Chapter 14
Week later Grace was at home with the kids and Pete since Melbourne return cause of engine problems. They were out side enjoying sat morning sun shine when Grace cell phone rang so she pull it out of her pocket to answer it
"Grace Shepard"
"Grace it Janet Dixon"
"Hi Janet why are you whispering"
"I haven't got much time. Tell the crew dad getting married this afternoon"
"Charge getting married, where what time"
"This afternoon at two at their new home"
"What why didn't he tell us" Grace and Pete look at each other
"It Janet family. They only wanted family only"
"Your joking has charge told them about Hammersley crew mates"
"Yes and he said no to them. He said that if dad invite them then he would say no for him and Janet for getting married"
"What that not fair for charge to choice between Janet and her family to Hammersley"
"I know and Janet just found out about it an hour ago she not happy with her parents. She told them that the crew are a family"
"Right, thanks for telling me and don't tell the others that you called"
"Ok I better go" Then she hung up. Grace hung up
"Grace what going on"
"We are going to charge wedding in our uniforms, let's start texting this message to the crew"
Then grace started texting 'charge married 2pm wear dress whites, best behavior or tooth brush Hammersley. Meet at corner at 1.45pm, partners and kids invited also. MD'
When Pete saw the text message he type it in and then between the two of them they sent the message to the crew. When done Grace stood up
"I'll head in to town I'll be back in an hour"
"Where are you going" Grace smile
"Trust me" she bend over and gave him a kiss
"I'll be back" then she walk in side while making a call to some one.
When Grace return she was carrying two wrap gifts, a wedding card and her bag. She put them on the bench then she went to get lunch sorted out for her family.
When it was time Pete drove them to charge and Janet new house that they brought and move in a month ago. They arrived five minutes before the others showed up. When they did the crew were wearing their uniforms. Grace check them over and nodded
"Here sign this" She past Mike a wedding card and pen
"You all sign it" When they did, spider ran towards them
"Here they come" he yelled"
"Take cover" Grace called out.
Every one duck behind the cars just as the bridal car slow down and went around the corner. They waited while Grace check to see if it was all clear. When it was she stood up
"Ok let's go, Pete the gifts" Pete got the gifts from their wagon then they all walk down to the house.
They walk around the back just as the ceremony began. The minster stop when he saw who was walking around the corner. Every one turn to the group.
"Who are you" a man said
"I'll deal with this" Grace said as she step ford.
"sir I'm commander Shepard and close friend of chief petty officer Thorpe and his family."
"Your Grace Shepard"
"Yes sir" Then he look at her metals and raise an eye brow then he look up at her and then to the others
"Why are you here"
"To attend a friend... Hammersley family member wedding sir"
"How did you know"
"Janet call me this morning about it"
"What" he said in shock then turn to his daughter
"You call her when I told you not to"
"Wrong Janet" Grace said the man turn to Grace then to Janet Dixon
"You call her"
"Yes I did you didn't tell me or Rebecca not to call any one from the Hammersley crew. And Grace is right Hammersley crew is a family"
"Dad Grace is right. They are Andy and my friends. we wanted them to be here to share this special day with us" Then Sam ran over to charge
"Uncle Andy"
"hey there" He pick Sam up and gave her a hug
"Are you really getting married today"
"Yes I am"
"Why wasn't I aloud to come"
"I want you and every one to be here but Janet dad said no"
"He a meany then" Charge grin then put Sam back on the ground.
Janet father and every one heard what was said between Sam and Charge. Sam then ran over to Grace.
"She your daughter" The man said
"Yes and she loves her uncle Andy and was looking ford to see him get married. We all are."
"Please let us stay we will be good and quiet" Sam said He look down at Sam as she grin
"Even the crew would be good or they would be clean Hammersley with a toothbrush" He then chuckle
"That would take a long time with a tooth brush"
"Yes sir it would, just ask uncle Leo, he knows all about cleaning Hammersley with a tooth brush" Sam said. Every one laugh
"Well, ok so long as every one behave them selves" Sam turn to the crew
"You heard that uncle Leo"
"Yes Sam I heard" he said smiling
"You to uncle Billy"
"Yes Sam I under stand"
"Alright you are welcome"
Then the crew step ford while Janet father return back to his seat. Grace gave the minster the nod got him to continue. Every one watch Janet and Charge exchange their wedding vows and rings. They all smile when they kiss and the wedding license was sign.
"I'm prod to introduce Andy and Janet Thorpe" Every one clap and cheer the happy couple on.
They they all step ford to congratulated charge and Janet. Then they all talk and mingle. Janet parents watch how their daughter get on well with the crew. Grace walk over to them.
"Sorry for coming here sir, ma'am but as you can see you daughter dose get on well with the crew and their families"
"Yes we can see. Janet told us that you introduce Andy to her" Grace smile
"Yes I did and they not the only couples I help get together"
"Oh"
"Yes, that couple over there talking to Janet Dixon. That commander mike Flynn and his wife lieutenant Kate McGregor. I got mike to go and talk to her... it a long story. As you can see they are happy. Then there ET and Nav she holding one with month old baby. I gave them advice since they weren't on the same boat any more. They got married over a year ago. Then there RO and Janet. As you can see they are all happy"
They watch the crew talk and laugh with Janet family. Grace smile when Pete walk over to her
"Sir, ma'am I'm chef petty officer Pete Tomaszewski, my friends call me buffer, I'm grace husband"
"Hello I'm Tom and this is Heidi my wife" they shook Pete hand
"How did you two meet" Heidi asked
"I was temporary captain on Hammersley when Mike broke his arm. Pete was the bosun on the boat"
"Really"
"Yes ma'am we got married three months after we first met and after six years of marriage, three point five kids later we still happy and in love just like on our wedding day"
"three point five, what do you mean" tom asked
"I'm pregnant with twins" Grace put her hands on her stomach and move downward revealing her baby bump
"Wow congratulations"
"Thank you"
They talk for fifteen minutes before Grace and the others learn that charge, Janet ans the family leaving to go to a restaurant in town for the private dinner.
"When you got some time come around to the pub Janet knows which one and you will see what the crew a really like and charge"
"We will think about it, what about kids"
"Them included we are heading home to change then heading there to celebrate charge and Janet wedding"
"Ok"
Grace turn and walk over and pick up the gifts and walk over to Janet and charge
"Charge, Janet from the Hammersley family" She past them the gifts and card. They look at the card and every one writing and comments then they open the gifts.
"Wow thank you" Janet said when she saw two sets of six wine glasses
"Here let me show you some thing"
Grace open one of the boxes and pull out a wine glass she show them the bottom stem. In grave was four hearts with the initials 'A. J' in the middle
"Thank you Grace" Janet said as she gave Grace a hug
"Your welcome" Then charge open the other gift.
It was a box so he open it and pulled out baby green and yellow sailor out fits, hats included. Every one laugh when they saw it
"Thanks you mad dog"
"There more" Charge look st the bottom of the box.
Janet reach in and pull out another box so she open it and pulled out a silver photo frame. She smile and she show charge then the others. The frame was silver with anchor on each corner and rope going through each anchor and connecting to the next anchor
"You had this made mad dog"
"In Grave yes, look at the anchor closely" they look at it to see. 'A. J' on each side of it.
"Thank you we love it"
"Your welcome, we better let you guys go. We going home to change then to the pub to celebrate, come by later for a wedding drink, bring the families" Grace said
"Sure, thank you all for coming" Janet said.
They Grace and crew members left to head back to their cars. Hour and half later Grace, Pete and kids walk up the steps to see the crew there. The barbecue was going and every one was talking, laughing and drinking.
Five hours later Grace nudge Pete. He turn to look at Grace
"Guava mojo" she said quietly. Pete smile then stood up and walk into the bar. Grace turn to Dutchy and gave him a small nod. He stood up and walk in side few seconds later. Grace turn back to Nikki and carry on talking till every one heard
"Hey charge is here" Spider said.
Every one turn to see Charge and Janet holding hands as they walk up the steps with their families behind them the crew cheered just as Dutchy and Pete walk back out side carrying trays in there hands yelling out
"Guava mojo's" Then the crew cheer once more.
"Here you go mate" Pete said as he step in front of Charge and Janet
"Cheers, how did you know when to time it"
"Grace"
"Ah"
"Janet the red drink is cranberry and lemonade"
"Thanks Pete" as she pick up her drink.
Then peter did the family then he walk back in side and return with another tray of drinks for every one. Dutchy did the same. Every one sat down talking and laughing for the next few minutes.
Pete lean over to Grace "shall we" Grace turn to him
"Why not" Then he stood up and gave Dutchy a nod.
They walk back in side then return few minutes later carrying four tier wedding cake Every one cheer. It was white cake with blue ribbon and blue anchors around it with a bride and navy groom on top. They place it on a table in front of Janet and Charge. Then Dutchy went back in side then return with plates, napkins and desert forks. Grace stood up
"This is also from the crew, so care to cut the cake"
Every one watch Charge and Janet cut the cake and kiss. They cheer the couple on. When done every one laugh as Charge was eyeing the cake. Bomber step ford
"Charge you will get a slice, so you can wait till it cut up"
"Ok" He step back raising his hands.
Bomber cut the first layer and put it onto plates then the next till every one for a slice then it was handed around. Every one watch as Charge enjoy his slice.
"Enjoy it while you can mate cause soon as you back on Hammersley it back to your diet" Pete said grinning causing few chuckles.
Hour later most of the crew and Janet family left since they got young kids with them while the rest enjoyed them selves.
Melbourne left on Monday morning since the repairs have been fix. Grace was working at the hospital for the day. Hammersley was in port for a week. Week later Grace was at NAVCOM when Hammersley called Grace was standing up and walking around when lieutenant young got her attention so she walk over to him
"What is it lieutenant"
"I got Hammersley on the line"
"I'll take it"
"Yes ma'am" Then he patch the call to Grace since she put her ear piece in
"Kate is Grace what the problem"
"We came across a freezer... it was full of human organs"
"what the condition of the organs"
"rotten most of the crew ended up having their heads over the side of the boat, me included"
"Alright return back to cairns I'll see what I can find about black market organs"
"Alright we will be back in Cairns in seven hours"
"I'll let commander Flynn and White know" Then she discount the link.
"Is every thing alright ma'am"
"Yeah" Then she turn around and walk over to Maxine office and walk in
"Commander Shepard are you alright"
"Yes I just spoke to lieutenant McGregor, they return back to Cains"
"Why is there some thing wrong with the crew or Hammersley"
"Well the crew half of them won't be eating lunch. They just fish out of the sea a freeze full rotten human organs" Mike and Maxine started to look a bit green around the gills
"Over half the crew including lieutenant McGregor ended up with their heads over the side of the boat"
"Black market" Mike asked
"That my best guest and the freezer would have been in the water for about three weeks since the storm"
"Alright leave it to me" Maxine said
"Sure" Then Grace turn around and walk out the door leaving them to talk about it.