A/N : Thanks to Alimoo for the funny thread in the following two chapters
CH 14 A bit late
Two months later
"Kate, there's nothing to be nervous about. It's just a formal procedure in front of the municipal official of the city", Kerry said to Kate in the officer's mess during their coffee break.
"I told her already, but she won't listen", Nikki added.
Kate shrugged. "I know it's childish, but I can't help myself that I'm nervous for the marriage."
Meanwhile Dylan and Mike arrived with coffee cups.
"Here you go girls", Dylan said as they put the cups on the high table. Then they both shoved a bar stool closer to sit down.
"It's probably not my day today", Kate continued. "I'm a bit tired due to these tiresome discussions with stupid politicians, our upcoming marriage and my damn knee throbs again thanks to the f*cking rain!", she said expressing the last two words.
"Wow!", Kerry said surprised hearing Kate cursing.
"Yeah, it's a grumpy day today", Dylan mumbled before he sipped from his coffee.
"Meet our captain from the fishing boat", grinned Nikki.
Mike threw his hands in the air, "Don't blame me. I haven't teached her that on Hammersley".
"Why don't you use your cane? It will give you some comfort", Kerry said innocently.
Kate whipped her head in her direction and glared at her with eyes that shot bullets.
Kerry's face was one question mark and the others started laughing.
Then she looked angry at Mike and pointed with her finger to him, "You! You have to explain me a tad when we're back at our office!".
The others around the table could immediately imagine how she was as executive officer of the submarine.
"They say that you have to wear with your marriage 'something old, something borrowed and something blue. What do you think about that?", Kate asked forgetting the previous ping-pong.
"Nah, that's all rubbish! Don't believe that", Kerry replied.
Nikki shrugged. "It's a kind of a funny tradition that belongs to a marriage. It's harmless."
"Hmm". Kate seemed to like the idea and a smile curved her mouth. "Why not? Let me think. Something old?"
"Something from your mother?", Kerry said unaware of Kate's youth.
Kate looked at her scowling, "From that bitch? The only things I've got from her were a couple of slaps", she grumbled.
Kerry was clearly startled and she looked around to see if the others were surprised as well, but they were not. She saw Nikki who mouthed to her "I'll tell you later on".
"Wait, I have a nice suit. I bought it three years ago and I've worn it barely. I'll consider that as old, but it's almost as good as new", Kate said.
She saw Nikki's doubtful face and added, "Nik you know that one, the light olive one with the long skirt".
"Oh, that one", she replied unimpressed.
"Huh? Something wrong with it?", Kate said, hearing the disapproving answer.
"Oh no, not at all", Nikki answered quickly light-hearted.
"Something blue?", Kate continued, then she bent a little forward.
"I have blue underwear", she whispered the last part of the sentence.
"I'm just thinking about something to borrow", she said straightening her back again.
"You can have pumps from me", Kerry proposed.
Kate shook her head. "That's kind from you, but your heels are too high for my leg."
"Ear bells?", Nikki asked.
"Yeah! Bright idea", Kate exclaimed.
"And you mate, do you want my fancy blue boxer shorts?", Mike asked Dylan with grin.
"Don't even think about it buddy!", Dylan replied.
"Enough! Stop teasing a few poor girls with their serious problems", Nikki said scowling.
"Serious problems?", both men taunted together with a smirk.
"I think we'd better return to our desks before it becomes a bit marginal here, not?", Kate said lifting one eyebrow.
"Yes ma'am", they replied with a smirk.
When they walked back to their office Dylan turned towards her.
"Kate, I need to do some purchases in the city the evening. Drop me off near the centre, will you?" he asked her.
"What are you going to look for?", she asked unable to hide her female curiosity.
"Oh, you'll see", he deadpanned and Kate threw him an annoyed glance because she didn't like a riddle.
That evening he came back from the city and entered their villa. He put his visor cap on the shelve in the corridor and yelled, "Hi sweetie, I'm home!".
He chuckled when he heard her yelling from out of the kitchen, "Hi, I almost reported you as AWOL!".
"Don't forget it was the evening traffic jam and I was with public transport. You know when you start on it but you never know when you arrive. By the way, what are we eating tonight?", he replied as he started to walk to the kitchen.
When he arrived at the kitchen he was startled because he saw Kate in tears.
"Ouch sweetie, what's the matter? Troubles?", he asked concerned.
"No, not at all, but these bloody onions, I can't get used to them. Two cuts and I'm crying", she replied trying to produce a smile.
"Oh, I see and what…"
"Fried pork cutlets with fruited onions, fried potatoes and haricots", she replied between two sniffs.
"Hmm, sounds good!"
Two minutes later he walked back to the kitchen and he put a glass of white wine on the kitchen bench where she was cutting the onions.
"Here you go. I have to tell you something", he said.
She looked up, sniffing and blinking with her eyes. "Do you really have to tell it right now? I don't feel comfortable at the moment you know."
"Well uh…", he started.
"Ok, I hear it already, it's urgent", Kate said a bit annoyed as she put down the knife. She wiped the tears from her eyes with her both hands and dried her hands on a towel that lay on the bench as well.
"Next week we're going to marry, but I almost forgot the engagement period. And normally you start an engagement with a…", he said and he grabbed in his pocket and put a small square box next to her glass of wine.
She looked to the box and then back to him, speechless.
"For you."
"But darling…", she stammered as she put her hand on the box.
"Go on", he encouraged her.
Kate opened the box and took out a ring. It was and oval sapphire surrounded with twelve diamonds in a white gold cluster setting with yellow gold band.
"Oh Dylan, that's so expensive!", she said with glassy eyes.
"You deserve it. "
Kate slit the ring on her finger and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Thank you darling", she said before she kissed him passionately while the tears ran down her cheeks again.
When they broke apart, she wipes the tears from her cheeks. "It looks like that I do have to cry at all costs this evening, if it's not by the onions, then it's caused by you. A tear-jerking movie on tv tonight would be the cherry on the cake.", she said with a smile.
He took his glass with wine and waited until she took hers before they toasted.
"Cheers! On us!", he said.
"Cheers!".
To be continued