Sarah looked into Clay's eyes and smiled. "Let's get married, Mr. Webb," she said, as she took his hand and stepped into the gondola. There, in the middle of the Venetian hotel, in a gondola surrounded by hundreds of people they didn't know, Clayton Neville Webb married Sarah Catherine Mackenzie. During the ceremony, several of the hotel's staff had walked around passing out little bottles to the "guests" so when the ceremony ended the bride and groom were showered with a sea of bubbles. Sarah threw her bouquet at the request of the gathered guests; she managed to toss it right at Porter, who caught it with a surprised look on her face.
That evening the bride and groom, along with AJ, Porter, and the manager of the hotel, dined at the world famous Valentino restaurant within the Venetian. Executive Chef Luciano Pellegrini personally prepared the newlyweds' meals. This day would be one to live on in their memories for the rest of their lives, and a story they would share over and over again with family and friends. It was the day Clayton Webb gave Sarah Mackenzie Webb his heart and the world.
"Well, Porter, since they have gone off and left us, and I am sure that we won't see them again until tomorrow, how would you like to go dancing with me?" AJ asked when the two of them were left alone as the newlyweds took off to their room.
"I would love to, AJ," she smiled and put her hand in his as he helped her up from the table.
After a night of shared passion, the newlyweds had a late breakfast with Porter and AJ before leaving for their honeymoon. Clay had enough leave time accumulated with the Company that he was able to take off until the first of the year. During this time he would be there for Sarah and the birth of their child.
Friday, December 10, 2004
O435 EST
Athens, Greece
"Sarah, you need to push, sweetheart, only a few more and it will be all over." At least he prayed it would be all over. Sarah had been in labor for twenty-five hours, and he did not think he could take much more. He hated seeing her in pain and this was beginning to be too much for him. He had prayed several times, throughout the worst of her pains, that it was him lying there in her place.
"What do you think I am doing, Mr. Webb? Eating bon bons? I'm pushing, the baby just isn't ready to make an appearance yet," Sarah screamed at Clay.
The doctor just smiled, he had seen many a new parents and these two were no different. It was just too bad that he couldn't understand them. They were speaking English and he only spoke Greek. The baby had decided two weeks early it was time to make its appearance and Clay had ended up rushing Sarah to the nearest hospital. Her high tolerance of pain had kept her from realizing that she had been in labor for almost fourteen hours.
Sarah and the doctor were communicating via hand signals until an interpreter could be found, but so far they had not needed one. As she felt another pain begin she braced herself to push for all she was worth. At the peak of the pain she bore down and ten seconds later, Matthew Clayton Webb came screaming into the world. Mother was fine and father lay passed out on the floor. Sarah glanced around looking for Clay, when she noticed the doctor pointing to the floor. She looked down to see her husband and now new father lying on the floor.
She began to laugh, as did the doctor. He instructed the nurse to get some smelling salts to bring Clay around. Finally awake, Clay sheepishly looked at Sarah and asked her if she was all right. Laughingly she told him she was and he knew she was never going to let him live this disgrace down. Clayton Webb, spy extraordinaire, passed out at the birth of his first child.
Two weeks later Sarah, Clayton, and Matthew were on the doorstep of the Roberts home in Washington. They had just come from the airport from Greece just in time for the annual Roberts' Christmas Eve party. They had sworn AJ to silence about the baby, so no one other than AJ and Porter knew of their surprise.
To be continued…