Sequel to my "Years." It will probably finish it out completely. I love reading the reviews but if you haven't read "Five Years Later" and "Years and Memories" this will probably confuse you.
Too Many Years
Chapter 1
It had been four years since Hannah had left for the Sudan with Sam. He was working with Doctors Without Borders and she was teaching children in the African bush. Calls, emails and letters were infrequent, and Mike missed Hannah. She had gotten her tests done to make sure her leukemia didn't relapse in Africa and so far, her doctor was thrilled with her tests, but she really needed to get home.
Matty and Max had graduated High School that year and Max was already at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Matty would start college that fall on a full-ride football scholarship. Gabby was thirteen and testing her parent's patience. Tommy and Rebecca were almost twelve and following in Gabby's footsteps. Charlotte was Mike and Polly's youngest. There were times that if it wasn't for her physical appearance, they wouldn't even remember her having Down's Syndrome.
Grace and Ryan were doing well. They were the parents of four now. Mikey was a very smart six-year-old and his Gampa's buddy, Hope was now four and loving her preschool program. Grace and Ryan had twins as well, Andrew and Christa, who were almost three. Ryan had gone through Police Academy and had hired on to the local Sheriff's Department when his dad, Alec retired. Grace still also worked for the Sheriff's Department since her good friend Kirk had been elected Sheriff after Alec's retirement. Mike and Polly helped them with babysitting due to Ryan's odd hours. Maggie and Alec were doing some traveling, since Polly was helping Maggie with the restaurant.
Mike and Polly were doing extremely well. Their marriage was strong. She was now associate Pastor at the church and managed Maggie's restaurant in her absence; with Grace's help. Mike was still enjoying his retirement, even though he was frequently approached for speaking engagements in regards to his experiences on the Nathan James.
It was Father's Day and Polly had planned a huge barbeque for Mike. All the kids, other than Hannah and Max would be there. Mike understood his kid's need to celebrate the day and he would enjoy them, but it made him miss the two kids that weren't there and Lucas. There were days that the grief was closer to the surface for Mike and Father's Day was one of them.
They all went to church as a family, and then separated ways until three when Grace and her family would come back to the house for the barbeque. It gave Mike a chance to spend some time on his own, grieving for his oldest son. Polly was cooking and preparing food and didn't seem to notice how forlorn her husband was. Mike was sitting on their bed, looking at pictures of Lucas, when Charlotte toddled in. Mike helped her onto their tall sleigh bed and pulled her close.
"You sad, Daddy?" Charlotte asked.
"I am. I miss your big brother." Mike admitted.
"Max?" Charlotte asked as she picked at her sundress.
"No, honey. I miss Max but I also miss your oldest brother, Lucas. He died several years before you were born." Mike explained.
"Oh. Mommy said she needs help with the grill." Charlotte said before jumping off the bed. It made Mike a little sad because his younger kids didn't seem to grasp who Lucas was. Since Hannah was gone, Grace was the only one who ever talked about him; and it was rare. Lucas' name being brought up brought sadness. Mike got up and followed Charlotte into the kitchen. Polly was fixing potato salad when he kissed the top of her head to get her attention.
"Mike, I can't get the grill to turn on. Matty said he would help me grill the meat, but we can't figure it out." Polly told him.
"Okay." Mike said. He was headed out to the back door where Matty was trying to figure the grill.
"Mike, you okay?" Polly asked before Mike got out of the house.
"Just missing my boy." Mike answered.
"Oh, Max said he would try and call home." Polly replied.
"Not that boy. Lucas. I really miss Lucas." Mike said before walking out onto the back porch. He missed Max and Hannah too but the sadness over Lucas was trumping that. He knew that Max and Hannah were safe. They were healthy and happy. Lucas was just gone. And being faced with Matty, who had looked so much like Lucas when he was younger wasn't easy. Mike imagined what Lucas might have looked like, sounded like, been like; and was faced with Matty. It caused Mike to resent Matty. Matty was alive and thriving and Lucas was not. Mike loved Matty and couldn't imagine his life without him; but he also wished he still had Lucas.
"Oh, thank God. Dad, I can't figure this thing out." Matty remarked.
"The ignition is a little hard to get. Here." Mike said as he started the grill. He'd had it since he had first moved into the farm and needed another one. He was a little on the cheap side, despite being wealthy. He preferred his money go to his kids or charities.
"This thing is ancient. Don't you think its time to get a new one?" Matty asked.
"Maybe. It would take away from your inheritance though." Mike joked but it fell flat.
"Buy yourself a new grill, Dad." Matty recommended.
"Money doesn't grow on trees, son. Alright, make sure you get the chicken cooked thoroughly." Mike remarked. For some reason, he just couldn't look at Matty. When he did, he saw all the things that Lucas would never be able to accomplish. Things Matty had done. Matty was a son that any father would be proud of. He graduated with a solid B average, was a star athlete, had only had one incident where he came home drunk, was a doting brother and a loving son. Mike walked back in the house and settled in his recliner. Polly had taken the plate of hamburgers, chicken, bratwursts and steaks out and walked back in.
"You upset with Matty for some reason?" Polly asked.
"No." Mike answered.
"He thinks you are. Mike, what is going on?" Polly questioned as she knelt next to his chair.
"Just…things are a bit closer to the surface." Mike hinted.
"Mike, I have not lost a child. You have but it is not Matty's fault. Do you wish that Lucas was here in his place?" Polly asked. Mike closed his eyes for a second. Thankfully, his other kids were occupied. Grace and her little family would be back in about a half hour. "Mike?" Polly asked again.
"There are times that I see Matty and all I can do is imagine what Lucas would be like." Mike admitted.
"And you, what? Resent him?" Polly questioned.
"Yeah. And before you say it, I know. Matty is a good kid and I am proud of him. I love him. I don't want to even imagine my life without him." Mike stated.
"I know that you love him. You light up when he's around. Course, you do with all the kids. I will just tell him that you are really missing Lucas. That okay?" Polly asked.
"Yeah. Tell him, I'm sorry too." Mike remarked.
"Mike never be sorry that you are grieving for a beloved son. That grief process will never end. Somedays, it will be worse then others. Just relax. Matty understands it better then you realize. He's a good kid. I won't tell him to avoid you, but I will explain. Now, Grace called. She'll be just a bit late. Christa has a skinned knee. Had to pick rocks out of it and Ryan is coming in his uniform. He's call-out car today since it's a holiday. Told her it would be fine. Max texted me, said to tell you that he will video call tonight at seven." Polly told him as she stood up.
"Alright." Mike agreed. Polly leaned down and gave him a kiss before walking back outside. Just as she disappeared out of view, the doorbell rang. Mike stood up and walked to the front door, not knowing who would be visiting, short of Alec and Maggie; but they were at the Grand Canyon. He opened the door and was shocked at who was on the other side. "Hannah?! How?" Mike asked before sweeping her into a huge hug.
"Well, we caught a bus to Capetown, flew to Miami, and then to Chicago, and then to St. Louis, and then to Springfield. We rented a car, and Sam dropped me off here. He wanted to go see Tom. Said he would show up later. Sorry it took us so long, Dad. There's so many people over there in need." Hannah stated as she pulled away but kept her arms around Mike.
"I missed you." Mike said.
"I did too. Uh…there is someone I want you to meet; Henry?" Hannah asked and a little boy, obviously from Africa appeared with a fistful of flowers. He was about Charlotte's age. "We adopted him after he was orphaned. His dad was killed by a rival tribe and his mother died from AIDS. And before you ask, yes. He has it too." Hannah told him flatly. Mike was stunned. He hadn't anticipating Hannah showing up with a child, let alone a sick child.
"Uh…Hannah, is that a good idea? How sick is he?" Mike asked. The little boy was looking around in wonder.
"Sam thinks with better medical advancements, he'll do better here but he will still only have a year or two." Hannah told him quietly.
"And you are willingly subjecting yourself to that hell? Losing a child you care about? Subjecting your entire family to it?" Mike asked.
"I…thought that you would understand. Sam and I want to give him a happy childhood, however long it might last. I…am just a bit shocked." Hannah stated. She was still standing in the doorway and Henry had a hold of her hand.
"Just…come in. You might as well eat. See everyone." Mike said as he let the two of them in. Henry still had ahold of Hannah's hand and the flowers that he had picked but he pointed at Mike and then handed him the flowers.
"For…Father's Day." Henry said. He didn't seem to know or understand that Mike had no interest in flowers and Mike knew it was a gift from the heart.
"Thank you, Henry." Mike said. He recognized the odd tension between him and Hannah but ignored it.
I know Mike seems off for how I have had him throughout this storyline. The biggest point in this story will be his grief catching up with him, after several years. And I also know next to nothing about HIV/AIDS. Please bare that in mind.