First Class Voyage (First Class Novels – A Contemporary Romance Series) Read Online Free Page A

clan.
Matt and Janie, Mark and Katy were last in the line. Ella was showing Katy how
she put on her lipstick, a tube of Chapstick in her tiny hand, and Mark and
Matt were both on their phones checking emails.
    “Mom!” came the yell from the agent’s desk.
    Janie and Katy both looked up to see Derek standing at the
front of the line, obviously agitated. Katy went to find out what was wrong.
    “This is not gonna work,” he said.
    “What isn’t?” Katy replied, looking at Derek and then to the
young lady behind the desk.
    “You and I are in the same cabin!” Derek was highly
irritated.
    “That’s not right,” Katy smiled. “I’m sure this is just a
glitch somehow.” Katy patted Derek’s arm and turned her attention to the agent
looking slightly uncomfortable. “I’m Katy Miles and I’m in the cabin with Mark
Lathem.”
    The cruise agent punched something into the computer and
looked back at Katy. “I’m sorry ma’am, but I have you and Derek sharing a cabin
and Mark Lathem and David Lathem in a cabin.”
    Mark had come to stand behind Katy and had heard the agent’s
response. He placed his hand on Katy’s back and kissed her on the cheek.
    “You don’t really care what cabins we all sleep in, do you?”
he smiled at the woman.
    “Well, no, not really,” she replied, smiling back at Mark.
    “Good,” Mark nodded. “Let’s just get all checked in so we
don’t hold up the line and then we can sort it all out once we’re on the ship.”
    Derek huffed a bit but agreed and the cruise agent handed
Derek his envelope and moved to Ben who was next in line.
    “What the hell?” snarled Katy as she and Mark walked the few
steps back to Matt and Janie.
    “What’s up?” Matt asked.
    “I’m been assigned to a cabin with Derek!”
    “No, that’s not right!” Janie was stunned. “I helped make
all the bookings.”
    “Well, let’s just get on the ship and have lunch and then we
can sort it all out later. No use getting all worked up now.” Mark smiled and
pulled Katy close to his side.
    *****
    They only had to wait about twenty minutes and then it was
time to board. Maureen wanted about a dozen pictures of the family as the
photographer patiently accommodated her wish. Then it was finally onto the
gangway and onto the ship.
    Maureen was in awe as she and Peter, with the help of her
sons, stepped into the grand lobby of the massive vessel. There was a lounge
and a piano and dozens of crew members milling about welcoming the guests.
Maureen looked up at the decks above, and turned back to her family.
    “I know some of you are still not excited about this
trip, but, thank you for coming anyway. It is incredible!”
    “We haven’t left the dock yet, Mom,” Ben laughed.
    “I know,” she smiled, “but I’m already having a marvelous
time.”
    A young lady dressed all in white, obviously a member of the
crew, approached Maureen and offered her assistance.
    “Oh, it’s fine,” Maureen replied. “My son, Paul, is in the
Navy.” She headed to the elevators, her family trailing behind her, laughing
hysterically at the Lathem matriarch.

3.
    DAY 1 – EMBARKATION
    Katy sat on the edge of the twin bed absolutely livid. Mark
bit his lip trying not to smile. Janie chewed on the inside of her cheek and
Matt rubbed his forehead. None of them wanted to speak first.
    Mark finally spoke.
    “I’m sure that Derek and David will be fine with switching
up the cabins.”
    “I’m pretty sure that Derek won’t mind not sharing a cabin
with his mother,” Matt added, a slight smirk forming.
    “I don’t understand what happened!” Janie sighed.
    “I do!” Katy exclaimed. “Maureen changed the cabins around.
It’s not like Mark and I haven’t lived together for the past three years or
anything!” She was still unable to see the humor in the situation like Mark
did.
    He sat down next to Katy and rubbed her back.  He knew his
mother well enough to know what she was trying to do. He and Katy had