CH 46
When it was lunch time every one help them selves. Kate and mike made sure kids got theirs and sitting down at a table with there friends and with there drinks. Then Mike and Kate went to get there lunch before sitting down at a table after mike pick up couple of cans of drink then join Kate at a table with parents who brought there kids with them since they were invited to the party.
"Kate you and mike know each other habits very well" One women said
"thanks you" Kate said
"what do you mean" mike asked
"I watch you two put food on your own plate then on the other with out asking each other."
"Oh that, we use to doing it since we both got the same taste in foods and some time if Mike doesn't want sustain food he move his plate away so I know"
"Same with Kate here" Mike said
"Really, I've never seen any couple do what you two do"
"Family use to us doing it" Mike said
"Ok" they talk about other things till Connor ran over to them
"mummy finish" Kate turn to connor and smile
"Did you eat all of what on your plate"
"Yes mummy" then Patrick, Grace and Mary ran over with there plates empty
"I'm prod of you kids I suppose you want some more"
"Please" Kids said at once
"Ok"
Kate stood up and follow kids over to where the food is, she ask them what they want and watch them put the food on there plates then they return back to there table then Kate return back to her table to finish her lunch.
When every one finish eating, the kids return back to what they were doing before while Kate help her sister in laws clean up and return with more drinks for every one.
Hour later Jo, Michele, Kayla and Jane walk out side carrying birthday cakes while every one sand the song. When the cakes were put on the long trestle table in front of them. They lit the candles then step out of the way so people could take photos of the kids with there birthday cake. When every one stop singing
"Close your eyes and make a wish then blow out your candles" Kate said to them since she and Mike were standing behind them.
They did what Kate ask them to do then they blew out the candles. As they open there eyes. Every one cheer as they clap. Then Jo and Michele step ford after number of photos was taken to they could start cutting up the cake for every one to eat.
While that was happening, the kids open there presents from every one which they all loved. Every one got a piece of the birthday cake which they all loved. After kids had there cake they return back to playing games, even got some of the parents including Mike and Kate involve which they enjoyed.
The ones with the kids left late that afternoon after a long day and they needed to get home. Mike and Kate thank them for coming before they left. Later that night they all had left overs for dinner since the fridge and benches were still full of food.
After dinner mike and Kate put there kids to bed since they were tired after a long busy day. Mike read a bed time story which he only read two pages when he notice that the kids were sound asleep. So he put the book back on the draws as he stood up and turn off the lamp before leaving the room closing the door. He return back down stairs and into the living room where he sat down next to Kate putting his arm around her shoulders as she snuggled up to his side.
"Kids sleep already" Alice asked
"Yes all that running around tired them out"
"Ok. Can you tell us what happen we through you were out on patrol"
"We hit a ghost net during the night and done some damage to the pillars so we had to be tow in. Cause of the damages Hammersley in dry dock for a week"
"so you spending here then" Paul asked
"Yes I know I haven't seen kids and Kate much in the past few months so at lest I got a few days, it better than nothing"
"True son" Kate turn to Mike
"mike any word on the investigation"
"Yes, I've spoken to Steve yesterday, he heard from fleet command. They did check out who change the transferred orders, it came from a lieutenant commander at fleet command, but... it wasn't him that change the orders"
"What do you mean it wasn't the lieutenant commander?" Kate asked
"From the investigation the transferred changes happen on the twenty seventh of December last year. At that time the lieutenant commander was at Melbourne over Christmas new year, he best man at his brother wedding. It turn out some one from fleet command knew his pass word and use it to gain access to transferred requests. Since the investigations came to a dead end there they check out every one from fleet command who serve or know lieutenant Goodwin, lieutenant Walker or you Kate. There was no connection and none of the staff at fleet command have ever work with any of them."
"another dead end" Kate said
"Yes who ever is was cover there tracks well" mike said
"So what happens now"
"Your back on the list to Cairns and sustain members from fleet command and Steve will have copies of all transferred requests to Cairns just in case who ever it was try again"
"Ok that a good idea" they all talk for the next couple of hours before going to bed since they were all tied after a long busy day.
The next day Mike sisters and Family left for there own homes since they got work in the morning and kids got school or day care. Mike and Kate took there kids to the park for the day giving Paul and Alice a chance to relax for the day.
When they return back to the house that night. Kids were tired after a long day having fun with there parents. After kids were in bed sleeping. Mike and Kate spent couple of hours talking to Paul and Alice before going to bed them selves.
The next morning every one was up early the kids were getting excited of going to school and looking ford to seeing there friends. Kate took photos of kids in there clothes before they all got into the two wagons.
Paul and Alice was going with them since they will be the ones dropping off and picking kids up from school. When they arrived at the school. They all got out, Kate made sure that they got there school bags with them before they walk into the school and over to where the office is. The Secretary saw them walking towards her so she stood up as they walk into her office part.
"Hello can I help you" She asked
"I'm Mike Flynn, this is my wife Kate McGregor. These are our kids Connor, Patrick, Grace and Mary. They are in roll to start school today"
"Ah yes the Flynn quads, we need you to fill out the paper work"
"sure" the Secretary walk over to the filing cabin and open the one with the letter 'F' She look through them then pull out four files then she walk over and pass them to Mike then pick up two pens and pass one to mike and the other to Kate
"We need some details from you both"
"That fine" Kate said.
Mike pass two files to Kate they open them and lay them on the desk in front of them. They fill out the papers then pass them to each other with out saying a word then pass them back. They look over the papers once more before closing the files and passing them back to the Secretary who look at Kate and Mike
"Is there some thing wrong?" Kate asked
"Ah, I notice the way you pass the papers to each other with out talking or even ask each other question. Like you know what you were doing" Paul and Alice grin knowing what Mike and Kate are like.
"We use to it doing paper work together with out asking questions but some times we do ask which is rear" Mike said
"We both in the navy" Kate said
"Ah so you both station here?"
"no, I'm up in Cairns and Kate in Perth"
"I'm waiting for opening up in Cairns" Kate said
"Ok" she open each of the files and read the details that was filled out.
"Mr Flynn I notice you got Paul and Alice down as list of contacts" she look up at mike
"Yes this is Paul and Alice Flynn, they my parents. They been raising our kids since both Kate and I are out on patrol and hardly home"
"Hi, nice to meet you both" they shook hands
"You to ma'am" Paul said.
The Secretary look at all the files and made notes in each of them. Then she put them in the in box just as Mike and Kate put the pens back in it holder.
"come with me and I'll show you all to room for first year kids go to"
She walk around her desk and out the door. Mike and the others follow her the way they came. Kate ask the Secretary number of questions till they stop at a door. The Secretary open the door and walk in then Mike and the others follow into the class room where they saw kids at there desk. A young women walk over to them
"Miss Jane Taylor, this is Mike Flynn, his wife Kate McGregor. Paul and Alice Flynn, Mike parents"
"hi nice to meet you" she said shaking there hands.
"You to ma'am" Mike said.
"Your children names"
"I'm connor Miss Taylor"
"I'm Patrick Miss Taylor"
"I'm Grace Miss Taylor"
"I'm Mary Miss Taylor" they shook her hand
"Hello and welcome. Looking ford to your first day" she asked while smiling
"Yes ma'am" they all said making Mike, Kate, Paul and Alice grin. Miss Taylor raise her eye browns at them then to the parents
"We navy ma'am and they grown up to be polite" Kate said
"Ah, I under stand" then she look around the room then to the kids
"come on I'll show you where you can put your school bags and which ones your desk"
The kids follow Miss Taylor over to where the kids put there bags then she show them to there desks where kids interduce them selves to the ones close by. Then they started talking to here new class mates while Miss Taylor walk up to her desk and open a draw and pulled out a piece of paper then close the draw and walk over to Mike passing him a sheet of paper
"You children will need these items" Mike look at the list then pass it to Kate
"Miss Taylor, our children have already got these, they in there school bags" Kate said passing back the paper
"Really"
"Yes ma'am Alice here was given a sheet last month when she in roll our children for us" Kate said
"Oh, ok thank you for telling me"
"Is there any questions you would like to ask us before we go" Mike asked
"No, that was all. Is there any questions you would like to ask"
"No. But my parents will be picking up and dropping off our kids from now on but there might be some days where Kate or I will do it"
"You live with your parents"
"Only when we visit. We both in the navy and we are away weeks at a time on patrol. Kate station in Perth and I'm in Cairns" Miss Taylor was shock with what mike said
"Really why are you both station together?"
"We waiting for Kate to transferred to Cairns but there no opening at the moment and I can't transferred since I'm captain on a patrol boat for another eighteen months"
"that must be hard on your marriage"
"We manage so far" Kate said
"We better go and let you return to your class" mike said
"It nice to meet you both" they shook hands
"You to" Mike said.
Paul, Alice, Mike and Kate wave to there kids which they did in return before walking out of the class room with the Secretary. Then they went there separate ways. Alice and Paul return home while Mike and Kate spent the day shopping then went to pick there kids up after school and headed back to Mike parent place.
On the way home kids took turns in telling Mike and Kate about what they did at school. When they arrived at the house and kids got out of the wagon with there bags, they ran into the house looking for there grand parents.
"At least we know that our kids enjoy there first day of school" Kate said
"Yes they did, it going to be hard for us isn't Kate"
"Yes it is mike, but we can do it"
"I know"
They walk in side with bags in hand as they heard there kids telling Paul and Alice about how there first day went and what they did.
The next morning mike and Kate took there kids to school in the morning. When they were out of Kate wagon Mike and Kate gave them a hug and kiss.
"We will see you kids in few weeks ok" mike said
"Ok daddy I'll miss you" Mary said as she gave him a hug
"I'll miss you also sweetie"
"I'll miss you kids also" Kate said.
Mike and Kate watch there kids run towards there class room door. They stop and turn around to wave to Mike and Kate which they did in return. Then the kids turn around and walk in side there class room. Mike and Kate got back in Kate wagon, Mike drove them back to his parents place.
"Are you ok Kate?"
"It going to be hard for all of us"
"Yes I know Kate, we can do it"
"I hope so Mike" Few hours later Mike flew back to Cairns while Kate flew back to Perth.
The next day Hammersley left for a six week patrol with a new XO. Kate spent her extra week doing some site seeing and shopping, she sent kids clothes to Paul and Alice knowing that her kids would love them.
Paul and Alice keep Mike and Kate up to date on how the kids are doing at school which made them happy.
Over the next three months Mike and Kate was able to spend few days with the kids but not with each other cause when Mike was in Sydney, Kate was out on patrol. So they haven't been able to see each other once in that time.
The weekend of Connor one hundredth birthday Every one except for Kate was in Brisbane. Mike manage to received a text message from Kate before he boarded the plane from Cairns to Brisbane telling him that the ship lost power and it would take about twelve hours to get it back on line and they are a day away from port.
Mike was thinking about Kate while on the plane, he is please that she manage to text him knowing that he would be worried about her. When Mike arrived in Brisbane, he took a taxi to hotel where his parents and kids are staying at. He looking ford to seeing his and Kate Kids.
He miss them a lot and looking ford to seeing them again. When he arrived at the hotel it was almost seven o'clock at night. So he ordered room service soon as he was in his room.
He wanted to go and see his kids but knew that they would be in bed sleeping soon since they would of gone from school to home then to the air port. Plus since it been a long tiring twenty four hours with only three hours sleep, mike went to bed after he had his dinner. Soon as his head hit the pillow he was sound asleep.
The next morning Mike walk down to the breakfast buffer where he spotted his parents and kids. They just started eating breakfast. So he walk over to the table
"Morning" Mike said smiling
"Daddy" Kids said.
"mike"
Paul and Alice said at the same time as they stood up to give him a hug while kids got off there chairs and ran around the table to give him a hug which he did in return.
"I miss you daddy" connor said
"I miss you, all of you" mike said as he gave the others a hug
"where mummy" Grace asked
"I'll tell you all after I got my breakfast, now get back up to the table" Kids got back up to the table while he look at his parents
"Is every thing alright mike"
"Yeah" He turn and walk over to where the plate are.
Paul and Alice look at back of mike then to each other "I hope every thing ok" Alice asked
"Same here" they sat down again and started eating breakfast.
When Mike walk over to the table he got plate in one hand and cup of coffee in another. When he sat down he took a sip of his coffee.
"Mike what wrong" Paul asked
"Kate can't make it to grand dad birthday today"
"what, why not?"
"I received a text message from her last night. HMAS Toowoomba lost power, it would take about twelve hours to get it fix and another ten to twelve hours before it back in Perth"
"Bad timing?" Paul said
"Yes dad it is, she was so looking ford to this weekend"
"I bet she was mike" Alice said. They talk while enjoying there breakfast.
After wards they went down to park not far from the hotel where kids couple play till it was time to leave to go to the rest home where they meeting up with the rest of the family.
When they arrived at the rest home in taxi van. They all got out and walk inside. They follow the voices down into the large dinning area where every one was meeting up and having finger lunch since the family put money together to give to the staff so they could buy the food and drinks for the day.
When mike and his family walk into the room it was full of people. They look around and spotted couple of Mike sisters so Mike walk over to them with the family in tow.
"Jo" she turn around and was shock to see Mike there
"mike" she said then she gave him a hug. Then he hug Michele while Jo hug the rest of the family then Michele did
"where Kate"
"she can't make it, the ship she on is stuck out at sea with problems and won't be back till late tonight or tomorrow morning"
"what, grand dad looking ford to seeing you both and kids"
"I know and we know he would under stand"
"True" they talk for a few minutes then other family showed up to talk to mike and the family.
Mike manage to see where Connor is and walk over to him "hi grand dad"
"mike" Connor said smiling as he stood up and gave mike a hug then he look around
"where Kate"
"she stuck on Toowoomba grand dad they got power problems and won't be back in Perth till tonight or tomorrow"
"Oh I was looking ford to seeing her again"
"I know you are grand dad" Connor then sat down when he saw who behind Mike
"Oh my...Mike they gown up so much" Mike turn to see kids behind him
"Yes they are, go on kids give your grand pa a hug" mike said. Kids step ford to give Connor a hug
"Happy birthday Grand pa" Kids said at the same time
"thank you kids, so I hear you are in school now" they all nodded
"what is it like in school"
"It great" connor said
"We got heaps of friends" Grace said. Mike listen as connor talk to the kids.