Marriage is Murder

It had been a very successful dive. Khaat took her findings and took them to her cabin and showered and changed. She changed to a printed sundress since they were going shopping for evening wear. She chose neutral colored little sandals with heels. She styled her hair and added very simple jewelry.

Brian came down and changed too and by the time they were changed, Angus had a very simple lunch prepared--a tropical chicken salad sandwich in whole wheat pita pockets, with some lovely salads to go with it, and an assortment of bitesized cheesecake tartlets. He served it with a pitcher of a carbonated citrus fruit punch.

"That looks great, Angus," Brian said. "I'm starved." Everyone was gathering at the dining table on deck for the elegant lunch.

"Well, there is plenty, so eat up. We should dock sometime during lunch. You should be able to go ashore and go shopping by the time you're all done eating."

"Good," Robert said, as he and Kate and Micael joined them. "So are we doing the film festival tonight or the casinos?"

"Either one or both," Michael said. "Your choice."

Cassidy and Jim both went below and showered , cassidy wore a pair of light shorts and a light tee shirt with block heeded sandals Jim had on lose trousers and shoes his shirt was filled with colorful flowers. Cassidy laughed seeing his shirt. " well you couldn't choose a louder one ?" she asked and Jim shook his head.

"Nope thought it fit. " he said and headed with cassidy up to the deck.

"Ah shopping sounds good about now." cassidy said and sat to eat Lunch as she ate she smiled happy to be among friends she trusted and Jim he was growing on her like a mentor, she looked up to him as she did Robert or even Jack he to her was like the big brother she wished she'd had all those years ago.

When the boat docked, they all went ashore to walk into the village. It was a short stone path from the shore into the village. Khaat could see immediately that it was an upscale village. They were used to the wealthy shopping here. The shops were very exclusive and small. It was the sort of shop Khaat loved. She and Brian shopped for the kids first, finding several outfits for them, and then they went shopping for Brian.

Brian found some things that he liked, and Khaat let him have them, but they weren't upscale enough for where they were. She picked out more fashionable for him for their 2 or 3 days in Monte Carlo--sportswear, casual suits, and three tuxes, with the accessories he needed.

The last place they went was to a shop for Khaat. Khaat loved their clothes. Brian told her she could have anything she wanted.

"Are you sure you want to do that?" she looked at him, with a slight smile.

"Yeah. I'll take the risk," he laughed. "Go ahead."

Jim helped cassidy off the yacht and on to dry land she chuckled a little as it fell strange after being on the yacht for several days . Jim lead her with the others to the ship and she immediately saw a nice cream dress and matching shoes. Jim saw a nice shirt and trousers and bought them as he did he saw a lovely painting and smiled " that's beautiful " he said and picked it up holding it he chuckled as he saw the name on it " um Kate I believe this is one of yours " he said and walked over to her with it held in his hands. " I like it and want to buy it but what does the artist say?" he asked.

Kate laughed, seeing the painting in his hands. "Be my guest," she said. "That one was a long time ago. I had no idea where it had gotten to."

Brian was good at picking out clothing that looked good on Khaat. She didn't question his tastes. She just let him select what he thought she should buy. Michael just watched them and soon said, "Do you two realize what you did?" he asked.

"What?" they both asked at the same time.

"She bought all of your clothes, and you bought all of hers," Michaell laughed. "Neither of you even attempted to make a choice for your own things." Brian and Khaat looked at each other. They hadn't even realized that they had done it. He trusted her taste in his things, and she trusted his in her things.

When their things were boxed up, he took her next door to buy jewelry for her outfits, and while he was shopping for her, she was browsing for things for him.

"There they go again," MIchael laughed.

"Let them go," Kate said, laughing. "I think its sweet."

Jim chuckled at Brian and Khaats actions and bought a necklace for Cassidy it was silver with a sapphire in the middle for her he bought it and paid for it asking the assistant to place it in a nice box and wrap it as a gift for her. Jack smiled as Jess walked down the line of dresses choosing several with matching shoes and hats. Cassidy just mulled around the shop and saw nothing she liked she did find a sun hat and several suits for the kids and bought those placing them on the counter then in a bag to carry back to the ship. She spotted a small box inside sat a blue vial nestled in a blue silk pillow.

Once they were done with the shopping, Michael took them to a sidewalk cafe where he bought and paid for them all to have a beverage of their choice and the cafe's signature honey glazed fruit tart. It was as pretty as anything in any gourmet magazine.

"Is there anything anyone needs yet?" Michael asked, "Or do you feel all put together?"

"I dont' know," Brian laughed. He looked at Khaat. "Am I put together?"

"So far as I know," she said. "Should I ask you the same?"

"No. You're all set," Brian said. "You have more than you will ever wear here. And no, I did not forget the shoes."

"Good, because you know I'd have sent you back for them," she said.

"I know. So I took care of it. How'd everyone else do?" he asked.

Jim and cassidy both chuckled as he patted the picture, " Well I'm done" he said and cassidy nodded as well.
"I got some small things" she said and Jack and Jess both smiled.

"we got everything too and this tart is wonderful" Jack said and ate a second slice as Jess sipped her fruit juice jack had the same since Jess had given it to him Jim sat with a soda while cassidy sat with a fruit tea that she found relaxing she could not help but chuckle at the thought of her son in the suit she'd bought.

" you ok?" Jim asked and saw her nod her head.

" yeah just thinking of James in the suit I bought him and jaylen in the cute little dress ow I found a cute outfit for Fallon too with a sun hat" she said and Jim chuckled ad smiled.

" bet they will look cute" he said sipping his drink.

Khaat listened to the talk about clothes for the kids. She looked at Brian. "Did I get enough clothes for the kids?" she asked him. He rolled his eyes at her.

"You bought enough clothes for 25 kids," he laughed. "And what you didn't buy, your mother did."

"I'm the grandma. I"m allowed," Kate said sternly.

"And she's never going to let you forget it," Robert said. "Wonderful fruit tart. Good choice. Michael, exactly how are you going to do this?"

"We're not VIP's," Michael said. "They're not looking for us. And...I do know a charm that works to disable some kinds of muggle cameras. I think we'll be alright. Electronics are relatively easy to short out. Except when they're part of a security system. We'll be fine. I sugggest we go to dinner, take in a film at the opening of the film festival and allow ourselves to walk the red carpet as if we belonged there, and then, when the movie is over, lets go hit the casino."

"Is there more than one casino?" Khaat asked.

"Several. But I do have my favorites," Michael said.

"You do know I don't know much about gambling," she said.

"Nor do the rest of you. I'll make sure you don't all lose everything you own."

"I would appreciate that," Brian said. "And I'm sure the rest of us would too."

Cassidy smiled at Khaat " hay its mothers prerogative , so Jim says " she said and Jim nodded his head as he sipped his soda smiling at Cassidy.

" of course it is they don't stay small for long " he said and chuckled at them both on the mentions of the casino Jack chuckled as Jess poked him.

" what I wasn't going to gamble much , maybe add to the kids collage fund that's all " he said and was poked again by Jess.

" ow no you don't and that's good Michael don't want to be broke and homeless when we go home, I know Jacks luck it runs bad " she added and Jack looked hurt at her making her laugh softly at his face.