CH27
It was almost a month later and is now late April:
Kate was headed up the stairs after putting in a load of laundry when Amanda stepped out of the front door almost right in front of her.
"Amanda sweetie!" Kate grabs her and wraps her arms around her; she feels Amanda relax and melts a little in Kate's arms.
Kate pulls back but still has a hold of Amanda. "How are you? Montreal treating you well?"
"Yeah pretty good actually. The zoo gave me a raise today." Amanda tells Kate, smiling wide.
"That's great sweetie. Your parents would be so proud of you." Kate smiles at her.
"I came to see if we could celebrate." Amanda asks a little shyly.
"Of course, I'll think up something grand for dinner and order an ice cream cake to celebrate." Kate tells her. However looking at Amanda's face. "You are thinking of something else, aren't you?"
Amanda blushes. "I was wondering, …well you said you own a house in the Caribbean. Um, I was wondering..."
Kate pulls her in for a big hug. "Oh I knew there was a reason why my daughter and I like you so much. You come up with some of the best ideas. Come on, Alexis is downstairs shooting some balls around and the guys are shooting hoops. Well, the boys are trying anyway. You break the news to Alexis and I'll tell the guys. Did you bring a suit?"
Amanda taps the bag on her shoulder. "And you plan ahead! That's my girl!" Kate escorts Amanda downstairs with an arm around her.
Amanda heads for Alexis and Kate heads for the guys. Kate finally gets their attention just in time for them all to hear Alexis squeal and hug and start kissing Amanda.
"What are those two so excited about?" Rick asks nodding his head their direction.
"Amanda got a raise from the Montreal Zoo today; she wants to celebrate by going to the Villa in the Caribbean to eat dinner and have some fun." Kate explains.
"SWIMMING?" Josh asks.
Kate chuckles. "Yes, swimming."
"Wooo Hooo! " Levi is off running into the pool room to hug and squeeze Amanda for her excellent idea.
"So are you two in?" Kate asks, wanting to know since everyone else is going.
"What do you think? Should we suffer the pain and indignity of being warm under the sun in only our swimsuits, eating seafood all weekend?" Rick directs his rhetorical question at James.
"I don't know dad. Are there any sharks?" James asks innocently. He gets Kate to start laughing instantly.
"Go grab your swimsuit and a towel and meet us at the front door." Rick tells his son. James is off like a shot and is soon followed by Levi from the pool room.
Rick and Kate are the last to make it to the front door. "Lead the way pumpkin." Rick tells Alexis. Just before Rick steps thru, he calls to the dogs. "Come on Guinness, Maggie." After pushing those two thru he says to Lucile, "Hold down the fort!"
"Okay Kate and I are going to go shopping since I don't think we want to starve this weekend. Watch after the dogs while we are gone." Rick heads for the car while Kate goes to the safe to retrieve the car keys. Not that it was much of a car. It had a backseat in name only. Anyone who sat back there was going to have to be leg less. You could barely get a sheet of paper between it and the front seats.
Just about an hour later they were back putting their finds away. After that, they change into their swim suits. "You're killing me here Kate!" Rick says after he sees what Kate is wearing. Kate just ignores him and puts a little extra hip action in her walk as she heads for the pool out in front of him.
Getting there they find everyone, including the dogs, already in the pool. Guinness and Maggie are doing their best to chase after the toys the boys are throwing around while the girls are laughing at it all.
Rick leans into Kate. "How do we get Amanda to stay forever? I haven't seen Alexis this happy in a long time," he whispers.
"I don't know. Maybe we are over – worrying about it. But she does need to stay. Those two are so good for each other. And just at the right time too." Kate agrees.
Suddenly Rick gets an evil grin and runs for the pool. "Cannon Ball!" He jumps in trying to swamp the girls who promptly squeal and start splashing water at him. Kate just grins. Rick may not be for everyone, but he was perfect for her and he was hers. Kate runs for the pool. "Cannon Ball." She jumps in trying to swamp her husband.
Soon the water fight is in full swing . The dogs make a hasty retreat and start barking at them while circling the pool up on the pool deck. After a short water war Rick and Kate are on one edge of the pool kissing while Alexis and Amanda are on the opposite end kissing. The boys go inside to find a snack to get away from all the kissy face going on in the pool.
Eventually and not wanting to get too close to all the kissing action going on, Will yells from the door, "Are we going to eat dinner soon?"
Kate releases Rick. "I'll let you compose yourself while I go start dinner. She hops out of the pool giving Rick a perfect view of her as she strolls into the house with a little extra sway in her walk. Which, of course, does nothing to help Rick compose himself.
Kate's in a wet bikini in the kitchen where the girls join her in equally wet bikinis. "What's for dinner and can we help?" Alexis asks.
Caribbean Fish With Mango Salsa
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 ½ teaspoons ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground coriander
¾ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon ground fennel seed (optional)
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1 cup chopped fresh pineapple
½ red bell pepper, chopped
½ cup black beans, rinsed and drained (optional)
½ red onion, finely chopped
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 egg
½ cup milk
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1 tablespoon dried unsweetened coconut, or to taste (optional)
1 tablespoon olive oil, or as needed
5 (4 ounce) fillets tilapia
Mango Salsa:
1 mango – peeled, seeded and diced
In a bowl, lightly toss the mango, pineapple, red bell pepper, black beans, red onion, and cilantro in a bowl; pour lime juice over the mango mixture, and toss again. Cover the bowl, and refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes.
"You two can do this." Kate points out a section of the recipe. The girls get to work. "Boys go wash and set the table outside and find your father. If he has drowned in the pool I'm going to kill him." Kate tells them.
Dinner is terrific; they finish just as the sun was setting. "We need a picture. I need a camera. My phone, where's my phone?" Kate pats down her bare thighs abashedly remembering that a bikini has no pockets. She jumps up and goes inside and comes back with her phone.
"Up you two, stand over there." Alexis and Amanda stand and move as directed ; they wrap their arms around each other while Kate takes a picture just as the sun is setting.
The next day they decide to do some sight seeing and decide to do it via a ship.
St. Martin Pirates Day Cruise.
It's roughly a 3 hour trip at $80 per adult and $55 for children 3-12. Take to the sea on a tall ship pirate cruise me hearties! Have a turn at the wheel, sing a sea shanty, walk the plank and just say, Arrr! With group numbers limited to 25 people, this is a fun experience you won't want to miss!
The ship departs under billowing square sails, cruising down the protected lee shore of St. Maarten to one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Along the way, let the crew pamper you with the open bar, world-famous BBQ ribs and chicken, French bread, cheese and other delicious treats. Sip on a tasty beverage while admiring the coastal views of St Maarten.
The ship then anchors at an excellent snorkeling location. Here, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy the crystal-clear waters and take part in various water activities, such as swimming, snorkeling and of course, walking the plank!
You'll see first-hand how the great windjammers of yesterday sailed on this great tall ships cruise. It's fun for the entire family!
Of course they had to go one place in particular.
Princess Juliana International Airport
The airport is perhaps best known for very low-altitude flyover landing approaches due to one end of its runway being extremely close to the shore and Maho Beach.
The planes that land over Maho Beach are only just a few feet over the heads of people on the beach. Not recommended for people with a weak heart. However the experience is memorable.
They have dinner reservations on their final night before using the transmat wall to get back home.
L'Auberge Gourmade 89 Boulevard de Grand Case, Grand Case 97150, St Maarten-St Martin Cold appetizer: Home-made smoked salmon served with mixed greens in lime infused il and warm toast.
Rick: Roasted rack of lamb rubbed in a garlic herb paste, served with shallot and roasted garlic sauce and olive mashed potatoes.
Kate: Jumbo shrimp and sea scallop duo, served in a phyllo dough brick on a mushroom risotto with garlic parsley butter.
Alexis: Duo of monkfish and shrimp served with wasabi mashed potatoes and sweet pink peppercorns in a butter sauce.
Amanda: Veal chop roasted to her liking, finished with a creamy mushroom and apple sauce served with dauphinois gratin.
James and Levi: Sauteed chicken breast served with rice or fettuccine tomato and parmesan cheese on the side with two scoops of ice cream and a soft drink.
They shared a dessert: Baked Alaska – baked meringue with a layered filling of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream.
Wine: CHATEAU MARGAUX 2001 ier Cru Classe, Beautiful nose of flowers, crème de cassis, blackberries, and cedar, Opulent beauty, 490 Euros.
They were leaving to go home in the morning. Kate gets up in the night to get a glass of water from the kitchen. On the way she passes the door to the bedroom Alexis and Amanda are using. As she passes she can just make out the sound of sex. "Someone is having fun," Kate murmurs softly.
When she gets back to her room she decides that Rick could use an awakening. So off comes his boxers; she pays attention to him till he wakes. Rick decides he shouldn't be the only one enjoying this, so he flips her around so that his lips and tongue do wonderful things to Kate like she was doing for him.
Come morning they open a transmat wall for home after closing up the Caribbean villa. Once home Amanda has to leave to go to work. She says her good byes, kisses Alexis, and opens her own transmat wall for home in Montreal.
Alexis also has to go to work so she drops her small bag in her room and leaves for the zoo. The boys have the week off from school. Kate has the next two days off because instructors have to come back before classes start up again.