Ch. 25 A shore posting
The next day Mike got a phone call and went to his cabin. A few minutes later he came back and called Nikki and Pete to his cabin.
He had just sat in his chair when Nikki arrived. He asked her to sit down and she was hardly sitting there was another knock at the door. Pete.
"Sir, you wanted to see me?", he asked.
"Yes, indeed, take a seat", Mike replied.
He waited for Pete to sit.
"I've got some good news. I've talked to Captain White...", he hesitated seeing her frown. "Yes, she has been promoted. And I've talked to her and she agreed with Pete's candidature for the Operations Room. Of course, if you still want that seat!", Mike said looking at Pete.
He was seemingly surprised, "Oh? Yes, sir! That would be good!", he replied.
Mike nodded. "Nice, it means that this voyage is your last one and after your shore leave you'll report to the captain."
"Yes sir".
He looked at Nikki, "There's something else. She told me that Dylan Mulholland has been dismissed for medical reasons. He came back heavily injured from Afghanistan. He's no longer in the Navy. That means we've to look for another buffer. Do we have someone on board to do the job?"
Nikki raised her eyebrows hearing that the man, she had seen on TV and that she knew he was Kate's friend, had been severely wounded. Maybe he knows more about Kate?
"Does the captain knows his phone number?", she asked.
Mike shook his head, "Nope, the known details as the address and mobile phone don't work anymore. She said something like that he and his team had been blown up".
Pete and Nikki looked at each other, imagining themselves to be scattered and neither of them were happy with this idea.
She noticed that Mike was still looking at her, waiting for an answer.
"Ah? Uh, Chief Petty Officer Ian Coleby is still the best choice I think, no?", she replied looking from Mike to Pete.
He nodded, "Yes, he's indeed a good man, a veteran of the frigates and with an ability to stay calm at any moment".
"Ok, let's call him in!", Mike said by dialling the number of the bridge.
Two weeks later, the HMAS Sydney returned to the base again and the crew was looking forward to three weeks of shore leave. Nikki was watching the quay with her binoculars. "Sir, it looks like we have high-level visit", she said.
Mike padded to her, "Who do you recognize?", he asked.
"Captain White sir".
"Ah? Give me your binoculars, will you?", he asked.
She passed them to him and he also watched the quay.
Nikki looked at him frowning.
He has already forgotten Kate. Look how he gazes lustfully at her. Ok, it's his life, but I still can't get used to it. But where could she be?
As soon as the ship was moored and all the necessary things were said and done, Mike left the bridge and headed to the gangplank where he met Maxine who padded just on board.
"Welcome back Mike", she greeted him.
"Hey Max, I'm glad to see you again, really!", he said while both were giving each other an official handshake.
"Congratulations on your promotion. You're looking great with your new shoulder boards!", he said.
"Thanks Mike".
"You know what? Let's celebrate it with a dinner. I've recently heard something about a small fish restaurant in town", he said.
Maxine's eyes twinkled, "I don't say no Mike!"
"Great!"
Thirty minutes after mooring the ship, Pete appeared on the bridge, dressed in his whites, his visor cap under his arm.
"Sir?", he said waiting for Mike's reaction.
Mike turned towards him and Nikki took a position aside and between both men.
"Well Pete, the beginning of a new chapter of your career and…. your life?", he said looking at them both.
"Yes sir, absolutely!", Pete replied convinced.
Mike reached him the hand, "Pete, you were a great sailor on board. Thanks and good luck to you both", he said.
"It was a pleasure for me as well sir", he replied.
"Right! I guess that we will see each other more than enough in the future", Mike said.
"You can count on it sir", Pete said before leaving the bridge, but not before whispering something to Nikki.
"Baby, we're going to celebrate our fresh start. I know a nice small fish restaurant".
"Ok, pick me up at 19:00?", Nikki replied.
"Perfect", he replied and left the bridge.
That evening he walked to her front door and rang the doorbell. For their first official date he wore a dark blue shirt and a black trousers. He checked one last time the red roses bunch and adjusted the mica foil. The door opened and he met the beaming face of his girlfriend. "Hey baby!".
She was wearing one of her favourite flower dresses and a pair of high-heeled sandals. "Come in darling!", she invited him.
"For you baby, for our fresh start", he said stepping inside and offering her the roses.
"Thanks Pete! They're gorgeous!", Nikki said accepting the flowers. She put them on the table and wrapped her hands around his neck for a passionate kiss.
Forty minutes later they were sitting in the restaurant and Nikki was looking around. "Cosy! Really, I must have pass in front of it several times, but I had never noticed it", she said.
"Well these things happen. If you don't need it, you don't pay attention. I got the address from one of the men in the engine room. He said the food was extremely fresh and delicious."
At that moment the door opened and another couple entered. Nikki couldn't see them because she was sitting with her back to the door. Pete raised his head, just out of curiosity.
"Oh-ho…", he mumbled.
"What?", Nikki said and she instinctively turned her head to see what was happening. "Shit!"
Her head quickly resumed its initial position and stared at Pete in amazement.
"I'm off the ship, so", he mumbled.
Mike noticed them and walked up to their table.
"Hey, the fact that you're also here, tells me that the food is good ", he said.
"Sir", Nikki and Pete mumbled as they started to stand up.
"No, no, stay put", he said. Maxine having followed him she nodded dryly, "Caetano and... uh?"
"Tomasewski ma'am. I'll be in your department tomorrow", Pete filled her in quickly.
"Yes, indeed, formerly Hammersley and our new man", Maxine replied remembering Mike's previous talks.
"Right, enjoy your meal", Mike said, "Come", he said to Maxine, leading her to their table.
While they were looking at the menu, Maxine peered at Pete and Nikki over the card. "From your ship? Having a dinner together? It smells like a real violation of the fraternization rules", she said softly.
"Max, he's off the ship since this afternoon".
"It's all good Mike, but it can't go so fast! They must have known each other before being on board!", she grumbled.
"Yes, they did and they've spoken to me about it", he said noticing how she looked at him with big round eyes.
"Listen Max, you can't stop the nature. They fell in love with each other and they reported it to me. I advised him to apply for a shore posting."
"Him, not her?", Maxine asked.
"She's my XO and more valuable than an NCO, so".
Meanwhile the waiter had arrived at their table to take their orders.
At the other table, Pete and Nikki chose the tuna carpaccio and a main dish composed of prawns and a grilled salmon steak.
He leaned slightly towards her. "Baby, are we toasted now?"
"No Pete, I know Mike. Moreover it was him who suggested to take the shore posting", Nikki replied.
He leaned back, "Hmm".
"Just, don't worry and enjoy our first real evening as a couple!", she said joyously raising her glass of Chardonnay.
He raised his own and they gave a toast, "You're right. Cheers!"
"Cheers! How are we going to organise our life?", she asked him frankly.
"First, move in together", he replied with a grin.
"Where?", Nikki asked with twinkling eyes.
"Yours? It's bigger. Mine is just a studio".
"Deal! I've a few weeks off, then we can settle down ourselves"…
At the other table a similar conversation was also taking place.
Mike raised his flute of champagne, "To your promotion, captain!"
"Thank you Mike", Maxine replied with a bone melting smile.
Maybe it's the right time to consolidate our relationship…
"By the way Mike, we're living together now for uh… a couple of months?", she started and he nodded.
"I think we're doing well, no?"
"Uh-hu".
"Maybe, we can look for something bigger? My flat was suitable for one person, but now we're two...", she tried prudently.
He took her hand, "Sure Max, sure! What did you have in mind?", he asked with a radiant smile.
Her eyes twinkled and her heart leapt in her chest.
Yes! He has definitely chosen you. You've won! Yes, yes, yes! Bye-bye Kate-sheila.
"Oh? A loft is something I want for years! With a large terrace and views of the harbour estuary. No garden for me. I don't like the idea of crawling around on all fours days after days to keep it clean while the weeds grow like mad behind my bum", she said decisively which made him chuckled.
"What?", she asked with a cute smile before taking a sip.
"Oh nothing, just the way you explain things,…'behind my bum' ", he repeated with a grin.
"Yeah, what's wrong with it? It's not because I'm a woman that I don't have the right to taste these words huh?"
"Yes, Max, you're right! In fact it's a good idea. Something new for our new start!", he said gently squeezing her hand.
To be continued
A/N. To Guest UK.
Thank you for your review.
From now on, it's going to get better and better for Kate.