriving and champagne
began pouring. There were long-time family friends and work colleagues for both
bride and groom. Extended family arrived and soon the yacht seemed like it was
in fact hosting a party. As they left the pier and made their way out into the
glistening water, the celebration was in full swing.

Maureen could not have been any prouder as she introduced
her new daughter-in-law to those Katy didn’t already know. Maureen led her
around, their arms linked, and faces beaming. Mark watched, mesmerized, his
eyes not able to leave his bride. As each person congratulated Katy on her
marriage, Maureen watched Katy interact with her guests and was so thrilled
that Mark had convinced her to marry him. Her sons had married two of the
finest women she had been privileged to know. She was well aware of her good
fortune and thanked God every day for it.

Katy looked positively radiant in the strapless palest of
pink dresses with a sweetheart neckline and an empire waist. She wore the
strappy silver heels on her feet and on her finger sat her stunning engagement
ring resting above her pale pink shell wedding ring, a visual reminder of the
love she had for her husband and the special place in her heart for the city of
San Juan.

Mark remained by her side, the proud groom, dressed in khaki
pants and a crisp white linen camp shirt and leather sandals. His finger also
held a pale pink shell wedding ring that was a symbol of his everlasting love
and commitment to the woman at his side. The looked perfect together; they were
perfect for each other.

The DJ played music from every genre and soon the dance
floor was full. Matt danced with Ella on the deck and Janie, sitting at a table
with her mother and Lester, smiled as she remembered her first time on the
yacht many years before when she saw the Statue of Liberty for the first time.
Now, with her family surrounding her, she couldn’t imagine that she could ever
be any happier.

In three weeks, several members of the family would be
travelling to Miami to witness the marriage of her mother and Lester. Janie had
been a bit uneasy at the whirlwind courtship, but Matt only had to remind her
that when you knew it was right there was no point in waiting. He was reminding
his wife of their very own whirlwind romance. So, after several phone calls where
Patty assured her daughter that she not only knew what she was doing and it was
the right thing for her, Janie was comforted and happy that Patty had found
someone to love her and to make her happy, for she truly did not remember her
mother looking better. She had a glow that everyone noticed. In fact, it took
years off her appearance. And though she was somewhat skeptical at first, Janie
had come to realize that Lester was a very good man, who loved her mother and
treated her like a queen. What more could she ask for? She had even spoken to
Maggie, Lester’s daughter, several times on the phone and she was sure that
they would become fast friends. The family was ever expanding; more people to
fill her already overflowing life with love and joy.

Ella skipped over to the table and asked Lester to dance
with her next. He was only too happy to oblige his new granddaughter. The two
of them were in love with each other already. The music started to play and the
smooth voice of Nat King Cole filled the deck. Lester lifted Ella into his arms
and they swayed to the rhythm of ‘Unforgettable’.

Matt left his daughter in Lester’s capable hands and stepped
to the railing where Paul was standing, an empty cup in his hand. He appeared
to be deep in thought and Matt thought twice about interrupting him.

“Can I refresh that for you?”

“Nah, I’m good,” smiled Paul.