Ch 86

The next morning, they just finished breakfast when they heard a car pull up. Mike went to see who it was, and smiling he opened the door.

"Kate!" Mike called out. Kate walked to where Mike is.

"Daddy!" Emma yelled running towards him. He crouched to pick her up, hugging her and kiss.

"I missed you, daddy."

"I missed you too, sweetie."

"Mummy!" She said as Mike passed her to Kate. His parents smiled bringing MJ and David in their arms.

"Daddy!" MJ said when he was in Mike's arms.

"Hello, son. I've missed you," Mike hugged MJ before he passed him to Kate and grabbed David from his mother's arms and he repeated the exchange.

"Mum, dad. This is a surprise," Mike finally greeted his parents

"We saw the Hammersley in port."

"Oh, come on in."

"For how long are you here?"

"We moved here, Mike," Patrick grinned.

"What? Why?"

"Well both our children are here, and our grandchildren are here…"

"So, we sold our home and bought one here." Patrick said

"You didn't have to."

"Maybe we didn't, but we wanted to. It will be also easier for you when you are away, and for us when you are in town. Now we won't need to fly over to see you."

"I guess it was a good choice then."

"It was. How was your patrol?"

"Busy. We had to return early because of engine problems."

"Well, she's an old boat," Mike smiled

"Yes, she is."

After getting some drinks made for everyone, Kate joined the family in the living room lowering the tray on the coffee table. Then she sat beside Mike; the kids wanted some attention, so they pulled Emma between them and grabbed one twin each while talking with Michele and Patrick.

"Kate, I got some good news, your condo was sold last week."

"Wow! That was fast."

"Yes, it was. The real-estate agent called to let me know that a family fell in love with the children's rooms." Kate turned to Mike who was looking at her while smiling. Then they look back at Michele

"So, it was the bedrooms," Mike grinned proudly.

"Yes. They got three kids themselves, two teen girls and a boy. The wife is a Doctor, and they both are in the Navy. Currently stationed in Sydney."

"I thought it would be the view," Mike added.

"It helped."

"What happened to the furniture?" Mike asked

"As Kate requested. It was donated to charity. All but the kids' cots and drawers. I haven't had a chance to go through their clothes yet."

"Where are the cots, mum?" Mike asked

"At our home for the kids."

"Ok"

"Mum, when you sort out the kids' clothes. Can you leave the ones that don't fit them any longer separated? We know someone who could use them," Kate explained.

"Who?" Mike asked.

"Swain and Sally. Swain told me that they are struggling since she has been on maternity leave and their only income is Swain's."

"I didn't realize how bad it could be for them."

"It is complicated," Kate shrugged.

"You are a good woman, Kate."

"You know what? We could host a baby shower for Swain and Sally."

"Are you sure?" Mike asked

"Yes! We know how the crew is like."

"When?"

"At our return from the next patrol. It will be the last one for Swain since Sally could go into labor any time next month."

"You are right. Let's do it."

Later that night Michele and Patrick took the kids with them just in case the Hammersley has to crash sail early the next day since the repairs are complete.

The next day, Kate texted and some other of their closest friends to tell them about the idea.

"Good morning, Nav." Kate grinned, it was barely a minute since she had sent the text.

"I've got your text, just one question. How are we going to buy Swain and Sally their gift? I mean, if you plan to have it the same day we return, it will be complex to buy things on patrol."

"I was thinking about contacting my Mike's mom and see if she could meet us at the wharf tomorrow. So, we can collect the money from the crew, and she could do the shopping."

"That's a great solution. I share the arrangements with the crew."

"Thanks, see you tomorrow! Enjoy your leave!"

"You too, Kate."

After they finished the call, Kate called Michelle. After her mother in law agreed to it, she confirmed it to Nav and went to the pool to join Mike and the kids.

After three days of shore leave, they meet up early to collect the money. When Michelle arrived, they gave her the money and some ideas that made her laugh before they all were called back to the Hammersley.

"Hey, mom." Kate went to Michelle when was almost time to depart.

"Kate, your crew is amazing."

"Yes, we know. How much did they give you?"

"They reached one thousand dollars."

"Nice, and this is from us." She said giving her more money.

"But Kate, you already gave them the kids clothes an all."

"Yes, mum. But we had a lot of money and plenty of support; they don't. Besides, they are good people, and they deserve it."

"You two are something else," Michelle smiled.

"Oh, this is for the party. Food, drinks, you know? Whatever you see fit." She said giving her another envelope with more money.

"Don't worry; I'll take care of it."

"I spoke to Hannah, and she wants to help out if you need her."

"Need her? It's been ages since Hannah and I been shopping together," Michele grinned.

"Well, never are enough mother daughter's days, right?"

"True." Kate checked her watch.

"I'll better go before I get into trouble with the Captain!" Michele laughed.

"Yes, you better Dear." They hugged before Kate walked up and onto the Hammersley. Michelle placed the money safely in her purse before she noticed Kate waving goodbye.

Soon, Michelle was leaving and not that much later; the Hammersley started their three weeks patrol. For the first couple of days it seemed like it would be a quiet one, but by the third day, they were kept very busy. Around 10 FFV had managed to fill the aster and two other rooms and forced them to return to Carins.

They arrived just before dark and the crew had a night of shore leave. Kate and Mike stood behind on the Hammersley to fill out the reports.

"Mike?" Kate said stopping for a while to look at him. "What do you like for dinner?" Mike looked at his watch than to Kate

"How about we go out for dinner? I know a great Chinese place," Kate smiled.

"Sounds good and we can finish this when we get back," Mike grinned.

"Let's do it."

They closed their files and picked up their paperwork and walked out to their cabins to get changed. Mike waited for Kate on the wharf.

"Shall we?" He said as soon as she reached the wharf and held onto her hand.

They walked for fifteen minutes until they reached the Chinese restaurant. They were shown to a table and spent the next hour and a half talking about other things that got nothing to do with work.

"Oh, by the way, Hannah is going to be helping mum with the shopping," Mike looked at Kate in shock.

"I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not"

"Why wouldn't it?"

"Hannah goes crazy, she organized her last one, and she went overboard with gifts for her friends," Kate smiled as she put her hand in his.

"I'm sure mum can handle Hannah."

"I hope so."

After a while, they went back to the Hammersley and met up at the dining room where they spent the next two hours finishing the reports.

"What a day!" Kate sighed closing the last report.

"Yes, but at least there are ten less foreign fishing vessels to worry about."

"Yeah, well that means that at least one ice boat should be close. It would be great to catch one of them."

"That will make the crew very happy."

"And it will put the Kingston crew to shame," Kate said smiling

"There's that too," Kate stood up picking her files up.

"I'm off to bed. Night...sir."

"Night, X." Kate walked out of the dining room and walked down to her cabin.

It was after one when Kate woke up because she heard giggling outside. Then she heard whispers and more giggling then the door opened, and someone walked into the cabin before the door was closed. Kate turned her light making the person jump.

"Good night, Nav!"

"Kate! Yeah, we had a great night after the busy day."

"We?"

"Crew, poor Swain. The guys were suggesting baby names again," Kate grinned

"So, other than that?"

"Yes, we all came back together. The security from the front gates wouldn't let us through since we were drunk," Nav said as she was getting change

"How did you get past then?"

"Swain showed his ID and ET said that he's going to be a dad and that's why we were celebrating. It took us about five minutes to find our IDs and show it to security before they finally let us go," somehow Nav managed to get changed and managed to get into her bunk.

"I hope the guys didn't get too drunk."

"Nah, they are good. Night, Kate!"

"Night, Nikki!" Kate turned her light off and fell back to sleep.