Chapter 25
Flashback
They stopped at Dylan's. "Just a moment!", he grinned and got out of the car. Kate unlaced her boots to relieve her feet and slumped in the car seat with a happy smile on her lips, recalling the day's events. Moments later, he was back. He put a sports bag in the trunk and got back behind the wheel. He smiled broadly at her, "Ready!"
He hit the road again and stopped in Kate's driveway. They entered and Kate turned to him. "No need to show you around the house. Make yourself comfortable. Meanwhile I'll have a shower", she said, smiling.
"Fine, I'll have a beer", he replied, pointing to the kitchen with his thumb. After having her shower Kate put on a short denim dress, leaving the first two and the last two buttons undone. When she came down the staircase, he hissed, "Woow! You're gorgeous and sexy!".
Dylan clasped her in his arms and kissed her passionately. They broke apart and he smiled at her, "I'll also test your shower".
After the shower, he headed for the kitchen and stopped in the doorway. Smiling he watched her busy preparing the poultry, in her denim dress, barefoot humming a song.
He went up to her, took her in his arms from behind and kissed her neck. "You're beautiful", he whispered in her ear while caressing her body. Kate moaned, closed her eyes and tilted her head to one side so he could continue.
"Don't stop", she murmured.
When he stopped, Kate turned around in his arms and they kissed again while he caressed her back.
"Let's eat first and then we'll have plenty of time for another game and don't forget my neck!", she whispered in his ear with a cheeky smile.
End of Flashback
"Mum?"
"Earth to Mum?", Maddie asked, waving her hand in front of Kate's face.
"Huh?", she mumbled straightening her back.
"You were a million miles away. Where were you?"
"Aah, uh, well uh….I was thinking about the proposal at the top of the hill", Kate grinned.
"How did Aunt Max take it when she found out about you and Dad?"
"She didn't find out, I told her", Kate said.
"We had to sail the next day in the late afternoon. It was also my first day back as CO. In the morning I went to Navcom to see her and to get our orders."
"Did your next patrol finally go smoothly?", Maddie asked.
"Yes, I was lucky".
Flashback
Kate knocked on the doorframe of Maxine's office.
"Ah Kate! I'm happy to see you up and about again!", Maxine greeted her joyously.
"Thanks Max. Really can't wait to sail again", Kate said, sitting down.
She put her hands in her lap, the hand with the ring under the other.
"Sure, knowing you. I can believe that. It will be Torres Strait. A classic task and there are no particular warnings", she said.
"Okay. Max, uh, there's something I want to tell you", Kate said.
Maxine noticed a different tone in her voice, "Yes?"
"Dylan proposed and I said yes", she simply said, showing her ring.
"Ooh Kate! That's great! I'm really happy for you! We need to celebrate that. Do you have time for lunch ?", asked Maxine.
"Absolutely, we don't leave until late afternoon, so.", said Kate.
Maxine sighed, "Yes, but there's something else. One of you can no longer stay on the ship. The rules, you know."
Kate nodded, "I know. What do you suggest?"
"I'm not making you leave the ship. Dylan is the only logical choice. Moreover, he proved he had the skills of a lieutenant and that he could lead a ship. I'm going to put him through some training. When he returns, I'll appoint him as executive officer on the Launceston. Their schedule more or less coincides with yours", she said.
Kate nodded, "Yes, that was to be expected. Can I get another navigator?".
"Hmm, unfortunately not. Maybe in a few months when the new officers have completed the training. So far you'll have to get by, but Nikki is a good one. So, everything will be fine", Maxine said.
Kate nodded, "Okay, after all it's a very good solution. What do you think of Charlie's?"
"Great idea! But this time, no goat cheese sandwich for me. I'll have one with chicken and curry", said Maxine, deadpan.
"Good choice Max. It certainly won't stain!", Kate replied with a touch of irony but Maxine didn't notice.
The big day had arrived, she was heading back to sea. She headed for her ship, anxious to be aboard again, but also a bit annoyed to have to tell Dylan that he had to leave the ship. He got a promotion and a higher function, but nevertheless, leaving a good team is never pleasant. She saluted the ensign as she boarded and headed for her cabin. She had just put down her briefcase and seabag when there was a knock at the door.
She had barely said "Come in" that the door swung open and Nikki almost tumble inside.
"Kate! I'm so happy you're back! How are you?", she asked with a radiant smile.
"Well, honestly? I can't wait to start again. It really took too long. I hate hospitals".
Nikki's attention was caught by something shining on her finger. She shamelessly grabbed her hand and admired the ring set with a diamond. "Woow! Kat, does that mean …..?", she asked, looking eagerly at Kate.
Kate smiled broadly, "Yes, Dylan proposed".
Nikki let go of Kate's hand and gave her friend a squeeze, "Oh I'm so happy for you!"
"Oi, you're going to take me back to the hospital", Kate muttered.
Nikki took a step back and wiped her eyes, "Jeez Kat, I'm close to tears".
She turned around, poked her head out into the hallway and yelled, "Pete! Do you know what? Dylan proposed!"
Kate led her back inside, "Have you gone mad? Now the whole ship knows", she grumbled.
Before Nikki could answer, Pete and Dylan appeared in the doorway.
"Do we have a new kind of speaker system?", Dylan asked deadpan.
"Is it true?", Pete asked.
Kate raised her hand showing the ring, "I can't deny it".
"Come here!", Pete said and hugged her. Then, he turned around and shook Dylan's hand, "Congratulations mate, you've found the best woman in the Navy".
Nikki gave him a whack on the back, "Hey, what about me? I thought I was me. That's what you told me", she said indignantly.
"Nik, you're not the best woman in the Navy, but the most special", Pete grinned at her.
"Ahum, thank you for the confession, but now we have a ship to sail", Kate said looking around.
Almost immediately, Bomber, Charge and RO poked their heads inside.
"Is there anything we should know?", asked Rebecca. She noticed the ring on Kate's finger and looked at her with a radiant smile, "Boss, you're engaged! And who's the lucky one?"
"Well, I think that's me", Dylan said laconically.
"Ooh! Congratulations!", she said, embracing the two lovebirds, forgetting the hierarchy.
She turned to Kate, "We're going to celebrate. I still have a secret stock for special occasions!"
She saw RO in the doorway and said smiling, "You know what you have to do now, Rob!"
Kate shook her head, "Okay, thank you for confession number two, but now we really have to get this ship sailing! Carry on guys! Except you Dylan", she said, making movements with her hands to chase them out.
He waited for the last one to leave and closed the door.
"Dylan, I told Max about our relationship and she was happy for us", she said.
"But? Because there's a but, right?", he asked.
She grimaced, "Yeah, there is one. We can't stay together aboard because of the no-fraternisation rules", she said, looking at him.
He spread his big hands out, "Kate, don't worry. That was to be expected, huh?".
She shrugged her shoulders, "Yeah, I know, but it's never pleasant to tell".
He stroked her cheek, "Hey, no worries. Everything will be fine", he said and she smiled at him.
"There's good news too", Kate continued.
"Ah?"
"You're going to be promoted and you'll undergo an advanced training. When you return, you'll be the executive officer aboard the Launceston".
He smiled, "Well, I just told you. Everything will be fine!'.
When she wanted to answer, they heard an announcement over the loudspeaker, "CO and navigator are requested on the bridge!"
Kate smiled, "Nikki can sometimes be a real pain in the ass. Come let's go before she comes down to get us".
End of Flashback
"So your engagement was therefore known more quicky by the crew than by conventional service announcements", Maddie concluded.
"Yeah", Kate replied with a grimace and she looked at the clock on the wall, "Right, I've a lot to do today, so I better get started if I want to achieve something", she said as she stood up.
They were clearing the table when Kate's smartphone rang. She rushed to the living room where she had placed it on the table.
"Kate McGregor speaking".
"Good morning, ma'am. This is Lieutenant Jackson speaking. We just received a message from Hammersley. They cut short their patrol to return to base due to engine problems".
Kate sighed, "Okay and did they mention when they would be returning to base?"
"Tomorrow morning, if there are no other defects", said the lieutenant.
"Okay, thank you for letting me know", she said and ended the call.
She pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Any trouble?", Maddie asked.
Kate sighed again. "You can say that. Hammersley has another technical defect. They are returning to base".
"Oh, jolly good! Then I can see Dad", she said.
"I don't know if that's really jolly good", Kate grumbled.
"What do you mean?"
Kate waved her hand, "Never mind, dear, never mind".
"Now that we're talking about work, you have a meeting with your CO tomorrow at 10 o'clock", she said.
"Ah! Good! I look forward to start sailing", she said.
During the afternoon, Maddie entered her parents' bedroom where Kate was putting away freshly washed clothes in the wardrobe.
"Mum, do I need all my uniforms aboard to leave tomorrow?"
"No dear. It's a patrol boat, not a fashion show. Your official whites, just in case, the daily uniform and, of course, the DPNU", Kate said.
"Uh-hu", Maddie mumbled, leaning against the doorframe.
"Mum, how did you accede to Aunt Max's chair? I think you never told me", she asked.
Kate looked at the opposite wall for a moment blankly, "Pffft, that's a long story. Maybe another time".
"Uh-hu", Maddie mumbled and walked over to the open wardrobe. She watched Kate put clean clothes in there and noticed her mother's wedding dress in a dust cover.
"How long did you wait to get married after Dad proposed?", she asked.
"Not long, dear, six months. Why wait any longer, huh?".
"You haven't talked about it much in all these years. Wasn't it a nice party?", she asked, touching the dress.
Kate sighed, "It was supposed to be to best day of my life and in a way it was, but…".
Maddie frowned, "I'm afraid, I don't quite understand. Why in a way? Where does that comes from?"
Kate stared sadly at the dress, "God, our wedding and becoming Max's assistant happened almost at the same time.
"Ah? How so?", asked Maddie eagerly.
"I must have been some kind of trouble magnet", she murmured.
To be continued