Shrieks and splashes greeted Alan as he
opened the sliding glass doors and stepped onto the patio.
His sons were taking turns jumping from the diving board, trying to make
the biggest splash. It was a
favorite game and used lots of energy, jumping, splashing, swimming, and running
back to the diving board again—or walking as fast as possible.
Running on the cool deck was not allowed.
Three year old Robbie bounced on the diving board. “Daddy, watch this!”
Alan knelt by Melissa’s chair and winked at her, his hand reaching out to caress her bare knee. She pushed up her Ray-Bans and winked back, and murmured into her microphone. Laptop open, headset on, Mel managed to work while watching the boys swim. Six month old Susie gurgled happily in her bouncing chair within easy reach of her mother. She smiled and drooled at her father as he reached over and gave her a bounce.
Robbie gave a mighty bound, spread out and flipped his little body and landed face down in the water.
“Ouch,” Alan murmured.
“It’s his tactic to make a splash as big as Geoff’s,” Melissa explained.
Alan shook his head. Both boys were born daredevils and as tough as they came. At Melissa’s insistence, both could swim before they could walk.
“You’re home early,” Melissa closed her laptop.
“As requested by your email this morning.” He leaned forward and kissed her. She smiled and kissed him back. “What’s on the agenda?” he asked.
“There are two ice chests waiting in the kitchen. We’ll have supper on the boat on the way down to Vero.”
“We’ll be there late.”
“We’ll take the Intercoastal. I promised the boys they could go to sleep on the boat, and Mama and Daddy know when to expect us. They’ll take the kids and we can stay on the boat and catch the morning tide.”
“Where are you taking me?” he asked softly. The boys loved spending time at the condo with their grandparents, and Susan treated her little namesake like a queen—probably already had an entire new wardrobe waiting for her again.
Melissa cut her eyes at the boys who were still engrossed in their splashing game. “To the island, but don’t mention that or they’ll insist on coming with us.”
“Right.” Alan stood and lifted his daughter from the swing. “I got an email from John. They’re coming into town on Sunday. You sure you want to go away this weekend?”
“Way ahead of you, fly boy. We’ll sail straight back here Sunday morning and Mama and Daddy will drive the kids back up here. We’ll all meet up at John and Helena’s in time for dinner Sunday night.” She shut down the laptop and called to the boys, “Five minute warning!”
Both were on the diving board and glanced at the large clock on the wall by the glass door. Even at three and almost five the boys completely understood how long five minutes was and would make the most of their last five minutes. Neither of them wanted to face the wrath of their mother. They knew their next swim time would be cut by any amount they went over.
Alan felt a familiar warmth and weight as he held his daughter. “I’m going to go change her,” he said to his wife. She nodded, pulling towels from the rack in the sunshine.
The next hour was spent drying and dressing children. Alan found time to shower, shave and dress in shorts, polo shirt and boat shoes. Melissa chased a giggling Robbie into the bedroom, caught him around the waist and lifted up. “No shoes! No shoes!” the boy was shouting.
“Hey,” Alan called, using his best ‘father’ voice. “Wear your deck shoes until you get on the boat, then put them in your bag to take to Grandma’s.”
Robbie looked pained. He hated wearing shoes, but he nodded reluctantly. Melissa put him down and sent him from the room with a swat. She stopped to stroke her husband’s cheek and wink at him, “Smooth,” she commented.
“Especially for you,” he leaned forward to kiss her but a crash and a shriek sent her quickly from the room. He was glad his in-laws made sure they had these bi-monthly weekends away. He knew they were adamant about a husband and wife having quality time. And they were always happy to help out. He and Mel looked forward to their time alone, despite the fact they both enjoyed their time with the children.
Melissa had taken to motherhood with an adeptness that surprised the entire family considering her lifestyle before marriage. She really coped better than Helena whose two lively children tested Helena’s patience to the limit. Alan felt that Helena and John had a tendency to spoil their kids. Melissa ruled the Carter household with a firm hand and although the children still tested her at every turn, she was usually one step ahead of them.
Alan got the ice chests, bags of clothing, diapers and other necessities of dealing with children stowed aboard the Wind Seeker which had its own slip in the back yard on the canal. Melissa had chosen this house when they first moved to Cocoa because of the boat slip and easy access to the Banana River. Alan had approved of the view of the Merritt Island wildlife preserve and proximity to the Cape. Even though he worked for a private contractor now, he frequently spent time on Base at engine tests and compliance meetings. His firm’s clients included not only the new breed of independent space jocks using his small prospecting ships for in-system work, but the government space program as well.
The boys scrambled aboard, life jackets securely fastened. It was another of Melissa’s ironclad rules: No child aboard the boat without a life jacket. They could play or nap below deck with PFD’s off, but above deck they had to be worn properly. The boys had worn them since infancy and never protested or hesitated to put them on. The last time the Koenigs visited, Victoria tried to refuse, throwing a major temper tantrum including throwing herself on the ground and holding her breath. Geoff and Robbie had watched their cousin in amazement. Melissa had calmly asked Helena for permission to deal with the situation and at Helena’s nod, Melissa had scooped up the child and carried her into the house. Alan didn’t know what transpired between aunt and niece, but they returned a half hour later with a subdued Victoria wearing her PFD. No mention of removing it was made again.
Melissa arrived last after closing up the house, baby on her hip. Susie had her own pink PFD on and was chewing on one finger. She smiled at her father and leaned toward him. Alan took her while Melissa cast off and jumped aboard. Baby in hand, Alan started the motor and they made their way into the river and eased into the Intercoastal channel. There was an adequate sea breeze and Melissa rigged the sails. Geoff fastened on the safety harness Melissa had installed for the boys and climbed up to help her. She let him trim the jib sail, watching the little boy with pride. Once the sails were full, mother and son climbed down and Melissa let Alan keep the wheel while she fixed the kabobs she had brought along. Melissa took advantage of every opportunity to brush by him and move her body against him. Once the kabobs were on she took the wheel and suggested he make drinks.
Alan made lime slushes for the boys which they insisted having in margarita glasses with salt on the rim. Melissa kept plastic ones on the boat especially for these occasions. Then he made frozen margaritas for himself and Melissa. Susie had retreated to a portable playpen and was cooing at her stuffed animals. Alan sat back and watched his wife steer. The boys climbed up above the cabin, harnesses attached, and began singing the Gilligan’s Island song. Alan laughed and joined in, enjoying the fresh air, the sunset and his family.
They didn’t stop to eat, instead Alan and Melissa spelled each other at the wheel. The channel was well-marked, even after dark, and they knew the way. They could have made better time out on the ocean, but the surf would be rougher and make feeding the children more difficult. The boys loved eating anything on a stick. Things they wouldn’t touch on a plate became exciting when skewered. They called it supper on a sword. After eating, Melissa nursed Susie and the boys were sent below to change into pajamas. Alan turned to watch mother and child. Melissa was humming a lullaby and Susie was completely relaxed, one arm draped over her head, tiny fingers twirling the soft gold curls that covered her head.
Alan caught his wife’s eye and she smiled at him. He winked at her, “I’m jealous.”
She spoke softly. “Don’t worry flyboy, you’ll get your turn later.”
He didn’t want to wait. She added, “Turn around and think cool thoughts for a while, dear.”
He laughed and tried to comply. Once the baby was fed, Melissa tucked her back in the playpen. As usual, Suzie nursed herself into oblivion and would not wake until nearly midnight. Her grandmother would be ready to give her a bottle then. Melissa came to stand behind him. She leaned her head against his shoulder and tucked her hands in his front pants pockets. She turned and whispered in his ear, “why Mr. Carter, I think you forgot your underpants.”
He enjoyed her touch through the thin fabric of the pockets. He grinned. “I didn’t exactly forget.”
She smiled and kissed his earlobe. “Neither did I,” she whispered in a sexy voice.
“Love, this is not exactly conducive to cool thoughts.”
She laughed and pulled her hands from his pockets. “I’ll take the wheel, the boys will want a bedtime story.”
Alan turned around and kissed her deeply, pushing against her to let her know just how he was feeling. Then he left her, breathless and wanting more.
After they brushed their teeth both boys came to the steps to kiss their mother then headed forward. Melissa could hear their voices only indistinctly, but knew Alan would be lying between them, weaving a story of space monsters and Eagle crashes and adventure; stories that had more basis in fact than the boys realized.
It was a peaceful evening to sail. The sky was cloudless and the stars bright. She missed the moon and regretted that the children would never know what it was like to sail on a silvery ribbon of moonlight. When Alan didn’t return, Melissa knew he had dropped off to sleep with the boys. She smiled to herself. Let him rest now. She might not let him get much sleep later tonight.
Alan felt the bump as they docked at the marina in Vero Beach. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but knew Melissa wouldn’t mind some peace and quiet. She would have called him if she needed him. He got up quietly to keep from disturbing the sleeping boys who were curled up like tow-headed bookends on either side of him. Robbie was a little more than a year younger than Geoff, but he was going to be tall and broad-shouldered like his maternal grandfather. He was almost the same size as the slightly built Geoff. People frequently mistook the pair for twins. Both had changeable eyes that were sometimes blue, sometimes gray and on occasion green like their mother’s. Looking at the pair of them and knowing they were the product of his and Melissa’s passion for each other made him nearly burst with pride.
He picked up the boy’s bags and carried them on deck. He wasn’t surprised to see his in-laws already on the dock, Susan holding the still soundly sleeping Susie. He waved quietly to the pair, placed the boys’ bags on the deck and headed back down for Susie’s things.
Melissa helped her father stow the bags in the Lincoln for the short trip to the condo. Melissa had intended to lease out her old one-bedroom condo when Alan accepted the job at an engineering firm in Titusville to head their aerospace division. She was already expecting Geoff and the Thompsons were eager to have a place convenient to visit their grandchild. She and Robert had negotiated for weeks, Robert insisting she wanted too much for the place, while she was adamant that she could get that rate from anyone else and she wasn’t settling for less. Alan managed to stay out of the argument. Financial matters of the family were Melissa’s province. Susan finally stepped in, hired an independent appraiser to give her market value and wrote Melissa a check.
The Thompsons divided their time between Vero Beach and Miller’s Bluff, showing up often enough to give Alan and Melissa regular weekends alone. They had also taken the boys to Texas last summer while Melissa was expecting. Mel’s emotional roller coaster during her third pregnancy had been phenomenal and Alan had been grateful for the help.
Alan handed Robbie and Geoff up to Melissa in turn and climbed off the boat. Mel stayed aboard the boat while Alan rode back to the condo to help get the three children settled in. Each adult carried one child up in the elevator. Susan took Susie straight to the bedroom to the crib she kept there. The men deposited the boys on the sofa bed which was open and ready for them.
Susan had altered the look of the apartment, adding several paintings and furniture in rich dark tones as well as dark drapes to keep out the heat. It looked homey, but Alan preferred the light airy feeling Mel had given the place. It had been like making love in the clouds.
He kissed Susan on the cheek when she returned from the bedroom, whispered his thanks and followed Robert back to the car.
On the elevator, Robert said, “So what is my daughter up to now?”
“Up to?” It was easy to act innocent. He had no idea what Robert meant.
“We had planned to come in tomorrow, but Missy insisted we be here this evening.”
“She just wanted to go over to the island tomorrow, and she knew Helena and John would be here Sunday. We wouldn’t have time if you got here tomorrow.”
Robert made a noncommital noise indicating that might be what Alan believed, but he still thought there was some other reason. They walked to the car in silence, and Robert offered to drive him back to the dock. As he got in the car Alan said, “Robert, thanks for taking the kids, we do appreciate it.”
Robert nodded shortly. “You two planning to have any more?”
“Kids?” Alan shook his head. “We’ve talked about it. Three’s enough. And considering that you’re wife is already teaching her granddaughter to be a power shopper. I can’t afford any more.”
Robert laughed. “I hope that company of yours is giving you stock options. John has been complaining of the same thing. She’s already given Tori expensive tastes too. And John insists on remaining a public servant.”
“We need men like him on the Space Commission,” Alan said. “My company doesn’t intend to go public, but they do believe in profit sharing and Mel has invested my bonuses well.”
“Good for her,” Robert brought the car to a halt.
Alan opened the door. “See you Sunday afternoon.” He shut the door and headed for the boat. Mel already had the boat tied up and the sails bagged. He headed into the cabin which was softly lit with flickering candles in glass globes. Melissa didn’t allow open flames on the boat.
She stood by the bed in a sheer red robe and matching red teddy, pouring two glasses of wine.
“I haven’t missed a birthday or an anniversary or something have I?”
Mel laughed and handed him a glass of wine. They stood close together and he brushed against her breast with his knuckles. Close quarters had always been one of the attractions of the boat. “Of course not, flyboy. For a man, you have an exceptional memory for things like that.”
She sat gracefully on the bed, stretching out long tanned legs and wriggling red painted toes on her bare feet. The sparkle of red at her ankle caught Alan’s eye. It was the ruby anklet that Alan had given her for their first Valentine’s Day. Alan felt that Robert was right. Mel must be up to something, but he was sure she would bundle her plans in a very attractive package. Alan looked forward to Melissa’s plans for revealing whatever she was currently up to.
He sat on the bed across from her and leaned against the other side of the wall, slipping off his deck shoes. He sipped the wine and caressed her calf as she rubbed his thigh gently. “Your Dad thinks you’re up to something.”
Her eyes widened with feigned innocence. “Up to something? Just because I want to spend the evening seducing my husband?”
“A past time I thoroughly approve of,” Alan said with a shrug. He moved his hand down to finger the anklet then back up her calf, tracing the back of her thigh with his fingers. He watched with a slight smile as two tiny wet spots appeared on the teddy. He had never considered how arousing it was to make love to a woman while she was nursing. He felt a tiny pang that their decision not to have another child meant Melissa would not be nursing much longer.
Melissa ran her hand up and down the back of his calf and took a sip of wine. “It really turns you on doesn’t it?” She was enjoying watching him watch her.
“You know it does.”
“I never thought you were such a breast man,” she said with a laugh. “When we first met, you couldn’t keep your eyes off my legs.”
He grinned. “When we first met, you seemed pretty determined to let me peek up your skirt.” His hand moved from her calf to her thigh, exploring farther and farther up her leg. She shifted, welcoming his touch.
“Well, Helena seemed to be having so much fun, I decided to test drive an astronaut for myself,” she replied with a grin. “You didn’t seem particularly reluctant.”
His hand had reached the lacy leg of the teddy and he leaned forward, fingers reaching underneath the silky fabric, his eyes still watching the wet patches of silk, taut over her nipples. “I’d never discourage a beautiful woman who wanted to strip in front of me and step into my shower.”
His fingers found just the right spot and she shivered with pleasure. The wet patches grew larger. He leaned further forward. “Know what I want, love?” he murmured against her lips.
“Yesss,” she moaned. She reached up and pulled off the lacy straps to the teddy. She pushed the cloth away from her breasts and he put his lips gently against the taut skin of first one breast, then the other. His fingers continued to play inside her, slipping out slowly to move up her slit then moving down and inside her again.
She moaned and pushed hard against his hand with her hips. He pulled back from her and quickly stripped off his shorts and top. Melissa moved down to a more comfortable position on the bed. Alan crawled back on top of her and she strained against him urging him to enter her. She moaned again as he took her and her climax was long and loud. Alan came with a gasp and rolled off of her laughing. “We’re going to wake up the entire marina, love if we keep this up.”
She curled up next to him. “Perhaps we should get some sleep and get an early start. We can be as loud as we want on the island.”
“And I know you like it loud,” he chuckled.
“That first night I had you in the shower? I had no idea astronauts were so habit forming.”
“I’m glad you got the habit, although you can hardly call me an astronaut anymore.”
Melissa smiled and moved her hand up and down his chest. They dropped off to sleep, content in each other’s arms.
They woke at dawn and worked as a team to ready the boat and set sail. They savored their time together and always enjoyed time spent on the little island. The destructive weather caused by the moon’s breakaway had actually benefited their island. Storms had deposited additional sand at the southern end of the island. The lagoon was still intact, and Alan and Melissa had obtained and planted additional native plants to deter erosion. They had also placed two anchor buoys in the lagoon to secure their boat so that they didn’t need to use the anchor and harm the coral reef below.
By midafternoon they were lying together on a quilt under a canopy on the beach. They had arrived, swam, eaten lunch and loved each other. Melissa got them each a beer from the ice chest and she propped her head against Alan’s chest and relaxed.
“Alan?”
“Mmm?” This relaxed, and knowing the children weren’t around to pounce on him, he was about to drift off to sleep.
“Are you happy?”
He reached out to fondle her breast. “You should know I am, love.”
“I mean, happy with what you’re doing. Your job.”
“It’s not so bad. It gives us a good income and lets me stay close to you and the kids.”
“And long term?”
Alan shrugged. “It’s a job. Long term, I’ll work until I retire and can spend my days lying on the beach making love to you.”
“But do you mind not ever going into space or flying the ships you build?”
“Well, I don’t actually build them. I design them and somebody else builds them. But it’s a fair trade off. I like being home with you. Or are you trying to get rid of me?”
“Of course not. It’s just that, I know the last time Tony and Maya visited…”
Tony and his brother Guido had started a company with Tony Cellini to bring a small asteroid into a stable Earth orbit which could then be used as a launching point for various industries and exploration. Melissa had obtained the venture capital for them from one of her former clients, and had earned a nice fee in the process. The Rock Venture had been incredibly successful, and Cellini managed the Rock while Guido handled the Earthside business. Tony Verdeschi had sold his portion and purchased a small exploration ship from Alan’s company. Alan had outfitted it personally. Tony and Maya now spent their time exploring deep space and looking for other Psychon survivors. They had married, but it didn’t appear that Psychon and Human physiology could successfully produce children. They were still mad for each other.
“Tony and I had both had way too much to drink, so anything I said can be taken with a grain of salt.”
“Sweetheart, you weren’t drunk when you took Susie up for her nap that afternoon. I heard you on the baby monitor.”
Alan froze. He remembered the conversation she was referring to distinctly. It had started innocently enough. He was changing Susie and had asked Tony about his ship. Tony had talked about how easy it was to handle, how even the jumps seemed to go more smoothly than the earlier models of jump drive. It was an improvement that one of Alan’s young engineers had developed. Alan had sponsored the idea and incorporated it into the next generation of jump drives. Tony asked if he didn’t agree that it was a much less disorienting jump, and Alan had admitted that he’d never used one.
In fact he confided that he seldom even flew atmospheric craft anymore. Between his job, and keeping the kids’ routines steady, he seldom left Florida. Mel traveled only occasionally on business, but much less often than she used to. He had confided to Tony that he did miss being in space, and sometimes longed for a chance at the controls of an Eagle. He had told Tony that he envied his freedom and the chance to explore. Then he had placed Susie in her crib and settled her for her nap.
He sat up, forcing Melissa to sit up too. He needed her to understand him, and he needed her to believe what he was saying. He looked into her green eyes. “What you didn’t hear, after we closed the door to the nursery, was Tony say how he envied our family, our ability to have kids. And how I told him I wouldn’t trade you guys for a fleet of Eagles, or a day in space. Mel, I love you and the kids with all my heart. Leaving you behind and going into space would be my idea of pure hell.”
He moved his hand up her arm to her neck, and she looked back at him steadily, with a smile that appeared more mischevious than serene. She leaned forward and kissed him softly and he held her in his arms. “I just couldn’t bear being away from you,” he admitted quietly.
“Nor do I want to be away from you, my love,” she said softly in his ear. Then she pushed him back a bit so she could look at him. She turned to sit tailor fashion facing him, and Alan knew she was now going to let him know just what she was up to. She smiled brightly. “Which is why I’ve found an alternative.”
“What kind of alternative?” he asked with a grin. There was no telling what Mel had come up with and he was certain it would be interesting.
“Remember when I first visited you on Alpha? And we made love in the Eagle in zero-gee?”
“How could I forget something like that?”
“And I said it would be a great idea to have a resort hotel in space with a zero-gee section?”
“I remember that too.”
Melissa began explaining her plans and Alan could see that she was excited by them. He could also see that the contacts she had been making and the deals she had brokered between the money people and those with ideas for exploring space had been building to this point. It had become common knowledge that if you had a bankable idea and needed funds or were interested in investing in a profitable space venture, Thompson-Carter Enterprises was the place to go.
Melissa had spent her time on Alpha meeting people and learning what they wanted to do when they returned home. Many had developed ideas and techniques that could be beneficial to mankind as well as profitable for their creator if the creators could find the capital to develop their ideas properly. That was something Melissa knew how to help with. She was so friendly, and so easy to talk to, a number of Alphans confided in her, and once they returned, she began to help them find the financing they needed to use their ideas. She had developed a reputation for straight and successful deals.
She pulled a thick plastic envelope out of one of the coolers and handed it to Alan. It contained a business plan, plus copies of several contracts, including one signed by Guido Verdeschi and Tony Cellini giving CK Investments exclusive rights to build a hotel on The Rock.
“You want to run a hotel?” Alan asked dubiously.
“I want to own a hotel,” she corrected, urging him to keep reading.
There was a detailed market analysis of the potential clientele, projected rates, profit & loss statement. The contract to design and build the hotel also belonged to the engineering division of CK Investments. According to the business plan capital was being provided in exchange for minority interest in the investment company. A list of a half dozen companies, whose names meant nothing to Alan, were listed as minority shareholders. The last item in the packet were articles of incorporation for CK Investments. Melissa was listed as president and chairman of the board. Board members included John, Helena, and himself as well as two names he didn’t recognize. Eighty percent of the company was retained privately with himself and Melissa retaining twenty-five percent of the company. His title was chief engineer. John and Helena each held ten percent. Tori, Sam, Geoff, Robby and Susie were each named as shareholders of two percent, with their mothers’ named as trustee until the children reached majority.
Alan whistled softly. “You want me to design a hotel?”
“In space. Can it be that different from designing a space ship? Or a space station? I know you helped Tony Cellini with the station on the Rock.”
“You have a lot of faith in me love,” Alan said, finding a section of the documents on specifications regarding the hotel. He first intended to tell Melissa he couldn’t possibly design something like this, but the words caught in his throat. He was tempted, sorely tempted. “And how does this get me into space?”
“Well, once you’ve designed the hotel, we’ll undoubtedly need to oversee its construction,” she said with a smile. “I’d say we’ll need to have quarters on the Rock for the entire time the hotel is under construction.”
“And the children?”
“Will come with us, of course.”
“You hated being in space,” Alan said with a smile.
“But I loved zero gee,” Melissa purred.
“So you did, love.” He couldn’t deny that. “You’ve done all this, just so I can go back to space?”
“Well, that and it should also make us an awful lot of money. But we should be able to have lots of fun doing it.”
Alan had to laugh. He well knew that was his wife’s business philosophy: have as much fun as possible, while making as much money as possible. “And you’re making sure the entire family is taken care of?” He indicated the Koenigs’ inclusion in the corporation.
“I just need their signatures on the paperwork. I want to tell them about it this week. What do you think?”
He looked down at the papers in his lap. “I’m stunned, amazed, and sorely tempted, love.” He looked back at his wife. “I have to admit it sounds like a hell of a lot of fun.” He slid the papers into the envelope and pulled his wife into his arms. “I don’t think anyone has ever done anything more wonderful for me.”
Alan pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately, a portion of his mind already considering design possibilities.
The sleek red Corvette pulled into the driveway of the colonial white two story on Maple Street. It's driver quickly slipped out of the seat and headed inside. He was late, as usual. But he wasn't worried. His family was headed to Florida for two weeks. They were all looking forward to it.
"DADDY!" The first little screaming voice met him at the back door. He lifted the sandy haired boy into the air.
"Hiya, Big guy!" John Koenig smiled at his three-year-old son, Sam.
Rebecca, the children's nanny, stepped out into the hallway holding Sam's tennis shoes.
"There you are." She smiled easily.
John looked at Sam, "Have you been hiding from Rebecca again?" He ticked his belly.
"No." Sam said with an impish grin.
"Yes, you have." The pretty brunette retrieved the child from his father's grasp.
"Hi Rebecca, where's Tori and Helena?"
"Tori's in her room packing. She's been in there an hour." Rebecca rolled her eyes.
John exhaled deeply. His mother in law had managed to turn his five-year- old daughter into some facsimile of a vogue model. He knew she'd probably take 3 times the amount of luggage her mother did.
"Dr. Koenig's in the shower. Come on Sammy, let's get these shoes on."
John walked into the bedroom he shared with his wife and closed the door behind him. The shower was running in the bathroom, the door was ajar and he could hear his wife softly humming. The room was filled with steam and he searched through the mist for his wife. He could make out her shape though the steamed over glass that surrounded their opened shower. A smile crossed his face. He closed the door to the bathroom behind him and quickly stripped off his clothing.
Helena was standing underneath the water with her eyes closed and was unaware that he had joined her. John stood watching the water cascade over her body. He watch a slow smile spread across her face as he moved his hands to touch her.
Without opening her eyes she said, "Alan Carter we really shouldn't. John will be home any minute.”
"I'll give you Alan Carter," He said as his lips found the hollow of her neck.
A soft sigh slipped from her throat as her husband continued to move his hands down her body.
"How was your golf game?"
"What golf game?" His hands played across her nipples.
"John, the children."
He stopped kissing her and turned her around as he soaped his hands. "The children are in the other room. Besides, I locked the door." She leaned her head against his shoulder as his soapy hands touched her breasts.
"We really shouldn't." She protested.
"It's been over two weeks."
She laughed lightly. "It has been kinda difficult since Tori started sleeping in our bed."
John lowered his hands. "Kinda difficult? Damned near impossible."
Something in his tone hit Helena the wrong way. She stopped his hands and held them still. "I'm not the one that took her to see Sleepy Hollow."
John shot back, "You were the one that told me to get her out of the house. How did I know that someone was going to lose their head in the first scene."
She turned around and faced him, "You could have check the reviews on-line you know."
"Well I don't have as much free time as you apparently do."
"Free time?" She was nearing the point of irritation.
John realized that their intimate moment had quickly disappeared. Fighting was not what he had on his mind. "Honey, please. Let's not fight." He resoaped his hands and began to rub her back. She seemed to settle down a bit and allowed his hands to made their way back around her stomach and up to her breasts.
She was breathing heavily when he turned her around and kissed her passionately. His mouth moved quickly to her breast and she watched him as he brought her nipple erect with his tongue.
"Mommy?" The voice called from outside the shower.
John and Helena exchanged a pained look. Helena pushed John behind her in the shower and prayed that Tori couldn't see through the steam-covered doors.
"What is it Tori?"
"Sammy took my princess slippers. The one Grammy gave me."
Helena heard John exasperated sigh. He loved his mother-in-law but wasn't too pleased with the fact that Susan spoiled Tori so.
"I'll be right out, Honey."
"I'll wait." The little girl stated as she twirled her hair.
John silently shook his head indicating to Helena that wasn't going to work.
"Tori, I'll just be a few more minutes. Could you please ask Rebecca to help you?"
Reluctantly, the little girl finally agreed. "K, Mommy." She said as she left the bathroom closing the door behind her.
Helena turned around and looked at John. "I thought you locked the door."
"I did. I swear." He moved toward her to resume his activities.
"Oh no, you don't John Koenig. She'll be back." She quickly rinsed off and stepped out of the shower.
"Damn it." John said as he pounded his fist against the tile.
An hour later, the Koenig crew waved goodbye to Rebecca and headed for the airport. John loaded the family owned King Air as Helena secured the children in their seats. Less than 30 minutes after they took off, the children were sound asleep.
John looked back at his sleeping children. "Why can't they sleep like that at home?"
His wife favored him with a smile. "It'll be better when we get to Cocoa. Mom and Dad and Mel and Alan will be there to help. I'm so glad we kept the house there. I would be a real pain to have to worry about settling them in at Mel's or a hotel."
‘Helena, you have to do something about your mother. She's spoiling Tori to a point where we can't do anything with her."
His wife exhaled deeply and looked back at her sleeping daughter. "She has her father's stubborn personality."
"Bullshit! Her grandmother has exposed her to the finer things in life and now she walks around thinking she's the greatest thing since sliced bread."
"John."
"Helena" He said as he checked the gauges.
"I think part of this frustration with my mother comes from the fact that we haven't made love in over two weeks."
"Three." He corrected her.
She smiled slightly. "Has it really been that long?"
He reached for her hand, "three weeks and three days. Not that I'm counting."
"We'll have some time alone in Florida. I promise."
He squeezed her hand in affirmation.
They reached Cocoa around mid afternoon and John landed the plane with his usual precision. As they rolled up to the private terminal, he saw Alan and his father in law standing by the doorway. John smiled. If Alan was there so was his GTO.
Helena helped the children out of the plane and they rushed to their Grandfather. John began unloading the family's luggage. He was joined by Alan.
"Well I see Tori's traveling light, only 3 suitcases." He picked up the three pink bags bearing ballerinas.
"Just wait, your daughter is named after her. She'll be twice as spoil as mine."
"Gosh I hope not."
John lifted the last of the luggage from the plane and locked it up. "Bring my GTO?"
Alan smiled, "You know I did. Robert's going to take Helena and the kids in his car."
"Great. Let's go."
The two men followed their father in law back to the house that once belonged only to Helena.
Tori and Sam bounced out of their Grandfather's car and went in search of their Grandmother. Melissa was inside with her mother and her children.
"Hi." She moved to hug Helena before reaching over to kiss John on the cheek.
John and Alan started upstairs with the children's bags. As they hit the second step, John heard Susan saying, "Tori, Grammy has a big surprise for you."
"Shit!' John said as he continued up the stairs.
"Looks like Tori's going to need another bag to get back to Houston."
"Great, just what I need more ribbons and bows."
As the children played outside, the adults prepared for dinner. Several times during dinner, John and Helena exchanged words. It was so unlike them to be short with one another and it didn't go unnoticed by Melissa and Susan. Melissa watched her sister and brother in law carefully. She wanted to find just the right moment to bring up her new adventure. Sensing some tension between John and Helena, Mel pulled her sister into the den away from her mother.
"Okay, something's wrong. Isn't it?"
"What gives you that idea."
"Don't Cake. Don't try to hide it from me. Your marriage is an open book. You and John are wound as tight as two stretched rubber bands. Now talk!"
Helena took a deep breath and told her sister the whole story. She had asked John to take Tori to the movies and without checking the content he took her to see Sleepy Hollow. Since then, Tori had refused to sleep in her own bed. And when John tried to move her back to her bed after she'd gone to sleep, Tori would wake up screaming. Then she told her about the shower scene earlier in the day.
"So it's been three weeks since you and John have screwed?"
"Made love," Helena corrected her.
"Whatever." Melissa said flippantly. "No wonder you and John are practically at each other's throats, you both need to get laid."
Helena shook her head in agreement. "That combined with mother's over enthusiasm for Tori. That has really been taking a toll."
Melissa suddenly had an idea. "Talk to Daddy. He can handle Mom. Get John and head down to the boat…"
"I can't leave the kids..."
"Oh yes you can and you will. I'll handle Tori."
"Mel…"
"I won't take no for an answer." She reached behind the bar and grabbed two bottles of wine. "Take these too."
Helena took the wine slowly.
Melissa walked over to the patio door, "John? John, could you please come in here."
Koenig walked over to his sister in law. She handed him the keys to her boat.
"What are these?"
"A gift. Cake will explain everything on the way." She pushed him toward the door.
"What?”
"Get in the GTO and take Cake down to the boat. She'll explain everything. I'll watch the kids."
John looked at Helena holding the two bottles of wine.
"Now I don't want to see either of you until tomorrow afternoon. Is that clear?"
They looked at her-- how could they refuse. She seemed to be on a roll.
John slipped into the driver's seat of the GTO. "We don't have any bags," He noted.
Helena smiled seductively and reached over to softly stroke his knee. "I don't think we are going to need any."
John looked at his wife's hand where it rested on his knee. He jammed the transmission into reverse and raced out of the driveway. Helena moved her hand up his leg as he shifted into first. By the time they made it to Alan and Melissa's house the sun was going down. They made their way to the boat barely able to keep their hands off one another.
John tossed the wine into the small on board fridge as Helena flipped on the air-conditioning. The cabin inside the boat was sweltering from the continuous Florida heat but that didn't seem to bother them. John was already under the hem of Helena's sundress. Her panties were on the floor of the cabin in a matter of seconds and neither one of them took the time to completely undress.
"Yes John Yes!" She cried as he moved inside her.
John loud grunt followed her excited cries of pleasure as he released three weeks worth of pent up frustration. "Oh Honey," He said in her ear as he gained control of his breathing. "I needed that."
"Me too." She sighed.
They rested besides one another lost in mutual satisfaction. Helena lowered her legs and reached for a towel lowering her dress as she moved.
"Don't." John said softly. ‘Don't move. Not yet." He slid his finger over her thighs and back between her legs.
"John..."
"Relax, I haven't seen your body in a long time. I want to enjoy the view."
Ho moved his fingers gently in and out of her warm moist flesh. Flesh made moist by their mutual orgasms. It turned him on to be able to touch his wife like this. He watched her face as he slowly moved his fingers up and down, in and out. Her eyes were closed and her lips were slightly parted. And his fingers moved. He watched the breasts rise and fall quickly as she struggled for air. She was nearing her peak and he buried his fingers inside of her.
"Oh God." She moaned.
He stopped his caresses when her shaking subsided. Smiling, she opened her eyes and looked at him.
"Need a cigarette, Doctor?" He smugly inquired.
"If I smoked, I would."
"Sweetheart, you are smoking."
She laughed lightly. "Come on, let's get rid of these clothes so we can have some real fun."
"You get rid of your clothes and I'll get the wine."
They rose from the bed and shed their clothing. John pulled out the wine and poured two glasses as Helena relaxed on the bed.
"John?"
"Hmm?" He said sliding up next to her in the bed.
"Tori…"
"Shhh... don't say the "T" word. It'll ruin the mood." He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her.
"We have to talk about it."
"I know but not now. Okay?" He guided her free hand down to his crotch.
She rolled to lay on top of him, her bare body pressed against his. "Tell me something, John?"
"Anything as long as it's not the "T or S" word."
"Did you plan this with my sister? Is this the reason she wanted to see us?" John's hands made their way over her buttocks.
"No. This was all Mel's doings."
"Well if this isn't the reason she wanted to see to us, what is?"
John shifted positions and rolled Helena over on her back, "Helena. I say this with all the love in my heart-- shut up!"
He covered her mouth with his and kissed her passionately. There would be no more discussion of children, parents or sisters. Melissa's reason for seeing them would be tabled until morning.
Movement out on the deck woke John early the next morning. He looked over at his sleeping wife. A grin crossed his face, they had made love three times during the night. It was something they hadn't done in a long time. His in-laws were picking up the kids this morning for an overnight trip into Orlando. He briefly wondered if they could make love three more times before they were suppose to meet Mel and Alan. A thump outside brought his attention back to the boat, he disengaged himself from Helena and grabbed his shorts.
The blazing morning sun was bright and he lifted his arm to block the strong rays.
"Morning." Alan called from the dock.
John noticed the basket of food sitting just inside the boat. "What time is it?" John rubbed his eyes and moved out into the cockpit of the boat.
"Early. Susan and Robert just picked up the kids. Hope I didn't wake you when I put the food on the boat. Mel threatened me within an inch of my life if I woke you."
"You didn't wake me. What's in the basket?"
"Breakfast. You're supposed to have a leisurely breakfast and take your time coming up to the house. Is there anything you need before I go back inside?"
"Is there coffee in there?"
"A whole thermos full."
"Great. Thanks Alan." John took the basket and headed back inside the boat.
He opened the thermos and poured two cups of coffee. The aroma traveled through the cabin and John pulled the morning newspaper out of the basket. Helena turned over in the bed. Still half asleep she reached over to his side of the bed. She sat up a little confused by her surroundings.
"John?" She called as she pushed her hair out of her face.
"Right here, Hon." He poured her a cup of coffee. "Want some coffee?"
"The kids…my parents are coming. I'd better get up." She untangled herself from the covers.
"Don't move." John stepped forward and handed her the coffee.
"The kids."
"Are already gone. Your folks picked them up earlier."
Helena sat back on the bed. "I wanted to see them off."
"It's okay. They'll be back tomorrow night." He grabbed the paper and crawled back into bed beside her.
Helen sipped her coffee, "You make this?"
"It was a gift from my favorite sister-in-law."
"She really thinks of everything doesn't she." Helena put her cup down and crawled back under the covers.
John reached over stroking her back as he continued to read the newspaper. There was an article on the front page of the financial section regarding Tony and Guido's business venture. The reporter writing the story hinted about a rumor was making it's way around the financial world. There was speculation about some other investors planning a project in space. The investors were being tight lipped but the reporter indicated that the project had some pretty serious money already in place.
"Interesting," John said as he folded up the paper. "Wonder who's crazy enough to put money up like that."
Back inside the house, Melissa was preparing Susie's morning cereal. She met Alan as he came back from the dock. "You didn't wake them did you?"
He kissed her cheek then moved past her to play with the baby. "No. John was already up. Helena was still sleeping."
"Well at least one of them is sleeping late." She let out a sigh of defeat.
"I wouldn't count of seeing either of them anything soon."
"Oh?" Melissa sat down beside Susie's highchair with the cereal.
"John looked like he could go back to bed at any time. I think they had a late night. Does that make you feel better?"
She shook her head and smiled at her husband. "I'm glad. They both were on edge."
Alan rose from the table and retrieved a cup of coffee. "I must have missed that."
"You were outside with the kids."
"What happened?" He returned to the table.
"Nothing specific. I just noticed that they were snapping at each other over little things."
Alan laughed lightly recalling several times while they were on Alpha that their tempers had flared.
"What's so funny?" Melissa wiped Susie's cereal covered mouth.
"I was just remembering that day when John encountered those naked green aliens. She wasn't too happy with him when he arrived back at Alpha. You should have seen the fight that followed that." Alan chuckled.
"What happened?"
"She didn't speak to him for a week. And it was no secret to anyone. Sure made the command conferences hell."
"How'd they get over it?"
"I locked in a room for 48 hours. Told them not to come out until they settled their differences."
Melissa roared with laughter at the thought of her sister and brother-in-law locked in a room. “How'd they look when you let them out?"
"Like hell, he told me later they had been up all night making up."
"Good for them. How'd he look this morning?"
He followed her drift. "Like hell."
Melissa picked up Susie, "Well then, I guess he had his cake and ate her too." She turned and walked out of the room.
It took Alan a few seconds to realize what his wife had said. "Only you my dear wife could sum it up that way."
It was almost noon before John and Helena left the boat. John carried the basket as they crossed the sandy yard to the pool area. At first all appeared deserted until John caught a bit of motion on the porch in the colorful hammock. He glanced at his wife who had also noticed the movement. She shrugged, looking amused. John cleared his throat.
Alan’s head appeared from the hammock. He smiled. Melissa’s hand pulled at the side of the hammock and they could see her face as well.
“Are we interrupting something?” Helena asked.
Melissa grinned and glanced at Alan. “Only the afterglow. Did you two have a good evening?”
John squeezed Helena’s hand. “Wonderful. Thank you.”
“Where’s the baby?” Helena asked.
Melissa indicated her laptop, sitting open on a table by the hammock. “She’s napping. We’re keeping an eye on her. Ready for some lunch?” She sat up. She was wearing a hot pink bikini. Alan also had on a swimsuit.
“We had a late breakfast, but we could probably eat,” John said. He turned to Alan. “I thought you were a working man.”
Alan grinned and stood. “Took a couple of vacation days. Mel likes to have me around the house whenever possible.” He shot his wife an intimate smile which she responded to as she pulled on a matching pink cover-up.
Helena looked at the computer screen. The picture showed the baby’s room upstairs. Little Susie was just sitting up and rubbing her eyes. “The baby is awake. Want me to go get her?”
“Not for a few minutes. She takes a while to wake up and likes to have time to adjust before being scooped out of bed,” Melissa explained, looking over her sister’s shoulder with a smile at her youngest. The baby yawned and reached out to one of the stuffed toys in the crib with her. “She’ll play for a while. I want to talk to you two about something.” She gestured toward the patio table.
It was obvious that the Carters pretty much lived on the shady patio. Melissa went to the wet bar and pulled a pitcher of iced tea out of the small refrigerator and brought it to the table with four tall glasses. Alan brought out a tray with a bowl of tuna salad and a loaf of fresh Cuban bread. The four of them sat down at the table and Alan helped himself to a sandwich while Melissa poured the drinks.
Melissa pulled out the same envelope she had shown Alan a few days ago, made eye contact with both John and her sister, and began to tell them about her business venture. She spoke eloquently and elaborately. About the time Alan finished his sandwich the computer speaker sounded with the baby’s call. He slid out of his seat and disappeared into the house. Melissa continued to talk, showing John and Helena the paperwork, predictions, and projections.
“Mel, this is amazing,” Helena said. “you put all this together?”
“This is what I was reading rumors about in the paper this morning,” John said thoughtfully.
Alan returned with the baby, her head on his shoulder, her cheeks still flushed from sleep and her curls damp with sweat. She wore a tiny pink sunsuit but was barefoot as was her father. “I think Mel has been snogging Tony again,” Alan suggested jokingly. He leaned over and kissed his wife and his daughter leaned eagerly toward her mother. Alan handed her a thin receiving blanket and a cloth diaper. Melissa moved from the table to a rocking chair and settled the baby to her breast, discreetly placing the receiving blanket over her shoulder as she moved the strap of her swimsuit off her shoulder. Susie batted eagerly at her mother’s breast and settled in for her lunch quickly.
“I haven’t ‘snogged’ Tony in ages. Not since you and I signed a contract to be mutually exclusive with our snogging,” she winked at Alan.
“Mel, do you really think you can pull this all together?” John asked dubiously.
“As long as you creative types can give me a design. I’ve already put the money in place for it,” she answered.
“I’d like to read this closer. Looks like you’re being pretty generous here, since you and Alan are doing all the work.”
Alan cleared his throat. “John, we’re hoping to convince you to help with both the design and construction.”
“Alan, I already have a job.”
“We’re making you an offer of a different position,” Melissa said coolly. “The bottom file is a contract for your services for the next five years.”
John moved to the bottom manila file and began to read. He skimmed through the first page and handed the papers to Helena, looking back at the Carters. “You’re offering me an insane amount of money.”
Melissa looked at Alan who shrugged. “It’s the same as my beginning salary was at the company I’m with now.”
Helena looked up at him, in surprise. She and Melissa talked about virtually everything, and she knew the Carter’s didn’t seem to ever need money, but she and Mel had never talked about specific amounts of money. They hadn’t been brought up that way. She turned to John. “This is considerably more than your position on the Space Commission pays.”
“Yes, it is.”
“John, you’ve got to admit that moving here and working on this project would be much more fun than enduring the political nonsense you put up with on the space commission. You’d spend a lot more time with the kids,” Alan added. “We could start teaching Tori and Goeff to surf.”
John stared at the paperwork in front of him. “I’d like to read through this carefully, and talk things over with Helena.”
“Of course,” Melissa said. She carefully placed her finger next to the baby’s lips and gently disengaged her. She shifted the child to the other side. Alan handed her a glass of iced tea and she smiled gratefully. “You can use the study if you want. Cake, how about a short trip to the grocery store when Susie is through with me?”
“Sure,” Helena said with a smile.
John gathered the files and vanished into the house. The living room was cool and a bit dark. The house faced the north and the vertical blinds on the front windows kept out the light. The patio, with its large overhang kept the south side of the living room dark. Terrazo floors added to the coolness of the interior. The couch and two overstuffed chairs were of soft black leather. The end tables and coffee table were stainless steel and clear glass. Even the lamps were stainless steel. John turned to the right at the stairway and entered the study, a small room in the front of the house. Bookcases lined two walls, a sofa sat underneath the window and faced the large oak desk. It looked as if no one ever worked at the desk, but that was pure deception. The smoked glass top hid a recessed monitor and the drawers on the right hand side actually hid a cabinet containing a small powerful computer. Melissa had given Alan the desk when they had first moved in here five years ago. The entire top was a touch screen, with software that adapted it to combine manual drafting with computer aided design.
John carefully placed the files on the desk and began to go over their contents thoroughly.
When he surfaced a few hours later the house was quiet. He noticed movement in the hammock and headed back to the patio. As he opened the door he could hear Alan crooning softly,
“Someday, they’ll find it,
the Rainbow Connection,
the lovers, the dreamers and me.”
John stepped closer to see Alan cuddling his daughter close. She looked up into his eyes with rapt attention, jaws working rhythmically to empty a bottle of juice Alan was holding for her. Her tiny hand rested on Alan’s finger.
It hadn’t been so long since John had held his own daughter and given her a bottle. And he did love his little girl. It was just that his patience had been wearing so thin lately where the children were concerned. They seemed to be growing farther and farther away from him. Sometimes he feared that Helena was drifting away from him too, caught up in her own schedule and activities. When they had first returned, she had concentrated on writing up the many experiments and experiences and submitting them to professional journals. That had given her the flexibility to travel with him when he needed to suddenly be in New York, or London, or Florida. Her nomination for the Nobel Prize for medicine had been welcome but placed her in the limelight, and she now had speaking engagements, a contract for two books, and very little time for her very busy husband.
“You still can’t sing,” John said softly with a smile as he slipped into the nearby chaise lounge.
Alan smiled but maintained contact with the baby. “You tell Uncle John he has to go inside if he’s going to be a music critic.”
The baby only made smacking noises in response.
“Where are the girls?”
“Still shopping. My guess is that they ended up at the mall and are somewhere comparing notes over our sexual prowess.”
John laughed. He was probably correct. “Alan, do you think Melissa can manage this?”
Alan looked up at John. “Oh, yes. She can do it. As long as we can deliver a buildable plan. I want to head up to the Rock soon and do a site survey to see what we’re dealing with.”
“Alan, you know I like Melissa, but she’s just a travel agent—“
“John, she hasn’t been a travel agent since we returned.”
“What?”
“Who do you think brokered the money for the Rock Project to begin with? Or Bill’s mining consortium?”
“Melissa did?”
Alan nodded.
“I thought—“
“You’ve been listening to our father-in-law’s propaganda. Don’t doubt my wife’s abilities. She’s quite brilliant.”
“Helena told me once she almost didn’t finish college.”
“True. She lost interest while they were undergraduates, and did the bare minimum to coast by. Then she spent most of the time Helena was in med school traveling. She saw every continent on earth, even Antarctica. And picked up a working vocabulary in a half dozen languages—including Japanese. She also earned an MBA with high honors.”
“Since we’ve been back?”
“No, years ago. I’m not surprised you didn’t know. I didn’t know about it until we were unpacking boxes when we moved in here. She keeps her diploma from University of Miami in an envelope in a file cabinet.”
John shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
“Mel grew up in a family where science was all-important. And she wasn’t interested. It took her years to realize that it was okay not to be a doctor or a scientist. When she decided to start her own business she decided she needed more contacts. She did that by enrolling in business school, working internships to meet people. She understands how people work together almost instinctively. She’s likeable, and knows how to listen to people. It usually pays off.”
Sometimes it seemed that he didn't know Helena's twin sister at all, but then, Helena saw more of her than he did. The only times he was around Melissa was on family occasions.
Alan glanced at the clock, "Hey, look at the time. I promised to have margaritas ready at four. He swung easily out of the hammock. "Watch the baby for me, will you?" Alan dumped the baby in John's lap and headed for the wet bar.
The baby smiled cheerily at her uncle. She had a halo of golden curls and her mother's-- and aunt's-- wide green eyes. Over her bulky diaper she wore a hot pink swimsuit with a print of tiny blue, orange and yellow flowers. There was a ruffle of the same material at her hips. She wore a tiny stud earring in each ear. They were small, but John was certain the shining white stones were diamonds. Tori had returned from Susie's christening party six months ago demanding earrings like her tiny