Sydney
1996
Petty officer Andy 'Charge' Thorpe walked off the HMAS Sydney after being away at sea for three months. He was looking forward to seeing his family, his marriage was failing due to his promotion and responsibilities, but his two children Jamie and Amy, still were the love of his life and he decided he shouldn't let them suffer from his behavior. The wake-up call, came over a year ago when he received the letter and since, he decided to spend as much time as he could with his family instead of his ship mates whenever he was on the shore.
When he walked off the ship, he looked around. Somehow, he knew his wife of ten years and their children wouldn't be there to greet him like most other couples. He let out a breath, flipping his duffel bag over his shoulder, he started walking home. He was reaching the taxi stands when he heard voices which caused him to stop
"Dad! Dad! Stop!"
He turned around with a frown at first and then a smile flourished as he saw his eight-year-old son and six-year-old daughter running towards him. He dropped his bag on the ground and opened his arms, and they flew to him giving him a chance to hug them both.
"Jamie! Amy! What a wonderful surprise! Where's Helen?" He finished asking as they pulled apart.
"Mum said she was busy," Charge crouched down to their level.
"You two ran all the way down here to great me?"
"We saw you walk off the ship, we yelled at you. But it was noisy, and we knew you would be heading this way… We ran as fast as we could to get through everybody."
"We watched the ship come in daddy! We've been waiting for you!" Amy said
"I was looking forward to seeing you both as well," he said cupping their faces.
"I missed you, daddy!" Amy said as she hugged him once more
"I missed you too, sweetie. And I missed you too, son." He said winking at Jamie. When Amy pulled back, she was smiling.
"I got a surprise for the family," he told them.
"What is it, daddy?"
"Since it's the beginning of the school holidays. The four of us are going to...dream world!" He looked at them to find shocked but happy faces
"For real?" Jamie asked
"Yes, I booked the accommodations and everything else, before I left. So, tomorrow dream world, here we come!"
"Yaaaa!" Kids shouted, and clung to him once more. After a while, he stood up and picked his bag up.
"Come on, let's go home."
"Daddy? Can I have an ice cream?" Amy asked shyly.
"Sure! Why don't we all have one on the way home?" He said smiling.
Two hours later, they walked inside their home, talking and laughing.
"Mummy! We're home!" Amy yelled out. They walked into the living room to see June talking to some guy.
"You're back, Andy," she left out.
"Helen... Brad," The guy stood up and took a step closer to shake Charge's hand.
"Hey Andy, how was your patrol?"
"Long. It's good to be home, even if it is only for three weeks."
"Ah, do have you got anything planned?" Brad asked.
"We going to Dream World!" Jamie exclaimed, grinning.
"What?" Helen asked folding her arms around her middle.
"Helen, you knew about this four months ago, we talked about taking the kids for a family holiday." He frowned.
"Andy, I can't take time off."
"Why not? You had four months to sort it!"
"I've already taken my holidays two months ago."
"What?" Andy asked in shock
"Why then and not now?" Helen shook her head at him; he clenched his jaw noticing Brad.
"Hey, I'll head off," Brad added noticing he shouldn't be listening to their fight. "It's good to see you, Andy."
"You too, Brad."
"Don't worry, I'll see myself out," he said. Petting the kid's heads before walking to the front door.
"Kids go to your room," Helen told them, still looking at Andy. He turned to the distraught expression on the kids
"Go on," he said softly to them.
He waited for it for them to walk out of the living room, and once he heard their doors close, he turned towards Helen.
"Damn you, Helen!" he yelled at her, dumping his duffel bag on the floor.
"Don't you damn me, Andy!"
"No." He hissed. "You knew about this family holiday, Helen. We need this!"
"No, we don't."
"Yes, we do! We haven't had a family holiday in three years! Kids were looking forward to it, and you just ruined it! I hope you're happy!"
He picked up his bag and walked out of the room. He needed to calm down before talking to the kids, for this, he decided to sort his things and get changed. Once calmed he took a deep breath before knocking the kid's door and opening it. His heart broke at the vision of the kids embracing and crying. He walked in and sat on the bed, quickly Amy climbed on his lap.
"Daddy? Are we not going to Dream World?" She pouts, laying her head on his chest
"Yes, sweetie, we are still going."
"What about mum?" Jamie asked
"She can't come, it just the three of us."
"Mummy hates us!" Amy sniffled
"Mummy doesn't hate you; she loves you."
"Then, why isn't she coming?"
"You should ask her that sweetie," He stroked her long light brown hair. They were quiet for a couple of minutes.
"Come on kids; I did promise that we would go shopping for new swimsuits."
"And lunch, dad" Andy smiled.
"Yes, and lunch. Come on!" Amy got off Charge's lap just as Jamie stood up.
"So, shopping or lunch first?" He asked them.
"Lunch! I'm hungry!" Jamie said, making Charge laugh
"What about you, Amy?"
"Lunch!"
"Ok, lunch it is. Let's go and see if mummy wants to join us," he added as they stood up. They found Helen in the kitchen making herself a sandwich.
"Want to join us for lunch?" He asked. She turned to them
"No, thanks. I'll just have a sandwich; then I'm off to work." She turned around and returned to making her sandwich.
"Mummy, do you hate me?" Amy asked sadly. June turned to her family.
"No, I don't. Perhaps next time I'll take you kids out to lunch, ok?"
"What about, dad?" Jamie asked
"He's always too busy with his mates."
"No, he's not. He spends more time with Jamie and I than you do. You hate us! I hate you!" Amy yelled and ran back to her bedroom. Andy look down at Jamie
"Go and check on Amy."
"Ok, dad. Amy is right," he added before walking out of the kitchen.
"Helen, what the hell is wrong with you? Since I got home, you have been giving kids and me the cold shoulder!" She turned to him
"You and your navy! That's what!"
"You knew what it was like before we got married!"
"I thought it would be a piece of cake, but I was wrong. I hardly see you, Andy, the kids, hardly see you."
"Well, I got three weeks leave Helen, you knew that. You knew about the family holiday, we talked and planned it! And then you come and change your mind! Why?"
"I know you would cancel it."
"No, I wouldn't. I'm going to take kids to lunch and shopping," he said before leaving the kitchen. He stopped in the living room to make a call and then he found the kids. "Come on, let's go into town," he said softly to them.
Dubiously, the kids stood up and walked to their father who hugged them before grabbing their hands and walking out of the house. A taxi was waiting for them outside, and Andy took them to McDonald's for lunch. They were quiet along the way until they arrived at the store.
"Ok you two, what do you want?"
"Cheese burger, fries, and coke, dad," Jamie said
"Ok, what about you sweetie?"
"I'll have the same with nuggets." Charge shook his head smiling.
"Nuggets? What about you, Jamie? Want some nuggets as well?"
"Yes, please."
"Ok, then."
Once decided, Charge made the orders and waited. Their two trays were ready soon, and he passed one to Jamie and picked the second one up. They found an empty table and took it, with the meals sorted out, they started to eat and talk about school and their days, making Charge smile.
After spending few hours shopping, they finally headed home where he put the new clothes through the washing machine and cook dinner for them saving Helen's dinner in the microwave. After dinner, they watched a movie before he tucked them into bed knowing that the next day they were going to Dream World for the week.
The next morning, Charge was up early, he packed his bag and then the kids' for their trip. Once he was done, he started breakfast wondering where Helen was, since she didn't return home the night before. His brought out of his thoughts when the kids joined him in the kitchen. When Charge finished breakfast, he walked over the phone to call his friends and see if someone knew something about Helen's whereabouts. He remembered a thing from his letter and decided to call Brad first.
"Hello?" Brad said sleepily.
"Brad? It's Andy. By any chance, you know where Helen is? She didn't return home last night from work."
"Ah yeah, she here."
"Can I talk to her?"
"Hang on," Charge could hear muffled voices for a minute
"Andy."
"Helen, I was worried about you, are you ok?"
"I'm fine; I'll be home later this morning."
"We won't be here," he frowned.
"I know. That is why I'll wait until you and kids are gone."
"Helen, don't you want to wish the kids for a good trip?"
"You tell them, I got to go," she finished hanging up. Charge let out a breath.
"Daddy," He turned around to see Amy and Jamie in the door way
"Mummy is not coming home?" Amy asked.
"Yes, she is. Later today after we are gone."
"Have you finish your breakfast?"
"Yes," the kids nodded.
"Ok, go and brush your teeth while I'll take care of the dishes," he watched them walk out of the living room.
His letter said not to give up contact with the kids, and he was sure he wouldn't let that happen. Shaking himself out, he called a taxi before moving to the take care of the dishes and the bags. By the time everything was ready, the taxi had shown up.
"Amy, Jamie, taxi's here," their excitement was obvious when they ran out the front door.
Keeping an eye on the kids, Charge locked the house and picked up their bags. Hushering the kids towards the woman they finally jumped into her taxi. Ami and Jamie jumped up and down in joy all the way to the airport. From there they flew to Brisbane, and finally, they took the bus to Coomera where Dream World is. The excitement weaned off, and soon Charge found himself entertaining the kids during their trips until they arrived at their sea world hotel room.
"Ok, kids." Charge said once they closed the door of the room the kids were sharing. "Amy, why don't you get changed in the bathroom. Jamie can get changed in the room. Just yell out when you finish, so you both know when you are ready, and Ami can come out of the bathroom, ok?
"Ok, Dad."
"Good, now go and get changed and we can go down to the pool."
"Dad, what about dream world?" Amy asked.
"Tomorrow, ok?"
"Ok," she said smiling. Before running to the bathroom. Charge too changed, and waited for them in the living room area of their family room.
"Ready to have fun?" Charge asked as the kids joined him.
"Yes," Jamie and Amy said
"Ok, let's go and have fun." He picked up few things, before walking towards the door.
Over the next days, Charge and the kids had heaps of fun. They went on different rides and went swimming. The day before they were due to leave, Charge was watching them play with other kids from his vantage point on a lounge chair. Two men sat down next to him while a woman and two kids headed over to the fountain. Charge turned to them.
"First day here for you?" Charge asked, after exchanging salutes.
"Yeah, you?"
"Sixth day. See the boy in the navy shorts and girl in a yellow swimsuit," Charge pointed out.
"Your son and daughter?" One of them asked.
"Yeah, the wife couldn't get the time off," he explained before they asked.
"I know what you mean; my wife is in the navy."
"Really? I'm in the navy myself," Charge said looking at the kids then back to the two men.
"Same here, Lieutenant Mike Flynn, they call me mighty Mike," Charge raised his eyebrows.
"Petty officer Andy Thorpe, a.k.a Charge, sir."
"Charge."
"Sir," They said as they shook hands
"Stewart White, my wife is Lieutenant Maxine White."
"A.k.A Knocker," Mike said grinning
"In what frigate are you on, sir?"
"Patrol boat up in Cains. HMAS Hammersley, you?"
"HMAS Sydney."
"What do you do in Sydney?"
"Second Engineer, sir." He looked over to see the two kids having fun; they waved to him which they did in return.
"Your kids, Stewart?"
"Ryan and Terri, twins," he grinned.
"And the woman?"
"Sister, well, adopted sister."
"Who? You or her?"
"We both are," Charge nodded and turned when Amy and Jamie ran over.
"Enjoying your selves?"
"Yes daddy, I'm hungry."
"Ok, let's get you a dry down then we can go and get some lunch." He passed them a towel each. When done, Amy put a skirt on while Jamie put a top on.
"Well, it was nice to meet you both, enjoy your stay here."
"We will! Next time you are up Cains look me up."
"Sure sir, on Hammersley."
"Yes."
"Ok, come on you two. I know if I don't feed you both in the next five minutes you both going to be cranky for the rest of the afternoon," he said picking their things up.
"Sir, Stewart," He nodded before walking away.