by M T Stone
“Pure lust… god you made me hot.”
“I’ll have to remember what I did,” she replied with a glimmer in her eyes.
“It’s not so much what you did. It’s just being alone with you, without all the distractions. That’s what does it for me. I wish we could just spend our days together without being surrounded by people constantly.”
“If that’s what it takes, I think we should go off by ourselves every afternoon and do whatever we want. I’m sure there are dozens of deserted beaches out there.”
“That sounds like an excellent plan.”
Kate
Jack’s stamina today completely blew me away. He seems to be getting stronger and healthier on almost a daily basis. Maybe he’s right and he will be able to make himself 20 years younger. It certainly seems to be working so far. Jack sat up and reached into the cooler for the bottle of champagne. After pouring a glass for each of us he looked at me with the most incredible look in his eyes.
“I want to marry you on the beach in Aruba,” he said holding up his glass for a toast.
“Ok… wow… when?” He totally caught me off guard with that statement.
“In three weeks, when we reach the end of our Caribbean vacation. We could have everyone meet us there and have a simple wedding and reception on the beach. Would you be ok with that?”
I knew by the look in his eyes, that he was hoping I would love the idea. Once again however, it seemed like things were moving too fast. “As long as Mom and Belinda are there, I guess that will be fine.” Once again I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. Even though he had proposed almost a week ago, I still couldn’t quite wrap my head around the idea that I was going to be Jack’s wife. I still caught myself feeling anxious about the future, even though I had no obvious reason to feel that way. I think Mom was right about us deserving one another. I just have to let go of all these insecurities.
“Are you alright?” Jack asked with a look of concern.
“I’m fine. I just can’t believe all of this is happening so quickly.”
“Well, if you want to start another family I’m not getting any younger. Do you see any reason why we should wait?”
“I think you are getting younger every day, but no, I guess there really isn’t a reason to wait. I just don’t want everyone to think that we are rushing into something. The other night you said we could wait until next fall.”
“And we can, if that’s what you want. It’s just that since Jayne is no longer getting married, I no longer see a reason to wait until then. I think we should get on with our lives. Am I wrong?”
“You know I love you with all my heart Jack. All I want is to be with you.”
“So you are just concerned with what other people will think or are you still worried that you don’t deserve to be happy and successful,” he asked as if he could read my mind.
I just sat there not really wanting to admit to either scenario. Why should I care if other people think we are getting married too quickly? We both know we belong together. As far as success goes, I’m going to prove myself by designing clothes that women love to wear. Also, I now have experienced business partners who will take care of the areas where I lack knowledge.
“It’s both of those, isn’t it,” Jack concluded after realizing I wasn’t going to respond.
“I don’t know why things bother me so much. I can just hear my mother telling me that we’ve only known each other for a couple of months. I think I was just beginning to adjust to everything and now you are rushing forward again.”
“It was just a thought, spoken in a moment of passion. I love you and I just don’t see any reason to wait, that’s all,” he replied in a reflective tone.
“Don’t you sometimes feel like you have way too much, when everyone else around you has so little? Everywhere we go, most of the people are so poor. It feels so awkward sometimes.”
“That’s something I’ve wanted to talk to you about. When we interact with vendors and servers in restaurants, you always look as if you feel ashamed about something. Neither of us have any reason to feel that way. If I had stolen from those people the way many of their governments officials do, then I would have a reason to feel guilt. People often feel that the U.S. government is so corrupt, but it’s nothing compared to many of these smaller countries. The concentration of wealth really is criminal in large portions of this world.”
“It makes me sad to see so many people struggling.”
“Honestly, that’s how I felt when I saw the slave laborers when I was under. I felt their pain and it literally hit me right in the heart. If it makes you feel any better, I’m going to use my wealth to change many lives. While you are working on your business, I’ll be working on my long term plan.”
Seeing the passion in his eyes, I once again felt incredibly bad about how I had acted when he was consumed by that contract manufacturing project. “I totally get it now. I still feel bad for overreacting to that whole situation.”
“You need to stop beating yourself up. You’re only twenty two years old. When I was that age I did stupid things on a daily, if not hourly basis. If it hadn’t been for Eva I would’ve made even more mistakes. You are no different than anyone else your age, in fact you are incredibly mature in most ways.”
“I just feel so stupid sometimes.”
“Everyone does. We just get better at hiding it as we grow older. How stupid do you think I felt after trying to arrange a relationship between you and Brandon?”
“You’re right… thanks. At least I haven’t done anything that stupid.” I suddenly feel a little better about the mistakes I’ve made. “For the record, I’m glad you changed your mind and came back.”
“Me too.” He leaned forward pushing me onto my back. This time our lips met in a much more tender moment of passion. Whenever we kissed like that it felt as if my body would just melt right into him. The warm sun, soft sand, beautiful turquoise water and Jack, what more could a girl possibly want.
“Let’s get married in Aruba,” I whispered.
Chapter 12
Jack
Over the following days Kate and I got into a wonderful routine. Each day at lunch we would discuss any business challenges, as well as ideas on how we could most effectively help people who needed it. One thing I instilled in Kate from the beginning was that there probably wasn’t a single best answer. Our goal was to simply find small ways that we could help while searching for the big idea. Sometimes the big idea evolves out of something that might seem small and insignificant.
Each afternoon the two of us would get away and have some fun. Some days it was snorkeling or taking out the mini-sub, others we would go shopping on a new island. My favorite days were always those that involved a deserted beach on a secluded island. We continued the practice of circling each new island with the helicopter as we approached and we were always on the lookout for a quiet spot.
“I talked to Amelia this morning,” I told Kate one afternoon as we explored Simpson Bay on the south end of St Maarten. “She said just to send her your measurements and your favorite style.”
“For my wedding dress you mean?” Her eyes immediately lit up.
“Yes. If you send them by tomorrow afternoon she will be able to do a fitting for you as early as Saturday.”
“That’s amazing! She’s normally booked for months.”
“I helped Amelia when she was just getting started, so she’ll make it a priority. Do you want to go to Milan this weekend and take care of it?”
“Like you really have to ask?”
“Alright, I’ll have Captain Chuck meet us in St Kitts on Friday. It’s about an eight hour flight and we’ll lose another five in time changes, so I think we’ll leave about nine o’clock Friday evening. That way we’ll have time to get checked into our hotel and have some lunch before meeting Amelia.”
“See, you do just fine without Kristen,” Kate smirked.
“Yeah, this iPhone is amazing. I can’t
believe how easy it makes everything. No wonder Kristen made it all look so easy… it was.”
“I can’t wait to go to Milan! That will be amazing!” Kate squealed with excitement. It made me happy to see her so excited about getting fitted for her dress. It had helped when we called Cynthia and she seemed genuinely excited to meet us for a wedding in Aruba. Her only concern was that Anthony was going to be invited as well. I think she’s more than a little smitten too.
“Who are we having dinner with tonight?” Kate asked as we headed back to the ship.
“Liam and Sofia.” Sofia was Chef Jameson’s Sous Chef and her boyfriend Liam was our Second Engineer. Liam had been a crew member for about six months when he found out that the Sous Chef position was opening up. Sofia was originally from Copenhagen, Denmark where her older brother runs one of the finest restaurants in the world, so Chef Jameson was thrilled to have her join his staff.
“Great, they seem like really nice people.”
“Sofia also spent a year in Paris where she took French pastry classes at La Cuisine, so you might want to talk to her about anything special you want for our wedding day.”
“So she’s the one who makes those incredible almond croissants and pastries?” Kate asked as she suddenly realized they weren’t Chef Jameson’s creations.
“She’s the one. The Sous chef job is actually beneath her but she wanted to work with Chef Jameson and also Liam of course.”
By the time we got done with dinner that night Kate had successfully negotiated a pay raise for Sofia, which I made contingent upon an incredible wedding cake. Our dinners with the crew members quickly became our favorite part of the day. It was fun to get to know everyone on a more personal level, but Kate always wanted to give them pay raises afterwards. With each passing day, she seemed to become more comfortable with her new identity and the wealth that she would incur. I enjoyed watching her spread her wings.
~~~
Saturday March 3rd 9:38am
Kate
Both Jack and I awoke to the sound of landing gear being deployed for our touchdown in Milan. According to Captain Chuck, a strong tailwind had been at our backs all night long so we made great time. Jack and I both scrambled to grab some clean clothes and freshen up so we would look somewhat presentable. A limo was waiting to take us to the Four Seasons, where we would have a chance to finish getting ready and have some lunch before hitting the fashion district.
Having never been to Milan before, it was a bit overwhelming. The roads were so narrow and there were so many cars, that it took us quite a long time to reach our hotel. Jack called ahead to confirm that our suite was ready and that our breakfast would be waiting for us. The one benefit of the slow traffic was that it allowed me to soak in all the beautiful sights. Manhattan has some beautiful buildings, but the rich history and sophisticated architecture of Milan was unbelievable. The iconic brands that we were driving past were blowing my mind as well. Giorgio Armani, Dolce and Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Versace were just a few of the houses that caught my eye as we made our way through the heart of Milan.
“Our stop is just ahead,” Jack informed me as we approached our hotel. “It’s right in the heart of the fashion district. Amelia’s shop is right over there next to Dolce and Gabbana.”
“This is unreal. I can’t believe all of these iconic brands are all within a few blocks of each other. We are going shopping after I get fitted right?”
“Yes hun, you can shop to your heart’s content. I need a few things myself,” Jack smiled, knowing that I had just been introduced to the fashion designer’s version of heaven.
The Four Seasons is a beautiful hotel, our Designer Suite was ultra-contemporary and our breakfast was totally delicious. I however, couldn’t eat and get ready fast enough, because I wanted to get out on the streets as quickly as possible. We were only in town for one night, so there wasn’t a moment to spare. I want to see it all!
Jack
Everything about our arrival in Milan reminded me of that first weekend with Kate at the St. Regis. Once again, she was like watching a kid in a candy store for the first time. Even though she had learned about Milan and the fashion district in college, it still seemed overwhelming for her to experience it in person. I had a number of surprises lined up for her, so I was looking forward to an exhilarating weekend.
“That’s the fastest I’ve ever seen you get ready,” I commented as she convinced me to skip a second cup of coffee.
“I thought we could stop at Dolce and Gabbana on our way to Amelia’s. I want to check out their new spring collection,” she replied as we nearly sprinted down the hallway.
It was fun to see her so excited about being in one of the most influential cities in the fashion world. We most likely could’ve gotten a similar wedding dress in New York, but I thought Kate was in need of a little inspiration. Judging by the way she lit up, it appeared as if my instinct was correct. After finding two blazers and a gorgeous black crystal mesh dress to wear for the evening, we were running out of time.
“We’ll stop at Louis Vuitton after Amelia’s, so you can get a pair of black pumps and a matching purse.”
“Alright, but I really love the styles here.”
“There is nothing here that you can’t get at Louis,” I whispered coaxing her up to the checkout counter.
Kate became instantly flushed the moment the sales person gave her the total. I just smiled and nodded, assuring her that it was nothing I hadn’t anticipated. In fact, I was hoping to slowly get her adapted to freely spending money on things that she wanted. Up to this point, she hadn’t spent a nickel on anything unless I suggested it. The fact that she had gone back to her co-op to retrieve clothes while we were in the city was just one example. I had to admire her frugality, but it was a little too much of a good thing. What’s the purpose of having money if you are afraid to spend any of it?
Kate
Even though I was having an incredibly good time, it was hard to believe the prices! A little black dress for $3250, and another $4400 for two blazers… I thought prices in New York were crazy. I love Dolce and Gabbana but sheesh! It’s easy to see why most of the shops were so quiet.
We went next door and were immediately greeted by Amelia.
“Jack! It’s so good to see you again,” she cooed in a heavy Italian accent. “This is your fiancé?”
“Yes, Amelia this is Kate,” he said introducing me.
“Wow that is a beautiful ring Miss Kate. I’m surprised you dare to wear that out on the streets,” Amelia stated as she raised Kate’s hand for a closer look. “That’s magnificent Jack.”
“Thanks, I bought it at Tiffany’s in New York. Kate doesn’t wear it most of the time, but I insisted she wear it this weekend.”
“After seeing that ring, I’m not sure you have chosen the right dress,” she said with a look of concern. “You picked my most casual style.”
“That’s exactly why I chose it,” I assured her. “We’re getting married on the beach in Aruba, so it’s not going to be formal. I plan on going barefoot.”
“Ok, that makes me feel better.” She immediately understood the reasoning behind my choice.
“I’m going to make a quick call,” Jack said as he headed for a chair in the front corner of the store.
That was good because I wasn’t so sure I wanted him to see me in the dress prior to the wedding anyway. It seemed to me that it was considered bad luck. After slipping on the dress, Amelia and her assistants went to work pinning and marking everything you could possibly imagine. By the time they finished, there were black marks and pins everywhere. Next they measured me for my veil and then proceeded to make some final tweaks. Since it was a rush order, the alterations would be complete within the following week and my dress would be waiting for me when we arrived in Aruba. That sounded wonderful to me.
~~~
Next stop… Louis Vuitton. Since Jack had insisted on it, I was going to tease him by picking out the most expensive
pumps and clutch I could find. He went one direction to try on men’s shoes and I went another in search of some excessive indulgence. The most expensive pumps I could find were $1495 but they were so fugly. The cute pair that I really wanted were only $830, so I decided to make up for it by choosing a totally gawdy clutch called Minaudiere Petit Tresor for $7800! I headed back to the men’s section to show Jack what I wanted.
“Check these out. Aren’t they just darling?”
“Great,” he replied taking them from me and handing them to the clerk without even looking at the price.
Oh crap… I really didn’t want that purse! “Wait one second; I have to check something.” I scooted back to the purses to grab the one I really liked. It had a fancy name too, Minaudiere Petit Bijou but it was much more my style and it was $5000 less.
“I decided to get this purse instead,” I said to the clerk as I returned to the desk.
“That’s quite a difference in taste,” the clerk commented with a heavy note of sarcasm.
“Yeah, I was just messing with him, but he didn’t even look at the price tag.”
“I knew you weren’t going to buy that one,” Jack boasted, overhearing our conversation. “I saw $7800 on the price tag and knew you were just trying to get a rise out of me.”
“You think you’re so smart. Well, actually that was pretty smart,” I had to concede.
Jack
Kate always dressed so classy when it came to evening wear that I knew there was no way she would walk around carrying that ridiculous purse. The expression on her face when I handed it to the clerk was priceless. I could tell she was at a total loss for words. Now that was funny.
I had found a nice pair of shoes but for my tux, the only place I wanted to go was Giorgio Armani. Best of all, it was right on our way back to the hotel. After a brief introduction, I told the associate that I wanted a black, virgin wool, single breasted tux and they proceeded to measure me up. Within fifteen minutes the whole transaction was complete and we were back out on the street.
