Dear Kay,    
        
How are you? I hope you’re doing well. I so miss you. I can’t believe that we’ve been apart for so long. How is camp? Are you mistreating those kids? Don’t go ‘oh Simone!’ I know you, Kay.

I hope you got all the postcards I sent you. This cruise has been so busy. We decided to take it because the Jacks family suggested it. It was more educational than anything I’ve been on. We went to Morocco first. We actually went to Casablanca. How can I describe it – something out of an old movie. The mixtures of cultures. I can’t tell you the great pictures and souvenirs that I got. We rode camels in the desert. We went to Fès, Marrakech, Meknes and Rabat. They are known as the Imperial Cities, each having been the Morocco’s capital at some time during its history. The people were warm and kind. Jerry Jacks has friends all over the world. He had a friend in Morocco, and this man opened his villa to us. It was a wild three days – they knew how to party.

From there, we went to Senegal. To Dakkar. With my love of art, I was able to find so many galleries, some with artists-in-residences and wonderful museums. The pieces I got there will add to my collection- MY collection. My Mom told Whitney and me that this was the time for the two of us to begin our own art collections. I can’t wait for you to get home so that you can see the pieces that I’ve chosen.

The ship stopped for a couple of days at Saly Portudal. Kay, it was beautiful. Miles of pristine beaches. Just fabulous. Whitney and I went windsurfing; riding horseback on the beach; riding around in horse-drawn carriages.  And wildest of all –we went deep-sea FISHING! It’s renowned for its deep-sea fishing, and I actually caught a fish. It was a WILD day. My mom got into a fight with her fish – you’ve got to get me to show you the pictures – it was hilarious.

Guess what else we saw? A Pink Lake. Yes, I said pink. Bright pink. The concept is the same as Salt Lake City, Utah. There is such a high salinity content in the water that everything floats in it. Beautiful. Pristine. Pics are unreal.

We went to Eastern Senegal. Jerry was able to arrange it for us. It was SOOO not the ‘ touristy’ thing we had come accustomed to on this trip. We lived in an African village. We enjoyed the traditional African life of the village. Following their customs. Wearing their traditional dress and ornaments, which were beautiful. The village was perched on top of green hills, near waterfalls, in, like the middle of nowhere. The views were amazing. It was like, nature in perfection.

Then to end the trip, I went on my first SAFARI! I mean, think Out of Africa in our dress. Open truck, the slacks, the hats, men with guns, the entire shebang. We went to Niokolo Koba, the largest of Senegal's National Parks. We couldn’t shoot anything inside of the park, but we saw nearly anything that you would think you’d find in Africa, animal –wise: Lions, elephants, antelope, monkeys, crocodiles, hippopotami, and 300 species of birds. Big game hunting is permitted outside of the park, and yes, the squeamish American women were covering their eyes as the ENTIRE Jacks family – including Mama Jane – went big game hunting. The pics are worth a thousand words.

But, the most memorable part of the trip was our visit to Gorée Island. Gorée Island is the place where every captured African was processed through on their way to being slaves in the Americas. It’s beyond description really. It is one of the most humbling experiences of my life, Kay. One of those life-altering moments. To be in the rooms; to stand in the place; to know the pain and horror that those Africans faced once they left Goree Island, it broke my heart, Kay. Broke my heart. No, it broke my soul. It was like the place was haunted. Haunted by the millions of souls who had their lives destroyed because of chattel slavery.

I cried that entire night when we got back to the cruise ship. To say that both Whitney and I were freaked out to go back on a boat after being at Goree Island is an understatement. It took us a couple of days to regain our bearings.

Next stop on our trip was Ghana. It was fun. It was very low-key. The Jacks’ arranged for us to do a lot of local things. We got a private session with Antionette Kudoto - the first and only woman “master drummer” in Ghana. She gave us drumming and dancing lessons. It was so much fun.

We also went to a design studio. We learned how to make our own clothes- it was a Batik workshop. I made one for my Dad, and you, and for my grandparents. I hope they like it. It was fascinating, learning to use wax and dyes and design.

Everything was very low-key. I think we needed that. Just to enjoy the wonders and treasures of a country.

The final days on the cruise ship were fun and sad. We had just met the Jacks’ and now it was over. I think we were supposed to meet them. We were supposed to have them come into our lives. Jax, the young one, has been terrific for Whitney. He’s been flirting with her shamelessly, knowing that it won’t lead anywhere, which is ok because Whitney didn’t need for it to actually GO anywhere. She needed to know what a man as handsome, worldly and FOINE as Jasper Jacks could find her attractive.

Now my mom is another thing. I thought Jerry Jacks was this famous playboy. And, if this is a game he’s running on my mom, he’s very smooth. Yet, I don’t think that’s a game for him. I think he has real feelings for my mother. What I can’t figure out is how my mother feels about Jerry. He’s a terrific guy; I can’t say that I’m mad about him being interested in Mom. It’s weird to see my mother with another guy, yet my mother deserves to have a good time. She deserves love. She’s been in enough pain because of my Dad. I’ve accepted that my parents won’t ever be together again, so maybe seeing my mom with another man is good for me.

But, you know, I hear a lot about rebound relationships, and I don’t want that for my mom or Jerry, because he’s a good guy. Then, there’s the issue of Julian Crane. You know he footed the bill for our entire trip. When I say entire, I mean ENTIRE, Kay. I bet what he spent on us, with the cruises, private planes, tours, as well as all our shopping is what my mom makes in two, maybe even three YEARS. And a man doesn’t spend that kind of money on a woman unless he has SERIOUS feelings about her. Is my mom in the middle of a ‘triangle’? I dunno.

I think I should leave well enough alone. My mother’s a grown woman. She can handle her own lovelife.

Speaking of lovelife’s, I miss my Boo. I miss my nerdy, glasses-wearing, pocket protector having Boo. Of all the things that have been on the downside about this trip, THIS is it. Not having communications with Reese. Kay, what if he’s met some pretty fellow nerd. They have everything in common, and he realizes how incompatible we are?

Kay, I miss my man.

Well, next for us is Bermuda. I just want to tan, have fun, and do everything that a luxury resort has to offer.

I hope you’re ok.

Love ya,

Simone
PS- I BETTER have a HUGE stack of letters when I get home from you.

“ We’ve made this a nightly routine, you and I, Eve.”, Jerry said, as Eve had her head on his shoulder.

“ Uh huh. “

“ Eve, what are you thinking?”

“ That tomorrow we dock and I’ll never see you again.”

“That’s not true. It’s only true if you want it to be true. I don’t want this to be the last time I see you, Eve.”

“ Jerry, you’ve done your charity work. Made a newly divorcing woman feel attractive. You don’t have to continue.”

Jerry stopped dancing, and put Eve’s face in his hands.

“Dear Lady. You were NEVER a charity project. You were NEVER me trying to make you feel good. You were as you always are – beautiful, smart, stunning, and extremely attractive. Eve, you’re the real deal, and the only thing I have to say to you is that I’m glad your husband was a bloody fool, or I would have never met you. “

Jerry pulls Eve in for a passionate kiss that she gets lost in.