Chapter 27
"Is everything alright?" Michele asked as soon as she spotted the two men. Mike sighed as he sat next to Kate, who frowned in concern.
"Mike? What's wrong?"
"Kate…" he started, taking her hands in his. "I've got new orders; I'll be sent to Afghanistan the week after you leave."
"What?" She blanched in shock.
"There was another Captain for the tour, but he … well, he had an accident, and he's in a coma. They needed a replacement, and I'm the only one available for the timetable." She exhaled.
"I guess… letters will take longer this time?" Kate sighed giving his hand a light press. He chuckled.
"Yeah. Don't worry we can do this."
"I know." They hugged. "Three months will fly by quickly, you'll see." She whispered reassuringly.
"I hope so," he said kissing her before letting her go and turning to the family.
"It's not fair, we just got you back, and you will be gone again," Hannah whined.
"That's the navy for ya." He winked at his sister.
"You better keep in contact with the rest of us too," Hannah squinted at him menacingly.
"I will don't worry. If I don't contact you, you can contact Kate to see if she has heard of me."
"I'll do better than that," Kate smiled. "I will make sure to write to you all and sent it to his."
The next night, they were together once again. There was a barbecue at Mike's place as New Year's Eve dinner. They spent the night laughing, talking and playing around with the kids and when the time was right, Mike walked to his room to pick the box. On the yard, he spotted Kate and walked towards her.
"Hey! Here you are!" She smiled. "It's almost time."
"I know," he smiled and pulled her into his arms. "I love you, Kate." He said before kissing her.
"I love you. Mike, are you okay?"
"Yeah." He held her hands and looked at her eyes. "There's something I want to ask you," Mike said as the countdown started. He got down on one knee and pulled the box out of his pocket. Everyone cheered loudly when the new year started.
"Will you, Kate McGregor, marry me?" He yelled as everyone was singing loudly. Kate looked shocked at the ring and then at Mike and nodded as a smile blossomed on her face.
"YES!" she yelled back then.
He stood up quickly and pulling the ring out of the box; he placed it on her finger before hugging her and kissing her. Once the came apart, Kate stood looking around and noticing no one had seen what just happened, so she tried to get Hannah's attention.
However, the one whose attention she got was Brad; he frowned from the other side of the house and Kate raised her hand and made the ring sparkle with the lights.
From the other side of the yard, Brad looked as Kate waved towards them, but no one else noticed, so he frowned and nodded his head in questioning, then he saw as Kate left hand glinted in a certain way, and Brad smiled. Then he nudged Hannah.
"What is it, Brad?" Hannah asked half annoyed because she was still watching the lights until she saw him smiling brightly. He pointed to the couple on the other side.
"Mike popped the question," he grinned.
"Oh my God! And you are just telling me this! Braaad!" she chastised him already walking over to her brother. "Mike! Kate!" she hugged them both at once. "Happy new year!"
"Happy new year Sis."
"And this!" She grabbed Kate's left hand to look at the ring. It was half a carrot princess cut diamond with point thirty three princess cut diamond on each side set in yellow gold with three millimeter wide yellow gold band. "This is a surprise!"
"I planned on doing it since I returned from my last tour," he shrugged.
"I'm happy for you, Mike. Kate…" she hugged them once more before she turned to the crowd. "Hey! Mike and Kate are getting married!" she yelled.
The quiet moment of privacy they had before was replaced with loud congratulations from all the presents. Once every woman had looked and awed at the ring, and all the men had patted Mike's shoulder, people started celebrating not only the new year but Mike and Kate surprise engagement.
It was early in the morning when they finally had the house to themselves, his parents turning for the night a couple of hours before. The sun was about to peak up when they sat to watch the first sunrise of the year together.
"What a night," Mike chuckled.
"Yeah, everyone seemed to be having a fun time."
"They did," he looked at her. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired, but happy. You?"
"Same… I know I asked you few hours ago, but have you thought when would you like to get married?"
"I guess we can do it next month, or when we return from our tours."
"You think we can pull it together if we go for next month?"
"All I know is we can try." She grinned.
"Have you got thoughts on your big day? I know supposedly all girls have this all planned." She punched him in the shoulder. "I did say supposedly," they grinned.
"Actually, there's this place ... the white field house. A couple of friends got married there, and we could have the reception in the same place."
"Then we can give them a call tomorrow and decide later."
"We should go through the guest's list too," she grimaced.
"Yeah," he kissed her, before standing up and walking inside. As she sipped her drink, Mike joined her with a pen and a notepad.
"Let's make that list happen." he grinned.
They went through the list and another kind of choices until Kate yawned for the fourth time. And he placed everything to the side and helped her up. Grabbing the things, they had they walked inside the house and locking and cleaning the last few things they finally went to bed.
The next morning, they were both attached to the phone, they started placing calls to fix all their plans. In the afternoon, they went to White Field House to talk with the owners and see if they could get to an arrangement.
"Mr. Flynn," the woman asked looking at him, "May I ask you why are you in such a rush to get married?"
"We are both due to Afghanistan. Kate is leaving next month for her first tour, and I'm leaving a week later for my second one."
"Oh! I see, but why don't you wait until your return?"
"Well, we talked about it. But I almost lost seven men and women on a boarding that went wrong. They were all quite lucky to survive. One of the men, he was engaged and ended up severely wounded during that situation. When he reached port, they got married the first weekend; he confessed on his wedding day that he only regretted waiting until he returned because he was too close not to get back to her."
"I understand. And I hope we can make your wedding day a memorable one." She grinned at him; Mike turned towards Kate who was still talking with the chef and smiled.
"I hope the same thing."
That night, they told Mike's family about their plans and the next day, Kate went shopping. She entered almost every bridal shop until she decided what she was getting for herself and the bridesmaids. She had it all paid before she finally headed home.
"How was shopping?" was the first thing she heard as she entered the house.
"Good, I found the dress," She grinned. "And the ones for the bridesmaids too." He walked towards her and kissed her.
"That's very good news."
"Where are your mum and dad?"
"With Hannah and the family. What would you like to do tonight?"
"A quiet night here sounds like an awesome plan." She sighed tiredly.
"Oh, enough walking for a day?" he asked, and she nodded.
Two days later, Kate was called to Sydney for a three weeks course before her tour overseas. Mike took her to the airport and kissed her before she walked to her plane. The next day, Mike was called to be the Captain of a patrol boat for the following two weeks.
On Thursday, Mike picked Kate from the terminal. She rushed to him and hugged before walking to get her bags.
The following night was their hen and Buck night. The women went to different bars before returning to Cairns Harbor Lights Hotel where Kate was staying for the night. The men got together at a pub; they had dinner and drinks, the married ones told them funny stories of their wedding and bucks night.
The next afternoon, White Field House was crowded, Mike and his four groomsmen were in place by the altar all wearing uniforms. And then, the music started. Silence fell over the place, and everyone turned to watch Mike's parents entering the room. They walked down the aisle until they reached their seats.
The music changed, and the bridesmaids started to come out one by one, they were wearing peach, apricot sleeveless scoop neckline with A-line skirt and white and peach apricot rose in their hairs and a simple white pearl long tin with yellow gold chain around their necks. The bouquets they were carrying were all the same color of the flowers in their heads in a teardrop format.
Once they were all in their places, the music changed once more. In a fluid motion, everyone stood up, and Kate started walking slowly down the aisle. She was wearing the same kind of dress than her bridesmaids, but hers was ivory, and it had a train.
A diamond tiara, a veil and a single strain of pearls adorned her, and her bouquet was a teardrop of white roses, and she could be wearing a potato bag that still Mike wouldn't be able to look to anyone but her.
Over the next half hour, the guests watched them become man and wife until they finally heard the words they were expecting.
"Sailor, you may kiss your bride."
"Yes, sir!" Mike exclaimed as everyone chuckled.
Mike lifted the veil carefully over Kate's head and cupped her face before in a swift motion they wrapped themselves in each other's arms making the crowd cheer. Once they were back on their own feet, they walked to the table to sign their wedding license and returned to their places.
"I'm proud to introduce you, Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Kate Flynn." The minister said, and as everyone cheered, the music started.
Not too long afterward, the waiters were walking around the place carrying drinks and finger food, while the bridal party was getting their photos taken. Once they were done, Kate and Kath walked to the bridal room to remove her train and finally they returned to the party.
Mike couldn't help the smile that formed on his face when he spotted his wife.
"Everything okay?" He asked her as soon as she reached his side.
"Everything is perfect, Mike." She grinned at him before they started walking around and talking to the guests.
Two hours later, everyone walked inside for the diner where they enjoyed a three-course meal and laughed at the silly speeches. They cut the three-tier round cake taking a moment to look at the bride and groom dressed in Navy uniform on the top.
"Enjoying yourselves?" Mike asked later to the crew members of the Hammersley who were talking with Kate.
"Yes, sir. It's a shame you won't be returning to us this year."
"I agree. Now, I need to steal my wife away from you." He smiled.
"Are you afraid they will let out more embarrassing stories about you, Mike?" Kate smiled.
"That, and it is time, Kate."
"Them, enjoy yourselves." She smiled at the guys before they walked away. In a sneaking movement, they escaped to the limo who was taking them back to the hotel.
"What a day," Kate said sighing once they were inside the car.
"It's been a good day."
"True." She said as he leaned over and kissed her.
"How long are we staying at the hotel?"
"Monday, I have to fly to Sydney to sort everything before I leave on Thursday." She sighed.
"Well, I for once, can't wait for our return from our tours. Those two weeks in Tahiti sounds like heaven."
"That it does," she smiled.
When they arrived at the hotel, they got out of the limo, and the driver gave Mike his bag and the one containing Kate's train. They walked into the hotel and to their room, once their door was close behind them, their clothes didn't last long on them. Walking them backward as they kissed, they landed on the bed with Mike on top of Kate. They made love slowly before they both fell asleep.