First Class Farewell by Aj Harmon Page A

eat, which was always a difficulty when they were all
together. It was much more fun to play with their food than eat it.
    Beth stood off to the side, watching the mothers with their
children. The last month had been the worst of her life. Now she stood in the
lap of luxury in a magnificent estate in perfect weather. Yes, they’d come to
say goodbye to Ray, and it was a somber occasion, but the family had decided to
try and enjoy the trip. Ray wouldn’t want them moping around. He’d want a
blow-out party for his send-off. But that didn’t make it any easier for her.
She desperately missed Cleo and the anxiety over the last round of IVF was
beginning to make her crazy. She’d waited until the day before they left on the
trip to have the pregnancy test. The call would be coming any time now. Had it
worked? Or would she, once again, be dismally disappointed.
    “Aunt Beth? Are you gonna eat lunch?” Amanda asked. “You can
sit by me.”
    “I would love to sit next to you,” Beth smiled at her niece.
She grabbed a bun and squirted ketchup and mustard on it and then added an
almost charred hamburger patty and some cheese, lettuce and tomato and a
handful of carrots and pulled up a chair in between Amanda and Isabelle.
    Sophia threw her hand up to her mouth and ran down the hall
to the bathroom.
    “Poor girl,” Maureen said, as she wiped up some sloshed milk
from the counter, the newest sippy cup not holding up to the marketing claims
on the packaging. “I hope it gets better for her soon.”
    The other women agreed and Beth bit into her hamburger.
She’d be thrilled to have morning sickness morning, afternoon and night if it
meant she could have a baby. She wouldn’t complain one bit.
    But for now, she would just enjoy her precious nieces and
nephews and pray that one day she’d get her miracle. Hopefully sooner rather
than later.
    Tim watched his wife through the doorway and instinctively
knew what she was thinking by the way she looked at Amanda seated beside her.
He saw the longing looks…the sadness in her smile. She couldn’t hide it from
him. He wondered what he could do to cheer her up…to make her forget her
heartache for just a moment. As his phone rang in his pocket, he didn’t have
time to consider the answer to his question.
    He didn’t recognize the number. “Hello?”
    “Is this Tim Lathem?”
    “Yes.”
    “Oh, good! This is Dr. Ringer. I’ve tried your wife’s phone
but she didn’t answer.”
    “Hello, Dr. Ringer. Ah, she probably doesn’t have it turned
on right now.  We’re out of the country. Is there something you needed?”
    “Well, I needed to give you an update. Is this a good time?”
    “Sure it is. Is it good news? Should I get Beth? Or should
you tell me and then I can find a way to break the bad news to her?”
    Dr. Ringer laughed. “Would you like to break the good news
to her?”
    Tim gasped. “Good news?”
    “Very good news,” he replied.
    That evening, after all the children had been put to bed,
and all the adults had shared several well-deserved bottles of wine, one by
one, each couple headed off to their rooms, Paul and Nic, and Beth and Tim
remaining on the patio overlooking the beach.
    The waves gently lapped on the sand and the moon cast a
beautiful golden reflection across the water. There was a slight breeze that
was warm on the skin and Beth asked for a glass of wine for the second time.
    Her first request earlier in the evening, Tim had said he’d
forgotten when he came back from the bar with a can of cola. She’d shrugged and
drank half of the can. This time she was a little more insistent.
    “Please remember my wine this time,” she’d called after him,
as he strolled inside.
    “I think I’m gonna call it a night,” Nic smiled. “I’m
tired!”
    “Okay,” said Paul and helped his wife from her chair. “We’ll
see you guys in the morning.”
    “Night,” Beth smiled, as they left her alone of the patio.
    Tim returned a moment later