Chapter 4.
Arriving at Mike's parents' home, Kate had raised her hand to knock, when the door suddenly opened, a small tornado erupted, flung its arms around Kate's legs, and at the same time bellowed "MUMMY!"
Picking the child up, Kate laughed as she hugged her little daughter. She then turned her attention to Mike's mother.
"Thanks so much for taking care of her."
"Not at all, dear. We love having her here. She's an absolute delight."
Mrs. Flynn smiled. A tall handsome woman, it was easy to see from whom her son inherited his bearing, the way he carried himself. Amelia Flynn had the same style, tempered with grace and a dignity that comes with age. She turned her welcoming smile from Kate to Nikki. Kate introduced her.
"Amelia, meet my friend Nikki Caetano."
"Pleased to meet you dear. Of course, you were on the boat with Mike, weren't you? HMAS Kimberley –"
"Hammersley," corrected Kate.
"Hello Mrs. Flynn. Yes, I was. I'm commanding HMAS Kingston, now," smiled Nikki.
"That's nice. It's good to see the women taking command these days. I suppose I can't tempt you girls to some tea and cake?"
"That would be lovely, but I had better get Jessica home for her bath. We'll do it another day", said Kate, as she could see her daughter's eyes droop with tiredness.
"Of course. Well lovely to meet you Nikki, and Kate, we'll see you and Mike for dinner on Sunday?"
"We'll be there. Bye now" she kissed her mother-in-law, and Jessica said, "Bye, G'amma!"
The two women with Jessica between them, turned towards Kate's car. Kate turned to Nikki and said, "She's a great mum-in-law. Oh, and by the way, her cakes are something you'd die for!"
Nikki grinned. She knew that Kate grew up apart from her own mother, and was pleased to see the bond she had with Mike's mother. They arrived at Kate and Mike's and Kate noted the absence of his car.
"Not in yet. Come in for a quick drink? I'll give Jessica her bath then get her dinner ready."
Kate went through to the main bathroom and started to run the bath. Nikki could hear her laughing as she bathed and played with her little girl.
She really has taken to motherhood, thought Nikki. What happened to that tough X I knew? I wonder how what kind of mother I would make.
She heard a car, then Mike came in through the front door.
Pleasantly surprised, he said "Hi Nav – um- Nikki. Good to see you. How are you?"
Diffidently she said, "Fine, thanks sir." Kate came into the kitchen with Jessica in her arms. The child shouted "DADDY!" and tried to wriggle out of her mother's arms to get to him. Mike easily took his daughter from Kate, and swung her into the air.
"Well, well Daddy's girl! You have a good time at Grandma's?"
"I did!" She looked at Nikki. "Daddy's a captain!"
"Yes," said Nikki.
"But I'm the ad'mal!" They all laughed as Mike put Jessica in her high chair, then turned his attention to mixing some cocktails for the women and himself. Kate set a bowl of food in front of Jessica, and seated herself close by to watch her feed. Nodding her thanks to Mike, she sipped the cocktail, and slipped her shoes off.
"How's life aboard the Kingston?" asked Mike. Nikki said, "I'm enjoying it sir, we are patrolling the gas field offshore platforms in rotation with Wollongong.
I have a great crew, and yes, I include Robert in that." Both Kate and Mike smiled at that, and Nikki continued, "I'm seeing Buffer. You know he discharged last year? Well, he got himself a job driving in the mines, FIFO to WA. We talk to each other a lot, and I'm going to go out with him when he's next over here."
Mike smiled his approval and Nikki went on. "He's working in the same mine as Charge. He didn't know, until he went to the pub and found Charge having a drink." Mike's smile faded, and Kate looked up at her husband in time to see the fleeting look of pain in his eyes.
"How is Charge? Did Buffer say?"
"Yes. He did. And it wasn't good. Buffer said he stormed out of the pub when he mentioned Hammersley. Then, when Buff went around to his place to make it up, he wouldn't speak to him, even when Buff apologised, it took time for Charge to calm down and talk to him." Nikki didn't say anymore. She left it at that and changed the subject.
"Robert is definitely interested in Bomber. A lot of communication comes through from the Canberra." At this point, Nikki's mobile rang. As she answered a smile crossed her face and Kate knew who had called. Kate picked Jessica up from her chair. She saw that the child had eaten and drunk all she needed, so Kate whisked her off for the bedtime ritual. Twenty minutes later, she returned and started to prepare the evening meal. Nikki finished her call, and stood up. "I have to go," she said. "Thanks for the drink and the chat".
Just then a small voice yelled down the hall. "DADDY! I WANNA STORY!"
Mike grinned. "That's a future Navy officer in the making." They all smiled as the voice sounded again – "DADDY! THAT'S ORDER!"
They all laughed. "Definitely Chief of Navy," said Nikki as she went to the door. As Mike went to obey orders, Kate saw Nikki to the door.
"Give Buffer our love, won't you?"
"How did you know?" said Nikki. Then she laughed. "Let me guess. I had the same look on my face as the Boss did whenever he looked at you on the bridge."
This time it was Kate's turn to laugh. "So, you were watching us?"
"All of us were, even RO," replied Nikki as she swung away to walk back to the Kingston.