Seafaring Sisters
Chapter 1
Nikki was fuming, the one time Fiorella had to be there she wasn't. She'd gotten ready on her own in the bedroom they'd shared as children. Joe and her other brothers were worried along with their parents and her grandparents were asking where their youngest granddaughter was. The photographer was there waiting to take photo's of the family but one important member was missing.
"Just had an email from her." Joe said with a slight smile walking into the living room of the family home, he'd printed off the email for them to read.
"What's her excuse?" Nikki asked angrily, Fiorella always let people down and this time it was her brother on his wedding day and the wedding had been on the diary for the last 2 years. He handed the email straight to his younger sister.
Hey Big Bro.
I'm sure by now this isn't a surprise but I'm not going to be able to make it. I'm lucky to be able to be sending this. Work's gone mental and we're still overseas and will be for as long as it takes. I know everyone is disappointed, I am too. I'd been looking forward to your big day for ages and I'm sorry I'm not going to be there. However in my place I send love and best wishes to the pair of you on this special day and wish you a lifetime of happiness. At some time I'll raise a glass to you both and share a drink next time I'm with you. Love to you and the family. I'm sure Nikki is fuming, I eagerly await the scathing email from her which I have no doubt she will be planning already. Just know that I'm well and hoping to be home sooner rather than later.
Love to you, your future wife, Mum, Dad, brothers and sis (she'll be the one with steam coming out of her ears right about now)
Fiorella
X
"I'm not already planning it." Nikki protested but she already was, her sister knew her better than anyone even though she seldom saw her. She really wanted Fiorella to be there for her brother's sake, and for their parents, they hadn't seen their youngest child in almost a year, the dress measurements had been emailed over and a bridesmaid's dress hung in the bedroom that the two girls had shared for years.
"At least she's ok. To Fiorella." Her father Nicholas said raising the glass of scotch that he had in his hand. "And to Joseph and Maria." The rest of the family including Nikki's 3 other brothers raised a glass in response.
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"So how was the wedding?" Kate asked when Nikki returned to the ship, the Hammersley was on it's way out for a 6 week tour.
"Fantastic, except there was a missing bridesmaid."Nav replied, she still hadn't responded to Fiorella's email as she'd been too angry at her sister every time she'd sat down to type it. She didn't really know the nature of her sister's role in the Navy so she didn't know if she was making it up or really somewhere she couldn't get away from. "You know I haven't seen her in over 2 years." Nikki sighed sitting down at the desk beside Kate's bunk. Kate was surprised at the revelation, she knew Nikki had a younger sister but she seldom spoke of her.
"That's tough." Kate said and Nikki nodded explaining that they were best friends as kids, there was only 10 months between them, they were even in the same school year but when Nikki joined the Navy Fiorella went travelling. She'd lost track of her sister's life pretty much since then, everyone in the family had as it happened. Emails were few and far between but always welcomed, she hadn't spent more than 2 days with the family in the last few years so they'd all been hoping she'd be at the wedding.
"She's tough, but she's not invincible." Nikki said. "I just want to know she's ok. Anyone can type an email but I can, or could read her like a book."
"I know someone who might be able to help, give me a few days." Kate offered and Nikki thanked her. Despite their initial frostiness the pair had started to get on really well and Kate was eager to put the young Lieutenant's mind at rest.
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The next day Kate came to Nav when she was on watch.
"I've heard back from that friend of mine. She's currently working on intelligence operations in an undisclosed location." Kate told her. "My contact tells me they last heard from the CO about an hour before he emailed me, all team members are safe." Kate knew it wasn't much but at least it was something. Nikki now knew that her sister was safe, she didn't know where she was but it made her sleep a little easier that night.
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Nikki was up early the next morning to type her sister an email.
To our little flower
I slept better than I have done in a while last night, someone did some digging and discovered that you were safe. I've been worried about you for a while, and if I'm honest I actually really miss you. I miss how close we were together, my best friend – the person who knows all my secrets and knows me better than anyone. You're my kid sister, and I miss not having you around to annoy me. There's so much that I want to tell you but I wonder if I'll ever get the chance, we're never home at the same time and I feel you only ever email out of courtesy to stop us from moaning at you in emails. I don't know what I'm going on about.
I was angry at you for missing the wedding but the more I think about it the more I know you would have done everything in your power to be there. You missed a lovely day, and you were sorely missed. I know we were all thinking about you, absent friends was a key feature in the toasts. With all my heart I hope you're safe and get home soon. All the boys miss you, need you to help me keep them in line.
Wherever you're reading this I hope you really are safe and happy and know that we all love you and think of you often. One thing about being at sea is that you have a lot of time to think.
Take care and I hope I see you soon.
Your big sister.
Nicola.
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Thanks for the email.
I don't stay away on purpose but sometimes I could pick my leave better. My posting is currently under review and I've asked for something closer to Australia, also fingers crossed I should be back in the country in the next few weeks. Maybe our paths will cross but who knows the way the RAN works. It's funny; Pop never seemed to be away as much as either of us are. Maybe the boys remember more than us, that's why they never joined up like us two.
I really felt bad not being able to go to the wedding, it was all set and then something happened which stranded me where I was. Unfortunately it was something beyond my control which did nothing to ease my conscience, I was risking things by sending the email but I had too.
Please if you get chance to call Mum and Pop tell them I'm thinking of them, I'll do my best to call them first chance I get but I never do.
To answer the questions you probably want answering: I'm healthy, lost some weight, in need of sleep, not seeing anyone, haven't been out clubbing recently and haven't been home in too long. I miss everyone and really want to go home.
Time is short so I'll sign off now. Take care.
Fio
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The email response was a week in coming, a week that was busy for Nikki and she was glad to be able to read it after a particularly hard day. She was smiling as she ran into Bomber.
"You look happy." Bomber observed.
"Just had an email from my younger sister, she's in the Navy and spends a lot of time overseas. She's hoping to be posted closer to home so maybe I'll see her soon." Nav replied.
"Good for you Ma'am."
"I just want to make sure she's safe." Nikki told the young sailor, and Bomber nodded in response wishing she had a sister like the Nav.
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