by Aj Harmon
First Class Farewell
by AJ Harmon
http://www.firstclassnovels.com
First eBook Edition, November 2013
Copyright 2013 by ABCs Legacy, LLC
All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without written permission from the author.
Just when life seems to be perfect, tragedy strikes. The Lathems lose one of their own in a senseless, violent crime and the family struggles to deal with the loss.
Spreading the ashes and saying farewell is harder than they could ever have imagined, but are reminded repeatedly that life goes on – there is still living and loving to be done.
While all together in their house in the Caribbean, they are reminded once more how fragile life can be and how they should treasure every moment shared with the most important people on earth – their family. Join the Lathem family as they say goodbye to a loved one and watch a romance blossom right in front of their eyes.
First Class Farewell is the 9th novel in the contemporary romance First Class series.
More Top Rated Romance Novels by novelist AJ Harmon:
First Class to New York (Book 1) Meet Matt and Janie…the book that started it all.
First Class to Portland (Book 2)
First Class Justice (Book 3)
First Class Voyage (Book 4)
First Class Hero (Book 5)
First Class Menu (Book 6)
First Class Rescue (Book 7)
First Class Stamp (Book 8)
What readers are saying about the ‘First Class’ novels:
“I think the First Class Novels would make fantastic films.” Victoria, Facebook Fan Page
“A series worth reading over and over again...” Kerry, Amazon
“I love FIRST CLASS SERIES!” Margaret, Amazon
“A.J.'s stories just keep getting richer and richer.” Deb, Amazon
“…go download the whole series, because they're all great!” Cindy, Amazon
“First class all the way… This series is one of the best I've read.” I love books, Amazon
“I have loved every book in this series. It is so great to read about a 30-40 something women who is dealing with so many real issues but finds her fairy tale.” Ashley, Amazon
Dedication
As this series comes to an end, I have so many people who have made a huge impact in my life, especially over this past year. To my family, first and foremost, I am so grateful for your love and support. To my team that makes it possible for me to publish my stories, I am in your debt for your skill and service. To my friends that have been so supportive I say Thank you. Your encouragement is much appreciated.
To the many wonderful people who have bought my books – thank you! Thank you for your kind reviews, your interaction with me through Facebook and emails. You have made this past year more than I had ever dreamed of. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Table of Contents
1. Peter & Maureen
2. Matt & Janie
3. Mark & Katy
4. Andrew & Rory
5. David & Lindsey
6. Ben & Sophia
7. Paul & Nic
8. Tim & Beth
9. The Obituary
10. Goodbye
11. The Wake
12. Ghosts
13. Awakening
14. Prodding
15. Pedicures… & More Prodding
16. Dinner
17. Surprises
18. Maternal Instinct
19. Realization
20. Possibility
21. Clarity
22. Desire
Epilogue
About the Author
1.
Peter & Maureen
Since the day that Peter Lathem retired, he’d made golfing his hobby of choice. In good weather he played at his favorite golf course with three of his buddies. If the weather was not so good, he headed to the Chelsea Piers driving range and hit balls until his bucket was empty and his back ached. Today, being an almost perfect spring morning, Peter met his friends for coffee at the small diner a couple of blocks from his home and then they drove to New Jersey and the country club where they would spend several hours arguing over handicaps and the most recent Yankees game.
Peter, a die-hard Yankees fan, could not accept anyone speaking ill of his beloved team. His friends liked to push his buttons and could usually get him so riled that he’d throw a club, or two, by the end of eighteen holes. In fact, they took it as a challenge to up the number of clubs to three. So far, however, they’d failed.
With Peter out of the house on the crisp Thursday morning, Maureen loaded the dishwasher with the breakfast dishes, stripped her bed of the linens in preparation for the housekeeper to remake, and put a load of laundry in the washer. By nine o’clock she was ready to leave the house for the grocery store to shop for the weekly Sunday dinner.
As a young mother, Maureen had been determined to have all evening meals together as a family; sitting around the table sharing the events of the day. As her boys aged and extra-curricular activities took them away from the family home more and more, and eventually off to college, the mandatory weekly Sunday dinner was born.
The Lathems were devout in their religion and Sunday was dedicated to God and family. As children, Mass was not optional, and as adults, most of them still attended the family parish regularly. Dinner came after Mass and as her sons married and began having families of their own, the dinners became more important to her. It was imperative that the cousins grew up together; getting to know each other and playing together; becoming friends. Not only had she replaced the dining table with a much larger one, there was now a grandchildren’s table, a sight that filled her heart with more love than she ever thought one woman could possess. The sight and sounds of them eating and playing filled her with joy.
Even though each son had married their perfect partner, and all willing to contribute to the family meal, Maureen had kept control of the protein and the dessert and then assigned sides among the daughters-in-law. Rory always brought the wine. Even with a celebrated chef in the family, Maureen stuck with the tradition she had started fifty years before and shopped and cooked each week for the family get-together. With her shopping list in hand, and Ray waiting for her at the curb, Maureen locked the door behind her and took the steps one at a time down to the sidewalk.
Ray was Matt’s - Maureen’s eldest son - longtime driver and most trusted employee. Actually, he was considered part of the family. He often celebrated holidays and birthdays with the Lathems and occasionally accompanied Matt and his family to their vacation home in the Bahamas. Now that Matt was practically retired, Ray took care of Peter and Maureen more and more, driving them anytime they left the city and every Tuesday and Thursday when Maureen did her grocery shopping. Ray took her hand and helped her into the back seat of the black BMW and then drove to the market.
Although he would never admit it, Ray enjoyed taking Maureen to the store. He pushed the cart as the two of them discussed anything and everything; the ongoing war in the Middle East, the weather, Ray’s two beautiful daughters who were now in college, the price of gas, and hundreds of other topics. As Maureen paid for her groceries, Ray would load them into the cart and then into the trunk of the car and, once again, help Maureen into the car and drive her home. Once there, he made sure to see her inside and settled before unloading the car and quite often helping her put the groceries away in the pantry and refrigerator. Then, Maureen would make them both lunch before it was time for Ray to pick up one of the children, Ella, Christopher, Alex, or all of them, and return to the office or Matt’s apartment.
As Matt had scaled back in his official duties as CEO
and President of MEL Holdings, the demand on Ray’s time also decreased, but Matt had made sure his salary had increased. Ray had protested but to no avail. He was employed by the most generous man he’d ever known and treasured his relationship with the Lathem family. It wasn’t just a job. He loved them all.
Maureen had made BLT sandwiches for lunch and with them eaten and the kitchen tidied, Ray kissed her on the cheek and left for St. Luke’s where the children were at school. It was already after two and they would be dismissed at three o’clock. There wasn’t enough time to do anything else, so while he waited he hoped one of his daughters would answer their cell phones when he called.
*****
Peter had never been an exceptional golfer but that didn’t deter his love for the game. At eighty years old, he didn’t have the swing of his younger days, but he didn’t mind. Being out in the fresh air with his friends was what it was all about now. Some days, he let the others keep score because he didn’t care how many strokes he took. He was glad to still be alive and able to walk the course, although he rarely did. That’s what the golf carts were for, after all.
Sitting in the club and eating his salad with blackened salmon he enjoyed the company of his dear friends. They’d all worked together in the insurance business for many, many years. More years than Peter liked to think about. They’d remained friends after one by one they’d retired. Herb and Vince were now widowers and Ed’s wife had been placed in a nursing home after falling and breaking her hip. Sadly, it didn’t look like she would ever return home. Not only did Peter need them, but they needed him, too, and they each looked forward to their time together. Who knew how long they would all be around?
Loading all the golf bags in the back of the car, they drove back to Manhattan through the Holland Tunnel and up to the diner where they’d met earlier in the day. After unloading the clubs, they said goodbye and headed in four different directions, Peter going home to his wife.
*****
Four stories and four bathrooms made it very difficult for Maureen to do all the cleaning in her home. As a young mother she had prided herself on her house always being in tip-top condition and at first, she had balked of the idea of a housekeeper coming in twice a week to clean. It was an embarrassment to her to admit she could no longer scrub the bathtub or clean the floor behind the toilet. Liko had been a blessing, though. She was at Matt and Janie’s home two days a week, Mark and Katy’s one day a week, and Maureen’s the other two. Matt believed that once you found someone you trusted and who exceeded all expectations, you made sure you treated them well, paid them what they were worth and made sure they had no reason to ever leave your employ. Liko fit into this category. She’d worked for the Lathems for years and loved the family.
As Maureen headed upstairs to her bedroom, she found Liko adding the pillows to the re-made bed.
“Thank you, Liko,” Maureen smiled. “There are some things that I just can’t do anymore.” She sat in the armchair under the window and removed her shoes. “You know you’re getting old when just going to the market should be rewarded with a nap.”
“That’s a good idea,” agreed Liko. “You do look tired.”
“I think I’ve been tired all year,” she chuckled.
Liko helped Maureen to the bed and then pulled a light blanket from the chest at the foot of the bed and covered her.
“Peter should be home soon and he’ll want an afternoon snack. Don’t let me sleep too long.”
“I can fix him a little something,” Liko offered. “You just rest.”
Maureen closed her eyes and Liko tiptoed from the room, closing the door behind her. When Peter arrived home just a short time later, Liko made him a snack of vegetables and crackers, even though he asked for a chocolate shake and a donut. She knew Maureen tried to keep him on a balanced diet.
“But I had salad for lunch,” he whined like a child. “I deserve a donut.”
Liko grinned and pulled a chocolate candy bar from the back of the pantry. “Eat your vegetables and I’ll let you have this when you’re done.”
“I’m not a child,” Peter frowned, but began munching on his baby carrots and celery sticks. Placing the chocolate on the table next to him, Liko handed him the remote to the television and returned to cleaning the house.
*****
With Ella and Christopher safely returned home after school, and his services not required for the rest of the day, Ray grabbed the car vac and some leather cleaning wipes and headed to the underground garage to spruce up the car. With the inside spotless, he popped open the trunk to give it the once over and discovered two jars of roasted red peppers hidden from view. Damn! he thought. They must have escaped from Maureen’s grocery bags. Ray slipped behind the wheel and began the journey uptown.
Peter had snuck into the bedroom to check on Maureen. She had complained of a slight headache so he’d checked the cabinet in the bathroom for a pain reliever.
“I need aspirin,” she’d whispered. “The other stuff doesn’t do a thing.”
But there wasn’t any in the cupboard. “I have everything else but no aspirin,” he frowned. Looking back at his wife, he could see her face scrunched in pain. “I’ll walk to the corner market. They should have some.” Peter quickly slipped on some shoes, grabbed his wallet and kissed his wife on the forehead. “Be back in a flash.”
Maureen grinned. “You haven’t flashed in a long time.”
Peter kissed her again and closed the bedroom door behind him and hurried down the stairs. As he opened the front door, Ray pulled into the empty parking space in front of the house next door. He stepped onto the sidewalk and Peter could see two jars in his hands.
“Are you delivering now?” Peter chuckled.
Ray shook his head and smiled. “I guess they rolled out of the grocery bags in the trunk.”
“Can you put them inside? I need to get to the market to buy some aspirin. Maureen isn’t feeling well.”
“Let me take you,” Ray offered. “Just let me run these downstairs.”
Peter stepped aside and Ray ran inside and was back out in less than a minute. “Let’s go.”
The two men rode the three blocks to the corner market that the Lathems visited in emergencies. It didn’t sell much more than beer, cigarettes and lottery tickets, but Peter was hopeful he would find at least a small bottle of aspirin. There also wasn’t any parking so Ray dropped Peter off at the front door and said he’d drive around the block and pick him up. Peter thanked him and strode inside the open door.
As Ray pulled back in front after taking a few minutes to maneuver the car around the block, his heart stopped as he peered through the large glass window. Throwing the car into park, he ripped off his seat belt and ran for Peter who was staring at a thug with a gun.
*****
The cool wash cloth was helping. Maureen’s eyes could focus when her eyelids fluttered open and the sickly feeling had subsided. Taking a deep breath, she attempted to sit up as there came a knock on the bedroom door.
“Mrs. Lathem?” called Liko.
“Come in,” she replied.
The doorknob turned and Liko stepped into the room. “Mrs. Lathem? I need you to come downstairs with me. There’s someone here to see you.”
“Who?” Maureen asked.
“Please? Come with me.” Liko had walked around to help Maureen up and the two women walked down the flight of stairs to the front door. There stood two policemen.
“Mrs. Lathem?” one of them asked.
“Yes?” Maureen answered.
“May we come in, please?”
2.
Matt & Janie
As he stood at the edge of the bed and glanced at the clock, 5:47, his eyes drifted to the woman still sleeping peacefully in his bed. Her lips were slightly parted and he could hear her deep breaths. Her bare shoulder peeked out from under the sheet and the smooth pale skin called to him like a siren. He should get dressed and go and work out in the gym, but the knowledge that a bea
utiful woman lay naked in his bed was too much for his waning resolve and he lifted the blankets and slid in behind her, nuzzling her neck, kissing that shoulder, and his hand caressing the ass that cradled his bulging erection.
Matt should let her sleep. After all, he’d kept her up until midnight making love to her before they drifted off to sleep entwined in each other’s arms. But even after twelve years he couldn’t get enough of her. Janie was the light and love of his life. His existence was without meaning unless she was by his side.
“Morning,” she mumbled as she grabbed his wandering hand and placed it on her breast.
“Good morning to you,” Matt breathed into her shoulder.
Janie rolled onto her back and Matt kissed her passionately as he pulled himself up and hovered over her before settling in between her legs.
“How much time do we have?” she asked sleepily.
“Enough,” he grinned and kissed her again.
Janie ran her hands through his dark hair, now with a smattering of grey at his temples. “I love you,” she smiled.
Matt kissed her again and entered her slowly, the love he felt for his wife pouring from every pore as he worshipped her with his body. Janie arched her back and closed her eyes as every one of her senses drowned in the union of their bodies…their hearts…their minds and their souls.
The sensual thrusts turned more urgent and Matt’s rhythm built as their bodies craved a blissful release until they heard the doorknob twist and both gasped in horror. Matt collapsed on his wife, shielding her with his body and desperately trying to find the sheet to cover his ass before one of their children wandered into their bedroom. Just as Janie was able to grab the corner of the Egyptian cotton, the door flung open and a sleepy eight year old toddled toward the bed.
“Mom? Can we have waffles for breakfast?”
Matt skillfully covered their entangled limbs with the sheet and Janie turned her head and faced the opposite direction, knowing she could not speak to her son with her husband still inside her, embarrassment all too apparent.