CH 08
Two days later Hammersley returned from its patrol, Robert had three days off then he was on duty with another crew member. He was lucky when he was on duty watch, Cindy was on duty at the same time.
The next morning Cindy was putting the children in the car when she saw the gate open and the car coming up the driveway. She smiled when she saw Mike and Kate. Robert walked outside and over to them.
"Sir, X."
"RO" Mike said.
Cindy looked at their happy faces then she looked at Kate's left hand which made her smile get even bigger.
"Congratulations to you both."
"Thanks Cindy," Kate said.
"What is going on" RO asked looking confused.
"Mike and Kate are getting married," Cindy said as she gave them both a hug.
"What" RO said in shock then he looked at Kate's left hand then looked at their faces.
"Congratulations to you both."
"Thanks, RO."
"Who else knows about it sir, X?"
"You're the first to know." Kate said.
"Really wow but…"
"Because of me Robert" he turned to Cindy.
"You?"
"Yes Mike and I talked a few times, I dropped some hints and saw him looking at rings a few days ago. So I helped him out as you can see it worked.
"I love the ring, thank you for talking to Mike."
"Your welcome, now you both got a bombshell to drop on certain people."
"The crew?" Kate said.
"Yes, them, commander Marshall and fleet command."
"We better tell them," Mike said.
"Knowing the crew, they will be planning your bucks party mike."
"I don't know if it safe or not to have one" mike said Cindy laughing.
"Spider dressing up as Kate here, I understand."
"True," Robert said.
"Sorry I wish I can stay and chat got I need to drop the children off at daycare and I have a got couple appointments this morning."
"Sorry for holding you up."
"It is ok, have you got any plans tonight?"
"No, not really,"
"Great how about dinner tonight to celebrate your engagement, it will be just us until you are ready to tell the crew" Mike and Kate look at each other.
"Sure, seven?" Mike said.
"Sounds good to me" Kate said.
"Ok seven it is."
"See you tonight then" Mike said as they got back into their car and left. Cindy turned to Robert and kissed him once again.
"I will get roast pork for dinner."
"Sweet potato?" Cindy smiled.
"I won't forget, see you when I return."
"Ok" Cindy got into her wagon and drove to the day care center.
That night when Mike and Kate arrived for dinner, they brought a couple bottles of wine with them. The children were already in bed sleeping. They talk about different things including how Robert proposed to Cindy.
"How did you propose to Cindy?" Kate asked.
"Ah well" he looked at Cindy then back to Kate.
"So long as you tell us how Mike proposed to you Kate" Cindy said.
"Fair enough," Mike said.
"Well, when I finished my training I flew to Sydney since that is where I did my gap year. I knew Cindy was studying hard and any way when we had a day off at the same time, we went for a walk along the beach after dinner. We were watching the sun setting when I turned to her" he looked at Cindy as she smiled at him.
"He got down on one knee." Cindy said.
"I said to her that I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you and you would make me the happiest guy if you will marry me."
"He opened the box and inside was my wedding ring."
"I said I could not afford an engagement ring but I promise you one day I will get you one."
"I said yes."
"We got married two months later when the ship I was stationed on, was in port and Cindy had the weekend off."
"With our school friends' help and permission, we got married at Watson Bay church" Cindy said.
"That amazing story," Kate said.
"It was small and simple," RO said.
"When did you receive your engagement ring?" Mike asked.
"Few days before the decommissioning of Hammersley." Cindy said.
"I got the entity ring at the same time since it was a wedding ring but Cindy said she would wear it as an entity ring."
"Robert let me choose because he knows how fussy I can be and the same day I got him his wedding ring."
"That is a lovely story" mike said.
"Ok so now it is your turn" Cindy asked.
"I took Kate out to dinner at a restaurant overlooking the bay." Mike started.
"Was it a romantic place" Cindy asked.
"Yes it was, moonlight and candles."
"How romantic, carry on," Cindy said.
"We talked about the future and other things." Kate said.
"After desert Kate needed to use the head, while away I asked for two glasses of champagne and only half the glasses were half full. So when the waiter returned with the two glasses he saw me slip the ring into Kate glass. He smiled knowing what was going to happen. When Kate returned, we picked up our glasses and made a toast to our future."
"When I took a sip of my wine I could taste it wasn't wine and I saw something in the bottom of the glass. When I looked at it closely then to Mike,"
"I moved from where I was and managed to get the ring out of the glass and got down onto one knee and I said to her that I love her and want to spend the rest of my life with her."
"I said yes."
"Of course you did," Cindy said, making them smile.
"I slipped the ring on and we kissed."
"Everyone nearby congratulated us."
"That is amazing, was it what you had planned Mike" Cindy asked?
"Yes."
"So afterwards you both celebrated either at yours Kate or your place Mike" Cindy said smiling.
"We went to my place it was closer" Kate said
"Ah, well we are happy for your both" Cindy said as she picked up her wine glass.
"A toast to Mike and Kate. We wish you many years of happiness." Cindy said they clicked their wine glasses then took a sip.
"Thanks Cindy," Mike said.
"How did it go with fleet command?" Cindy asked.
"They are happy for us and for me to let them know when the wedding is" mike said.
"That's great and Commander Marshall?"
"He also was happy for us and wanted an invite."
"I bet he does," Cindy said.
They talked about weddings and other things till Mike and Kate chose to leave just after eleven since Mike had work in the morning. Robert and Cindy went to bed not long after.
The morning Hammersley was due to set sail. Mike was on the bridge with Kate and some of the crew when everyone heard over the PA system "now here this, this is commander Flynn speaking" he look at Kate who was next to him "It has given me the honor to announce to the crew of the Hammersley that Lieutenant Kate McGregor and I are engaged to be married" everyone was in shock before a cheer erupted throughout the ship.
"There will not be any bucks party if you guys start to plan one. That is all" the crew who are on the bridge step forward to congratulated them.
"RO, why aren't you congratulating them" ET asked.
"Because I already knew about their engagement few days ago."
"What and you didn't tell us" Charge said.
"It was up to them when they were ready to share the news." Everyone congratulated both Mike and Kate before Mike walked off Hammersley since they were due to set sail.
While out on patrol the crew ask Kate questions about how Mike proposed to her and how did RO know about it and talk about bucks and hen's night ideas which some of the ideas were funny.
Four months later Mike and Kate got married at the Hilton hotel in Cairns. It was everything that they both wanted, both wedding and reception. There were over three hundred guests present at the wedding. They had a three-week honeymoon in Hawaii thanks to the crew putting money together and Cindy took care of the hotel and plane tickets for them. In addition to Steve Marshall who managed to find a temporary XO for one patrol while Kate was away on her honeymoon.
When they returned Steve already got Kate her new ID since she and Mike filled out the paperwork for the change of marriage status. Plus, they both found out that Mike was back on Hammersley since the captain was wounded when he and three others went in to help the SAS out when the Captain and Jim Roff was wounded. Kate understood this and sincerely hoped she and Mike can keep things professional while on board. The crew was shocked but happy to have Mike back on board Hammersley.
Mike stayed on Hammersley until they captured Ray Walsman and the Samurai Island elections were a success. The crew learn that the previous captain had received a medical discharge from the navy due to ending up losing his leg from the knee downwards. There had been an infection where a piece of a shrapnel went in and after it had been removed but the area got infected. The doctors tried had everything but had ended up with no choice if they wished to save his life. When they removed the leg, they found small bits of shrapnel in and around where the infection that had not shown up on the various scans including in the knee joint.
The crew also learn that Mike is to stay on the Hammersley until another captain can be found and Kate is to get a shore posting because they all learn that she is pregnant which everyone celebrates at RO and Cindy's house. When Cindy saw Kate and Mike when they showed up before the crew did.
"Thanks for offering to host the party here Cindy." Kate said.
"When Robert told me the news, I said to him if the crew want to have a party, they are welcome to have it here and they could bring their families with them."
"Better than the pub" Mike said.
"That's true Mike, and you both have been busy during your shore leaves." she said smiling while giving them both a wink.
"Yes, we have" Kate said looking at Mike with a smile on her face. Cindy laughed "If you have got any questions, don't hesitate to ask Kate, same with you Mike."
"Thanks Cindy" then Robert showed up with drinks in hand for them.
"Here you go sir, X" he passes them their drinks.
"thanks" then he passed Cindy her drink when they turned to see who showed up.
"Let's get this party started," Cindy said.
Six and half months later Robert was talking to Cindy on the phone when he walked over and picked up the microphone "now hear there is this RO speaking. Cindy just called to ask me to tell you all that at ten past nine this morning Michael Connor Flynn was born and weighed in at seven pounds six ounces, both mother and son doing well and commander Flynn is happy and planning on having a party at my place when we return back from our patrol next month, that is all." Everyone clapped and cheered with the good news.
A Month later everyone showed up at Robert and Cindy's place for the party. When Mike and Kate showed up with Mike holding the baby, everyone congratulated them both as well as commented on who the baby looks like. Cindy walks over to Robert and wraps her arm around his waist, he wraps his around her shoulder as they kiss.
"They look happy" Cindy said.
"Yes, they do." She turned to Robert.
"Robert do you want to have any more kids" he look at her in shock.
"What? I have never even thought about it, why are you…" she smiled at him.
"No, I'm not, so you think three is enough?"
"Yes, it is why?"
"Well, you know that I have a bad reaction to birth control pills and the injection"
"Yes"
"What do you think of me having my tubes cut?"
"Are you sure?"
"Well, you could have the snip."
"I'll support you whatever you decide to do."
"Just as I will support you" they hugged and kissed, then turned to see everyone having a wonderful time.
Two weeks later Cindy went and had her tubes cut and whenever Hammersley is in port and Robert is at home, they don't have to worry about any protection at all. They love the three children that they got.
Cindy learns later on from listening to the news broadcasts that Paul, Alex, James and Kelly have all been in trouble with the police and they spent all their inheritances within seven years.
Cindy chose not to spend any of her inheritance but she spends some of the interest from her inheritance, which she donated to different charities every year. She and Robert take the children on holiday trips around Australia and overseas as well boat trips which they both loved being onboard and out at sea.
The end.