First Class Voyage (First Class Novels – A Contemporary Romance Series) (4 page)

Katy turned to look at the group of very attractive young
men across the deck at the bar. There were Janie’s twin sons, Adam and Tyler.
They were almost twenty-five years old. And there was Derek, Katy’s son, who
had just turned twenty-four. He had been living in New York for the past two
years and was working with Mark, his soon-to-be step-father, and loving it. His
degree in engineering was perfect for his job in MEL Holdings. He had started
at the bottom and was working his way up, no nepotism allowed, but he wanted it
that way. He didn’t want anyone to ever question whether or not he had earned
his position with the company. He loved Mark and enjoyed working with him. He
had learned a lot and saw his future in the family business.

Katy’s eyes moved past her son to Paul and Tim, Matt and
Mark’s younger brothers. They were a bit older but treated the younger men like
equals. Ben and David rounded out the group. They were the Lathem ‘middle’
children.

Katy’s view was blocked when Andrew and Rory joined them.

“Did you guys get the cabin situation all sorted out?”
Andrew smirked.

Katy humphed and rolled her eyes.

“Yes,” Mark replied. “The stewards are rearranging our room
now.”

“What was mom thinking?” Andrew shook his head.

“No point in trying to guess,” Matt shrugged. “You just
never know.”

*****

Peter shoved the empty suitcase under the bed and grunted as
he stood up.

“Don’t you dare throw your back out before we’ve even left
the dock,” Maureen warned.

Peter chuckled, “I’m fine. I can hobble after you for the
next two weeks without any problem.”

Maureen put the last of her things into the bathroom and
stood and looked around the suite. “I think this will do very nicely for the
next fourteen days, don’t you think?”

Peter nodded and sat down on the sofa. Maureen came and sat
next to her husband.

“Happy late anniversary,” she smiled.

“And to you too.” Peter kissed his wife on the cheek.

“It seems like finally our boys are all growing up,” she
said.

“They’ve been grown up for a while now,” Peter chuckled.

“Well in years maybe,” Maureen huffed. “But Matthew is all
settled, and Andrew too. If Katy would just set a wedding date then Mark would
be married off as well. Three out of seven is a start.”

Peter shook his head. “Let them live their own lives,
Maureen. They’ll figure it out.”

Maureen shot a glance at her husband.
Men,
she
thought.
You just don’t have a clue!

*****

With the safety briefing completed, the ship’s horn sounded
and edged away from the dock, heading for the warm blue waters of the
Caribbean. Patty had brought the children up and the whole family stood at the
back of the ship and watched the city of Miami get smaller and smaller. There
was laughing and hugging and a toast to Peter and Maureen. The breeze whipped
through the ladies’ hair and the Lathem family vacation had officially begun.

Andrew and Rory were playing with Ella and Katy was cradling
Christopher as the ship picked up speed and headed south. The family was loud
and happy and Janie sat back and watched with a big smile plastered to her
face. Maureen slipped into the chair beside her and shivered.

“Why don’t you go inside, Maureen. We can all meet for
dinner in a little while.”

“Oh, no. I don’t want to miss out on watching my children
and grandchildren have a good time,” Maureen smiled. “I know I see you often,
but I just can’t get enough of you all.”

“I understand what you mean,” Janie nodded.

Maureen pulled her sweater a little tighter and Katy walked
over to join the women. She saw Maureen shiver again and she pulled off her
jacket from around her waist and draped it over Maureen’s shoulders.

“Thank you, dear,” Maureen smiled. “But it is too cold for
me. I think I will go in.”

Maureen stood and patted Katy’s hand as she handed her back
the jacket. Then she leaned in and kissed her sleeping grandson on the cheek
and she and Peter made their way inside.

“I love her, you know, but she can be so infuriating,” Katy
sighed.

Janie smiled. “I don’t know why she changed the cabins, but
all is well now, right?”

Katy nodded and took a sip of her cocktail. Rory ran over
and asked if he could hold the baby. Katy handed Christopher off and he headed
back in the direction of Andrew and Ella.

“I hope they can get a baby soon,” Katy said.

“Me too,” Janie agreed. “They will make the most wonderful
parents.”

*****

Dinner was an ordeal to say the least. As the entourage
arrived at the dining room, the hostess’ jaw dropped open. She quickly regained
her professional demeanor and smiled as Peter and Maureen stepped towards her.

“Good evening,” she said.

“Hello,” said Maureen. “We need a table for seventeen.”

“Just a moment,” she said, and quickly hurried away to speak
to a gentlemen in a smart looking uniform.

After a few moments, the maître d’ ushered them to their
table, apologizing for the delay. The family was seated and menus given and
dinner was underway. Ella sat between Janie and Patty but wanted to sit with
her Daddy. Musical chairs ensued and finally everyone was settled, again.  The
wine bottles were opened and the bread basket passed around and conversation
centered on what everyone was doing the following day. The waitress arrived to
take their orders and after that chaos was completed they returned to
discussing plans for their day at port.

Paul sat quietly as plans were discussed. Matt noticed his
brother sitting with his arms folded leaning back in his chair. He hadn’t had
much of a chance to spend any time with him since he had returned home. He
would need to remedy that. He could tell there was obviously something weighing
heavily on Paul’s mind and if he could help, he would.

DAY 2 – KEY WEST

“Daddy!”

No response.

“Daddy, wake up!”

Matt felt a small chubby but determined finger trying to pry
open his eyelid.

“Daddy’s awake,” he mumbled.

“Open your eyes!” Ella was now using two hands on Matt’s
stubborn eyelids.

“Ella! Daddy’s sleeping,” Janie ran to the bed and grabbed
the tiny hands away from Matt’s face.

“Not anymore,” he grumbled.

Matt opened his eyes and Ella squealed and tried to jump on
the bed. She was not successful, so Matt lifted her up and snuggled her under
the blankets with him.

Janie picked up the phone on its second ring.

“Yes, Maureen. We are all up.” Janie turned to Matt and
grinned. “Breakfast at eight will be just fine. Bye.”

There was a knock on the door of the adjoining room and
Janie opened it and Patty stepped into their room.

“How did everyone sleep?” she asked.

“I miss my bed,” Matt muttered.

“Breakfast is at eight,” Janie smiled at her mom.

“Let me take the baby while you get ready,” Patty offered.

Janie handed off the tiny bundle and Patty headed back to
her room, shutting the door behind her. Janie went and sat next to Matt on the
bed. Ella peeked out and giggled.

“Wish you would come back to bed,” Matt growled.

Janie grinned and kissed his cheek.

“Time to get up. Your mother has a full day planned.”

*****

The sun was streaming through the window reminding Mark and
Katy it was time to get dressed.

“Let’s do that again,” grinned Mark.

Katy was still trying to catch her breath, little beads of
sweat on her forehead. She laughed as she rolled off him and onto her pillow.

“That was fantastically wonderful, as usual,” she smiled.

Mark kissed her cheek. “
You
are fantastically
wonderful.”

“I love you.”

“Mmm. I love you too,” he smiled and kissed her again.

Katy sat up and swung her legs off the side of the bed. She
turned to Mark, gloriously naked and leaned over and kissed him.

“It’s time to get ready for a fun day in Key West with your
mother,” she sighed, but smiled.

“Why can’t we just go to the beach by ourselves?”

“Because she says today is the day we all have to spend
together on the island. The rest of the ports we are on our own to play as we
please.”

Mark frowned. “Well, at least there will be all of us there
to share the joy.”

Katy chuckled.

*****

Andrew stepped out of the shower and opened the bathroom
door. Rory was sitting on the bed deep in thought.

“You okay?”

Rory looked up and smiled. They had been married for almost
four years and together for nearly fourteen. Andrew knew every expression he
had.

“I know that things are very different now than say, twenty
years ago, but I still wonder. Our income is above average, we both have great
jobs and we own a nice apartment. But will someone pick us to adopt their baby?
I mean, we’ve been waiting for over a year.”

Andrew sat down next to Rory on the bed and sighed. He had
wondered the exact same thing a million times.

“The right one will. And, we can always look at adopting a
child a little older. Our lawyer says that is always an option.”

Rory smiled at his husband and nodded.

“We just have to be patient,” he said.

Andrew held Rory’s hand and hoped they could both be
patient.

*****

Paul had his own cabin. His ticket had been booked after
everyone else’s because he didn’t know if he would be able to join the family.
He had promised his mother he would try his very best and when he had called
her a few weeks ago to say he would be coming on her anniversary vacation, she
had squealed into the phone. So he got his own room. He was glad about that.
Not that he planned on having company, or that he didn’t want to share with one
of his brothers or his not-so-new step-nephews, but the difficult decision of
his future weighed heavily on his mind and the peace would hopefully help him
to sort things out. He had a lot to decide and not a long time to do it.

Paul looked in the bathroom mirror as he shaved. He was a
Navy Seal and very proud of the last ten years he had served his country
faithfully. He never questioned a mission; always performed to the best of his ability
and always believed in the cause. Whatever he could do to ensure the safety of
his family and his country was of the utmost importance to him. But he wanted a
wife, a partner, a lover, a best friend. And he wanted children. Ella had
reinforced his desire for children. He wanted to be a dad. He smiled every time
Ella called his brother, Matt, daddy. He wanted that for himself and he
couldn’t have that and his Navy career.

He needed to make a decision. Or had he already made it?

*****

Maureen had rented a grand cabana on the island to spend the
day with all the family playing and eating. The family was met at the pier and
escorted the short distance to a beautiful white sand beach with clear
turquoise water. There was a large wooden cabana that came with staff and food.
Maureen was pleased.

Within minutes, clothes were stripped off revealing bathing
suits and a day of fun ensued. Swimming, hot-tubbing, dancing, eating, and
laughing were the activities of the day. Maureen sat in the shade and watched her
family together. Much of her time was spent with Ella reading books and playing
with her dolls. Janie snapped several photos of the two enthralled with each
other.

Katy draped her arm over Janie’s shoulder as she took
another picture.

“You will always be the favorite, you know,” she smiled.

“What? Why?” Janie frowned.

“Because you gave her Ella,” Katy smiled.

“No…I…I’m sure…”

“It’s perfectly fine,” Katy smiled. “I’m not upset. I’m
thrilled Maureen is happy and has grandchildren.”

Janie sighed, “If you had children with Mark…”

“Stop right there!” Katy laughed. “Not gonna happen, but
yes. If we had a baby I know she would love it just as much.”

“She loves you Katy. She really does.”

“In her own way I know,” Katy smiled. “Just not as much as
she loves you.”

Matt slipped his arms around Janie’s waist and didn’t give
her a chance to respond. Matt kissed her shoulder and Janie leaned back into
her husband.

“Let’s go swim,” he said and pulled her towards the water.

Katy watched them go and looked back at Maureen. It had been
three years and while she knew she was accepted into the Lathem family, she was
sure Maureen didn’t really approve. And Katy didn’t know how to change it. But
now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. There had been a barbecue prepared with
lots of delicious food to eat and the most beautiful water Katy had ever seen
to swim in. She waded into the water and closed her eyes.
Heaven
.

*****

They could see the ship from the cabana and could see the
line of passengers returning to it. Soon it would be time to head back. It had
been a marvelous day and Maureen and Peter sat in the shade and watched their
family. They were truly blessed with their boys and now they had Janie and Katy
as daughters, along with three grown boys and the two little ones for grandchildren.

Peter held his wife’s hand and smiled. “You did good.”

“
We
did good,” Maureen smiled.

“And it’s time to get on with this vacation.” Peter stood
and helped his wife up. “Time to get this bunch back so we don’t miss our
ride.”

DAY 3 – AT SEA

This was not the first cruise Peter and Maureen had ventured
on. In fact, since Peter retired over ten years ago, they had taken several
cruises all over the globe. So when it came to days when they were at sea,
Maureen knew exactly how to spend the day…Trivia games. Not only were the
cruise lines excellent at buffets and transporting passengers from one port to
another, they had excellent staff that filled the days at sea with activities
and trivia was right up Maureen’s alley.