Chapter 2
Chapter Two
The beat of rotor blades penetrated the Plexiglas windows of the cockpit and reverberated through Mike Saunders’ chest. The square-jawed twenty-nine-year-old wiped his hands on his knees. His palms were sweaty despite the frigid air inside the helicopter. He glanced out the window at the snowcapped mountains and exhaled slowly.
A Navy Special Warfare Operator, the grey-eyed SEAL was a veteran of two major campaigns and a dozen covert operations. He’d spent hundreds of hours in helicopters flying over mountains, jungles, deserts and the ocean. However, never in his career was he ever this nervous. The plan was elaborate. There were so many things that could go wrong.
“How you doing bud?” asked the pilot over his headset.
He raised an eyebrow at the man and gestured over his shoulder at the other passenger.
“You’re all good. She can’t hear us.”
“What’s our ETA?” asked Mike.
“Couple more minutes. The guys on the ground have everything ready. They’re standing by for your arrival.” He made an adjustment to the aircraft’s controls. “So relax and stop looking so damn nervous.” He nodded ahead. “OK, we’re coming up on our landing zone.”
Mike looked through the windshield at the approaching landscape. A boulder-speckled glacier between two high peaks rapidly approached.
He glanced over his shoulder at the passenger in the rear. Ali’s green eyes sparkled from inside the hood of a North Face jacket. She wore a broad smile on her elfin features.
“Wow,” she mouthed.
Her expression went a long way to easing his nerves. He and Ali had been dating for over a year now. In fact, for the last two months they’d been living together. Mike had never felt this way about anyone. He was totally and utterly in love with the beautiful veterinarian. She was intelligent and kind, but also independent enough to deal with his military career. What’s more she adored his dog, Axe. This holiday to the South Island of New Zealand was his way of thanking her for everything she had done for them both.
Smiling he turned his attention back to the terrain ahead. The glacier loomed and a moment later the pilot touched the skids down on the hard packed snow, killing the turbine. “OK kids, this is it. Welcome to the Franz Josef glacier.”
Mike stepped from the cabin, opened the rear door for Ali and surveyed the surroundings. Snow-capped mountains stretched out in every direction. In the distance, he could see the coastline and bright blue Tasman Sea.
“It’s stunning, babe,” she murmured.
Feeling her arms around his waist he turned, wrapped her in a hug and kissed her. The view lost its magnetism as their lips touched.
A moment later they parted and Mike turned to see the pilot at the nose of the helicopter pretending to inspect the windshield. He looked up, saw they were done and smiled. “OK, lovebirds. If you come with me, I’ll show you the best view this side of the equator.”
As they followed him across the glacier toward a rocky outcrop Mike’s keen eye spotted fresh tracks in the snow. He glanced sideways at Ali; her attention was fixed on the horizon. She turned to him, grinning like a child at Christmas. Then she frowned and cocked her head. “Mike, can you hear that?”
He took her hand. “No, what can you hear?”
Her eyes sparkled. “Music.”
Mike’s pulse quickened as they rounded the outcrop and the notes of a violin reached his ears.
“You’re kidding me.” Ali stopped dead in her tracks and squeezed his hand.
A pair of deck chairs sat in the snow. Between them was perched a silver champagne bucket beside a platter of fruit, cheese and caviar. A few yards away a violinist dressed in a tuxedo was playing.
The pilot gestured to the chairs. “Please, take a seat.”
Ali sat and the pilot turned waiter, placing a blanket over her legs. Then he poured them each a glass of champagne before disappearing behind the outcrop.
Mike turned to Ali and raised his glass. “To the most incredible person I know.”
A tear formed in her eye as she lifted hers. “You’re so sweet.” She gestured to the view. “This is unbelievable.”
His heart raced as he glanced at the violinist. The man nodded and changed the song.
It took a moment for Ali to recognize the tune. “That’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’.” She turned to the musician.
Mike felt like a squadron of butterflies would burst from his stomach as he reached into his pocket. He slipped out of his chair, took her hand and knelt.
Her eyes went wide as he raised the velvet case and snapped it open. “Alison Charlotte Taylor,” he said with a waver. “Will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?”
Tears filled her eyes and she nodded. “Yes, yes. Of course, I will.”
As he slipped the diamond ring onto her finger, she leaned forward and kissed him. Their lips touched and Mike felt all the anxiety of the last twenty-four hours replaced by elation. He was going to be marrying the love of his life.
* * *
It was the next day when Mike eased himself into the warm water of the Japanese style hot tub and joined Ali on the submerged wooden bench. His fiancé wore a sleek black one piece that accented her luscious curves. They’d spent the day hiking, and now were taking a well-earned soak in a luxury outdoor spa overlooking the Shotover River.
“Mike, this place is heaven,” she purred as he wrapped his muscular arms around her waist and manhandled her into the middle of the pool. He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her passionately as he caressed her chest.
“Easy boy,” she murmured, sliding her hand down to his groin. “We’ve only got this tub for an hour.”
“More than enough time,” he slipped her breast from the bathing suit and kissed the nipple.
Ali slapped him playfully. “Is that right? You put a ring on my finger and the romance disappears?” She backed away from him adjusting her suit. Then with a wry grin she reached out and stabbed a button on the spa’s control panel.
A cold stream of water shot out of an opening on the roof drilling him between the shoulder blades.
“Cool off, big boy.”
Mike grunted and dropped underwater.
Ali turned off the water and waited for him to surface. A split second later she felt his hands on her hips. They worked their way up her stomach to her breasts and then his face emerged.
“So, cold water and frustration. Is that what I can expect as a married man?”
She kissed him again. “Of course. You knew that, right?”
Glancing over her shoulder he spotted a bright star above the mountains beyond the river. “Look, babe, first star I see tonight.”
Turning she took two glasses of champagne from the tray next to the tub and handed one to him. “Make a wish and toast it.”
He raised the glass then snuggled in behind her so they could both watch the horizon. “Life doesn’t get any better than this.”
“No it doesn’t,” she murmured.
They stared out at the darkening sky, watching as more stars appeared. It was Mike who broke the silence. “So, when do you want to get married?”
She shrugged. “I’m not picky. As long as the people I love are there, I’m happy. I vote for a low-key affair. No stress, just friends, family and Axe.”
“I thought we could all hike up to Mount Otay and–”
“Stop right there. You’re not turning this into some kind of military operation. I passed the Girlfriend Selection Course. No more shenanigans.”
“Babe, I’m so over shenanigans.”
She turned and kissed his cheek. “Me too. I don’t even want a bachelorette party. Just a small ceremony.”
“Well, then I’m not having a bachelor party.”
“Mike, you can’t do that to the boys. Rick will be heartbroken.”
He sipped from his glass. “It’s OK, I’ll tell him it was your idea.”
Ali snorted into hers. “You will not. They know we’re engaged, right?”
“Um, well, TJ kinda does,” he said, referring to his SEAL squad leader.
“You didn’t tell them you were going to propose?” Ali reached out of the tub and found her phone. “We’re going to tell them, now.”
“Really, now?”
“Yes, I want to check on Axe.” She dialed TJ and propped the phone against the bottle of champagne.
As the call connected they ducked down so only their faces were visible on the screen.
“Hello, Ali can you hear me?” TJ’s voice came over the speaker, but the screen was pink. The camera was pointing into his ear.
“TJ, it’s Mike. It’s a video call. You need to take it away from your head.”
The image changed to the inside of the squad’s team room at Coronado in San Diego. They caught a glimpse of a shirtless heavily muscled African American seated on a weights bench, Rick the squad Corpsman. Then the camera revealed the craggy features of Chief ‘TJ’ Lines. “Hey, how are the lovebirds doing?”
“Is that Mike?” Rick bellowed in the background. A moment later he appeared alongside TJ. “Hi, Ali.” Rick frowned. “Are you guys in a hot tub?”
“Yes, we’ve had a big day. How’s my boy, Axe?” asked Ali.
“Hang on,” said TJ as he moved the camera.
Axe, Mike’s Military Working Dog was sitting in a chair staring at a cartoon playing on a laptop. Mike whistled and the Belgian Malinois snapped his head toward the screen. The top of his right ear flopped forward as he tilted his head.
“How’s my beautiful boy?” gushed Ali.
Axe cocked his head the other way.
“He’s so confused,” Mike said with a laugh.
TJ appeared on the screen. “He’s been a bit mopey, but apart from that he’s good. The cartoons seem to help. So, what’s news with you guys? Having a good time in Middle Earth?”
“It’s been OK.” Ali held up her hand so the Chief could see the engagement ring.
He squinted and then a broad grin split his craggy features. “Goddamn, that’s fantastic news. Rick, our boy popped the question. Mike and Ali are getting married.”
There was a clang as a dumbbell hit the ground. “Job well done, Frogman.” Rick’s face appeared. “Way to go and congratulations to you little lady.” Then the expression on his face changed, as if a bolt of enlightenment had struck him. “Fuck yeah, this means we’re gonna throw a bachelor party.”
“Whoa there, Rick. Ali and I have decided to keep this real low key. A small ceremony and that’s it.”
TJ’s face appeared. “Probably a good idea.”
“What the fuck?” Rick exclaimed in the background. “That’s so damn selfish.”
TJ rolled his eyes. “OK, you kids enjoy the last few days of your vacation. We’ll see you on Tuesday.”
“Thanks, TJ. Pass on our best to Ernie and let him know the news,” replied Ali.
They could still hear Rick ranting as the call terminated.
Ali kissed Mike’s neck. “You think he’ll be over it by the time we get back?”
He laughed. “Definitely not.”
* * *
“I can’t believe he’s not going to have a bachelor party,” Rick said as he hefted a dumbbell from the floor.
“Who’s not having a bachelor party?” a short Latino asked as he entered the team room. Ernesto, or Ernie as his friends called him, was the SEAL squad’s communications specialist. Together with Mike, Rick, TJ and Axe, they formed an elite fighting team.
“Mike, he and Ali are getting hitched,” said Rick.
“Really, when did that happen?”
TJ ruffled Axe’s ears. “Today, in New Zealand. He popped the big one and she said yes.”
Ernie grinned. “That’s fantastic news.”
Rick dumped the weight on the floor. “Except the selfish bastard isn’t having a bachelor party.”
“What, that makes no sense. You can’t get married without a bachelor party.”
“Mike can,” grumbled Rick.
“You ladies done?” snapped TJ. “You know bachelor parties were never meant to be tequila swilling strip fests. The origin of the tradition stems from the Spartans, they held a feast to toast the groom and farewell his singlehood.”
Rick yawned. “Boring. We need to take Mike to Tijuana and get him fuuuucked up.”
TJ’s eyes narrowed. “No. We need to take him on an epic adventure. Get him out in the woods away from the big smoke and back in touch with nature.”
Rick shook his head and turned to Ernie. “You down with redneck shit or are you up for tequila and titties?”
The Latino’s eyes narrowed. “Essé, I’m not going anywhere near Mexico with you. The Chief’s idea sounds good. We get out in the woods. We drink a little bourbon around a fire and we chill.”
“I’ve got a place in Willamette National Forest up in Oregon. We’ll head up there for a weekend.”
Rick sighed. “Great idea. Except for one thing, Mike and Ali have already laid down the law. No bachelor party.”
TJ gave Axe another pat. “You leave that to me. In the meantime, we’ve got boats to clean.”
Rick and Ernie let out a simultaneous groan.
“Why is it we only wash boats when Mike’s away,” moaned Rick.
TJ smiled. “Because I like him more than I like you.”
Rick frowned. “You’re supposed to like us all the same.”
The Chief chuckled. “This is a SEAL team, not the goddamn Brady Bunch. Get your ass off that bench and get down to the sheds.”