Family Reunion (40 page)

Taking Maria's hand in hers, she patted it gently, asking her son. "Well, does your wife have a name?" A funny expression crossed Mike's features as he suddenly felt ten years old again.

"Of course mama, it's Maria." Lena nodded saying, "How very nice to meet you Maria. Is my son treating you well?"

"Yes Senora, he does and, well, I feel as though I already know you. Your son has spoken very often of you and I can think of no better pleasure than meeting you. Already I know that all he says is true."

Lena squeezed her hand. "Thank you for that Maria, and I can see so far,
that my son set high standards in selecting the mother of his children."

"Gracias Senora." Maria returned, huskily, deeply touched that her husband's mother approved of her. Smiling, Lena glanced down and boldly rubbed her belly, "Also, how wonderful it is to have this birth to look forward to. Another of my grandchildren on the way and I plan to be present for it."

Hope smiled, masking her pain. Her baby would have been a month old now. Had it lived, she would have been able to present it to her mother; the thought was like a punch to her stomach, swallowing back her tears once again, she faced the fear that she may never again bear her husband's child. It had already been long enough to have conceived again but she hadn't. Taking a deep shaky breath she shook off the depression that soon followed those fears and walked to her mother's side, lighting up with her brightest smile.

This was not a time for sadness
or pain, they were blessed to have their mother back…it was a day for joy! Finally, she had her entire family back, and for now she would appreciate that gift. "Come on mama, let's go below deck. Oh wait until you see how magnificently father had this ship designed. It is a home to float upon the seas; it will simply take your breath away." Hope stated brightly with her arms around her mother's shoulders, leading her below deck. Sandra, the children and Maria followed. When they had gone below, Manny turned to his sons.

"Those men, where are they?" He asked Joe and Leon. His tone immediately transformed. "While you were seeing to Miss Lena, I bound and gagged the two left, the others disappeared. Question is, what do we do with them?" Joe asked.

Manny thought for a moment, and realized that Rory was still present. His son was at a very impressionable age. Not only that, he'd seen enough of roughness in his life, he wanted to show him something else besides what he was about to suggest.

"Rory, I want you to go below deck and have Gaitsu see to your wounds, he has a way of relieving pain almost instantly. While there, seek a cabin for yourself and rest. Go, let him see to you."

Rory stood there a moment, clear on why he was being sent away and resenting it. He hated being treated like a boy, too young to hear what the men were about to plan.

"Is there a problem Rory, you were just told something, now do it!"

Mike put in as a deliberate jab at the youth. Rory fixed a hard glare toward his brother. "I heard."

"Then do - as you were told!" Mike ordered.

Manny could feel the tension between them. With the shake of his
head, he knew it was a portent and felt he had better step in.

"Rory, I'm not trying to exclude you. You need seeing to, please."

"Yeah kid, go get yourself seen to, maybe later, I'll teach you to fight like a man!" Mike teased.

"Michael!" His father spoke in a warning tone.

Saying nothing more, Mike let his eyes, that were fixed on his, “little brother” say the rest. Rory eyed him a moment in return, scratching his nose with his middle finger, the sign language was obvious as he turned doing as Manny had ordered.

Mike slowly nodded and narrowed his eyes, having gotten the message loud and clear; watching Rory’s back as he left. Manny turned to Mike next, clearing his throat to get his attention, once he had it, "Esteban, Papo, Felix…
your
sons, they are the ones you're in charge of. As for me, I am father to you all! What is mine to handle – leave to me – that is unless I pass it to you, and that, I have not done…not yet. Try to remember that!"

Mike clamped his jaw shut at being openly reprimanded, while shamed by it; he knew he'd stepped out of line. It was that kid Rory; Mike thought, he simply rubbed him the wrong way. He knew of Rory's trouble with his mother and to find that they shared the same mother, ate at him. As far as he could see, Rory's attitude toward her was unacceptable, anything less than absolute loyalty and respect for her to the highest degree, would not be tolerated by Mike. Also there, buried deep, was that little seed of envy, that all that time, he’d had his mother, he had been with Lena when he, her eldest son, had been forced to grow and live without her, seeing him and knowing that, gnawed at him all the more.

"Now." Manny began, since he had things back for the moment as he wanted them. "I want them taken to the Mazon Voyager, and locked within the confinement cells. The one dead within the warehouse, slip a note to the proper authorities that he might be found.”

“
Of course what I ask is out the way as far as the law is concerned, I have men who will do it-…" Manny pointed out.

"This is for us to see to." Mike spoke up.

"Yes, once we have them in the cargo hold, then what?" Joe asked, making it clear that he agreed this was between them, letting Manny know then and there, where his loyalty was and would remain.

"Yes, then what?" Leon spurred him on.

Manny inhaled and nodded, "We find out what I am already suspec. Who sent them to capture Lena, and then, I will take it from there. Can you handle it?"

"It is done ... l
et's go!" Mike replied as he left in the company of Leon and Joe. Taking a deep cleansing breath, Manny turned to rejoin the rest of his family. Below decks Lena was shown the inner beauty of the Princess. As Hope said, it was like a mansion on water.

Chapter Nine

Manny had spent a lot of time and money getting the Princess fitted and furnished just right, ready for the day of his hoped for family reunion. They would all reside on the ship and travel with him from one port to another, spending most of their time at sea.

The ship had four levels or decks, the bottom cargo hold; the next level up was the crew’s quarters and gun deck, the next levels his family quarters. The accommodations for his family consisted of, eight cabin bedrooms; the state room/family room; the dining room; Manny's cabin office; the galley, which was larger than most kitchen's on ships, and a small, but comfortable size living room. As things were, Manny occupied a room that he would now share with Lena; Mike and Maria had a cabin room; Papo and Felix shared a cabin as did Lolita and Celina. Esteban had his own, which Manny now suggested he share with Rory.

On the outer upper deck were the captain’s rooms, where more of his men lived, his second mate Finbar, Shelly, and Gaitsu. Leon had quarters below with the rest of the family. Lena was truly impressed. At the end of the tour Manny murmured to her, "Your home away from home."

Lena understood from the tone in his voice his intention of starting right back where they had left off. She began to wonder was it really possible to, she was not the same person she had been at Webster Fields, now that they were in fact back together, all the things from their past, and what made life difficult being his mistress, came back to her.

Manny caught the doubt that clouded her eyes and
wondered at it. He also noted how quickly she hid it away as they all settled into the state room to talk.

Gaitsu, upon meeting her, flattered her with praise, to show his pleasure in the family's coming together, he promised a banquet, which he left to prepare.

Lena wanted to freshen up and so Maria took her to a cabin where she gave her a change of clothes from her own wardrobe. A cream and gold day dress without the tight lacing of the girdles' stays. Washing up and changing turned out to be a little difficult because her shoulder and arm were stiffening up, aching from certain moves. Maria, Hope and Sandra assisted her, all of them fixing and fussing around her, seeing to the cut on her leg. Hope brushed and arranged her mother's hair while they talked, now that she was clean and dressed. Sandra sat back in attendance thinking out loud, "I suppose this means I should have Rollo bring over some of your things."

Lena looked up and saw a flicker of sadness in Sandra's eyes. "Just a few things Sandra ... nothing is yet permanent." Hope stopped what she was doing to look down at her mother. "But – you are back with father now."

Lena swallowed her discomfort of being put on the spot and smiled, there was so much to be said, so much still unsettled. She patted her daughter's hand which rested on her shoulder. "We'll see honey, we'll see."

That was not the response Hope had wanted to hear, she wanted nothing to keep her mother's heart from her father. By the time they made it to the state room, all the men were present, including Rollo, who had been searching for Sandra and Lena, worried over what had happened to them. He'd gone all over looking for them ending up at Carmine's. The restaurateur had told him as best he could what had taken place. He then directed him to the docks, where he ran across one of Manny's crewmen, who pointed out the Princess. As he boarded the gargantuan vessel, he was met by Papo, who led him below. "Miss Lena, Miss Sandra! I' been all over the place searching for you two! You all right Miss Lena?" Lena smiled at Rollo, "Yes Rollo, I'm fine."

"What'n the worl' made you leave Seasons that way! I tol' you I' be back for you!"

"I know Rollo." Lena reassured softly. "Today has turned out to be an eventful day, but as you can see, everything turned out alright. I'm sorry that you worried about me, really I am." She finished, placing her hand on his arm where she squeezed to reassure him again. Manny was on fire, he felt himself on the verge of exploding with jealousy, he braced himself in silence, realizing things had changed while he was absent from Lena's life.

There were others to contend with now.

"Well, you two ready to go home now?" Rollo asked, not knowing the significance of her being on the ship.

Manny could no longer hold his tongue and spoke up sharper than he intended. "Lena - is home! As for her friend, I cannot speak." No one in the room missed the possessiveness in his voice. Hope smiled inside. Mike stood with his arms crossed over his chest beside his father to give weight to that statement. His mother
was
home. Lena was surprised that she felt a small spark of resentment that he should speak for her, as if she could not speak for herself. "Thank you Rollo, but I'll be here a while. You see, these people are my family. I wish to spend some time with them."

"So I hear. Well, if you need me, I come get'cha." Rollo wanted to make sure she knew that. Before the women had entered the room, the men had all stood quiet, staring at Rollo, making him feel uncomfortable and unwelcome, he'd glared right back at them. "And you - Miss Sandra, what you wanna do?" He asked next. Lena answered for her. "Maybe you can return later. Take the day to complete your duties. Inform everyone at the mansion of what has taken place, we do not wish them to worry. Return to pick Sandra up a bit later." She turned to Sandra, "Is that okay with you? I would love for you to stay awhile."

Sandra smiled and nodded. "Sure I will, later will be fine Rollo, perhaps about eight." He nodded, then headed for the door, hiding his dislike at having to leave Lena there.

Again, stunned silence hung about the room. Lena had just displayed authority and independence which worried them, especially Manny.
'What in hell is going on here?'

Rollo took one last longing look at her, and with acceptance, he shook his head and left.

Lena dropped her head knowing why he’d looked at her as he had. She also didn't have to look up to know Manny's eyes were burning through her, she could feel them.

Gaitsu stepped in to announce that all could come and eat. Mike walked up to his mother and took her arm gently, "Our meal awaits your Majesty." Lena laughed, "What a gentleman you've become."

Hope rolled her eyes, looking back at her father, "She doesn't know him very well does she?" Manny could only grin as he allowed all of the ladies to exit before him, with Joe and Leon bringing up the rear. The family sat around the long, broad table, dining and reminiscing about events that had torn them apart. Lena told briefly of how she had been taken from Makia, ending up at Webster Fields.