by Harmon, AJ
“I’ll wait here then,” Mark shrugged and returned to his sleep.
The women made their way to an empty table near the bar and a waiter immediately appeared.
“I’ll take a cola please,” asked Katy.
“And for you ma’am?”
“A lemonade please,” smiled Maureen.
They talked about the lovely day and Katy’s tanning and the waiter returned with their drinks.
Maureen took a sip and placed her glass back on the napkin and took a deep breath.
“I was complaining to Peter the other morning that I was afraid that I wouldn’t be alive to see you marry Mark.”
Katy choked on the cola.
“I’m sorry,” said Maureen. “That probably didn’t come out right. Let me start over.”
Katy looked up at her new mother-in-law. She seemed uncomfortable, an unusual state for her.
“We…I was very happy to hear of your engagement to Mark. Thrilled actually. As you know, I never had any daughters, just the boys, and don’t misunderstand me, I love them all and wouldn’t have traded any of them for a girl. Not a one. Not even Matt when he continually broke the neighbor’s front window with his football, or Mark when he would sneak out at night and go play street ball in Harlem. Harlem!!” Maureen shook her head as she recalled the boys’ teenage years.
“And as the years went on I came to realize that seven sons would mean that eventually I would gain seven daughters. Now, of course, what with Andrew I got another son, but that’s fine, we love Rory, and I still get six daughters. Eventually.”
Maureen took a breath and Katy waited to see if she would continue. She did.
“And then Matthew got married to that dreadful Suzanne and then the miscarriage and it was all just horrible but they got divorced and I was glad because she was not the type of girl I wanted as a daughter and then he married Beth. Why I’ll never know. Only God knows what was in his head when he proposed to that woman!”
She took a sip of her lemonade and Katy had no clue where this conversation was headed so she continued to just sit there and listen.
“But then he met Janie. Oh we just loved that girl from the moment we met her. She is everything I ever imagined in a daughter. She is just magnificent.”
And there it is, thought Katy. I don’t measure up to Janie. Like that’s news to me!
“And, of course, there are the babies; my beautiful darling grandbabies. They are the most precious little angels. She has given me a gift that is immeasurable.”
Katy looked down at the table. And Janie gave you grandbabies, she thought. I won’t be doing that either. Strike two.
“But I digress,” Maureen smiled. “Anyway, we were extremely happy that you would become part of our family…and Derek too. He is a wonderful boy and I know Mark thinks of him as a son. He’s so proud of him. And now he works in the business and will one day be Mark’s successor I understand.”
Katy nodded. “Yep, that’s the plan.”
Maureen nodded. “Wonderful,” she sighed. “Just wonderful.”
She took another sip of her lemonade.
“But then you didn’t get married,” Maureen frowned. “We waited and waited for you to set a date and you didn’t. And when I would make suggestions you didn’t seem to take them, or even want them.”
And I’m out. Strike three. I didn’t get married when you wanted me to. Guess it’s overboard for me. Katy took another sip of her cola.
“And now it’s been three years and I’ve tried to be helpful and offer ideas…”
Katy again choked on her drink.
“Are you alright dear?” Maureen asked. “You seem to be having trouble with your drink.”
Katy waived the waiter over. “I need some rum in this coke,” she asked.
The waiter disappeared for a moment and returned with a shot glass.
“Thank you,” Katy smiled as she poured the liquid into her cola. “You were saying?” she looked up at Maureen and took a long drink.
“Katy, I think, that perhaps, you and I are a little alike. I hope you are not offended by that comment,” she smiled.
“Of course not, Maureen.”
“Well, we are both a bit headstrong and like to be in control. And maybe, perhaps because of that, it has been a bit…a tad more…difficult for us. I’m an old woman and up until just a few short years ago, I was the only woman in this family. I’m set in my ways and I want things the way I want them and I’m not going to apologize for that.”
Well okay then. Where are we headed now? thought Katy.
“But after three years of helping, although Peter says I’m nagging which is entirely untrue because I do not nag, I have come to a realization. Katy, I consider you my daughter. I have since the day you arrived in New York with Mark. If you never marry Mark it won’t change the way I feel about you. You are a part of this family. You are a Lathem whether you sign your name that way or not. I am not going to push anymore for a wedding, although I really can’t promise that because sometimes I just can’t control what comes out of my mouth. But I am going to try. And I just want us to be close. I want you to love me just as I love you, if that is possible for you.”
She took a log sip of her lemonade and set the glass back on the table.
“That’s what I wanted to say.”
Katy sat in her chair, silent and still as she processed what Maureen had just said.
“I do love you Maureen,” she smiled. “I know that anything you do or say is because you love your family. And I know that I’m a Lathem. I have felt that from day one. You have opened your home and your hearts to me and I love you all. You accepted Derek too. Your kindness has not gone unnoticed. And perhaps you are right. Perhaps we are a little alike.” She smiled and Maureen smiled back.
“And your words mean the world to me. I actually thought I didn’t measure up in your eyes, compared to Janie.”
“Oh Katy, no! If I ever made you feel that way I am sorry. You and Janie are very different girls. I couldn’t compare you, except to say that you both have made my boys very happy and I know you love them and that’s all a mother could ever really ask for, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is,” she smiled. “So, you’re saying that if Mark and I don’t get married you’re okay with that?”
“Well,” Maureen began. “The truth is I would love to see you married. I want to see all my boys married and happy, but, I understand that I do not have a say in that, no matter how hard I may have tried to have one,” she grinned. “Just love my son. That’s all I ask.”
“Well,” Katy grinned. “In full disclosure there is probably something we should tell you…”
The scream of delight from the back of the fantail bar could be heard for miles and miles. Maureen grabbed Katy in her arms and held her so tightly Mark thought she might pop. Nobody could mistake the pure joy expressed on her face as Maureen stood with her son and daughter-in-law.
“I lied!” she exclaimed. “I really did you want married!”
Katy laughed harder than she had laughed in a long time and hugged Maureen again.
“I love you Katy,” she smiled.
“I love you too.”
*****
Paul strolled through the lobby after dropping off a couple of postcards at the guest services counter. Nic sat in an armchair sipping from a bottle of water. She was alone. He hadn’t seen her since the bar encounter in Antigua. He hesitated for just a moment and then changed direction and found himself standing in front of her.
“Hi,” he smiled.
Nic openly groaned and closed her eyes.
“I was hoping I could avoid you for the rest of the cruise,” she admitted. “I owe you an apology.”
“Me?” Paul was surprised. “Why?”
“For the other day. At the bar. I was drunk. I’m embarrassed.”
“Oh, that,” he grinned. “Yeah, a little bit drunk.”
“And sadly, you remember.”
“Of cour
se I do.”
“Great,” she mumbled.
“Okay I don’t remember,” he laughed. “All forgotten.”
Nic lifted her eyelids to look at him. “Thank you.”
“You wanna go play some miniature golf?”
Nic studied him for a moment and started to shake her head.
“Aw, come on!” he pleaded. “Nine holes, blue sky and I’m sure you can whoop me. There aren’t many courses like that in Afghanistan,” he smiled.
“I thought you were in the Navy?”
“I am.”
“But that is a land-locked country.”
“It is. But I’m a Navy Seal. We go everywhere. Even to places with no water,” he grinned.
“Was it rough over there?” she asked.
Paul sat in the vacant chair next to her. He fidgeted with his hands for just a second. He really didn’t talk about his work.
“Sometimes, yeah. I’ve seen a lot of stuff; some horrible and some really good.”
“Really good?” Nic looked surprised. “In the middle of a war?”
“Yeah. I mean, we get sent on missions, stuff I can’t talk about, but we also get to help people too. Like there was this family that raised goats for their modest living on the side of this mountain way out in the middle of nowhere. And their water well was blown up in an exchange between us and some bad guys, so after we got rid of all the bad guys…”
“You mean kill them?”
“Well, yeah, so after they were no longer a threat, we dug and built them a new well. And it was a much better well than the original. It was deeper and ended up with a lot more water and we taught the boys how to play soccer and, you know, it was a good ending.”
“But you killed people?”
“Yes, we did. We killed the men that were going to kill us. And they would have killed this family too because they wanted their small house as a lookout point and they wouldn’t have thought twice about slitting the children’s throats to get it.”
Nic was horrified. Paul instantly regretted his words.
“We built a school there too, one where girls would be able to get an education. Do you know how hard it is for a girl to go to school over there? But we built a school and the U.S. funded the teachers so that two hundred girls would have a shot at a good life. I like to think about that.”
“Do the memories get to you?”
“I try to think about the good things I’ve done, the people I’ve saved. I’m proud of my service to my country.”
He could see her thinking about his words.
“Yes,” she smiled. “I’ll play golf with you.”
*****
Maureen had, for the last time, requested the family all together for their last dinner on the ship. Everyone obliged.
Ella sat in between her parents and played with her utensils as the family slowly gathered at the table. Derek and Katy were the last to arrive; Derek beaming from the news his mother had just shared with him. Mark stood as his wife approached and pulled out the chair for her. Maureen smiled brightly and made a point to welcome her to the table. Mark stifled a snicker and Katy bit her lip. They both wondered how long it would take before she blurted out their news.
As the waiter came to take their drink order, Mark ordered champagne for the table, surprising most.
“What are we celebrating?” Ben asked.
“Going home!” Peter grumbled.
“Oh come on, Peter,” chuckled Rory. “You’ve had a great time!”
Peter shrugged his shoulders and Maureen patted his hand and smiled.
“I think he’s just missing his mattress,” she said.
“Oh, me too!” whined Matt. “I cannot wait to get home to our bed!”
“You’ve been on a fourteen day cruise in some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and you’re complaining about a mattress?” David was astounded. “I for one have had a great time. Thank you parents for having an anniversary trip, and thank you Matt for paying for it.”
There was laughter around the table and Tim agreed with his brother. “Here, here,” he said. “This has been a great trip.”
“Only cuz you’ve had a few ‘dates’,” David scowled, using air quotes around the word date. “I have not had as much fun finding a bed to sleep in on those nights.”
Janie blushed beet red and instinctively looked over at Derek. Their eyes met and he blushed too, immediately lowering his eyes. Matt saw the exchange and tried not to laugh.
“Man whore!” Ben laughed.
“Boys! Please!” Maureen said. “I do not need to hear that language. And Ella’s here!”
Ben, Tim and David immediately sobered and apologized to Janie. She smiled and tried not to laugh at them. Ella wasn’t paying any attention to the conversation at the table…fortunately. She had made a bed with hers and Janie’s napkins and was putting all of her utensils to bed.
“Who were you playing golf with this afternoon, Paul?” Andrew asked. “I saw you up there.”
“A girl I met.”
“And?”
“And nothing,” Paul replied. “It’s not some ship romance or anything. Just a game of miniature golf.”
The conversation moved on to the flight home tomorrow and what time they would be disembarking.
The waiter returned with bottles of champagne and the glasses were poured. As the waiter retreated, Mark stood. All eyes focused on him.
“Um,” he said. “As we are all gathered together this evening, Katy and I wanted to make an announcement.”
“Finally!” said Ben. “Have you actually set a date?”
Mark chuckled and shook his head. “No, we haven’t.”
The groans were heard all around the table. Katy laughed.
“Actually, we wanted to announce that while we were in San Juan a couple of days ago, we got married.”
There was a moment of silence, a moment of shock until his words sank in.
“Wow!” exclaimed Andrew. “That is awesome! Congratulations!” He jumped up and ran around to give his brother a hug and then Katy stood and he hugged her too. Rory followed and congratulated them, hugging and back slapping and rejoicing.
One by one, each of the family took their turn, everyone thrilled with the news.
“So tell us all about it!” Patty asked.
So both talking in turn, Mark and Katy told the story of the church and the priest and rings, which they were wearing, and the cottage and the sprint back to make it on the ship by two o’clock.
As the conversation went on, Maureen’s expression became more serious, something weighing on her mind. She was unusually quiet. People started to notice.
“Mom?” Paul asked. “You okay?”
Maureen sighed. “Well, it’s very hard to hear about the wedding. I’m very sad that I didn’t get to see it.”
Katy began to speak but Maureen held up her hand.
“But I understand how it happened and why they chose to get married the way they did.”
Katy exhaled with relief.
Maureen continued. “I was just thinking that seeing as though the family wasn’t at the wedding, that maybe the happy couple would allow us to at least have a small gathering to celebrate their marriage. Nothing big or fancy, just something.”
Mark was afraid to look at Katy. He had no idea what her reaction would be. In fact, everybody at the table held their breath; all except for Ella who was now very involved in a private discussion with her doll.
After several seconds ticked by, Katy smiled. “Perhaps that would be a good idea. I think something very simple might be very nice. Thank you Maureen for suggesting it.”
Relief was felt by all and Maureen clapped her hands, thrilled with the idea of planning it all.
“I wonder if the Waldorf will be available on such short notice,” Maureen said to her husband as the appetizers were being served.
*****
Matt and Janie stood in the middle of their suite looking down at their babies,
both sound asleep.
“We made it,” Janie smiled.
Matt snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her close to his side.
“Yes, we did.”
“What an eventful two weeks it has been. I thought this was going to be relaxing!” she laughed. “I’m tired and will probably need a vacation in order to recover from our vacation!”
“I’ve been thinking,” Matt said. Let’s buy a vacation home somewhere tropical and then we can escape whenever we want.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she grinned. “And then just the four of us can hide together from the rest of the world. That would be marvelous!”
They watched their children for a just a minute more and then Matt took Janie’s hand and led her to the bed. He undid the tie of her robe and pushed it from her shoulders. Then he slipped off the straps of her nightgown and kissed her shoulder.
“I love you Mrs. Lathem.”
“I love you Mr. Lathem.”
“Let me show you just how much,” he whispered.
*****
Mark and Katy lay in bed after making love, still trying to catch their breath.
“I think this has been a very successful vacation,” Mark grinned.
“Successful?”
“Yes. I think I can claim success.”
Katy chuckled. “I’m ready to be back at home.”
“Yeah, me too,” he admitted. “I must be getting old. I like our routine.”
Katy kissed her husband and snuggled into his side to drift off to sleep.
“I love you Mr. Lathem.”
“I love you Mrs. Lathem.”
*****
Paul walked around the deck of the ship. The sky was black and the wind was blowing. There weren’t many people out this late. He assumed most were in their cabins packing. Being in the Navy had taught him some packing skills. He could not only pack quickly, but he packed light, a trick of his trade.
He hadn’t really wanted to come on this trip. He wanted to spend time with his family and he wanted to support his parents in celebrating their anniversary. But he spent a lot of his life in a metal bucket floating around this ocean or that sea. Being stuck in another metal bucket with better carpet wasn’t his idea of fun. But as Paul walked around the deck again, he had to admit that it had been a good trip. Watching Matt with his children had reinforced his desire for a family. And watching the joy in Mark’s eyes as he announced that he had married the woman of his dreams only reinforced the fact that he wanted that too.