She did it the hard way

Chapter 1

"Have you ever learned to knock before entering an office!", Kate snapped without looking at who was entering.

Normally she was never so irritated, but today was a bad day.

It was a hot and muggy day. The sun was burning. When you walked five steps outside, the sweat turned you into a fountain and the clothes were sticking to your body. At dawn it was already hot and the commander had chosen the wrong outfit, trousers instead of a skirt and now she bitterly regretted it. She was too hot and sweaty and sticky. Three things she hated. To make it worse, Hammersley left in the morning for a two-week patrol and that made her even grumpier.

She looked at the photo frame on her desk with mixed feelings. It was showing her husband, Dylan, on his first day as commander of the Hammersley. She unbuttoned her shirt a little more, took off her shoes and socks and put her bare feet on the tiles of her office to try to cool off a bit.

She knew her mood would return to normal the next day, but right now it was below zero because he was gone for two weeks.

Kate was typing an e-mail on her laptop, but where she was sitting she couldn't see the door.

She realised the newcomer wasn't leaving and turned around angrily to face the intruder.

Her anger melted away when she saw who the person was.

"Maddie! You're already here! I only awaited you tonight", Kate said.

"Hi mum", said Madison, smiling, plopping down on the chair in front of Kate's desk.

"I caught an earlier flight. It was better than hanging around Sydney for several hours", she added.

She looked at her daughter. Madison was tall, maybe a little too tall for a girl, but she got that from her father. The nose and green eyes were Kate's. Her irresistible smile was definitely his. The blonde hair was came from both. Her hair curled in all directions what was against the rules.

She had followed her parents in the Navy and just finished her ADFA training. She had been sent to Cairns to acquire practice in the rank of midshipman.

"I'm glad you're here. How was your flight?", Kate asked.

"Well, until I got here. When I got out of the airport, it was like going into an oven. My God, what a fucking heat!", said Maddie rolling her eyes.

"Maddie! Watch your language. You were never taught those words", Kate scolded.

"We're in the Navy mum. They're used to it", she replied, shrugging.

"That's no reason to do it blindly. You're going to become an officer. Never forget that!", Kate replied sternly.

Maddie made a face in response.

"Pfft, even here it's hot. Luckily I put on a skirt this morning", she said.

"Aren't you suffering from the heat?" she asked her mother.

"No, I'm fine", Kate replied to keep up appearances. Inwardly she envied her daughter's bare legs while hers stuck to her trousers. If she was honest, she should have told her daughter she felt awful, but Kate was too stubborn to admit it.

"Yeah, you're fine and that's why you're barefoot and that's why your shirt is open up to your belly button", Maddie said with a grin.

"Yeah, so what? And don't overdo it", Kate grumbled, automatically placing her hand on the opening of her shirt to make sure.

"I narrowly missed Dad's departure, I guess", she said.

"Yeah, he left this morning", Kate replied.

"I thought so".

At this point, a petty officer knocked on the door, "Ma'am, do you have a moment? There's one little issue we need your advice on", he asked.

"Yeah, I'm coming", Kate said as she got up and started walking towards the door.

"Mum!", Madison said, looking down at her bare feet.

Kate looked down. "Fuck", she muttered and went back to her desk to quickly slip her feet into her shoes.

Madison heard her swear word and looked at her mother amusedly.

"What?", Kate asked annoyed as she walked through the door.

Five minutes later she was back. With a sigh she entered her office, "Lots of fuss about nothing. Do you fancy a drink?", she asked her daughter.

"I never say no to such an invitation", Maddie replied.

They headed for the officers' mess and sat down on bar stools at a high table with a cup of coffee.

"Cheers", Kate said before sipping her coffee.

"Cheers", Maddie replied.

"Maddie, you have to do something about your hair. It goes in all directions. The base commander will surely reprimand you for that", Kate said.

Maddie frowned, "Huh? Aren't you, however, the base commander?"

"Yes, I am and that's why I'm telling you", Kate answered.

Maddie rolled her eyes, "If you are so stuck to the rules, why are you walking around barefoot in untied shoelaces?"

"Do you have to comment on everything I say?", Kate grumbled as she began to tie her shoelaces.

"Mum, you're always grumpy when Dad just left on patrol, but today is the worst of all. What's going on?"

Kate sighed. "Sorry dear. It's the weather too. It's hot and humid and I'm feeling extreme sticky. I put on the wrong outfit this morning."

"Have a good shower after work and you'll feel better", Maddie said.

"Absolutely!"

"What are you going to do with me? Will I be assigned to a ship?"

"Yeah, sure. That's the intention", Kate answered.

"On Dad's boat?"

"No, definitely not. You know how overprotective he is. You won't go any further than the bridge and you won't learn anything. I'll put you on the Childers with Lieutenant Commander Walkers. He's a good guy and correct. Moreover, it's the boat with the most women aboard. It will be good for them to have a female officer", Kate said.

"Okay, but I'm only a midshipman", Maddie replied.

"It's still an officer rank. So they have to respect you and you have to earn respect, but if you have a loud mouth you won't get anything. ", Kate answered.

"Well, I'm really looking forward to it and when will the Childers sail?", asked the young woman.

"Next Monday in the late afternoon. I'll schedule a meeting with you and Lieutenant Commander Walkers on Monday morning", Kate said, scribbling a reminder in a notebook.

Then she walked around Navcom with Madison and they ended up in the control room. Meanwhile the weather had changed. The expected thunderstorm was looming on the horizon.

When they wanted to leave, it started. The rain was pouring down.

"Hmm", Kate grumbled as she watched the rain fall.

"Yeah, what a start to the weekend!", Maddie said rolling her eyes and asked, "Do you have an umbrella?"

"At home".

The young woman rolled her eyes, "Great. It will be of great help to us!"

"Shut up and run!", grumbled Kate who started to run, followed shortly by Maddie who had taken off her pumps.

When they reached Kate's car, they were drenched to the skin.

"You can wring me out. Bloody, fucking rain!", Kate cursed, slamming the car door.

"And who said that I had to watch my language?. I now know who I got this from", Maddie said grinning.

Kate looked daggers at her, "Do you want to go home in the rain or what?"

"Hmm, not really", she replied, making a face.

"I thought so", Kate replied starting the car.

Maddie chuckled, "That's amazing! There's even a little puddle in my shoes", she said, looking into her shoes.

"These are tropical rains. It's all or nothing".

Later that evening, they had a shower and sat down for dinner. It was still pouring down, but some music and floorlamps made it cosy.

"How were your lectors at ADFA?", Kate asked.

"Well, even although there was one old prick who didn't like me. Whatever I did, he always had comments for me. I also heard he was retiring next year", Maddie said.

"Hmm, what's his name? Maybe I know him", Kate asked.

"Captain Mike Flynn. I remember you knew a man with the same name", she answered.

Kate huffed, "He knew your name, I assume?"

"Yeah, we had to take an exam with him".

"Did you pass?"

"Yep, almost the maximum".

"Good, very good. Flynn. It doesn't surprise me", Kate mused.

"Why?"

"I'll tell you later. Not now".

"Okay".

"Mum, how does it feel, to be the commander of the Cairns division? I suppose we must feel almighty?", Maddie asked.

Kate took a sip of wine.

"Well when I graduated from ADFA, I thought I was going to be the chief of the Navy. I also thought it gave a sense of power. Well, I'm not the chief of the Navy, but the commander of a division of patrol boats, the hydrographic fleet, the survey vessels and the motor launches. That's quite a lot of ships and people, but it doesn't make you feel almighty. Above all, it's the responsibility and concern for all these people. When everything goes well with them, then it gives you a feeling of fulfilment", she said.

"Oh, I see. Yeah, that must be something. But knowing you, with your perfection mania, it must have been very easy to get where you are now, right? To begin with captain of the Hammersley then Navcom. A piece of cake.", Maddie said.

"Easy? Uhm… aah, if you say so. If you see it like that", Kate replied somewhat confused.

"Come on mum, don't be so shy. If you can't, no one can", Maddie replied.

Kate could only smiled at her daughter and took a sip of her wine.

"Normally, I go for a run on Saturday morning before breakfast. Do you want to come with me?", Kate asked.

"Yeah, sure. Wake me up", Maddie replied.

A few hours later, they went to bed. Kate put on a pajamas, lay down and switched off the light. In the darkness, she stared at the ceiling lit by the faint glow of the street lights.

A piece of cake said Maddie. If she knew! I also thought it was going to be a piece of cake. I thought I knew everything, that I had experienced everything. That was true. I handled a lot of serious situations on Hammersley and I was ready for that. But there was one thing I wasn't ready for and not even a little bit :myself! I wanted to be perfect, but I was unprepared for my own behaviour. No Maddie, I did it the hard way…

To be continued