Chapter 15

Dylan was surprised, "Duncan! What are you doing here?"

"Uh? I live here, why? What's up with mum?", the boy asked worriedly.

"Huh mum? Hmm, she doesn't feel well. I'm going to put her to bed. Where's her bedroom?", Dylan asked.

"Over there", he said, pointing him out the night hallway.

"Thanks mate", Dylan said and he led Kate to her bedroom. Holding her with one arm, he pushed back the sheets away and laid her down. He took off her shoes and tucked her in.

"Sweet dreams and promise me you'll never have a drinking contest with Nikki again", he said softly but she was already asleep.

He left the bedroom door open just in case and went back to the living room where Duncan was waiting for him.

"Duncan, I've put Ka…your mum to bed. She'll be fine", he said and as he was about to leave, the boy called him back.

"Uncle Dutchy? What if she gets sick at night? I dunno what to do. Can't you stay, please?", asked the worried boy.

He looked at Duncan for a moment.

Hmm, he is right. He's still a child. If she gets sick tonight, then I better be there.

"Okay, you're right. I'm staying", he said with a smile.

"Okay! Cool! You can have my bed!", the boy said enthusiastically.

"No no, buddy, you stay in your bed. I'll take the couch", he said patting the boy's back.

"Okay, but then I'll give you a spare blanket. We still have one", he said and slipped away.

He came back with a blanket and put it on the couch.

"Thanks mate, but tell me, Kate is your mum?"

"Yes".

"And you didn't tell me when you were here?"

"No, Aunt Bomber told me not to tell anyone".

"I see".

Knowing Becca, she probably did it to avoid awkward questions for the boy. Typically her.

"And who's your father?"

Mike for sure.

"I dunno".

"Huh? Ka..your mum never told you?", he asked, baffled.

"She doesn't know either".

"Ah? You're twelve years old, aren't you?"

"Yep".

"Uh-hu".

Probably some adventures on her new location to forget about Mike. Knowing her, there could only be a few possibilities, not an entire army or I must have known her very badly.

"Well Duncan, it's time to get back in touch with your bed. I'll do the same here too", he said.

"Yeah okay. Good night Uncle Dutchy".

"Good night mate", Dylan said and watched him to get back to his bedroom.

Hmm, a glass of water will do me good.

He went to the kitchen and noticed several Post-it notes on the kitchen counter. They were reminders of all kinds.

He smiled and remembered something.

She hasn't changed. Luckily, old habits die hard. Control freak one day, control freak always.

He found a glass, filled it and drank it. He returned to the living room and saw some more Post-it notes on the living room table and smiled.

Where's the time I played pranks her with that?

He kicked off his shoes and lay down on the couch with the blanket.

Try to sleep because tomorrow you'll have a lot to explain. I know Kate. She won't stop until she knows the last detail.

The curtains weren't drawn and the first rays of sunlight on his face woke him up.

He sat up, rubbing his neck.

For people like me, couches are not for sleeping. Damn things!

With a groan, he stood up and stretched his back.

Breakfast! It's something we all three need.

He went to the kitchen and opened some cupboards.

Hmm, not much in it yet. Just general stuff. Yeah, they just moved in and most of their belongings has still to come. Ah, here's some coffee and coffee filters. Some toast bread, uh-hu.

He put these items on the counter and opened the fridge.

Well, milk, orange juice, butter, some kind of smoked ham, milk chocolate, of course!

He opened another cupboard.

Yes! Cups, plates and glasses. All that I need.

He set the breakfast table and made coffee, but seemed unaware of someone watching him.

"Good morning Uncle Dutchy", Duncan greeted him.

He looked at the boy, "Hey mate. Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, very well, thank you. Mum is still asleep".

"Yeah, and when she wakes up she'll have a terrible headache", he said.

Meanwhile in Kate's bedroom.

Kate was awakened by noises she couldn't identify.

She straightened her back, leaning on her elbows and squeezed her eyes because her head was pounding. She lay down again.

Oh my God! I'm in bed! How did I get here?

She touched her body.

Hmm, I'm still all dressed up?

She groaned and sank deeper into her pillow.

What happened? The pub. The guys. Nikki. She confessed that she felt guilty for not helping me. And I felt guilty for not contacting her. We started drinking. It's not so weird. We did this before. But at such a rate and in such quantities. Wait! She drinks alcohol as if it were water. It's not normal. What did she say? She drinks to forget. My God! And this probably for twelve years. Why do I have the terrible bad feeling that it's not just ashore? So what? So? I can't remember. I'm here now. In between, there's a hole. Damn you Nikki. I just hope I didn't do something stupid like twelve years ago!

She sat up moaning.

Now get rid of these bloody clothes.

She took off her blouse and extricated herself from her jeans. She stood up and recognised Duncan's voice.

Is he already starting to talk on his own?

She grabbed her bathrobe and put it on and shuffled outside the bedroom.

She was greeted by a "Hey Mum!"

"Hi dear, but not so loud please", she mumbled, then she noticed Dylan leaning against the kitchen counter.

"Hi Kate", he said simply.

"Dy…Dylan what are you doing here?", she asked baffled.

"I took you home last night and Duncan asked me to stay, just in case, you see", he said.

"Yes Mum, you looked sick and I asked him to stay", the boy said eagerly.

"It's good son, thank you, both", Kate said and sat down with a sigh.

"How are you feeling?", he asked.

Kate looked at him and raised an eyebrow, "Do I really want to know that? I don't think so".

"I would have been really surprised if it had been the opposite. Do you want a brew?", he asked.

"Yeah, please", she replied faintly.

Kate looked at her son in his pyjamas, "Dear, the bathroom is free. Go have a shower", she said.

"Okay mum", he answered and went away.

Dylan put a steaming coffee mug a in front of her and sat down too, "I guess you're pissed off with me now?"

She took the mug and smelled the coffee, "Why do you think that?"

"Because, I didn't tell you about Nikki".

"I already feared it. I don't need a lot of words to know there's a problem. But the youngsters spilled the beans. Duncan knew it from Hazel and he told me. You and Rebecca let me know without actually telling me, so", she said, taking a sip.

"Aaah, it was a miracle!", she said, feeling the coffee.

"Hmm, I'm glad it didn't create any problems between us", he said more comfortable.

"No, you silly! It takes a lot more, you know", she answered with a cheeky smile.

"I like that. You can smile again", he said smiling.

"Dylan?"

"Yes?"

"I can remember all of yesterday evening, what Nikki said and so on, but the last part is blank. I can't remember how I got here. Did I do or say something stupid?", asked a worried Kate.

He shook his head, "Nope. 2Dads and I were waiting in the other corner of the pub and when it got worse we stepped in. 2Dads took Nikki back home and I took you back here".

She rolled her eyes, "Okay, but I didn't do something stupid, huh?"

"No, no one was around to hear what you wanted", he said with a cheeky smile.

Kate's eyes widened, "I wanted something? What did I say?"

He lowered his voice, "You wanted to have sex on the beach".

"Huh? Did I really say that?", Kate asked in disbelief.

He waggled his hand, "Not exactly with those words. You wanted to….shag….on the beach. And you said that sex in bed is boring".

Kate laid her head on the table, "Oh noooooo! What are you going to think of me now?", and she looked at him.

"Nothing, you were completely soaked".

She frowned, "Uh, did we?"

He smiled, "No, that would have been unfair".

"Okay", she said and raised an eyebrow at the last part of his sentence.

"What are you going to do today?"

"Can you stay for breakfast and maybe for something more decent, lunch, supper? I owe you that?"

"Sure, you'll tell me. And what next?"

"Shower. Ahum, I have to talk to Nikki and I also have to look for a house for Becca and Robert".

"Becca and Robert?"

"They come to join us. She will ensure the smooth running of the kitchen and Robert the radio matters".

He leaned back in his chair, "Ah, that's going to be great because the food of the base tastes like shit. And, would you mind if I accompany you for the house hunt?", he asked.

"Oh? Yes please. It's been twelve years since I left. This afternoon? I'll call you. Maybe, we can have lunch together?", she asked with a radiant smile.

"Mum, I'm ready!", Duncan announced as he entered the kitchen.

"Yes son, that's great. Dylan, do you want to freshen up? I'll give you some towels", Kate asked.

"Sounds like a good plan", he said, standing up.

He followed her. Kate pulled out a set of towels from the laundry cupboard and headed for the bathroom. She put them on a stool and pulled out a box of painkillers out of the cupboard.

"It's not getting better?", he asked.

"Pfft, this, a shower, coffee, toasts and some fresh air will help me. So, enjoy your shower", she said patting him on his shoulder.

Kate returned to the kitchen to fill a glass of water to swallow the medicine. A little later, she also went to the bathroom. She put on a cotton trousers and a stylish top and joined the other two for breakfast.

She smiled seeing the homely scene and sat down.

"Now, you look much better", he said.

"Yes, indeed. The painkiller and some coffee worked a miracle and the situation here with the three of us only makes it better", she said with a smile to Dylan.

"You're welcome. A toast?".

"Yes, please".

"What are you going to do with Nikki?", he asked.

"Mum? Can I see Hazel today?, Duncan asked.

"Ho, ho, a lot of questions at the same time", Kate replied, smiling. "Well dear, call her and ask if she has some free time".

"Oh great mum!"

She looked at him, "Dylan, honestly, does she drink aboard?", she asked, putting chocolate paste on her toast.

He grimaced and nodded, "She always has a bottle aboard. She was drunk when we got home after hearing you were back. When she can, she organises a R&R in a port and then she drinks until she passes out. We take her back aboard and I take over the ship".

Kate nodded, frowning and sighed, "Thank you for telling me. It's worse than I thought".

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to see her this morning. This can't go any further. I'll talk to her and in the worst case, I'll put her on sick leave. We can't afford an incident to occur. There are lives at stake, you know".

"Hmm, I wish you luck. A few have already tried, Bird, myself, even Becca, but it was a no-go", he said between bites.

"Well, I'm the CO. She has no choice!", Kate said decisively.

After breakfast, Dylan went home. Kate understood from Duncan that he was going to see Hazel in the afternoon. He had homework to do and she would pick him up for lunch. She grabbed her car keys, put on a pair of loafers and drove off.

To be continued