Carlos Hazday

That Carlos guy is popular with this family. It's like he's their Big Daddy or something. But they've also read stories by some guy named Wolf. Brett loves werewolf and dragon stories.

I'm pretty sure in a few years they'll be referred to as the Abello Family by almost everyone. CJ does get the most important job in the world.

I think it's too late for you to be reading at lunch. LOL This is a true prologue. It tells us what's going to happen and introduces most of the support cast. The drag queens don't make an appearance for a while.

I previously mentioned my big boat experience was limited to sailing on a 65 footer. With only 4 of us on board, I pulled my share of lines and I didn't have a Champagne flute in my hand every waking hour. This is not a vacation you plan in a month or two, unless you're buying the yacht. I figured Brett had at least a year. The first indication this group's not typical of other wealthy Americans was them having no dietary restrictions. Can you imagine a group who order food the same way they order at Starbucks. I'm pescatarian, lactose intolerant, and don't eat carbs. Please prepare a five-course banquet within those parameters. The chanlers in Barcelona and Palma will help coordinate several events related to Cesar's 50th. I said this was much longer when I first wrote it and a big chunk of what I deleted concerned Nina. I had her as a Putin supporter who decried Western morality that allowed men to marry other men. But that would have repeated some of CJ's previous battles and I prefer to offer new conflicts. I had them suggest hand food while sailing, but Nina's being difficult. How about a 20 degree tilt? LOL Such a pleasure to see you comment on the story!

I rewrote the prologue countless times. The original was much longer and I realized these was the support cast I was introducing and there was no need to mention a lot more about them. We'll get a few more bits about them in upcoming chapters. But CJ & Co are still the stars of the show.

I think Liebe keeps her last name when she gets married, but Baravento will need to be added to the list. CJ and Owen we know have experience sailing in Tom and JP's catamaran. Hell, CJ even took sailing lessons his first summer in D.C. Now about our favorite couple stealing a boat as I may have mentioned...

Parker's ears must be ringing. LOL I can so see CJ losing his cool. At least he's being realistic about what's coming, and it'll serve as a lesson to let Ozzie handle stuff like that in the future. My goal with this one was to explore their lives once CJ's won his election, and show how living in a fishbowl will impact all their lives. He might be the politician, but the entire family is part of the operation.

It's been that long? Damn! I recall you suggested the Canary Islands but wanting to use Barcelona and Ibiza as setting, the Balearic Islands won out. My list of ideas and possible future stories keeps growing. At least I got this one out of the way.

Don't forget Lucy! Last time we saw her was in 2024 when she and Ritch drove off in his Porsche after graduation. She'll play a bigger part in this story. As for Parker, he probably made more money tutoring one girl for a short time than in one year as a teacher. Nice work if you can get it.

Wait until they go sightseeing in Barcelona and spend time at a vermuteria!

You live down here? My goal's always to entertain readers (including myself) LOL A few characters weave in and out of the story, but the biggest chunk of it is all family interactions. The prologue was from the captain's POV, the first 3 chapters are all from Liebe's and we'll experience events from each character's view at least once.

She usually jumps when her name gets mentioned; I'm surprised she hasn't reacted yet. She need to tell us what really happened all those decades ago when she was Liebe's age.

I suspect by the time the twins are her age, CJ and Owen will have to accept their kids have potty mouths and their only recourse will be to hammer them when colorful language's employed outside the home.

The twins will get plenty of air time. They're only four, but we'll get to see where their personalities are headed. And two think those two wind up as naval officers. What's out world coming to? LOL

Thanks, bud. Glad you enjoyed the opening salvo.

I think their dialogue sounds realistic because I extrapolate from how my brothers, their kids, and I talk to each other. While at times I struggle to write a line or dialogue or two for some characters, this bunch is easy.

She must definitely does. She and her brothers will be exposed to people and situations most of us can't even imagine. I pity anyone else who stands in her way.

@Parker Owenswears a lot of different hats. While tutoring Liebe, he tried to convince her to pick up lacrosse... Maybe later, when they live in New York for a few years and the kids attend a fancy prep school.

Names are all over the place within the extended family. Did you notice what Spencer and Tilda named their boy?

All aboard..... Oh, wait, we don't ride a train until later. This being a CJ story, expect a little sightseeing, maybe an old church or two, and top-end booze with 5-star meals. You know, different continent, same old shit.

I think 2 active 4-year-old will run the crew ragged! Better them than us. We get to sit back and enjoy the story without having to ensure the little ones don't drown.

Three or so decades ago, I spent a week aboard a 65' sailboat, cruising the Out Islands in the Bahamas. Although I borrowed that ship's vessel for the one Brett charters, my experience, while outstanding, wasn't in the same level as theirs. And I didn't stay in a 5-star hotel with a butler assigned to my suite the night before departure. That experience inspired and colored this story.

I wrote this while the Mexico book was being published, and I tried to steer away from the controversy-laden approach. This will definitely be a much more sedate tale. And at last I answer the question on everyone's mind: Where in the world is Lieutenant Peterson. Lucky bastard. Italian food and ski slopes.

That damn biker keeps showing up at the strangest of times. I think he has the hots for CJ and Owen. LOL One thing that hasn't changed is CJ still has a temper. And he's quickly learning he has to be careful with what he says and does because of his position. The boys want earrings and Liebe wants tattoos... gee, I wonder who they take after.