NINE:

"Decorations- check, food- check..Is there anything else we've forgotten?" Holly asked late in the afternoon a few weeks later.

"God I hope not." I said with a shudder. "Anyway if we have then it's just too bad because there's no more time. I've got to shower and get dressed, and get Lara ready."

"I've got the cutest outfit for Nelson for tonight." Holly said with a grin. "He's going to be the cutest baby around- well the cutest MALE baby."

I laughed. "To tell you the truth I hadn't even thought about Lara's clothing- you're more organised than me."

"Lara will look cute in anything." Holly assured me. "I can't believe that she's already three months old- and Nelson's almost five months..anyway, I better get going. I've got to organise myself, Nelson and Ken."

*****

"Melody, are you sure this tie goes with this shirt?" Cary asked, looking at himself critically in the mirror.

"Yes it goes fine." I assured him, as I put the finishing touches on my makeup. Lara was dressed and ready, and downstairs with May and Aunt Sara. Aunt Sara was taking care of a lot of the food for the night and I was pretty glad with that arrangement since she's definitely the better cook.

"I don't know.." Cary said, still looking at himself in the mirror. I laughed and came over to put my arms around him.

"Cary Logan you look great. Stop being so nervous." I said firmly.

"I can't help it." He said with a sigh. "This night's pretty important."

"Cary your work speaks for itself." I assured him. "Now let's get downstairs before any guests arrive."

With another quick glance in the mirror he followed me down the stairs.

May was sitting in the living room playing with Lara, and Aunt Sara was in the kitchen. Spotting me watching her May looked up and signed that she couldn't believe how big Lara was getting.

I laughed, and signed back that she was getting heavy too. The doorbell rang and I hurried to answer it. Kenneth, Holly, Nelson and the judge were there and I ushered them in.

"Where's my other grandchild?" The judge asked me.

"In the living room with May." I said, and he went in there, while Kenneth and Cary started talking about the boat. Holly had Nelson in her arms and I laughed when I saw the outfit she'd gotten him into. It was his very own tux, complete with bow tie.

"He looks adorable." I said, gushing over him.

Before Holly could reply the doorbell rang again, and from then on there were a steady stream of guests. Most of the time I was playing the hostess role walking around chatting to people briefly and making sure everything was going all right. The plan was to go down to the boat ramp at exactly eight o'clock for the launch. I'd convinced Cary to break a bottle of champagne over the boat's hull but it had been hard work convincing him. First he said it was too show-offy, and then he claimed it was a waste of good money, and lastly he argued that it would ruin the boat. Eventually he agreed.

There was a tap on my shoulder and I spun round to see Mr. Jackson. "Wonderful party Melody." He said to me.

"Thank you." I said stiffly. "And where is your lovely wife tonight?"

"She's at home. She wasn't feeling too well." Mr. Jackson replied equally as formally. At least, I thought, you'd never be able to tell we were father and daughter from our stilted conversations.

"Oh, I hope she's feeling better soon." I said politely.

"I'm sure she will be- it was just one of her migraines." Mr. Jackson replied.

"Well that's all right then. You must excuse me- I've got a few things to do before the launch." I said, and I hurried off frowning. I hadn't known he was coming, but I supposed it made sense. I just didn't feel comfortable in his company.

"What's the frown for?" Cary asked catching hold of my arm.

"Mr. Jackson." I replied making a face.

He laughed. "If it makes you feel any better Melody he probably regrets his actions when you act like you do towards him." He said.

I was shocked. "You mean you think I should be nicer to him?" I asked incredulously.

"No-oo." Cary said slowly. "But he IS your father Melody, and since losing Dad I kind of appreciate the whole parent thing more."

I was about to respond when Aunt Sara came up to us. "Here dear," she said to me, pushing a plate heaped with mini pies and sausage rolls on it into my arms. "The guests are probably hungry."

"Right Aunt Sara." I replied, and I gave Cary a look which plainly said 'This conversation is NOT over.' I hurried off with the food. In the living room May now had Lara and Nelson. She signed to me that she thought Lara and Nelson would make a great couple. I laughed and said it was far too early to be thinking of things like that, and not to tell Cary or Lara wouldn't be allowed anywhere near Nelson ever again. I was stopped for a few minutes by the judge who told me how cute Lara was getting, and how he wished that Samuel and Olivia were still alive to see her. I didn't point out that whilst Samuel may be happy about it, Olivia would certainly not have been happy.

At ten to eight Cary came up to me. "We better start getting everyone down to the boat ramp." He said.

"Sure." I agreed, and then added. "And later on we've got to have a talk about my father."

Cary rolled his eyes. "Melody can't you just leave it?"

"No I can't just leave it Cary Logan. I am surprised that you'd even say something like that. He might be my father but it's in name only- well not even really that." I replied angrily.

"Okay, okay." Cary said holding out his hands in a classic "I surrender" pose. "But for the moment do you think you could help me get people down to the boat ramp?"

I nodded.

*****

"Ladies and Gentlemen." Cary called over the noise of the assembled group. "Could I please have your attention?" He looked uncomfortable at the fact that he was the center of attention, but at the same time I saw the look of determination in his eyes. He knew that this could make or break his business. Everyone stopped speaking and looked up at Cary expectantly.

"As you all know this party tonight is to celebrate not only the launching of Mr. Hamilton's boat but also to let you know a bit about my business. I've already built a boat for both Kenneth and Nelson Childs, and this here is my third one. You would all also know that before my father, Jacob, died I spent a lot of my time on his boat fishing for lobsters. But every moment I was on that boat I dreamt of making my own boats, of making a business out of it. For me boat building isn't just a business though- it's a passion. It's something I love to do, something which makes me feel alive. Living on the Cape here we all know what it's like to feel free and alive out on the ocean. Well building boats makes me feel free and alive!" Cary paused and glanced over at me. I nodded with a smile on my face. He had refused to let me see his speech beforehand. "It's not much of a speech," He'd told me. "You know me- I'm not much for words.but it's all from my heart." And it really was. I noticed with a smile, that everyone was hanging onto his every word. "So with great pleasure I ask Mr. Hamilton to come up here and christen this boat."

Mr. Hamilton, Provincetown's doctor, went up to the boat and picked up the bottle of champagne. He held it up and everyone cheered, and then he smashed it against the boat's hull.

I saw Cary wince as it hit, and then smile. "And now," He cried. "Let the party continue."

I hurried over to him. "Cary that speech was great." I told him, hugging him tightly. "I am so proud of you."

"Well it wasn't quite your valedictorian speech was it?" He replied.

"It was better." I assured him. "For someone who doesn't like to speak in public, nor is a big fan of English, it was great. Like you said it was from the heart and that's what makes a good speech."

"So you've gotten over your anger then?" He asked as we began to walk back towards the house.

"What?" I asked confused.

"About your father." He reminded me.

I waved it off. "Oh that, yeah, that's no problem." I said.

"I was just trying to be helpful." Cary explained. "I mean you don't really have a father figure in your life-"

"I've got my grandfather!" I reminded him.

"Yeah, true." Cary said as we reached the house. "Now that I've done my speech I think I deserve a beer- what about you?"

"I think I might have a glass of wine." I decided. "And lets have some fun!"
[A/N. I know this chapter is shorter than usual, and in my opinion, definitely not as good as usual, but I didn't really know what to put in it. I've never been to a boat launch in my life, so I have no clues about it. The next chapter- a blast from the past- will be far more interesting...]