Passage to Australia [Passage to Australia Trilogy Book One]

Chapter XIII Conclusion

Chapter XIII

Conclusion

Elly Martin flipped through the magazines on her bedside table.  Why did nothing interest her today?  Perhaps because home was so close, Sydney.  Tomorrow they would dock and her month long trip would be over, she would be home again with her husband and their daughter.  Ah, she had missed them so much, the only relief being the multiple phone and web cam calls, constant emails and IMing, and the knowledge that her family was thinking of her.  

She carelessly picked up a random publication and stared at the glossy photo on the front cover for a minute, realization suddenly dawning.  "So that's where I've seen her," she murmured in amazement.  She quickly flipped the pages and found the article on the model gracing the cover, perused it thoroughly until she was satisfied, thought, She must be trying to escape from the paparazzi; and the family trip is a perfect cover.  But that can't be right; that young man is American.  Well, perhaps she picked him up on her vacation.  Good-looking bloke to be sure.

Elly returned her gaze to the article in her hands and read it again.  'Actress Paige Delanie, who has recently wrapped filming on her latest movie, A Princess in L.A., has denied all rumors that her brother, Stephen, is involved with her co-star, Jennifer Abbie.  'When my brother wants the public to know anything, he'll tell them himself,' she replied in her trademark blunt way.  'Don't believe any rumors unless they come straight from him or me.'

Elly thought of the young blond girl on board with her "family" and smiled to herself.  "Wait until I tell Blair that I almost met Paige Delanie."  Her daughter, obsessed with fashion and celebrities, would flip.

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"This constant chaperon thing gets annoying after a while." Erik quipped as he and Paris began their third lap around the promenade deck. She glanced back at Parker and Fiona strolling behind them, a perpetual reminder that she was still on parole.

"Maybe we should try to shake them," she suggested with a wicked grin.

"It's good to know nothing can subdue your sense of adventure.  You had me worried for a while," he winked at her and she gave him a playful shove. "Ouch." He grimaced and touched his ribs.

"Sorry," she gingerly felt his side. "I forgot you're still tender."

He snatched her hand as she grazed it over his ribs, his grimace suddenly replaced by a smug grin. "Gotcha."

"No fair," Paris tried half-heartily to retrieve her hand but he held fast. Only the sound of Uncle Parker clearing his throat behind them could induce Erik to release her, however unwillingly. They exchanged a look and Paris couldn't help but chuckle at the exasperation on his face.

"When we get off this boat I'm going to shake them if it's the last thing I do." He sent a not-so-happy glance over his shoulder. "They can't blame you if you're abducted."

Paris laughed at his reasoning. "I think Uncle Parker would find a way."

"Sydney's a large city," was his ominous reply.

Instead of answering, she nodded her head at another couple sitting in a secluded corner of the deck, engaged in low conversation.  "What's with that?"

"What, Paul and Janine?"  Erik followed her gaze and his face cracked into a smile.  "Who knows?  Maybe they're hatching some disappearance of their own."

"Oh, be serious."  Paris sent him a scowl, not pleased with his turning a serious question into a joke.  "I noticed they've been awfully close the last few days, ever since the accident.  I hope Janine isn't actually thinking of getting involved."