Chapter 15
Seven years later
December 2028
"Darling", what are you going to do today?", Kate asked during breakfast.
Mike took a sip of coffee and looked at his wife.
"Just because I retired since last week doesn't mean I'm going to sit in my club chair in the veranda. I'll make some inquiries to buy a boat. I want to do tours with tourists to the reefs and along the coast", he said.
She nodded, "I love to hear that darling. You're still too young to sit all day in an armchair".
"Exactly! But, I don't know what kind of boat yet. I'll have to see a few, compare prices and make up my mind", he said.
"Don't take it too small. We should be able to sleep there too", she said.
"It is indeed one of the criteria".
She looked at her watch, "Darling I have to go".
"Hmm, as the base commander, you have the privilege of arriving a little later", he said smiling.
"You know that's not my principle!", she said and jumped from the bar stool.
He stood up too and took her face in his hands, "Commander McGregor, I'm proud of you", he said and kissed her.
"Thank you, but now, I really have to go!", she said caressing his cheek.
She put on her white shoes, tied the shoelaces, grabbed her briefcase and car keys and left.
Smiling, he returned to the kitchen to clean the breakfast counter. James had already left earlier to go to school.
A boat. This is the second task, but the first is our holidays.
He looked at his watch.
The travel agency opens in thirty minutes. Good, I have enough time to get there.
A few hours later, he drove to the naval base and went to Kate's office.
He knocked on the doorframe and she looked up. "Hey darling, do you miss it here already?"
He entered chuckling, well, I missed the bridge of a ship more than that chair. But I know it's in good hands", he said and sat down.
"So, you just came to test the chair?", she replied with a smug smile.
"Nope! I came here to tell you that we are going on holiday. I had several present vouchers from my retirement and wanted to spend them in a useful way", he said.
Kate raised her eyebrows, "Ah? For the three of us?", she asked.
"Of course, you silly!"
"Uh yes Mike, but I have just succeeded you for a week and now you expect me to leave everything…..", she said, spreading her hands.
"Honey, you've already taken it back for more than a week. You got the job done and I was your mentor. I'm pretty sure you can hand it over to your assistant".
She tilted her head, "Hmm, you are not making it easy for me, Mr Flynn. And where are we going to? Mission Beach?"
"Nope! In Europe".
"Huh? In Europe? But Mike, it's winter over there, barely daylight, freezing, rainy and cold", he replied, frowning.
He smirked.
"Oh no, Mr Flynn. I know that smug smile. You're up to something", she said, waving her index finger.
"Have you seen the calendar? It's almost Christmas."
"Yeah, I know, but that's in a few weeks."
"Exactly. We will fly with Qantas to Heathrow and spend a few days in London for Christmas shopping".
"Oh!", she said, raising her eyebrows.
"Then we will fly from London City to Innsbruck in Austria and stay at Sankt Anton am Arlberg at 1300 m for Christmas", he said and watched her reaction.
"Oh? Two destinations? But you said 1300 meters? So…that means snow! Oh my Gosh, Christmas in the snow! How can I say no to this offer?", she said with sparkling eyes.
The Flynn family travelled to London. They visited the main tourist places and they enjoyed the Christmas atmosphere in the big city. From the Christmas market in Hyde Park then Harrods, Picadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Oxford street. Unfortunately the weather wasn't on their side, there was a lot of drizzle and it was freezing.
On 24th December, they flew to Innsbruck and a bus took them to their hotel in Sankt Anton.
When they got off the bus, they were surprised to see that there was snow only on the top of the mountains. Anyway, there was a Christmas dinner at the hotel that night.
Mike and James wore a jacket and tie and Kate wore a black trousers, a gold blouse and heeled pumps. The dinner had been great and there was a good ambience with dance music. However…
Mike looked at Kate and James, "I'm sorry, I have to go to the lavatory", he said and stood up.
After his father left, James looked at his mother and said, "Mum, what's going on? Dad is not as usual. Is there a problem?".
Kate sighed and patted his hand, "Not really Jamie. That's just the situation. He's a little disappointed for me because we spent a lot of money coming here for one purpose, to give me a white Christmas. It's something I've dreamed of since I was a little girl, but as you can see, it's green everywhere and it bothers him. Just bad luck, I'm afraid", she said.
Before James could say anything, Mike came back with their coats in his arms, the excitement at its height. "Honey, James, you have to see this! It's amazing!", he said handing them their coat.
"What?", James asked.
"Come and see!", Mike said as he walked towards the front door of the hotel.
They followed Mike outside and Kate was blown away. Large snowflakes swirled in the air. She looked up and they landed softly on her face to turn into drops of water.
She was so rapt in contemplation of the sky which poured down its crystal flakes that she did not even notice that she had snow up to her ankles.
"And?", Mike asked.
"It…it's amazing", Kate stammered unable to take her eyes off of the snow that had begun to spread its white coat.
He touched her shoulder and she looked at him. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered, "Merry White Christmas, honey!"
The end