By the time the wedding ceremony was over, the elderly minister was exhausted and his assistant took him to his room and settled him into a comfortable recliner. The assistant went into the kitchen to get the minister a light snack and some coffee, and there she met Naomi. Naomi helped her with the coffee, and then asked what the minister would normally eat for a snack. The lady said he would normally have a chicken sandwich. Naomi walked to the food replicator and spoke her food order. Then she had a cup of spicy mustard and sliced dill pickles put on the plate. When she told the computer her order was complete, a chicken sandwich appeared inside the compartment. Naomi removed the plate from the replicator and placed it on the counter. The lady raised the top slice of bread and realized the sandwich was prepared exactly as the minister would have fixed it at home. The lady looked at the food replicator, looked into Naomi’s eyes and said, “Young lady, I do not understand the ways of this vessel, I have no idea how you created this perfect sandwich, but the minister will be very pleased. Thank you for your help.”
As Naomi stood in the kitchen, she wiped tears from her eyes as she sipped her own coffee. Naomi heard a sound behind her. Jill stepped up, put her hand on Naomi’s shoulder and asked, “Are you alright, Naomi?” Naomi kept her face turned away from Jill, but Jill knew she was crying. Jill sat down on a bar stool and said, “You look beautiful today Naomi. I just met the minister’s assistant in the cargo bay and she could not stop talking about you and how you had grown up since she last saw you, and I think you made quite an impression with the chicken sandwich.” Naomi did not speak a word but turned around and continued to cry. Jill comforted her and then asked what had caused the tears. Naomi said, “I could not be happier living here on The Empress, and today with this beautiful wedding between my two very best friends, I find myself crying again.”
Naomi dried her tears just as her father stepped into the kitchen. He looked at Naomi’s eyes and used his finger to trace a tearstain on her cheek. He leaned down, hugged Naomi and whispered in her ear, “I love you Daughter and could not be happier to have you with me today. I now have my two best friends at my side and my life is once again perfect.” Jill giggled with Naomi and told her father that she had just had this conversation with Jill a moment before he entered the kitchen. Naomi kissed her father’s cheek, reached out and held Jill’s hand, then said, “I really need to get my tears under control and go visit with our guests.” Jill said, “We all need to go out right now, mingle and feed our hungry friends.” Naomi wiped her cheeks in the ready room bathroom, and then walked on her father’s right side, while Jill walked on his left side, out into the cargo bay to greet their guests. As Jill, Fred and Naomi talked with each of their guests; they arrived at the table where the four young people that Naomi had invited to the wedding and reception sat nibbling on some crackers. When they stepped up to the table, Trevor stood up to greet them. Naomi stepped forward and winked at Trevor, then began the introductions. The three girl’s names were, Kathy, Debbie, and Gail. When Naomi introduced Trevor to her father, Trevor looked directly into Fred’s eyes and shook his hand. Fred spoke to the group and said, “Trevor, we will be talking later; Kathy, Debbie and Gail, thank you for coming today. Please enjoy your day here with us on The Empress.”
As Fred and Jill turned to greet the next guests, Trevor stepped up close to Naomi and whispered, “Have I angered your father in some way?” Naomi giggled and said, “No, he just wants to make sure you are not f… his daughter.” Jill turned to wait for Trish to catch up and saw Trevor’s face had turned beet red. Jill mind spoke to Naomi and asked if Trevor was okay? Naomi spoke into Jill’s mind and told her that everything was fine. Jill was not so certain and questioned the computer over Trevor and Naomi’s conversation. When the computer played back the conversation, Jill rolled her eyes and wondered what possessed Naomi to make such a statement to her friend.
When they arrived at the head table, Trish seated Fred, Jill, and Naomi at the table so they were facing the guests. Trish then signaled the waiters who began serving each guest a meal consisting of baked goose, fresh cooked carrots, mashed potatoes with gravy and dinner rolls with honey. As the guests were being served, Naomi stood up, toasted the bride and groom, then had them stand and kiss. Then as they sat, Naomi reminded the guests that the time-honored tradition of tapping their wine glasses with a spoon would remind the bride and groom of the love they felt for each other, and they would kiss. Then Trish said, “But let’s let the bride and groom eat their supper also, the hour set for the consummation of this wedding is fast approaching and Fred and Jill will need their nourishment: Before the clock strikes midnight, this marriage must be consummated, or the fine ministers work here today will become null and void. The marriage license states today as the wedding day.”
When the guests had finished eating their meal, the band began to play and Trish introduced the bride and groom, and then sent them to the center of the dance floor for the first dance. After the first dance, Fred took his daughters hand and danced with her. As Naomi was returning to her seat, Trevor asked Naomi if she would dance with him. When they hit the dance floor, the guests stopped and watched the two teenagers dance. They both were incredible. Jill took Trish’s arm and asked, “Trish, have you been teaching these two to dance?” Trish said, “Not I, but I want my chance with this handsome gentleman if Naomi will allow it.” When the dance was over and the guests applauded them, Trish stepped up and asked Naomi if she could dance with Trevor?” Naomi giggled and said, “Yes, I will share Trevor, but I want him back when you are finished with him.” As Trevor walked away with Trish, Naomi spoke to him and said, “Come back to me my love, do not succumb to this vixen’s seductive lies.” Naomi heard Trish’s giggles as she moved Trevor to the very center of the dance floor, where she tested Trevor’s dancing skills. She soon discovered he had an excellent dance teacher back on Earth. When the dance was over, Trish walked with Trevor back to where Naomi was sitting at the head table with her father and Jill. Trish took Trevor’s hand in hers, curtsied deeply to Trevor and said, “Thank you for the wonderful dance Trevor, have a great evening.” Trevor held Trish’s hand, bowed to her very ceremoniously and said, “The honor is mine lovely lady, let the angels of your dreams put smiles on your lips as you dream of this wonderful evening.”
Naomi looked at her father and he smiled, and then said, “You had better grab hold of Trevor before Trish traps him in her lair.” Naomi stood up and stepped between Trish and Trevor. Trish said, “Sir, I think our evening has come to an end. Your lovely lady wishes for me to unhand her man before she has to resort to physical violence.” Trish stepped back, and quickly headed towards the minister to see if she could liven up his life and offer him a dance. Trevor took Naomi’s hand and said, “Shall we dance, my lady?” Naomi smiled and followed him to the dance floor. Fred watched Naomi and Trevor as they chatted, giggled and sang with the music while they danced. Jill put her hand on Fred’s and said, “Do you feel like Naomi is testing her wings to fly out of the nest?” Fred looked at Jill and said, “Those are the perfect words to express my feelings.”
When the dance was over, Trevor and Naomi walked up to Fred and Jill and asked if they could teleport down to Trevor’s home for two hours to watch a new movie at the theatre one block from Trevor’s parents house. Fred asked what the movie was they wished to see and Naomi explained about the third movie of the Harry Potter series called, “Prisoner of Azkaban.” Fred looked at Trevor and then Naomi and said, “Yes, but Naomi, I am concerned about you dating so young.” Fred stood up, talked to both Trevor and Naomi for a moment and then sat back down. Naomi kneeled down beside her father and said, “Father, please listen to my words for just a second.” Fred nodded to Naomi and she said, “Computer, would you monitor my mind this evening until I return to The Empress? I would like Jill to be able to check on me telepathically whenever she wishes to insure that I follow the dating guidelines that she and I have agreed upon and I have promised to follow faithfu
lly.” The computer chirped three times, and everyone in the room looked to find the source of the sound. Naomi smiled, then looked into her father’s eyes as he spoke to her, “Very well Naomi, I feel that I need to trust you, because you have never given me any reason to doubt you. I have discussed Trevor with Jill and I trust both of you to make wise decisions.” Fred stood up, put his hand on Trevor’s shoulder and said, “Trevor you are responsible for Naomi’s safety tonight. Don’t let me down.” Naomi kissed her father’s cheek, and then took Trevor’s hand as they walked to the ready room to teleport to Earth. When Fred’s eyes returned to the table and the party, Jill kissed him on the cheek and said, “I know that was very hard for you, but you did correctly to place your trust in both of them. They will not let you down, and the computer will help Trevor keep Naomi safe tonight.”
As Jill and Fred talked to their guests, Jill heard Naomi speak into her mind. Naomi said, “Jill, when we entered the lobby of the theatre, we found Kathy and her boyfriend Bob. We did not plan it that way; they were just here when we arrived. Jill, I just wanted you to know that there are four of us together. Trevor will teleport to The Empress with me after the movie is over at nine o’clock. See you within minutes after nine, love you.” Fred spoke to Jill and said, “Jill, are you alright?” Jill looked at him and said, “Oh, yes, I was listening to Naomi. She was giving me an update from the movie theatre. They discovered two friends and will be sitting with them during the movie.” Fred said, “This is going to be easy if we can always keep track of Naomi and her dates.” Jill smiled at her husband and said, “Fred, when you were young and wanted to have sex with a girl, did you have any problem finding a secluded place for the deed?” Fred looked at Jill and said, “I get your point, but I hope Naomi and Trevor will wait until they are married.” “Keep your dreams husband, but don’t be too upset if you someday discover otherwise. Naomi is very wise and will make intelligent decisions.”
As the party gathered strength, everyone danced and ate more food than their bellies should have been able to hold. Naomi and Trevor reappeared on the dance floor shortly after nine and they slowly danced their way over to Fred and Jill. The four of them stopped dancing and stood in a circle together. Naomi was very excited about the movie. Trevor had relaxed a little and seemed a little less formal around Fred. The four sat down at the head table and Fred poured them each a very small glass of red wine. Jill asked Trevor to dance with her and when they returned, Trevor told Jill and Fred that his father had set midnight as his curfew for this evening and he should think about teleporting home. Trevor said, “I guess he still worries about me, even though I am now grown and have a full time job. He still sets curfews for me and acts as if I am his little boy. Naomi thinks my father is a splendid parent, I think he is much to over protective, but I still love him dearly.” Naomi walked with Trevor into the garden area and they talked for a few minutes. Trevor returned and said goodbye to Jill and Fred, and then walked to the ready room with Trish to teleport home.
Naomi walked up to her father and hugged him, then said, “Thanks for allowing me to go with Trevor to the movie tonight, Father. I love this life on The Empress, but I do miss the confusion, congestion, and excitement of being in the big cities sometimes.” As they talked, Trish walked over and asked Jill and Fred if they were ready for their guests to serenade them to their room for the consummation of their marriage. Jill giggled and Fred blushed but he looked into his daughter’s eyes and said, “Let the consummation begin.”
Trish picked up a crystal goblet and a spoon. As she began tapping the goblet, the gathering of guests began to circle around Fred and Jill. A deep male voice from the back of the gathering began to sing and the crowd parted to allow the minister to move to Jill and Fred. As he sang, the crowd joined him. He walked to Fred and shook his hand then kissed Jill on the cheek. He stepped around Fred and Jill and began slowly walking towards Fred and Jill’s room. When he got to the door, he opened it and stepped aside. Fred and Jill stopped in front of the door to their quarters, turned and waved to their friends. The singing continued as Fred and Jill stepped inside of their room. The singing stopped and the quiet became overwhelming for a moment. Then Naomi stepped forward, hugged her father, hugged her stepmother and stepped back to the minister who put his hand on her shoulder. Naomi said, “Father, Jill, I love you both, go to your wedding bed with love in your hearts.” The minister shut the door, looked at Naomi and said, “Child is there any of that red wine left in the decanter?” Naomi said, “If we find it is empty, I will stomp grapes and make more for you.” The minister put his arm around Naomi for support as they headed back to the growing gardens to find wine and more food.
Chapter 12 – Trish and Jill Regain Control
It was fall on planet Earth where Fred was teaching an eight-week course on radio telemetry at the college Naomi would be attending in a few more weeks. The Earth year was 20,986 AD, and Trish had just received a message from her mother Frederica living on the Planet of Quantum. Trish had giggled as she read the message and then sent a return message telling her mother that she and James would love to visit for a couple weeks. Trish typed on the keyboard, “Would you mind if Naomi joined us for a few days during our visit. She really needs some time away from The Empress and the large city surrounding you and Monica’s homes would be perfect for her to socialize a little. We could take Naomi and James to the museums and visit a couple social clubs. Naomi has a boyfriend that she is still dating, but she needs to meet some other men her age and see if she has selected the right man. Mother you may have met Trevor during the wedding reception. He was the handsome man who danced so incredibly wonderful with Naomi and me at the reception. He danced with the same grace and elegance as Father when he was alive. Mother, it was nice hearing from you, and I look forward to visiting you. Please message back when you have a moment.”
Trish cleared the channel and walked into the kitchen for coffee. Naomi and James had finished their breakfast and were now off somewhere, probably working in the growing gardens. Jill stepped into the kitchen and Trish asked if she had a few minutes to talk. Jill poured a cup of coffee, sat down and said she always had time to talk to her partner. Trish offered Jill one of the warm cinnamon rolls that Naomi had made, but Jill said, “I need to keep this belly fat under control.” As Trish returned the pan into the warm oven, Jill giggled and said, “May I change my mind and have a roll. I will work it off walking in the cargo bay later this morning. The smell of the warm cinnamon is overpowering.” Trish began talking as she served a small portion of warm cinnamon roll to Jill, and then warmed the coffee in her cup. “Skipper, I just received a message from my mother and she invited James and me to visit her for two weeks. We are in between customer visits right now and the gardens are doing well. Would you mind if I visited Frederica and Monica for a while. Jill, if you should get behind and need a hand, I could easily teleport back and help you catch up with the workload for a day or two.”
Jill said she did not mind at all. She could easily manage the gardens until Trish returned, and Fred and Naomi would be around part time. Naomi was starting an engineering class on ion generation in two days at the college were her father was teaching. They will be teleporting in and out every day. Trish said, “Well that answers that question. I considered asking Naomi to join James and me on Quantum so she could get off The Empress and socialize, but she will get plenty of socializing while on Earth at the collage.” Jill said, “She needs to date more than one man before she settles on just one, and I figure she is preparing to settle with Trevor. She needs to explore the gene pool before settling on a mate. Naomi is very young and she needs to explore the cosmos she lives in before settling down and having a child.” Jill said, “I will miss you and James a lot while you are gone. If I get lonesome, would you teleport James back here to stay with me for a day?” Jill giggled and then asked Trish when she planned to teleport to her mother’s home to start her vacation? Trish said, “I am waiting for another message fro
m Mother before planning the trip, but I wanted to discuss being away for so long with you before I agreed to Mothers itinerary.” Jill stepped up to Trish, kissed her and said, “Enjoy your trip. I just replenished the baby stopper drawer in the inventory control locker, so you have an excellent selection.” Trish giggled and said, “I hope to use a couple while on Quantum, but my girl parts may have forgotten what to do with a man between my legs.” Jill just smiled and said, “I doubt that girl, one touch from his hands and your body will quiver like a volcano preparing to erupt.”
The computer spoke to Trish and said she had a message from Frederica waiting for her. Trish stepped into the control room and sat down in the copilot’s chair. She located the message, entered her pass code, and began to read the message. When she finished reading, she typed a reply message accepting her mother’s invitation for tomorrow morning. She explained that Naomi was starting a college class and could not join her for this trip. Frederica’s message had told Trish that Monica had invited her and James to stay at her house where there was more room for James to play, and the neighbors had a swimming pool where James and their eight-year-old neighbor girl could swim. Frederica said, “We can use my home in the city of Liberty (about six kilometers from Frederica’s home) to eat lunches, while we visit the wonders this city has to offer. Please bring James bicycle with him, as there is a bike trail running through the woods for about seven kilometers. The children often pack their lunches, eat in the woods, and make a day trip out of the adventure. The neighbor girl’s mother rides with them to keep everyone out of trouble while they travel.”
Volume II Page 17