Ch. 48 A serious loss
A few weeks later.
MV Katherine was sailing from Perth to Adelaide with Melbourne as final destination.
Kate left the control room, like they called the small meeting room behind the bridge, and walked to the chart table to check the course and the progress.
"We'll be home for Christmas, Kate", Chris said.
She nodded, "Yeah, a well-deserved break for everyone. Reunion with family and friends. Do you have plans?"
"With Sally and Chloe at her sister for Christmas Eve. And you?", he said.
"It's going to be special. For the first time since my childhood, we'll have a real family dinner. We, my father, Charlie and Harpie. She'll organise it, because we'll only be back in Melbourne on the 23rd", Kate answered.
Meanwhile Dylan and Rebecca joined them. "Knowing Charlie, there'll be more than enough", he added.
RO appeared at the same time with a piece of paper in hand. He didn't look optimistic, but nobody paid attention to it.
"Uh, Becca?", he said ill-at-ease.
She walked over to him, "Rob, what's going on?".
"It's this message Becca, I wonder whether I can give it to Kate like that? I don't think so", he whispered.
She took over the message and read it.
"Oh God! This can't be true. Who is it from?", she asked upset.
"Directly from HQ".
"Why now?", she mumbled.
She shook her head and made a face, "I'll handle", she said softly and walked over to Dylan who was chatting with Chris and Kate. She touched his arm, "Dylan, you must see this".
"Huh?", he mumbled, taking the message and read it. "Shit!", he mumbled.
Kate heard it, "Dylan what's the matter?"
He straightened his back, took a deep breath and looked at his wife, "Kate, it's about your father. He passed away last night. I'm sorry".
Her face turned pale and she clamped her hand against her mouth, "No. No, that can't be true!", she stammered.
"I'm really afraid of it. HQ reported it. Sorry honey", he said.
Tears appeared in her eyes and she shook her head, "No, just don't say anything", she said and left the bridge.
Dylan, Chris and Rebecca looked at each other and the others on the bridge looked at the three officers.
"I didn't see it coming", Dylan said.
"Nobody saw it, mate. Probably too much emotions in the last weeks", Chris said.
Rebecca tugged Dylan's sleeve, "Go after her mate!"
"Yeah indeed", he said, leaving the bridge.
"Christmas! What a bad time moment to die", Chris remarked.
She nodded, "Yeah, their Christmas is screwed up. Okay, I'll see if I can offer them a good cup of coffee", she said when she left the bridge to go to the galley.
Dylan went down the staircase.
Where could she be? I really hope she will not do anything stupid. Knowing that she has been at death's door, there's a risk she will get depressed again and then we will have to start from scratch. Think Dylan, where does she normally go?
Hmm...
He reached the deck and went straight to the stern of the ship.
The quarterdeck. It's one of her favourite places.
He turned the corner and saw her tiny figure, arms leaning on the railing and hands clenched.
Pfew, there she is.
He walked over to her.
"Honey?", he said softly and put his hand on her shoulder to gauge her mood.
She glanced at him and stared at the horizon without changing her posture. He had noticed tears on her cheeks.
Knowing enough, he also leaned on the railing next to her.
"I'm sorry for you", he started.
"Thank you", she answered.
Still staring at the horizon, Kate continued, "You know, I missed him for decades and at first I was hoping he would come to save me, but in vain. Year after year I gave up, until I saw him again. We're almost a year further away and I really didn't know that I could be so upset of losing a man who I haven't seen since my childhood".
"It means loving someone ", he said.
She turned around and leaned against the railing, wiping the tears from her face.
"Apparently".
At the same time Harpie came to them.
"Kate , I just heard it. I'm so sorry for you", he said and embraced her.
When he released her, she looked at him "Thanks Andrew", she said and wiped away some tears again.
"Now what?", asked Dylan.
"Should I ask Charlie to take care of the funeral?", asked Harpie.
"No no, it's really something I have to do. Thanks for your offer. I'll fly from Adelaide to Melbourne", she said.
"I'll go with you", Dylan said.
"And what about the ship?", Kate questioned.
"Chris can handle it. Harpie is still there, Charge in the engine room and don't forget Rebecca. She's an officer and she has still her seafaring skills. It will be a good practice for them", answered Dylan.
She nodded and sighed, "Okay, it seems more than reasonable. Let's do that!"
A day later they arrived in Adelaide and unloaded and loaded containers.
Afterwards, Dylan and Kate left the ship to catch the first plane to Melbourne.
Chris stood at the bridge, watching the cab drive away with them. He saw Bomber next to him and noticed her sad face. He nudged her gently.
"What's the matter Becca? Worried? I can read it from your face. It looks like you're going to burst into tears any second", he said joyously.
"Uh-hu. Although, bursting into tears is a little bit exaggerated, but I must admit I'm worried", she said.
"Think of it as the chance of your life, being acting first officer", he said with a grin.
She made a face, "No, it's not that. It's about our future. Her father passed away and he was the CEO. What's next? The company? We?", she asked looking at him.
He shook his head, "Becca, this is really the last thing on earth to worry about. You can sleep soundly you know. It's only a matter of time before someone dares to talk", Chris said.
"Chris, what do you mean?", she asked.
"Wait and see Becca, but first gather the crew together. I want to talk to them", he said.
Rebecca called the crew to the bridge and both waited until they were all there.
Chris looked around "Listen up, guys! You heard that Kate and Dylan left for the funeral of Kate's father, our CEO. Yes, well, that we also have to take the ship to Melbourne. I'm the acting captain and Becca, first acting officer. Harpie's still the bosun and Charge the head of the engine room. To do this, I will ask you to do more than your best. If we screw up, then Kate kills us. Okay? Questions?", he asked.
2Dads raised his hand, "Swain, what will happen to us when we're in Melbourne? Dismissal?"
"Nope 2Dads, everything will continue as usual for us", he said.
"Why are you so sure?", Synthia asked.
He shrugged, "Well, I think it's going to be like that. Logical conclusion".
King waggled with his hand, "Hmm, the word 'think' is not exactly an absolute science, is that right, Swaino?".
"Come on guys! Arthur was not the only owner. Dylan is the other one. He'll never stop the business!", he said a bit more fiercely.
The men looked at each other and mumbled something.
"Right. If you still have questions, you can always ask me, but now we have to sail this ship. Harpie, go to the deck for the ropes. Becca, watch the mooring procedure. Synthia, you take the helm. Others, do your normal job. Let's go!", Chris ordered.
Before Rebecca could leave Chris gently grabbed her arm. He waited until the men left.
"Becca, don't worry. I know this is not your cup of tea. Just watch Harpie, he knows what he's doing. Be the intermediary between me and him. Okay?", he said.
She nodded, "Yeah, it's all right", she answered before leaving.
The day after the funeral, Kate and Dylan went to Arthur's apartment. She opened the door and padded inside, followed by Dylan. She crossed the entrance hall to the living room and laid her handbag on the table. She turned and looked at the living room with the couch, the club chair and the coffee table. She listened to the silence and made a face. Then, she took off of her pumps and walked around the chairs, her hand caressing the backrest. Dylan was looking at her. She stopped and looked at him.
"It's strange. It's just like I hear his voice here", she said unsure.
"It's like this. We've heard also our father's voice in the farm", he said.
"Uh-hu", she mumbled and walked to the window from where you could clearly see the great bay of Melbourne. "It's a magnificent view", she mused.
"Yep, indeed, he had good taste", he said and walked over to her.
They both looked silently at the landscape.
Then she rubbed her eyes.
"Are you're okay?", he asked.
Kate nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine, really. But my eyes still feel like ping-pong balls. My hormones didn't cooperate yesterday and I was happy that the day was very sunny, so I could wear sunglasses", she answered.
"Charlie also experienced that when our father died", he simply said.
"Uh-hu".
"What are you going to do with it? Do you want to move in here?", he asked.
She shook her head, "No. This one is brand new and our cottage is an old building, but I love it and it has a garden. I need plants around me after the sea water. Moreover, a child needs a garden to play", she answered.
Then she shrugged, "And about your first question. I don't know yet. We don't have to pay the rent because it was his property. So, there's no need to rush", Kate said.
He nodded, "It's a good approach, I think".
"Okay, but we can't leave it like that now. It's just like he's going to walk in the room at any time and it's too awkward. Moreover, we've to stop and clean the fridge otherwise its content will run away!", Kate said rolling her eyes and he scrunched his nose. She started to walk to the kitchen, but she stopped and looked at the paintings hanging on the walls that depicted landscapes of Scotland and Cornwall. "I like these and you?"
"It's pretty and I can imagine it must look like it, although I've never been there", he said.
"They depict the two places well. Do you think I could take these for our house? We don't have wall decorations yet", she asked.
"Honey, it's yours now! Take what you like", Dylan answered.
She sighed, "You're right. Can you take them down from the wall?
Oh, by the way, would you mind if I also take the photo of Hawks Hill?", asked Kate pointing to the photo of her house in England.
"Honey, it's yours, then", he replied.
"Okay, can you also take it down from the wall? Meanwhile I'm going to pack his clothes. It would be scary to see them again after returning from another voyage".
"Yeah, it's okay", he replied, reaching out to take the first frame.
Another voyage? You don't realise it yet, but you'll no longer sail. You're going to have something else to do!
When he put it on the ground he heard a sob and quickly made his way to the bedroom. He found Kate with a after-shave bottle in her hands and glassy eyes.
"Are you okay?"
"His after-shave. I had to leave it closed. The scent. It's like he's here", she said hoarsely.
He wrapped his arm around her, "It's normal. Put these things aside, otherwise it will get worse."
She bit her lip and nodded, "You're right".
He then tried to tackle another subject, "Have you thought about Christmas with Charlie and Harpie?"
"Ah? Honestly, no. Gosh, Charlie said that she was going to organise it because we were at sea. Now, that we're ashore, I can help her, no?", she said
He smiled inwardly.
It works.
To be continued