RILEY

Wow! Only two things I could say the moment we stepped off the ship for the reception. Number one: Holy Shit! She did it! And number two: Thank fucking God I was again on dry land. Twice Jack had asked me if I was alright as we were leaving. Guess I had that green I hate boats look on my face, ay?

The reception was a completely different experience for me. Fun. Interesting. Actually a blast. And a little revealing too. See, every time Natalie had a drink in her hands, it mysteriously disappeared. Either she set it down or pretended to sip the champagne…and every glass that was set down, my John managed to sweep away. Curious…but really not.

"So," I leaned close to Nat and whispered. "When to you plan to announce that you're pregnant?"

"I'm not!" she almost squealed, but the look in her eyes gave it all away and we both started laughing. "Well, I might wait 'til tomorrow morning to tell Jack."

I grinned and pointed to my massive, Mount Vesuvius belly. "Are you really sure you wanna do this?"

Nat sighed, scratched her chin. "You sure I can't hire someone to do it for me?"

"Too late," I took her fifteenth set-aside drink and held it up as John walked passed and swooped it away. "Fuck, I hope he's not drinking all these drinks."

The restaurant was really cool, a quirky mix of traditional Maine fare with all those little touches that make you laugh. It was kinda dark, every available inch of ceiling space was hung with old, dusty looking fishing nets loaded with brightly colored fake fish, crab and lobster. We had booked the entire restaurant for the reception and I'd spent some time in the kitchen. Big difference there, clean as a whistle and the food smelled wonderful. As I left the kitchen I spotted him.

There, in a dark distant corner booth, sat one of my favorite celebrity chefs, Anthony Bourdain. How cool was that? He was eating the broiled catch of the day and paying no attention to the frivolity going on all around him. Well, you know me; I wasn't letting this opportunity pass. I walked right over and wedged my large self into the bench across from him.

"Hi! How ya doing?" I grinned.

His brow shot up, he looked around, probably hoping someone would rescue him then set down his fork. "Well…"

"What? Did you say whale? Whale? Like a big fat fish?" I teased evilly.

"No, no!" Poor guy looked like he'd cry. "No, I swear - "

I was laughing like a lunatic as he finally smiled and ran an arm across his brow. John came over and I tried to stand. No go. I was wedged pretty tight. "Um, Anthony Bourdain, this is my husband John Biebe."

"Uh, Tony. Nice to meet you." They shook hands and John chuckled.

"What'd she do to you? Ya look like you wanna run out."

"Nothing, nothing. I won't be here long; I can see this is a private party. An old buddy owns this place and I wanted to get a bite while I was in town."

"Hey, stick around. It's a wedding. Come on. Soon as I get my wife free from this booth, I'll introduce you to the bride and groom."

COLIN

It was bloody strange. I found a small booth and sat with Carrie, wondering exactly what the hell I was doing there. Did I really want to be there? To watch Natalie marry someone else? Marry Jack? Those questions were making me mental…until the moment I saw them take their vows aboard the ship. I couldn't tear my eyes away; it was the look on Nat's face. Fuck all; it was time to face facts. Never in all our time together had she looked at me the way she looked at Jack. She'd never loved me that way and it was time to accept it. That's all.

I didn't wanna feel miserable, but there I was, sitting in a rowdy restaurant, everyone around me celebrating and I couldn't even have a bloody drink! My shoulder was fucking aching like hell and Carrie had just made sure I took a pain pill. Soon I'd be a fuckin' vegetable.

Carrie. Now there was a sight. She was sweet and soft, such a lovely sheila in a gorgeous dark green dress. The kind that looks like a slip, ya know? Skinny little straps, the material skimming her curves. Fucking curves I never really noticed before. Carrie works for me, mates. I wasn't supposed to be looking for curves…but damn…they were there. Always there hidden beneath jeans and tee shirts. Now I'd never be able to not look for them. Bloody hell.

She was smiling, obviously wanting to be part of all the partying. So I stood, took her hand and moved us to one of the bigger tables. We sat with Terry and his new bride, Lach and his friends. Riles was there, big as a house but grinning ear to ear. "There love, now you can party with the best."

"No, no, Col. If you can't drink, I won't. It's fine. But promise me you will dance with me later."

Yeah, that's me, the one armed dancer. Me in a sling, bruised and fighting the pain of the dislocated shoulder. But tonight, I wanted her to have a good time.

After dinner, Carrie headed for the restroom with every other Sheila at our table. The blokes went off to smoke or chat and I was alone. Ah well. But it didn't last long. I felt the soft brush of her hand along my good shoulder, didn't need to turn; I knew it was the bride.

She simply plopped onto the chair next to me and grinned. She crossed her legs and I could see the bottom of her dirty bare feet. Who was this woman? Where did the always appropriate Natalie go? But to tell ya the truth mates…I liked this woman a lot more. She seemed more free and uninhibited…happy.

"Howdy!" she said. "So, how ya doing, Col?"

"Good, good. Ah…Nat…you look absolutely beautiful, love."

"Thanks." She leaned close and whispered. "I feel absolutely beautiful. Now…tell me about this pretty girl! Carrie, right?"

"Carrie. What about her? She works for me. You know that."

"So, she works for you." She leaned back in the chair and her pretty brow scrunched up. "Colin O'Brien. Please tell me you're going for that."

"She works for me, Nat," I squirmed in my chair.

"Come on! She's beautiful. So what if she works for you?"

"Yeah, well maybe she's not interested."

"You're kidding right? Oh, Col. I've been watching her. She's interested, maybe already more than interested. It's the look on her face when she looks at you. Don't blow this."

The look on her face? The look on her face? Bloody hell? Had I been that blind?

Later, when the juke box started playing nice slow music, I took Carrie's hand…and I danced with her. And, it felt pretty damn good. Damn good.

TERRY

"Beautiful ceremony don't you think, B?"

"It was. I'm really glad things went smoothly. Nat was slightly jittery but she sure pulled it off nicely. How lovely did she look standing next to the captain?"

"Perfect." When I saw the look on her face I wondered if I gave the wrong answer. You know how women can be. "Bridgid, you seem melancholy. What's wrong?"

"Nothing really, except I sometime wonder if you feel kind of short changed getting me the way you did?"

I put my arms around her and held her close. "Are you mad, woman? Short changed? Love, I have you for a wife. On the day we were married I became the luckiest bloke in the world. I reckon Jack feels that way today."

"You know, I can't explain it, Ter, but every day that passes leaves me more in love with you. Ain't it grand to see someone else find that? Nat and Jack are going to have such a wonderful life and it all started today."

"It looks to me like something else is about to start." Nat and Jack were on their way to the door, heading back to the ship, the great cabin and their wedding night. I remember what it felt like, the first time B and I slept together as husband and wife. Being around all of our friends was fucking fantastic but right now I was feeling a little bit of what Jack must be feeling. "What do you say we go start a little celebration of our own?"

Bridgid gave me one of those smiles that seemed to put a fire in those aqua eyes of hers. "I'd say …we've not a moment to lose."

"I don't think Aubrey could have put it any better himself. We've got a king sized bed waiting for us. Let's go mess it up."

JOHN

We all waved to the bride and groom and I stood behind Riles, my head propped on top of hers and my hands on her belly. Baby rolled easily under my palms and I smiled. And I remembered the conversation I had alone with Natalie before we headed for the ceremony. It wasn't an easy conversation, but it was important.

See, I'm the one who clearly remembers when she hit the bottom, the one who found her last Christmas day, drooped over a tub, stained red with her own blood. She's come such a long way from there. What we talked about before she married Jack wasn't what you all might think. It wasn't about marriage so much; it wasn't about responsibility or life changing. It wasn't about good and bad times either…it was simply about Natalie accepting that she completely deserved the happiness placed in her lap…that's all.

It didn't take too long. I said the words and they just kinda filtered into her head. "You so fucking deserve this, baby. A good life, love, happiness, adventure. Who else but Jack can give you all this…and you do deserve it."

"What if I've already blown it, John?" Her eyes were all shiny like she was gonna cry again.

"How the fuck can you blow it? He loves you more than that fucking ship."

"John, I'm pretty sure I'm pregnant."

I gulped, regrouped and shrugged. "So, Jack will love it. What's the problem here?"

"You think so? You really think there's no problem?"

"The way he loves you…the way you love him…nothing matters, baby. No matter how fucking hard it gets…love gets you through. I know it. There is no fucking problem. Get your pretty ass ready so you can start being happy, Natalie!"

She stood, fluffed her hair, kicked off her shoes and grinned. "Take me to Jack!"

Yeah, our Natalie has come a long, long way.

ANTHONY BOURDAIN

Okay, there I fucking was, drunk and standing with this whole strange family, waving to the newlyweds…the barefoot bride and her anachronistic captain groom. Had one arm over an Aussie Marine Flyboy dude name Lachlan, the other draped over a big practically bald guy named Titus something-or-other. Oh fuck yeah, looked like I'd been adopted.

Got an invitation to the Inn the Whale Woman and her husband own. I've read about that place, the 1876 Manor at Mount Mansfield. Reviews were great for food and lodging and I'd met a couple of their chefs. Vermont. What the hell. Got no place I gotta be for a few months. Fuck it…I'm going to Vermont…after a few more beers.