Retribution by Dave O'Connor

it.”
    “We’re booked into Renata’s” added Dave.
    “Tempting isn’t it” said Art.
    “I’ll ask” said Sue and she stood and left to see the nurse. She came back five minutes later. “We’re on!” she proclaimed with a big smile “but only for a few hours and you have to wear a sling and be extremely careful.”
    “I’m always careful” protested Art. But he got a light clip on his skull from Sue.
    “Not careful enough” she added scolding him. “Look we can meet you there. What time?”
    “We’re booked for 1800.”

Chapter 19. Nova Vista 1700, 3 June
    The taxi turned into Plough St in the upmarket suburb of Picton. It pulled up outside the two storey house that Chase always called the mansion. He was nervous but not as nervous as Kat. He held her hand as they walked up the path to the double front door, trailing their suitcases behind them.
    Mary Anne Hanlon heard the cases rumble towards the house. She had been waiting for that sound this past hour. She rushed to the door and opened it - her fair complexion in stark contrast with the deep burgundy of the door. She had a warm smile on her round face and her hazel eyes held back a touch of moisture as her heart pounded with joy.
    “Chase” she called out.
    “Mum!” said Chase . He let go of Kat’s hand and his bag and bounded up the two stone steps to the front porch and took his mother in his arms. The scent of roses from the garden mixed with a scent he would never forget – his mother’s. He pulled his head back to get a look at her. She had aged these last two years. He regretted not seeing her on his last leave.
    “Mum this is Kat Holbrook” said Chase.
    Mary Anne held out her hand and shook Kat’s. “You are most welcome Kat. Please come in out of this sun.” As she led them inside she mentioned “Your father will be home soon.”
    Kat took in the new surroundings. She had never been in such a well to do home. The classic style furniture, the rich fabrics and everything was ‘just so’. She noticed that Chase took it all for granted. He entered back into a time and place totally familiar while she entered something foreign. She admired the lovely painting of the tropical fish on the hallway wall. The reddish light penetrating through the tinted glass window played with its green and blue hues. The big coral coloured fish seemed to stare at her.
    “Oh leave your bags there” said Mary Anne. “We can move them later. Come, let’s have some iced tea. I want to hear everything.” She led them out onto the back veranda. ‘It’s huge’ thought Kat. The whole veranda was five metres deep and stretched the width of the house. It was under the main roofline and well protected from the sun. It looked out onto green lawn shaded by several large trees. A central garden bed still had plenty of shrubs flowering.
    Kat and Chase sat together in the two seater and Mary Anne sat in one of the cane lounge chairs. Kat crossed her legs and endeavoured to strike a ‘classic’ pose. Mary Anne smiled warmly at her. “So Kat how did you meet Chase?”
    “The first time we really got to know each other was in the mess.”
    “Mess?”
    “Yes the officers mess on board ship.”
    “Oh I see you are a Fleet officer too.”
    “Mum she’s not just an officer” said Chase with his hand on Kat’s knee - a gesture that did not go unnoticed by Mary Anne – “She’s a pilot.”
    “Oh really” said Mary Anne “and so you fly those shuttles do you?”
    “Actually I’m a fighter pilot Maam.”
    “Mary Anne please. I’m certainly not an officer.”
    Kat laughed. “Sorry …Mary Anne.”
    “And so Kat do you…fight?”
    “Yes I have.”
    Mary Anne pondered that for a moment, taking a sip of her iced tea from the tall high ball glass. The sounds of a car could be heard pulling into the driveway behind them. “Oh that will be Glen” said Mary Anne and with a smile to Kat she added “Chase’s dad. I’ll let him in. You two just stay