by Harmon, AJ
But as he had spoken of his experiences as a Seal to Nic, he felt enormous pride in what he had helped to accomplish and he wondered how much he would really miss it if he chose to leave. It had been his purpose and his privilege to serve his country. He loved it and he was good at it. He wouldn’t miss killing people but he would miss helping people. He had a big decision to make and he didn’t know how he was going to do it.
17.
DISEMBARK – MIAMI
Because the Lathem family had boarded the ship as VIP’s, they got to leave the ship as VIP’s. That meant instead of being herded off in groups according to an allocation number, they just disembarked whenever they darn well felt like it. And, there wasn’t any hurry for any of them because their flight wasn’t until after lunch.
Matt and Janie opted for room service for breakfast so Patty left her cabin and headed for the Lido deck. Lester was waiting for her patiently.
“Good morning,” he smiled and stood as she approached the table. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
“Good morning,” Patty smiled back. There was a slight rosiness to her cheeks.
“I’m glad you made it,” he said sitting in the chair opposite her.
“The kids ordered room service so I am free as a bird ‘til it’s time to disembark.”
“Well then, let’s get breakfast, shall we?”
The two made their way through the expansive buffet, dishing up hash-browns and eggs and all manner of breakfast meats and fresh fruit. Back at the table, Lester offered to fetch them both coffee, so he ambled away.
Patty watched him leave and was saddened at the thought that she was leaving today. She wasn’t going back to New York with everyone else. She was heading back to Portland, back to her quiet house and her garden. She was glad about that as she had been gone for several weeks, but she also thought about what wasn’t back in Portland. Her kids weren’t there anymore which also meant neither were her grandchildren. What was she really going back to?
“Oh my,” Lester said interrupting her thoughts. “That’s a sad face.”
He placed a cup of steaming coffee in front of her and she smiled up at him.
“Thank you,” she smiled. “I was just thinking about going home.”
“To Portland?”
“Yes. My family has all left and I was wondering what I was going back to, other than my garden.”
Lester sipped on his coffee and picked at his scrambled eggs. Patty watched him. She had only known this man for a few days but he reminded her so much of her husband all those years ago. Lester was easy-going and kind. He had a dry sense of humor and he was a gentlemen. There weren’t many of those left anymore, although Janie had found a perfect one in Matt. She was so happy for her daughters’ second chance at happiness.
“Hmph!”
“What?” Lester asked.
“I was just thinking,” she began, just having had her own ‘AHA’ moment. “Whenever I think about being happy, my thoughts always immediately turn to my daughters and their happiness. I don’t think about mine first.”
Lester chuckled. “One of the side effects of being a parent, I’m afraid. I have done that too. One of the reasons I didn’t even think about remarrying after my wife died was because I didn’t want it to affect Maggie.”
Patty immediately understood exactly what he was saying. She had thought the same thing.
“Crazy isn’t it?” she asked. “That we willingly sacrifice our own happiness for our children, even though they’ve never asked us to do it.”
“And when we do ask them, we find out that we’ve been wrong all these years; that they want us to be happy; they want us to find someone to be happy with!”
“Well good for you for asking,” Patty replied.
“I did. Yesterday.”
Patty looked up at Lester. “Yesterday?”
He nodded.
“Patty, I know that we have only known each other for just a few days, but I’m not getting any younger, darn it. I’m almost seventy but I know I have several really good years left,” he chuckled. “And I don’t want to spend them alone. I can provide a comfortable life for…for a good woman who would like to share it with me. Stay in Miami for a little while. Let’s get to know each other better, and then, maybe, we could share our golden years together, if you like me.”
“Oh Lester, I do like you, very much. But this is very quick…and…”
Lester smiled a sad smile and his head dropped. He looked rejected.
“Oh, I didn’t say no!” exclaimed Patty, feeling terrible at her inability to express her desires.
His head lifted a little, hope in his eyes.
“It’s just that I haven’t had a man pay attention to me in a very long time. I’m not very good at it,” she blushed.
“Well those men in Portland are blind then. How could they not see the beautiful kind woman I see sitting in front of me? But then I should be glad they didn’t, shouldn’t I?”
Patty blushed again and took his outstretched hand.
“There is a small quaint hotel not far from my home,” he said. “You can stay there so that you’re not uncomfortable in any way. And only when you have made a decision as to my worthiness, you can tell me your answer.”
“My answer?”
“Yes. Your answer. Will you marry me Patty?”
*****
Paul and David sat eating breakfast.
“I’m gonna miss this when we get home,” David frowned.
“Miss what?”
“All the food,” David said as he loaded another stack of pancakes onto his fork. “If I even have breakfast it’s cereal. This is way better.” He put the fork in his mouth and sighed.
Paul chuckled. “You could make breakfast.”
“I can’t. I can’t cook. Somehow I even burn toast. It’s pointless. I’ve given up.”
They both cleaned off their plates and David headed back for seconds. Paul downed the rest of his orange juice and looked around the restaurant. This was the emptiest he had seen it. Most of the passengers were leaving. He could actually hear himself think.
His eyes stopped. She was sitting alone, only a cup of coffee in front of her. It looked like she was sending a text.
Paul stood, straightened his shirt and walked the short distance to her table.
“Hey.”
Nic looked up and almost smiled. “Hi.”
Paul pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down.
“So it’s back to Virginia, huh?” he said.
“Yep, assuming April shows up. I have no idea where she slept last night. I’ve been texting her all morning and she hasn’t returned any of them.”
“What time is your flight?
“Oh, not until three so we’ve got plenty of time.”
“Do you need a ride to the airport?” Paul asked.
“No thank you. We’ll just grab a taxi.”
This time she did smile but Paul was strangely disappointed.
Nic’s phone dinged.
“Ah, it’s her. She’s back at our cabin.”
Nic stood up and Paul did too.
“If I’m ever in Virginia I should look you up,” Paul smiled, hoping.
“Do you ever come to Virginia?” was her reply.
That wasn’t an answer, he thought. What am I doing?
“Um, well there is one of the largest naval stations in the world there and I am in the Navy,” he smiled.
Nic just smiled and put her phone in her purse.
“It was nice to meet you Paul. Take care.”
And she turned and walked away. Paul watched her leave through the double doors and out of his sight. She had given no inclination whatsoever that she was even remotely interested in him, even as just a friend. But Paul couldn’t deny that he felt a distinct pull, an attraction to her, one that wouldn’t go away.
*****
The family was going to meet in the lobby so they could disembark together. Angela, Matt’s secre
tary, had arranged for a car service to pick up the family and send a van for all of their luggage. It would be there after ten o’clock, but they could meet the drivers whenever.
Of course, Peter and Maureen sat in the lobby and waited for the rest of the family to arrive.
“Most of the luggage has been taken care of by the porters already. What is taking them so long?” Maureen frowned.
“Maybe they aren’t as anxious to get off the ship as we are,” Peter chuckled.
“I am not anxious to get off,” Maureen sighed. “We need to do this again…soon!”
Patty and Ella exited the elevator and made their way over to the grouping of chairs. Ella ran to sit with her granddad and show him her doll. Peter hoisted her onto his lap and Ella began chatting away, Peter pretending to understand what she was saying, nodding his head and smiling. Patty sat down next to Maureen and sighed.
“Matt is trying to pack up the cribs. It’s gonna take him a minute…or two.”
She settled in to the corner of the couch and got comfortable. It would definitely be more than two minutes.
Andrew and Rory came racing down the stairs in a total state of panic.
“What’s wrong?” Maureen asked as the men ran to her.
“We just got a call from Jim and…”
“Who’s Jim?” Maureen interrupted.
“Our adoption attorney, mom! Anyway, the baby has been born! Last night and all went well.”
“But it’s early!” cried Patty as she stood up to try and calm them down.
“Two weeks!” yelled Rory. “But she’s fine and healthy.”
“A girl!” smiled Patty. “Congratulations!”
She hugged them both and Maureen finally caught up on the conversation.
“So? What’s next?” she asked.
“We will fly to Albany as soon as we land at JFK this afternoon. Jim’s secretary is making the arrangements for us. And then we go and pick up our baby girl! Our daughter!” Andrew exclaimed.
“Daughter?” David gasped.
Andrew and Rory swung around to see Tim, Paul and David and they quickly filled them in on their exciting news.
“Why are you going to Albany?” asked Ben as he walked to the group with Derek, Adam and Tyler in tow.
David told them of the new baby that was joining the Lathem clan and everyone was hugging as Janie stepped off the elevator holding her baby with Matt two steps behind weighted down with bags and portable baby furniture.
Adam and Tyler rushed to help Matt and alleviate him of some of the bags and Janie asked what was going on. Patty quickly filled her in and she hugged Andrew and Rory and congratulated them both.
“What’s up?” asked Matt as he finally joined the group.
“Andrew and Rory’s baby has been born,” grinned Janie. “It’s wonderful news, isn’t it?”
“What’s wonderful news?” Mark said as he and Katy, the last of the family to arrive, joined the group.
“Those two men over there are adopting a baby and she was born last night in Albany. Everything went smoothly. It’s a girl. Yay! They are going to go and pick her up as soon as they land at JFK this afternoon.” The entire family turned to look at the man standing off to side of the lobby, dressed in all white, obviously an officer on the ship.
“Well, thank you,” Katy grinned as she turned back to Mark and snickered. “I guess you guys are a bit loud,” she laughed.
“You’re welcome,” he smiled.
*****
The family strolled down the gangway and into the terminal.
Their luggage was waiting for them with several porters to assist in getting it to the awaiting cars. The Lathems moved on through the terminal, their path ahead laid out like the yellow brick road with ropes and employees making sure they stayed in line and heading in the right direction.
“Ever want to know how cattle feel?” joked Mark as they shuffled along.
“Does everyone have their custom forms filled out?” the cruise line employee was yelling as the passengers were herded by.
Everyone retrieved their forms from their pockets of purses or wherever they had been stashed and made their way towards immigration. As they walked to the I.C.E. station, they were met by another employee who directed them to the VIP line. One by one, or couple by couple, they moved closer to the front of the line where their forms would be collected and their passports reviewed.
“Mrs. Lathem?” came the voice from the agent’s desk in front of them.
Maureen stepped forward and presented her passport. The agent shook his head and Maureen stepped back.
“Mrs. Lathem!” The name was called again.
Janie made her way to the desk and the agent reviewed her passport. Again, the agent shook his head and Janie returned to Matt’s side.
For the third time the agent yelled. The family looked around wondering what he could possibly want.
“Mrs. Katy Miles Lathem?”
There was a group sigh and Katy spun around as her name was called.
“That’s me!” she laughed. “I’m Mrs. Lathem!”
Maureen patted her arm and grinned.
“Yes you are, my dear. Yes you are!”
EPILOGUE
Just over a month had passed since the Lathem family arrived home from their fourteen day vacation. Planning had been in top gear for the simple reception to celebrate the marriage of Mark and Katy. Katy had married Mark in a perfect setting and in a simple fashion, just the way she imagined her ideal wedding to be. It was all she could have hoped for. So her heart had softened just a bit when it came for Maureen’s ideas for the celebration, although many ideas were immediately scratched off the list.
Like the Waldorf Astoria hotel. It wasn’t going to be held there; Katy could never have given in on that one. Tavern on the Green was also suggested, and although closer to Katy’s style than the Waldorf, it didn’t feel right. Instead, with her complete love of the water known to many members of the family, Maureen suggested a small gathering aboard a yacht as they sailed around New York harbor. While not the most modest of choices, Katy had actually been thrilled with the idea. And with Matt and Mark’s friendship with Ryan Little at MEL Holdings, the use of his father-in-law’s yacht was quickly secured for the occasion. Once the venue had been secured, Katy, Maureen and Janie had planned the joyous event in a matter of minutes.
Keeping it within their circle of friends, Aaron, one of Mark’s best friends from high school, whom Matt had helped launch his first of three restaurants, and subsequently his career, would cater the event. Maureen’s long-time florist was supplying dozens of tubs of beautiful fresh flowers that would be scattered throughout the yacht in all the magical colors of the sea. They reminded Katy of the pillows on the bed of their wedding night. She was very pleased. In fact, she was downright thrilled.
It would be the first time the entire family would be together again since their cruise. Adam had started his residency and even though the hospital wasn’t far from his parents, he rarely saw his family now. His time was no longer his own. Andrew and Rory had remained all but quarantined in their apartment for the prior three weeks in order to attempt to keep all the nasty little germs and viruses from their infant daughter whom they had named Isabelle. Tyler had received his first overseas assignment from Matt and had travelled to Manchester, England, for a week. Ben had taken his on-again-off-again girlfriend to Boston for a weekend only to come home with the news that they had broken up once and for all. Maureen had been kind of happy about that piece of news, as she certainly hadn’t measured up to her two perfect daughters-in-law.
The day finally arrived for the reception and the weather remained perfect for the early evening event. Guests began arriving and champagne began pouring. There were long-time family friends and work colleagues for both bride and groom. Extended family arrived and soon the yacht seemed like it was in fact hosting a party. As they left the pier and made their way out into the glistening water, the celebration was
in full swing.
Maureen could not have been any prouder as she introduced her new daughter-in-law to those Katy didn’t already know. Maureen led her around, their arms linked, and faces beaming. Mark watched, mesmerized, his eyes not able to leave his bride. As each person congratulated Katy on her marriage, Maureen watched Katy interact with her guests and was so thrilled that Mark had convinced her to marry him. Her sons had married two of the finest women she had been privileged to know. She was well aware of her good fortune and thanked God every day for it.
Katy looked positively radiant in the strapless palest of pink dresses with a sweetheart neckline and an empire waist. She wore the strappy silver heels on her feet and on her finger sat her stunning engagement ring resting above her pale pink shell wedding ring, a visual reminder of the love she had for her husband and the special place in her heart for the city of San Juan.
Mark remained by her side, the proud groom, dressed in khaki pants and a crisp white linen camp shirt and leather sandals. His finger also held a pale pink shell wedding ring that was a symbol of his everlasting love and commitment to the woman at his side. The looked perfect together; they were perfect for each other.
The DJ played music from every genre and soon the dance floor was full. Matt danced with Ella on the deck and Janie, sitting at a table with her mother and Lester, smiled as she remembered her first time on the yacht many years before when she saw the Statue of Liberty for the first time. Now, with her family surrounding her, she couldn’t imagine that she could ever be any happier.
In three weeks, several members of the family would be travelling to Miami to witness the marriage of her mother and Lester. Janie had been a bit uneasy at the whirlwind courtship, but Matt only had to remind her that when you knew it was right there was no point in waiting. He was reminding his wife of their very own whirlwind romance. So, after several phone calls where Patty assured her daughter that she not only knew what she was doing and it was the right thing for her, Janie was comforted and happy that Patty had found someone to love her and to make her happy, for she truly did not remember her mother looking better. She had a glow that everyone noticed. In fact, it took years off her appearance. And though she was somewhat skeptical at first, Janie had come to realize that Lester was a very good man, who loved her mother and treated her like a queen. What more could she ask for? She had even spoken to Maggie, Lester’s daughter, several times on the phone and she was sure that they would become fast friends. The family was ever expanding; more people to fill her already overflowing life with love and joy.