Chapter 17

After the coffee break, they looked further and Kate noted a third address. "Last but not least. I think that this one has every chance. The only disadvantage is the price. But, they will have all the information and it'll be up to them to decide".

At the same time, she got a call from Duncan asking if she could pick him up at Hazel's. They drove to Nikki and Pete's and there, a convinced Nikki told Kate she was going to therapy on Monday. Kate and Dylan left with a sense of relief because things were finally moving in the right direction.

They got in the car and before Kate could start it, Dylan suggested, "Kate what do you think about a dinner at my place? I'll cook some spareribs on the barbecue"

"Oh? You're inviting us!", Kate replied cheerfully.

"Okay, but first I've to go home to change", she added.

"Come on silly, there's no need for it. You're perfect. Perfect. Did you hear?", he smirked.

She glared at him, "Dylan, you're terrible. Perfect, perfect, you should know!"

"Great! Could I see the horses?", the boy asked.

"It will depend if my neighbour is at home. If he is, then we can always ask him", Dylan replied.

She started the car, "So, show me the way".

"Okay. Take the Gordonvale road. I live just outside the city, in the countryside", he said.

Thirty minutes later, she pulled up in the driveway of a pretty country house.

"Here's my humble abode", he said with a smirk.

"Humble, humble. It looks really nice and it's certainly not a shanty", she said looking through the windscreen.

He got out, followed by Duncan and looked inside, "Well? Not hungry? Not thirsty? Don't feel like snooping around?", he asked with a smirk.

"Wait a minute!", Kate replied laughing and got out of the car quickly.

He chuckled, "Now, I recognise you again".

They stood on the covered terrace and looked around, "Lovely".

"It's all around the house", he said.

"Oh?", Kate replied surprised and started to follow the terrace around the house, discovering a pair of bamboo club chairs and a table. "Great".

She also noticed a rocking chair next to them and she looked at Dylan, "Seriously?"

"It was there when I bought the house", he replied with a shrug.

Kate sat down in the rocking chair and rocked backwards and forwards, "Marvellous! I could get used to it", she said smiling.

He looked at her smiling with crossed arms, "I do believe you" .

She stood up, "Come! I want to see if you still have other atypical things in your house".

They walked around the house to the front door again. He opened it and let them in.

Kate and Duncan entered and they stopped in the living room. Kate's eyes widened. The living room furniture was antique.

"I…I…didn't expect that from you", she stammered.

He shrugged, "Well no, neither did I, but when I bought the house, the furniture was still in. Initially, I thought I was throwing it all away, but when I looked more in detail, I noticed it was good material, handcrafted. And it reminded me my parents' farm furniture. So I kept them. But, I changed a few things. The club chairs and the couch. They were completely worn out as well as the kitchen. I had a new one installed. The old one was actually too dangerous to do anything about", he said, motioning to her to follow him to the kitchen.

"WOW!", she exclaimed seeing the new kitchen.

"So big! Oh my Gosh", she mumbled in awe as she slowly caressed the kitchen counter.

"Do you want to see the other rooms?", he asked with a slight smile.

"Uh, … yes, of course", she stammered and followed him.

"It's the….master bedroom, as they say", he said, pushing open the door of his bedroom.

"Wow!", Kate said baffled seeing the modern pine furniture. "It's just the opposite of the living room".

"Yeah, I wanted to have something of my own, not something that had been used by other people before. Just like the wardrobe. It had to be clean and new", he said.

She nodded, "Yeah, you're right, especially for a bedroom and a kitchen".

He showed them two other rooms. One was the guest room and the third was also a bedroom, but was used as a storage room. Finally there were the bathroom, a smaller room for an office and a linen room.

"And?", he asked.

"Dylan, really, I'm impressed", Kate replied.

"I know, it's in fact too big for one person, but there were three main reasons I bought it and that was, my neighbour who has horses, the rustic character and it looked like the farm of my parents".

She nodded, "Yeah, I can follow you".

"Okay, aperitif then barbecue with spareribs and potatoes on the grill", he announced.

"Sounds like a good plan".

"What would you like to drink? Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Riesling or do you prefer red?", he asked.

"Oops, now I'm impressed again", she replied baffled.

"I know my wines, Kate. My parents were winegrowers".

"I didn't know. Bad luck with the farm, yes, but the wines, no. Uhm, what do you suggest?"

"You should taste the Riesling. This one is extraordinary".

"Well, surprise me!"

After the dinner they sat on the terrace. Kate couldn't resist, she kicked off her shoes and sat down in the rocking chair. He had just opened a new bottle, a Sauvignon Gris. He recommended her the wine for its particular flavour. Duncan was watching TV inside.

"Here you go. You know, I like to sit here and watch the sunset, see and hear how nature calms down at night. And a little later you can hear the sounds of the night like the cry of an owl", he said after taking a sip.

"You're right. I've always lived in the city and had almost forgotten what it was like in the countryside. But it's one of my memories until I was nine", Kate replied.

"Do you know what? I still have the handcrafted pewter ship you gave me in that port", she said after taking a sip.

"Really?"

"Yeah, why not? I take it everywhere. I consider it as a lucky charm".

"That's great. I never thought it would have had such an influence", he said.

"Oh yes, absolutely! Although, I couldn't explain, but that little ship meant so much to me".

"How things change huh? I kept you at bay at first", he said.

Kate rolled her eyes, "Oh yes, I hated you. Whatever I was doing to be friendly, it seemed like you were looking through me. But, I didn't know that your boarding officer case had such an effect on you".

"Yeah, I should have talked about it earlier instead of just doing it in that container".

"Yes, but we cleared all that up and that was the most important. Gosh, what a bargain! And it was also the first time I climbed on a motorbike. I can still relive those moments. How I put that helmet on my head and how I grabbed you around the waist when you chased that car", she said.

He raised an eyebrow, "And grabbing me by my waist was against your principles, huh?"

"No, it was good", she replied and laughed.

"By the way, do you still have a motorbike?"

"Sure. During shore leave, I often got for a ride, but wasn't that a hidden question?", he asked smirking.

She raised her hands, "Who knows? Who knows?"

"Those were the good things. I still remember when you were trapped in that shark cage. Honestly? My heart stopped beating multiple times. And the time you collapsed on that beach. You're not Rambo, you know. I hope you don't do that kind of nonsense aboard anymore", she said worriedly.

"Hey, hey, no worries. I'm still in one piece and with 2Dads as buffer, nothing can happen. He's a tough nut".

"Yeah, okay. But now I'm glad that you can act as CO and stay safe aboard", she said.

At that moment Duncan poked his head around the door, "Mum, I'm tired".

"Well, I'll show you the guest room", Dylan said as he stood up.

Moments later he was back and refilled the glasses. "He fell asleep before I turned off the light".

"Yeah, we've been through some funny things. I remember I had to fetch some stuff for you from your flat.

Kate frowned at him, "Correction. Bird had to fetch things for me".

"It was a good thing I went. One of those blokes who wanted to kill you tried to break into your flat. What if it had been Bird?", he said.

"Okay, but nevertheless, it had to be Bird!".

He gave her a disarming smile, "Well, you were always the professional Navy officer, tough and stern, but I knew there was another woman behind that uniform and I wanted to know more about you", he said.

"Oh? And that gave you an excuse to snoop around my house, huh? Well, I can tell you I wanted to kill you twice", she said defiantly.

"Oh? And why? I brought everything that was on the list", he replied innocently.

She replied raising her eyebrows, "Oh yes, I got everything on the list, but it was mostly about what I got. I asked for normal underwear and what did I get? My lace bras and my tiniest tanga slips and even the one and only G-string I had. You must have thoroughly inspected my drawers!"

He shrugged, "Well, I didn't know your flat, so I had to look for and moreover, I was convinced that you had to look good. So, only the best was worth it to you".

She beckoned him to leave with her hand before taking a sip, "Oh you, moron, go away".

"I couldn't help but treat myself to a few great days, when I saw you afterwards and imagined you in those underwear under your uniform", he replied with a smile.

She rolled her eyes, "I'm afraid you were right and I should have been mad at you, but the worst part was that it was fun to wear them under my uniform. I just hoped I wouldn't have to go through Swain for a medical patch up or anything else", she said and both burst out laughing.

"Marvellous! But when did you want to kill me the second time?"

"When I got home of course! You filled my house with these stupid Post-It notes with comments and suggestions that weren't always appropriate", she said, frowning, pretending to be angry.

He rubbed his face, "Oh yes, that! A little teasing wasn't so bad, was it? When I took you home yesterday, I saw that you still have the habit to use Post-It notes".

"Indeed, but I was mad at you back then, indignant, but I became curious and intrigued to find more yellow notes and read them. I have to say you were honest. That brown dress was indeed awful. I threw it away immediately", she said.

He laughed, "Oh yes! That one. I always wondered whether you were blind when you bought it".

"Thank you very much! You know, sales period and then you're happy to be able to buy something at seventy percent. Afterwards, you keep telling yourself that you're great into it and Mike confirmed it, but you told the truth. But I couldn't appreciate some other notes"

"Oh which ones? ", he asked, enjoying her reaction, something he had ever hoped to hear, but that never came. And now, out of the blue, she handed it to him on a plate.

"That you wanted to make love with me with that condom".

"Well, that was honest too", he said deadpan.

"Hmm, and the one on my triple A batteries friend in the bathroom, that was really overkill!", she said still feeling the indignation from that moment.

"And what was that?", he asked feigning ignorance.

She raised her hands and shook her head, "Stop it Dylan, now we're going a bit too far".

"I think it's time to go home", she said, standing up.

She staggered a little, "Oops, I'm a bit tipsy!".

"Again?", he asked with a mischievous smile.

"Oh you dumbo!", she said and tried to give him a friendly pat but he took a step back. Kate lost her balance and tumbled forward, but he caught her in his arms.

"It's all your fault! Your wine is too good", she mumbled hanging on to his arms.

"I can't take you back home, because Duncan is sleeping here and my car is still in the city when it was supposed to be with yours and then if I'm at your house, my car is still in the city", he said.

"Hmm, hmm, all…too… complicated", she mumbled again.

"You better stay here. I'll give you my bed and I'll sleep on the couch", he said ushering her in.

"Uh-hu".

"By the way, have you ever replaced the batteries?", he asked deadpan.

"Don't be daft. Did you really think I was a nun?", she protested and he chuckled.

In the bedroom, he let her sit down on his bed, "So, sweet dreams. I'll put towels in the bathroom for tomorrow".

"Yeah, thank you and good night", she said with a smile.

"You're welcome", he replied with a wink and left the room.

He returned to the terrace to collect the glasses, the bottle, her shoes and went back inside. He corked up the bottle and put it in the fridge. He turned off the light and made himself comfortable on his couch.

It looks like it's becoming a habit for me to sleep on couches. If this is to continue, then I'm going to long for a new patrol with a narrow, comfortable bunk with a mattrass and sheets!

Kate plopped down on the bed and lay there until she could think more clearly. She sat up again, looked around and began to remove her top and trousers.

I can't sleep with clothes on. But, I don't have a pyjamas here. Annoying.

She looked around and saw a neatly folded T-shirt on the dresser.

Ah! I'll borrow it from him.

Kate took the T-shirt, looked at the print and smiled when she saw the logo of the Hardrock Café in Sydney.

A classic!

She took off her bra, placed it with her top and trousers over a chair and put on the T-shirt. She smiled seeing the result. It was like a dress that was too wide and too short.

She lay down in bed and turned off the light.

What a day it had been or rather what a first weekend in Cairns! The awkward reunion with Nikki. Dylan who took me back home and stayed. The painful conversation with Nikki. A pleasant lunch with Dylan. House hunting for Robert and Becca. And last but not least, a great evening at his house. Everything is going well with him, just as if we're made for each other. Hope he feels the same too…

After a little hour, she still wasn't asleep, tossing and turning.

How stupid! It's his house, his bed and he sleeps on the couch! No, I can't let that happen!

Kate stood up and walked to the living room where he was asleep on the couch. She touched his shoulder, "Dylan, come to bed. We're two grown-up and it's your bed after all".

"Huh? I don't say no to such a proposal. One night on a couch is good, but a second one is less appreciated", he said, sitting up.

"Come".

He followed her to the bedroom and they bedded down. Kate quickly found peace and fell asleep almost immediately.

The next morning, he woke up because a weight oppressed him. Surprised he saw that Kate had wrapped her arm around his waist and her head was resting on his chest. She was still asleep, but she had a happy smile on her face. He smiled and didn't move. He wanted to enjoy this moment a little longer. It was something he had dreamed of for twelve years.

He heard a sound of footsteps in the corridor and looked up. Duncan stood in the doorway and looked inside.

"Mum?", the boy asked.

Dylan put his finger to his mouth silently asking him not to make a sound but Kate started to stir and quickly woke up.

"Hey. Good morning. Did you sleep well?", he asked.

"Hmm?", Kate mumbled.

"Mum, are we going to see the horses this morning?", Duncan asked.

"Ahumm… Yeah…later…breakfast first", she mumbled.

"Duncan, have a shower. We're coming", Dylan said.

"Okay!", replied the boy who hurried to the bathroom.

He looked back at Kate who was looking at him, lying on her side, "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

"Good morning. Yeah, perfect. You have a good bed. The one in my flat couldn't be better", she said.

"Duncan wants to go see the horses. If we say no, then it's World War Three, I think".

Kate rolled her eyes, "Yeah, indeed, when he has something in his head, then it's almost impossible to get him to anything else".

"One hundred percent his mother", he replied, earning him a pat from her.

"Well sometimes, he reminds me of you. It's like I saw you in a younger version, especially your stubbornness".

"You and your imagination", he replied, rolling his eyes.

"Watch out buddy!", she said.

"Nice T-shirt by the way", he said with a smirk, which earned him another pat.

"The Hard Rock Café, what an idea!", she teased back.

"Well, it's might sound silly, but one day I would love to have one from the Hard Rock Café in Berlin. They say it's a mighty city", he said.

She rolled onto her back, "There are so many cities I would like to see. Paris, Prague, Rome, Bruges and Venice. The last one must be amazing", she said.

"Make a bucket list".

"It does exist, but it just keeps getting longer", she pouted.

"I'm ready!", Duncan yelled outside.

Kate sighed. "Yeah! I'm coming!", she yelled back.

Later, as she was looking for coffee in his cupboards, Duncan was watching her.

"Mum, did you sleep with Uncle Dutchy?"

She almost dropped the coffee tin, "WHAT?"

"Well uh…"

"Oh no dear! No, no! It's his house and his bed. We. Only. Shared. The. Bed. It's not what you think. And by the way, where do you get these ideas?", she asked sternly.

"From school".

"What! You only went there one day and you come home with this kind of nonsense?", she ranted.

Her son looked at her unhappily, "Mum, what's wrong with that? He's a good friend and you've talked about him a lot and he's nice to you and me".

"Duncan, look, nothing happened and by the way, why do I have to discuss this with you?", she reacted irritably.

"Because your son has some logic in his mind", Dylan said, entering the kitchen. He had overheard the conversation and had chuckled to himself.

Kate looked daggers at him but said nothing.

"Look mate, just because you like someone doesn't mean you have to sleep with, you see", he said to the boy.

Duncan nodded and would not dwell on the subject as long as his sturdy hero was also in the room.

"Is it true or not?", he asked Kate.

"Yeah", she mumbled while fiddling with the tin and a spoon to get the right dose of coffee out of it".

It wouldn't have bothered me if we had! Jeez, it's been so long that I can't remember. Yes, those two times at a conference. And that was it. No room for that kind of activity when you are raising a child alone!

"Hey, don't make it a Nikki brew", he said seeing the amount of coffee on the spoon.

"Oh, uh sorry, I'm…uhm", she stammered and put the content of the coffee filter bag back in the tin to start all over again.

The morning passed quickly. They visited Dylan's neighbours to see the horses. In the afternoon, Kate drove back to the city to drop Dylan off at his car.

"Well, it was a fantastic weekend", he said.

"Yeah, to say the least. I barely unpacked our things and the majority is yet to come. Tomorrow I think", Kate said.

"Fine, so I'm sailing on Tuesday, unless we're crash sailed", Dylan said.

"It would be difficult, without XO. Ryan doesn't know it yet".

He shrugged, "It won't be the first time without XO, if you catch my drift".

"Yeah, I know, but it's always with an XO".

"Right".

"So".

"So", she repeated.

Kate, stood on tiptoe, gave him a peck on the cheek and said "Thank you", before returning to her car.

She waved him goodbye and drove off.

He couldn't help but stared at her with a happy smile until she was out of sight.

Kate and her son entered their flat.

Frowning, she looked around the living room.

Cairns, day four and we've barely been in this flat. Kate you have to look for a place to call your own! Ask Dylan to come with you. It will be more fun. You can discuss it with him. Hmm, should I really start looking? Or should I wait a little? Hmmmm, complicated….

To be continued