Chapter 40 ~~April 2012

April 1

Given their states of post inebriation after another night of working on Elliot and Kate's wedding; Ana didn't appreciate a lecture for breakfast. "We discussed appropriate wedding and shower manners and attire while building the shower invites. I wasn't deaf then…I'm not happy to repeat the experience now. This is not a circular book plot like, If You Give a Mouse A Cookie."

"If You Give a Mouse a Cookie?" Christian frowned.

"If you give a mouse a cookie, he will want a glass of milk. It goes around and around with things you give a mouse until the end of the book, when you give the mouse another cookie," Ana explained to Christian's continuing confusion.

"I'll bring the books from Sophie," Taylor offered. "I like the If You Give a Pig a Pancake book. Your parents gave Mitch and Kellen Black the If You Give a Moose a Muffin book for their shower for Mikey."

"If you give…" Christian frowned again.

"Ana grief…she might multiply it when she returns it," Ana snapped. "My point is we covered how we will both behave ourselves at shower and wedding events for Elliot and Kate. I don't need another lecture. We aren't having strippers and I am NOT discussing this again. Do you mind telling me what started this argument?"

"Not an argument," Christian argued. "Discussion…remember your definition?"

"SOOOO…what caused this discussion?" Ana took her tea from Gail with a silent 'Thank You' mouthed at her.

Christian slid the Seattle Nooz Online article to Ana.

********Seattle Nooz Online********

Is it LUV or are we being PRANKED?

First, it was the New Year's Eve wedding of Andrea Ashton to Adrian Welch. They both work for Grey Enterprises Holdings. That evening an engagement ring was spotted on the finger of Gwen Drake, domestic partner of Ros Bailey, second in command at GEH.

Kavanagh Media released the announcement of Katherine Kavanagh's engagement to Elliot Trevelyan Grey on Valentine's Day. The announcement only said, 'spring wedding.'

Seattle Nooz learned Elliot proposed on New Year's Eve! The Kavanagh-Grey nuptials are to take place May fifth, during a destination wedding in the Virgin Islands! Rumor says the guest list is limited to 100 people.

However…bigger news happened on Valentine's Day which has not been announced to the world! Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele stood up for Ros Bailey and Gwen Drake for their afternoon wedding at Whidbey Island Winery. Their color palette was a delicious Rose Gold and Merlot! Instead of a speech to congratulate the ladies; Christian Grey revealed the lovely Anastasia Steele said 'YES'. Rumor says – June wedding. Anastasia has been wearing a three-carat diamond ring – but we cannot get a picture of it. No one can! Pictures of anything Grey have been far and few between!

Love has been in the air for the Steele family since last October when patriarch, Raymond Steele of Steele Woodworking, Montesano proposed to the very pretty Brigette England, also of Montesano.

FIVE COUPLES! We feel like Six Degrees of Christian Grey! Is it LUV or are we being PRANKED?

********Seattle Nooz Online********

"OMG! Well, it will be another six weeks before my mother speaks to me." Ana hung her head. "I have a meeting this afternoon with the tax consultant you hired to help me."

"What will you do with your return?" Christian asked.

"Buy my wedding ensemble," Ana grimaced. "I used my return last year for my graduation clothes and spa day."

"If I thought you meant that, I'd have Carolyn Acton bring over a trunk show of wedding gowns and bridesmaid gowns."

"Nyet…" Ana sipped her tea and dug into her banana and pecan pancakes.

"You have your donation slips for the books and the Bug?" Christian asked to Ana's nod. "Remember…relocating for a job is claimable on your taxes, along with funds you spent for a work wardrobe." He paused. "Remember for next year your compensatory settlement funds are not taxable; but punitive funds are. Currently the tax rates for punitive funds is running at about 37%..."

Ana set her fork down and moved out of her chair into Christian's lap. "Sir…this is why you hired a tax expert for me this year. You don't have to keep all that stuff in your head. This is why we have personal shoppers. This is why your brother is fixing the house on the sound for us. This is why you and Ros are hiring three more managers so that we can have a life together. This is why I'm a Beta Reader for Grey Publishing. I know you aren't concentrating on mergers and acquisitions right now…but you have three months to get the Detroit brownfield site settled. Don't borrow things to make your brain explode…we're relaxing and going with the flow…right?"

"Yeah, right," Christian was too busy kissing Ana to think about anything else right at this moment.

April 2

Chase met with Christian, Ros and Barney at nine in the conference room attached to Christian's office. "Congratulations," he shook Barney's hand. "You will sign papers today for the Chief Technical Officer position. You will move into your new office on the fifth floor. Our custodial crews finished your office, the tech conference room and the two new offices for your head engineer and head of tech research." He slid paperwork to Barney to sign. "You will make the decisions regarding development and application of new technologies. When Mr. Grey and Ms. Bailey are out of office; the new Chief Financial Officer is first in command; and you are second." He slid papers for Barney to sign. "In the future; management meetings will include Grey, Ros, you, the new Chief Finance Officer and the new Global Operations Manager. Until new staff join us July first; Grey House is not actively seeking any new mergers and acquisitions. We'll be concentrating on clearing decks until after Mr. Grey returns from his honeymoon."

"Congratulations," Ros shook Barney's hand. "A personal shopper will meet you this afternoon to dress you as befitting your new title and status. Your first wardrobe, for two weeks of work, is provided by Grey House. Chase will provide you a Grey House credit card. You will have a new close protection detail provided by Grey House. We cannot chance you being kidnapped. You will learn to work with your close protection detail driving you to work, hovering outside office doors, checking you into hotels, etc. Adrian Welch will take care of hiring and assigning them."

"Let's discuss the schedule for interviews for a new head engineer and a new head of tech research." Chase continued. Barney slid the proposed schedules for April ninth and tenth to Christian, Ros and Chase.

"I can work with this schedule," Christian commented. "My staff will arrange to have a business breakfast with candidate one; a business lunch with candidate two; and a business dinner with candidate three on April ninth. We will repeat the process April tenth. I have great hopes we can determine who to hire by April thirteenth."

"Which reminds me," Barney commented. "I want to hire an executive assistant who is of the same caliber as Andrea and the ladies on the executive floor. We'll need an executive assistant for the head engineer and the head tech researcher."

"We can release a job description and ask for resumes by the end of April. We can interview before the middle of May; which would provide six weeks to get someone onboard by July first."

~X~

Elizabeth took her $2 million settlement check from Grey House to the bank Grey House used, along with a stripped out 17.5 inch aluminum-sided laptop briefcase. "I want to cash this check. I know it takes time. Nonsequential $100 dollar bills, bound in groups of $10K; placed in this locking case. I will not set the locks on it until I collect it from you."

"Physical transport is not recommended for this amount…" Troy Whelan argued.

"I don't want to hear that it safer for you to electronically deposit my check and make funds available to me. Electronic deposit does nothing for me. Perhaps I want to fill my king-sized bed with the money and roll around in it for hours with some paid stud who is built like James Deen."

"Monday, April sixteenth. It's the best we can do; considering your requirements." Troy Whelan hated situations like this. The bank wondered when Elizabeth Morgan would come forward to cash her check. Grey House advised Whelan to have $100 million in cash prepped in case of the settlement of their class action lawsuit. As it was, $48 million in checks were electronically routed through the bank through different entities all over the country. Miss Steele gave her settlement check to Washington Warriors. Troy sat on their board as a financial advisor. They purchased land with Miss Steele's contribution to enlarge their complex for veterans. "I still don't recommend it," Troy advised Elizabeth Morgan.

"I still don't give a damn," Elizabeth retorted. "I put the funds from selling my furniture in my main account. I am selling my condo by the fifteenth; and I'm trading my car in for a newer one. I need to move the settlement account from Jack Hyde's estate to my regular account today." She provided account numbers to ensure the merger of accounts. She was not about to explain her plans for a cross country vacation. It was no one's business except hers.

Elizabeth spent the better part of each day out of her increasing bare and boring condo. She couldn't wait to sign the sale papers; because then she planned to get a hotel room, in a four or five star hotel…and pamper herself. She packed fourteen days of clothes, shoes and accessories in two suitcases. She shipped the remainder to her parents' home. She packed up the home décor she wanted to keep and shipped it also. The remainder sold to consignment stores or was donated to charity. She was living on fourteen days of casual clothes, toiletries and personal appliances like her electric toothbrush, Waterpik, hair dryer, etc.

Today, since her settlement account from Jack merged with her regular account; she could go car shopping. She researched when she was bored…and settled on a 2012 E350 Mercedes Benz Cabriolet. It was a shimmery Artic White with a stunning Crimson leather interior. It would be delivered to her April thirteenth, with registration completed, and her insurance transferred from the current car to the Mercedes. It had top of the line options, including GPS, Low Jack, and Onstar.

~X~

"She is right. It is none of our business. If Elizabeth Morgan decides to drive to Mexico and waste her settlement on blow…we are not morally required to keep her alive and healthy." Christian hated this conversation with Troy. It required him to worry about Elizabeth Morgan…which he did not want to do. "She's not laundering money; nor is it a suspicious withdrawal like a ransom payment. There is no reason for us to track the serial numbers on her funds."

April 6

Christian received the 90-day evaluation of Coping Together – Spokane. He was pleased to see they met the eight criteria listed for them in the first quarter of the grant. Jessica Jackson's 90-day evaluation was expected. She had never been late to work or missed work. She did not take long breaks or lunches. She dressed appropriately and met the criteria set for her first 90 days. Jessica Jackson gone from Seattle and not bothering Ana…priceless and worth every penny of the Coping Together grant.

April 8

Mrs. Feldman prepared a picnic lunch. Darius put his spectrometer and metal detector in the truck. With Morse on a leash; they had a wonderful Easter picnic. Darius assembled the metal detector and began walking grids around the park in Henderson where a huge Easter egg hunt and community event took place yesterday. Darius found a silver pen; six pieces of gold jewelry, including a very nice tennis bracelet. He found a silver Tiffany's keyring with six keys. He found a small rose gold locket on a fine chain which looked like it belonged to a little girl. He found three silver dollars. It was enough for the day. He returned to the picnic table and gave Morse some bear hugs and love. Mrs. Feldman was ready to return to the motel.

April 9 and 10

Ros was proud of Barney. Rarely had she seen him in a three-piece suit. He had a good haircut, a good manicure, and a businessman's wardrobe of navy blue three piece suits with white and pale blue shirts, and textured navy blue ties. He had new gold tie tacks, cuff links, and watches. He had new designer glasses, and invisible braces. Good acne wash, good body wash, and designer cologne completed his transformation. He had new business cards, and conducted himself commensurate with his new position.

His CPO escorted him and a head engineer potential to breakfast at the Four Seasons with Christian, Ros, Chase and Adrian. After breakfast, it would be a tour of the facilities at Grey House, followed by an interview. The second potential would tour during the first potential's interview. Then it would be lunch at the Capital Grille, followed by the interview. Potential three would have his tour during the second's interview. Then it would be his interview, followed by dinner at the Mile High Club.

The same schedule would take place the following day with potentials for the head research tech. The questions put forth by the potentials for an executive assistant would be utilized during those interviews.

April 14: Pirate and Mermaid Bridal Shower

Kate's bachelorette party was held at Grey Manor. Eight dozen women – friends, family and coworkers – were treated to an island oasis of blue, green and aqua decorations. Mermaid party favor gift bags contained shell-shaped bottles of blue or aqua tropical-scented bath salts; shell-shaped bottles of blue or aqua tropical-scented bath oils; tropical-colored loofah sponges; shell-shaped bath bombs; shell-shaped bath guest soaps; shell-shaped votive candles; and shell shaped inflatable bath pillows.

"Ladies – we would like all of you to pose at the photo booth. We have mermaid costumes. We have a lawn game, and a pool game. A late lunch with libations will be served at 2:30 with two pen and pencil games." Mia was in her element, directing the guests.

The photo booth had mermaid costumes with wigs, a large beige rock, seascape background and a flower wreath. Ana picked the aqua mermaid set and let her hair down. The female photographer took a series of shots of Ana. "I like the aqua set, but with your blue eyes, I would like you to try the sapphire set or the rainbow set."

"Thanks but…I've never been a model, and I'm not in the mood to become one now," Ana managed to keep her composure during the lengthy time the photographer took pictures of her. "I have not signed a photo release for any of these pictures. I want all of them available to me at the end of the day. None of these pictures will be sold to the media." She couldn't prove it….but she suspected the photographer got several shots of her engagement ring.

~X~

"This is the judging contest," Mia announced. "Any of you wearing blue, green, aqua or turquoise dresses, or mermaid motif clothes join us. Anyone wearing sea motif jewelry or accessories, join us." Frannie, Mia, Grace and Celeste were the judges. They picked the girl wearing a fish scale motif dress to win; two girls wearing mermaid motif t-shirts as second and third place. Ana won honorable mention for her mermaid motif bracelet made by Carla. It had sea color glass beads with mermaid motif charms. They all won sterling silver charm bracelets with mermaid charms and a silver clamshell with a genuine pearl accent. Ana planned to add the three charms in her shower invitation to the bracelet.

~X~

Kate's ladies were treated to appetizers of seaweed wrapped California rolls; shrimp cocktails; angelfish cheesy bread bites; and mini sea wraps (spinach tortillas with lobster and shrimp salad filling). The main course was shrimp, lobster and crab Louie salad; or Hawaiian Pizza. Sides were Tropical Fruit Salad or Seven Seas Pasta Salad (which Ana suspiciously recognized as the Hawaiian pasta salad from her graduation party). Dessert was several flavors of ice cream (Lava Bomb, Jamaican Rum Cake, Coconut Crème, Pina Colada and Island Dreams). There were sorbets for ladies who were lactose intolerant (Coconut, Pineapple, Mango, Passion Fruit and Guava).

The male bartenders were prepared to create tropical mixed drinks and faux tropical cocktails, like Mai Tai, Pina Colada, Rum Runner, Bahama Mama, Sex on the Beach, Blue Hawaii, Hurricane, fruit daiquiris or margaritas. Kate and Mia were seen with a lot of Rum Runners. Grandma Frannie held a large, double portion of Blue Hawaii. Ana opted for the nonalcoholic Tropical Breeze Punch, decorated with pineapple, cherry and mango skewered stir stick.

During food and libations; it was time for the paper games. The ladies listed mermaid films and then names of mermaids. The winners of the film game won a sand castle figurine, a mermaid motif bank for saving for a future cruise, and a mermaid tail couch blanket. Then it was time for names of mermaids which were not included in films.

One of Kate's coworkers won honorable mention with Asherah (meaning she who walks in the sea), Asia (daughter of Oceanus), and Lorelei (from a German folktale). Kate's coworker won a Sea Hag Tote Bag with a 'get off my tail' bumper sticker, a mermaid motif license plate holder, mermaid travel mug, and Songs of the Sea CD.

Ana named Azalea, Beatrice, Dominique, and Memory (mermaid statues in Norfolk, Virginia). When asked how she knew that, Ana replied, "Carla, my mom, visited Norfolk with her husband, Bob. She took really cool black and white pictures of the statues and made pictures in embellished frames to sell in her Crabby Shabby Etsy store." Ana won the 'Working for the Weekend' mermaid motif tote with a mermaid and dolphin mousepad, sea glass coaster, mermaid motif coffee cup, pens, sticky notes, and mermaid motif desk clock for her second place standing.

Grace's answers Coralia (a mermaid from an 18th century ballet), Ianthe (ocean nymph in a Greek mythology), Nerida (Greek name meaning mermaid), Salacia (Neptune's Queen), and the Little Mermaid Statue in Copenhagen, Denmark were checked and approved by Mia. Five answers were enough to earn her first place. Grace won 'Come Swim with Me' mermaid motif beach tote with mermaid beach towel, mermaid beach cover up, mermaid flip flops. mermaid water bottle, and mermaid sun glasses. Her tote included two mermaid themed paperback books for reading while she kicked back.

"The name of the game is Over and Under," Grace announced. "I will read a list of 20 questions, and you have to decide if the number in the statement is over the actual amount, or under the actual amount. So, you write over or under. Additionally, to win prizes, you can guestimate the actual number and if you are correct, or really close to correct, it is a point for you for the prize round. For example," Grace picked up a green index card. 'The groom had ten girlfriends before meeting the bride."

"UNDER," came the shouted answers from the room.

"Yes, well, we won't discuss Elliot or Kate's sex life," Grace scolded.

"Why not?" Grandma Frannie yelled. "I think that would be a lot of fun!"

"Back to the game – I will read the statement – you will write down answers – and you will not talk. If you talk – you forfeit the game." Grace said sternly. "Let's begin. The bride has 24 pairs of shoes."

Amidst a roar of laughter, the game was on. The winner was Elliot's Aunt Gina, who had the most correct bonus questions. She won a pair of pearl and diamond earrings.

~X~

"We're playing Musical Islands – which is a variation of Musical Chairs. We play music, when it stops, you must be inside one of the hula hoops." Mia pointed at 24 hoops laid in a circle on the lawn. "One mermaid per hoop. If there is a dispute about who was in the hoop first – you are both eliminated. Those not standing inside a hoop are eliminated. One hoop is removed each round. The songs are all sea motif." They eventually whittled the contestants down to one of Kate's cousins. She won four mermaid wine glasses with sea glass coasters.

"Water Relay – last game of the day. Count off in teams of two. Team one has the wading pools on the south side of the pool. Team two has the pools on the north side. The first person on each team takes a beach bucket from the pile, fills it with water and passes it to the next person. You relay the buckets down the line of swimmers until it reaches the other end of the pool. The end person pours the water into the pool. A person outside the pool carries the empty buckets to the other side of the pool to be filled again and relayed. First team to fill their wading pool to the line marked in their pool wins. We have prizes for everyone participating."

~X~

Elliot wore a red t-shirt, with Christian, Carrick, Theo, Uncle Gregory, Eamon, Ethan, and two of Kate's grandfathers wearing red "Groom's Crew" t-shirts with pirate skulls and crossbones. The ship was decorated in red and black pirate motif. Imported beers were stored in barrels used as coolers.

Every guest received a black barrel-shaped duffle bag as a swag bag. There were permanent markers to mark the inside ID tape. The bags held pirate tee-shirts, pirate playing cards, a pewter drinking mug, a ship's wheel bottle opener, an eye patch, skull and crossbones shot glasses, and mini bottles of rum. Prizes for participating in the jet ski races were whiskey barrel motif flasks. After the jet ski races was food.

Elliot's guests decimated the buffet: pirate grub (steaks); shark bait (tuna or mahi-mahi steaks); cannon balls (roasted baby red potatoes); pirate jewels (crudités and salad); skeleton bones (breadsticks); dead man's water (libations – alcoholic or nonalcoholic); and blood cakes (red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and decorated with pirate toys). While the men ate, Carrick and Eamon coordinated the paper games.

Eamon passed out papers and pens. "List 20 pirate movies – and Pirates of the Caribbean 1. 2, 3 and 4 don't count. The word 'pirate' does not have to be part of the name of the movies. There's over 200 of them. You get ten minutes." He watched the clock and then called time. "Cross off any of these on your list: Shanghaied, Swashbuckler, Yellow Beard, Red Beard, Black Beard, Green Beard, Pirates Island, Pirates Gold, Treasure Island, Scalawag, Pirate's Cutlass, Peter Pan, Goonies, Ice Pirates, Captain Phillips, Waterworld…" He awarded a DIY ship in a bottle kit to one of Elliot's men who was ex-Navy. He listed seven pirate movies no one else listed.

Carrick passed out papers – "List 20 pirates – real or literary. You get 10 minutes." After ten minutes, Carrick called time. "If you have any of these pirates, cross them off your list. Yellow Beard, Black Beard, Red Beard, Blue Beard, Captain Jack Sparrow…" Jack Sparrow was met with a chorus of groans. Carrick called off a list of 60 pirates which included Captain Kidd, Captain Blood, Captain Morgan, and Long John Silver. "Does anyone have any pirates on their list which I didn't call. He spotted three hands. Theo, Sawyer and one of Elliot's crew. "How many?" Elliot's man had one, Sawyer two, and Theo four. He checked the names against his alphabetical list. Theo listed the names of pirate characters played by Douglas Fairbanks or Errol Flynn. Theo choose a compass and sundial in a wooden box. Sawyer choose a telescoping spy glass in a wooden case. Elliot's man accepted captain's brass drinking cups in a wooden box.

~X~

Christian laughed at the sign in the men's bathroom which said, All floggings will continue until morale improves. It was accompanied by a pair of red leather floggers with 24-inch tails. He took a picture of it and sent it to Ana.

Ana checked her phone when Christian called and burst into laughter.

"What," Kate asked.

"Christian, pirate humor, argh." Ana laughed.

~X~

Ana met Christian in the playroom at the end of the day. She wore crimson red panties and had her hair braided with a red elastic hair tie.

"I've been thinking about those twin red floggers," Christian explained. "I have a set I bought with the red panties for introducing you to toys. They are called 'Sex and Mischief Red Rope Floggers'. I'm going to introduce you to a technique called Florentine which is two floggers. What are your safe words?"

"Red and yellow, sir," Ana responded.

Christian guided her to beneath the grid on the ceiling. He pulled down some black leather cuffs attached to a chain. "This grid is designed so the shackles move across the grid. We will start here in an open area, but we'll finish over there by the St. Andrews Cross." He stood very close as he fastened the cuffs. Ana could see his soft jeans hanging just so off his hips. Once the cuffs were fastened, he knelt before her, kissing her left hip and her right hip before tonguing her belly button.

"I like these, but I don't think you'll need them." He hooked his thumbs in her panties, and slowly peeled them off her body. He tucked them in his back pocket. While she was standing there, naked, he fastened one ankle to a floor ring. Then he fastened the other ankle to the opposite floor ring. "Think of the rings like a spreader bar," he whispered lasciviously. "You will not be able to press your thighs together to relieve the sexual tension. You will have to absorb the feelings. Safe word in you are overwhelmed."

"This is a sensual flogging…not punishment like was metered out during the regency era to recalcitrant soldiers and sailors." He gently brushed one set of flogger tails between her legs to stimulate her sex, while another dusted over her ass. The dual floggers reminded her of when his fingers danced over her body. He acclimated her skin to the feel of the flogger tails before he began using slow and mild strikes. Ana moaned and let her head fall back, aware of the building feelings in her apex which she could not move to release.

His slow, practiced figure eights danced over her skin; causing her blood to roar. The floggers struck in perfect harmony either up or down her body; making contact with her feet, her breasts, her ass, her apex. When she thought she couldn't take any more teasing strikes, Christian dropped the floggers, released her ankles and pushed her against the St. Andrews Cross before his hard cock impaled her. Ana whimpered…

"Don't be quiet, baby. Let me hear your pleasure," Christian's mouth ghosted over that hollow beneath her ear…and Ana screamed through her first release. "Don't wait for me, Ana…I'm right there with you." Christian increased his efforts to bring Ana to a second climax before he found his own release. Her second shriek of pleasure occurred seconds before his groan of satisfaction. He reached up to release her cuffs and carried her to the bed where they collapsed together for a soft and cuddly nap.

April 16

Fresh from her weekend stay at the Four Seasons; Elizabeth presented herself at the bank. She rolled her eyes when Troy Whelan made her sign a release form for her cash. It was like releasing herself AMA from a hospital. She explained her parents had a copy of her itinerary. She tied an Hermes scarf over her hair, pulled on a pair of sunglasses, pulled on a pair of chocolate leather driving gloves, and retracted the convertible top into the boot, snapping the cover closed. Seattle to Couer d'Alene…five hours via I-90. The laptop case slid under the passenger front seat; her purse sat in the passenger seat. Two suitcases and one cosmetic case fit in the trunk. 'Let the adventure begin!' Elizabeth had a room with a lakefront view reserved at the Hotel Couer d'Alene. She planned to take a one hour ferry tour, and had dinner reservations at The Cedar.

Tomorrow, room service breakfast; drive to Glacier National Park. It was a four and a half hour drive. Elizabeth had room reservations at the Lodge at Whitefish Lake. She would have dinner at The Boat Club. Wednesday; she could relax in their spa and spend a little time sightseeing. She bought a charm from each place she visited so far. Her charm bracelet would be a conversation starter. It already had a dozen charms on it from her Seattle and Pacific Coast tour.

April 21

'The Way to a Man's Heart' Bridal Shower met at a dinner assembly store on Sunday afternoon. The plan was to assemble 30 days of dinners for the potential newlyweds. Once done, the guests would be invited to Grey House for food and libations.

"What did you assemble to feed me?" Elliot kissed Kate's cheek.

"Ana and I teamed up. I walked away with sixty dinners and sides." Kate replied. "When we hire a housekeeper, she has to cook."

"Ana – what did you cook at the shower?" Eliot called out.

"Kate and I assembled double batches of Broccoli Beef; Ginger Garlic Scallops and Snow Peas; Asian Orange Chicken; Sesame Ginger Salmon; and Chile Chicken Thai Skewers; with Jasmine Rice sides for all," Ana replied.

"Mom and I made Steak Caprese; Steak Pizzaiola; Chicken Marinara; Tuscan Chicken; and Limoncello Chicken with sides of Penne Pasta and Fettucine," Mia told him.

"Mom and I made double entrees of American food for you," Aunt Gina commented. "Herb Crusted Flank Steak with Twice Baked Potatoes; Buffalo Chicken Tenders with Ranch Potato Wedges; Bacon Wrapped NY Steaks with Onion Rings; Georgia Peach Pork Chops with Mashed Sweet Potatoes; and Bourbon BBQ Ribs with Baked Beans."

"Your three office staff and I made double entrees of Tex-Mex foods: chicken fajitas; beef fajitas; chipotle pork tenderloin; chicken tamale pie; arroz con pollo; chicken chimichangas and beef chimichangas." Celeste explained.

"Grandpa Theo and I picked up a dozen take and bake pizzas for you," Christian commented.

"Dad's been a slave driver," Elliot whined. "We've put 50 pounds of marinated flank steaks and marinated boneless/skinless chicken breasts in freezer bags to thaw and cook over an electric grill. I need a drink."

"Not before you make a pitcher of wine coolers for all of the ladies…and grill dinner for us. I know Ana and Mia made enough sides to serve for dinner tonight."

April 22

"While Christian and the guys are golfing…it's tea and assembling wedding favors for us ladies," Ana directed. "Kate and Elliot provided white rectangular die-cut heart favor boxes and navy and rose pink tissue paper. The favors are a silver perfume bottle for ladies; and brushed silver flasks for men." She flashed pictures of all of the parts. "After we assemble 100 boxes; it's tea time. There are two flavors of tea sandwiches; two of scones; two different seafood savories; and Gail made cake flavor mini cupcakes."

Celeste and Grace discussed having a family BBQ over Memorial Day Weekend. Ana had to cry off. Ray and Bee were coming to town. The four of them were attending a fundraising BBQ at Rory's Roadkill with a lot of vets on Monday. There would be tours to show everyone the progress of the vet's complex. While Roadkill, Ryders and Hell's Belles were privately owned; the open land south of their cul-de-sac was intended for the vet complex.

Elliot promised the interior of the house on the sound would be done by Thursday afternoon so the happy couple could unload and set furniture and home décor over the weekend with the help of Ray and Bee, friends and coworkers.

April 29

"I'm going out May fourth through sixth. Can you give Morse and me a ride to the highway by the site?"

"I can do that. If anything comes from Amazon for you, I can put it on the kitchen table, or under the kitchen table." Mrs. Feldman offered. "I'll wait until after you come back from camping before I order the summer supplies for sanitizing the pool."

"Sounds like a plan." Darius concurred.