Ch 8. Catching up

Kate looked sadly at her dish, her hands resting at the table.

"It was about two months ago.

I was on the verge of a breakdown.

I was so lonely here and I wished to know how you were doing. I bought a pay-and-go card and went just over the border to France so that the signal could be traced from a French pole. I called Maxine and asked her how you were doing. Initially she replied me by asking who I was. That was logic because I didn't say my name, but I repeated my question. I think she was a bit surprised because she gave me immediately a realistic answer."

"What did she say?", Mike asked.

"She said that you were still upside down of the loss. She must have heard a change in my voice before I hung up."

"And then?"

"I was even more a mess then before I called", Kate said staring at the wall.

Mike looked at her, not knowing what to say.

"I don't know what she did, but a month later I received an official letter at the office of the Commonwealth Graves Commission that the Australian Navy was going to send a representative to the commemorations of Anzac day. The representative was going to be Commander Mike Flynn," Helen said looking at Mike.

"I wrote back that I wanted to meet Commander Flynn at the Tyne Cot Cemetery to discuss the protocol for the ceremony. And … that was today at 3 o'clock," she said with a smirk.

Mike smiled and shrugged.

"So darling I think that you have to do something extra for Maxine to thank her."

"Yeah, indeed."

"But, let us be careful. I don't know how she fixed it, but there are now at least three people who know where I am; you, Maxine and the officer of the Feds."

He nodded.

Later on, when the little Kate was asleep in her bed, they sat both at the couch with a cup of coffee.

"How did you came here?", he asked her.

"Initially I was hidden in Adelaide. I had to give evidence on the trial of Oakes. Normally he had to expect that I was dead because he had knocked me down and he had left me unconsciously in a burning boat. It was weird, he didn't seem to be impressed that I was still alive. Of course he got convicted. Then happened something very strange. When I left the court someone shot upon me. Luckily for me there was too much people around me otherwise I was killed. Unfortunately the man next to me took a bullet in his chest and I got one in my upper arm, a flesh wound, but it was one and I went back again in such a stupid hospital. Now with a guard in front of my door. I've been thinking about this for quite some time about the fact how that someone was waiting for me outside to shoot me. They must have known that I was still alive and that meant that there was or is a leak in the system of the Feds. Anyhow, two days later, in the middle of the night, the same Feds officer stood next to my bed. He woke me up and said 'Listen Kate, you're Helen Porter now and you're going to disappear to the other end of the world. Kate McGregor has died from a complication during the surgery'. I was baffled. He had some cloths for me. I still remember them, a jeans, a t-shirt and a pair of sneakers. After I was dressed we left the hospital via the service entrance and an anonymous car brought us to the airport. In the trunk of the car was a suitcase with more clothes and toilet articles for me. I still have some of them in my wardrobe. He said goodbye and I left for Heathrow in the UK. There I was welcomed by a nice woman. We stayed two days in London while she briefed me on what I had to know about Helen Porter, what I was going to do and where I was going to. I've got a house, a budget as well and another nationality! I really don't know how they fixed it that quick, and before I knew I stood in Ypres! I stayed a couple of days in a hotel while I could buy furniture, tableware, utensils and lots of other things that you need in a house. Moreover I've got a desk job at the Commonwealth Grave Commission. That was not that suspiciously because many English people are working there.

I shortened my hair a bit and gave it a darker shade. Do you like it?", she said.

"Yeah, I'm already used to it.", he answered.

Helen continued, "There was one thing I was forbidden to do, that was looking for contact with Australia again. But one day I couldn't go any further and I called. That was I told you a few minutes ago.

"Pfft, quite a story!"

"Ka…", he grinned, "it will take time. Helen, when did you know that you were pregnant? I didn't know about it."

Helen shrugged. "You remember the day of our weekend with the thunderstorm and the fact we could express our relationship again? "

He nodded.

"We've made love that night and I'm almost sure it happened then. Weeks later I didn't feel well when I got up. I went to see a doctor who confirmed I was pregnant, but that afternoon we've had that meeting with the Commodore about the under cover operation. I really didn't dare to say that I was pregnant. That should have spoiled the whole operation. Moreover I wasn't aware that it was going to turn out that bad."

He squeezed her thigh. "Oh, honey, that's awful. So you had to experience the entire pregnancy and the childbirth all on your own?"

Helen shrugged again. "Yeah," she said faintly. "One of the many things I had to do alone. Bit by bit I've got used to it," she continued half and half embittered and beaten.

"Poor thing," he said and gave her a hug. "You had to tell me!"

"I told you, I didn't want to spoil the operation."

He grumbled and gave her another squeeze in her thigh. She responded by putting her hand on his.

"How's Cairns?", she asked him.

He could read in her eyes an urge desire to be back there.

He smiled. "Just like you remember. Nothing has changed. The same cafés, the same restaurants, the same shops."

Helen nodded while staring with a sad glance at blank at the coffee table . In her thoughts she was wandering through the city centre there.

"And the same warm climate", he added with a grin whereby she slapped him on his thigh.

"Naughty!", she mumbled.

She turned all of a sudden to him, "Mike, I was Captain Forbes on board, but what happened on the Hammersley? This question has been pursuing me all the time."

"Well, You'll never believe me but I've got Nikki back as XO", he said looking at her.

Kate widened her eyes, "Is it? Oh my god! That's awful! And I've never got the chance to meet her again! Crap!"

"Yeah, she has said almost the same. We followed you and we received info from your bosun, but then there were no messages anymore and I decided to take action. But at some point it was too late. Oakes had apparently discovered the undercover agents. Nikki leaded the boarding operation and they found the body of your bosun and they discovered that Oakes has taken you in hostage to escape to the coast. Nikki pursued the boat with a team but she was too late, they found only the debris of an exploded motor boat. The day after, Maxine told us that you had passed away. But for the Commodore it was a success and he wanted the maximum of interest. Besides the press communication, he organised a big funeral for the three dead sailors", Mike answered and looked carefully at Helen.

"Three?", Helen asked frowning.

"Able Seaman Lake, Swan, was shot by one of the Feds. A woman case, a real murder, but the Fed's and the Commodore shoved it under the rug."

Helen had slapped her hand to her mouth and stared in unbelief at Mike, "Swan dead? Oh my god, that was such a kind guy!"

A silence felt and Mike was happy that she didn't elaborate about the funeral;

"What are you doing actually there?", Helen asked again with a little voice.

He shrugged, "Due to the unforeseen fact that you 'died', I remained CO of the Hammersley until Nikki got enough experience to take over the boat. She's now Lieutenant-Commander and I've got my shore posting back."

"That's good for her", she said softly.

"And how are our friends doing?", Helen asked again .

He looked at her, not exactly knowing how to tell her without hurting. She felt his hesitation and looked at him also. Her eyes asked more than words

Well, what? Nothing bad I hope?

"They're fine. 2Dads is still the same rascal, RO is the nerd like you know but he became more open. Dutchy is still the buffer and Charge married Lani and Bird is busy with the medical program. She got promoted to Able Seaman. And Harpie has married a nurse from the hospital. That's it," he said opening his hands.

Helen leaned back at the couch, her eyes firmly closed, trying hard to hide her emotions.

"Why?", was the only thing she whispered.

He caressed her knee to comfort her.

"How's Nikki doing?", she asked him.

"She has thrown herself for 200% on the CO function. She fits good on Hammersley and she's loved by the crew", he replied

Mike shrugged, "She'll manage".

Helen looked at him trying to read his brain.

"Yep it is, but she still can't believe that you're dead. She doesn't accept it", Mike said.

"Oh God, poor thing, I wished that I could tell her", she replied sadly.

The silence in the room could be cut.

"Oh, yes, and Maxine has a new nick name!", he said to lighten the mood.

"Uh?"

"Hot-Max."

"Pardon?", Helen said scowling.

"Yep, Hot-Max", he said with a smirk.

"Wow! And how did she got that name?", Helen asked baffled.

"Hmm, … I think…. that it had to do with the way she was dressed one day", he said uninterested.

"Hmm, strange, but highly interesting!", Helen replied with an evil grin.

"You know probably exactly how it happened, not?", she asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Ah? Uh… no", he mumbled and he looked at his watch.

"Can … can you … stay here … tonight?", she asked tenderly when she saw his action.

"Uh, I wished that I could but I have to attend the ANZAC service at dawn at the New Buttes Cemetery. They'll pick me up at the hotel. I must be in uniform, you see."

Helen nodded, looking at her hands. "Yes, of course."

Suddenly she looked up at him. "Tomorrow night then?"

"Sure, I'll check out tomorrow afternoon," he replied to her.

"Oh darling, that's great!", she exclaimed and embraced him to give him a kiss.

"But I have to attend the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gat as well", he replied.

Kate shrugged. "That's no problem. The Menin Gate is just next door."

She sat back and looked confused to the couch. "Mike, … uh … did you … have you …?", she asked softly looking at him. It seemed to him that her eyes became darker then ever.

"No honey, I haven't. I'm still single. You? Did you have moved on?", he asked after he has taken her hand.

She shook her head firmly. "No," she said huskily.

He wrapped his arms around her and she did the same. For minutes they sat like that without saying anything. When they broke apart they sipped from their coffee.

"It got cold," Mike said dryly.

"Pour that away, there's enough in the jar," came her logical answer.

Helen stood upright and walked with the cup to the sink, but when she returned he noticed she was in tears.

He looked at her astonished. "Honey, what's the matter?"

"I … I don't know," she stammered. "I really don't know how we have to proceed!"

Helen buried her head in his chest and cried uncontrolled.

Mike hold her and has her cried out. After a while she calmed down.

"Katie, I love you," he said simply. Helen nodded and didn't make an effort to correct him about her name.

"I love you too Mike and that's just the problem. I can't go back and you have your job there," she said, but her voice broke by the last bit.

He sighed. "I know, but I don't know for the moment. It's not a-to-the-next-door situation, huh? "

He cupped her head with his two hands and looked in her eyes. "The fact is that I don't want to lose you for a third time."

Late that night Mike walked back under the Menin Gate to his hotel. He plopped on his bed and stared at the ceiling experiencing the entire day again.

Is this real? For sure I'm going to wake up with a huge headache. I have all of a sudden a family, but at the other end of the world. How do I to resolve this? How for God's sake?

To be continued