Ch. 1 Family truths
Mike was busy distracting his sister Edith's three very energetic children from the fact that there was yet another delay to the long awaited party food due to the late arrival of his younger brother Jack. It appeared to be a family tradition to expect, mock and yet accept Jack's unreliability. Although the younger generation seemed a little inclined to put an end to that tradition. Kate was talking companionably to Mike's mother Margaret and his sister Edith.
A car was approaching along the dirt road, leaving behind it a snake of dust that stretched back to the entry of the Flynn property. Its noise against the peaceful countryside caused all who had gathered on the homestead's veranda and front yard to stop and look as it drew nearer. The three children, Christina, Scotty and Jordan, ran to the front gate excitedly having quickly forgotten their impatience and racing towards yet another adult to run to exhaustion. Mike stood from where he was on the ground having been mid wrestle with the children and watched from near Kate
Kate watched as the family surrounded the final addition to their clan. She smiled ruefully as she witnessed what she could only assume a normal family reunion would look like. How she both envied Mike for this but was also a little intimidated by the intense activity that took place within a small space of a few seconds. It wasn't long before Jack's eyes laid on her. Having survived the initial round of meeting of Mike's family, Kate thought that this final meet and greet would be much of the same well mannered pleasantries. She was wrong.
"Well, Well, Well. They said you were a looker but who'd've thunk my big brother could hook one like you" Jack said with a broad smile as he left the group and approached Kate. Mike was moving towards her as well but before he had a chance to make formal introductions Jack took a final step towards Kate.
"You must be Kate, I'm Jack" and with that he wrapped her in his arms, swept her off her feet and swang her around. Kate was more than a little overwhelmed and was thankful when Mike stepped in and rescued her into the arms she knew.
"It's good to meet you Jack" Kate smiled nervously and shook hands with the jovial, youngest of the Flynn's while the older of the siblings looked on with a knowing frown.
"Good to see you still like to leave your entrance late and over the top as usual little brother" Mike said as he reached over and shook his hands.
"Come on big bro, it's been years, you can do better than that" laughed Jack as he drew Mike into another bear hug. It was an act that you only find in a close family although Kate noted that Mike still wasn't as much at ease as Jack.
Kate stared at the two men before her. Jack was built completely different to Mike. While Mike was tall and athletic, Jack was shorter, solid and very strong. His life on the family property was evident in his build and manner. There was no need for formalities with Jack unlike Mike whose career choice was based around formalities. Being a single child, Kate had often wanted siblings thinking that she would find similarities and unity with them. Apparently similarities were not the rule although she did note the closeness none the less.
Mike's mother, Margaret stepped forward breaking up her two sons as she suddenly became business like in an attempt to get the celebrations fully underway.
"Mike, you and Gus can go and help your father with the meat; you know how he likes to burn the steak. Edith can give me a hand with the salads. Jack, can you show Kate the outdoor settings and organise the picnic table" she efficiently ordered her family around much like Mike would do on the boat.
Kate could not repress a smile at how they all jumped to order, including Commander Mike Flynn. As Mike went to join his father and brother in law, his eyes met Kate's. He knew exactly what she found humorous and sent her a look that said "You're jumping too!" Kate glared back at him and then turned to follow Jack who was waiting to take her to her duties.
Lunch was wonderful and much laughter was shared amongst stories and jokes. The Flynn siblings teased each other in ways of old, Margaret supervised and stepped in when needed and their father Mick watched on quietly.
It was only later while cleaning up in the kitchen that Kate was able to have a quiet conversation with the man who was Mike's father. An older version of his eldest son in more ways than just physical, Mick Flynn was a man of few words but the ones he chose were ones worth listening to and well thought out….. usually.
"You know Kate; this family owes you big time." He began and when she looked confused, he continued with a smile "We haven't seen Mike back home in about 3 ½ years. He tends to use work as a reason but I know he tries to avoid the intense family moments that the rest of them all seem to thrive on. Can't say I blame him all of the time." He finished with a small smile.
"Well, it was actually his suggestion to come. Nothing to do with me."
"Yeh but I bet you had something to do with him making the suggestion" He smiled.
After a brief pause while Kate considered this, Mick continued "How did you meet Mike?"
Kate once again looked confused "Didn't Mike tell you?"
"He has barely told us anything. We have basically filled in the gaps from the snippets he has fed each of us separately"
Kate smiled ruefully. 'And he calls me private' she thought.
"We…ah….we met through common friends that work with him" Kate consoled herself that it wasn't exactly a lie. Nikki was a common friend who works with him. Besides this conversation was Mike's responsibility not hers.
"Well I must admit he looks very happy. I haven't seen him with or heard him mention a girl since he had a bad break up years ago"
Kate's interest was peaked and she stopped what she was doing and looked at Mick who noticed her eyes suddenly studying him intently.
Mick hurriedly tried to brush off his careless comment. "Oh dear, perhaps I shouldn't have said that. Don't worry my dear, it was years ago. Although I will say he was very upset. Apparently she broke it off because they worked together in the Navy – very taboo apparently. He said it was the best choice for them both but I could tell it still hurt him."
The older man looked even more confused as he noticed Kate's face turned towards the window overlooking the garden. She was looking at Mike as he and Jack played touch football with the kids. Mick reached out and put a hand on Kate's arm.
"My dear, it was years ago. But now… Well, I have never seen him happier. Please don't concern yourself about some girl who dumped Mike years ago"
Mick swore later that he wasn't sure the next words that he heard came out of her mouth apart from the fact that they were accompanied by a single tear finding its way down her cheek.
"I didn't dump him. It was mutual" she whispered. She looked back at Mick and smiled kindly as she wiped the incriminating tear away. "Sorry Mick, will you excuse me?"
Mick nodded as Kate quickly left the room with only a glance at Margaret who she stood in the door,
"What happened, Mick?" Margaret said to her confused husband having noticed the distressed look on Kate's face.
"Nothing, we were just talking" said Mick with his hands held up in surrender. One glare from his wife had him recounting the conversation particlarly Kate's last response which he still wasn't sure he had heard correctly.
Suddenly it dawned on Margaret
"Oh Mick you fool" said Margaret as she reached up and hugged the man whose kindly words had inadvertently stirred up a hornets nest.
"Kate was that girl. She was the one he broke up with years ago because they worked together." She watched as the light dawned on the face of the man she still loved after 36 years "They must still work together, even now." She added, once again connecting the dots as only a mother can.
"Oh dear" was all Mick could say as he tried to process the situation. His wife held his face in her hands and shook her head at him, smiling. She knew this gentle man did not mean the harm that he may have caused.
And this was the scene that Mike walked in on.