Donna Tatro was in a fix. Her boyfriend of the past five years was going to be getting out of the service soon. He was coming home to her, thinking
that she had been true to him while he had been stationed in Hawaii. Jim Drew had been the man of her dreams when they had been in high school,
but things had changed. She had met another man and they were in a serious relationship with Blake Tanner. She did not know how to tell Jim without
hurting him very deeply. She should have been honest with him and told him about Blake months ago. Now it was too late, Jim was going to be back
in his hometown in three weeks.
Blake was walking back and forth across his bedroom floor thinking about Donna and Jim. He knew that they had been childhood sweethearts, but
he had fallen in love with her. He wanted her to marry him and he would have to tell the man. Perhaps he would understand also.
Meanwhile Jim had fallen in love with Missy. She had been everything that he had ever wanted in a woman and he was going to bring her back with
him to his hometown. He first needed to talk to Donna and explain everything. He kicked himself for not being honest with her. Now he was going
to be going home and she had no idea that he no longer loved her. It was a terrible mess.
But back on the cruse ship everyday that Perry and Della spent on the Polynesian Islands was like a day in paradise. The weather was hot but the water and the
beaches were unbelievable. The four friends spent a lot together riding scooters and bikes and just enjoying their new lives as newlyweds. The church that they
visited was absolutely beautiful as it had been made completely of coral. There were the birds and then a lighthouse that was built to look just like
a pyramid. The trip was fantastic.
Della and Perry spent all their nights out on the balcony of their suite and wondered at the floral and the birds. The mountains were just absolutely
beautiful as they enjoyed their days in the French Polynesian Islands. As they enjoyed the hiking and the swimming Della really did not want to leave.
The people were so friendly and the islands so beautiful but all things must come to an end.
Perry had been standing on the balcony watching Della as she got ready to go out for a night of dinner and dancing and could not help but admire
her. She was getting into one of her nicer gowns for their night out at one of the best restaurants on the ship. He took her in his arms and kissed
her passionately. Della melted right there, and responded in kind. She loved him so much and they had now been married six weeks. "Perry
we will be late if we don't get going." she told him with a laugh.
"We could eat in." he offered.
"You promised me a dinner and dance. The pleasure will come when we come back" she laughed and kissed him on the cheek.
Carla and Barry had already gotten to the restaurant when the Mason's arrived and Barry stood up to welcome them and shake his friends hands.
Carla leaned over and whispered in Della's ear "The food looks so good and it smells wonderful. Want to go to the ladies room and freshen up?"
With that the two girls went into the ladies room and checked their make up. This was what ladies usually did when they wanted to talk without
the men being around so Della was wondering what was going on.
Della was right when they came in Carla looked as though she was going to start to cry. "Barry and I had our first fight. I don't know it is just too
much running around. He wanted to go on another hike and I just don't feel like it. It is my time of the month and he does not understand. We
have made up but I feel so bad.
Della took her friend in her arms and held her. "I am sure that everything will be all right. Everyone has a spat once in a while. So are you going
on the hike or not?" she asked her.
"Yes, of course I am going. We are going tomorrow morning. Are you and Perry going?" she asked
"We were planning on it. Come on let's go back to our husbands." Della put her arm around her friend and they walked out the bathroom together.
Barry meanwhile had told his friend about their little spat. "I just have never had to think about when a lady gets her monthly thing. she sometimes
gets cramps"
Perry thought to himself that is new territory and wondered when Della would get hers. They had now been married seven weeks and he didn't
remember anything happening on the cruise. The girls showed up and the men stood up and smiled. Perry hugged Della and they sat down
to a great dinner.
The four of them were having a great time but Della was distracted. She was wondering why she had been feeling so tired and then Carla had
said something. She had not had her period since they got married. Oh it is nerves, she was sure.
They danced together and then traded and danced with each other a couple of times. Carla was very good at the limbo and they all laughed as she
won the prize for the evening. Finally at one they headed back to their suite.
As Della got dressed into her negligee she looked at herself in the mirror. She was not bad looking and had taken very good care of herself, but she
was gaining weight here on the cruise. She was standing there and did not realize that Perry had come into the room "Umm I like what I see my love."
he told her as he turned her towards him and gave her a passionate kiss.
The next morning was to be there last day in French Polynesia and as they left the ship for one more time Della felt sorry. She would have liked to stay
here a little longer, but they were headed back to another ten days in Hawaii and she had loved it there. Carla and Barry were waiting at the breakfast
buffet when Della and Perry arrived. But when Della smelled the coffee she did not know what happened but she was sure that she was going to be
sick to her stomach. She excused herself and ran to the ladies room. She did not throw up but was surprised she had never had that happen.
Carla watched her friend ran and followed her in. "Are you all right?" she asked her friend worried.
"Yes I don't know what hit me. I smelled the coffee and for a minute I thought I was going to be sick."
Carla looked at her friend and said "Oh oh. That is what happened to my sister when she was pregnant. Are you pregnant?"
Della looked at her friend and told her "I don't know. I might be."
"Well then what we need to do is to take the test. I saw a tester in the ship store. If you are pregnant you need to be a little careful."
"If I am pregnant I can only be six weeks. Honest Carla I was a virgin when I got married." Della told her friend.
"Well the boys can go on their hike and when they are gone we can do the test. We will tell them that you must have eaten something that did not agree
with you last night or something." Carla told her.
As the two girls went out to the breakfast buffet Della told Perry that she was not hungry. "I must have eaten something that did not agree with me last
night or something. You go with Barry on the hike."
"No I will stay here with you." Perry told her with a hug and concern in his voice.
"No you and Barry have been looking forward to this hike and it is only for two hours. I did not want to go on the hike anyways. You guys have a guys day
and Della and I will go back to your suite and relax." Carla told them.
Neither one of the men wanted to go but the women convinced them to leave. As soon as they were gone Della and Carla went to the ships store and bought
a pregnancy test kit. According to the instructions Della was plenty late for the test to work and so to the suite they went. They waited anxiously for the five
minutes that the test took and when Della looked down she cried. "pregnant" was the word. She and Perry had decided not to use precautions and there was
now a little one on the way. She had only an hour before the boys would be back and she wanted to tell Perry .
Carla and Della were jumping up and down with joy and Della ran to get rid of the evidence. They both went down to the ships store to once more get something
special for Perry and wrap the results up. She wanted him to open the package that would be the present. She wrapped the stick that told her of the little
present that would be arriving in just a little under eight months. Della hoped that Perry would be happy.
She had told Carla to leave her alone. She wanted to tell Perry herself. As she sat in her room she went to the mirror. She certainly did not show that
she was pregnant yet. But, she was aware of her clothes getting a little tighter. She had thought that it was because of all the fancy meals that they had
eaten but now she knew the real reason.
She thought about getting out a bottle of champagne and stopped. 'Della you are pregnant no liquor until after the baby is born.' she thought to herself.
Just then the door opened and Perry and Barry came into the room. They were surprised to find out that Carla had gone to her room. "It is all right
honest it is just a sour stomach. I told Carla to go ahead and go back to her room while I took a little nap. I feel much better now." she told him with
a kiss.
Perry took her by the arm and held her close. She smiled at him and told him "I have a present for you."
Della smiled and handed him the package that she had wrapped. Perry was amused. 'What did she get for him while he was out on the hike?' He opened
the package and saw a funny looking stick he looked at Della and picked up the stick. It said pregnant. Emotions flooded to him so fast he thought for
a second that he would cry. He grabbed Della and swung her around, then put her down gingerly, not wanting to hurt the baby. "When did you find
this out?" he asked her as he sat her down on the couch.
Della smiled at him and told him "Well I had not thought about it until something that Carla said to me last night made me wonder. Then this morning
when I thought I was going to be sick when I smelled the coffee I really thought maybe. Carla asked me if I could be pregnant and I have not had my
monthly visitor so we bought the test and this is what it says.
"We need to have a celebration, a big dinner and a happy day." Perry told her as he kissed her gently. "Do you need to see a doctor when we go to
Hawaii or what?" he asked her as he held her in his arms.
"No, I can wait to go to the doctors I am only one month. The baby is only about 1/4 inch long." she smiled up at him. "I am so glad that you are
happy.
Perry was very glad surprised he thought that they would have a couple of months. But he had been warned many wives came back from their honeymoon
pregnant and he had said no to any birth control. He wanted this baby very much. "I am so glad and happy I would like to shout it from the rooftop and
can't wait to tell our family and friends. But it can wait until we get home I guess." and he hugged her even closer.
"No more drinks for me. They are all done until after the baby is born. Maybe no coffee either. The smell really got to me this morning. I think that
problem will go away after a couple of weeks though. I hope not to get sick everyday." Della thought that she did not want to have to go through that
if she could help it. She thought that maybe the rocking of the ship might have had something to do with her getting sick too.
Perry looked around the room and all the beautiful things that the ship had to offer and realized that perhaps Della was right. "Do you want to end the
cruise now and go back to LA? We could if you want if it is making you sick."
"No, I sure don't want to cut this honeymoon short. If you get morning sickness you get it anywhere. I would rather have it on board the beautiful ship
where the baby was conceived than have it at the office." Della told him and gave him a big hug.
"Whatever you want hon. We will just take it one day at a time. The next four days are going to be at sea anyways and we can relax in the hot tub and
balcony. You might have been getting tired because of the pregnancy. Let's try to go to bed by midnight from now on." he told her with a laugh.
Della went to lie down and Perry thought that he would sneak out. This was definitely a ten dozen rose day. He wanted to get her something special for
the day too. He went to the store and bought her a diamond necklace. She always enjoyed new jewelry and he was sure that she would like this one. It
had a fourteen carrot chain with a diamond shaped heart. They wrapped it for him and he went back to the suite. As he walked down the hall he ran
into Carla and Barry. "I hear that congratulations are in order.." Barry told him with a big smile and Carla gave him a hug.
"We are both very happy. I left Della at the suite while I went to Cartier's and bought her something to celebrate. I also sent her ten dozen roses to
celebrate the day." Perry told them with a big smile.
Della woke up when she heard the soft tap on the door. She opened the door to find one of the workers there with two huge bouquets of red roses. Perry
sent her ten dozen roses, she could not believe it. There was a large box of chocolates for her too. Well, the baby will eat well today Della thought to
herself as the thanked the young men and gave them a ten dollar tip a piece.
Della was standing there smiling at the flowers that she had been given when she saw Perry come in carrying a balloon that said baby on it. He looked
like a child going to a birthday party. In his hand he carried a gift also. It was too much and Della was so excited. She sat down on the couch and
opened the gift. It was a necklace a diamond necklace, the nicest one that she had ever seen. She would wear the necklace tonight when they went
out to dinner.
Perry knew that there would have to be some changes in their lives from now on. Della would have to be careful of what she ate and drank and what
kinds of things she was exposed to. One of the things that he was going to have to give up was those darn cigarettes. Oh he had heard all about what
they were doing to him and he had ignored the ads but now there was a baby his baby to think of. He went to his bags and told the butler to give them
to someone else, he was quitting.
The rest of the afternoon was spent with Della and Perry enjoying the salt air and the weather. It had been good weather the whole cruise with the
exception of one day and the balcony had been the place that they had spent the most time together. They both took out their books and read most
of the afternoon.
That night Perry had made reservations at the best restaurant that the ship had to offer and had gotten out his tuxedo. Della went to her closet to check
out one of her gowns. She loved her dark blue one and decided that was what she was going to wear on that night. When she went to zip the dress she
was surprised at how tight it was. She had to get Perry to help zip it and he told her that he didn't think it was going to fit much longer. All of her clothes
had been tailored to fit her right and she was going to need an adjustment when she got back to LA for sure.
Della decided to wear some low pumps so that she would be able to dance and not change her shoes that evening. When they got to the table the waiter
had set up a table away from the crowd and a violin was played to them right there. The food was delicious and Della had her usual steak and potatoes
and salad. Perry had the same thing and they enjoyed their meal together. They knew that Carla and Barry were probably wondering when the two of
them would come over and see them so they decided to call them in the morning.
As the music started for the dancing Perry and Della danced ever single slow dance that night. Della felt like a queen with her king and Perry made sure
that she was treated like a queen. As they had decided the dance would end at midnight. She and the baby did need the rest. Della was very proud of
Perry he had not smoked all afternoon and he had been very good to her. She knew that it must be hard to quit smoking but Perry was being a trooper
about it and she did not mention it.
As they got dressed for bed they tried to share the bathroom. It did not work. The bathroom was pretty big, but not big enough for the two of them and
they kept bumping into each other. Perry put his hand on Della's stomach trying to see if he could feel the baby but he felt nothing. She had said that
the baby was only about 1/4 inch long if that was true he guessed he would not be able to feel it yet.
Perry left the bathroom first and finished putting on his pajamas in the room. It had been quite a day for the first time in his life he was a father and
he and his wife now had someone else to think about no matter what happened. He was still getting used to having Della and it had been just six
weeks. The baby was still about thirty six weeks away, he could not wait.
The night was a little rough for Perry. He knew that the lack of nicotine in his system was going to cause some withdrawal symptoms. Right now he
could not sleep and he did not want to wake up Della. He was all right as long as he did not leave the room because he had given away all of his smokes,
So he decided to go quietly out to the balcony and enjoy the fresh air.
Della woke up and reached over for her husband he was not there. She looked up and saw him standing on the balcony. She thought of how handsome
he looked out there and got up. She slipped her robe over her and opened the sliding doors. He turned and smiled at her "I am sorry that you woke up
I tried to be quiet." he told her as he gave her a hug.
"I saw you out here and just had to come and give you a hug. I love you very much. Thank you for taking me on this cruise. It has been a much needed
change to our everyday routine. But when we get back I will be more than ready to get back to the office." she told him as she gave him a hug.
"I was thinking the same thing. It is so great to be with you on this cruise. We have seen so many things and met such nice people. We will have to take
another trip sometime. This is our second cruise together and both cruises have been the best trips that I have ever taken. Of course, it might be the
company that came with me." he kissed her on the top of the head.
Della stood there and leaned on her husband. He was so big and strong and she loved him with all her heart. They stood there on the balcony quiet for
about ten more minutes and then head back to their bed. Della buried herself next to him and as they cuddled they both fell into a deep slumber.
The next morning they woke up at seven and Perry placed a call to his friend Barry. Carla and Barry had just gotten back from breakfast and said
that they would love to join Perry and Della in watching the game show wheel of fortune that they were going to be playing onboard the ship that day. The
contestants were taken from the audience. Anyone who wanted to participate as a contestant put their name into a hat and then one of the game show
people would draw three names out of the hat. The prizes were not large but the games were lots of fun anyways. Della and Carla put their names in
the hat. Perry and Barry passed on trying out. "Let the girls have the fun" Perry told Barry.
Della was surprised when they called her name. She was not usually lucky, but she had always been pretty good at the game known as hangman and the
Wheel of Fortune resembled that a lot. As she spun the wheel and hit the lose a turn and then bankrupt she thought this might not be her lucky day. Then
on the second round she got five t s and two r s and won the round. From then on Della did well and ended up the champion of the night. She won a
one hundred dollar gift certificate to the spa and was very happy.
Carla and Della went over to make an appointment to get their massages again and laughed as the lady looked surprised that Della had won enough for them
each to receive a twenty minute massage. When they left the room they found their husbands standing out by the railing talking. They both went up to their
wives and put their arms around them. Perry was so pleased with his wife and proud of her as Barry was with his. They had become good friends and wished
that they lived closer to each other. But they all vowed to make it out to their part of the country once in a while anyways.
The next day the ship arrived in Hawaii once again. The island that they landed on this time had a volcano and the four of them had decided to go on a tour
of that. The tour was five hours long and Perry thought that would be enough for Della. He knew that she was getting tired sometimes and he did not want her
to over do it. The volcano was quite a sight to see and although they could not get too close to it they could still feel the heat. Below in the town the four of
them joined the rest of the tour for lunch. The lunch consisted of all fruits and it bothered Della's stomach a little. She did not mention it so that she would
not worry Perry. He had been so sweet to her.
After the long day on the tour and hike Della was ready for some rest. She took her seat on her favorite deck chair and smiled as Perry took his seat next
to her. She was not sure when she fell asleep but found out that it was 1/2 an hour later than she thought it was when she opened her eyes. Perry was just
sitting there reading a book and she leaned over to give him a kiss. He kissed her back and put his book down. "Are you ok?" he asked her.
"I am fine just a little tired from all the exercise. But they say that exercise is the best thing for a woman who is pregnant. So the walk and the sun are
good for the two of us. The baby and I are happy right now." she told him with a smile.
Della looked at her watch and saw that it was almost five o'clock and she was supposed to meet Carla at bingo at five. She pointed to her watch and headed
back to the bathroom to freshen up. "Do you want to come with me? I am headed to bingo." she asked him.
Perry thought about it and sitting down at a smoky bingo game with no other men around was not his idea of fun. However, Della did make the time more
fun. "Yes, I will go he told her. Maybe I can win this time. Everyone else has won it's my turn." he told her with a smile and with that they walked out of
their suite arm in arm.
That evening after a long game of bingo where Perry lost again they headed out to the large buffet for dinner. Della did not want to bother going upstairs
and getting dressed for dinner. She said that her clothes were starting to get tight and her feet felt better in flats. Perry laughed as she went to the buffet
and took a heaping plate full of food. Della usually ate small portions but she now had quite an appetite at night. He had noticed that at breakfast she
did not eat much of anything.