Chapter 40

After a romantic dinner in the hotel restaurant they didn't stay up long because AJ seemed intent on them going to bed early. In the morning he had their luggage ready to go and a cab waiting at the door to the hotel. He helped her into the cab still not telling her what was up.

As they drove along Sam protested, "I thought we had an agreement that we would have no secrets between us?"

"There's a difference between secrets and surprises Darlin'. This is a surprise."

Her eyes widened before she could answer. The cab had turned down a road along the coast. They were driving along an entire row of cruise ships and pulled to a stop near the gang plank of one of them.

Sam looked up at AJ with questions in her eyes. "Surprise!" he said with a grin, helping her out of the cab.

"We're going on a cruise?!" she gasped in amazement.

"Yes, we are going to cruise to Hawaii then get off the ship to tour the islands for a week then back on the ship to return here to California."

"Oh AJ that sound amazing!"

"I was hoping you would like it," he told her as one of the porters piled their luggage onto a cart and promised it would be delivered to their cabin.

After three wonderful days on the cruise ship Sam almost didn't want to get off when they reached Hawaii. They had been having so much fun swimming, going down the water slides, spending time in the hot tub, then in the evening dancing to the different bands on board.

AJ reminded her that they would have three days on the ship after Hawaii, so with a sigh Sam packed her bags. They checked into the hotel on Maui. He pulled out several brochures so they could make a plan of all the things they wanted to see and do during the week.

Because they chose the things they wanted to do they had a great time. They saw incredibly beautiful waterfalls, enjoyed a luau and had a hula lesson. They also saw fire dancers and took surfing lessons. A lot of time was spent dancing and there was also a lot of lovemaking, all in all it was a fantastic week in Hawaii.

Then it was time to get back on the ship to head home. During those three days on the ship AJ had a feeling that Samantha was keeping something from him. He really couldn't figure out what it could be unless she wasn't enjoying the new ship that was taking them back to California as she did the trip out. Or maybe it was just that their wonderful honeymoon was coming to an end.

AJ tried to gently question her about it, but when he did she simply got up and hurried away from him. Now he was truly worried. Maybe he had done something to upset her, but he couldn't think of what it could have been.

When he found her she was in their cabin and had something in her hand that she quickly hid behind her back when he came in. AJ tried not to be hurt but clearly she was keeping something from him.

"Samantha please tell me what is going on with you? I'm really concerned."

"Well I was going to wait until we got home tomorrow to tell you, but if you really want to know now, I guess I could tell you now."

"Remember no matter what it is Samantha we can face it together," he assured her.

"That's good because this is really your fault. In the interest of no secrets between us, this is what I've been hiding," Sam reached behind her and brought out a small plastic stick with a distinctive blue plus sign that read 'positive' under it just in case you needed the added assurance.

AJ took it from her hand and looked back and forth between Samantha and the stick a couple of times and then with a wide smile asked, "Samantha are you pregnant?!"

She nodded happily and before she knew it he had swept her up in his arms and spun her around the room. "You're happy about this?" she asked when he stopped spinning her around.

"Very happy Samantha! We're starting our family together!"

"Yes we are," she said and stood on tiptoe to kiss him.

THE END