Chapter 21 Laura
7 months later, October
Canberra
Kate and Mike had just finished another working day at the office and they arrived at home.
Kate stood in their bedroom and was quickly unbuttoning her shirt while toeing off her white shoes. She was looking eagerly at the tank top and the shorts that she had put on the bed that morning.
Finally summer! When summer was about to start in England we moved to the winter in Australia. Great! I've got enough of it now. I want to feel the warmth and the sun!
After she has refreshed herself and dressed, Kate walked to the terrace where Archer was sitting in one of the terrace chairs.
He looked up and lifted his eyebrows.
"Wow, mum, it's years ago that I've seen you like this!", he said surprised.
"Finally it's summer, dear and I want to enjoy it completely. When I look back at our time in England we didn't have had real summers", she replied.
Kate sat down in the other chair, "What are you reading?", she asked him.
He showed her a leaflet, "Dad gave me this. The Navy organises for the children of its staff various activities depending on the age. He thought that I could find something in it."
"Uh-hu, did you find something?", Kate replied.
"Yes, for my age they organise a hiking tour in the bush land. I've read about it and I've heard quite a lot about it too and I wanted to see it also!', he said as he put down the leaflet.
"Isn't that a bit dangerous?", she asked frowning.
"Mum, we'll be in group and the group is leaded by two or three specialists depending of the size of the group. Moreover it's stated in the leaflet that there will be a medic as well, in case.. That would be great, then I can finally see the giant croc's!".
"Don't you dare!", she said lifting her finger.
"Oh mum, it will be not that bad", he said in defence.
"Ok, ok, but tell that to dad also!", she grumbled.
"What do I have to know?", Mike asked as he peeked his head outside.
"Dad, I found something in the leaflet that you gave me. A hiking tour in the bush land", Archer said waving the leaflet.
"Aha! Sounds good. Go for it, I should say. That's a nice introduction to Australia for a Pommy", he said with a grin.
"That's not funny dad, and don't forget that mum is a Pommy as well!", he returned with a grin.
Mike opened his mouth to say something, but Kate intervened first, "Watch out to what you're going to say Flynn!" and she gave him her fabulous stare.
He lifted his hands, "ok, ok, but remember that I'm a native of Australia", he said with a grin.
"An aboriginal, you mean", Kate returned with a smirk causing Mike to give her his famous CO stare.
December
The sun stood still high in the sky although the afternoon came to an end and it was hot.
Kate has returned from the airport with Archer after the hiking tour in the bush land. She stopped the car on the ramp and they got out.
He was extremely enthusiast and he didn't stop talking. They walked to the trunk of the car to get out his backpack and Kate made a face.
"What's up mum?", he asked.
"Dear, it must have been very dry and hot there, because you stink!"
"Everyone stunk", he said with a broad smile.
"Oh great!", she replied rolling her eyes.
Mike had heard the car and walked into the garden along the house. "Ah! Our bushman is back!", he greeted his son.
"With a smell!", Kate grumbled.
"Hey dad!", he replied .
"How was your bush experience?", he asked.
"Great! I never thought it was like that and I've met nice people too! I..", he said enthusiastically but he was cut off by his mother.
"Archer, take a shower, because I'm getting sick of your sweat smell!", she grumbled while she ushered him gently inside.
Two hours later they sat at the table for supper.
Kate had just filled the dishes and she sat down as well.
"So dear, tell us something about your bush experience", she asked as she started to cut a piece of roasted pork on her plate.
He looked at his parents, "I've met a wonderful girl during that trip!", he said enthusiastically.
"Nice!", she replied, "and what's her name?", Kate asked.
"Laura! And she's one year younger than me", he said.
"Hmm and where does she live?", Mike asked.
"Also Sydney and her father has also an important function in the army just like the two of you", he said still enthusiastically.
"Ah? And what's he doing and what's his name?", Kate asked.
"He's a colonel of the SAS, Jim Roth", he said.
Kate's face became ashen and she dropped her fork on her plate with a thud.
"Mum?", Archer asked surprised.
"Are you kidding?", she asked dangerously quietly.
"Uh no mum, why?", Archer replied even more surprised.
"That's impossible! Jim can't have kids!", she replied bluntly.
Archer frowned, "Tha…that's right. Laura told me she has been adopted, but… but how … do you know that?", the boy asked completely baffled.
Kate's face became bright red now, "Jeez Archer, did you become fucking mad?! There are millions of Australian girls and you chose exactly the one from that idiot!", she raged.
She stood up, pushed back her chair, left the dining room furiously and walked towards the garden.
Archer looked in shock to his father who has witnessed the discussion.
"Dad? Did I say or did I do something wrong?", he asked unsure.
Mike sighed, "No son, not at all. It's only a very sad circumstance", he replied.
"Sorry dad, but I don't understand a damn of it!", Archer answered irritated.
He looked frowning at his son, "Give me a sec. First I've to see what mum is figuring out now", he said as he rose up from his chair.
He walked towards the garden, grimacing.
Can things never go straight for us for one time?
Kate was turning her back on him with folded arms. It looked that she was looking at the flowers. Mike walked to her and placed his right hand on her lower back.
"Katie?", he said tenderly.
"Mike, leave me alone!", she grumbled still staring at the flowers.
"Katie, it's not going to work like this you know", he replied.
"What did I do to deserve this?", she asked as she turned to him.
Mike noticed tears in her eyes.
"I don't know", he replied doltish.
"It's not his fault. He didn't know about the Jim period. We've never told him", he continued.
"I know darling, I know! It's his life, I'm not allowed to order him to forget her, I even can't ask him", she said huskily for the last part.
"But how's possible? We are with 20 million in our country and Archie chooses exactly the daughter of the man whom I never want to see again!", she raged.
"I'm afraid that we have to accept that. We can only interfere when we see that the girl isn't doing the right things", he said.
Kate sighed and wiped her eyes.
"I can't image that one day I'll have to face Jim again, that I have to talk to him. Each time when I think to that period and the way he fooled me I'm having the urge to smash his head", she said hurtfully.
He wrapped his arms around her and she leaned against his chest.
"Listen honey, for sure it won't last too long. It's his first girlfriend and for sure, he'll get another one within a couple of weeks", he comforted her.
"Well, this time I want to believe at once what you just told me", Kate replied raising one eyebrow.
"Mum, dad? Are you coming? Our food is getting cold!", they heard Archer tell them from the doorstep.
"Yeah, we come!", Mike replied and he ushered Kate gently to the door.
"Honey, now we'll have to tell him what happened at that time", he whispered to her.
Kate made a face, "We cannot avoid it any longer, I'm afraid", she mumbled.
They entered the dining room and Kate looked at their plates.
"Cold!" she said disapprovingly. "I'll warm up the supper and I'll bring it back as soon as it's ready", she said as she started to collect the dishes.
Five minutes later they sat down again and Archer looked at his mother.
"Mum, what happened? Is there something wrong with Laura and her father?", he asked.
She looked at him, "Before dad I was married with Jim, but that was a mistake from the beginning. He was cheating me and I don't know how long it lasted. I divorced and married dad", she told.
He frowned, "Uh? Were you married before?", he stammered baffled.
"Yes, I was and I want to wipe out that period of my life", Kate said fiercely.
"And me? And is dad my real father or…", he asked unsure.
"Yes, dad is your father, absolutely!", Kate replied fiercely again.
"Ah, and uh, if it was a mistake, why did you marry him then? Did you know dad before him?", Archer asked, trying to tie up loose ends.
Kate sighed, "Yes, I knew dad before him and even for much longer and why we're not married earlier, that, that's something I'll tell you later ", she said.
"Hmm, I see", Archer replied, processing the entire situation.
"Sorry mum, I didn't know", he said.
"You don't have to be sorry. It's my fault. I should have told you about that part of my life, but I couldn't. I wanted to forget it, but in vain", Kate said dejected.
"What now?", Archer asked.
"It's your life, your girl, but don't expect me to see him or his wife!", she said angrily.
Archer looked quickly at his father, but he was extremely busy with the contents of his plate. He raised his eyebrows and continued eating.
To be continued