Chapter 12

They were waiting for them outside. All of the Hightowers lined up to say farewell to Michael and his new bride.

Diana kissed each one of them, sexy black-haired Kate, the perky blonde Paula and her young brother Bryan. Then there was Lorraine and Jim and, of course, the elder Hightower himself, Michael One. Their kisses were like no other parting kisses she had ever had before. Each was long and lingering. Definitely the type of kisses one gives a lover to remember them by during a long absence.

She didn't mind. They were all her lovers now. And she returned the embraces with the same enthusiasm in which they were given.

And when all the hugging and kissing and intimate last squeezes had been completed, they all crowded around the car, as Michael and she prepared to leave.

"Look, let us know when you're settled in down in Houston," Michael One said then added, "And take care of Diana, I don't think you'll ever be able to find another one like her."

Michael grinned. "That's just what I intend to do."

With that they all stepped back and Michael switched on the ignition and shifted into low, moving around

the circular driveway and heading out of the Hightower estate.

Twisting in her seat, Diana stared out the small back window, waving her last farewell to her new in-laws. Then as they disappeared behind the magnolias and eventually the whole estate disappeared behind the outside wall, she turned back and glanced toward the winding road they traveled.

Michael reached out and gently squeezed her thigh, "Sweet sorrow and all that?"

"Mmmmm hmmmm," she nodded, then laughed lightly. "I must admit I'm going to miss my new family."

Michael grinned, "We'll come to visit often, if you like."

"I'd like," Diana smiled, suddenly realizing that visiting relatives had a completely new meaning for her.

"Meanwhile, we've got a long drive ahead of us and I need some directions," her husband said.

Diana punched the button to the glove compartment and pulled out the travel atlas. Flipping through the pages, she found the map Michael had previously marked. After she gave him the number of the highway for the first leg of their journey, she silently traced the remaining portion of the route to Houston, then flipped to the map of Mexico and surveyed the route to Mexico City.

Mexico City, she mused, and our honeymoon.

She chuckled to herself. My honeymoon's already started. One of the strangest honeymoons a woman could have ever imagined for herself. A honeymoon family style!

The End