Hi Kate,
I hope you are having a good patrol and everything is going ok. Kate, I have been hearing the most amazing stories while you have been away. First Dutchy told me about his childhood and how his family survived a severe drought, losing their farm to it, only to come out the other side owning a reputable thoroughbred spelling property in the Upper Hunter.
Robert Dixon and Bomber have been staying with me, and the first night they were here Robert spoke of his childhood with an alcoholic father. I had no idea that he had such a tough upbringing. Did you know of it at all? And he said that his father could have been quite successful, but chose to drink himself to death instead. He said he'd prefer to care for someone disabled, than an alcoholic. That got me thinking.
Charge and Amy came all the way over from WA. They have taken leave, to come and see me. Buffer has been in contact with Charge and keeping him up to date. Charge talked about how his first marriage ended, and how Swain and Buffer supported him through all he went through.
Today, Dad, Charge, Amy, Bomber and I went out on Buffer's boat, "Swaino", crewed by Buffer and 2Dads. Buffer and 2Dads took us all to Bessie Point to fish. While we were there, Buffer bet Charge he could tell a true story that would outdo any conspiracy theory Charge could put forward. Buffer told the story of his father who took part in the Siege of Warsaw in 1939 at only ten years old. He'd kept this diary and it told of a boy becoming a man before his time, raising his brothers during the war after his parents were killed.
When we came back, Robert was standing on the wharf, and he had Chloe Blake with him. I wish you could've been here to see her, Kate, she's thirteen years old and it was like looking at Swain with long hair. Robert had contacted Sally and Chloe about my accident, and Chloe flew from Brisbane to see me. She brought a gift for me, Kate, a picture of me and Swain onboard Hammersley. I remember you took that photo on the way back from a patrol, we were having a BBQ. Chloe is determined that she will join the Navy after she leaves school, already she's joined the Navy Cadets in Brisbane.
It feels like I'm only getting to really know the people you and I served with, Kate. As their Divisional Officer you probably knew a lot of this.
Kate, I feel so humbled that so many people have come from all over the country to offer their support. I honestly had no idea how much all these people cared for me. It was an honour to be their CO, Kate, and now it's an honour to be their friend. Amazingly it's Robert who I find I can talk to about the accident and the best way forward afterwards. I miss you, and I miss Jessica. Please keep in touch, I would like to hear about your patrol and how it's going.
With love,
Mike.
Kate read, and reread Mike's email. She thought for a while, and remembered that she did know about Robert's upbringing. He told her an edited story during a divisional interview. She knew Charge was divorced, but Charge never spoke of it to her, Buffer and Swain knew the full story. She remembered how those three were virtually inseparable whenever they had shore leave. Kate smiled at the memory. She thought she could detect a more positive note in Mike's email, and felt her own spirits lift. For the first time since she left Cairns on this patrol, Kate was looking forward to coming home. Her heart was filled with gratitude, and she too felt humble, in the face of the love and support showed by the former crew of Hammersley. They truly were friends, almost a family. And Robert has gone to great lengths for Mike; sending for Chloe Blake. Kate was sorry she wouldn't be home to see her; the last time Kate saw her was at Swain's funeral; Chloe was only a child, not much older than Jessica. She hoped that people had taken photos.
Her XO's appearance in the doorway of her cabin brought her out of her reverie. She looked up.
"David, not taking any shore leave?"
"I've just come back, Ma'am," he said, smiling. "We're due to sail in 30 minutes, aren't we?"
Kate looked at her watch. "Is that the time? You're right. The crew starting to return, are they?" She stood up and walked with her XO toward the bridge. Kate wanted to answer Mike's email, but she now needed to turn her thoughts to getting the ship underway.
Cairns.
Mike lay awake. So much had happened in the day that he needed to process. He thought about Robert and his story, Buffer's story about his father. Mike made a mental note to ask Buffer if he could see his father's diary. Mike cast his mind back to that awful day when Dutchy's intervention saved his life. In his mind, he heard Dutchy tell his story. As he lay there, Charge's voice came into his mind; like Dutchy's family, Robert, Buffer's father and young Chloe Blake, Charge had overcome personal tragedy to become the man he is now. Mike turned his thoughts to his uncle Patrick; who overcame blindness to continue running his farm. Never once did he hear his uncle complain; he chose to continue to do what he loved, despite his blindness. He thought of Robert's father, Gerald, who, rather than get help for his alcoholism, lost his wife, son, career and eventually ended up dying alone in some run-down boarding house. Mike realised that he, too, had driven his family away. He loved them, and he missed them. He had all these people around him, who had started out as his crew, and became a close-knit family, supporting him every step of the recovery journey. He felt that he could not let them down. He heard Robert's words from earlier in the evening, you have to decide that even disabled, life is still worth living. In that darkened room, lying there in the stillness, Mike made his resolution. Peace entered his soul.
Mike was asleep.
