No, instead they had done what they had chosen to do, had rescued two men from certain death and had been able to spend hours and hours alone together, nonetheless. They ordered room service for their final dinner meal back in their gorgeous suite. Then they went to bed and again made love before falling into yet another deep and wonderful sleep.
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Sunday, July 3, 2022
After packing all their bags, Missy and Mike went down at nine for breakfast with Wes, Chris, Coop and Char. That group was very excited to see them again. Missy quickly congratulated both girls on the lovely engagement rings which they were now wearing. The exuberance and happiness which everyone was feeling was wonderful.
After ordering their food, they enjoyed hearing all about what each couple had done. While the group of four had often done things together they also had gone off as separate couples many times. Thus, there was lots to talk about and they lingered with just coffee long after their plates were cleared away.
Finally, with a deep sigh, Chris stood up and announced, “It’s time for us to all check out and get over to the airport. I know this view of Lake Wakatipu is amazing but once we are up in the air, we’ll circle around the area a few times so you can enjoy seeing everything from up high. The sun was going down so we didn’t bother to do that when we arrived but you’ll be able to fully appreciate everything in the daylight now.
An hour later, they were all getting their last looks at Queenstown. Their aircraft flew in lazy circles for several minutes just as Chris had promised and then they continued on to Auckland. After stopping briefly there to refuel for their long transpacific flight to Los Angeles, they again climbed high into the stratosphere, cruising at thirty-four thousand feet.
This time, Coop and Char stayed in seats near Missy and Mike. Coop said, “You lovebirds have had more than enough alone time. We want to hear more about your honeymoon.”
“This was truly a honeymoon for Coop and for me as well,” added Char. “We’ll each schedule our wedding once we get home and talk to our folks but that’s all merely a formality. We’ll squeeze that in somewhere with all our military assignments. But these past days here in New Zealand? I doubt we’ll ever be able to top this.”
Missy said, “Mike and I feel exactly the same way, guys. We agreed we will return here again someday, but that will be in our far and distant future, if the Fates are willing. Thiswas wonderful and your guys Chris and Wes have really earned places in our hearts forever. We’re thrilled you were able to be here for this as well.”
“Hey, Char and I are indebted to you and Tracy for so many things,” said Coop. “But introducing us to Wes and Chris, manipulating us the way you did?” Now she giggled and glanced at Char who also began to giggle.
Missy chuckled and said, “You’re most welcome! Tracy and I both believe the Fabulous Fates had a lot to do with everything. Getting you girls assigned to be our roommates? One thing simply led to another after that.”
Mike asked, “Tell us more about how you two got to play some tennis while you were over here.” That had been briefly mentioned during breakfast.
“Well, the Kingston Riverside Club near Queenstown has a covered, year-round bubble for its courts during the winter,” explained Char. “While they normally require membership and don’t usually allow visitors, Chris contacted them about us right after Mike first told him we were coming here.”
Coop added, “Yeah, he sent them some videos of when we were competing at West Point and begged for them to make an exception provided we paid some nominal fee. We got to play there a couple of times and it was great!”
The four of them continued to talk and they were joined by either Wes or Chris coming back occasionally. There were delicious meals which they heated up in the microwave in the galley. That was yet another amenity which was not available on Missy’s smaller jet aircraft. Eventually, towards the end of the flight, they all drifted off to sleep.
Once they landed in Los Angeles, they went through customs and immigration. Then they were up in the air once again as they headed up to Logan airport in Boston. Upon arriving there, they all went their separate ways. The “P” Branch jet would be flown back to Washington D.C. the next day where it was normally based by one of “P” Branch’s pilots.
Wes and Coop, after spending the night at a hotel at the airport, would fly commercially to Coop’s home so her family could congratulate them on being engaged. Chris and Char would do likewise, flying to Char’s home. These were exciting times for them indeed.
Missy and Mike went to his place in Medford where they merely crawled into bed and went right to sleep, exhausted from more than twenty-four hours of travelling. Due to the time difference, it was still Sunday but almost midnight.
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Monday, July 4, 2022
Upon waking up in his own bed, Mike was feeling great. Missy was snoring peacefully beside him … actually, he realized she waspurring, which was rare for her to do but she did that when she was completely, totally at peace. Her cat would manifest like that, even though she was in her human form.
He had arranged for Patrick to stock his refrigerator while he was away so after slipping quietly from the bed, he went into the kitchen and cooked up a big breakfast. He also made a pot of coffee and the combined aromas soon brought Missy into his dining room.
“I haven’t gone running for days now,” exclaimed Missy as she sat down at the table. “But our activities were more than enough to satisfy my crazy metabolism so I’m sitting right down so I can enjoy all this. Once I return to Team Twenty-Two, I can resume my extreme exercise routine.”
Mike laughed and said, “I’m going to really miss you when you do that. I’ve gotten very used to having you by my side, day and night, with your thoughts always filling my head. You have made me the happiest man alive, Missy, even more so than all those other times when you’ve done that.”
He came over and pulled her up from her chair and into his arms. They began kissing passionately until Mike realized he’d better make her stop and eat. He knew they would be returning to bed after that for yet more wonderful lovemaking.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Monday, July 4, 2022
They spent the day, once they finished making love and taking a shower together, visiting their families. It was a holiday and rather than it being winter outside, it was a beautiful summer day instead.
Missy did call Lisa of course. Since Robert Ulrey had alerted the SOD Group about Mike claiming to be a psychic over in Queenstown, everyone had learned about the rescue of those two Clarkson brothers. Then Lisa wanted to hear about all the other activities which she and Mike had been up to on their honeymoon.
