Chapter 6

Somehow, we both survived to the wedding date. The invited wedding guests came aboard. Miki graciously met them alongside me. Her entire demeanor seemed changed. There was a new confidence and assurance in her as my soon to be bride.

The helicopter on the foredeck's engine whined, then fired up, and then took off. There were security people on it making a last minute check on our island. They'd be excluding any pushy papparazi from the party.

The "DuPre" cast off her lines and warmed her powerful engines as a big tug towed her up the channel to the open Pacific. At the last channel marker the towlines were cast off, and the "DuPre" quickly gained seaway and her giant rudder corrected her direction as the huge props swept the water behind us. The Captain blasted a salute to the tug crews on the ship's horns. The crew's cheers were echoed by all of our guests.

I had brought Miki and her parents up to the ships control room so they could have a good view of our stately departure from the harbor. Miki cried, of course, and clung to me. She already loved the great ship as much as I do. Miki then went to our suite to dress, with Reiko, Cheryl, Madame Chang, the Ozawa sisters, and a flock of other maids of honor in attendance. I had surrendered the suite for her preparations. My black kimono awaited me in one of the smallest staterooms. I had elected to wear a kimono, since the other participants in the ceremony would be in traditional clothing.

My old friend Phillipe Surat had agreed to fly from France and act as my Best Man, and he also dressed in a black kimono. He and Nori seemed to be competing to see which of them could ply me with the most liquor. I wisely poured most of it out portholes and over rails. I rationalized the pollution by thinking the Pacific might recover given a few hundreds of years.

I dressed and went aft to mingle with the guests, keeping a full drink in my hand to prevent being handed another. Food was available everywhere. Ozawa had set up buffets on every deck and kept them restocked. There must have been tons of sushi served alone. Every bar on the ship was wide open, and manned by a steward. I ate several bites of sushi on my way through the crowd to keep the butterflys in my stomach well fed. I didn't want them mutinying on me.

Ozawa knew by now of Miki's love of coconut, so there were trays of Coconut Mango Shrimp and Thai Coconut Milk Sticky Rice with Mangoes on every buffet.

There was a popular band set up in the main lounge and pleasant music was being piped through the ships sound system at a moderate level. I noticed the Tanaka's pastor checking his watch. It was nearly show time. I saw Mike and several members of his crew were shooting from every angle. Phillipe was right at my shoulder so it appeared we were ready. "I have the ring." Phillipe said, reassuring me.

The band switched to the Wedding March and Phillipe laughed in my ear. He snickered and asked, "Nowhere to run, Paul?"

I laughed, and told him, "Wait until you see Miki up close before you laugh at me, Phillipe!"

She and Nori were just leading her entourage into view. Phillipe changed his tune. "Mon Dieu, she is an Angel!" To say Miki was gorgeous in her mom's pure white wedding kimono is as much an understatement as saying the Taj Mahal is a pretty building!

The ceremony went smoothly until it came time for me to kiss my bride. Her traditional head covering gave me a fit, but between the two of us, we got it done! The Captain ordered the ship's horns blown and someone rang the big ship's bell for the better part of a minute. The helicopter, our air force, did their version of a fly over.

My darling was beaming! "Come with me, Paul." She begged me. "I have to change for the reception, a colorful kimono goes over this one now, and I cannot bear to be out of sight of you! " I was allowed in the suite for this change; then we went back out on deck for more pictures and the reception.

The pictures were a total success, we got some very good press with them. Mike transmitted them immediately to a friend in the media, and we were given kudos not only for sharing them, but also for wearing the traditional costumes. We were hoping if we were open with the media they wouldn't intrude on our privacy later. I asked Mike to get a promo aired using our wedding pictures with our thanks from Miki and myself to everyone.

Miki and I worked the crowd at the reception. I hoped she wasn't tiring too much, I knew the costume she had on was weighted to retain a perfect form, so my poor darling was carrying near half a ton of ballast. Okay, I may be exaggerating a little, but then she is not very big. I asked her, "Have you eaten anything, Mrs. DuPre? I know you've been awfully excited. Shall I fix a plate for you?"

She laughed and responded, "That sounds wonderful, my husband, please do!" I found a couple of small plates and chose us some sushi, some smoked salmon and cream cheese rollups, with fresh spinach greens, and several other items I knew she would like. I coaxed her until she said she couldn't eat another thing.

Reiko found me and introduced me to some family members I hadn't met yet. One uncle of hers cracked me up. He let it slip there had always been kin of theirs who were boat people! I had to find my Miki and share that with her. She hugged the old man and laughed. I wished there were some way we could work that into a promotion without offending anyone.