First Class Voyage

3.

DAY 1 – EMBARKATION

Katy sat on the edge of the twin bed absolutely livid. Mark bit his lip trying not to smile. Janie chewed on the inside of her cheek and Matt rubbed his forehead. None of them wanted to speak first.

Mark finally spoke.

“I’m sure that Derek and David will be fine with switching up the cabins.”

“I’m pretty sure that Derek won’t mind not sharing a cabin with his mother,” Matt added, a slight smirk forming.

“I don’t understand what happened!” Janie sighed.

“I do!” Katy exclaimed. “Maureen changed the cabins around. It’s not like Mark and I haven’t lived together for the past three years or anything!” She was still unable to see the humor in the situation like Mark did.

He sat down next to Katy and rubbed her back. He knew his mother well enough to know what she was trying to do. He and Katy had been engaged for three years now and they still had not set a wedding date. His mother was trying to force their hand, turn the screw, some good old fashioned prodding. But Mark also knew his fiancée and it wouldn’t work with her. The more you pushed, the more Katy would dig in her heels and not budge. This cabin fiasco was just another reason Katy wouldn’t set a date. She didn’t want Maureen interfering.

Matt picked up the phone and asked for their cabin steward to come to the state room. In just a minute or two there was a knock on the door. Matt answered it and explained to the young man there was a slight mix up in the cabin assignments and would he please turn this room into a king room instead of two singles. He took Janie by the hand and Mark escorted Katy out so the beds could be reconfigured.

As the two couples walked down the hall, Katy muttered that she needed a drink. Matt agreed and they all headed up to the Lido deck and the bar.

*****

Patty sat in her cabin and rocked Christopher ‘til he fell asleep. She had shooed Matt and Janie out to enjoy the warm sunshine and then had read Ella her story and then put her down for a nap. Now Christopher was sound asleep and she could unpack her suitcases.

The offer to come on the cruise had been very generous. She and Maureen got along well enough, and the opportunity to spend more time with her daughter and Katy was one she would not pass up. Patty had three daughters but always considered Katy one of hers as well. And after Katy’s mother died tragically in a car accident, Patty had tried harder to make herself available to Katy, to step in and try to fill the void left behind. She had spent the past few weeks staying at Matt and Janie’s apartment and had loved every minute of it. She had spent lots of time with Janie and Katy and the children. She liked to be a hands-on grandmother, but with Janie now living three thousand miles away, it made it tough. Her grandchildren lived in New York and Atlanta and so she took every opportunity to spend time with her family.

With her two grandbabies sleeping peacefully, she unpacked her clothes and hung them in the closet, ready for two weeks of sun and relaxation. She was there to take care of the children so Janie and Matt could have some time together, something she figured they needed after the difficult pregnancy Janie had lived through. The angels were smiling on their family, allowing Janie to give birth to Christopher without any additional complications. Yes, they had been blessed with the addition of this beautiful baby boy. And now they could relax and spend two weeks without the business of life getting in the way.

*****

Janie sat at a table by the pool with a lemonade in her hand and watched her boys laughing on the other side of the deck. She was happy to say that they fit in well with the Lathem boys, especially Tim and Ben, Matt’s youngest brothers. They were all together having a good time and Janie sighed as she lifted her face to the sun.

Matt sat down next to his wife and took a long drink of his beer. He reached for Janie’s hand.

“You okay?” he asked.

Janie smiled and nodded,“I was just thinking how nice it was to see the boys get on so well. I know it’s been a few years, but still, I admit I was worried.”

“The boys are actually men,” Matt chuckled. “And I think that this is the way it was supposed to be.” He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed her palm. “This is supposed to be our family now.”

Janie smiled. “You’re right,” she agreed.

“Of course I’m right,” Matt laughed.

“What are you right about this time?” Katy snickered as she sat down at the table, Mark at her side.

“About how well our boys have just blended in with the Lathem clan,” Janie said.

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.