Her Royal Ties (Book 2)

Chapter Eight ~ Nothing Short of a Masterpiece!

            It had been a great weekend and Monday after our little play time and dinner, we had a relaxing evening at the resort. Tuesday, Jahir drove us into town, and we booked an excursion package that included climbing the Dunn’s River Falls, Ziplining, Horseback ride ‘n’ swim, and ATV quad bike riding. After the ATV tour we decided to go to the Bob Marley Mausoleum ant tour his birthplace. Crystal had always wanted to see Bob Marley’s culture, that is why Jamaica made number three on her must see list.

            The funniest and most amazing part of the entire day was watching my ever so innocent wife try to eat a m*******a brownie from one of the peddlers outside of the Bob Marley compound, she took one large bite, and the guy snatched the brownie from her and told her to slow down. He told her small bites are safer and she looked at me with a confused look. I just shook my head and hunched my shoulders. She snatched the brownie back from the man and took another bite but not as big as the first one and the guy nodded then told me to keep close watch on her. I laughed knowing that she wouldn’t have a huge problem because she isn’t full human, but her human side would allow her to feel the effects of the medicinal drug in her system.

            After a few hours of sight-seeing and shopping, Jahir drove us back to the resort. Crystal was in a deep sleep five minutes before we got to our suite, I carried her in and laid her down. I chuckled at the beautiful sleeping sight of her, the brownie had finally put her on cloud nine. I called and checked on things back home and everything was quiet which was a good thing, we had just a couple more days and I wanted Crystal to enjoy them.

            I ordered dinner around 9:00 pm and it arrive a few minutes before 9:30 pm. Crystal had been asleep a little over two hours when I walked back into the bedroom. I leaned down close enough for my mouth to be as close to her ear as possible then whispered.

            “Hey gorgeous, can you wake up for me? I promise you can go back to sleep after you eat some dinner. I ordered you a steak and Caribbean fries.” I said softly in her ear and she began to stir, once she was completely on her side she opened her eyes and looked up into mines.

            “Hi.” Anastasia said softly.

            “Hello Beautiful, Is Crystal okay?” I asked with slight concern in my tone.

            “Yes, but she wants to enjoy the euphoria for a bit longer if that is okay.” Anastasia said with a coy smile.

            It had been a while since I had spent some time with Anastasia and even longer since Cooper had so I turned over control to him and allowed myself to retreat into the background to get some rest.

Crystal POV

            My cell phone alarm went off at 4:45 am and I jumped up with so much energy ready to start the day. I had set my alarm for 4:45 because that would give me more than enough time to get ready for our 6:00 am sunrise photo setting with John. I looked to the left of me and found my handsome sleeping husband lying there peacefully without a care in this world. I loved seeing him this way. He is always on the move, caring about everything and everybody and never about himself. I carefully and gently slid out the bed and into the bathroom to get a quick shower and to curl my hair for the portrait. Once I was all dolled up, I put on the silver backless dress Caelan bought me at the shops a few days ago. Just as I was putting my jewelry on Caelan walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. It was 5:30 am and we had about thirty minutes to meet John Baptiste on the beach to catch the start of the sunrise. Caelan didn’t take long, he was walking out of the bathroom fully dressed at 5:50 am when his cell phone rung. It was John Baptiste letting him know that he was set-up and ready for us.

            Caelan grabbed my hand and we walked out the suite door, our guards were on post as expected and they escorted us out to the beach. We had on Nike slides to easily discard them when we reached the sand. This portrait although it was our formal portrait, we decided to go shoeless because we were on the beach. When John Baptiste came into view, he smiled brightly at us then signaled for us to walk over where his lighting had been set up to ensure great lighting. We walked over to the bench John had set up for us to sit on and Caelan sat down, then I sat down on one of his legs with my arm draped around his neck and my legs carefully placed between his legs.

            After a couple photos, John finally smiled and walked over to us to show us the choices. I loved them all and asked if he would develop the photos and send them with the two portraits so we could have them. John agreed and we selected our favorite of the five photos he took, then he returned to his canvas and started outlining us as he had done with the other portrait.

            The sun was higher in the sky and the temperature was beginning to get warmer when John finished his outline of us.

            “Mr. & Mrs. Parks, that’s all I need. I wanted to let you guys know the first portrait is complete and packed up for travel. It is my goal to get this one complete by first thing tomorrow morning so it could be ready for travel also. What time do your plane depart tomorrow evening?” John asked and I looked at Caelan with excitement in my eyes.

            “We are scheduled for 9:00 pm but we can leave as late as 10:30 pm if you need a little more time. Thank you, John for really pressing to get it done.” Caelan said with a smile and his hand stretched out towards John.

            “It was no problem at all, and I have to say I have enjoyed my sessions with the two of you. I’m confident that this one will be just as remarkable as the other. You are a very lovely and beautiful couple. The first portrait is nothing short of a Masterpiece and I’m excited about this one because of all the colors the sunrise afforded us. Thank you for expanding my comfort level.” John said genuinely with a smile while shaking Caelan’s hand.

            “Thank you, John, it has been a pleasure working with you. Maybe we can have you come do a family portrait one day soon.” I said with a bright smile looking at Caelan and he nodded in agreement.

            “I would like that. Well let me get going and let you two enjoy the rest of your vacation.” John said as he started packing up his equipment and the canvas.

            Caelan and I helped John, then walked with him to his car to load all his equipment. Once John was loaded up we waved goodbye and watched him pull off.

            “So, after breakfast my love, how about we finally utilized that large Olympic size pool or come out here for a swim?” I asked Caelan and he nodded with a smile.

            “Whatever you want gorgeous. But yes, let’s first start with some food.” He said and I laughed as he grabbed his stomach.

            I couldn’t remember if we had dinner last night, but I knew I was hungry also. I grabbed Caelan’s hand, and we walked back to our suite to change our clothes. After we were changed into our more casual swim friendly clothing and put on some shoes, we walked down to the pool side grill and ordered Cheeseburgers and Fries. Caelan ordered a Caribbean Strawberry Lemonade, and I ordered a Coconut Smoothie Pineapple Strawberry Shake. Our drinks and meals were delivered to our table ten minutes later and we begin to eat and talk about the trip so far. I must admit I was having the time of my life and I was truly enjoying myself, but I missed my children and my pack. I was glad we only had one more day because I’m sure I wouldn’t last longer than that. I was glad the kids school allowed us to set them up on home school remote for the next three months, but I felt bad that the older twin’s birthday party was going to need to be cancelled unless we just flew the family back from Morocco for that weekend. I would need to speak with Caelan about it but now was not the time.

            After we finished eating, we sat a little while longer talking before we had dived into the swimming pool. The water felt amazing, and we had a great time in the pool. We played in the pool for a few hours then we got out and went back to our suite and took a shower to get ready for dinner. I wanted to go to the buffet, so we went and ate and enjoyed the live entertainment.

            It was a little after 8:00 pm when we finally made it back to our suite. We sat out on the balcony on the loungers and looked up at the moon.

            “So have you figured out what we are going to tell the children about Morocco?” I asked Caelan and he sighed.

            “No but I don’t think they will be opposed to a family vacation. The girls have always wanted to go to Morocco. I think the hardest to convince is going to be Christopher and I don’t know if I should be proud of his dedication or worried. He’s so much like you that I feel I’m not the best parent for him. Will you talk to him? I will talk to the other four they are a little more persuaded by me, although they all will do whatever you tell them to do.” Caelan said in a defeated tone, and I knew that he really just wanted what was best for all of us but as Christopher has gotten older, they have bumped heads a lot more.

            “Why don’t we talk to all of them together?” I said as I pulled out my phone.

            “Now?” Caelan asked in a disapproving tone.

            “There is no time better than the present.” I said with a smile and stood up to go sit on Caelan’s lounger with him.

            I sat between Caelan’s legs, and he wrapped his arms around my waist. I took a deep breath and dialed Christopher’s facetime. After two rings, Christopher’s face appeared on my phone, and he had a huge smile on his face.

            “Hey Mom, Hey Dad.” He said and waved his hands over I’m guessing to signal the others over to the phone.

            “Hello son, dad and I would like to talk to you all about something.” I said looking into Christopher’s eyes.

            “Go ahead mom we’re all here, there is something we all would like to speak with you two about also.” Christopher said then sat his phone down so the camera could hold all five of them in the screen.

            “Why don’t you guys go first?” Caelan said with a smile and Christopher nodded.

            “Well, we have all been thinking and we all just realized that we have never been on a family vacation, not with all of us. Angel and I have done trips with mom and aunt Kendra and Christopher, Cyir, and Christian have gone on trips with Dad and uncle Brian but the Parks as a family has never been on a family vacation.” Amir said looking directly at us with a smile.

            “Is that something you all would like to do? Go on a family vacation?” Caelan asked and the girls smiled while the boys grinned, and they all nodded their heads.

            “It is crazy that you guys were thinking that because that is exactly what dad, and I were calling you all about. I have been summoned to Morocco and I don’t know when I will be released to come back home. Dad and I have already made arrangements with your schools for the next three months, but I don’t think what I need to do would take that long it’s just a precaution.” I said calmly and gently through the phone, and they all sat quiet for a minute.

            “What are you saying mom? Are you saying that we are all going to Morocco as a family for possibly three months?” Cyir said with hesitation in his tone.

            “Please say that is what you are saying mom. I have always wanted to go to Morocco.” Angel said with a hopeful smile.

            “Three months, huh?” Christopher said with a deep in thought look on his face.

            “I’m with it but what about Cyir and my birthday party?” Amir asked and looked at her father.

            “All good questions and we are trying to get all the correct answers for you guys, but to start, yes, I would like for all of us to travel with your mom to Morocco and be her support system with whatever it is she is going to have to face. It may be a couple weeks, or it may be a couple months we don’t know for sure. As far as your birthday party sweetheart we will all fly back home for it so you two can be celebrated by friends and family. But aside for that, we have to leave Saturday because mom was due there on Tuesday, but Aunt Mia bought her some time.” Caelan said with a hopeful tone.

            “Okay.” Christopher said.

            “Okay.” Amir and Angel said in unison.

            “Is this really happening?” Cyir asked and Christian responded sarcastically.

            “Yeah, if you say yes like the rest of us.” Christian said and nodded his head as a smirk began to form on Cyir’s face.

            “Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes. I just said yes for all of us.” Cyir said with a bright smile in an excited tone.

            “Then it is settled. Mom and I will be home late tomorrow night early Friday morning. You guys can start packing your things. Ladies don’t pack to heavy; Aunt Mia and Uncle Kurt and your cousins will be flying in with us on our jet.” Caelan said and they all nodded and smiled brightly at us.

            “Christopher, before we leave, you and dad will put the pack in order so don’t worry son.” I said smiling at Christopher and he smiled back at me brightly but looking at his father.