Chapter 21
The next morning, he met Donald at his desk. "Lieutenant Commander," Donald greeted standing and walking towards Mike
"Mr. Fowler," they shook hands.
"Come this way; I was finishing getting ready the papers you need to fill."
They both took seats on the opposite sites of Donald desk, and the realtor gave him the papers he needed to complete. For a while, Mike filled the documents, and once he finished, he returned them to Donald along with the bank cheque.
"Well, Lieutenant Commander, paperwork is done. However, there are still two weeks before you can move in. Since you are going to be away, your wife can pick the keys while you are away if you fill out this form."
"I'm not married," Mike said,
"However, my brother in law will be up here in a couple of weeks," he said grabbing the form and filling it. Then, he grabbed his wallet and took out his family photo and gave it to Donald.
"That's my sister and brother in law, Brad, and Hannah."
"Good, now I can put the face to the names," Donald grinned returning the photo.
"Do you have any other questions?"
"Not a question, per se…" he said giving Donald some papers, "I will like to put my house for sale."
"Ok, let see." Donald looked at all the papers. "Everything is in order, no mortgage, rated paid up to date... everything looks good. If you aren't in a hurry, then I can grab the documents I will need you to fill."
"I'll wait."
An hour and a half later, Mike walked out of the real estate office pulling his cell phone to make a call. During the next few days, he managed to sort everything out before leaving his house for the last time. With a smile, he gave the house one last look and smiled, next time he returned to Cairns he would be living in his new home.
That Friday, on Melbourne, when eleven-year-old Jessica Bird arrived home from school, her neighbor saw her and walk out side and over to the fence "Jessica"
"hi Mrs Wilson" Jessica said smiling at the elderly women.
"This letter came for you, it got the wrong number on it"
"that is odd" Mrs Wilson pass the letter to Jessica
"It is"
"thanks, if any of my family see this, they would open it and read it"
"that true, how school?" Jessica smile
"Got an 'A' in home economics"
"that great Jessica"
"thanks Mrs Wilson, I better get in side and get dinner on"
"You doing to much, you mother should be doing the cooking and cleaning, not you"
"I know, and you know what happens if dinner not on time"
"i know dear. You take care"
"I will, thanks for the letter"
"no worries dear" Jessica turn and walk up to the front door and she put the letter in her pocket just in case her brothers or sister sees it.
When Jessica walk into her bedroom she close and lock her door so her brothers and sister doesn't barge into her room when she getting change out of her school uniform. Once change she sorted out her bag then she sat down on the bed and opened the letter.
She blinked several times, and her heart started to beat faster as she read about what she could do with herself during the time between the present time and when she finishes school. With a grin, she folded the letter and hid it to avoid her brothers and sisters finding it. She walked out to the kitchen to find her mother there
"Jessica, what are we having for tea?"
"Pork chow main" Jessica said as she walk over to the fridge and open the door so she could get the bag of pork pieces and cabbage out then closing the door.
She turn around as her mother walk out of the kitchen with beer bottle in hand. Jessica let out her breath as she walk to the bench and started cooking dinner while thinking about the letter.
On Sunday afternoon, Mike moved with his family to the next on Sydney where we would be living for the following months. On his last day, he went to NAVCOM, to get all the latest information and reports and used that visit to find out what happened to the captain of the ship.
He learned that the Captain of HMAS Sydney was helping on his family's farm when a snake slid close to a horse. Spooked by it, the horse reacted, and the Lieutenant Commander fell off its back and into a ten-meter embankment.
Broken leg, hip, ribs, wrist, dislocated shoulder, punched lung and internal bleeding was probably as far from the idea of vacations from the former Captain as it could be, but that was how his holidays ended.
The day Mike parted with the HMAS Sydney, Jessica found karate group to join, and two days later, she found out about the ST John paramedics first aid course.
It seemed that things were as they were supposed to because for some reason she was lucky to be able to attend both in the same week. The first aid was on Monday's while the Karate was on Thursday's. But for some reason, she trusted in that letter, no matter how difficult it would be sustaining the school, her jobs, and the two extra courses.
She does it anyway, on the weekday mornings she runs the paper. And her afternoons and weekends are filled with mowing lawns and gardening for six elderly couples who live on her street. And every Sunday afternoon, she bikes to the rest home was her great-grandfather is. He expects her visits, and she knows it, and when she tells him what she has been up to, he is happy with her.
"Jess, why are you doing this? Isn't too much for a young girl like yourself?" He worried, but she smiled placing her hand on top of his.
"Well, I will tell you something that I haven't told anyone else," she said, and he nodded.
"I'm doing this, so I can join the navy when I finish school."
"The navy?" He smiled.
"Yes, grandfather."
"You know it's going to be hard work, Jessica." She smiled.
"I know, but think of the rewards as I'm doing now. I'll be working hard to earn my own money, and with that money, I can reward myself."
"Yes, you bring a packet of chocolates for me every time you come to visit."
"Of course, and I know you love it. I know is the chocolate not the visit what you are always looking forth, isn't it grandfather?" They both grinned.
"And have you been listening to what I said about saving?" He asked raising his eyebrows
"Yes, grandfather. One hundred dollars put in the pension account each week. Ten saved for Christmas presents, twenty for karate and first aid lessons. Forty for clothes, school books, school fees and any school trips. Ten dollars for emergency funds and ten dollars for petrol and oil for the lawn mower and garden tools. And last but not least, five dollars for your chocolate, my milkshake and two chocolate chip cookies four our afternoon tea."
"You have done well, Jess, I'm proud of you."
"Thanks, grandfather," she said smiling
Jessica Bird is the youngest of five children. She has three brothers and a sister, and the four of them always gave her a hard time because of her late arrival to the family. And the one thing she didn't want was being like them and ask their parents for money that she could very well earn herself.
And so, she did, she worked hard, and rewarded herself with visits to her great-grandfather, who was always teaching her how to save and telling her histories of his youthful times.
The three months on the HMAS Sydney flew by in a jiffy. And that Friday afternoon, they finally reached port. The first thing Mike did was return to Cairns to spend the weekend sorting his new house. He smiled when he opened the house and found boxes everywhere. Not caring about much but sleep, he found the box containing his sheets, and after getting the bed ready, he started his nightly routine.
The first thing he did, early the next morning, got into town, his fridge was still empty, and breakfast was something he was craving for. He returned to Sydney on Sunday on a late flight after managing to sort as much as he could in two days.
The next day, he got early to Watson Bay, he was supposed to be teaching the course, and he wanted more details about it and needed to do some more reading. It was years since he was last a student and something weren't fresh in his memories any longer.
Once he found out everything he needed, he walked down the corridor with his arms full of books and paper and the next thing he knew was that his books and papers were flying to the floor.
"Sorry, sir," a female voice said
"Sorry," Mike said at the same time. In one swift movement, both parties crouched down to pick up the papers.
"It's my fault, sir."
"Don't worry, accidents happen."
They managed to pick everything up and stood up. Sorting the books and papers their eyes found a way to the name tags, she gasped first. But his shocked eyes weren't far from the expression she had.
"Kate McGregor?"
"Yes, sir. Mike Flynn."
"This is strange," Mike said out loud making her frown.
"Sir?"
"I... come with me, Sub-Lieutenant."
"Yes, sir." Kate followed Mike inside one classroom. Placing everything in his hands on the desk, he opened his briefcase.
"Sub-Lieutenant, this is going to sound strange to you, but somehow I believe we are meant to be together."
"Sir?" Kate's eyes widened in shock at his forwardness. Then she remembered the strange letter; she received months earlier.
"A few months ago, I received this letter, Sub-Lieutenant." He gave her the letter,
"And your name is in it. Read it, please." She took it and sat as she read it, she was clearly in shock when she raised her eyes and observed him. "You don't believe me."
"Will you believe me if I say I do believe you, sir?" she asked making him frown surprised. "I also received a letter a few months back, sir."
"I guess we have an option; we can follow it or not. However, I think we should do what it says." He smiled.
"My letter says we should get to know each other without crossing the line," she blushed. "It also says you are the one for me."
"Just like the one in your hands then," he added, and she gave it back.
"If you don't mind, I would like some time to think about it, sir." Mike nodded, and grabbing a paper and a pen; he wrote down his number on it.
"When you're ready, you can call me."
"Thanks." She looked at the number before folding it and place it in her pocket.
"Well, I'll better get going, sir."
She walked to the door. She stopped and turned around to see him looking at her; she gave him a half smile before walking out of the room. She rushed to the nearest washroom she can find, and can help but smile when she figured it was empty. She looked at herself in the mirror and left out a breath.
"Get a grip Kate! You just met him!" She peps talked herself taking a couple of breath before getting the courage to walk out of to the corridor.
"I can't believe she looks beautiful," Mike said to himself, after he watched Kate walk out of the room, "not only beautiful, she looks sexy in her uniform." He grinned.
"Well, Mike Flynn, now you know how the one looks like."
The next morning when Kate walked into the classroom, some of the other sub-lieutenants were already there. Looking around she found a place to sit and placed her hat, binder, and pens she on the desk and waited for the class to start. She checked her watch to see how long it she would be waiting when the door opened.
"Morning all!" Mike greeted, and Kate was shocked to see he was going to be her instructor.
Placing his briefcase and hat on the desk, he looked up to his students and saw Kate sitting in his class. He smiled at her, and she returned it before he continued, "I'm Lieutenant Commander Flynn, I'll be teaching you for the next three months."
Kate took a deep breath; she couldn't believe that the man she met the day before and she was already falling for was no other than her instructor. She knew it was going to be hard, yet she was confident she would be able to impress him with her knowledge.
Mike, on the other side of the room, was having the same conflicting thoughts. Having her in his class was going to be torture, he only needed two weeks to know she was the top of her class.
"Mike Flynn," he said picking his phone, on his third week in Watson Bay.
"Sir? It's Sub Lieutenant McGregor," Mike grinned when he heard her voice over the phone
"Hey, what can I do for you?"
"I... I was wondering if you like to meet me at some place for a coffee?"
"Are you sure that's wise?"
"I want to show you the letter I got," she told him, and he let out a breath.
"How about that cafe out on the waterfront in an hour?" He asked looking at his watch.
"Sure, I'll meet you there."
An hour later, Kate was sitting down outside the cafe having her coffee when she spotted Mike. He walked inside the shop and soon he was out, coffee in his hand. Scanning the crew, he found Kate and smiled at her walking towards her table.
"Hi," She looked up.
"Hello, may I?" she nodded, and he sat down across from her
"Reading, I see?" Mike said smiling
"Yes," she put a marker in her book then close it, and moved to place it inside her bag. She took the letter from inside her bag and gave it to him; Kate took a moment to observe him, while she sips her coffee.
"Just like in my letter," he conceded placing the paper inside again.
"I know."
"As I said when we met, Kate. I would like to get to know you. But I believe we can wait until the course is finished," Kate smiled
"I would like that," Mike smile as he picks up his coffee to take a sip of it
"Kate?" They turn to a woman voice
"Kath? Hi, how are you?"
"I'm good, you? It's been ages."
"I'm good, I'm sorry. Kath Young, this is Lieutenant Commander Mike Flynn."
"Hi, nice to meet you," Kath grinned as they shook hands.
"Ma'am."
"Hey, care to join us?" Kate asked
"Sure, you don't want to be left alone?" she gave Kate a wink
"Kath, Mike is my instructor."
"Of that course, you are on?"
"Yeah"
"Then, I'll join you," she grinned as she sat down
"So, what a looking guy like you like to do for fun?" Kath asked.
"Kath!" Kate blushed, and Mike smiled.
"A lot of things."
"Like what?"
"Sailing," Kate laughed
"What's funny?" Kath asked
"Don't you get it, Kath? Navy, sailing," Kath thought about it and looked at Mike who was grinning.
"Very funny, Mike. How about when you are not sailing?"
"Fishing, reading a good book, spending time with friends."
"Tell me more about yourself," Kath said leaning towards him.
"I gather you are single."
"Yes, I am."
"Girlfriend?"
"None," Kath raised her eyebrow at Mike. Then she looked at Kate before turning back to Mike.
"Ok, are you on a frigate?"
"Yes, in Cairns"
"And you're an instructor at Watson bay too?"
"Yes. For one course, then I'm scheduled for a tour to Afghanistan. After that, I don't know yet," he said. They talk for over an hour, before Kath finally left them alone.
"Well, now you know a lot about me thanks to your friend. She should be a detective." Kate grinned.
"Now, is your turn. tell me something about you."
"Well, I was born in England. My mother brought me over here when I was nine; she left my father for some fake rich opal miner. I don't want to talk about my upbringing," he nodded in understanding.
"Then I joined the navy at seventeen soon as I finished high school."
"Have you been on frigates?"
"Yes"
"What about your mother?"
"I don't know, and I don't care," she shrugged, and he raised his eyebrows
"And your dad?"
"He passed away three months ago, from lung cancer."
"Sorry to hear that. What about brothers or sisters?"
"Only child," she smiled.
"And what do you do in your spare time?"
"Reading and relaxing when I'm on shore."
"With friends?"
"Yes, I spent some time with them."
They talk for a good amount of time before Mike left and Kate continued her reading. After that, they agreed on spent more time to get to know each other. Whenever they aren't in uniform, they walked along the beach, shared lunch or coffee in the afternoons.