First Class Voyage

7.

DAY 5 – GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS

Dolphins and turtles were the theme of the day. Matt and Janie were taking Ella to play with the dolphins and swim with the turtles. After all, if you’re going to the Cayman Islands you have to swim with the dolphins, right? And because it was a tight-knit family, the rest of them were coming along too. Well, at least for the morning.

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.