CH 5
Two weeks later Cindy and Robert walk up onto the new Hammersley. They looked around the ship as Robert gets his sea bags sorted out and checks out the new communication center as well the bridge where he will be working from. They met up with other sailors as well as met new ones.
"Well sir what do you think of the new Hammersley" Cindy asked.
"It is a lot bigger and we won't be tripping over each other" Cindy laughed
"that is true, what about you Kate?"
"I agree with Mike."
"I notice your cabin is bigger Mike and it has a door and not curtains."
"Yes I noticed that."
"More privacy" she gives them a smile and wink.
"Cindy, do you know the navy rules?"
"Yes I do, but at home it is different because you will be out of uniform and what you do in private in your own home has nothing to do with the navy or this crazy bunch."
"But we can't" Kate said
"What about having dinner and drinks, there are no rules about having a crew member over for dinner and drinks."
"No your right about that" Kate said.
"Well, there you go and I had better get going. I start my shift in half an hour. So I had better go and find Robert before heading off and let you enjoy playing with the navy's new toy" Cindy said.
"Thanks Cindy.'' Mike said as she walked off the bridge. She found Robert and gave him a kiss before heading to work.
The next morning Hammersley left port for its first patrol. Cindy was pleased that Robert was able to email her every day since there were more computers and laptops on board than when they were on the old boat. When Hammersley was in port and Robert got shore, the crew teased him as he walked off Hammersley and along the wharf or when Cindy showed up just as Hammersley docked.
Then they hugged and kissed the crew, cheering them on and teasing them which they start to get used to and every time it happens Cindy yells out "you guys need to get yourselves your own women and get laid more often" only to have them laugh at her.
Three months after Hammersley left port for its first patrol, the crew was talking and laughing about different things when the phone rings. "Hammersley leader Dixon speaking… Cindy what's wrong" everyone went quiet and turned to RO "I'm sorry Cindy, have you spoken to commander Marshall… ok I will let him know… I will let you know soon as I know… ok love you…" then he hung up and sat there.
Kate walks over to him "RO is everything ok" he turns and looks up at Kate.
"Cindy grandmother passed away this morning, she had a heart attack at home."
"I'm sorry for your family's loss," Kate said.
"Cindy spoke to Commander Marshall before calling me, he was going to…" then the phone rings he picks up the phone "Hammersley leader Dixon… yes sir… Yes sir Cindy called and told me sir… yes sir" he turned around.
"Sir, commander Marshall" Mike picked up the phone that was next to him then RO hung up.
"Steve, it is Mike… ok Steve… yes he just told us… ok thanks Steve" then he hung up.
"Nav plot course for home port"
"Yes sir" he turned to RO.
"We are heading back to port."
"Turn one two zero, we will be home in nine hours" Nav said.
"Turn one two zero" Mike said.
"Turning one two zero" Spider said.
Then Mike picks up the microphone "now here this the Captain is speaking, we are returning back to Cairns a week early. RO's wife's grandmother who most of you have met passed away this morning. We will be sending our condolences to RO and his family at this time. We will back in port in nine hours, that is all."
When Hammersley docked, RO left straight away. When he arrived home that night Sally was there keeping Cindy company when he walked inside the lounge. Cindy saw him and stood up and walked over to him just as he dropped his sea bag and hugged her as she began to cry once again.
"I'm here now."
"I can't believe she gone."
"I know I was shocked when you called" he pulled back so he could look at her.
"I've made some calls and we have a flight tomorrow to Sydney and a hotel booked for the next few days."
"I didn't think about making the bookings."
"It's ok. Tomorrow we can find out what funeral arrangements have been made for your grandmother."
"Good idea" he kisses then hugs her once more. He saw Sally there "thanks Sally for being here for Cindy."
"No problem, she was there when i gave birth to Chloe."
"I know."
"I'll leave now, if you need anything please give me a call."
"Will do Sally thanks" RO said.
He walked her to the door then watched her leave since he opened the security gate for her then close it. He returned back to the living room where he hugged Cindy as they sat down with her in his arms.
The next morning the five of them flew to Sydney. After they checked into the hotel, Cindy made some calls. When she finishes on the phone she turns to Robert.
"The funeral home has got gran's body and everything has already been taken care of."
"Ok and the funeral."
"It is tomorrow morning, a limo is coming to collect us and take us to the cemetery where the funeral going to be held."
"Ok."
"I spoke to Jean Davidson, the manager from the home where Grandma lives. She wants to see me."
"Are you going now?"
"Yeah, will you be ok with the children."
"Sure" She gives him a kiss.
"I'll be back soon as I can."
"Ok" He watches her pick up her bag then walks out of the room.
When Cindy arrived at the home she walked inside and walked to the manager office since she saw the name on the glass door. she knocked onto it since the door was open.
A women look up "Yes may I help you?"
"Mrs Davison? I'm Cindy Dixson, Mary Ross's granddaughter, we spoke on the phone" she stood up and stepped around the desk putting her hand out for Cindy to shake it.
"Yes, please come in, my condolences to you and your family."
"Thank you."
"Please sit down" Cindy sat down just as Jean returned to her seat.
"You wished to see me?" asked Cindy.
"Yes, I don't know how to tell you this, but the morning your grandmother died, she had four visitors, your brothers and sister. Neighbors could hear yelling coming from her unit and called me. One of the staff and I went over to check on her since we knew about her health. We saw the four of them leaving her unit when we reached it. We knocked on the door and opened it. She was sitting down at the table with her hand over her cheat and she was going grey. The nurse who was with me rushed over to her then she told me to push the emergency button that next to her lazy boy chair. I did that when she collapsed onto the floor. The nurse and I performed CPR till the paramedics showed up. They tried but she was already gone." Explained Joan sadly.
Cindy cried "my brothers and sister caused her to die. Did they know about her heart condition?"
"Yes, it was not the first time they caused her to significant amounts of stress."
"I know she told me about it and the two other heart attacks caused by high blood pressure and stress. When I came here with the children two weeks ago, she was very stressed because of the continuous demands of my brothers and sister. I was able to get her to relax and cheer her up with the help of the children. I told her that she should tell them not to see her again because next time she had a heart attack it might be fatal and it seems I was right."
"She did tell them last week, but they keep showing up every week demanding money" Cindy shook her head.
"Do they know that she died?"
"No but Mary did give me your contact details so if anything happened to her for me to contact you first."
"I know she told me." She looked down at her hands then back up to Jean. ""Is there anything else you wished to see me about?"
"We have packed up all of Mary belongings as per, her instructions. She said for me to give you this" she stood up and walked over to a big box.
Cindy stood up and walked over and looked into it. She could see it was full of family photos she remembered seeing around her room. "There are some jewelry boxes in the bottom with her rings and necklaces inside."
"Thank you," Cindy said.
"Your grandmother was a wonderful woman."
"That she is. Thank you for taking care of her."
"You are welcome. Do you know that after the funeral all the guests is returning here for something to eat and drink?"
"Yes, I know about it, I called the funeral home before calling you."
"Ok, do you any help carrying the box?"
"No thanks, I can manage" she shook Jean hand before picking up the box.
"See you tomorrow morning" Jean said.
Cindy walked out of the managers office and out of the building. She put the box on the ground and called for a taxi. When she returned to the hotel and walked back in the room after Robert opened the door and took the box from her.
"Thanks" she walked in and closed and locked the door.
"How did it go" he put the box down on a chair and turned to her.
"My brothers and sister caused grandma to have a heart attack" Robert was shocked as she sat down.
"They stressed her out?"
"Yep caused her blood pressure to rise. They knew about her health problems but it seemed they didn't care."
"What happened on the day she died?" Cindy told Robert everything that happened. He was shocked by what his brothers and sister-in-law have done and they don't know that she died.
"How do you feel about what happened?" Robert asked.
"Angry for what they have done, they killed her. If they stopped pestering her about it and raised her stress levels like they have, she will still be alive today."
"I understand" Robert said as he wraps his arms around her as tears fall down her cheeks.
The next morning Robert, Cindy and the children walked down to the lobby and outside as their limo was waiting for them. They all got in and the driver drove them to the cemetery. They were both wearing black. Cindy is wearing a black dress with shoes and a hat while Robert is wearing black suit with a shirt and tie.
Their oldest son was wearing black pants and shirt while the twins wear normal clothing since they just turned one two weeks early. When they arrived at the cemetery, they noticed a number of people were already there.
They got out and walked over to where the funeral was being held. They sat down in the seats up front with the twins on their knees and their oldest child sitting next to Robert. The minister walked over to talk to them then walked over to a spot where the funeral began.
Cindy was crying during the whole the service. She and Robert stood up when a woman stepped forward giving them five red roses which they placed on the coffin then stood back as they watched the coffin being lowered into the ground. Robert puts his free arm around her shoulder as they stepped back. When it was over people stepped forward to give them their condolences.
Cindy remembers most of them from when she was growing up and knew that she was in the navy and happily married. They talked and slowly headed to their cars and limos then they all headed to the retirement home for refreshments and drinks. While there Cindy talks to a number of people as well introduces Robert to the ones she knows.
When she was returning from the toilets a man walked over to her. "Cindy? I'm Dean Adams, I was Mary's lawyer."
"Hi" they shook hands.
"Here is my card" he passed her, his card. "Can you come in to my office
tomorrow morning, it is regarding your grandmother's Will."
"Sure about what time."
"Eleven o'clock?"
"That is fine."
"Ok, my condolences for your loss."
"Thank you Mr Adams" then he walked away.
Cindy walked over to talk to some others who knew her grandmother. It was late in the afternoon when they returned back to the hotel where they got changed and sat down and relaxed for an hour before Robert called and ordered room service for the family. They all had an early night since they were tired and it was a long day for them all.
The next morning at Dean Adams office he was doing some paperwork when there was a knock on the door so he looked up to see his secretary there. "Dean, Paul, Max, James and Kelly Andrews are here"
"Let them in please Jeannie" he closed the file he was reading when the four adults walked into his office.
"We received a call yesterday to be here and it to do with money from our grandfather" Max said who had appointed himself as the spokesperson.
"Yes that's true, please sit down" they sat down as he opened a drawer and got the file out and closed the draw. "Your Grandmother asked me a couple months ago to change her Will. She wants to give you four what money there is left to you so you won't have to bother her again. Now to get this money you all will have to fill out and sign the paperwork, then the money can be transferred in to your accounts."
"Why did she not tell us when we saw her few days ago?"
"Because she was waiting for all the paperwork to be completed and asked me to call you in myself."
"Ok where are the papers?" Kelly said. Dean stood up and picked up four pens and walked around the desk and passed each of them the papers and a pen.
"Please read it carefully before signing it." They filled out the paperwork including their bank account numbers.
Once everything was down and signed. They each passed it back to Dean who looked over then he walks around to his desk and opens his laptop and signs in. He did some typing as well looking at one page of the paperwork. When he finished reviewing it he then made a call.
"Hi this is Dean Adams, is Jason Smith there, he is expecting my call… thank you." he looked at the four individuals while waiting for the call to connect.
"Who is Jason Smith" Alex asked.
"Bank manager, I will be letting him know that he can now close the bank account since it is now empty."
"How much was in the account?"
"The last of your inheritance" he saw the smug looks on their faces thinking on how much they were going to be getting then started to smile.
"Hi Jason it is Dean Adams… yeah… got the account in front of you… ok the account number… yes… yes… yes that is correct… yes it in their accounts… yes as Mary instructed… it's done… ok thanks Jason… no worries." then they hung up.
"The money will be in your accounts now" they stood up smiling.
"Great, it took grandma long enough to give it to us, now she doesn't have to see us ever again" James said.
"Let's go out and celebrate" Paul said.
"Why not" Kelly said they walked out the door talking about the party they planning on having when Jeannie walked into his office.
"You didn't tell them?"
"It was Mary's request. But they will be back, here can you please make a copy of this and send copies to their lawyers" he passed her the papers.
"You know they could sue you." Dean smiled.
"They were more interested in the money, if they didn't read the papers properly … why don't read the last page" Jeannie flipped one of the pages over and read what it said.
It says that Kelly agreed when she signed the papers that she agreed to the money she received from her grandmother's will and that she won't go to court to contest her grandmother's will and that she accepted the money that was put in her account. When Jeannie finished reading it, she looked up to Dean.
"This was the clause that Mary asked to be added."
"Yes, it was Cindy's, Mary's her granddaughter's idea so that they can't take me to court to contest the Will."
"Cindy, I never met her."
"You will. I can tell you this, she is nothing like her brothers and sister."
"Really, has she got a job?"
"Yes, she is a nurse in the navy, she joined in two thousand and one and is stationed up in Cairns. Happily married with three children."
"The navy wow I'm impressed."
"I met her yesterday at Mary's funeral. She was one amazing young women."
"How did she take Mary's death."
"Hard but she has got her husband and friends' support."
"That is good to know."
"Yes it is."
"I will get onto this right now for."
"Thanks Jeannie" she turned and walked out of the office.
When it was just before eleven o'clock Jeannie looked up when the double doors opened. She saw a young couple walking in. The man was carrying a young boy in his arms and the woman was pushing a twin stroller. They walked up to the desk.
"Good morning may I help you?"
"Hi Dean Adams is expecting me I'm Cindy Dixon" Jeannie smiled as she stood up and held out her hand.
"Hi I'm Jeannie, I will let Dean know that you are here."
"Thank you, ma'am," Cindy said. Jeannie turned and walk to the door and knock before opening it and walking in.
"Yes Jeannie?"
"Cindy Dixon and her family are here."
"Let them in please."
"Sure, oh and your right about Cindy, very well mannered."
"Told you so" he said smiling as he stood up.