Ch. 41 Home sweet home
One month later.
"Aaaah! I've had it!", Kate yelled.
She was standing in the middle of the cottage living room they had bought. She was surrounded by brand new furniture wrapped in plastic, cardboard boxes of all kinds, plastic bags with new household things, suitcases and a heap of plastic and paper items they have already unpacked.
Dylan poked his head in the doorway, "What do I hear? Is that the self-confident captain?", he asked with a grin.
"That's aboard! Here, I'm at home and I have the right to be nervous! ", she replied.
"Take it easy sweetie, otherwise I'll have to scrape you from the ceiling", he answered laconically.
"Close to! Close to! Why did everything have to come at the same time? I've had it!", she repeated looking around.
"It's not our fault. We planned this perfectly, but... The stevedores' strike in Brisbane cost us a day, plus a day of waiting for the delivery of these containers in Sydney, as well as the delay in delivery of the furniture. The only thing that happened in time, was the delivery of all our household items and our personal belongings", he said walking to her.
Kate looked at him gloomily, "I know, I know. Just let me vent and it comes right".
"Let's take one thing at a time. We're good on track. We fixed the priority items first, no?", he said to calm her down.
Kate sighed and stroked her hair, "Yeah, the table in the kitchen with two chairs, our bed with a mattress and blankets", she summarised.
"Well then", he concluded.
"Yeah, you're right. Let's continue for an hour and then a break", she said adjusting her loose ponytail again.
When she took the next box, the doorbell rang.
"Oh no!", she grumbled or was it rather a sigh.
She walked to the door and opened it to find at a bright smiling Nikki.
"Hello!", said the latter enthusiastically.
"Oh my gosh, Nikki, sorry, I forgot you", Kate answered stepping aside to let her in. "It's a mess here. Delay after delay, we've received everything at the same time", Kate said.
"Never mind, we just managed to work away the same kind of mess in Sydney", Nikki replied.
Kate now had the time to have a better look at her friend. "You're looking good!", she said seeing the white dress with thin black vertical stripes and white heeled sandals.
"You too!", Nikki replied putting down her hand luggage.
"Come on, I'm in rags", Kate answered looking down at her old T-shirt, jeans and slippers.
"Hey Nikki, finally I can meet you in more favourable conditions!", Dylan said walking to her.
"Hello Dylan", she replied shaking his hand and he kissed her on both cheeks.
He noticed Kate's quizzical look and he shrugged, "This is the best way to build the right relationship ", he said deadpan.
Kate looked around and scratched her head, "If you call this a good way?"
Then she looked back at Nikki, "How was your flight and when did you arrive?"
Nikki looked at her watch, "Oh, about one and a half hour ago. It was a good flight and I came directly to you".
"Oh!, and... where are you staying in town?", Kate asked.
"Nowhere, no reservation yet. Melbourne is big enough, I always find something", Nikki said plainly.
"Stay here", Dylan said.
Kate whipped her head in his direction, "Darling what are you saying now? The guest room is still there", she said pointing the pieces of furniture wrapped in plastic against the wall.
He shrugged, "We"ll fix it".
"I'll give you a hand", Nikki said.
"No! Nik you're our guest", Kate replied indignantly.
Now, it was Nikki who shot Kate an indignant glare, "Kate, did you really change? Do you think that I'm a ginger cookie? We went through everything together, joy, danger, sadness and now you consider me as a ... guest! Pete and I did that already, you know".
Kate looked down, "Yeah, you're right. All three of us we'll go faster".
"Great! Then, do you have clothes for me? Because with this dress, it won't work", Nikki replied.
"Of course, come on", Kate answered.
"Ok girls. While you dig in my wife's wardrobe, I'll prepare a brew", Dylan said with a smirk as he padded to the kitchen.
"Two extra spoons! Nikki drinks it full-bodied!", Kate yelled coming out of the bedroom.
"Smells good!", he heard yelling after a few minutes. Meanwhile he unpacked the third chair. Shortly after the two women reappeared. Nikki had switched her dress for a top, a three-quarter pants and a pair of Kate's flip-flops.
Nikki's beamed when she saw the black coffee mug. "Splendid! On the plane it was just brown water!"
"How're you as XO on a frigate?", Kate asked.
"Great!, but honestly, the first week, I was more than happy to crawl into my rack. There are a million things you need to pay attention to. But bit by bit, it becomes a habit and more fun", she replied.
"And what's your experience as a ship captain?", she asked in return.
"Oh, in one word, it's wonderful. Moreover, the crew of the ship is mainly composed of Hammersleys and Kingstons and a few others", Kate said before taking a sip.
"And how's your notorious CO?", Kate asked.
Nikki rolled her eyes, "He? He's a special case. He's stern and honest. When he's off duty, he's talkative as you must know him, but on certain topics, he can bite your head off. "
Dylan felt that this conversation could go on for a long time and there was still work to do. "Girls, let's keep the Flynn topic for tonight. We still have to fix Nikki's bed", he announced.
Nikki nodded. "A strong point. I don't want to sleep on the rug. Ok, what can I do?", she asked standing up.
After a couple of hours they finished working. Both women switched their working outfit for a dress and had dinner.
"Why didn't Pete come with you?", Kate asked afterwards.
Nikki looked straight at Kate, "I told him that I wanted to be alone with you for a delicate situation and he understood".
"Do I have to leave?", Dylan asked.
"No, you silly!", Kate replied looking at Nikki, "This afternoon, you said you spoke about certain topics with Mike?"
Nikki looked straight at Kate, "Well, you!"
"I've asked Mike many times about you and every time he did a lip service to me or he flatly refused to answer. Until we invited you aboard. I still can enjoy how you put him right in his place with your captain-commander play on words. I think he still hasn't digested it. But, oh God, what a fucking show it was after that !
After you left, he wanted to rebuke me, but I went on the offensive. I finally managed to rip him off the reason why he behaved like an asshole to you and that was the reason you left him. Then, it came out that you asked him something and I could deduce that you were pregnant. Is that correct?", Nikki asked.
Kate bit her lip, "Yeah, it's true".
"Kate, you knew Mike better than anyone else, why didn't you tell him clearly that you were expecting his child?", she asked desperately.
Kate shrugged, "Yes, I know, I acted like a greenhorn. But you know Mike, sometimes he can be very understanding and at other times it's just a block of granite. Given the situation with the dismissals at the time, I was afraid he would be angry. When he answered me that a child wasn't on the agenda yet, I was upset. Due to the pregnancy, my hormones went in all directions except in the good one and I left everyone".
Nikki gave her friend and Dylan a suspicious look, "Yes, but I don't see a toddler here...", she noticed hesitantly.
Kate's face hardened and she grabbed the bottle to fill her glass. She took a gulp.
"Well observed my dear, there's no toddler. The most fucking period of my life started there. Setback after setback. I looked for a job in the merchant navy, but unlike the Navy, they are not keen on female officers and certainly not pregnant officers. So, there was nothing. To clear my head, I went to the movie theatre. When I headed for the car park to pick up my car, I was assaulted by a jerk who wanted my money. I thought, 'Wait a minute bastard, I'll kick you in the crotch and I did. In fact, it was my intention, but I had forgotten that I was wearing a pair of loose shoes instead of the combat boots and my shoe flew over his head into the bushes. The only thing I did was to hit his thigh with my toe. It made him angry, he lost his self-control and started kicking me. I was left behind on the ground, unconscious. From that moment I didn't remember anything until I woke up in the hospital. There was no more baby, I had a miscarriage", she ended harshly, her eyes filled with tears. Kate took another gulp while Dylan stroked her back.
"Oh God! That's awful", Nikki mumbled.
"And this continued", Kate said.
"No?", Nikki whispered.
Kate continued, "That bastard had my handbag, my address and my keys. When I got home from the hospital, he had turned my house upside down and everything that was worthless was gone. All the rest was scattered on the floor. And of course, my car was gone too. By the situation, I didn't correctly read the letter from the court which was among all the mail received in my letter box. I thought that I had to testify against my mother, but I was the accused. That bitch accused me for neglect. I was there without a lawyer. I was shark food. My mother claimed a food annuity from the day I left her. Can you imagine? She earned more money than me because she was a whore!", Kate said bitterly and she took another gulp.
She shrugged, "I went to see a lawyer, but it was a lost case. The lawyer appealed the decision of the court and I didn't have to pay the twenty years of food rent but I had to pay something, enough to become penniless. I moved to the big city, Sydney, hoping to find a job. Indeed I found one stupid job in a cleaning company. I earned just enough to stay alive. I could not get out of this tricky situation. Nothing worked. I was a perfect looser. I put on my uniform and I grabbed the little gun I found once on a boat.", she said faintly.
"I tried to commit suicide, but even it failed", she said sadly, looking intently at Nikki.
The latter had covered her mouth with her hand and listened to her friend with widened eyes. "Oh God no! At that time, Pete showed me a small article in a newspaper about it, but it did not mention a name and we had the awful feeling it was someone we knew", she said faintly.
Kate shrugged.
"But, for God's sake, why didn't you call me? I thought we were friends?", Nikki asked hurtfully.
Kate shook her head. "Now, I can't believe I did that. It was not me. But I think it was shame. I lost everything you know, my relationship, my job, my child, my dreams, everything. I really didn't dare to talk to anyone about it".
"Kate, couldn't you trust me? I thought we could tell everything to each other", Nikki said rather irritated.
Kate glared at her, "Nik, I just told you! Shame! And it has nothing to do with trust".
She raised her hands, "Ok, I believe you. How could you go further? How did you survive", Nikki asked.
"That's really the black hole. Shreds of images, but nothing clear. They told me something about a piece of my skull that has been snatched away by the bullet. I must have tilt my head as I fired", she answered ashamed by looking at the floor while touching the dent on her temple.
Kate continued while looking at Nikki, "I'm starting to remember that I served as a waitress in the Twelve Apostles pub. From there it has been better and better. I started to rebuild my self-confidence. I even had a little show with a few musical songs...", Kate told but she was interrupted by Nikki.
"You? Singing? No?", she exclaimed.
"Yes Nik, I did it. It was a challenge. One day I said, without thinking, that I could do better than the singer on TV. I had to prove it and I did it", she said smiling.
"In fact, I should be grateful to Ryan and Bird. You don't know them, because they came aboard after you. But, they visited the pub and saw me. By chance, they bumped into Dylan and told him about me."
"As soon as I heard that, I rushed into this pub to find my girl", Dylan said wrapping his arm around his wife.
"That's when the fairy tale started", Kate said.
"Uh-hu. That's hard! I don't know what to say", Nikki said looking at them.
"Maybe it's time for a drink? I think you deserved it?", Dylan suggested.
"Yeah! A big one, I need it", Nikki answered.
"Whisky?", he asked.
"Hmm. I never drank that, but after this horror story, it's a good excuse to start", she answered.
He poured three glasses with Talisker and put them on the table. "Cheers!"
Nikki took a gulp and coughed, "Pfew, Jeez, what's that? Gunpowder? Never mind, I think it will help me to have good night's sleep after this story", she said.
"How was Mike after our visit?", Kate asked after taking a sip.
"Grumpy. I think he didn't say a word more than necessary for the business. I've got the impression he realised what happened", Nikki said taking another sip.
"How did you switch the pub for a ship?", she asked.
Dylan interfered in the conversation, "Well, it's by happy coincidence in fact. On a day, I met her father, Arthur McGregor, in a pub. We had something in common. He was on the run because of his ex-wife and I was looking for his daughter. We would keep in touch and after a while, he called me to ask if I wanted to be his partner in a shipping company. At that time I had money from my father's inheritance. I accepted his proposal and I had to set up a crew. I set up the crew with former sailors fired by the Navy and I convinced Kate to be our captain", he told.
"It…it's wonderful! ", Nikki said enthusiastically taking another sip.
"I think, I'm getting used to it", she grinned looking at her glass.
"So, Kate, you found your father too! Jolly good!", she said taking another sip.
"Yeah, that's a miracle. It's really hard to believe", Kate replied.
"Sssure! But, o..o..one thing I can't grasppppp. Howw, can you tttalk so cooly about these eventsssss of your fpast?", Nikki said with difficulty.
"Nikki, I don't know exactly. Maybe because I'm back on track now and I want to wipe out, forget, those dark moments? Honestly, I even find it hard to realise that I was talking about myself. It sounded like I was telling any story. But, one thing is for sure dear, you were the last to hear it. I really want to forget that part of the past", Kate said decisively.
Nikki nodded exaggeratedly, "Y...y...yeah, y..yo..you're rrrrright. Oh Goshshsh, this wwwwhisky went to my hhhhead. Ba...barely slept because I ha.. the early watchchch, travel, good fooooood, wine...jeez!", she spluttered rubbing her face.
Kate stood up, "Yeah, I already thought so. I'll help you to get in your bed".
"Ok, okok", Nikki mumbled standing up with Dylan's help.
"Ouch? Earth quake? The.. walls… turn", she slurred.
Kate giggled, "No silly girl. Your head is spinning", she said as she was helping Nikki to get to the guest room.
A few minutes later, she came back and sat on the couch, her legs folded under her. "She fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow. I had to undress her and she didn't even move", Kate said.
"You have a nice friend and I mean it in the positive way", Dylan said.
"I know and I'm sorry for her. Normally she's able to hold a drink better than me. I'm getting quickly tipsy, but she...", Kate said.
He shrugged, "What can you do you? A short night, being busy all the day, a flight, etc, etc".
"Yeah, indeed and I think I'll put a box of painkillers on the table for her in the morning. I know one who will need it. Next time, you should meet Pete. He's a really nice guy. He was the buffer, just like you, before you came aboard", Kate said.
"Sounds interesting. I'm looking forward to meet that guy".
"And now buddy, let's go to bed too. We also had a busy day", she said patting his knee.
The next morning was as Kate expected.
Nikki shuffled in the kitchen bare feet and plopped on a chair under Dylan's amused gaze.
She had switched the dress for a T-shirt and a cotton trousers.
"Good morning Nikki!"
"Hmm, morning", she mumbled.
"I thought a good shower would help, but in vain", Nikki said faintly.
She took the box of painkillers and looked at it.
"Navigator brew?", Kate asked cheerfully.
"Uh-hu. I think it's the only thing that can help. I'm afraid that the gunpowder is still in my head", Nikki replied.
"Talisker is good stuff, though", he said.
"For you maybe, but not for me anymore. Thanks", she replied accepting a steaming mug of strong black coffee from Kate. With both hands she lifted it to her mouth and sipped it.
"Hmm, good. Bit by bit I come back to life,", she replied as her eyes became bright again.
Meanwhile, Kate put toast, butter, marmalade and ham on the table.
"Hmm, I'm starting to feel better", Nikki said putting her mug on the table.
"Nikki, I have a question and a proposal", Dylan said before taking a sip of his mug.
"Shoot", she replied, rubbing her forehead to wake up.
"Can you command a ship?", he asked.
She looked at him in disbelief, "Of course I can! I'm the XO of a frigate. Especially during the return voyage after the disastrous encounter, I haven't seen Mike at bridge much. I guess I gave him something to think about", she replied.
"Nice! Keep in mind it's not for now, but what do you think about being a captain of one of our ships? And Pete as bosun or deck officer?", he asked.
She looked at him a bit baffled.
"Nikki, don't forget I'm also the Human Resource Manager of the company. We pay more than the Navy", he said.
She rubbed her face, "Pfft, it's too early for such questions. My headache is just starting to fade away. It sounds nice, but give me some time to think about it".
"I think so. Do it at your own pace and as I said, it's not for now", he replied.
Kate slapped him on the shoulder, "You're starting to look like Dad, grow, expand, getting bigger".
He grinned back, "That's what they call being 'pro-active'".
They spent two more days together before Nikki's departure for Sydney.
To be continued