Chapter 21. Looking forward again
Maxine
She entered her apartment still wondering why Fairfax hadn't called her back yet. Maxine changed in civvies went to the kitchen to prepare herself some supper.
She took a pork steak and some vegetables from the fridge. While she was cleaning the vegetables her mobile started to ring. With an onion in her hand she walked to the dining table where her mobile laid.
"Maxine White speaking", she answered while turning the onion around in her fingers.
"Commander, Admiral Fairfax here. I'll call you back concerning the Esperito Santo case", he said.
Finally!
"Yes sir, Lieutenant-Commander McGregor is has been found on Noumea and she's alive and well. If an investigation on the bodies had been done, we should have known that she was still alive somewhere and then we could have set up a rescue operation. I'm wondering if you could help us to blame the politician who ordered the cover up", she said letting the onion bounce up and down in her hand.
"She's back huh?. Hmm a bit nasty", the Admiral mumbled.
"Pardon me?", Maxine said astonished.
"Commander I think you still didn't understand it. Australia cannot afford an incident like this. A violation of another country by our troops is not appropiate. We are, together with New Zealand, the only white countries in this part of the world and it's extremely important that we stay befriended with all the others. That she's alive causes some more risks. She can talk to the press or her commanding officer can do that or even the crew. That story is for the press pure gold, first page news."
"But Admiral, you are a sailor too, you have to understand that the Navy cannot accept that kind of manipulations with our people!", she replied fiercely, clenching the onion.
"Watch your attitude, Commander!", he snapped back.
"Admiral!"
"Listen Commander, I'm at the point to take up a position at the Ministry of Defence and an accusation will discredit my reputation. I know that you are in the running for your fourth band. So if you don't want to end up behind a desk as chief of the Navy Archive, you'd better close this case. And see to it that your Lieutenant-Commander and her commanding officer keep their mouths shut. She can be declared unfit for active duty and he can rust fast on his boat. I know that Flynn is the candidate to take over Navcom after your promotion. So Commander, I think I've been clear enough. If you really want to make some more damage, then go for it."
Maxine was shocked, she couldn't believe her ears. Moreover she was persuaded that she heard a slight joyfulness in his last sentence.
"Commander?", he asked her.
"Uh, yes sir, understood", she quickly answered.
"Great! We understand each other then. It's more complex than sailing a vessel you know. This is business. You'll give something and you'll get something. Good evening Commander."
"Bye… Admiral", she said still in shock.
Maxine looked to her mobile with disbelief, not exactly understanding what she has just heard.
"Goddamn! Asshole!", she yelled and she threw the onion with such a force into her kitchen. The vegetable bumped onto the cupboard and rolled back to her feet.
She bent and took it from the ground. Maxine went back to the kitchen, pulled away the peel of it, took a knife and started to chop it with such a force to work her anger off.
She didn't know if the tears that ran down her cheeks came from the onion or from her anger and frustration or from both. She threw the knife in the sink and rushed out to her terrace to get some fresh air.
Asshole. I'm blocked. I can't go in any direction. If I don't care about my career then he's going to destroy the one from Mike and Kate, just only to save his seat in the Ministry. Damn!
I have to tell Mike quickly before he screws it up for us all!
Mike & Kate
They spent the whole afternoon with wandering through the streets of Cairns, going from one shop to another. Both were carrying several bags containing t-shirts, blouses, underwear, trousers, dresses, skirts, shoes and other things Kate needed to pick up the threat again. Then Mike stopped at the jewellery shop.
"Mike? I want to look for a coat as well. If it rains, I'll get completely soaked", she said.
"That can wait. We need to be here as well. Come", he replied with a smile.
"Mike, no, that's not the intention", she said embarrassed.
"Yes, I insist on it. The previous one has been completely damaged. You need a new one", while ushering her into the shop.
Later on they went to a small restaurant in town. They took place in front of eachother in a cosy corner. Kate wanted to cook something for them both, but he had convinced her for a diner.
"Honey I understand your urge to prepare something for both of us, but tonight it's our first evening together on shore and I want to celebrate that. There's plenty of time on the other days to prepare something for us in the kitchen, you know."
"Yes, you're right, but a diner on top of this all? And then this ring? That diamond has cost you a fortune!", she said embarrassed while she was fiddling with her ring on her finger.
"For you there's nothing too much. You are my fortune", he said while he took her hands.
"Stop it, you let me blush!"
"Katie, I want to marry you! And if I could, tomorrow . I don't want to loose you anymore."
Kate looked at him with glassy eyes and a few tears ran down her cheeks.
"Look what you do to me again", she said upset.
"Don't cry sweetie. That's nothing for you", he said tender.
"I know, but I can't help it. I'm too touchy these last days", she said with a sniff while she searched for a tissue in her handbag.
"Mike, you are so gentle, so cute to propose, but …", she took a deep breath.
"But?", he repeated softly because he wanted her to continue.
"Are you aware of what they've made of me? What I've become? I'm not the same anymore as a couple of months ago. Now I'm the same as that slut of a mother of mine", she said suspicious.
"Honey, no! Don't say that. Your mother did that because it was her own choice. They forced you. You are absolutely not the same as her. You are still exactly the same for me as before this all happened. I … love … you!", he said squeezing slight her hand.
Kate closed her eyes and bent her head a little so that it looked like she was looking at the table cloth. She was trying the recompose herself but could not help that a few tears escaped from under her eye lashes and made dark spots on the table cloth.
"Thank you Mike. You're a man with a big heart. I love you too and I can't image marrying someone else. Yes, I accept your offer!", she said with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Katie, you're making me tremendous happy! How do you want it? You may choose!", he said caressing her cheek.
"Oh! Classic, very classic! When I was a young girl I dreamed already to marry in a long white dress. Not a quick-and-go or a known-by-nobody-and-in-the-middle-of-nowhere", she answered with a smile.
"Of course. I assume we're going to invite the crew too?"
"Redundant question my dear, complete redundant!"
He grinned.
After their dinner they drank a few cappuccino's and they left with all their purchases.
They kept on chatting about everything until they arrived at Mike's place again. After t Kate had put her new things in the wardrobe, they stood facing each other.
"Darling, the bed is all yours, I know you had a difficult time and that you need time to get used to feel someone else next to you in bed again. Take your time, I'm going to sleep on the couch", he said while he took a pillow.
"But Mike…"
He put his finger on her lips. "Honey, do it at your pace. I have time." He gave her a kiss and went to the living room.
His mobile rang and he feared for a crash sail.
Not now!
He walked to the cupboard grabbing the noisy thing.
"Max?", he asked when he saw who his caller was.
"Mike, it's me. Are you alone?", Maxine asked.
"Uh yeah, why?", he said looking at his watch.
"Hmm, it's rather painful", Maxine sounded hurtfully.
"Huh?"
"I'll be short. I've got a message from the Admiralty that we and that means you and Kate too, that we have to keep her return silent. If the press hears about it, then it will cost all of us our careers", she said beaten.
"Hmm, it doesn't surprise me. Don't worry Max, the most important for me is that I have Kate back and I'm not going to do something that will hurt her again", he said.
"Oh, thank you! Ok, I'll leave you now. We'll see each other tomorrow morning", Maxine replied relieved.
"Yeah Max, good night."
He shook his head.
Typically for the Brass. They are really loosing all contact with us, sailors.
He grimaced when he looked at the couch.
He wrestled to get his body on the couch that was shorter than his own length. After a couple of grumbles he found a position that was more of less comfortable.
In the bedroom Kate changed into her new nightdress and lay in his bed sensing the sheets and the environment. She looked at the ceiling in the darkness. Only a few shines from the street lights peaked through the curtains and set the room in a mysterious shine. She couldn't get asleep although she was so tired after all the events of the day.
When was it when I lay in this bed? His bed. Our bed now! 8 months ago? It looks an eternity to me. It's weird, there were just 8 months between, but it looked to me as it were years.
…
What a turbulent day today! In the beginning of the week there was nothing. Everything seemed to be a dream and now it's there, it will come soon and it is.
…
I can't catch it. It's like my brain is too small.
…
Yesterday we were all of a sudden back together.
…
Today I discovered I've been dead.
I discovered that I have lost everything I collected in my whole live.
…
Then Mike popped up with boxes that contained the majority of nice souvenirs of me, so I have a bit of my personality back.
…
I received a complete new wardrobe. Something a girl could only dream of.
…
On top of it I received an engagement ring and a proposal which I accepted.
…
No wonder I can't sleep!
What time is it?
Kate turns to the alarm clock.
Pfft, 2 o'clock in the morning. I'm lying here already for two hours without sleeping.
…
Marriage!
…
A dress.
Where? In the shopping centre, there's a shop. But first I need to have my money back. I can't expect Mike is going to pay for that too.
…
Guests.
Who? His parents. Our friends, the crew.
From my side? Only friends.
…
I will get his name.
Kate Flynn.
Hmm, sounds a bit strange at the moment. Always hoped it could be and now it is.
Now you can do what you wished. Building a family.
…
But you need two to build a family.
Kate fossilized all of a sudden.
She sighed.
Katherine Elisa McGregor, listen!
If you want to build a family you need to be two!
Therefore you have to learn that lying in bed next your own man is harmless, not dangerous, on the contrary, it's cosy and it's fun. When you've learned that, you have to learn the next lesson.
Otherwise there will be no family at all.
Now, go and get him from that bloody couch!
Kate pulled the sheets back and went to the living room. There she saw Mike sleeping at the couch in an awful angle.
Oh my god, my heart breaks. Poor devil. Tomorrow he will be broken.
She went to him and shook softly his shoulder.
"Mike?"
"Darling?"
"Hmm?", he mumbled.
"Darling, it's not going to work like this. It looks like we've had a fight already, even before we are married. Come to bed, it's much more comfortable overthere", she whispered.
"Uh,… you're … sure?", he mumbled.
"Yes, definitely!"
He got up and followed her to the bedroom. Mike went in bed on his side and she on hers. Once in bed she shuffled up to him so that she could feel him and he laid his hand on her thigh. Within a minute she was asleep.