Chapter 28
The next day it was still raining and the couple were taking it easy until Maxine called them in the afternoon,
"Kate McGreg, uh…Mulholland speaking", she said, rolling her eyes, realising the slip of the tongue.
She heard a chuckle on the other end of the line, "You'll get used to it, you know?"
"Max! What can we do for you?", she asked.
"Uhm, I'm sorry to say this, but I'm afraid I'm ruining the day after your wedding. The Hammersley is crash sailed. The Kingston lost her radar hit by lightning and the Launceston hit a reef and lost a propeller. You're the only asset we have at the moment", she said.
"Hmm, indeed, it still goes on", Kate grumbled.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh everything, my fall, the broken leg, that damn weather and now this", she said sighing.
"I'm sorry. I wish it was different", Maxine said.
"Yes, Max, I know. These are the facts and we're in the Navy. I'll tell Dylan and send a message to the others. Do you instruct Nikki?", Kate asked.
"Yes, I'll contact her as acting CO", Maxine said.
"Okay", Kate replied, frowning as she heard a few sniffles on the other end of the line.
"Max? Are you all right? Your voice doesn't sound normal".
"Yes and no. I caught a cold and my nose won't stop running", she replied.
"No wonder with your bare shoulders in that light dress", Kate said, shaking her head.
"You're right. Thank you for reminding me".
"Stop earlier and go to bed", Kate advised.
"It's not that bad and besides, you stay at mine while Dylan is at sea, so I can help you with your leg. Pack a few things and I'll pick you up after work", she said.
"Oh? That's generous Max".
"With pleasure".
They ended the call and Kate looked at Dylan, "Sorry Darling. Crash sailed. The Kingston and Launceston are out of order. You'll sail later today".
"Bad luck. It will displease the crew. I'll pack my stuff", he said.
"And I'll text the crew", Kate said.
Dylan left and Kate managed, with the help of crutches, to pack some things, a book and her laptop.
She didn't have to wait long before the doorbell rang.
"I'm coming!", she yelled as she hobbled to the front door.
"Hey Kate, your taxi is here", Maxine said with a faint smile.
"Damn Max! How do you feel? You look like a corpse", Kate said, raising her eyebrows, seeing Maxine's reddened nose and watery eyes.
"Thank you so much for the compliment, Kate.", Maxine said frowning.
"Are you really sure you want to take care of me?", Kate asked worriedly.
"Yeah, sure. Otherwise, how are you going to manage everything on one paw? Come, where's your bag? I'm not going to get wet in front of your door a second time", she said, looking up at the grey clouds.
"Yes, of course! My bag is in the living room, but how are you feeling?", Kate asked, stepping aside as Maxine entered to collect Kate's bag.
"My nose is stuffy, my eyes are watering and I can't stop sneezing. A perfect cold", said Maxine, coming back with Kate's bag and handbag. "And put on a coat if you don't want to catch a cold too!"
At Maxine's, Kate moved into the guest room and Maxine prepared a simple supper.
"Kate, do you have everything?", she then asked, placing a packet of cookies for her on the coffee table.
"Yeah, sure", Kate replied, sitting on the couch, her leg resting on an ottoman.
"Well, then I'm going to bed if you don't mind. Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow", Maxine said between a sniffle and a sneeze.
"Go ahead. It's a good idea", Kate replied, waving from the coach.
"Okay, have a good night".
"Good night to you too".
The next day, it wasn't any better. Maxine stood up first to prepare breakfast for the two of them.
She still wasn't getting better. And to top if off, she started coughing. She knocked at the guest room door, "Kate? Breakfast is ready", she managed to say between coughing fit.
"Yeah, I'm coming! ", Kate replied from the other side of the door.
"I'm in the kitchen", Maxine mumbled.
A minute later, Kate hobbled into the kitchen on her crutches and saw Maxine sitting on one of the stools at the breakfast counter, her head resting on her hand. She smiled when she saw Kate in a Rolling Stones T-shirt that was too big for her. It looked like a too wide and too short dress.
"You liked the print, but they weren't the right size?", Maxine tried to joke.
"It's one of Dylan's. These are the only clothes that fit me with that stupid plaster cast. But, how are you this morning? You don't look any better", Kate said, sitting down on the other stool.
"Pfft, it's the same as yesterday except now I'm coughing", Maxine sighed.
"Ouch. And why don't you stay home?"
"Kate, it's just a cold. I'm not going to stay home for just a cold. After a shower, I'll feel better. Coffee?", Maxine said, holding the thermos jug.
"Yes please".
"Look, there's toast, vegemite, cheese, chocolate paste and marmalade. Take your pick", she offered.
"Wow, it's almost like a hotel buffet", Kate replied, enjoying the variety.
"You're welcome, and for lunch, you'll find meat in the fridge", Maxine said, holding a mug of coffee under her nose, hoping that the hot steam would clear it.
Maxine left for Navcom and Kate kept herself busy messaging Dylan, reading, working on her laptop, eating lunch, watching TV until mid-afternoon when she heard the front door opens.
"Max? You're early", she greeted her friend from the couch.
"Hey", Maxine mumbled in response. She threw her hat on the coat rack shelf, dropped her briefcase in the hallway and shuffled into the living room to plop down into a club chair. Eyes closed, she rested her head on the backrest and coughed heavily.
"Max! What's going on?", Kate asked, worried.
"I feel bad. I'm coughing and I'm cold", she said, shivering.
Kate stood up and hopped towards her to feel her forehead.
"Damn Max. You have fever. Have you ever seen a doctor?", she asked, sitting down on the armrest.
Maxine shook her head, "No".
"I'll call him right now, lift your legs", she said.
Maxine lifted her legs and Kate took off her shoes.
"Now, put on something comfortable, lie down and I'll make you a brew".
"What about your leg?", she asked faintly.
"No worries. My leg is very well protected by a plaster cast. I'll manage".
One hour later, the doctor left Maxine's apartment and Kate sat on the edge of her bed.
"So, it's pneumonia. Well done Max. You're out for two weeks."
Maxine coughed again, "Thanks to the fucking cold weather at your wedding!"
"Yeah, sometimes it's ironic, huh? You took me to your house to take care of my leg and now I can take care of you".
"I'm sorry, I would like to, but my whole body is so heavy", Maxine said faintly.
The next morning, it was Kate who woke up first. Then she hobbled on her crutches to Maxine's bedroom to see how she was and noticed that she was still asleep. In the kitchen, she prepared breakfast. A few loud coughing fits coming from the nearby bedroom told her that Maxine was awake. She went back to see her.
"Hey Max, how are you feeling?", she asked.
Maxine moaned, "Tired, weak, burning, everything that's not good".
"A good coffee, perhaps? Or tea? A little hot liquid will do", she suggested.
"Hmm, coffee looks good to me".
"Do you want to eat something too?"
"I'll try to eat a piece of toast".
"Okay, I'll prepare it and see how I can bring it to you. I've already spotted a basket", Kate said.
"No, no, I'll join you. Give me a minute", Maxine mumbled.
A few minutes later, she shuffled into the kitchen wearing a dressing gown, her arms crossed over her chest to contain the pain caused by coughing. She sank into one of the chairs and looked at the table set with plates, mugs, toast, jam and ham. "Thank you but I'm afraid I won't be a good company this morning", she said softly and took the medicine box.
"Don't worry Max, it'll only take a few days and then you'll be up and about again", Kate said as she poured coffee into her mug.
"Thank you. Kate, I'm sorry to say this, but you'll have to go to Navcom to replace me. I know, your leg, but other than that, you're healthy", she said after taking a sip of the hot liquid.
"Uh, me? Is there no one else? And your assistant?", Kate asked in surprise.
"There are various reasons. My assistant is a lieutenant, plainly and simply an assistant. Other CO's are at sea and one of them has shore leave. Moreover, he's a man capable of commanding a ship, not a base and don't forget that I'm also in charge of Darwin. But, I have a good man there who takes care of the base. For Cairns, I really need you, You're a good commander, you have the skills and diplomacy for this", she said.
"Okay, but….?"
"I'll call the base so they send a driver. He'll take you home to put on a uniform and he'll drive you to Navcom", she said.
"Okay", Kate stammered, rubbing her face.
End of Flashback
Maddie ran a hand through her hair and looked at her mother, "Wow, it's tough! So, with your leg in a plaster cast, you landed on Aunt Max's chair, without really knowing what was happening at the base!"
"Yes, that's actually a good summary", Kate answered.
"How did you handle that with your leg? Your flexibility must have been almost nil", she asked.
Kate chuckled, "Good question. I remember that I freshened up a little at Maxine's and that a sailor drove me home. I put on my uniform with a skirt, the plaster cast being too big for trousers. I grabbed my briefcase, my hat, stuffed my other foot into a shoe and set out to command a base with no introduction".
"Did it work?"
"Well, to my great surprise, it did. The first days were a nightmare, but little by little I found my way".
"And what happened after Aunt Max was cured?"
"She was convinced that I was more valuable ashore as second in command than as CO on a patrol boat", Kate said.
Maddie frowned, "So, you stayed ashore? And the ship?"
"Yes, I stayed ashore despite my arguments. It was with mixed feelings because being second in command was actually a promotion, but I missed my ship. Nikki was acting CO and dad was acting XO. A few months later, she was promoted to lieutenant commander and officially CO and dad officially XO", Kate said.
"I see, so you never commanded a ship again?".
"Nope, being CO of a ship was a very short tenure. A few months later, Maxine decided that I could run the base on my own so that she could take care of the entire Cairns and Darwin division. I then obtained my promotion to rank of commander".
"Do you think you have a chance of becoming captain?".
"I don't know and honestly I hope not, because then I'll be even further away from the ships and the daily situation at sea", Kate replied, rolling her eyes.
To be continued
