Somebody That I Used To Know
Chapter 9.
A couple of hours later Mike plodded wearily through the door, he heard the cackling laughter coming from the lounge room. Pausing in the doorway he smiled seeing Kate and Stacey having a good time.
"Ladies…"
He scanned the room and chuckled nervously as the multiple bottles scattered amongst the magazine and snacks. Kate jumped up and gave Mike a kiss.
"You've missed all the wedding planning…"
"Isn't that a good thing?"
Kate rolled her eyes and collapsed back on to the couch, Mike turned his attention to Stacey.
"Stace! Hope you're keeping her in line!"
Stacey scoffed and held up Kate's empty glass.
"Your fiancée is the one on the hard liquor."
Kate snatched her glass from Stacey's grip.
"Speaking of drinks, I need more ice."
Mike sat next to Stacey and waited for Kate to be out of earshot.
"So, she okay?"
Stacey didn't want to get in the middle of their fights, but she couldn't help but feel obligated to give him some insight.
"Yeah, I think she's over thinking things and over analysing, well, everything."
"Yeah, that sounds about right."
"And she's stubborn, and apparently so is Dutchy."
"Dutchy?"
"Well, it can't be helping everything, they're supposed to be best friends, but neither one of them has caved and messaged each other."
"Right..."
She didn't know what was running through his mind, but she didn't want to make things worse. She placed a reassuring smile on her face and patted his arm.
"But other than that, everything seems to be fine?"
Kate returned from the kitchen sipping on her whiskey, Mike jumped up pretending they weren't having a colluded conversation.
"Well, I'm gonna grab some dinner, I'm starving."
Stacey cleared her throat and poured herself another glass as Kate placed herself beside her.
"So, I've got an idea, double date."
"Who with?"
"Mike, you, me and Dutchy."
"You're really serious about pursuing Dutchy, aren't you?"
Stacey raised an eyebrow at her defensive tone.
"Ah, do I sense some jealousy?"
Kate wrinkled her nose, Stacey had a sudden thought and gasped, she grabbed Kate's arm pulling her close.
"Oh my god, is that why you're fighting? There's some tension cos you guys..."
Stacey wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, Kate scoffed at her ridiculous suggestion.
"No, definitely not!"
Eyebrows still raised, Stacey poked her on the arm.
"Well, how would you know?"
Kate's jaw dropped at the cheekiness of her comment, she shoved her away shaking her head.
"Don't even go there! Look, I guess I don't want things to be awkward."
"All I need to know is that he's mates with you and has that body! C'mon, you can't tell me he's not gorgeous."
Kate felt the colour form in her cheeks, Stacey shoved her playfully knowing she was right.
"Man, he's the reason the non-fraternisation rule exists! Look, if you're really uncomfortable about it, I'll drop it."
"No, it's okay, I guess I just don't want him to scare you off. Like I said, I don't know what he's like as a boyfriend."
"Kate, you worry too much, I'm a big girl. Plus, I'm not one to chase, I don't see the point, if he's not into me then, it's all good."
Kate picked up a magazine, gazing at the stunning model.
"It's be so nice to have your confidence."
Stacey handed Kate her phone and raised an eyebrow.
"Why can't you? Being confident is an act…"
Kate begrudgingly removed the phone from her hand and let out a groan.
"Fine…"
She typed a message to Dutchy.
"Hey, I think we should talk…"
There was an instant reply.
"Duh."
She could help but chuckle, it annoyed her he could do that, make her smile when she was mad at him. She glanced up to Stacey trying to hide her smile, she gave her a friendly shove.
"Oh, don't pretend you don't want your friend back?"
She snatched the phone out of Kate's hand and typed.
"We'll come over now, while she's still tipsy."
He replied with a question mark, confused why she was referring to herself in the third person. Stacey immediately ordered an Uber and grabbed Kate's hand, pulling her up from the couch.
"Mike, were popping out can you take care of Aria if she wakes up?"
He poked his head out of the kitchen with a mouth full of food.
"Sure, you better not be driving though."
"Phht, of course not."
Stacey and Kate staggered up Dutchy's front path, Stacey knocked on the door in a musical tone. Dutchy immediately swung open the door, shocked to find two women on his doorstep.
"Ah, you brought a friend?"
Stacey placed her hand in front of him and shook his hand.
"Hi, I'm Stacey, your replacement."
He shook her hand while apprehensively glancing over to Kate, she giggled at his utterly confused expression.
"She's just being silly…"
Stacey shoved past him into the house.
"I'll find some where to hang while you two talk."
Kate pulled Dutchy inside and sat on the couch.
"So…"
He flopped down beside her, folding his arms over his chest.
"So…"
She mimicked his actions and cross her arms over her chest.
"I'm annoyed about what you said."
"Yeah, well I'm annoyed that you think being your old self isn't something you want to be."
Their eyes locked at a standstill, Kate was the first to look away, scared about his answer to her next question.
"Why are you so weird about the wedding?"
Dutchy took a moment to think about his next words, he exhaled sharply and brought his gaze up to meet hers.
"I'm not, I just, look, you and Mike weren't without your problems."
"Yeah, I know, he told me that I wanted him to take a shore posting, and now he has."
"And is that all you wanted?"
Kate brow creased, she wasn't sure why he was questioning it.
"Well, it seems that it was the major hurdle in everything… Dutchy, look, I know your protective and I appreciate that but this seems silly, please, can we just, I dunno, start over?"
He had to hold his tongue, shoving his true opinion down as he nodded.
"I guess…"
"Good, because I want to ask you to be my maid of honour."
The question stunned him, his eyes darted around the room hoping he'd misheard her request.
She knew he wouldn't know how to respond, she whacked him on the arm.
"You don't have to wear a dress."
He chuckled nervously, giving him time to think of a response. Kate jiggled impatiently in her seat.
"Dutchy, don't make me beg…"
Letting out a groan, he rolled his eyes.
"Sure, as long as I get to plan the hen's night!"
Letting out a squeal, she flung her arms around him.
"YAY!"
Dutchy peeled his arms from around his neck.
"So you wanna explain my replacement?"
"Oh, shit, Stacey!"
Kate grabbed her phone to message Stacey to come into the lounge.
"Grab us a drink and I'll introduce you."
The next morning Aria sat in her rocker as Kate prepared breakfast, she hummed along with the radio. Mike exited the bathroom and grinned at Kate's seemingly good mood, wrapping his arms around her he kissed her neck.
"And what's happening over here?"
"Just making breakfast for my fiancee…"
"Well, I have a surprise for you!"
She turned round, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"You know I don't like surprises."
"Well, this one involves a romantic weekend…"
"Oh, keep talking…"
"Picture a beach front bungalow, romantic dinner, just the two of us."
"Oh, really?"
"Yup, tomorrow, you and me, quality time, the entire weekend on Fitzroy Island. Stacey has offered to take Aria, and I assume you'd be okay with that seeming you guy are now best friends. I'm sorry, I have to run now, there's some stuff happening and Maxine needs my help."
"But what about breakfast?"
He kissed her on the cheek and grabbed a piece of bacon.
"Sorry!"
Kate sighed and chucked the spoon back into the pan as the door slammed shut, her good mood instantly gone. She leaned against the bench and reached for her handbag, she pulled out her old keys with the Fitzroy Island key chain and held it in front of her. Her eyes focused on the grains of sand floating around in the sphere, hoping it would jog a memory, but nothing came. She chucked it back into her bag and pulled out her phone and sent a message.
Ten minutes later, her front door flung open.
"Did someone say too much food?"
Kate laughed as she presented Dutchy with a plate, he grabbed a fork and eagerly shovelled the food into his mouth.
"Mike have another work emergency?"
"Yeah, well, I didn't realise he had an early start."
He perched himself at the kitchen bench, focused on his plate.
"Anyway, I hear we're getting a new CO, we're sailing tomorrow, maybe that's why work is a bit hectic. But that means you won't be able to rely on me to eat all your food."
"Finally, all your hovering was annoying me."
She playfully shoved him as she sat down next to him.
"So, what do you think of Stacey?"
He continued to eat, unaware of the undertone of her question.
"She seems nice, nice to see you have female friend."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, you didn't, actually don't have too many of those…"
"And, she's single."
Dutchy dropped his fork and looked over to her.
"Ah, okay, I get where this is going.."
He placed his plate down, waiting for her spiel.
"Oh, c'mon Dutchy, she's gorgeous..."
"Yeah, she is, but I'm just not interested..."
Kate frowned, when was he ever not interested in a gorgeous, single woman?
"Okay, I'll just drop it for now. So, Mike planned a trip for us?"
"Oh, yeah?"
"Yeah, we're going to Fitzroy Island."
He stopped mid mouthful, placing his fork back on his plate.
"Oh…"
Kate wrinkled her face at his negative tone.
"Why is that always your answer when I have news?"
"No, sorry, it's beautiful there, you'll love it… umm, so Stacey hasn't said anything about this new CO?"
"Nope... so you're looking forward to being back out there, yeah?"
"Yeah, the break has been nice but I miss that fresh sea air, you know?"
She raised an eyebrow in his direction.
"Oh, sorry."
Kate spent the evening packing, she was thrilled to be getting away from it all, for her and Mike to spend some quality time together. She was also nervous, she was rediscovering herself and what if Mike didn't like the person she was becoming? Aria's baby babble interrupted her spiralling thoughts, leaning over the rocker, she tickled her tummy.
"Oh baby girl, I'm going to miss you."
Kate sat on the couch picking at the pasta she had made for dinner. Luckily she had packed for both of them, it was late and Mike was most likely going to have to go straight to bed as they were up early in the morning. She jumped up hearing the front door open.
"Mike?"
"Hi, sorry…"
He rushed in a placed his computer and a stack of files on dinning table, Kate glanced at them and shot a look back to Mike.
"You're not done for the night? Mike, it's eight pm and we have to leave early."
"Ah…"
She knew by the guilty look on his face that the news was worse than working late.
"Mike?"
He winced and sat beside her grasping her hand.
"I'm sorry, I can't go…"
She snatched her hand and moved to the edge of the couch.
"What? You were the one that planned this?!"
"I know, and you know how much I wanted…"
She lept off the couch and let out a frustrated growl, interrupting him.
"You know what, don't worry, why don't you just go back to the office."
"Kate, I'm sorry… look, as a compromise I'm sending Stacey in my place."
"That's not the same Mike!"
She couldn't look at him, she was livid. She stormed into the bedroom and slammed the door, Mike sighed, kneeling next to Aria.
"Well, that went well…"
The next morning she got up early to see the Hammersley off, she wheeled the pram up the gangway and handed her to Dutchy.
"Okay, say goodbye to Uncle Dutchy!"
Dutchy propped her on his knee and bounced her up and down.
"RHIB ride..."
Kate chuckled as corrected him.
"I believe it's called horsey rides..."
"No horses for this girl!"
He continued to bounce her around, pretending they were in rough seas.
"Don't get mad at me if she gets seasick."
"Aren't you supposed to be leaving right now?"
She avoided his gaze, not wanting to admit the reality of the situation.
"Ah, Mike can't go…"
"Seriously?"
"I don't wanna talk about it, well actually I can't talk about it, I'm so mad! Anyway, you met the new CO?"
He continued to bounce Aria on his knee as she squealed with joy.
"Ah nope, I think Maxine is bringing him down soon, his flight was delayed or something. God, I hope he's not a dick!"
Kate nodded in agreement.
"Yeah well, can't be as bad a Coburn."
Dutchy groaned reliving the hellish time, suddenly, he grasped Kate's arm startling her.
"Kate, Coburn was on Hammersley when you were, you remembered something. Anything else?"
"No, I just..."
Dutchy's focus turned to the gangway as he heard footsteps. A clean cut, well built looking man stepped on to the deck, he removed his cap and was about to salute when Kate turned to face him. Dropping his bag on deck, he had to do a double take, his stern expression replaced with a giant grin.
"Katie? Is that you?!"
Kate squinted in his direction, she took a step forward and hesitated before letting out a squeal.
"Oh my god, Jack?!"
He wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her tight.
"What's it been 15 years?! What are you doing here!"
She glanced over to Dutchy, forgetting for a moment he was there. Jack gave her a friendly shove seeing their exchange.
"Oh, don't tell me you married a navy man too?"
"Oh umm, well yes, but this isn't him, this is Dutchy. We used to serve together on Hammersley."
His smile grew as he turned his attention to Aria.
"And who's this?"
"Oh, Aria, my daughter."
He booped her nose with his index finger.
"Wow, Kate, I can't believe it's you!"
Dutchy was curious about their closeness, he watched as Jack ran his hand down her arm, he cleared his throat bringing them out of each other's gaze.
"Petty Officer, Dylan Mulholland, Sir."
"Ah, yes, Commander Jack Raymond."
Dutchy's eyes darted back and forth from Kate to Jack, trying to figure them out.
"Ah, you two know each other, Sir?"
A cheeky grin came over his face as he nudged Kate with his elbow.
"Yeah, you could say that..."
Kate elbowed him back, her cheeks beginning to flush. Not worried about Dutchy's opinion, but the gossip that would ensue.
"Jack and we're high school sweethearts."
Dutchy couldn't help it, his jaw dropped to the floor. Jack gave Kate another squeeze and picked up his bag.
"Well, I wish we could catch up but we sail in thirty, dinner when we get back?"
"Yeah, sounds good."
Dutchy handed Aria back to Kate giving her a "WTF!?" look, Kate cleared her throat, her eyes darting back to Jack who was waiting for him.
"Okay, Petty Officer, show me my new home."
Dutchy whispered in her ear as she leaned down to place Aria back into the pram.
"When we get back, we're having dinner first!"
End Chapter 9.