A/N. Dear audience, I want to avoid misunderstandings about the story. The story starts and pauses at the moment of the dramatic action of Kate. Then, I jump back in time to tell what happened to come to that point and I continue from that moment.
It's not only the story of Kate, but also of Dutchy, Mike, Maxine, RO, Bomber, Dutchy's sister and another crew member Harpie.
Ch 6. An old friend
Nikki raised her eyebrows when she saw the hustle and bustle on the beach.
Pfft, I've been dreaming! Yeah, Kate released her heart back then, but she didn't tell everything yet! She didn't say a word about Mike!
Nikki's look was focussed on a sturdy man with a few tattoos on his arms and short brown hair.
He looks like Pete Tomasewski. Jeez, yes, it's him!
Huh? He's playing with children. Shit!
Huh? Why are you thinking 'shit'?
Hmm, I'm going to say hello.
She stood up and padded to the man.
"Hi!", she said.
Pete turned around and a broad smile appeared on his face. "Nav! That's a surprise. How are you ma'am?", he said.
"Pete, it's Nikki. Drop the ma'am, we're off duty and not on the same ship anymore", she said as she reached out.
He shook her hand, "Nikki, yeah that sound a tad better", he said with a grin.
"I'm fine and you?", she asked.
He became even more handsome!
"I'm great actually. I've some holidays", he said.
"Hey! Uncle Pete are you going to kick the ball back to us?", a boy asked.
"Later, Simon, I've a chat now", he said as he ruffled Simon's hair.
"Uncle Pete?", Nikki questioned.
"Yeah, Simon and Warren are my sister's children. She asked me if I could keep an eye on them while she's in the city for shopping."
"Aah! Nice boys!", Nikki said trying to hide her relief.
Pfft, that's good news!
"What are you doing actually?", Nikki asked.
"Well, I'm in between two duties. I've been the bosun on a mine hunter and I'm going to follow and additional training the coming weeks. After that I'm going to get another posting but I don't know which one. I think that the Brass doesn't know it themselves with all these changes and dismissals nowadays. And what are you doing now?", he said.
"I'm going to be the XO of the Sydney with a promotion to lieutenant-commander, but I've to follow a training first", she replied.
"XO and lieutenant-commander, wow, that's big. You became a real madam now! Congratulations!", he said .
She narrowed her eyes and pretended to be angry, "I've become a real madam? Wasn't I already a lady?", she asked.
"Yes of course! But you know what I mean, no?", he said for his defence.
"Of course you silly!", she replied while giving him a poke on his arm.
"Lieutenant-commander, gosh! We've to celebrate that, no? Tonight for dinner? Uh, if you're free, of course!", he said spreading his hands.
"Yes! I'm free, then we can catch up sooner", Nikki replied with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Yep, at 7? Italian?", he asked.
"Great!".
"Ok, the Piazza Navona? You know where it is?", he asked.
"Sure, I'll be there!", Nikki said.
"Uncle Pete? Can we get an ice cream? And who's that lady?", one of the boys said.
"Uh?", he mumbled surprised.
Nikki laughed, "Yeah Pete, that are the heavenly moments of having children."
"Yeah, obviously", he mumbled. "Ok guys, we'll get one. And the lady is Nikki, a colleague from one of my previous ships", he said.
He looked at her, "Do you want one too?"
"That's kind of you, but I've to take care of this", she said while she tapped on her small belly.
"I see…", he got interrupted.
"Uncle Pete are you coming?", Warren yelled.
"Pete go. We'll see each other tonight!", Nikki said giving him a tap on his shoulder.
He gave her a wink and started running after the boys.
With a radiant smile she padded back to her towel.
It's going to be fun tonight! What will I put on?
That evening.
Nikki has taken a shower and she has chosen a bright blue sleeveless summer dress with a nice cut in the front and at the back. She put some eye shadow, nail polish on nails of her hand and feet and a little lipstick, something she barely used. She combed her hair so that it fell freely on her shoulders like a fan and she used some more perfume than normal. Finally she grabbed a pair of silver heeled slingback sandals and slipped into them. Humming a song she padded to the table in the living room and grabbed her car keys. She has them bounced on her hand and made a face.
Nope I go by foot. It will cost me more time to find a parking place there than going to there by foot. Moreover the weather is dry and pleasant warm outside. Let's make it a walk!
When Nikki reached the restaurant she looked at her watch.
Pfft, almost 10 minutes longer than what I normally do.
She glanced at her sandals.
You ought to know it. With these heels you can't walk fast!
She entered the restaurant and Pete noticed her immediately. He stood up and waved to her. Nikki walked over to him and reached out.
"Hi Nikki, you are… amazing!", he said with a big smile.
"Thank you Pete, you're not so bad yourself", she said looking at his appearance. He wore a loose long-sleeved shirt over his jeans.
Wow, it's the first time I see him with a shirt except that of his uniform, of course. Now he looks even better than in my memory.
"Thank you", he said while advancing her chair.
"Sorry for being late Pete, but my shoes slowed me down", she said showing them.
"Nice! But there's no problem", he replied with a wink.
At the same time the waiter brought a bottle of champagne and two champagne flutes. He uncorked the bottle with a faint plop and he filled the glasses.
"Huh? Real Champagne?", Nikki noticed baffled.
Pete took both flutes of champagne and offered Nikki one, "For you! We're celebrating your promotion, lieutenant-commander", he said.
She accepted the glass and they gave a toast. "Oh Pete, you're surprising me!", she said with a slight blush.
"No no, it is. Getting such a promotion is not nothing you know. You're now one of the senior officers. You could have been the commander of the Hammersley", he said proudly before sipping from his glass.
"Jeez, I hadn't thought about that yet!", said Nikki after taking a sip.
"Get used to the idea Nikki!", he said with a grin and took the menu. "I'm starving after an entire day with the kids on the beach, and you?"
She grinned back, "well, to be honest, I've done nothing. Yesterday, I have had a drink with the officers and the crew and … uh… today I took a day off. But nevertheless I'm also hungry."
He smirked with a wink as an answer.
They chose their dishes and placed the order.
As usual Nikki slipped out of her sandals and she started fiddling with them with her toes.
"So, what have you been doing Pete?", Nikki asked leaning forward.
"They've sent me to the mine hunters for the same function, bosun and after a while I've been sent to the frigates. I wasn't a bosun anymore there. Now I've to follow a specialist training. I don't know which one yet, we'll see", he said.
Meanwhile the waiter brought the first dish, lukewarm roasted tuna fish nuggets with pesto.
"Enjoy!", he said, "And what have you done?"
"Quiet easy, I've been posted on a frigate and that was really good for me. Being busy, being away for a couple of weeks, some months. Just the tonic effect that I needed after Josh's death", she said between two bites.
"Yeah, indeed, are you still… having troubles with it", he asked really not knowing how express it.
"Nah, it took a while, but it's over now. But, it's not that I've forgotten him, no, but he's part of my memories and I'm not upset anymore when I think of him", she replied.
Meanwhile Nikki had crossed her legs and moved her bare foot.
None of them both were aware that three totally innocent things were going to happen that night and were going to determine their lives.
The first happened when they were waiting for the main course. Pete was telling an anecdote and Nikki was highly amused listening to his story. At the moment of the punch line she tilted her head. "Oh Pete, have you really said that? You're naughty!", she said with a smile and at the same time she touched his leg with her moving toes. Nikki didn't notice it but he did.
He raised slightly his eyebrows and smiled looking at the bright face opposite him.
She's looking for a contact. A small physical touch. It could mean that she likes me!
The waiter brought the main courses, osso bucco and breaded veal cutlet.
"Nikki, did you move on in the meanwhile?", he dared to ask.
She sighed, "No. When you're on a frigate and you don't see Australian soil for weeks or months then there's little chance to try something", she said.
"And you?", she asked and she tried not to sound too eager.
Pete shook his head, "Nope, too busy with fishing and everything else except women", he said.
Yes, there was one, the lady of the nearby coffee shop. Initially it looked good, but we quickly discovered that our ideas about a further life were too different. It was better to put an end to it, but I'm not going to tell her that. Maybe it would frighten her.
"It looks like we've the same problem", Nikki replied between two bites.
When he had finished his meal he put down the cutlery and wiped his mouth with his napkin.
"Dessert and coffee or coffee with something stronger?", he asked as he emptied his glass.
"We're celebrating, thus Amaretto will do!", she said with a broad smile but at the same time she dangled a bit too much and she touched his leg again a bit harder.
Oops.
He gave her a smile in response.
They finished dinner and decided to split the bill with the exception of the champagne bottle, it was Pete's idea. She slipped into her shoes and shuffled out of the restaurant. Outside they looked at each other.
"Thanks for dinner Pete. It was great to have a chat again after all these years", she said.
"Yeah, that's true. It was a pleasure for the dinner. Maybe, … we could meet again… shortly?", he said.
Her eyes twinkled. "Yeah, sure! What shall we do? Phone, e-mail?", she asked.
"Whatever! Just let's not wait too long", he said with a sheepish smile.
Nikki poked him, "Of course not, you silly".
"Ok, deal!", he replied. "May I take you home? Sydney isn't Cairns and you could meet people you would rather not meet", he offered.
"Hmm, yeah why not", Nikki replied and they started walking towards her flat. But after a few meters she stopped. "That's not going to work", she said. Nikki grabbed his shoulder and lifted her foot to pull up the heel strap and did the same with her other foot. When she was done, she gently squeezed in his shoulder.
"It will be better for walking", she said and they started walking again.
He looked at her.
That felt good!
In front of her flat they looked at each other without really knowing how to part.
"Thanks Pete", she said and she gave a him a peck on his cheek.
"With pleasure Nikki. Maybe we could already set a new date?", he replied.
"Yeah, good idea. Let's say the evening of the day the last of us two has completed the training?", Nikki said.
"Perfect! Which restaurant?", he answered.
"Baysight at 7 pm? The one near the esplanade with a view on the harbour bridge".
"Splendid! I'll be there", he said.
"Yeah see you and enjoy your training".
"Same to you".
On these last words, they parted.
Nikki entered her flat, opened the French door and sprawled on the couch. She took off her sandals and put her feet on the coffee table.
She took a deep breath and looked at the night with a smile.
I like this. Sitting in the darkness and listening to the sounds of the night, in this case the city. After Josh's death I realised that it relaxed me. It gives me space to think.
…
Pete is great! How wonderful it was to meet him again. He's so different from what I thought, so charming. Not the rough man who drinks beers in the bar. I've never known him like that.
…
Hmm I feel like it will work. For the first time in a long time I feel this particular feeling in me again.
Nicole, stop! Be realistic, don't fall in love at first sight anymore. You're an adult who must behave as such!
Okok, but I can't deny this feeling in me. I hope he likes me too!
The room was lit by a flash of lightning and 30 seconds later she heard a thunderclap.
Hmm, it's good that I'm inside. I had neither a coat nor an umbrella with me.
I hope Pete will reach his home dry…
Pete went home. His flat was on at the opposite side. He also had a view on the bay but his apartment was located further inland.
I'm a lucky fella. Thanks to my sister's kids, otherwise I would never have been on this beach. Especially for Nikki. I always had feelings for her, but Josh was the first. Fortunately, she was free tonight for dinner and she's still single! She hasn't changed, hmm, just a little bit. I notice a certain maturity in her, more charm! Pete, buddy, keep a cool head, don't start thinking that it's going to work between you both. You just had a dinner, one! She likes you. These little pokes with her toes were obvious, as was the pressure on your shoulder.
A flash of lightning.
Damn! A thunderstorm, hopefully I'll be at home before it starts…
I'll call her! Yes, I'll do, to hear about the training and I can tell her about mine. A dinner.
Oh no! I'm toasted.
Soaking wet he entered his flat.
Thanks God for going first in her direction, otherwise we would both be soaked and I have no clothes that she could put on. A T-shirt, only a T-shirt! Just like in a comedy. Not exactly the right thing for a date!
To be continued