Thank you all for the wonderful reviews. I am so glad everyone liked the vows and the letter Ana wrote Christian from her heart.
So happy you all loved the surprises and the singers. They are some of my favorites.
Had some heartfelt speeches from family and friends.
Christian surprised her with a new Catamaran named after her. The Rose. They spent a few days on it and then back at their home for the honeymoon.
Everyone had gone home the next morning.
The bands stayed a few more days.
Just a little recap of their honeymoon
Ana and Christian celebrated their wedding and honeymoon in style. They locked their doors. shut the blinds, turned off their phones. Lay around the house and their private pool naked as the day they were born. Fed each other oysters on the half shell, shared lobster tails, and ate their share of crab legs. Vegged out in front of the TV. Fed each other chocolate covered strawberries.
They ordered in and went out to some of the five star fine dining restaurants in Honolulu they ate at the famous Michel's and had Lobster Bisque and Waikiki they went to Morimoto Asia and had their delicious Asian Fusion. They ate at different cafes along their sightseeing. They visited the Rock Island Cafe and it was a sight to see. It is like a museum of the 1950s to the 70s. Think about the actual Frosty Palace diner set in the movie Grease and you will get the idea. They had burgers, hotdogs, shakes, ice cream and banana splits. Got close to some live volcanoes, walked through some that had been dormant for ages.
Rode horses on the beach, water skied and hang glided. Before they left they did the zip line and saw a lot of beautiful scenery. They went deep sea diving and snorkeling and later they saw all kinds of dolphins. Spinner dolphins, Bottlenose, Risso's dolphins.
On their last day Christian surprised her with a carriage ride through some of the most picturesque gardens in all of Hawaii. They saw the sugar cane fields and tried the sugar cane.
Chapter 18 Time Jump: 6 months: July: Smoky Mountain Home and the 4th of July
"Honey, where are you?" Annie Rose, where are you woman?"
"Oh my goodness Boo why on earth are you hollering?"
"There my love is I missed you darlin. Come give me your lips."
"You wanna kiss me, you gotta come to me."
She took off running around the bedroom and jumped on the bed to get to the other side.
"Oh I see you want to play."
She giggled and took off to the other side of the bed getting ready to jump off.
"Nope, no ma'am not gonna make it. You are mine now and I am never letting you go, my love."
"Hold me sweet man of mine and never let me go."
They didn't know they had an audience until they heard some laughing.
"Elliot, what are you doing in our bedroom?"
"Well bro I knocked on the door and yelled but technically I'm not in your bedroom just at the door. Looking for both of you but got no answer so I heard laughing and thought I would come and investigate."
"You thought you would investigate huh. What if we were naked?"
"Oh well I would have seen Ana with no clothes on and pray I didn't see your naked butt bouncing up and down."
"Elliot Grey get your ass in here young man and leave them alone."
"Awe mom I was just messing with him."
"El you didn't say mom was here."
They start to get off the bed and Annie pushes him a little too hard and he falls on the floor.
She jumps off the bed so fast that she falls on top of Christian.
"Oof."
"Oh Boo I am so sorry I didn't mean to fall on you my love. Are you alright? I didn't hurt you did I?"
"She means she didn't hurt the family jewels bro."
Christian looks up at him and throws Annie's high heel shoe that is beside him at his brother.
"Hey, no need to get violent bro. Mom Christian is throwing shoes at me."
"Well I am not surprised Annie isn't throwing them at you."
"Mom, help me." He says laughing.
"You got yourself into that mess, you get yourself out of it."
He looks at Christian and he and Annie are smiling at him.
"Okay, okay I know when I am not wanted."
"About time he got the message."
"Boo be quiet you will hurt his feelings."
"Really Elliot would just come back for more and you know it."
"Yeah you are right. Come on, let's go and see mom."
They get off the floor and walk to the living room.
"Elliot, you didn't say our families were here bro."
"You didn't ask bro, you just assumed it was me and mom. You know what they say when you assume right?"
"Shut it El."
"Hey moms and dads, what brings you all over here this early in the morning? Not that I am not happy to see you all because I am, I mean we are."
"Be quiet love before you stick your foot further in your mouth."
"It is lovely to see all of you. Have you eaten breakfast? Christian and I were going down to the cafe to eat this morning."
"No we haven't and that is a lovely idea. What do you all say?"
"Wonderful idea, I am starving. Come on y'all let's go."
"Good, I will call the grandparents to join us and have Ryan drive them to the cafe."
Christian looks at Annie and shakes his head. She smiles at him and kisses his nose. He grabs her and kisses her on the lips. Not caring that their parents are there.
"Come on you two, you can do that after we go home."
"Awe dad but I love my little Annie Rose's sweet lips."
Carrick just laughs and pushes him out the door.
"Get in the car, young man." he says, laughing more.
They meet their grandparents at Betty Jo's Diner.
"Oh my goodness so good to see you and Christian. We have missed you both." Grandma said, hugging them both.
"Oh yes we have. You have to come and see us more often." Nannie says. "Come here to two."
"We have all missed you both so much. We know you haven't been home and been really busy at work. But you youngins have got to take time to come and see your grandparents. All of us, you hear me."
"Yes grandpa we know."
"We are sorry y'all but we have been trying to get everything tied up so we can retire by the end of year."
"Well you don't have much longer to go, it's already July the second. What are you planning for the fourth? Does anyone have plans made for the week of the fourth? I know it's short notice but heckfire we don't see any of you much anymore. Seems like we see Jason and his men more and than all y'all put together." Grandma Julia said.
"Grandma, we are sorry we have been really busy."
"Yes we know dear heart."
"Elliot was your excuse young man?"
"Grandma Julia, I have three homes, my crew and I are finishing up and won the bid on the new courthouse this morning." he said smiling.
"Well congratulations grandson now what about before that? I have seen you and your friends pass by the house and not even stop or wave, I am heartbroken you hear me Elliot Grey."
"Yes ma'am and I am sorry it won't happen again." he gets up and walks over to her and hugs her.
"Now how about you grown folks where have you been hiding?"
"Dad we have no excuses, we have just been taking it easy and laying low with all the talk about the Williamsons. It's hard to get out of the house and I really don't want to hear another person say we are sorry about what happened to your daughter-in-law. That is all over and done with and has been for months."
"Yes I know and I will be glad when it all dies down. You all know his mom and her husband moved away after they found out Mr. Williamson hung himself right there in the jail cell before they were going to take him to prison right?"
"Yes granddad we heard about it and we also heard his son went off the deep end and tried to end his life but they sent him to a place for the criminally insane or that is what I have heard."
"Yes it is true and yes that is where he is at in a place like Alcatraz and will never be released. He lost it when his father killed himself. But I think the boy was heading that way when they told him his dad blamed him for all of it. That was the cops' way of ratting each other out. Claiming they told on each other. He couldn't believe his father would turn on him like that and vice versa."
"Yeah well they got the truth but I still think they went about it the wrong way dad."
"Yes to a point they did and they didn't see what they were doing to the father and son until it was too late. They let some damn rookies interrogate them and they all lost their jobs for trying to break the crime of the century..can you believe that is what the a..holes called it down at the prescient?"
"Yeah good thing they got rid of all them a..holes they were giving the good guys a bad reputation. I for one wanted to shoot them myself."
Now Ray, you know better than that even though we all wanted to get rid of them."
"Good morning everyone, what are we drinking this lovely morning?"
"Good morning Linda Lou how are you dear?"
"I am right as rain Mrs. Grey."
"Now, now I have asked you to call me Grace as we all have asked you to call us by our names."
"I will try to remember that but you know nanny she says we have to be respectable toward our elders ma'am."
"Now hold on one gall darn minute young lady, are you saying I am old?"
She started laughing.
"Oh Elliot well you are older than me by some years so yes siree you are old to me and that talk is from the way back. You sound like an old man." she giggles
"Well I never."
"Oh Elliot it's all in fun right?"
"Yeah I reckon so honey chil."
"Okay now enough let's all order and leave this young lady alone."
"Thank you Mrs. Grace."
"Please bring us all coffee with milk instead of those creamer things please."
"Yes grandpa Wade."
"Linda Lou add two large orange juices for me and Annie Rose please."
"Yes sir."
"Oh heck, bring us all orange juice. Do you have any fresh squeezed hun?"
"Yes Mrs. Carla."
"We know what we want to eat to hun."
"Okay would you like to order it now or wait until i bring your beverages back?"
"Let's do it now."
"Alright what will it be?"
"We will all have the breakfast special and add extra bacon and sausage to the three with the sunny-side eggs and we all want a side order of biscuits and sausage gravy."
"Wow y'all are hungry this morning. I will get right on it. Nanny is here somewhere. I am sure she will be out with your juice soon."
"Give the guys whatever they want. They didn't have time to eat before we all decided to come here."
"Not a problem, hun got them taken care of. Watch this."
"Hey fellow, same as usual with a side of fruit?"
"Yes ma'am thank you."
"Wow yeah you do."
"Thank you hun."
She walks off and they start talking again but not about the Williamsons.
"Have y'all found some reliable people to take over running your business?"
"We are hiring from within. We think we have found the ones that will make it the most profitable for us and them. If they agree to what we are offering they will be in charge in a few months. They already know the business inside and out just like we do and they have been with us from the start. we just have to hire people to take their place within the company."
"I am thinking I know who you are promoting but I will wait until you have everything ready and then you can tell us."
"Oh we don't mind you all knowing now. That is if you want to. I think you all will agree with our choices."
"Kids it up to y'all."
Christian looks at Annie Rose.
"Do you want to tell them Annie love and see if they agree with us?"
"Sure but let's write it on paper and tell them all that way."
They got some paper and tore it into smaller pieces and wrote the names of the one that will take their job and the ones that will take the others job.
'Sandy Washington will take Annie Rose's place
Marge Fellows will take Sandy Washington's place as her new Secretary
Brent Rogers will take Christian's place
Mable Strong will take Brent's place as the financial manager
Dalton Bowers will take Mable's place as the new Purchasing manager'
Christian and Annie sit and wait to see the looks on their face and hear what they all have to say. They all know everyone that works for them and hope they agree with who they have chosen.
They all open the folded paper and everyone smiles and looks at each other.
"Well kids I couldn't have chosen anyone better for each job. In my opinion you are spot on with everyone. Now do you think they will not take the offer you are going to offer them?"
"We have spoken to each of them and they know where we stand with them. They will all get a raise and another week's vacation plus bonuses like before but better. We are going to offer them 3% in the company if they accept." Now the kids hold their breaths.
"I think that is a mighty fine offer. 3% doesn't sound like much but when you have a billion dollar company like yours it will be a nice chunk of change for retirement. You all have 401k for employees now right?"
"Yes dad we do. We started that with the employees 6 months after they started and insurance the day they started."
"Wow Christian I have been thinking about the 401K plan for my guys but haven't done anything about it."
"Granddad can help you, he helped us."
"Yeah I keep forgetting he is a retired financial Advisor and Attorney. Hey grandma you worked with granddad in his office didn't you?
"Yes Elliot I sure did for 45 years. I know as much as he does, if not more since I did a lot of digging for him when he first opened his business. You know, scouting around for information to help us."
"Yes ma'am well maybe you and granddad can help me on the 401K for my guys."
"We would be honored young man. Come by the house anytime and bring your plans with you."
"Thank you grandma."
"Well look who is here? I haven't seen you all in a month of Sundays. How are you all doing? How is married life Christian and Annie?"
"We are all doing very well Betty Jo how are you hun?"
"Couldn't be better thank you Carla."
"Married life is great and we are very happy and doing well Ms. Betty."
"That is wonderful to hear. Good to see you all."
"Ms. Betty, have a seat for a minute please. We would like for your cafe to cater a lunch at our company next month on the twenty-fifth of August. It's on a Friday and it will be at twelve o'clock?"
"I am sure we can. We don't have anything booked that day. Would you like to have the buffet like you had before?"
"Yes ma'am please add your pies and also your famous honey buns you make. You know we can eat those anytime. A variety of fruits like mangos, peaches, cantaloupe and strawberries if you have them. I would also like a salad bar, nothing too huge you know what I am trying to say right?"
"Yes hun we have everything you are asking for. I will write up a menu and fax it to you to make sure we have the buffet correct."
"That would be lovely, thank you. There will be approximately thirty-five people. This is a special occasion. There is no rush, we have plenty of time."
"Very good Annie I will have everything ready after you give me the go ahead on the buffet menu dear."
"Thank you Ms. Betty. You can send your caterers but we will only need them for serving the beverages and the cake later. Everyone can help themselves to the food."
"Very well I will send Linda Lou, Bonnie Mae and Sammy Jo."
"Sounds good thank you."
"I will let you all eat your breakfast. I see the girls bringing it out now. Enjoy and none of you be strangers anymore you hear me."
"Yes ma'am."
"Family, you are all invited to our lunch buffet next Friday. We want all of you there with us. Cause without you all we wouldn't have what we do and be able to do this. We love you all so very much."
"We would be honored to join you all and thank you honey we love you both very much."
"Moms, if I give you a list of what I need for the lunch meeting/promotion can you ladies get for me?"
"Yes of course, what do you need?"
"I need congratulation banners, balloons, streamers you know the works and a sheet cake for all the employees."
'Of course we can. I can make the banners. Elliot can put them on plaques and add helium to the balloons in his shop."
"Sure that won't be a problem. I'll do some fancy streamers for you too."
"Annie, me and grandmas will make the sheet cake. We will each make one and put them together so it will be big enough for everyone."
"That would be great grandma thank you."
"My pleasure my dear heart."
"Annie Rose, us old men are going to make you all some fresh homemade ice cream. How does that sound?"
"Grandpa, that sounds heavenly, thank you."
They all finished their breakfast and got ready to leave.
"Thank you Linda Lou. We enjoyed it very much as always. Here hun this is for you and your siblings."
"Oh Annie Rose, we thank you all so very much."
They all walked out of the diner with security in front of them as always. As they are making their way to the cars. Someone walks up to them.
"I hope you are happy you little bitch."
"Ms. step back and leave Ms. Ana alone. She did nothing wrong. They did it to themselves."
"My boyfriend wouldn't hurt a flea, you are all lying to save their asses."
"Why in god's name would we lie? We didn't do anything wrong. Now get the hell out of my face before I make you Callie."
She stands up straight looking down at Annie cause Annie is so short and Callie is like an Amazon almost six foot tall.
"As I told you before and I will tell you now back the fuck off of me."
"Are you going to get hubby to do your dirty work this time?"
"Honey I don't need anyone just like last time. Last warning or eat the dirt."
She raises her arm to hit Annie but she's not quick enough to miss the punch in the nose Annie gave her.
"Oh you bitch I am going to sue your ass you broke my damn nose."
"Get the hell out of here Callie before I break something else."
"I have all the witnesses you will pay for this Ms. high and mighty wait and see."
"Ms. Callie, we have video footage of what just happened here. You don't have a leg to stand on. Annie is within her rights to sue you and have you locked up. Now do as she says and leave or I will call the police and have you arrested."
She looks at Annie as if she wants to kill her but she turns and walks off when she sees a lot of people with their cell phones recording everything.
"Just wait bitch I will get you just wait and see."
"Dad call the police and have her arrested right now."
"You can't hold me here."
"Oh hun I can do any damn thing I want to do. So sit your sorry ass down, you are not going anywhere but to jail. Well maybe the hospital for a broken nose."
"Annie, they are on the way."
A Sheriff's car pulls into the parking lot.
"What seems to be the problem here?"
"Captain Murphy, I want to press charges on Callie Winters for attempting to assault me when we walked out of the diner. She got in my face and blamed me for her boyfriend being in a crazy house. I told her to back off but she wouldn't. She tried to hit me and I punched her in the nose and probably broke it with the way it is bleeding. But she brought it on herself. Then when I asked her to leave just a few minutes ago she threatened my life. I want her arrested."
"Captain sir, it is all lies, all lies I tell you."
"Wayne look at the footage and tell me Annie is lying. Everyone here recorded what happened. Annie was within her rights to defend herself and she did."
He looks at the videos from different phones and shakes his head.
"Ms. Winters you are under arrest for attempting bodily harm to Anastasia Grey. Please put your hands behind your back."
"Carman please read her her rights and take her to the station."
"Anastasia this isn't over not yet."
"Yes Ms. Winters it is now let's go for a ride."
She left kicking and screaming and head butting an officer of the law.
"Whoops that won't look good for her."
"No ma'am it sure won't. Annie come down to the station and fill out the paperwork please?"
"Yes sir we will be right down there to press charges."
"Alright folks, let's move along nothing else to see here."
They all walk off to their cars or into the diner.
"Damn that bitch. What the hell is wrong with her trying to blame me for her boyfriend's incarceration? The frigging idiot brought it on himself. Wouldn't surprise me if she wasn't involved in the bombing in some way."
"Annie Rose, do you think that is possible?"
"Dad I don't know but she hates me and she always tried to get in my face and talk about me and tell Christian he could do better. Her and Eddie both were jerks in college."
"Well we might have to check into that young lady."
"Wayne, do you think she could have been involved with them at the time of the bombing?"
"It's possible. Need to talk to her family and see what she has been up to. Then talk to her."
"Annie, where does her parents live? Do you know?"
"Well when she was in college with us they all lived in Boston. Not sure where they are now. Didn't keep up with her for obvious reasons. We were not friends."
"Well we will find out soon enough when we book her."
"Thank you Wayne and we will see you down at the precinct."
"Yes sir."
Christian, Annie, her dad, Carrick and their CPOs Jason and Luke walk to the car and go to the precinct.
The rest of the family goes to Carla's and waits for them to come home.
They all walk into the precinct and Wayne meets them at the desk.
"Come with me Annie so you can proceed with filing the assault charges."
"Where is she?"
"Oh she is being taken care of at the hospital. Our nurse here said her nose was broken and needed to be set. Ouch that is going to hurt. Then they are bringing her back here to book her. She called her father and he called their attorney. He should be here later today."
"Well if she would have gotten out of my face and not tried to hit me she wouldn't be here in the first place. Stupid girl was like that in college. Jealous little bitch."
The paperwork was done.
"Thank you Annie for coming on down. If I need you I will be in touch."
"Thank you sir."
"Wayne, will Annie Rose need our lawyer to be here? Do you need her here? I have plans to go out of town this week." He says and Annie looks at him.
"Tell you later my Rose."
"No Christian she will not. We have videos from everyone. It was Ms. Winters who started this. Annie just defended herself."
"Yeah she did just like she did in college."
"She had a run in with her at college?"
"Yeah we both did with her and Eddie Williamson. They thought they could treat us like trash. Somehow Eddie said he found out about us. He said he was a computer whiz and could find anything he wanted to. He knew we were rich and he didn't like it. So he started bragging all over the school about catching us outside so they could harass us and he and Callie confronted us on the way to class one morning. Well right before we graduated matter of fact."
"What happened?"
"He started running his mouth about what he found out about us. But before he could tell the other students what he found out, Callie started running her mouth."
"Callie started running her mouth about Annie. Getting in her face and saying I could do better than Annie and then he said she could do better could do better than be with me. Then Callie I guess got pissed cause he was talking about Annie and she hated Annie from day one because she was with me."
"What happened next Christian?"
"I tried to explain to them that we were together. What they didn't realize though was we have always been together. Anyway she got mad and tried to hit Annie Rose but just like today she told her to back off but she wouldn't so my girl put her on her ass big time. You saw how much bigger she is than my Annie. Our CPOs have videos of it. If by chance you need it if she says something about that day. We have proof."
"Thank you Christian."
"Jason, hold on to that video from college it might just come in handy."
"Yes Wayne I know and I have it in my safe."
"Alright everyone let's go home. Our family is blowing my phone up wanting to know what is taking so long. You all know how grandma is rush, rush, rush."
They all laugh.."Yes we do."
They all walk out and get in the car and to Ray's.
"Everything goes alright dear heart?"
"Yes grandma everything was fine."
"Well what in the blue blazes took so long?"
"We told Wayne about our confrontation we had with Callie and Eddie at college."
He said for Jason to keep the video safe that it might come in handy."
"Yeah it just might be because she started that one too. That was one helluva throw you gave her. I want to see that video again Jason."
"Okay grandma Julia I will get it out of the security office safe and you can watch it later."
"Okay Jason and don't you forget it."
"Yes ma'am."
"Hey how about a cookout this evening y'all?"
"Sounds good. Let's have hotdogs and hamburgers."
"No, we are having steaks, baked potatoes, steamed broccoli. Annie is going to make a salad and her homemade dressing."
"Now you are talking Ray. Who wants hotdogs and hamburgers when they can have steak."
"Well it sounded good. I wanted to make my hotdog chili and coleslaw."
Oh sweet girl we can have hotdogs and hamburgers too if you want them right Ray?"
Yes mom, we sure can."
"No gram that is alright we will have a cookout at our house and have them there."
"No one has said what we are doing for the fourth?"
"Well for starters moms and dads as we said earlier we couldn't have what we have and be able to do the things we have done if it wasn't for y'all." He says smiling.
"So we have decided to send all of you to Paris for two weeks. Please don't say no. Just go and pack everything is taken care of. Our jet will be ready at seven o'clock tonight. We love you all so very much and we want to do this for you."
"How can we say no to that? I am all for it, how about you Gracie?" Carla says hugging her best friend.
"Oh lordy, yes let me go and pack. Come Carrick we got some packing to do." Grace tells him, grabbing his arm.
"Grans we know y'all have been wanting to go to Spain so we are sending all of you there for two weeks. You will fly with our moms and dads then the other Captain will take y'all on to Spain. So go and pack now please." Annie tells them.
"Oh my goodness Teresa, Elizabeth, Brenda come on ladies we have to go and pack. What are you men waiting for? We are going to Spain.I can't wait to visit Madrid." Granma Julia says.
"Elliot, you need to go and get Carol. We are going to Disney World in Orlando, Florida for 2 weeks. Are you up to riding some rides with me bro?" Christian asked him.
"Oh hell yeah and I'll be back with my lady in a little while. What time is our flight Christian?" Elliot asked him.
"Our flight will be at seven-thirty tonight El. Already have us a villa to stay in and one for security." Christian tells him.
"Everyone you will have security with you. They will be staying in the guest house and they will take you where you want to go."
Elliot leaves with a big smile on his face.
"That was nice of you love to invite Carol along. What is taking that man so long to propose to her? He loves her to pieces and she loves him like crazy. They have been together now for two years."
"Don't know love but hopefully he will get his ass in gear and propose to her. She is a wonderful girl and we have known her since middle school."
"Yeah I know hopefully he will."
He leans over and kisses her softly on her lips.
"I better go and get that dressing made before dad starts yelling for me. Come on, love and help me."
The grandparents walk back into the house and security sets their bags by the door with theirs.
"You sneaky little monkey, I knew you had something up your sleeve when you were talking to your gramps in his office last week."
"You know Christian you can't pull anything on your nanny she is always sniffing out what is going on behind closed doors. Nosy little woman but I love her dearly."
"Yes gramps how well I know. I figured she would have caught on by now."
"Well she is getting on up in her years."
"Speak for yourself Frederick Grey."
She says laughing at him.
"Come on you and let's pack. We are going to Spain, woman."
"Mom, dad, what are you waiting for? Go and pack your bags. Momma Grace I thought y'all had already left."
"Yes. Yes we are. I am just speechless. I never would have dreamed we were going to Paris. Lord, we haven't been there since before you were born."
"Well go pack we are going home to pack. We will be back for the cookout in a little while. Y'all better be packed and ready to go."
"Alright we will be. In the meantime your dad and Carrick are going to start the grill. Go, go home Annie and pack."
"Oh my we are going to Paris Gracie." Carla tells Grace so excitedly.
"Christian where are we staying hun?"
"I have everything arranged Carla, you all will be staying in a villa when you get there you will see an itinerary we thought you all might like. As you know you can change it and see whatever you want to. These are just suggestions from us and that is all I am going to say. Now go and pack your bags mom."
"Okay, geesh I am going."
"You all might want to pack comfortable clothes and evening clothes when you all decide to go out. I have some very nice restaurants chosen for you all and some sights to see."
"Thank you Christian." She walks over and kisses his cheek.
"Okay see you two in a little while we are going home to pack."
They leave with Jason and Luke.
"Jason, do you have everything ready for our trip?"
"Yes Christian we sure do. All is taken care of."
"Thank you Jason we don't know what we would do without you and Gail."
"Speaking of Gail she better be home packing and not at my house packing."
"She packed our bags two days ago Annie."
"Oh hell come on Boo if that woman has started packing for me I am going to kick her butt. She is my security not my dang maid."
"Well you know how she is. She has to make sure you are properly cared for."
"Yeah well…oh hell never mind. Let's go and see what she has gotten done. Cause I can feel it in my bones that she is at the house."
"Annie, you would be right." Luke says laughing.
Jason gives him the evil eye.
"What she already knows."
They walk over to their house and sure enough there is Gail's car in the driveway.
"Told you I could feel it in my bones."
Annie and everyone walk into the house.
"Gail, Gail Jones, where are you women?"
"Annie honey I am in the kitchen."
"There you are. Why didn't you go to breakfast with us this morning?"
"I..I had things to do."
"Yes, like what? Come to my house and start packing my bags?"
"Now calm down little one. I have already taken care of mine and Jason's. I just wanted to help you so I did. I haven't finished. You can do the rest."
"Thank you Gail I appreciate everything you do for me. Woman, you are not my maid, you are my friend and my security."
"Yes I know but I can't help myself."
"Alright you two hug and Annie come to my office so I can show you the itinerary of what we are doing. Wait since we have to finish packing. I'll show you on the jet."
The ladies hug and all is well again. Annie wasn't mad at her. She was just trying to get Gail to stop taking care of her and everything. But ever since the bombing she feels like she has to do what she can to help Annie.
They got their bags packed and everyone got in the car and drove back over to her mom's.
"Gail my dear where have you been?"
"Grandma, I was getting everything ready for our trip."
"Yes she was grandma she has been a busy little bee."
"Oh come now Annie she is just trying to help you is all."
"Yes I know and I love her for it."
"Alright Elliot and Carol will be here in a few minutes. He called and told me they were on their way."
"Good that gives me time now to fix the salad and my vinaigrette wine dressing."
"You didn't make it earlier?"
"No Boo was supposed to help me then I found out Gail was packing my bags we went home."
"Okay."
"Oh it's alright I have time, it won't take long."
Elliot's ribeye was so rare it was a wonder if it didn't moo at him when he cut into it.
"That thing is ready to walk off your plate bro?"
"Yep just the way I like it."
"Oh El, how many times have I told you not to eat your steak raw? It is not good for you."
"Now grandma I have been eating my steaks like this for years and have had no problems."
"Yeah but one day you just might."
"You tell him grandma."
"You hush up you or I'll make you eat the last bite." He pushes his fork toward Carol.
"Elliot Grey if you want to live and get on that jet for Orlando, Florida and tell about the wonderful trip you went on my love you best get that raw steak out of my face."
He pulls his fork back and puts it in his mouth.
"Just that much more for me."
"Yeah all of it is for you." she says.
He just laughs.
"Laugh now my love and you will be sleeping by yourself for two whole weeks."
"Oh damn El."
"No you wouldn't do that not to your pookie bear." he blushes.
"Elliot, you just said that out loud?"
"Yeah I guess I did."
"Bro you are blushing, you are turning red."
"Hush Chris."
"Oh Boo, leave him alone before I tell him your nickname."
"Little Annie Rose Steele Grey wouldn't dare." he looks at her with his mouth open.
"Oh I would and you know it."
"Okay, okay I'll behave." he says
They have their cookout and security puts all the bags in the car and a few of them leave to go put everything on the jet.
"Alright everyone, are we all ready to go? The grill is off and cooled down. The dishes are done and put away. Let's get our bags and be on our way." Annie looks around for their bags.
"Christian where are the bags?"
"Already on the jets love. Security left with them earlier so we wouldn't be rushed getting everything together."
"Oh okay. Well then let's be on our way my love."
"Everyone ready to go?"
They all say yes and they all walk out the door.
They arrive at the jet and the Captain tells the parents and the grandparents they will be taking off in twenty minutes.
Christian, Annie, Elliot and Carol tell the parents and grandparents bye and have a great time and will see them in two weeks.
They walk over to their jet and get on board. The Captain tells them they will be leaving in forty-five minutes after the other jet takes to the sky.
"Wow Christian I can't wait to get to Orlando and ride all the rides." Elliot says, sounding like a little boy.
"Yeah I know Elliot but we won't be riding anything until tomorrow. We will check into the villa and see what's going on around there tonight and grab some supper. It's about a two hour flight for us."
"Okay well when we get in the air I am going to have something to drink and some snacks to hold me over till we go and eat."
"El you just ate a twelve ounce ribeye with a baked potato, steam broccoli and a huge salad. Not to mention the cake you ate not two hours ago." Annie says, looking at him and shaking her head.
"Yes and your point Annie." Elliot says with a smirk on his face.
"My point is you can't be hungry but I forgot you have a bottomless pit not a stomach." she laughs.
"Yeah well I am still a growing boy. I have to keep my strength up."
"Whatever Elliot, whatever."
"Well it sounded good." He says laughing.
"Annie Rose, what do you want to do first when we get up in the morning?" Carol asked her.
"We are going to eat breakfast and explore and see what all we want to do. I want to see Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios and Animal Kingdom. Then I want to go and see what all Disney World has for us."
"Wow Annie Rose you got it planned out." Christian says smiling at her.
"No Boo I just know what I want to see before we go and ride anything. If that is alright with all of you? I looked at the itinerary you typed up. We don't have to see things in the order I said." She tells him.
"Sounds good to me. We will be there for two weeks and we can do a lot in that time." Carol says and Elliot is nodding his head.
"We can go back as many times as we want. Season passes for all of us."
"Bro did you just say season passes?" Elliot asked him.
"Yes El I sure did. We can go to Disney world as many times as we want. There is no limit. Now to go to the parks we have to make reservations but don't worry y'all all you have to do is tell me which ones you want to go back to for the next week if you want to go again after you visit the first time." He tells them.
"That sounds good too but I think I might just want to keep going back to Disney World. They said here in the brochures it takes a good five or six days to experience it all." Elliot tells them holding the brochures up for them to see.
"I have to agree with El on that. It will be more fun going back to Disney World and riding more rides and seeing the castles and all the shows they have. Meeting all the characters like Minnie and Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck. Goofy and too many to name."
"Ladies and gentlemen, we will be taking off in ten minutes. Your parents and grandparents just took off and we are next on the runway." The Captain tells them.
"Hey Ms. Zelda, after we are in the air would you please bring us all a bottle of water and some snacks whatever you have is fine. Thank you." Annie asks her.
"Yes Ms. Annie I sure will." She says.
"What kind of snacks to y'all keep on board Chris?" Elliot asked him.
"Just about anything you want bro. Annie Rose has a hankering for junk food when we fly so we keep chips, cookies, candy, little cakes and now we have fruits and vegetables sticks with ranch dressing. If anyone would like that."
"By the way we have the snacks changed out every week." Annie tells them.
"Ladies and gentlemen this is your Captain Hernandez speaking please make sure your seat belt is fastened. We are proceeding to the runway and will be in the air in just a few minutes. Hope you enjoy the flight. We will be in the air approximately one hour and forty-five minutes." Captain Hernandez tells them.
"Here you everyone. I brought some of everything I heard Mr. Elliot talking about being hungry." Zelda says.
"Ms. Zelda, you have good ears." Elliot says.
"Mr. Elliot I might be getting older but my hearing is the best it has ever been and besides you were not whispering young man." She tells him as she hands him a box of snacks.
"Oh my goodness look at all these yummy snacks." He says to no one in particular.
"Now bro you have to share with us." Christian tells him.
"Sure, sure let me get mine first." El says laughing as he picks up chips, cookies, peanuts and little snack cakes.
"Ms. Zelda, would you bring me the small platter of veggies and ranch dressing please?" Annie asked her.
"Yes Ms. Annie one moment hun." she tells her as she makes sure there are enough snacks for all.
"Do you need any more snacks?" she asks.
"I think I am good for now Ms. Zelda." Elliot says as he goes back to eating his bag of chips.
"I think she was talking to all of us El, not just you." Carol tells him grabbing a pack of peanuts.
"Ms. Zelda, we are fine for now thank you." Christian says.
"Very well I will get your veggie platter now Ms. Annie." and she walks to the back of the jet.
They eat their snacks and the veggie platter and sit and talk more about what they are going to do once they get to Florida.
"This is your Captain please fasten your seat belts, we will be landing in ten minutes. Thank you and I hope you enjoyed your flight and you all have a great time at Disney World." Captain Hernandez tells them.
They land and unfasten their seat belts and get ready to leave the jet.
"Thank you Captain Hernandez for a safe flight as always. We will see you in two weeks. Are you staying here sir or going back home to Tennessee?" Annie asks him.
"Zelda and I will be staying here for two weeks. We have family not too far from Orlando and we might surprise them. They don't know we are down here. I am not sure they are even home with it being July fourth week." He tells them.
"Okay well we will see you both in two weeks. Hope your family is home." Annie tells him as she is walking off the jet.
"Ms. Annie, you all have a great time and ride all the rides for me." Zelda tells them laughing.
"You can count on that Ms. Zelda. Christian and I are going to make a list of what we want to ride first and go from there. You know there is a lot to do and I am going to make sure we ride everything. Oh yeah, the girls want to see the castles and shows you know." Elliot tells her and gets popped up side his head by Carol.
"Hey what was that for?" Elliot says while rubbing his head.
"For your information Elliot you will be seeing the castles and shows with us." Carol tells him rolling her eyes and making him laugh.
"She told you Mr. Elliot." They all laugh.
"Come on bro let's get in the car before you are sent back home." Christian tells him, grabbing his arm and pulling him down the steps of the jet.
"Yes bro you best listen to your brother." Carol says laughing and running to the car with Annie right behind her.
Security has the doors open for them and the ladies jump right in the back seat.
Well I think this is a good place to stop this chapter before Elliot is sent back home to Tennessee.
Hope you all enjoyed it. Chapter 19 will be up soon.
Thank you all
Linda ( Octobermist11 )