Neptune's Ring

by Ali Spooner

  Vanessa was anxious to get back to the ship and she politely excused herself from the group. “If you ladies will excuse me, I need to head back to the ship to get some work done.”

  “Will I see you later this evening?” Levi asked.

  “Yes, darling you will,” Vanessa answered with a warm smile and soft kiss. “Maybe we can sneak away for a nice dinner later,” she said.

  “I will discuss a dinner break with Nat for around eight then,” Levi said. “I love you.”

  “I love you too, baby. See you all later.”

  “I will be back on board after lunchtime,” Killian said.

  “Take your time, Killian, you deserve a break,” Vanessa said.

  They watched her leave the dining room and then turned back to their meals.

  Cat made a phone call and after waiting several minutes, the widow Van Buren came on the phone line. She made the presentation of the offer from Liz and Nat and waited for the woman’s response.

  “It sounds much less than the property is worth, but I just want to be done with the whole ordeal,” Mrs. Van Buren said. “Tell them I will accept the offer and if you will overnight the contract to me I will have my attorney look it over and get it back to you as quickly as possible.”

  Cat was startled by Mrs. Van Buren’s answer. She had been certain the wealthy widow would balk at the deal.

  “Ms. Martin, are you still there?” Mrs. Van Buren said.

  “Yes ma’am, I will draft the paperwork today and have it sent to you first thing in the morning,” Cat said, with a smile growing wider on her face.

  “Thank you, very much then Ms. Martin, goodbye,” Van Buren said, and hung up the telephone.

  Cat slowly lowered the telephone to the cradle and turned on her computer. She would let it warm up as she called Liz with the good news and then begin work on the contract.

  Levi, NeNe and Killian were glued to the screen of the laptop as they reviewed the pictures that were taken at the resort.

  “This place is incredible,” Killian said, as they watched the slide show on the screen.

  When they got to the pictures of the club, NeNe smiled brighter and she nearly drooled at the size of the DJ booth. “Oh, what I could do with all that space.”

  “What would you do?” Liz asked.

  “I would build the most elaborate sound and lighting system you could dream of,” NeNe said.

  Liz looked at Nat and then back at NeNe. “Would you be interested in running the club and doing the DJ work, NeNe?”

  NeNe looked up at Liz with a look of surprise on her face. “Do you even have to ask that question?” NeNe asked. “I would jump at an opportunity like that.”

  “How would you feel about that Miss General Manager?” Liz asked Levi.

  “I would welcome it,” Levi said. “NeNe and I make a good team and I would hate to break us up,” she added with a grin.

  The phone in the office rang and Nat nearly jumped out of her skin. Liz had called Cat four hours ago and she was on pins and needles waiting for a response. Even though Liz had warned her it could be days or longer before they heard anything, it did little to calm Nat’s jangled nerves.

  This call however, was the front desk and the receptionist informed Liz that Cat was on the line.

  “Patch it through please,” Liz said as the others held their collective breath.

  “Hi Liz, this is Cat,” the voice said on the other end of the line.

  “Good afternoon Cat, I am surprised to be hearing from you so soon,” Liz said.

  “No more surprised than me I am certain,” Cat said.

  “I hope you have good news for us.”

  “I do indeed,” Cat said. “I talked to Mrs. Van Buren minutes ago and she accepted your offer at one point five million.”

  “You are kidding me right?” Liz said.

  “Not in the least,” Cat said.

  “Hold on, the others need to hear this,” Liz said as she put Cat on hold and hit the speaker button. “Go ahead Cat.”

  “I am very proud to tell you that you are soon to be the new owner’s of Neptune’s Ring,” Cat said.

  Levi, NeNe and Killian shouted with glee as Nat sat speechless in her seat.

  “I will draft the contract and send it to Mrs. Van Buren in the morning and she has promised to review the information and get it back to me by Thursday,” Cat said. “Then I will send it to you for your signatures and then I will start the filing process. I would suggest if you haven’t already started to establish a new corporation with your local bank you do so as soon as possible.”

  Nat was still sitting in shock and Liz reached over to pinch her lover. “Snap out of it, Nat,” she teased.

  “I still can’t believe this is happening so fast,” Nat said.

  “Well you were right, Mrs. Van Buren just wanted to be rid of the property,” Cat said. “She doesn’t need the money and just wanted to be rid of the stigma of the place.”

  “We are very happy to take the stigma off her hands then,” Nat said as her expression grew into a smile. “Would you please contact Carlos with the good news and have him contact us with a date he can be started and ask his uncle to get started building those beds?” Nat said.

  “That will be my next call,” Cat promised. “Congratulations ladies, you are now island owners.”

  “Thanks for all you have done, Cat,” Liz said.

  “My pleasure,” Cat said. “I am sure I will be talking to you again soon,” she said, then ended the call.

  Liz ended the call on their end and then looked from one excited face to the next. “We need to tell Cass and Vanessa,” she said.

  “I will go tell Vanessa, if you will locate Cass,” Levi said wearing a huge smile.

  “Ok, let’s see if we can meet back here at three,” Nat said. “We have plans to make.”

  Levi looked at her watch. It was almost one which would give her two hours before she was due back at the resort. “We will see you at three then,” Levi said.

  “Hold up Levi and I will go back to the ship with you,” Killian said. “I will see you later tonight,” she said to NeNe and with a kiss she joined Levi.

  They walked down to the trolley stop and had to wait only a few minutes for the next trolley.

  “Are you and Vanessa in agreement with you going to the island by yourself?” Killian asked.

  “Well neither of us is excited about being apart, but she has agreed to take a week off to stay with me when you have your open date coming up,” Levi said.

  “I know it will be hard for you both, but this deal sounds like it is too good to pass up.”

  “Killian, it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen,” Levi said. “The house just by itself is a steal at that price and the resort is going to be beyond anything I have ever seen,” she added.

  “Sounds like it is worth a little sacrifice then,” she said.

  “There will probably be some lonely nights, but I will just have to keep myself busy so I don’t dwell on how much I miss her,” Levi said. “How do you feel about NeNe working with me once the resort is close to opening?”

  “I know she will do a fantastic job and no matter where she is, I will plan to spend as much of my time off with her,” Killian said. “She is a very special woman.”

  “That she is,” Levi agreed.

  When they reached the ship, Killian and Levi found Vanessa in the control room.

  Vanessa smiled when she looked up to find her two favorite women headed her way. “This is a pleasant surprise, is everything alright?” she asked.

  “Things couldn’t be better,” Killian said.

  “We have heard back from Cat already and Mrs. Van Buren accepted our offer,” Levi said with a huge grin.

  “Wow, that was fast,” Vanessa said. “What next?”

  “Liz and Nat want to meet back with us at three,” Levi said. “They want to discuss the plan going forward.”

  “That will be a good time as I am almost fin
ished up here,” Vanessa said. “I can understand Levi’s excitement Killian, but why are you smiling so?” she asked her friend.

  “Because my friend, both our ladies will be working together once the island opens up,” Killian said.

  “What?” Vanessa said.

  “NeNe has been offered the position of club manager and will run the club and entertainment while I manage the resort as a whole,” Levi said.

  “That is great news,” Vanessa said.

  “Cat is contacting Carlos to see when he can get started on the construction again and is supposed to call us back this afternoon,” Levi said.

  “Has Nat passed out yet from all this excitement?” Vanessa asked.

  “Not yet, but when the call came in she was speechless,” Levi said.

  “I can imagine,” Vanessa said. “Killian can you finish up here?”

  “Sure thing Captain,” Killian said.

  “Thanks, my friend,” Vanessa said. “We need to talk about some things,” she said to Levi as she took her hand and they walked from the control room

  “Are you alright sweetie?” Levi asked the concern written across her face as Vanessa led her into her cabin.

  “I guess I am a little anxious by how quickly events are happening,” Vanessa said. “I am not ready to let go of you,” she said with tears in her eyes.

  “I won’t be that much further away,” Levi said.

  “I am not completely sold on the idea of you being on the island alone,” Vanessa said.

  “I will be just fine,” Levi said. “Besides, you have promised to come spend weekends and then a full week with me.”

  “Still, what if something was to happen and you are there all alone?”

  “Vanessa, baby, I will be fine.”

  “I keep trying to convince myself of that and I know it is selfish of me to want you to stay at Venus, but I just can’t help but think of you all alone out on that island.”

  “If it bothers you that much I need to say something today to Nat and Liz,” Levi said. “I won’t make you worry unnecessarily.”

  “Are you sure you can handle being out there alone?” Vanessa asked.

  “I will be busy supervising the construction and working with Carlos on furnishings and equipment all day, so I will only be alone during the nights,” Levi said. “Will it help if I promise to write and call every night?” Levi said, teasing her lover.

  “I know I am just being silly, you are a grown woman after all.”

  “Yes, but you are so cute when you worry,” Levi said.

  Vanessa took Levi and held her close. “I would just die if anything happened to you,” she said.

  “Nothing is going to happen to me and the time will pass so quickly,” Levi promised. “Before you know it we will be ready for a grand opening.”

  Vanessa held her tightly for several more minutes.

  “What else are you worried about, honey?” Levi asked.

  Vanessa took her hand as they left the cabin and started to walk to the trolley. “I am thinking that I will work for Simone for another six months to a year and then turn the ship over to Killian. I want to be with you and I don’t think I will be able to stand being apart from you for much longer.”

  “I don’t want you to think you need to make any decisions right now, baby,” Levi said. “We are meant to be together, I am sure of that and when the time is right for us to be together permanently, we will both know. You are worth any wait and you need to be sure leaving the sea is what you really want.”

  Vanessa still had a look of worry when they stepped onto the trolley, but she seemed to relax when they reached the office and everyone was buzzing with excitement.

  “Welcome back you two,” Liz said, as they took a seat around the table.

  “Cat called us back and Carlos will be able to resume construction a week from Monday,” Nat said.

  “That is good news, but is much faster than I had thought,” Vanessa said.

  Liz sensed Vanessa’s concern. “We are giving Levi off the next few days so the two of you can spend your time here on the island together.”

  “Cass also has a proposal for us,” Nat said. “Cass, why don’t you share your idea with Levi and Vanessa,” she said.

  “Well, I think Nat and Liz will be busy replacing Levi and eventually NeNe here, so I thought I could go to the island with Levi and spend time in town interviewing to staff the new resort,” Cass said. “Cat has offered to allow me to use her office for the interviews and I would stay on the island at night with Levi and help out as needed there.”

  Levi smiled at the mention of Cat’s name and she could see a slight blush on Cass’s face.

  “That would be wonderful,” Vanessa said and Levi could feel her lover begin to relax.

  “I will need to go and take care of some business, but I can be on the island in two weeks,” Cass said.

  “I think I can survive a week on my own,” Levi said with a warm smile.

  “So what other arrangements do we need to make?” Vanessa asked.

  “We will need to go into town first thing in the morning to set up the corporation and make arrangements to have money transferred into the account,” Liz said. “I think that is the most pressing task at hand. Levi, once Vanessa leaves the port on Wednesday, you, Nat and I will need to review the construction plans, but there will be plenty of time,” she said with a grin. “Right now we want you and Vanessa to relax and enjoy your time together.”

  “Susan is going to be working the club in your place and we will be doing interviews later in the week for some new staff if you would like to sit in on those,” Nat said.

  “I would like that,” Levi said as she squeezed Vanessa’s hand. “If you don’t need me here tonight then I think I will stay on the ship with Vanessa.”

  “That sounds good to us,” Nat said. “Why don’t you two lovebirds get out of here and we will see you in the morning at eight to go to the bank,” she suggested.

  “Consider us gone,” Vanessa said with a smile.

  She and Levi said their goodbye’s and went to Levi’s room to pack a small bag.

  “Do you feel better now that Cass will be on the island with me?” Levi asked as they entered her bungalow.

  “I am very much relieved,” Vanessa said. “I love you so, Levi.”

  Levi embraced Vanessa. “I love you two and I am pleased that Cass will be there with me also. Things seem to be falling into place very well.”

  “Yes, they do. I wonder if Cat has anything to do with Cass’s decision.”

  “I think our dear friend has found someone she is very interested in,” Levi said.

  “I hope so, Levi. Cass is too good of a woman to be so lonely,” Vanessa said.

  “I agree with you completely,” Levi said. “The chemistry between them was so obvious when they met,” she added with a chuckle.

  Levi finished packing her bag and turned toward Vanessa. “So, my love, what are we going to do for the next couple of days?”

  “I have a few ideas, but tonight I say we have a nice dinner on board and have a quiet evening together in my cabin.”

  “That sounds perfect to me. I packed a swim suit so maybe we could lounge in the hot tub after dinner to relax,” Levi said.

  “I think that can be arranged,” Vanessa said with a warm smile.

  They walked to the trolley stop and waited for a ride back to the ship.

  PART SEVENTEEN

  The next few days passed in a whirlwind for Vanessa and Levi and all too soon Wednesday arrived, signaling it was time for the Sappho One to leave the island. The previous night’s tears spilled over into the next morning and Levi saw Vanessa off with tears running down her cheeks. It would only be two weeks before Vanessa would fly to Neptune’s Ring to spend a few days with her, but two weeks seemed an eternity to Levi.

  Levi watched the ship until it disappeared from view and then returned to the resort with NeNe who had come down to see Killian off. NeNe slipp
ed an arm around Levi’s shoulders as they walked back to meet the trolley.

  “Don’t worry my friend, you will be so busy the time will pass quickly, just you wait and see,” NeNe said.

  Levi did not doubt that she would stay busy, but the nights would be unbearably lonely for her without Vanessa. Suck it up and deal with it she told herself as they walked back to the trolley. There would be many nights that she and Vanessa would not be sharing, so she had just better get used to it.

  When she and NeNe returned to Venus they found Nat, Liz and Cass bent over blue prints. Nat looked up when she heard them enter and smiled at the two young women who they placed a great deal of responsibility in with the new resort.

  “NeNe,” Liz said, “why don’t you and I do some internet research and get some ideas for the sound system equipment so we will know what to budget.”

  “Let’s do it,” NeNe said as they walked toward the computer. “I can hardly wait to see what kind of equipment is available.”

  “Cass and I are busy, cataloging the furnishings we will need to finish off the rooms if you would care to join us,” Nat said.

  “Actually, I think I will start reviewing these catalogs to look for bar furniture and outdoor furniture,” Levi said. “I also see that the brochures on the boats have come in as well,” she said as she glimpsed at the pile of magazines. “Mind if I take a look at those too?”

  “Knock your sox off,” Nat said as she pushed the pile over to Levi.

  The next three days they spent brainstorming and setting up items to be ordered. Saturday morning arrived and Levi and Cass were driven to the airport to head off in separate directions. Levi was meeting Cat to move into the owner’s house and Cass was taking off to care for some business arrangements before she would meet Levi at the island in a little more than a week.

  “Are you sure you don’t want Liz or I to go with you to help you get set up?” Nat said.

  “No, you two are busy here and Cat has promised to run me all over town to pick up supplies and help me get settled.”

  Nat handed Levi a brand new laptop to pack onto the small plane to allow her to keep in touch with the island and with Vanessa as well as a new cell phone. “Don’t hesitate to call if you need anything,” Nat said.