Ch. 18 One less worry
The next Saturday
The ball took place in one of the biggest halls in Sydney. It was crowded. Sailors and even more guests. Dance floor, orchestra, tables, bars, buffet, everything to enjoy yourselves.
Nikki was wearing a long silk silver-gray strapless dress. She wore her hair up and the earrings as well as the necklace set with diamonds completed her gorgeous outfit.
She had just finished a chat with Sub-Lieutenant Melissa Rodes and a two other female petty officers of the Sydney and their partners.
Now she stood a bit forlorn on the edge of the dance floor and looked at the couples with mixed feelings.
Normally this is the perfect opportunity to have some fun with your partner, but we can only have a stilted chat with each other. I'm wondering where he stays!?
"Good evening ma'am, I've something for you here!", she heard the desired voice next to her.
"Hey Pete! That's good, I was already wondering where you stayed", she said by accepting the champagne flute.
"Sorry Nik, but some of my men couldn't stop chatting with me", he said.
"Oh Pete, you're handsome", she said looking at his anthracite trousers and jacket. Under the jacket he wore a white shirt with open collar.
He chuckled, "I've bought it this afternoon. I realised that being with you, I was going to need such an outfit ", he answered.
"But you're stunning as well!", he said looking at her silver dress.
"This is not brand new, I bought it a few years ago for the last ball in Cairns", she replied.
"Never mind, nice necklace", he said.
"Birthday present from my parents when I became 25. I'm only wearing it on special occasions, just like now", she said.
"What are your parents doing?", he asked her.
"Dad is a real estate broker and mum works in a bank", she replied.
Meanwhile the orchestra started to play an Argentine tango.
"Wouldn't it be something for us?", she asked him.
"Us? I... I've never danced before, like that", he said.
"Josh either. I think he had erased the word 'dance' from his vocabulary", she said.
Pete scratched his head, "Ahum, I've a thick layer of dust to remove from my knowledge of dancing. The last time it was at school and I have to admit that it wasn't a great performance".
"We can learn it, can't we?", Nikki asked with sparkling eyes.
He looked at her and smiled, "With that look I can't say no".
"Yes!", she replied enthusiastically and she poked him with her elbow, forgetting that she had to keep her distance.
Meanwhile Lieutenant Harry Wittacker, head of the engine room of the Sydney passed them while dancing with his wife.
"Hey Buffer, grab your chance mate, ask the X for a dance!", he yelled.
"Will do sir! When I'll know how to dance this thing!", Pete yelled back.
Nikki frowned a little, "Would he know anything?".
"Nope, he was just kidding, you should know him. A big mouth and a lack of respect for the hierarchy", Pete said.
"Well, about us, I think we've to tell it to Mike. It's better for him to learn from us than to learn from someone else", she said all of sudden.
"Hmm, when?"
"I'll ask him if he wants to come to our place in a couple of days".
They both were watching the dancers when they heard another well-known voice behind them.
"Hi, Nikki, Pete".
They turned around and saw Mike and Maxine. He was wearing an indigo blue suit and she a green evening dress with a golden necklace.
"Good evening sir, ma'am", they said almost simultaneously.
"Nikki, Pete, here's my partner, Commander Maxine White", he said by introducing her.
"Nice to meet you ma'am", Nikki replied solemnly and they shook hands.
So here is the notorious Maxine White. It's hard to imagine what Mike found in her compared to Kate.
"Good evening", Maxine replied eyeballing Nikki.
The other one from the Hammerley. Clearly another woman than Kate and that necklace is not plastic either. For sure, she comes from a good family background!
"Nikki was my navigator aboard the Hammersley and is now my XO. Pete was the buffer aboard the Hammersley and is still the buffer on the Sydney", Mike said.
"Nice, a small reunion somehow", Maxine replied with a smile.
Nikki had forced a smile, "yes indeed, ma'am".
Some meaningless words were exchanged, then Mike and Maxine went to some other guests.
Pete looked at his girlfriend, "Hmm, Nik, you don't seem to like her. Your answers were rather cold", he whispered.
"You would be for less", she grumbled.
"Uh? Explain", he said after he had grabbed two new flutes of champagne from the tray of a waiter.
"Kate told me that Maxine has a son, Ryan, and Mike is the father", Nikki said.
"What?! Mike has a son?!", Pete exclaimed.
She glared at him and slapped on his arm, "Oh you dolt, you're right! Scream it out in the microphone, 'to all staff, Mike Flynn has a son'".
"Ouch, sorry Nik, but what is this all about?", Pete asked completely baffled.
Nikki looked at him worriedly. "Mike's a longtime friend of Maxine's. She was married and in the absence of her husband, after a night of drinking with Mike, the inevitable happened, she got pregnant", she said softly.
"Hmm, jolly good! I never expected that from him", Pete replied a bit disappointed.
"Yeah indeed, you think that you know someone and then…", she replied with a shrug.
"Oh, by the way chief petty officer, will you take me home tonight? I don't trust the forlorn streets of the city at night", she asked him with twinkling eyes.
"Sure ma'am, I'll take you back to your front door", he replied.
"… and even further", he let follow but much softer.
Two days later
Mike rang the doorbell of her flat that was situated between the Navy base and Bondai Beach. He looked around.
Hmm, nice neighbourhood, I'm sure that I could get used to this too. I'm wondering why Nikki wanted to see me in private? She could have told me at the ball last weekend.
The door was opened and he padded inside. When he got out of the lift he noticed that the door of the flat was ajar and that she was waiting for him.
"Hi sir", she greeted him with a handshake and stepped aside to let him in.
"Hey Nikki, drop the sir, it's Mike. We're not on duty", he replied as he walked through.
When he entered the living room he saw Pete who was standing in the middle of it.
"Hi boss", he greeted him.
"Hi Pete, it's Mike, we're not at the ship now", Mike said as they shook hands.
He looked at Nikki and smiled, "A Hammersley reunion? Who's coming next?", he asked.
"No Mike, just the three of us. Please take a seat. A drink? I've made a fresh brew", she said.
"Yeah, a brew's good", he replied as they sat down, Mike in a club chair and Pete on the couch
A minute later Nikki was back carrying a service tray with three cups, a jar of coffee, milk and a package of Tim Tam. She put it on the coffee table, served everyone a cup and sat down on the couch.
"Cheers Nikki!", he said before sipping his coffee. "What do you want to talk to me about?".
"Well, Mike, I think it would be better if you hear it from us rather than from someone else", Nikki said.
He raised his eyebrows, "Ah? What's going on?".
"Pete and I have a relationship", she said plainly.
Mike frowned and looked at them without saying anything.
After an instant he nodded. "Are you aware of the fraternization rules?"
"Yes, we do and that's why we tell you now and here", Nikki replied.
"Hmm, I see and since when?", Mike asked.
"We started dating just before Pete was posted on the Sydney", she replied.
"It's been already a long time and you're breaking the rules", Mike said.
"Mike, you and Kate were also dating outside Hammersley", Nikki added.
"Hmm, in fact no", he replied hesitantly.
"Mike, are you really honest? Didn't both of you have cosy moments?", Nikki said for her defence.
He spread his hands, "What can I say? We had, of course, but we took care that no one saw us. Quite unpleasant and sometimes ridiculous. To travel separately to go to the same place instead of travelling together. But it's all over now", Mike said annoyed.
"I would like to have a shore posting, so we can move on", said Pete joining the discussion.
Mike nodded again. "Yeah, it's the most logical thing, but there's a problem. It's the worst time to ask for a transfer. The Brass is still struggling to give people another job and they are happy every time they can dismiss one. If you're going to ask for a shore posting now, then I'm afraid that you have to watch the gate of the Navy base from outside instead from inside", Mike said.
Pete and Nikki nodded.
"The best you can do is staying on board and keeping a low profile. The Sydney is not the Hammersley. 21 versus 210, that's quite a lot and everyone will not be your friends like the Hammersley family. So, one wrong word or action can be lead to some nasty questions from the base commander. I'm not saying that it's going to happen, but you have to take it into consideration. I'm not aware of anything! Do what makes you happy both, but do it out of sight", Mike said.
"Hmm, when will it be a right time?", Pete asked.
"Pfft, let's say within a year? I expect everything to have calmed down by then", Mike replied.
"Indeed, I've also said that to Pete. But we thought it would be better for you to know about us", Nikki said.
Mike straightened his back and took a deep breath. "Yes, indeed, but it remains nevertheless a sensitive case. Luckily you've told me. If someone else had reported it to me, I should have reprimanded you. Normally I should transfer one of you, but we can't for the reason we all know. Just keep it quiet and wait to be away from public places", he said with a wink.
They chatted for over an hour until Mike announced that he had to go home to go shopping with Maxine.
After he left, they looked at each other and shrugged.
"One less worry. Mike knows it", Pete said.
"Indeed, we have to be patient now!", Nikki replied starting to collect the empty cups.
To be continued