The corvette engine was polished to an impeccable shine. Robbie went over it again anyway. Melissa Carter sat on the freezer in the garage watching her middle child. Robbie had always been her easiest child. At eighteen he was two inches taller than his father. His hair was cut short and spiked, and was bleached to a white blond much like his hair had been when he was a toddler. He was deeply tanned from surfing, and broad-shouldered from weight-lifting for the wrestling team. His grades weren’t the best. He had inherited his love for school from his mother, she thought with a smile.
Robbie continued to work on the car with complete devotion and concentration. Melissa sat and watched. She remembered his birth on a balmy January day, shortly after breakfast. She remembered conceiving him, assuring Alan that she was nursing Geoff and couldn’t possibly get pregnant. Neither had been terribly upset the month after Geoff and Tori’s Christening party to find that she was expecting again. They felt like pros at it that time. She was more comfortable than during any other pregnancy, and the birth had been an easy one. When he was tiny he had tagged after Geoff. When his cousin Sam had moved to Florida he had gravitated more and more to being with Sam as Geoff became more independent. He had a gift for engines, and had thrilled Alan by showing an early interest in mechanics. Sam and Robbie found this Corvette in a junk yard in Titusville when they were thirteen. It took them the three years until they could get their drivers licenses to rebuild it and restore it. Alan and John had helped, but the car was mostly Robbie’s.
“So, talk Mr. Robert. You asked me out here to talk, not watch you make out with a car.” Melissa’s patience only lasted so long.
“Aw, Mom,” Robbie grinned. He closed the hood carefully. “Did you know I already have enough credits to graduate?”
“You’re in the middle of a semester.”
“Not the middle, really. I have about three weeks before this grading period ends. I’m taking that required government class right now, but next nine weeks, it’s all electives.”
“Robbie, what are you trying to say?”
“Well, I’ve been talking to Uncle Tony, up on the Rock. He can get me a job as a mechanics apprentice with Aero’s space unit.” Robbie closed the hood carefully, then wiped the fingerprints off. “I’d start next month.”
Melissa leaned forward. “What’s this all about Robbie?”
“I want to get a job. A good job. And support myself.”
“Robbie, you know you’ve got the trust fund to get you through school, and get you established in a profession.”
Robbie tossed his head with impatience. “I don’t want to spend the next four years in college, Mom. I can’t stand sitting at a desk any more. I want to do something.”
Melissa looked at her son for a long moment. She couldn’t in all conscience find fault with that. She had felt the same way.
“I thought you and Sam were going to get engineering degrees together.”
Robbie sighed and leaned against the work bench. “I was watching the people at Aero while I had that summer job there last year. The engineers sat at a desk and stared at a computer screen. It was the techs that did the real work—the stuff I like to do.”
“And most of them have a Bachelor’s degree.”
“But they don’t need it. It’s not in their job description, or requirements. I looked when I had to write that paper last term. Mrs. Davis in HR let me go through all their job requirements. They require a high school diploma and you have to be eighteen. In order to work in space you have to sign a contract for high risk duty, but they pay you extra and you have extra life insurance.”
“Oh, well, that’s just what every eighteen year old is looking for, extra life insurance!”
“Mommmm!”
Melissa looked her son over closely. “What haven’t you told me yet Robert Miller Carter?”
Robbie looked at the floor. “Chrissie is pregnant. I want to marry her and make a home for us. And I want us to live in space.”
Melissa let out her breath in a whoosh. “Oh, my lord.”
Chrissie and Robbie had dated all through high school. She had been a friend of Tori’s since middle school, and frequently included in family outings so that Tori had a girl friend along. The three boys were so close in age they had tended to terrorize her, and it had been Melissa’s idea for her to invite a friend along when they went boating, or to Miller’s Bluff. By the time Tori, Chrissie and Geoff were freshmen, Robbie had a major crush on Chrissie. Geoff dated her a few times, but she was more friend than date material. Robbie found the courage to ask her to the first high school dance he was able to attend the following year, and they had been inseparable ever since.
Melissa had been aware that they were involved sexually, but both youngsters had talked to her privately about birth control nearly two years ago, and she thought Chrissie had even talked to Helena and gotten pills or shots or something from her. Chrissie’s home life wasn’t the best. Her mother had left long ago and her father drank. Chrissie was taking a couple of classes at the local junior college this year with scholarship money and working at one of the beach resorts as a waitress while Tori and Geoff had gone off to college.
“Mama, I love her. And we’ve got to do something before her dad finds out about this. I’m afraid he’ll kill her.”
Melissa swallowed hard. She really couldn’t imagine being eighteen and pregnant. She knew her father probably wouldn’t have killed her, although he would have made life miserable for her. But pregnancy had not been part of her agenda at that time of her life.
“How did this happen Robbie?”
“The condom broke,” he said, a little too fast. “It happened over Thanksgiving weekend, when we took the ski boat out. We were over at the beach, and…” he wound to a stop, seeing his mother’s skeptical look.
“Well it did break. But it may have had a little help. We’ve been planning this for a while, but thought that should be the official story.”
Melissa opened her mouth to ask why they hadn’t talked to her, but she closed it again. The last thing she would have done in a similar situation was talk to a parent. Granted, she had a better relationship with her children than she’d ever enjoyed with her parents, but there were still limits to generational harmony.
“Is Chrissie at work now?”
Robbie shook his head. “She’s at home. She works dinner shift today.”
“Her dad?”
“He’s working overtime today. Or else she would have been over here.”
Melissa nodded. She knew Chrissie tried to avoid her father as much as possible. “Go get her. Pack up her stuff and bring her over here. Robbie, I know you want to be independent and make your own decisions, but sometimes you have to accept a little help from family, okay? We’re a team. You’re sure you want to marry her?”
“Oh, yes, ma’am. I’m sure about that!”
“Go on then. Go get her. We need to talk through this and make some plans.”
Robbie moved to the door to the house. He reached inside and pulled his letter jacket off the hook. He pulled the keys from his jeans and opened the garage door as soon as he was in the car. “Thanks, Mom.”
He pulled out of the garage and the door closed behind him. Melissa jumped down from her perch on the freezer and headed for the phone. She touched the speed dial and waited impatiently for it to be picked up. “Cake, get over here, I need you.”
“The last time you had this tone of voice the boys left to get the moon back. It must be important.”
“Oh, it is, I’m going to be a grandmother and you’re going to be a great aunt.”
“What? Who…”
“Robbie. They planned it, although their plan is a bit cockeyed. We need to get them married before Daddy finds out, and then deal with what they’re going to do. Robbie wants to skip his last nine weeks of high school and get a job on the Rock.”
“Drop out? Oh, Mel…”
“No, he has the credits to graduate. But still, I don’t think it’s the best way to do it. I don’t think I’m going to talk him into college.”
“Robbie has never been particularly enthusiastic about college.”
“I know, and it always sticks in my throat when I try to push him. John is with Alan isn’t he?”
“Yes, I don’t know what golf course they’re at.”
“Alan’s got his cel. I’m calling them next. Robbie has gone to get Chrissie. Cake, I don’t doubt them, but could you make sure…”
“That she’s pregnant? Yes, I’ll come prepared. See you shortly.”
It was President’s Day weekend and Susie had flown to Texas on Friday night to go to a horse show with her grandmother. Susan Thompson had finally, reluctantly, quit showing her own horses, but her granddaughter was more than happy to show them for her. She wouldn’t be back until Monday. Melissa was glad of that. She made a pot of coffee and sat down at the breakfast nook with the phone and her laptop. She had some thinking to do.
Alan and John arrived first. They got out of John’s Corvette in their stocking feet, carrying their golf shoes. Melissa met them at the door. “You didn’t drive in those shoes did you?”
John shook his head. “We walked straight off the links to the car. Our clothes and everything are still in our lockers. Helena’s bringing me a change of clothing. Can I use your shower?”
Melissa pointed him in the direction of the cabana room with its spare bathroom and John headed there.
“I’m going to shower too,” Alan said, giving his wife a kiss on the cheek. She took his hand and squeezed it, but Sam Koenig drove up in his Jeep, screeching to a halt a hair’s breadth from his father’s car before she could say anything.
“Did Robbie call you?” Melissa asked.
Sam nodded. “Yes ma’am. He wanted someone here who was on his side.”
“How long have you known about this, Sam?” Alan asked his nephew.
“Since Christmas, sir. They do have a plan, both short term, and long term.”
“Sam, we’re not trying to ‘take sides’, but it might be a good idea for you to be here. Why don’t you go pick up some pizza for all of us? It’s almost lunch time.” Melissa said. She handed him a credit card and he nodded and headed back to his car.
Melissa and Alan headed upstairs to their bedroom. She followed him into the bathroom and watched him strip. As soon as he was in the shower, she peeled off her own clothes and followed him.
“You know,” he said, as she squeezed into the small shower stall. “I keep thinking we should remodel this bathroom and put in a larger shower.”
She put her arms around him and reached for the soap, her cheek against his shoulder. “There’s just no way to make this room bigger. We might be able to combine the two bathrooms somehow, but then we’d be sharing the bathroom with the kids.”
“And we still couldn’t shower together,” he said with a smile. “Where are your hands?”
“Exactly where they should be. Oh, Alan—“
He turned around and held her.
“Screw me,” she whispered in his ear. “Right now. I need you. I’m too young to be a grandmother.”
He laughed and said, “Sorry love, but you’re not too young. I think Robbie has just proved that.”
She beat on his shoulder. “How can you laugh about this?”
“How can you cry? They love each other. We’ve known that for ages. She’s a good girl. Hell, my parents weren’t much older than Robbie and Chrissie are now when I was born. Your parents either.” He held her close while she trembled.
“In a minute, I’m going to have to go down there and be the supportive mom and let them know I still love them, even if this is a shock. Right now I need to be myself.”
“Who is horny, as usual.” Alan murmured in her ear.
“So sue me.”
“I’m not complaining, love.” He stroked her body. “I’ve never made love to a grandmother before.”
“And you haven’t yet. But you will, in about six months it seems.”
He kissed her lips, his hands moving down her body. She moved one leg up his thigh with more agility than he would have thought possible in a grandmother. He pressed her against the wall of the shower and entered her quickly. He pressed against her, thrusting with a bit of roughness. He knew it was what she wanted, quick and tough and reassuring her that she could still take it. He moved his soapy hand to her breast, fondling it and teasing her nipple. She moaned and he withdrew and moved his hand down to caress her to orgasm. When she gasped her peak he entered her again, releasing quickly. She gasped and wrapped her arms tightly around him. “Oh, Alan.” He hugged her tightly, and they both relaxed in the warm spray of water.
“Better?” he asked, kissing the drops of water on her cheek.
“Yeah.”
“Then let me finish my shower so we can get on with this.”
“Yeah, okay.” She took a deep breath and Alan could see her gathering her ‘tough girl’ shield around her. “I’d love a cigarette.”
“You’ll have to settle for pizza, and then me again later on tonight.” He patted her bottom as she stepped out of the shower.
“Promise?”
“You know it.”
When Melissa and Alan left their bedroom, Helena was just walking out of Susie’s bedroom. She noticed her sister’s damp hair but made no comment.
“I just examined her. Yes, she is pregnant. She seems quite healthy, and is making every effort to take care of herself. She hasn’t seen a doctor yet, and doesn’t have any health insurance. We need to get her in to see a good OB/GYN.”
Melissa nodded. “Okay, we’ll put that on the list of things to do.” The three of them headed down the stairs. “That may be part of the reason Robbie is so anxious to get on full time with Aero.”
“Maybe,” Alan said. “But most insurance companies are going to consider it a preexisting condition aren’t they?”
Helena nodded.
Sam had returned with the pizzas. He and Robbie had set out plates for everyone. John had beers for himself, Helena, Alan and Melissa. Sam also chose a beer. Robbie had a Coke and a bottle of water for Chrissie. Alan put his arm around his son’s shoulder. “Sam here says you have a plan. We want to hear it.”
It was the right attitude to take. Robbie immediately looked relieved. He pulled out a folder and handed his father the printout of a spreadsheet. “I’ve worked out a budget based on the incomes we should have. Aero has already offered me the job and I’ve accepted. Uncle Tony said he could find Chrissie a job in the staff cafeteria until something else came along.”
Alan felt his shirt pocket for his glasses. Melissa placed them in his hand as she walked by him, already anticipating his need. He sat at the table and looked over the neat page.
“I get four weeks vacation for every six months I work there. Plus they’ll give me a performance review in ninety days and I’ll probably get a raise then,” Robbie said. “I didn’t count that in the budget.”
The budget was well thought out and precise, but Alan could immediately see that there were some things missing. Robbie had included funds for baby clothes and diapers, as well as food, clothing and entertainment for himself and Chrissie. He had included items such as insurance, transportation to and from Earth for those vacations, but the amount for living expenses for those two months seemed very small. There was even a savings component. Alan checked the annual figures. “Fifty-five thousand for the two of you for the year?”
“That’s what I’m figuring, based on the starting pay I’ll have and what Chrissie can make.”
Melissa put pizza on her plate and Alan’s, then leaned over his shoulder to look at the spreadsheet with him. She exchanged a glance with her husband. He gave a small nod.
“Robbie, why didn’t you look for a job with CKI?” he asked.
“Well, I’m already employed by Aero, part time. I’m more interested in space ship construction than space habitats. And… I wasn’t ready for you to find out what I was planning.” Robbie admitted. Any application he had made to the company owned by his parents would have been forwarded to them, he was certain.
Sam backed him up. “It fits in better with our long-range plans.”
“Why don’t you two tell us about these long-range plans,” John said, reaching over to take the spreadsheet from Alan and Melissa. Alan nodded and took a bite of pizza.
At that moment, Chrissie came down the stairs to join them. Alan and Melissa both left the table to greet her with hugs. Alan gave her a tight squeeze and said, “Welcome to the family.”
“And congratulations. We do want what’s best for you and Robbie,” Melissa added taking her hand.
“Thank you…” Chrissie trailed off.
“’Mom’ and ‘Dad’ work well,” Melissa suggested. Chrissie beamed at her as if she’d been handed a precious treasure.
“Mom and Dad,” Chrissie finished, trying out the words, and obviously liking the sound.
Alan ushered her to her seat beside Robbie. “Have some pizza. You sure you want water? How about some milk?”
“Milk would be good,” Chrissie said shyly as Alan fussed over her. His reaction reminded Melissa of his father when they had visited him the first time while she was carrying Geoff. She smiled and returned to her own seat as Alan headed for the refrigerator and the milk.
“Now,” John prompted again. “Your long-term plan.” He looked at Sam as he spoke.
Sam and Robbie exchanged a wordless look that reminded Melissa of their fathers. John and Alan frequently worked together wordlessly, making decisions together on things without talking. Sam was tall, slender and blue-eyed like his father. His hair was long enough to pull back in a short pony tail at the nape of his neck, and jet black like his father’s. He and Robbie both loved to ski and surf and sail. The pair of them frequently camped over on the family’s island.
Sam was the more intellectual of the two, always impatient to learn something new, usually reading a new text book the first week of class, then spending time each term finding backup material and doing extra projects to fight off boredom. Robbie was equally intelligent, but cared nothing about working ahead, spending his free time pursuing outside interests such as working on his car, his part-time job as a machinist at Aero industries, and, of course, Chrissie.
Sam took a deep breath and looked at his father. “We want to build spaceships. While I’m getting the engineering degree, Robbie is going to get practical technical experience. And Chrissie will get a business degree to help run the company. We can use the family trust to finance our company.”
“A company that will compete with Aero?” Melissa asked.
“Well, we hope to build a better product. They’re still using variations of the same designs they used when Uncle Alan was there,” Sam said.
“A good design, which works well for them,” Alan said. “No doubt it could be improved on, but starting from scratch will be expensive.”
Melissa looked at Alan and John. “Besides that, you’ll be competing with us.”
“CKI specializes in space habitats, not spaceships,” Robbie pointed out. “We don’t intend to compete with you. We’re actually hoping you would recommend us to your clients who want their own transportation to their bases on the Rock or the Moon.”
Melissa looked at Chrissie, abruptly changing the subject. “Chrissie, how do you intend to go to school and take care of the baby at the same time?”
“We’ve been looking into several universities that offer distance learning. It may actually be easier to complete those courses than it is working my schedule around attending classes, as I’m doing now. I do intend to get a business degree and be a useful part of the team,” Chrissie assured her prospective mother-in-law.
“I’m sure you are,” Alan said, patting Chrissie’s hand. “And the distance learning classes sound great. But this budget you have doesn’t include any funds for that. Or for medical expenses associated with having a baby.”
“I’ll have insurance through Aero,” Robbie said quickly.
His aunt spoke up. “You’ll have insurance, but it won’t cover her pregnancy. By the time they employ you and their insurance covers you, it will be considered a pre-existing condition and won’t be covered.”
All three young adults looked surprised. Robbie’s expression changed almost immediately to defeat.
“Don’t worry yet, Robbie,” Melissa said softly. “You’re plan sounds good on the whole, but I think we’re going to have to make a few alterations.”
“Like what?” he asked.
Melissa asked another question rather than answer him. “When do you plan to get married?”
“We were going to wait until the end of this grading period,” Chrissie said. “We can’t afford to live somewhere else until Robbie is employed.”
Melissa and Helena exchanged glances. Helena spoke up first. “You two need to be married and together as soon as possible. And although I know Melissa had you bring all your things over here, you really need to be on your own. Let’s get you a room at the Coastal Condos for two months. That can be your wedding present from Uncle John and myself.” John took his wife’s hand and nodded.
“You also need a job right away with insurance,” Melissa said. “Chrissie, there is an opening for an administrative assistant on the Rock with our office there. We’ll offer you twenty-five thousand per year, plus l/s expenses for you and your dependents. And you’ll need some training groundside for about two months before you start. And Alan and I will take care of medical expenses for your pregnancy as our wedding present to the two of you.”
“You mean, I would start working for your company right away?”
“Give your notice to your work tonight,” Melissa said. “And let me know how soon you can start to work.”
“My classes…”
“We’ll work around your college schedule for the rest of the term.”
“Mom, you mentioned l/s expenses?”
Alan answered. “The Rock charges a life support fee for everyone. CKI pays for their employees and any dependents. Aero doesn’t. They also have a reputation for neglecting to mention that expense to new hires.”
“Is it much?” Robbie asked warily.
“Nearly enough to negate the high-risk bonus you’ll get. And that doesn’t count dependents.”
“The baby.” Robbie said.
“That’s right.” Alan said.
Robbie and Chrissie looked at each other. Robbie took her hand. “You didn’t want to waitress anymore anyway. Will that be okay?”
She grinned at him. “Okay? It’s terrific.”
John spoke up. “That l/s fee issue is one of the reasons we haven’t already bought out Aero.”
“Bought out Aero?” Robbie and Sam asked together.
“It’s a privately held company and we’ve been negotiating with them for several months,” Melissa said. “CKI has always paid the l/s fees for its employees and we intend to continue doing so. However, we feel the price for Aero should reflect those expenses that the company is not currently incurring.” She turned to John, who had been working with her on the negotiations. “I think it might be a good thing to have Robbie already working at Aero.”
John nodded. “He’ll certainly get to know the company from the ground up, and be ready to take charge someday.”
“Take charge? Of the company?” Robbie said with surprise.
“Of course, or at least that division,” Alan replied. “We won’t be around forever. Your brother, sister and cousins should all be able to find positions with CKI. You’ll own it, you should be involved and make sure it’s run responsibly.”
Robbie and Sam both looked at each other. They knew what their parents did, and knew they never had any money worries, unlike some of their friends’ parents, but the thought of them purchasing a major aerospace company was new to them. So was the thought of running CKI.
“You already hold stock in the family company,” John explained. “That’s the way your mother set it up, Robbie. Of course, your mothers have the right to vote your shares until you turn twenty-one.”
“I… hadn’t ever thought about it,” Robbie said. “How CKI is owned or run. You guys just seem to have a lot of fun at it.”
“We designed it that way,” Melissa told her son. “Buying Aero is a big step for us, but we’ll probably run it through a holding company. Your father and uncle are more interested in creativity than management. That’s why we keep the core company small and do a lot of delegating.”
“And it works well,” Alan added. “As long as there’s someone like your mother around to keep things organized and keep tabs on the various holdings.”
“But we’ve gotten off course here,” Melissa steered things back to the reason they were here. “Okay, your jobs are figured out. And where you’ll be staying until you move to the Rock. How about the wedding?”
Chrissy looked at Robbie. “Well, we were planning to have a small wedding when Tori is home on spring break. Nothing big, just the family.”
“We’d like to invite the grandparents,” Robbie said. “Both of my sets anyway.”
Helena asked, “Are you set on that week of Spring Break? You could ask Tori to come home this weekend.”
Chrissie and Robbie looked at each other. “Would that be okay?” Chrissie asked.
“I could fly up and get her on Friday after her last class,” John said.
Helena smiled at him, knowing he missed his daughter and would happily take this excuse to have her home for the weekend.
“And I need to be on the Rock for a meeting on Thursday,” Alan said. “We could get your Carter grandparents a flight up to the Rock and they could meet me there. That’s a lot less flight time than regular air travel.” He paused and grinned at his son. “You have to call and invite them, bucko. Especially your Grandpa Thompson. None of us are telling him about this.”
Robbie nodded. “I’ll do it. Do you think he’ll come?”
“I think,” his mother said. “He’ll fuss and fume, and be on the first flight here.”
Robbie grinned, “Yeah, probably.” Robert Thompson was a gruff and opinionated old man, but he loved his grandchildren, and especially his grandsons, with a fierce pride.
“Well, then,” Melissa said briskly. “It looks like we have a wedding to plan, and a week to plan it.”
Alan smiled at his wife. “I think the males at the table have just been dismissed. Robbie, why don’t you and Sam pack up your things and we’ll get you checked in and moved over to the Coastal Condos.”
Robbie nodded.
Alan turned to Chrissie. “What about your father.”
“I’ll have to tell him…” she said hesitantly.
“Not alone,” Robbie said quickly.
“What if I tell him?” Alan volunteered.
Chrissy threw her arms around her future father-in-law’s neck. “Oh would you? That would be so wonderful!”
“He’s at work now?”
She nodded. “His shift changes at three. Then he usually goes to the Countdown Bar and Grill over on A1A.”
Alan patted her hand. “We’ll talk to him,” he said, glancing at John to include him in the ‘we’.
John frowned, but then grinned and nodded. “All right. Can’t hurt to go have a couple of beers at an old run down bar with you.”
“Just try not to get into any fights,” Helena said drily. John shot her his best innocent look.
“If he… wants to come to the wedding…” Chrissie said hesitantly. “I’d like that.”
“Of course,” Alan said.
The men left the table, taking empty pizza boxes with them. The women moved closer together and began to discuss dresses, times, flowers, and all the other minutiae involved in a wedding.
Monday afternoon Alan lay dozing on the sofa, aware of how quiet things were. There was a soccer game on the television, but he wasn’t really watching it. Although it was a holiday, Melissa had been in the study most of the day on conference calls. Alan knew she wanted to get several things off her agenda for the week early so that she would be free to concentrate on the wedding for the rest of the week.
The meeting with Chrissie’s dad had gone about as well as could be expected. He had been amenable to Alan and John buying the first few rounds of drinks and had listened to Alan’s explanation of upcoming events with little comment. As far as he was concerned, his daughter was an adult and could carry on her life however she wanted. He told them he might be at the wedding if he didn’t have to work. Her father didn’t seem interested in where his child had moved to, or what she intended to do with the rest of her life. John and Alan, both fathers of beloved daughters were appalled at his attitude and couldn’t leave the bar fast enough.
Alan had known the man as long as he had known Chrissie, and had never liked him. He did make sure his daughter was fed, clothed and housed, but the little girl had certainly never received an abundance of love or affection from her father. The Carters and Koenigs had all taken a liking to Chrissie when Tori first brought her home. At first she had been in awe of the large and happy extended family, but the more she was with them, the more she simply became one of the family, and the happier the child seemed to be. It seemed quite right to Alan that Chrissie would now become a Carter for real.
Melissa walked out of the study and shook out her blonde curls. She pulled off the gold earrings she had been wearing and loosened the tie to the silk blouse she had on. It matched oddly with the cutoff shorts she was wearing. Alan smiled at her.
“Well,” she explained. “It was a conference call, but they can’t see me below the waist. I’ve resolved several problems and delegated the rest. I should be free for the rest of the week.” She crawled on top of Alan and settled her head against his chest.
“How soon before we have to leave for the airport to pick up Susie?” Alan asked, running his hands through her soft curls.
“Not for an hour or so. I figured we could stop for a late supper on the way home.”
“That sounds like a good idea.” Alan’s hand moved underneath the silk blouse. She shifted a bit to give him better access. Alan pulled her into a more comfortable embrace. “Hope you don’t mind me being a couch potato this afternoon,” he said drowsily.
“How about turning into a couch stud instead of a couch spud?” she asked seductively and moved to press her lips against his.
Their kiss deepened and then they heard the distinctive creak of the kitchen door. Alan turned to look as his daughter bounced into the room, blonde pony tail flying. Her face lit up when she spotted her parents on the sofa.
“Monkey pile!” she shouted, leaping on top of them.
“Susie!” her mother gasped as the fourteen-year-old landed on top of them.
Susie put her arms around both parents and squeezed. “Hi peoples! Gramma and Grampa couldn’t get seats on the flight I was on, so we all took an earlier flight! Surprise! The Robster talked to us Sunday night. Chrissie says I can be a junior flower girl and I’m going to get to go shopping for a dress with her and Aunt Helena after school tomorrow. Awesome!” The girl rolled off of the sofa and bounced back onto her sneaker clad feet. “I’ve just got to call Brandi and tell her!” She dashed for the stairs.
Before Alan or Melissa could react Susie was gone and a voice boomed from the kitchen. “Do you still have your hands under my daughter’s shirt, Carter? You two are going to be grandparents soon. Shouldn’t you act your age?”
Alan smiled and relaxed, pulling his hand from his wife’s breast. Melissa stood and moved to greet her parents. Alan joined her, shaking his father-in-law’s hand and saying quietly, “Good to see you again, Pops. Still taking those blue pills?”
“Touche,” Susan Thompson said, cutting her eyes at her husband as she moved to kiss her son-in-law. She kissed her daughter too. “We thought we might be able to help run errands or something this week.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” Melissa said, hugging her. “I’ll give you the name of the caterer and the florist and turn you loose on them.”
Robert leaned on the cane he had used for the past several years. “That Chrissie is a good girl. She’ll keep Robbie in line.”
“We’re glad to have her as part of the family,” Alan replied.
“Well, since we don’t need to go to the airport,” Melissa said. “Where would you like to go for dinner? What are you in the mood for? Chinese? Italian? Thai?”
Susie dashed halfway down the stairs, telephone headset on. “My vote is for Thai!”
“Your vote is always for Thai,” her father said.
“I like Thai food,” Robert said.
“You would say that about anything that girl suggested,” Susan said. “Honestly, he spoils her so badly, I’m surprised you can stand her when we send her back.”
“We wouldn’t know the difference since her father spoils her too,” Melissa said, nudging Alan in the ribs indulgently.
“Well, that’s better than Chrissie’s father’s attitude. I don’t know how that man can live with himself.”
“It’s obvious no one else wants to live with him,” Melissa said indignantly. “Chrissie is much better off away from there.”
Robert frowned. “Robbie said he wasn’t even interested in coming to the wedding.”
Alan shrugged. “Chrissie was disappointed, at least he has no particular objections.”
Susie thundered down the stairs, “I just talked to Chrissie, they’ll meet us at the restaurant in thirty minutes.”
“Which restaurant, I wonder?” Alan mused.
“Oh, Daadddy!” Susie moaned. All knew her favorite Thai restaurant was just down A1A from the Coastal Condos.
“Call your Aunt,” her mother instructed. “They might as well meet us there too.”
“Speed dial!” Susie called, heading back up the stairs.
Susan laughed at her granddaughter. “She has all the energy you and Helena had combined.”
“And that was considerable,” Robert added.
The family gathered at the restaurant. They were well-known customers and several tables were quickly pulled together for them. Dinner quickly became a war council with orders for all members of the wedding party. There was a lot to accomplish in just a week.
The family was a team. From years on Alpha and Melissa’s rescue, the political troubles when they returned, and years of running a successful business together they knew each other’s strengths and could conquer any problem together. By the end of dinner, they had a plan, and by the end of the week there would be a wedding.
Susan returned to the car, and slammed the door. She waited with impatience while Robert opened his door and got behind the wheel.
“Trying to pass carnations off on me when I specifically asked for mums! It’s not like I was born yesterday,” she fumed. “These Florida business people all seem to feel that if you have a bit of gray hair they can pull anything they want on you. I should complain to the attorney general’s office.”
Robert started the rented Cadillac and they pulled out onto the highway. For a while he allowed her to continue to rant. He pulled in to a McDonalds and ordered two coffees. Susan had wound down but she was still furious as he accepted the cups and pulled in to a parking place.
They sipped the coffee in silence for a while, then Robert said, “Miss Susie, what’s really bothering you? It’s not that damned florist.”
She glanced at her husband and sipped her coffee, watching the traffic on the crowded road in front of them. “I keep thinking about the baby.”
“Alan said that Melissa is worried about the baby too, not that Missy is letting on about it,” Robert said. “She thinks they’re too young.”
She shook her head impatiently. “Melissa would think that. But she thinks everyone should raise hell and drive their parents crazy until they’re in their thirties.”
Robert chuckled. “Like she did with us.”
Susan patted his knee and smiled with him. “She certainly did. I’m glad she finally found Alan and settled down.”
“He’s a good man. For a long time I thought we’d get a call in the middle of the night saying she’d broken her neck climbing Mount Everest or drag racing or something.”
Susan nodded and leaned back with a sigh. “It’s just that Robbie and Chrissie will both be working. And there’s no telling what kind of day care they have up there.”
Robert nodded quietly, agreeing with his wife. He could sense there was more. He sipped his coffee silently and waited.
“I was thinking…” Susan said. She hesitated, but Robert remained silent. “Perhaps we should take Ron’s advice.”
Robert looked at her with surprise. “You would be willing to leave the ranch?”
She reached over and cupped his cheek in her hand. “Given the choice of another winter of you feeling miserable—and perhaps losing you, or another decade with you in relatively good shape, which do you think I would choose?”
“And that retirement complex on The Rock suddenly looks better with a great-grandchild to look after.”
“I thought we could offer our services as babysitter. I’d rather the baby be with family, don’t you think so?”
“I think you’ll be homesick. Remember, once we adjust to the lower gravity, there’s no going back.”
“Oh, it won’t be all that bad. I expect that once Sam is out of school, Helena and John will be moving up there. Helena has already mentioned something to that effect. And Alan is up there at least once a week, although I think he’ll have a tough time convincing Melissa to give up her sunsets and beaches.”
“Probably.” Robert finished his coffee and started up the car again. He shook his head. “It’s hard to believe that our children are nearing retirement age, my darling.”
“I still have a hard time remembering they’re grown!” Susan said with a laugh. “Don’t you think it will be wonderful having a baby around again?”
Robert chuckled. “Yes, it will, Miss Susie. That it will.”
“We’ll have till fall to make all the arrangements. Chrissie isn’t due until then anyway.”
“So are you ready to tackle another florist?”
Susan read the next address on the list. “This one had better be able to tell the difference between a carnation and a mum or I’m calling my own florist in from Texas.”
Robert smiled, that was his girl, he thought with pride.
“Ah, Mr. Carter! It’s good to see you again,” the elderly woman said as Alan and Robbie entered the shop.
Alan had picked Robbie up from school and they had headed straight for Vero Beach. He and Melissa had never found a better jeweler closer than New York. She kept Melissa’s ring size on file and emailed Alan any time something came along that she thought Mel might like. Despite the drive it certainly made shopping for presents much easier.
The woman was in a wheelchair and she maneuvered through the glass cases with ease, coming forward to shake Alan’s hand.
“Is Melissa mad at you?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye. “It’s not her birthday, or your anniversary.”
“No ma’am. She’s not mad at me. At least not right now,” Alan joked. “Miss Alice, this is our son Robbie. He’s getting married this weekend.”
“Well! Hello young man,” Miss Alice offered her his hand. “Land sakes, I remember when you were born. Your papa here bought your mother a set of ruby stud earrings.”
Robbie looked at his father. “She wears those all the time.”
“That she does, mate. Alice knows what she likes and gives excellent advice.”
“And where’s your young lady?” Alice asked.
“She’s shopping with Mom for a wedding dress. We’re in a bit of a rush,” Robbie said, blushing and regretting his fair skin.
“Robbie here has a job waiting for him up on the Rock,” Alan said clapping a hand on his son’s shoulder. “They want to head up to the Rock together.”
“Well, I would like to meet her before I recommend anything in particular. How else will I know what will look good on her.”
Robbie pulled a thick envelope out of his jeans pocket. “My mom said to give you this.”
Alice took the packet and pulled out several photos and a folded letter. “This is her?” she asked.
Robbie looked at the photos and smiled. “That’s from last year when we went to the Prom together.”
Chrissie and Robbie were standing in the Carter’s living room. Robbie looked proud in his black tux. Chrissie’s blonde hair was swept up on top of her head and she wore a shiny evening dress of silver and hot pink. In the next picture they were on the beach at the island. Chrissie’s hair was blowing in her face as the two of them picked up sea shells for a biology project. The next picture was from last Christmas at the ranch in Texas. Both were dressed for dinner, Robbie in a white shirt with banded collar and red plaid vest. Chrissie wore a matching vest with a black velvet skirt. They were smiling at each other, practically glowing, and completely unaware of the camera.
“This will definitely help,” Alice nodded. She read the letter from Melissa, looked over the photos once again and rolled toward one of the glass cabinets.
“For now, I would suggest something in a solitaire. And you’ll want the set to match? Engagement ring and wedding bands for both of you?”
Robbie followed her. “Yes ma’am.” He glanced at his father. There were no prices on anything.
“Alice, Robbie here will want to set up a profile with you, but for this once, bill my account.”
Alice nodded abstractedly as she bent over a tray of rings. “That’s fine. See if any of these strike your fancy young man.”
Robbie looked through the tray and suddenly wished he had brought Chrissie along. They all looked pretty much the same to him. Then one in the corner caught his eye. There was a pattern on the two wedding bands that looked like leaves or flowers.
“What about this one.”
“That’s a replica of an antique pattern called ‘orange blossom’,” the old woman explained. “It was very popular about a hundred years ago.”
Robbie smiled. “Chrissie likes orange blossoms. And they’re blooming right now.
“So they are,” Alice confirmed. “Let’s get your finger sized.” She pulled a large metal ring from a pouch on her wheel chair. Dangling from it were smaller rings of every imaginable size. She took Robbie’s hand and looked over the fingers with the eye of an expert.
Alice was finished shortly and sent them on their way, telling them to return in an hour to pick up the rings, sized to fit properly. Alan thanked her and herded his son out the door.
As they got in the car Robbie asked, “Dad? Are we rich?”
Alan laughed as he started the Navigator. “I am mate. You aren’t…yet.”
“You and mom said that I own part of KCI…” Robbie said, puzzled.
“You do. So do your sister and brother, and your cousins. But it’s all on paper. The company doesn’t post earnings; it reinvests its profits. The company pays your Mum and I, and your Uncle John a good salary, and your mum has invested our personal funds well. So we would be considered rich by most people’s standards. But we’ve tried to raise you kids to be independent and make your own way. And it looks like you’re off to a good start.”
“I hope so,” Robbie said uncertainly.
“Hey, you’re not getting cold feet are you?”
Robbie shook his head. “Not really, I guess. Sometimes it seems pretty overwhelming. But Chrissie and I are ready to be on our own, and we’re looking forward to having the baby. I just hope we can be as good at being parents as you and Mom have been.”
“You will be. I’m betting on it,” Alan reassured his son.
“And I hope we’ll be as happily married as you are.”
“Just make sure you listen to each other, and respect each other, and care for each other and you’ll do just fine.”
“Thanks Dad.”
“No, they don’t want roast beef and ham. They want grilled burgers and chicken.” Melissa was beginning to lose patience with this, the third caterer she had called.
“I’ve already tried them. They’re busy that night. How hard can it be to prepare burgers and chicken?” She sighed. “Okay, thank you. I’ll try somewhere else.”
She hung up and sighed. The guest list consisted mostly of Robbie and Chrissie’s friends, which was exactly how it should be. Melissa detested weddings that became the parents’ way of showing off their wealth and ‘good taste’. If she wanted to have a party for business clients, she was perfectly capable of throwing a party without involving the children. In fact, she did so regularly, from small dinner parties to large poolside affairs. She and Helena loved planning such functions. It was probably all that training they had received from their mother. But this was supposed to be a party for the bride and groom and she very much wanted to follow their wishes. She had certainly heard enough nightmare tales of her mother’s wedding to want to avoid acting like an overbearing mother-in-law.
She thought a minute then touched another folder in her PDA. She dialed the number in Key West and smiled with pleasure when a familiar voice answered. “Jerry. How would you like to cater my son’s wedding?”
“Hey Bobby!”
“Sam, my man. What’s the good word?”
“You have a gig on Saturday night?”
“This Saturday? Nope. We were hoping to get a chance to go over to the other side of the state and do that concert in Zephyrhills, but we were turned down.”
“That sucks. How about playing for Robbie’s wedding?”
“Robbie’s what?”
“Yeah. He and Chrissie are getting married on Saturday. We’re inviting everybody. Can you do it?”
“No shit! Of course we’ll do it. Hey man, I hate to ask you this, but is this a paying gig?”
“Of course. How much do you charge?”
“Um, is five hundred bucks too much?”
“No problem. Bobby? Can you play old people music too? Our parents and grandparents will all be there.”
“How old you want it?”
“Well, Aunt Mel loves Garth Brooks and Jimmy Buffet. And Uncle Alan likes rock, you know, really old stuff like the Beatles. And they like a chance to slow dance.”
“I’ve seen your Uncle and Aunt chaperone some of the dances here at school. Sometimes you wonder who’s chaperoning them.”
“I asked them that once. Uncle Alan told me he had a license to touch her like that, and he’d show it to anyone who questioned them. They’re two of the horniest old people I’ve ever seen.”
“Oh gross. TMI, Sammy, TMI. I can do Buffet. And we’ll download a couple of old Beatles songs and see what we can do with them. My cousin Craig can spin some oldies while we take a break, but he’ll charge too.”
“I can probably deal with that. Hey, I’m also supposed to get a dance floor to put in Robbie’s back yard. Where the hell do I go for that?”
“We’re doing this in Robbie’s back yard? I know a place that rents floors. I can take care of that too and get my peeps to install it.”
“When will you know how much? I’ll have to let my aunt know.”
“I can call you back this afternoon about Craig and the floor. Soon enough?”
“Perfect. Thanks Bobby.”
The engines roared and the acceleration kicked John back in his seat. He smiled as his hands and eyes followed the instruments. He still loved to fly, and he never got enough of it. He and Alan both traveled to the Rock and Alpha on business, and KCI had their own Eagle for that purpose. When he traveled to assist Melissa in negotiating new contracts, something he did much more often than Alan, he sometimes flew if he had the time.
Until Tori left for college last fall, she had frequently traveled with him. They had played golf together on courses all over the world. Of course, John loved the chance to travel with his wife too, but Tori seemed to grow up all too quickly and John knew things would never be quite the same. He was beginning to realize why Robert and Susan were always willing to come to Florida at the drop of a hat. The house was already too quiet, and Sam was still at home.
The flight was quick and uneventful. He spotted Tori standing at the gate as he taxied up. She waved enthusiastically and picked up an overnight case and two pink suitcases. He waved back and headed to open the hatch. She scrambled up the steps, dropped her suitcases and threw herself into his arms.
“Hi Daddy.”
“Hi yourself. You know, you’re only coming home for the weekend.”
“Oh, Daddy, but I’m going to a wedding. I have to have the right stuff.”
“And you still have a room full of stuff at home.”
She just laughed and headed for the co-pilot’s seat leaving her father to stow the suitcases. She was already doing a pre-flight check when he returned to the front. Both she and Geoff had pilot’s licenses and were checked out on the old King Air the family owned. Father and daughter worked together with ease and things stayed businesslike until they were in the air and flying at altitude.
“So, how’s college?”
“Wonderful, terrific, exciting and fun.”
“All that?”
“Oh yes. We’re having a blast.”
“And classes?”
Tori laughed again. “I’m doing quite well thank you. I finished mid-terms this morning and as far as I know passed all with flying colors.”
“I’m sure you did,” John said with a smile. Studying came easy to Tori. She remembered anything she had ever read and had an inquisitive mind. She had been salutatorian at her high school last year and her grades and golf scores had been a combination that brought a number of offers from colleges across the country. They had visited dozens of colleges between her junior and senior years.
“What’s your favorite subject?” He asked.
“I’ve got this great meteorology course, and I’ve been helping out in the weather station. It’s taught by the same professor I had geography with last term and he encouraged me to take it. It’s by professor recommendation only.”
“That’s different.”
“Yes, it is. Other than that one physical science course I took in high school, I’ve never had the opportunity to do anything like this. Of course, I had to learn a good bit about weather to get my pilot’s license. But this is much more in depth.”
“You’re not thinking about becoming a tornado chaser or something are you?” John asked warily. Tori was bright and energetic and sometimes there seemed to be just a little too much of her Aunt Melissa in her.
“No, nothing like that. But I am learning a lot and, well, I think it might be a big help in my long range plans.”
“Long range plans?” The children were all growing up too fast. He remembered when his long range plans had been to become an astronaut and explore the stars. Well, he had certainly managed to do that.
Tori looked at him hesitantly.
“Come on, I’d like to hear them,” he encouraged.
“Daddy, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what I’d like to do with my life. I’ve talked it over with Uncle Tony and Aunt Maya and I’d like to try some deep space travel with them this summer.”
“You’re interested in space exploration?”
“Not exactly. What I’d really like to do is explore new planets; open them up for colonization; maybe even take a group of colonists out and establish them on a new world.”
John looked at her earnest face. She had her mother’s eyes, and he remembered the night he met her and watched her talk about going into space. They had never encouraged or discouraged their children from finding some niche in the space program, but it looked like Tori was thinking of leaving Earth behind every bit as much as Robbie.
“Well, that’s a long way from that pre-med major you declared.”
Tori shrugged. “You don’t exactly tell a high school guidance counselor that you want to be an explorer. They tend to look at you funny and recommend you take business classes. But Daddy, Tony and Maya have been out exploring for years now, and hardly anyone else has left the solar system. It seems to me we should be spreading out among the stars.”
John smiled at her youthful exuberance. “It can be rather dangerous out there, but you won’t get an argument from me.”
“Geoff and I have been thinking about this for a while. We’re going to need to find some others that feel the same way we do and put together a team, but I think if we went out there, and found a planet, gathered enough data on it so that the colonists could be well prepared, then we could take people out and start a community.”
“You and Geoff?”
“He’s interested too. We really want to do this.” She hesitated and turned to her father. “I know Mama was pretty pleased when I told her I was interested in pre-med—another doctor in the family and all that. Do you think she’ll be mad at me?”
John shook his head. “We want you to be happy, that’s all. If this is what your dream is, then find a way to make it real.”
Tori reached over and took her father’s hand. “We will.”
John glanced back to the cabin behind them. “But you may have to learn how to travel a bit lighter.”
“Oh, Daddy,” Tori groaned.
Dresses—Helena, Chrissie, Susie and Melissa
“What about this one?” Susie asked for the tenth time.
“It’s still too much!” Chrissie said. “Suz, I hate to disappoint you, but this is just a simple backyard wedding. We don’t need a train and veil and all.”
“Let me warn you,” Melissa said with a laugh. “With my mother here, there’s nothing simple about the back yard. She’s already hired an army of gardeners, and I heard her talking about resodding.”
“We have less than a week!” Helena said from the other side of the rack.
“Evidently there are sandspurs in the yard and they’re giving Mother fits.”
“We’ve always had sandspurs,” Susie said.
“Yes, but if we’re not careful, your grandmother will move the whole party back to Texas.”
“Really, you’re all going to ‘way too much trouble. We just wanted a simple ceremony.”
“I’m afraid that’s probably our fault Chrissie,” Helena said, walking around the rack and holding up a dress trimmed in flowered lace and tiny pearls.
“Your fault?” Chrissie asked, confused.
“Mine and Helena’s,” Melissa said. “We both had the simple ceremonies in the justice of the peace’s office and I don’t think Mother has ever quite gotten over it.”
“Because it’s such short notice, we are being let off the hook as far as the guest list is concerned,” Helena said with amusement.
“I like this one,” Chrissie said, fingering the lace on the sleeves. “Those flowers look like orange blossoms.”
“We’re not required to invite half of Texas this way,” Melissa said with a laugh. “That is pretty Chrissie. Why don’t you try it on?”
Marriage License—Robbie and Chrissie
“Honey, I’m home!” Robbie called as he opened the door to the condo.
“Out here.” Chrissie called from the balcony. Her feet were propped on the railing, she held a stack of papers on her lap.
“What’s all that?” Robbie asked, tossing his notebooks from school on the table and kissing her neck.
“Some things I have to fill out for CKI.”
“I thought you had to work today.”
“I thought I did too. But your mother came by and found me leaving in my uniform. She made a phone call on her cel phone and suddenly my boss is telling me that he appreciated my loyalty but it wasn’t necessary to stay on for two weeks, and then she whisks me away to her office.”
“That sounds like Mom. She likes immediate results.”
“So I noticed. Rob? You don’t think we’re taking advantage of her do you?”
Robbie sat in a chair across from her and she put her feet in his lap. “Chris, no one takes advantage of my mother. What else did she do?”
“Well, she left me with the personnel manager and suddenly I’m filling out all these forms dated January 2. Evidently I’ve been employed there since January second and the paperwork was lost. She even gave me a check for my back pay!”
“Well, that is a little over the top,” Robbie said with a laugh. “How much did you make?”
She handed him an envelope with four checks. Robbie looked at them and whistled. “I’m impressed. Maybe you should take me out to dinner.”
Chrissie shook her head. “We’re expected at your Aunt’s house. Everyone will be there. And we’ve got to get the marriage license this afternoon.”
“Okay. You know what my family is like, especially when the grandparents are here. But we can use the excuse that you’re tired if you want.”
“No, I’m okay,” Chrissie stood. She picked up another envelope. “Wanna see the baby pictures?”
“The what?”
“Your mom and your aunt took me to have an ultrasound done today.” She opened the envelope and pulled out three blurry black and white pictures. “See, there’s his head, and there’s his hand and that’s a foot.”
“Hey! That’s terrific. You keep saying ‘he’.”
“Yes, well, he… um… exposed himself to us and according to Aunt Helena, he’s very well hung. Your mom says it runs in the family,” Chrissie laughed.
Robbie rolled his eyes. “She would say something like that. I don’t think I even want to know what else she had to say.”
“Probably not. But your mom is so funny. I just love being around her.”
“So, you don’t think she’s going to be one of those horrible mother-in-laws you hear jokes about?”
“Not as long as we show up on time tonight with that marriage license,” Chrissie laughed and took Robbie’s hand and pulled him out the door.
Melissa Carter surveyed the scene with a feeling of satisfaction. The brief ceremony had gone off without a hitch. Robbie and Chrissie were dancing together, eyes only for each other, to the music by that horrible band Sam found. The DJ was playing better music when he spelled the band, but she hadn’t been too happy when Craig, the DJ came up to her and assured her that he would play music so the old folks could dance too.
Chrissie’s dress was beautiful. The full skirt hid the tummy that was just beginning to bulge. Robbie kept her within hand’s reach throughout the reception, and waited on her like a queen. Good for him. Alan was obviously training him right. The rings they had picked out were beautiful too. Alan had told her that Robbie would be opening an account with Alice.
She looked over at her husband. He was standing with his father and hers on the other side of the pool. He met her eye and winked at her. They had already danced several of the ‘old folks’ songs together, and he brought her breakfast in bed early this morning, finishing with a very physical desert before they got started on the day. ‘Old folks’ indeed, she thought indignantly.
Her mother and Helena had arrived early this morning to make sure the flowers were all properly arranged. There were large colorful arrangements of mums on every table, and the men all sported small golden mums as boutonnieres.
Her father had shown up at the last minute with Chrissie’s dad. Chrissie’s father was properly attired in a tux and looking sober for a change. Mel was certain that was her father’s doing. He had escorted Chrissie down the aisle, to her delight and stayed to eat some of the grilled chicken dinner that was available from the buffet. No waiter offered him champagne or any other drink and he never asked for any.
The food had been wonderful. Jerry had outdone himself. He had arrived yesterday towing a huge grill behind his Mercedes. He took over her kitchen, and his helpers brought in boxes of food. The grilled burgers marinated overnight in her refrigerator in some kind of spicy Caribbean sauce that was marvelous. There was also a fryer which kept the table supplied with nuggets of conch, and chicken. And Susie had declared her undying love for the mango-cocoanut chutney, declaring her favorite food was no longer Thai, but Caribbean and when could they go to the Keys again, or better yet, could they sail to Jamaica for Spring Break. It was a tempting idea.
Tori was sitting at a table talking earnestly with Tony and Maya Verdeschi. John and Geoff were also at the table and they seemed to be plotting something. She headed over to the table to see what they were up to. One of her chicks was ready to fly on his own now, and the others would be soon too. She was certain there would be other exciting things in their life to occupy their time with.
Maureen J. Long