CH 3
"Wow you weren't joking on the size of it."
"Nope" when she stopped outside the garage, they both got out.
Cindy went and got Robert's sea bag while Robert looked around the back yard seeing a swimming pool, sand pit and kids play area. He turned and follows Cindy to the large outdoor entertainment area then walks inside since the sliding folding door is open up into the dinning area and he could hear music playing that coming from inside.
"Grandma we are home" shouted Cindy.
"In the kitchen" they heard. Robert follows Cindy into the large kitchen which was off the dinning room.
"How was work?"
"Busy as normal, Grandma you remember Robert." She looked at Robert.
"Oh my, you sure have grown up since I last saw you, Robert."
"Thank you Mrs Ross it good to see you again," as she stepped forward and gave him a hug then pulled back.
"You to and you are still keeping Cindy happy."
"Yes ma'am, we are keeping each other happy."
"I know you are, so what do you think of your new home" asked
"Big" Cindy grinned and her grandmother laughed.
"That it is, so what are your planning for the day?"
"Have a shower and get changed, I'm sweating like anything" Cindy said.
"It is hot outside Cindy" Robert said.
"And so are you, come on we both need a cool shower."
"I thought it was…" she kissed him.
"We shall see sailor" she turned and walk out the kitchen.
"You better get going Robert" Mrs Ross says as she gives him a wink, so he ran out of the kitchen calling out for Cindy.
"Cindy where are you."
"Here," he found her half way up the stairs so he ran up them to join her while Cindy ran up the rest of the steps while laughing.
Hour and half later Robert and Cindy are walking down the stairs talking together. She showed him the rest of the house before walking outside to see her grandmother sitting down at the table with a tray that had a large jug of iced tea and, three glasses and a plate of homemade biscuits on it.
"Enjoy your shower?"
"Yes grandma." Cindy said, smiling as she poured the drinks.
"You two must have been very sweaty."
"Very funny grandma," laughed Cindy.
"What do you think of the house Robert now that you saw it?"
"It is a beautiful home," said Robert.
"He loves the large walk in shower" cindy said smiling"
"cindy" RO said looking embarrass making Mrs Ross laugh at them both.
"It's ok Robert." Mrs Ross said.
"May I ask why you built this house for us?" Robert asked.
"For one, I know that Cindy would have said no to money that I would have given to her but since Fred left her out of his Will and since she is the only one who had gotten a job and been in the same job for more than five years. She would have initially inherited one hundred million dollars, but since Fred made the changes to the Will, I wished to give Cindy her fair share of what is rightfully hers. So, I knew where you two used to live and I know she always wanted a nice house with plenty of room for the kids and I found out that you two are living here in Cairns, I bought this land and had the two joined houses pulled down dince one of them had a fire in it and had this place built. Once done it was good timing to move in here."
"I told her off about what she did, but after we both talked about it, I understood why she did it."
"So, have you signed the papers." Robert said.
"Yes I did. She did it not only for us but for our children. you saw how small the backyard was and the neighbors were from hell."
"True, but what are the neighbors like here?"
"They are great, there is a couple on the left, the husband is a fire fighter and the wife is a teacher. The couple on the right, the husband in the navy and wife is currently a stay at home mum, as she is on maternity leave but is a qualified navyparamedic and I know her. Their baby is two weeks old."
"Ok" they talked for the next two hours before Cindy left to go and pick up the children from daycare leaving her grandmother and Robert alone to talk.
When she returned, Robert went and helped her with their children. His son smiled when he saw his father and ran over to give him a hug then Robert helped her with the twins. Cindy's grandmother watches Robert helping Cindy with the children as well as, giving them a hug and talking to them while smiling at them.
They all talked for the next hour then went into town for dinner then back home to put the children to bed. Cindy's grandmother stayed to look after the kids while Cindy and Robert left to go to the pub to meet the Hammersley crew. Cindy could tell that Robert was nervous, so she put her hand in his hand and gave it a squeese. He turned to her since they were in a taxi.
"It will be ok."
"I know but you know I like to keep our private life separate from work," explained Robert.
"I know and now the crew will understand why you don't join them when you return back from your patrols."
"I know."
"Don't worry Robert everything going to be fine."
"I hope so" she leaned over and to kiss him.
"Trust me."
"I do Cindy."
When they arrived at the pub, they walked inside together up to the bar and ordered their drinks. Once they get them, they walked outside to where the crew were sat. "Hey RO this is a surprise to see you here" ET said.
"Why not, don't you want me here."
"We do RO, you are part of this crew" Mike said.
"Thank you sir."
"Who is your friend" Spider asked.
"This is Cindy."
"Hi, I remember some of you" they looked at each other then back to Cindy who was smiling at their confused looks.
"How do you know us?" Buffer asked.
"Had any crabs lately Buffer, Spider."
"What, how did you know that? '' Charge asked. Buffer looks at her then he remembers who she is.
"You, you were one of the nurses who looked after Spider and me. You teased us about crabs to cheer us up" Buffer said when he realized who she is.
"You remember me now?"
"Yeah. How do you know RO."
"Long story…"
"Oh man it is you, you look different out of uniform" Spider said and everyone laughs at him.
"You mean different clothes Spider? Yes I do."
"Great work Spider putting your foot in your mouth" Charge said.
"Don't worry he was not the first sailor to say that to me" RO and Cindy sat down next to each other.
"What is your last name Cindy?" asked Chefo.
"Dixon, Lieutenant Cindy Dixon"
"Are you RO's sister?" Spider asked.
"No, she is my wife," Robert said seeing the shocked looks on all their faces.
"You're married," Nav said in shock.
"Yes, seven years," Cindy said.
"You would have been around eighteen years old" Spider said.
"Yes, we both were when we got married, it was a small wedding. We got married in Melbourne after Robert finished his training and I was training to become a nurse. We had four people at our wedding as witnesses." Cindy said.
"What about your family?" Spider asked.
"I lost my parents when I was little. Robert's mother left when he was seven, he was raised by a strict, drunken father."
"That would explain the way he acts." ET said.
"He was a lot worse before he was assigned to Hammersley. He has changed a lot over the years."
"Have you got any children" Swain asked.
"Yes we have got three children, one is a three and half year old boy and eight month old twins, one of each."
"What is RO like around them" Chefo asked.
"He a great father, when he has shore leave, he spends as much time as possible with me and our children."
"Where are your children.?" Charge asked
"Hopefully sleeping" Cindy said, making the others laugh. "My grandmother is looking after them while we are here."
"Did your grandmother raise you" asked Swain.
"My grandparents did" they all asked both Cindy and Robert a number of questions which they were able to answer. It was late by the time Cindy and Robert returned home.
When they were in bed, Cindy snuggled up to his side like she does when he is home. "Are you ok Robert" she asked him.
"Yeah" she moved till she was looking at him.
"Thinking about what happened tonight."
"Yes."
"Now they all know."
"True, I've been thinking lately."
"About what" he put his hand into her left hand and brought it up to his lips and kissed the ring finger then he looked at the ring then to Cindy.
"I've been saving a little bit of money each month since I joined the Navy and I have now got enough to get you a real engagement ring."
"You don't have to Robert."
"I do Cindy, with the money we saved up for our wedding there was just enough to get you a wedding ring."
"Well, if you want to get me an engagement ring, I'll be getting you a wedding ring."
"No."
"Yes then people will know that you are married."
"Are you sure" she leaned over and kissed him.
"Of course I'm sure Robert."
"Ok, shall we go and look for an engagement ring tomorrow?"
"We can in the morning, I am working the afternoon shift."
"Ok we will go shopping then" she smiled then kissed him once more.
"That sounds good to me" Cindy said before she snuggled down against him as they closed their eyes and fell asleep entwined together.
The next morning after dropping the children off at daycare. The three of them went to do some shopping in the mall. One of the things were clothes for the children since they were always growing. Whilst shopping in the mall. Robert and Cindy saw a jewelry store and walked inside to see what they sold in there. When they were looking at engagement rings when a salesman walked over to them "Good morning may I help you," he said with a smile.
"Yes, we are looking at engagement rings." Robert said.
"Ok is there anything you see that you like sir?"
"Cindy," Robert said looking at her.
"Yes, this bridal set in yellow gold" as she pointed to the particular set.
The salesman opened up the cabinet and got out the set and put it on the counter. Cindy picked up the engagement ring and looked to Robert. He looked at her and then to the ring. he took it from her fingers and slipped onto her finger next to her wedding ring.
"It fits," she said smiling.
"Do you like it" Cindy looked up at him then kissed him.
"Yes I do, it nothing big or fancy"
"Ok but you already have a wedding ring" Cindy picked the ring up from the box and slipped it on then looked at Robert.
"It is a perfect eternity ring" said Cindy.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I am" Robert turned to the salesman.
"How much" the salesman picked up the box and looked under it then showed it to Robert.
"Five thousand dollars, wow!"
"Robert if you can't afford it now, I will understand."
"We do HP if you can't afford to pay it off at once sir" Robert looks at the rings then to Cindy. He pulled out his wallet.
"Ok I can pay four thousand dollars now."
"Ok but first I will need your driver's license so I can do a credit check sir."
"Credit check" Robert said.
"It's ok Robert, it's what they got to do for security reasons. to make sure that you're not black listed and overdue in paying debt" Robert got his driver's license out and handed it over.
"I'll be right back sir" then the salesman walks over to the phone to make a call.
"We don't owe anything Cindy."
"I know, but remember last year when our fridge packed up and I had to get a new one. They had to do a credit check before it was approved. Even though I took the payments over two years, I had it paid off with in a year so we can have great credit ratings."
"Your right Cindy and I can take the payments over six months since we don't have to worry about paying for rent."
"True, but we still have to pay for insurance and rates. With that amount, half of the amount of rent money we were paying."
"That is true."
When the salesman returned, he was carrying form and pens with him. "You have got an excellent credit sir, now if you can fill this out for me, you will be able to walk out of here with your rings."
"Thanks." Robert fills out the papers and signs them, the salesman took the paperwork and checked the forms over.
"You're in the navy sir?" the salesman said.
"We both are sir" Cindy said.
"Have you got your navy ID with you sir?"
"Yes," Robert said, getting out his navy ID and passing it to the salesman.
"I'll get this check out sir" then he walked over to the phone again.
"Why did he ask for my navy ID?" Robert said, and Cindy smiled.
"Look behind you" Robert turned around and saw a sign advertising all arm forces personnel received a ten percent discount on any item in the store. He turned back to Cindy "OH."
"Let's have a look at wedding rings" she said as they walked over to where the wedding rings were.
They looked at them and they both like one of the rings. so they return back to where the engagement rings are when the salesman returns.
"Everything checks out and because of the discount it will now be four thousand and five hundred dollars."
"I'll pay the four thousand dollars now and I would like to pay the remainder over a one month installment plan."
"Sure" he fills out the details and asks Robert a couple of questions. Once everything was done. Cindy kisses Robert.
"Is there anything else I can help you with today?"
"Yes, a wedding ring for Robert, we saw one we both like" Cindy said. They walked over to where the wedding rings are.
Cindy pointed out a five millimeter wide yellow gold band. He got it out of the case and showed them. Cindy picked up the ring and Robert's left hand and put it on "It fits" she said smiling.
"Yes, and it is a comfortable fit as well" Cindy got her card out and lifted the box to get the price for the ring.
"I'll buy it."
"Very well ma'am." the salesman said.
Few minutes later they walk out of the jeweler's hand in hand while smiling. They walked over to the cafe where they were meeting up with Cindy's grandmother for lunch.
"I hope you weren't waiting long grandma."
"No dear I just sat down few minutes ago."
"Ok, have you ordered something for lunch?"
"No I was waiting for you two to arrive."
"Ok I'll go and make an order" Cindy said after placing bags under the table then walking up to the counter. Robert sat down after putting bags under the table.