After yet another call from a middle manager who had no idea how remote area nursing even worked, I agreed that yes, my leave levels were far too high and begrudgingly agreed to take four months off over the big Wet. I lived and worked in a community in the middle (or thereabouts!) of Cape York, the tip of Australia. I was one of the longest serving nurses in our community having escaped there six years previously after a very nasty relationship breakdown.
I had thought Diego was the one. A doctor at the hospital where I was working, originally from Argentina, everything seemed to be going well. We had moved in together, however he had issues with his medical registration after failing a few exams. I offered to sponsor him on a spousal visa, however he refused, and the mention of 'spouse' saw him running for the hills. Well running back to Argentina at least. I foolishly thought we could do long distance and we skyped for a while. After a couple of months I decided to surprise him by booking a ticket to Argentina for a month, with the hopes of rekindling our relationship and convincing him to return to Australia with me, however when I arrived I discovered he had well and truly moved on with another doctor who he had studied with.
My reaction to this discovery was to immediately fly home. I still had three weeks of leave arranged so I spent time looking for a nursing job as far away from the hospital which held so many memories of Diego. Hence, I had spent the last six years in a small community where I have been accepted as one of the locals. I have had a few guys hit on me over the years. I thought that perhaps I might have been able to develop something with a policeman who came to town, however one of his colleagues pulled me aside and told me about his wife and kids who he flew out to see every few weeks and I knew that wasn't me.
One of the local mechanics took a shine to me for a while, but he hit resistance from his family about marrying outside his community. A new teacher arrived last year, however when he discovered I was actually ten years his senior, he soon backed away.
I still had my battery-operated boyfriend and he had seen me well over these years. But my BOB did not give me tender kisses or hold me when I woke from a nightmare or bring me a cup of tea in bed in the morning.
"Suzy, It's Katie and it looks like I'm being exiled from here for four months come December," I explained to my older sister over the phone one August evening.
"Brilliant!" exclaimed Suzy, "You can come on the cruise for my 40th and our 15th anniversary in early December!"
Suzy went on to explain the plans- 14 nights cruising the South Pacific. Her husband, Dean, had suggested it and her children, Eleanor, aged thirteen and Austin, aged ten, were extremely excited about the prospect. I decided I had nothing else to do and even suggested that I bunk in with the kids giving Suzy and Dean some alone time in their suite.
"Katie, I can't ask you to do that, plus, this is going to be the trip where you are going to get some, even if it is just a holiday fling!" Suzy giggled into the line.
I told Suzy that I doubted that would happen and I was happy to go along as Auntie Katie and spend time with my niece and nephew who I did adore. Whilst I hadn't taken leave per se in my time on the Cape, I had been to conferences and ensured I could spend a weekend either side with my sister and her family. This was my only family after our parents had died in an accident shortly after Suzy and Dean's wedding. Eleanor and Austin had also flown up to spend time with me during school holidays with Eleanor determined to live and work in a community when she grew up.
Some people say they love their job, but I not only loved it, I received great satisfaction from it. I had initiated some health prevention classes at the local school and our immunisation rates were the highest of any community on the Cape. It was a dry community, but that didn't worry me as I had never been a big drinker. For the next few months I prepared Carmel, my junior nurse to run the clinics for the months I was away, knowing she would be ably assisted by the numerous Aboriginal Health Workers who had been trained over the years. One of the local girls had been away studying for her nursing degree and I agreed for her to be employed as a student nurse for at least part of my absence.
The girls and guys at the clinic arranged an afternoon tea as a farewell and Barry, one of the elders of the community presented me with a gift. Everyone laughed when I opened the box- it was a kit they had put together for me to cope when I was away from them. It included recipes from many of the local women, bush remedies from some of the Health Workers and a packet of condoms! I had to laugh along with them all.
"Katie, you are a beautiful woman," Barry clarified, "but you need a husband, someone to take care of you the way you take care of us. Go and find him!"
I flew out on a Thursday with the cruise departing on the Sunday. Suzy and Austin were at the airport to greet me with balloons and a poster Austin had decorated welcoming his Aunt.
"Eleanor's at home cooking dinner- she is so excited for our shopping day tomorrow!" Suzy explained. Eleanor and Austin had finished school that day and were so excited for the Summer that lay ahead. Austin had helped Dean paint the spare room in their modest home the weekend before. Dean and Suzy were both lawyers who ran a very successful firm specialising in family law and estate management. They had recently taken on a third lawyer in the firm and Suzy had gone to great lengths to tell me all about him
"Harry is 32, so a few years younger than you, never married, not gay, doesn't live with his parents, has no kids that he knows of and is drop dead gorgeous!" Suzy tried to explain, "Plus, he's coming to dinner tomorrow night so you two can meet!"
I knew Suzy meant well, but I also recognised that if I was to enter into a relationship it would end my life on the Cape. I had thought over the years that it would probably take a teacher or other nurse to join me on the Cape. I could never expect a lawyer to up sticks and suddenly work from the middle of the outback and I did not fancy returning to hospital work in a city.
Shopping with Suzy and Eleanor was lots of fun. I had purchased several dresses online but needed a new pair of swimmers or two and an evening dress and accessories for the formal nights on board. Suzy had shown me the stunning sequinned number she had purchased- a dipped back with a halter neckline in a deep, dark Emerald. It had been years since I had needed an evening dress and I had no idea where to start. Fortunately, Suzy knew all the right boutiques. I tried on several dresses, but nothing caught my eye. We were in our last boutique when I spied a simple silk dress in aquamarine. It was cut on the bias, totally backless with a cowl like neck coming from the spaghetti straps that held it around the arms.
"I can't do backless; I need a bra!" I tried to protest, but Eleanor insisted I try it on. It was perfect. It showed my curves and I was surprised that my c cup breasts did not look like were hanging around my waist. Naturally we purchased it along with some strappy silver heels and a simple silver clutch.
Next it was onto the swimwear shop. I kept reaching for one-piece numbers, however Suzy and Eleanor were only interested in bikinis. I tried on a simple black costume which I thought would be fine, but Suzy told me it was boring. Eleanor found a bikini which I did agree to try on. A blue floral number which to me adequately covered my cheeks and my breasts! I was not used to showing off so much skin, but my sister insisted and told me that if I didn't buy it, she was going to buy it for me! I agreed as long as I was able to purchase the black number as well.
Throughout the day, hints of Harry this and Harry that kept being dropped into conversation. There was no point arguing with my sister and from all accounts Harry seemed like a perfectly nice gentleman.
Dinner was lovely and Harry was indeed a lovely man, however there was no spark between us. He was very attentive as I told him about my work and at one stage when we were left alone we joked that we knew we were being set up.
"Katie, please don't get me wrong, you are such a beautiful woman and I know Suzy and Dean mean well, and I did have to clarify with Dean before that you are indeed 35 and not 25 because you look young, but I kind of met someone last weekend and it's early days, but, I'm not saying..."
I stopped Harry and told him I understood completely. Later on as I helped Suzy clear the table I told her that Harry was indeed lovely, but I really could not see a future with us. Suzy told me to be more open minded and said that after the cruise she would arrange another dinner for us.
