Family Reunion (19 page)

"Mike it just so happens, that this red skin sonofabitch is my-…”

"Hope!!" Manny warned about her choice of words.

"He said it!!"

"That’s different! He’s a man! Mike … watch your language in front of the women!!"

"Watch his language! Watch his language?! Is that all you have to say to him!?"

"Oh please stop yelling, you all will wake the children! Surely we can settle this without the shouting and fighting." Maria tried to reason with them. "Hope, let's go – we’re leaving!" Joseph spoke calmly with his eyes narrowed on Mike.

"Let's go - hell! She's not going anywhere with you!"

"Mike! If he leaves, I have no choice but to leave with him, don't force me to choose between you."

"You mean to tell me, you would walk out with this Indian and leave your family!?"

"He - is my family now Mike! My husband, please don't make this difficult!"

"Difficult!? Difficult! I
told you to stay with Maria and the children!! But did you – and you talk about me being difficult!?"

"She did as her destiny commanded her to do!" Joseph informed him.

"Destiny my ass!"

"Mike! The women!" Manny warned his son again.

"Maria…go to bed! Hope…you too! This is between us men!"

"I will not go to bed - I am not one of your children!" Hope snapped indignantly.

"I said get to bed and I mean now-…"

"You do not give my wife orders! Her obedience lies with me!"

Joseph informed him pointedly. Hope looked over her shoulder at her husband but did not comment because Mike retorted, pointing his finger over Hope’s head at Joseph.

"Look red man, I wasn't talking to you!"

Hope immediately grabbed her brother's hand and pulled it down to her stomach, she hoped before her husband lost his temper, his pride would allow him to take only so much.

Hurt, Mike looked down at his little sister, "How could you!? How could you have gone against me that way!? After all the things I taught you …how could you marry him!? I thought you never wanted to leave me?"

"How could you stand here and ask me this? I didn't go against you, I was running to you! How could you have sent me away when all I wanted to do was stay with you! Stand with you! Fight with you! I didn't care if you were right or wrong." She softened her tone. "All I wanted to do was get back to you, because you were all I had, and you sent me away."

"Because - I wanted you - to be safe little girl! My God, do you know how crazy you've made me with worry!? I can't help it if I care about you; you are a part of me. You are the one thing that is just like me. I love you, but, you're hard-headed ... you don't listen."

Mumbles of agreement sounded out in the room, especially from behind her. Hope heard and ignored them, asking instead. "Do you really Mike!?"

"Do I really what?" He asked exasperated.

"Love me?"

"Of course I do and you know it! That has always been my reasons for what I do or ask concerning you."

"Then stop this Mike, stop it. I'm back, I'm safe and we're together again.”

“
Our father is with us and I have a husband beside me. Right now, I am safe, secure and loved. What's more, I am happy. I love him Mike. Just as you, would not be able to part with your family, there is no one who can make me, part with mine, the man here behind me is my family. Now ... we can all be a happy family as one, or, you could turn me away by forcing me to choose between you and him. Would you choose me, if I stood between you and Maria?"

Mike looked up from her at his father, exasperated and facing an argument he couldn’t win. "She was raised by gypsies and there is no hope." He muttered as if needing an excuse for accepting.

Manny nodded conceding, replying, "Perhaps, however she is ours. Give into her son, he's here to stay."

Joseph stood incredulous while knowing that he was the topic as father and son spoke rudely over him, he looked down at his wife and grabbed her arm. "I think it's time to go."

"Hold on damn it…give me a minute." Mike grumbled. He stared a moment more at Joseph, and then at his waiting sister. It was hard for him to see her as a grown up woman with a husband but he knew her words were true. He had made a strong effort to keep her from the world at large, and because of his own stupid decision, he'd lost that battle as well. It was too late now to regain the loss, she was married and fiercely in love with this man. Again their eyes met and held for a spell. Hope stood between them and asked, "Well, do I leave with him or not?!"

"Alright, alright, you can keep him!"

Manny chuckled at his son's discomfort at giving in, knowing he really had no choice. Hope smiled and wrapped her arms around her brother. "I missed you so much."

Mike grudgingly hugged her back, complaining, "Don't seem to me you had much time to." He kissed her brow regardless of his gruff show. Looking over his sister's head at Joseph he promised, "You and I need to talk later…alone."

Joseph thrust his chin up and crossed his arms across his chest proudly, "I would be glad to, where…when?"

Hope cut in, still held in her brother's arms. "No one is meeting anywhere…Joseph, you're never to meet my brother alone at any time, understand?"

Maria covered her face embarrassed for him, as Mike burst with laughter, and Manny grinned in sympathy. Hope quickly removed herself from her brother and hugged her husband, begging, "Please don't?"

Joseph could only shake his head
, accepting this bold forthright aspect of his wife’s personality. Still laughing, Mike let him off the hook.

"Second thought, your hands are full, your penalty is complete, a lifetime with her is more time than any man should have to endure."

Hope gasped, but quickly dismissed it, her family was almost complete –– with only one person missing.

A few hours had passed and the ship came alive with the children, happily seeing their Tia Hope again, Lolita had especially missed her and was overjoyed that she was back with them. Hope introduced her husband to them all with Lolita immediately taking a liking to her new uncle.

Often he felt eyes on him and looked to see her staring, immediately she blushed and looked away. Grinning to himself Joseph pointed out his admirer to his wife who invited Lolita to sit between them when the entire family had breakfast together, and in no time at all, everything she said or asked started with, Tio Joe this – or Tio Joe that.

During breakfast everyone listened as Joseph's explained his plans and what he wished to do. Mike was surprised to hear that he held a law degree and had attended Harvard University. Hope was beaming with pride and then grew angry explaining what Joseph had been up against from the law firms he had approached for a position.

Manny remembered vaguely some talk from Josey some years before about sending her son to law school and began questioning him on what he felt he could offer a business. Several times he had prepared a presentation of what he could offer, only to be ignored, now in the relaxed atmosphere of the Princess, Joseph was able to tick off one point after another, with Manny giving his full attention.

It was at that point that Leon boarded the ship and joined in, surprised to see the little girl that at one time had him wrapped around her finger. Hope was amazed at the vivid memory she had of him, his smile, laughter and gentle caring brown eyes as he lifted her in the air, spinning her around in his joy at the reunion.

Joseph seeing this stranger, yet friend of the family, handle his wife so, annoyed him as he tried to clamp down on his jealousy. Especially when it seemed his wife was not ready to disengage herself from his arms, as he spoke lovingly of the memories of her. His admiring eyes twinkling as he looked her over, shaking his head at the beautiful young woman she'd become.

For the first time, during an interview, Joseph was the one
distracted,
'Does she have to hang on to his every word? That's enough of the hugging! What's so funny, he's not funny?'
His jaw muscle ticked with his effort to maintain an understanding outer appearance when his insides were on fire.
'When do you plan to turn and introduce me as your husband? What and who is he to this family and how often will I have to endure his presence around my wife?'

Joseph saw a tall good looking Negro who was intelligent as well as charming. He was all man and Joseph couldn't help looking at Hope to see her reaction to this type of man.

Manny sat contented to watch Leon and Hope reunite so happily but had turned back to the discussion at hand as they spoke a bit away from the table, to see her husband fighting a battle of envy. Mike also noticed his extreme discomfort and enjoyed every second. Manny cleared his throat to draw Joseph's attention back to the discussion at hand. Joseph turned to Manny asking, "Who is this man who comes within the family so easily?" Manny smiled understanding; after all, Leon was one hell of a striking figure, having no trouble in attracting female attention.

"He's my son, my eldest I guess you could say. Since the day I found him, he has always been a part of this family, and always will be. My suggestion to you is to get used to him. Now, don't mind them, you will be introduced as soon as he's had his fill of reacquainting himself with Hope. For now, let's get back to you. You see, I have a family attorney, but he is in Mississippi, I need someone at this end for my business. At times it is an inconvenience to me; the distance slows things down when I am in need of his counsel. While he is completely trustworthy, he is too far away. "

Joseph tore his eyes from his wife and faced his father-in-law square in the eye. "Are you saying that you would trust me as your legal adviser where your business is concerned?"

"Know anything about the merchant business?"

"You give me this opportunity and I will learn all there is to know about it, and every law there is concerning it."

"That's a lot of learning."

"I am more than capable of all that you would ask or need."

"I employ close to a thousand men who are crew to my eight ships. That number has grown because I have been forced to expand to land freight deliveries as well. At the present, I am building Ramsey Fleets for that portion of my business, and I need someone who can help me keep up. I also try to see to the legal needs of all of my men.”

“
At times, you may be called upon to represent one of them depending on the circumstances. There is a lot to this position. I won't pussy foot with you, because you are my son-in-law, I will expect more from you, not less. You will eventually learn all there is to learn and hire on another to work with you because you will be overwhelmed, I guarantee it."

Joseph sat back and stared at Manny. "Why is it that the white man always seeks to gain more and more?" He asked sincerely.

"That's a good question, if I had time to answer it, I would…as things are, I don't. What's it going to be?"

"If you will have me, I am in."

"Let us agree that you will need time to learn, however, I have a feeling you will fit into this opening quite well. Yes, you are in. There's one more thing." Manny furthered.

"That is?"

"I hear through the grapevine there is a shipping yard struggling to stay afloat in Boston. I have a strong feeling I will own it one day, your first assignment, put us in position for it and make it happen."

Manny pushed his empty plate aside, Maria was there to remove it as she had her husband's. Lolita followed suit taking her uncle's, gracing him with a smile that he returned.

"For what reason are you expanding, what you have, is it not enough?" Joseph asked. Manny placed his elbows on the table before him entwining his fingers as he rested his chin there a second to consider this question, then lifting his chin slightly said simply. "With eight ships, I need control over a ship yard…simple as that."

"What have I missed?" Hope asked rejoining her husband at the table sitting on the arm of his chair with her arm around his shoulders. Leon stepped up beside Manny, still smiling, now taking notice of Joseph.

"Your husband has just agreed to join Ramsey Shipping and Passage as our legal consultant."

Hope was elated. Mike was scowling at his sister's open show of affection, sitting on the arm of the chair hugging Joseph’s shoulder.

"Hope, off the arm of the furniture before you break it!" He ordered gruffly. She remained seated and poked her tongue out at him.

"Oh isn't this wonderful!? I just knew things would come together this way." Hope grabbed Leon's hand, admiration in her eyes as she looked up at him.

"Leon, this wonderful man sitting here happens to be my husband, Mr. Joseph Avery O'Brien, legal advisor of Ramsey Shipping and Passage."

Leon held his hand out to him.
"Welcome aboard Joseph, welcome aboard."

Manny sat back satisfied as his family reminisced, laughed and talked around him. The baby Celina climbed into his lap and he hugged her close. His eyes wondered to the other end of the table, at an empty chair facing him. Suddenly his heart increased in tempo because his mind placed an image of Lena at the table opposite him smiling with joy. With the sure pounding of his heart, he knew soon, soon, she would truly be there.