Four months later.
On the Coral Sea between Cairns and Sydney.
The HMAS Sydney returned from a joint exercise with the New Zealand Navy.
Mike sat in his chair at the bridge thinking about the past exercise until his thoughts were interrupted by the deep voice of Lieutenant Commander Shaun Stivell, "Sir, we have a suspect cargo vessel on the radar".
"Huh? Which one?", he asked, looking at the rough, sturdy man wearing a beard.
What a huge difference! I still have to get used to it. I'm still expecting to see Nikki's little figure. I'm lucky. He's good and popular with men. I don't know how he settle it, but they do what he says. I've never seen him angry or nervous.
"MV Katherine sir. One of the amber list. Should I order her to stop for an inspection?", he asked.
Kate's boat. If I say no, then it will seem suspicious. Why not? It's still a good exercise for LT, as he and his team haven't done a boarding for a long time.
"Good idea X. Go to it", he said.
"Ok sir", Stivell said and he grabbed the microphone, "Attention. Lieutenant Rowlings and boarding team prepare for action!".
On the MV Katherine.
RO brought the Sydney message to Dylan and Nikki.
Dylan read it and passed it to Nikki. "The old faithful is back".
She nodded, "Stop all the engines!"
"Let's welcome them", she said and padded to the cupboard at the rear of the bridge to take her hat.
A few minutes later, they saw a Navy lieutenant boarding.
"This is the Austra...", he started but he stopped suddenly.
"X! You here?", he said startled.
She gave him a smile, "Hi LT, it's me, but with a difference. I'm the captain now".
"Ah, uh, yes, congratulations X, uh ma'am", he stammered.
"I guess that you are paying us a courtesy call because we're still on the amber list?", Nikki asked.
LT shrugged and sighed, "The CO huh. Each time he sees this ship, he gets nervous".
"I know LT. I've been on the sending part as well. Well, you can do me a favour", she said.
"Yes?"
"Tell Mike, that if he stops me again, I'll come aboard and kick him in the balls until they come back down his throat", she said with a dangerous smile.
"Uh, that? Yes, sure", he replied unsure.
"Aah, so I don't think I need to look for something here, do I?", he asked.
"Exactly!", confirmed Nikki.
"Okay, then. Goodbye captain", said LT and left with his team.
"Ok, that was the intermezzo", she said deadpan before returning to the bridge.
Dylan looked at Pete, "Wow! Is she always like that?".
"Well, mate, at start at Hammersley, she was a shy girl, but she learned quickly with us and she became immersed in it. You'll never hear that from your Kate. She's too reserved for that", replied Pete with a grin patting on his shoulder before walking away.
Dylan also headed for he bridge rubbing his head.
Pete is right. I've never heard such a thing from Kate before. She always seems to be above it!
LT came back up to the Sydney and headed straight for the bridge to report. He found the CO at the window watching with his binoculars at the departure of MV Katherine.
"Sir, nothing to report. Everything is fine", he said.
"That's fine LT. Nothing else to mention?", he asked.
"Uh, no sir".
He looked at the lieutenant. "Didn't she say something about kicking my balls?"
"Uh yes sir, something like that", LT replied ill-at-ease.
"She called to tell me personally because she knows that you're too polite to report it to me. Isn't it LT?", said Mike with a grin.
"Uh yes sir".
"It's okay LT, dismiss".
Mike looked at his XO. "X, remove MV Katherine from the amber list. That vessel has been checked several times and she's in order".
"Okay sir", said Stivell grabbing a ballpoint pen to cross out her name.
Melbourne
Two weeks later
Kate walked back to her office with some files. She put them on her desk and padded to the coffee machine to prepare a cup. With the cup in her hand, she looked out of the window and noticed her reflection in the glass. With her free hand, she stroked her big belly which pointed under her wide dress.
I look like a whale now or a hot air-balloon. On the other hand, I'm lucky that I've not been sick or that I have had to lie down for weeks. I hope that I'll still be there in two months when our second ship will start her maiden voyage.
She was interrupted by a knock at the door and before she could answer the door swung open. Irritated she turned around.
"Hey Kate, how are you?", asked an enthusiastic Nikki.
Kate's irritation melted like snow in the sun. "Hey Nikki, what a surprise! I didn't expect you until tonight"
"Nope, it went faster than expected. Faster in the ports and a strong current in our back", she said.
Kate raised her eyebrows when she saw Nikki's outfit. She wore the uniform, but with a skirt instead of a trousers. "Oh? Have you changed the regulations of the uniform?".
She sat down and crossed her legs so that Kate could see her black high-heeled pumps.
"Indeed, I got tired of these trousers and bought a skirt. I made Rebecca so jealous that she left at top speed to the shop now", Nikki replied.
"You also make me jealous now. I could have thought of that too", said Kate.
"And how are you doing?"
Kate padded to the coffee machine to give her friend a cup. "Well, it's growing and I feel good. Only my feet are very swollen. I can't get into my shoes anymore. Mules are the only ones I get into."
"That's good. Keep it up. How is it going with Dylan at sea?"
Kate put the cup of coffee in front of her.
"Thanks".
Kate shrugged, "Good. I think it's the best choice. He's an adventurer and you can't stick that kind of man behind a desk. I feel happy at the thought that there is someone I can call every day. And I know he loves me".
"Nice, I'm happy for you. Oh, do you know who we met at sea?", asked Nikki.
"Nope, tell me", asked Kate, emptying her cup.
"The Sydney, your old friend. This time I was at the receiving end. The face of my former boarding officer was priceless and it was even better when I asked him to get my message across to Mike. But I know him and after he left, I called Mike and I gave him the message orally, she told with a radiant smile.
"Oh? And what exactly did you tell him?", Kate asked amused.
"I told him that if he stopped me again, I would come aboard and kick his balls until they came back down his throat".
"No, did you mean it?", asked Kate smiling.
"Absolutely!"
"How did he react?"
"He chuckled and said I was incorrigible. That's all. Honestly, I think he will never stop me again", answered Nikki, still delighted.
"And what about you? I asked about Dylan, but not about you. How is the desk job going?"
"Well, I can say now that I finally have a feeling with the business. It was hard work, a big learning curve and I'm happy I had competent people around me. Now I can start evaluating new opportunities", Kate replied.
Nikki looked at her watch, "Kate, I'm going to leave you. Pete is waiting for me, you know and take care fof yourself and the baby!" , she said, standing up.
Three months later.
"Honey, you really know how to raise my blood pressure!", said Dylan, sitting on a chair next to the bed where Kate was holding a baby boy.
"The day after tomorrow we have the official departure of the City Hopper with my first voyage. It would have sucked if I had missed the birth of our son".
"Darling, don't worry. It didn't happen. You were here when he was born, so?", Kate calmly replied?
He kissed her temple, "You'll never change. How can you be so calm?"
"Darling, have you ever thought about a name?", she asked him.
"Hmm, not really. I thought you would suggest something", Dylan answered.
"What do you think of Eric?", she asked.
"Eric? Hmm, Eric Mulholland? It doesn't sound bad. Yeah, why not. Good idea", he answered.
"Thank you", she said looking at their son, "Hey buddy, you're Eric. What do you think?", she said.
Hearing his mother's voice, the baby opened his eyes and turned his head in her direction as if he approved the choice of first name.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door and Charlie poked her head inside, "Hey, how are you all?" She was closely followed by Harpie, Pete, Chris, Sally, Rebecca and Robert. From the corridor they heard Nikki's indignant voice, "Hey? And me? You all passed me and I should have been the first. I shared a cabin with Kate!"
This last remark made Kate and Dylan roar with laughter.
22 years later.
Kate was still the CEO of MGSL.
A few years after Eric's birth, the Mulhollands sold their cottage and bought a large villa at the seaside.
Their son Eric went to the university to get a master in economics. His parents insisted that he should follow the nautical college in order to acquire some knowledge in the filed of ships.
Saturday, late afternoon.
Kate closed her laptop and took off her glasses. She grabbed the computer and put it on a shelve in library. She gathered her files and put them on top of it. Then, she opened the large French window that overlooked the garden, put on a pair of slippers and went out. She stopped to look at the sea, taking a deep breath.
It's weird. Today is the anniversary day when we started our first voyage twenty-three years ago. I still remember my nervous state when I left.
How time flies? It looks like it was yesterday!
But so much has happened. First of all our son Eric. Then, a couple of years later, Dylan stopped sailing and became responsible for the fleet of five ships. Nikki and Pete are still sailing as captain and buffer. There is no stronger team, despite having made the choice not to have children, a rather difficult task when you're both at sea. Becca was no long sailing either. She's now responsible organising the catering of all ships and the head office. Rebbeca Dixon, I really had to get used to it!. She and Robert have a daughter. He's also ashore and is the specialist for the fleet's radio and radar equipment. Charge finally retired and enjoys his small motorboat business with Lani. Harpie and Charlie, the tireless Charlie still runs her consultancy business for people who want to start a business farm and takes care of their two sons. Harpie started studying, motivated by his wife and worked his way up. He's now one of our captains. 2Dads turned out to be a good bosun, his men can't fool him, because he knows all the tricks. He sails with Harpie, a tough team.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a piece metal falling on the ground. She came back to the house, got rid of her slippers and headed for the garage where Dylan was working on a vintage car, "Darling, is everything alright?", she asked.
"Yeah, just the wrench. It slipped from my grasp", he said.
"Okay, oh, by the way, have a shower. There's more grease on you than on the car", she added with a grin.
"Yes ma'am", he replied.
She turned back and saw Eric in the living room.
"Ah mum. Are you sure there's enough food for tomorrow?", he asked.
Kate frowned, "Eric, it is already the third time you asked me that. You ought to know that. But, you told us you had something special for tomorrow. You'd better tell me what you're up to, because all your questions are starting to worry me", she said.
"Uh mum, it's. well, I wanted to introduce my girlfriend to you tomorrow. I feel that this relationship is stable. She's the girl!", he said.
Ah! Well, thank you for mentioning it. Now I can allow enough food for four and set the table for four. Can you image how that girl would feel when she saw that there was no place setting for her at the table?", Kate replied.
He dropped his eyes, "I didn't think about it".
"You should plan better son! By the way how old is she?", Kate asked.
"A year and a half older than me", Eric said.
"Older?", Kate replied surprised.
He shrugged, "Why should it be bad? You're also older than Dad", he said.
She nodded, "Yeah, it's true. Sorry, I didn't say anything".
The next day, Kate stood in the bedroom looking at her reflection in the mirror. She was wearing an ochre short sleeves dress with a zip fastener in the back that had not yet been pulled up. "My hair is fine, isn't it? I went to the hairdresser today and it's blond again", she asked Dylan who was pulling on his shirt.
"It's nice, better than that silver colour underneath", he said wryly.
She rolled her eyes, "I do believe you!"
"Could you pull the zip fastener up?", she asked.
"Have you planned something to drink? she asked as he closed the dress.
"Yep there's more than enough", he answered.
"Nice, I'll do a quick check before they arrive", she said putting on a pair of heeled mules.
While Kate was busy in the kitchen, she heard the third family member enter.
"Mum, I'm home", he said.
"I thought so, unless you sent me your hologram", she said deadpan as she made her way to the living room.
Their son stepped aside to let his girlfriend in.
"Mum, dad, this is Danielle, my girlfriend. We came to the conclusion that our relationship is now stable and I wanted you to meet her and get to know her", Eric said enthusiastically.
"Hi ma'am, sir", said Danielle, holding out her hand to them.
"Nice to meet you!", Kate replied shaking her hand, but she frowned slightly looking at the tall lightly tanned girl with black hair and almond eyes. She wore a dress and strappy heeled sandals.
It's like I've seen that face before. But where?
"Welcome to the family", Dylan said. "Please, take a seat!"
"A drink?", he asked.
"A beer", Eric said.
"Do you have white wine?", Danielle asked.
"Yes, sure", Dylan answered and walked to the kitchen.
"Eric told me that you both were in the Navy", started Danielle.
"Yes, that's true, but it was a long time ago", Kate replied.
"My parents are still in the Navy. Dad's commanding a ship and mum is head nurse at the Navy Hospital", Danielle said.
"Ah? Maybe we remember them. What are their names?", Kate asked accepting a glass of wine from Dylan.
"Ryan White and Jessica Bird, married White. I'm also White you know. My father should be named Flynn but he chose the name of his stepfather who raised him for almost 20 years, probably out of respect for him and as a sign of gratitude. It's a bit weird and I never understood why my grandfather never gave him his", the girl said innocently.
Kate turned pale.
No, it can't be true! That's why I thought I knew her. She's the spitting image of Bird!
"We know your parents, they served under our command on a patrol boat", Kate said hesitantly.
Danielle was clearly happy with the news, "Oh great! That's really good news!", she said with sparkling eyes.
"So you must have known my grandparents? Mike Flynn and Maxine White", she asked.
"Ah,uh.. yes, we did! They were our commanding officers", Kate answered reluctantly.
"Wonderful!", Danielle replied enthusiastically.
"Are they still alive?", Kate asked prudently.
"Yeah, yeah, absolutely. They're now retired. They often sail with their own little boat".
The evening was spent in a good mood. Danielle turned out to be a nice, talkative and helpful girl with Kate in the kitchen.
Later, while Eric was bringing her home, Kate swung her mules and walked to Dylan who was clearing the table.
"What do you think about her?"
"Wonderful girl. I really hope for him that she'll become his wife".
Kate nodded, "Indeed, so cute. A good girl".
"But darling, can you believe it? If they get married, then we'll become family with Mike and Maxine! Can you imagine that we could sit at the same table at the wedding banquet", she said disgusted.
He shrugged, "I know, but if Eric and Danielle are happy, then you can't be against this relationship".
"I know, I know. It's just...
"Will I ever get rid of Mike ?", she said gloomily.
THE END
Dear audience,
Thank you for following this story for over more than a year.
I like to see you all back with a new story.