Chapter 2. Dinner

Cairns

A beautiful day.

There was a pleasant bustle in the city centre. People on terraces, others popping in and out of shops, with or without parcels.

Kate was wandering along the shop fronts looking for an outfit. She popped into several shops, tried on many things and finally found her dress. Now she was looking for the appropriate shoes and some make up. Finally she ended her tour on a terrace enjoying a well deserved cup of coffee. The only thing she hoped that she didn't bump into Mike, not that she wouldn't like that, but it would spoil the surprise.

During the late afternoon she was back home with her purchases and food for there dinner. She smiled while she was unpacking the vegetables.

I'm not going to put on the dress immediately. I'll measure the mood first, but I'll do the make up. Luckily I'm not going to use any onions, otherwise I would look like an aquarelle painting after I finished with them. Just before dinner I will put on the dress.

Now, first the table. It MUST look good.

At the end of the evening I'll know for sure. I hope we can move on together, If it's not I know I'll be a mess for a couple of weeks or so, but then I'll know I have to look further.

A couple of hours later Mike rang the door bell.

Kate hurried to the door, a bit nervous about the outcome of the evening. She was barefoot and wearing a white cotton trousers and a blouse.

"Hey Mike, come in," she greeted him in while standing aside while he entered.

"Hi Kate, I brought the usual stuff," he said as he showed a bottle of wine. She closed the door.

He gave her a kiss. "Hey, you used make up! I've never seen that before. You look pretty good."

That gave her a good feeling and she couldn't hide a smile.

"There's a first time for everything huh."

Hmm, I have a big chance!

"Nice table! Even with candles," Mike said pleasantly surprised.

"Yeah, why not? Aperitif while I prepare dinner?", she asked him.

"Yeah, nice. Sherry dry?"

"Ok, can you open the wine?"

They talked about everyday life, the crew and the last patrol, but they avoided their last fight.

"Right, finished. I can serve. But f…" she said while she was washing her hands. But he interrupted her.

"Kate, uh … I need … I want …," Mike started awkward.

"Mike, can you give me a second please?", Kate interrupted him too.

"Kate, … I…"

"Just a second, big captain of me," she said and giving him a big smile and as she tapped him gently on the chest. Then she hurried up the staircase to her bedroom.

Upstairs she pulled off her blouse, trousers and her bra and she put the dress over her head. She put her hair up and slipped on the new high heeled blue pumps. Finally she looked at the result in the mirror. It was a thin blue silk dress with nude shoulders, a big cut out at the back and the length was just halfway of the tights.

She giggled. "It's going to work, I know !"

She went slowly down the staircase. The clicking sound of her heels made Mike look up and his mouth dropped open with astonishment. He swallowed.

"Kate, you … you are … gorgeous !", he stammered.

"Well, I thought, a special evening, a special dress."

He bent forward and kissed her passionately.

"Kate, I wanted to tell you something. I wanted to do it before you went upstairs," he said while holding her hands.

She looked at him.

"Last time on board you made me upset after our quarrel. I really thought that you thought I didn't love you anymore. But that's not true. It hasn't and it will not be. And you were right, I've been too professional, I had to give you more attention."

"It's my fault too, I know. We had to. Maybe it was that ugly weather that made me so nasty," she answered him softly.

"So, I hope that I can convince you that I really care for you." He grabbed a small box from his pocket and offered it to her.

She opened the box and pulled out a ring with an emerald.

"Mike…." Kate was startled .

"I've chosen it because it has the same colour as your eyes."

"I don't know what to say. Thank you is sounds so cheap…," she whispered while she slit the ring on her finger.

She looked at him with glassy eyes.

"Do you want me to say…."

"Yes." He nodded.

"Oh, Mike ! Yes! I was afraid you were never going to ask it."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and they kissed each other passionately.

"You made me really happy!"

Then she looked from out of the corner of her eyes to the kitchen.

"Darling, I think we'd better eat otherwise it's going to go cold," she said neutral.

He started laughing.

"What's up?"

"You can be so damn sober and logical."

Kate gave him a warm smile and shrugged.

After dinner they sat on the couch.

"Mike, what now? what do we do about the ship?", she asked.

"From the moment I have the opportunity, I'm back to Navcom and then there will be another commander until you'll get your promotion. I'll drag Maxine's tail once more."

"And our relationship?", Kate sounded a bit concerned.

"Honey, nothing will come between us. I guarantee you that. On board we will be professional, but on shore we'll be together." After he said that he gave her a kiss. She stood up and sat back down on his lap and laid her legs on the couch. He started caressing her back without the obstructive material of a bra.

The next morning Kate woke up first. She noticed that she was lying close to him and she didn't dare to move to as to wake him. She enjoyed the idea of getting married while she fiddled with her ring. It would be so different to get on board now.

The sun poked through the curtains and threw bright lines on all the items in the room. Kate smiled when she saw the mess in the room. Her shoes, the dress, his trousers, shirt, all lay around. They fooled around with each other last night like they never had done before. It was going to be a promising period. Lot's of new perspectives popped up at the horizon.

Finally I feel happy. Not alone anymore.

I will be Kate Flynn. Kate Flynn. Hmm, I have to get used to it.

Kids? Last time we touched the subject, he wasn't negative about it.

Shall we keep one of our houses or are we going to look for a new one?