Chapter 7 : The departure
Monday
1000 Hr
At the quay there was the usual hustle and bustle when a ship was at the point to leave.
Five officers stood together.
Conform their grades, they greeted each other, but afterwards there followed a much more informal greeting.
"Mike, good luck and fair winds mate", Dylan said as they shook hands and he gave him a tap on the shoulder.
Nikki didn't say much and produced a husky "Fair winds" as well when she shook his hand as well.
Mike turned to Kate and both looked at each other intensive.
"Mike, you have to promise me three things", Kate started. "One, no cowboy actions. Remember I know what you are like. Two, keep the crew safe and three, you have to come back unharmed. Fair winds."
"Kate, when I saw you back for the first time last Friday …", Mike said.
Kate knew what Mike was going to say, she knew her own emotions and felt perfectly what was going to come...
"No Mike, don't make it worse", she said with a voice full of emotions, looking at him.
"… I thought you became really an ice queen", Mike said as he slowly started to smile.
"Mike, no", Kate said as a tear rolled down her cheek.
"But now, I know for sure that..."
"Mike !", Kate yelled as she tried to interrupt what he was going to say.
"…you are still the same sweet and sensitive woman."
Kate could not avoid stopping more tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Oh, great ! Look at me now in front of everyone ! But it's cute from you", she said wiping them away as she started to smile.
"Thanks, I'll keep in touch with you by email", Mike said as they both hugged, then he saluted and turned around and walked on board the ship.
Dylan was the first who broke the tension a couple minutes later. "Come on girls, time for a coffee break."
They all turned back to go to the office.
On the bridge Mike was looking at the three officers who were walking back while Commander Chris Packer was getting ready to take the frigate out of the port.
Mike watched Kate as she limped slightly away while talking to Nikki and Dylan.
It's a pity that she must have that handicap too. She didn't deserve that.
I knew I was wrong then, but I had no idea that I had made such a mess of our relationship and that I turned her life upside down. I had to let her feel that I was there for her. I had to take that shore posting much earlier !
But somehow they let me feel that I am one of them.
No, I may not let them down again.
He returned to the command room to work on his task.
Three months later.
HMAS Ballarat.
Mike sat at his desk in his cabin and looked at the group photo of the four of them in front of Hammersley. Nikki had mailed it to him three days after he left for his four months tour. When he received the photo attachment he printed it on the colour printer of the frigate and stuck it above his desk. He caught himself he counted the days at the calendar before he would be back with his friends.
Sydney
"Here girls, coffee", Dylan had put the tray with three cups on the table.
"When is Mike due to be back?", Nikki asked sipping from her coffee.
"Within a month", Kate answered before she put the cookie in her mouth.
"Maybe, the four of us can get together again?", Nikki suggested with a smile.
"Sounds like a good idea, I'll ask Mike when he returns. Hopefully Pete can make it this time", Kate answered smiling.
"Yeah so long as he doesn't have to crash sail. Kids and I miss him so much", Nikki said with a sad look on her face.
"I know you do Nikki, but we both know what Navy timing is like, even when we were on Hammersley, we didn't get much shore leave", Kate said
"True."
To be continued
2
