CH 51
In Sydney Pete was spending Christmas with his mum. He was in the kitchen finish doing the breakfast dishes while listening to Christmas music while thinking about Nikki and Nick. He was loss in through till he heard behind him
"Peter are you ok" He turn and smile to his mum
"Yes mum just thinking"
"About what" Peter hung the tea towel up since he finish the dishes
"come with me mum there some thing I need to tell you"
"Ok" they walk into the living room and his mum sat down
"I'll be back" then he walk out of the room. His mum was wondering what Pete wanted to talk to her about.
When he return he sat next to her. "mum remember when I was telling you in my letters about seven eight years ago about my girl friend Nikki"
"Yes and when you call me I can tell you are happy and in love with her and you said that one day I'll meet her. But some thing happen you got letters you send to her return back to you"
"Yes that right" he put the items down next to him then he turn and held onto her hands.
"Mum remember me tell you about my crew mates" He saw her smile
"yes"
"Remember me telling you about Nav"
"Yes, you in love with her" she said smiling
"Yes I am, we both know the rules"
"Dose she know you got feeling for you"
"Yes... mum Nav her name is... Nikki" Pete saw the shock look on her face
"the same one you were seeing when you were in Perth?"
"Yes mum we talk about what happen back when I was sent to Iran... Mum she didn't send the letters back to me it was the navy. She sent me letters only to have them return back to her as well. It happen to number of crew members"
"Oh Pete, after six seven years you both found each other" she said smiling
"yes mum. There more"
"what do you mean more" He turn around and pick up two items and turn to his mum.
"when I was over in Iran I was paying this off" he open the box revealing the engagement ring
"Oh Pete that must of cost a lot of money"
"It did mum" she look up at him
"I was planing on purposing to Nikki when I return from my tour" she thought about what Pete said then look at the ring then back up at him
"You keep it after all this time?"
"Yes mum. Nikki and I we getting to know each other again, falling in love after all those years apart. Mum she still feels the same way I do. Her father try to set her up with couple of officers. It didn't work cause she was still in love with me"
"she didn't move on?"
"no there another reason why she didn't move on mum" then he pass her the wrap up gift
"This is why" She look at Pete then the gift. So she unwrap it and flip it over it was frame photograph.
"Is this Nikki" She asked
"Yes mum that her"
"Who that" she pointed in the photo.
"that Nichols Peter Caetano. Nick as Nikki calls him"
"He looks a bit like you when you were his age" then her eyes widen as she look up at Pete
"Yes mum his my son, your grand son, he seven years old"
"Grand son, I'm a grand mother"
"Yes mum...but nick doesn't know that I'm his father."
"what, why?"
"Nikki and I talk about that, she wanted for Nick and me to get to know each other first before we tell him together and Nikki got on his birth certificate father unknown cause there was complications after she gave birth to him"
"what sort of complications?"
"Nikki had allergic reaction to medication that the doctors gave her, she was in a coma for three days" His mum was shock
"Oh my, what about her family?"
"they were there for her. One of her brothers Tom and his wife Heidi they looking after Nick while we are out on patrol. Tom use to be in the navy till a car accident partly cripple him. He had no choice but to leave the navy on medical grounds"
"how bad?"
"He got pins in both legs, both hips and knee replacement, rod in his back. He can stand up and walk with help with crunches, that short distances. Any long he uses wheel chair. Heidi his wife is his full care giver"
"Poor guy, have they got any kids?" Pete smile
"Yes, three two boys and a girl"
"Pete I would love to meet Nikki and Nick"
"I'll talk to Nikki about it when I return back to cairns"
"You know You given me the best Christmas present ever" she said smiling as she cup his face
"I have"
"Yes, a family Peter, you being a father, it a amazing feeling isn't it" Pete smile
"Yes mum it is"
"Tell me about nick"
"Love to mum" then there was a knock on the door
"Are you expecting guests mum?" Pete asked as he stood up
"No" Peter walk to the front door where he saw a shadow behind the frosted glass door.
He unlock it and open it to be shock to see who standing on his mother porch
"surprise"
"Nikki" Pete said as she step ford to give him a kiss
"surprise" Nick said yelling as he jump from behind Nikki
"nick" Pete said when he saw his son there grinning.
Then he look at Nikki "you said you were spending Christmas with family" she put her hands on to Pete face
"I am spending it with family Pete, you. Mum and dad under stands so that is why we are here"
"Oh Nikki" he pulled her into his arms for a hug and kiss
"We brought food" Nikki said.
Pete saw two bags of food "wow, come in" Nikki pick up the two bags which Pete took them out of her hands
"come in" Pete let them into the house closing the door behind him
"follow me" they follow Pete into the living room
"We got guests mum" Pete said when he walk into the living room. His mother stood up when Nikki and Nick walk into the room.
"Nikki, nick this is my mum Vicky Tomaszewski. Mum this is Nikki Cateano and her son Nick"
"It a pleaser to meet you Mrs Tomaszewski" Nikki said as she step ford to shake her hand only to be shock when Vicky pulled her into a hug
"Call me Vicky or mum" when they pulled back, Nikki look confuse then she turn to Pete who was smiling
"she knows, I told her"
"ok" then she turn to Vicky
"Please sit Nikki, tell me about nick"
"sure" they sat down
"I'll take care of these" Pete said showing the two bags
"Ok Pete, oh there cheese cake in one of them" Pete smile
"you made it"
"Yes at mum and dad's last night"
"I can't wait to have a slice" Nikki laugh
"I know you can't"
"come on nick you can help me put things away"
"ok" Nikki and Vicky watch them walk out of the room while talking.
Nikki turn to Vicky. "Pete told me about you and Nick just before you arrived. I can see how happy he is"
"I know he happy, shock but happy"
"He told me about Nick. I can see the resemblance been Nick and Peter"
"I can as well. Nick is so much like Pete in so many ways. I'm please Pete taken father hood so well"
"I bet he has, so tell me about your self and about Nick"
"sure, so long as you can tell me some stories about Pete" Vicky laugh
"I'll do more than that, I'll bring out photo album" Nikki grin
"I can't hardly wait to see what Pete look like when he was little"
"He looks like Nick" Nikki raise her eye brows
"Really"
"Yes" Vicky and Nikki talk while nick and Pete took care of the food and drinks which was in the bags.
"Nikki brought all of this" Pete asked
"Yeah she said she knows how much you can eat...a lot" Pete laugh
"yes well I do exercise a lot to work it off"
"that what mum said"
"While your mum talking to my mum, how about you help me get lunch on"
"sure"
"ok so tell me what did you get for Christmas"
nick and Pete talk while getting lunch on, then Pete open bottle of wine which he notice it non alcohol. He pour it into three wine glasses and put them on the tray while nick open packet of chips and put it in the bowl that Pete got out for him.
Then he put it on the tray. Then he open the ready made dip and put that on tray, then he open the three packets of different nuts and put them into bowls and put them on the tray. By then Pete pour the wine and got the glasses on the tray and can of coke that Nikki brought as well
Pete pick up the tray "Lets go into the living room" Pete said
"ok" Nick said.
They walk out of the kitchen and into the living room where they heard laughter "Hey what so funny" Pete asked when he walk in and put the tray on the table
"your mum told me a story about you when you were nick age" Pete look at his mum in shock
"mum you didn't"
"Yes I did I told her about the time you were trying to sing while having your bath and I walk in with the video camera" She said smiling
"did you have to tell Nikki that one"
"she just did, what was the song" Nikki asked while smiling
"In the navy" Nikki burst out laughing.
"thanks a lot mum" He pick up two wine glasses and pass them to Nikki and his mum while nick pick up his open can of coke. Then Pete pick up his wine glass
"Pete you know I can't have this"
"It non alcoholic mum Nikki brought it" she turn to Nikki
"thank you"
"Pete told me about your cancer"
"I thought he would" then she saw what else was on the tray
"Nuts, chip, dip"
"It is Christmas mum"
"Yes it is. It a shame your sisters aren't here today"
"I know at least I'm here"
"I know that Peter"
Pete walk around and sat next to Nikki as they talk and laugh as Vicky told Nikki some more funny stories about Pete which has both Nikki and nick laughing. Nick and Nikki spent the whole day with Pete and his mum.
After lunch Vicky went to have a lie down since she was feeling tired so Pete, Nick and Nikki went for a walk while Vicky got some rest. Pete and Nikki held onto each other hands as they walk down to the park with nick running in front of them.
"Pete are you ok"
"Mum had more tests done couple days ago, she waiting for the results"
"Is the chemo helping her"
"Some but not much, she get tired easy. She told me it not good and doctors said that that this might be her last Christmas"
"Oh Pete" they stop so she turn and pull him into her arms as he cried
"I can't lose her not now"
"I know, Pete" When they pulled apart she look at him
"We will make this the best Christmas for her, some thing that she will remember"
"thanks Nikki" she kiss Pete
"come on how far away is the park" Pete smile
"not far" they turn and walk towards the park with there arms around each other as they saw there son not far ahead of them.
When they reach the park the three of them enjoyed them selves for couple of hours before returning back to Pete mum house.
When Vicky got up from her nap she went to the loo then she went looking for Pete. When she saw him he was sitting up on the couch on angle with Nikki between his legs laying against his chest. She could see Nick on the other end of the couch with his legs cross as he leans back. She could hear the TV going so they must be watching a movie.
She look at Pete to see him looking at her, he smile at her which she did in return "enjoy your nap mum"
"Yes I did thanks" she walk in and sat down in her new lazy boy chair that Pete got her for her birthday a year before.
"what are you watching?"
"the polar Express" Pete said
"ok, what did you three do this afternoon?"
"Walk down to the park for couple of hours" Pete said
"Did you have fun"
"Yes we did mum, want a drink"
"I can get it"
"Let me, Nikki can you get up please"
"I'm comfortable"
"so am I but I need to pee" Nikki giggle as she got up and turn to Pete as he got up
"Well you don't want to make a mess on your mother couch" she said grinning
"no and on you skirt" he said grinning as he walk out of the living room
"Very funny Pete for that I would like a glass of wine if there any left"
"Yes ma'am" Nikki then sat down again and look at Vicky who grinning.
"do you like telling Pete what to do?"
"Only when we are in uniform, some times I do it when I'm at his place or he at mine. But then we do it we find the funny side to it like just now"
"Ok, how long are you staying with your family for?"
"till the third of next month then return back to Cairns. I know that Pete got to return on the twenty ninth since he on duty watch on Hammersley"
"He told me, he wanted to spend new years with me"
"nick and I could spend it with you if you like"
"what about your own family"
"they under stand" They turn to see the movie just finish.
Nikki and Vicky talk for couple of minutes when Pete walk in carrying a tray in his hands. He put it down on the coffee table then pick up the drinks and pass them to his mum, Nikki and nick then he pick his up before sitting down next to Nikki.
"Talking about me again where you" Pete asked while looking at Nikki then to his mum
"Yes we were" Vicky said smiling
"Are you trying to give Nick some bad ideas mum"
"no"
"i hope not"
"Pete relax." He turn to Nikki
"Why, mum telling you stories about me"
"Yes, don't worry it all good stuff"
"now I'm worried" Nikki laugh
"don't be" then her cell phone rings. So she got it out of her pocket to see who it is
"It mum" then she answer it
"hi mum... yes we just relaxing... are you sure... who idea was it... ok I'll ask" then she move phone away as she look at Pete
"mum and dad invited you and Vicky around for dinner tonight"
"I'm still full from lunch" Vicky said
"it barbeque with cold meat and salads. Plus mum said she would like to meet you Vicky" Pete turn to his mum
"Are you feeling up to it mum" Vicky smile
"Tell your mum I accept her invite" Nikki turn to Pete
"Tell you mum we will be there ask her what time dinner?"
"Seven o'clock, it happens every year"
"sure ask her is there any thing we can bring"
"no need mum buys enough food for two patrol boats" Pete laugh then she put phone back her her ear
"mum still there... you heard... well it true mum... yes they both accept... mum no, your not... mum... ok see you when we arrive... ok" then she hung up as she groan
"what wrong mum" nick asked
"your grand mother, she gone looking for photo albums"
"of you when you were little, I can't wait to see them" Pete said smiling
"that what I'm worried about"
"don't worry about it, it the stories that interesting" Pete said grinning
"If you share any thing with the crew"
"they would be asking how did I know. You know me better than that"
"True"
Hour later they arrived at Nikki parent place since she was using there car to go to Vicky place. When Nikki pulled up in the drive way Pete and Vicky could see other cars either in the drive way or out front. They got out when they could hear laughter and music coming from the back of the house. Pete and Vicky follow Nikki and Nick around the back of the house to see people every where.
"Hey we made it"
"Hey come and have a drink. Pete it good to see you again"
"you to Barry" they shook hands then hug.
"Every one this is Vicky, Pete mum, Vicky this is my crazy family. This is Andrew my dad, Nichole my mum, Barry, his wife, Eve. James, his wife Christine, Dave, his wife Donna and Tom and Heidi. And these are off my nieces and nephews"
"hi" Vicky said
"Here Vicky sit down here, it good to meet you"
"you to Nichole" Vicky sat down in a chair
"would you like a drink"
"Juice would be fine thank"
"ok, Pete what would you have?"
"Same as me mum, I'll get it"
Nikki said as she walk over to the chilli bin to get two bottles of beer out then walk over to where Pete sat down. She pass him the bottle before sitting on his lap while Nichole went and got Vicky orange juice.