Too Many Years
Chapter 4
Mike ended up having his own kids, Mikey, Hope and the twins in addition to Henry the next day. He was thankful that Matty was there to help him. He had had day planned with his girlfriend, Tara but had cancelled without Mike asking to help him. Gabby was a typical young teenager who rarely wanted to be in the same room with her parents, let alone help them.
It was also raining out so Mike couldn't let the kids outside to play. By the time that Polly got home at three, he was relieved to see her. Matty had been a great help, especially with Charlotte, Henry, Andrew and Christa. Mike had kept Mikey and Hope occupied and his twins and Gabby stayed in their rooms, away from Mike and their 'annoying brother.' As soon as Polly walked in, Mike let out a big breath of relief.
"Oh, thank God." Mike said.
"Was it that bad?" Polly asked as she set her purse down and hugged Christa, who loved her Gamma.
"Gabby is mad at me. I don't know why. I think I breathed or something." Mike complained.
"She's almost fourteen. It's a weird age but she loves you, Mike." Polly chastised.
"Somedays I wonder and she's leading by example because Rebecca won't have anything to do with me either." Mike continued complaining. He was still a bit emotional from the day before and Matty had the younger kids occupied in the living room. Polly was sorting through the mail and smiled over at him when he sat down on one of the kitchen stools. She came around and wrapped her arms around him, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"I'll talk to them. Just handle them with a bit of grace. The hormones will even out. They are twelve and almost fourteen and they have strict parents who won't let them be heathens. It'll get better. It got better with the older kids, correct?" Polly asked him quietly.
"Grace was fourteen when I went to the Arctic and before, I was gone so much that I never noticed a mood. When I got back and Hannah was fourteen, initially it was rough; but it got better. Matty and Max are boys and weren't quite this bad." Mike admitted.
"Given but they have all had their moments. Have you talked to Hannah?" Polly asked. She had remained in his arms and was hugging him.
"Yeah. Her appointment went well. I don't know any details, but Doctor Grant was happy with her labs. I told them to take some time to their selves. She and Sam are meeting with a realtor and looking at a couple houses." Mike explained.
"Good dad. Are we helping them?" Polly asked.
"Just don't tell Gabby. She reminded me that I am not her dad. Anyway, if they ask or seem like they are struggling, yes; if you are okay with it. Hannah told me they had quite a bit in savings." Mike told her. The housing market had not fully recovered since the Red Flu, even though it had been years since the cure was brought home. A person could get a nice house for dirt cheap. There were still more houses and property then needed for the population.
"Okay. She told you that?" Polly asked.
"Yep." Mike said as he stood up and gave Polly a kiss before walking around the kitchen island and checking on the roast in the oven.
"I warned her not to do that. Okay, I am going to go talk to her." Polly said before disappearing into the bedroom wing of their house. Mike was curious as to what his wife was up to but concentrated on the kids playing in a blanket fort in the living room. Despite having a bit of a language barrier with Henry, they had accepted them into their little group and Matty was just a big kid. They all loved him.
Polly stepped into Gabby's bedroom and was immediately upset because of how much of a mess it was. Rebecca was reading on her bed, but Gabby was sitting on her bed, glued to her cellphone. Polly came up behind her and grabbed it out of her hand.
"MOM! That's mine!" Gabby said as she made a grab for the phone.
"No. It's a phone that your dad and I bought for you and pay the bill on, with the understanding that you will keep this room clean, do your chores and help with the smaller kids. Until you can achieve those things, in good cheer, this is staying in my drawer. Now, Rebecca; can you please go in the kitchen and help Dad with supper? Gabby and I need to have a conversation that won't be fun to witness." Polly asked Rebecca, who nodded. She was out of the bedroom like a shot. All the kids were fearful of Polly's temper, more so even then Mike's.
"That's not fair." Gabby said as Polly sit down on Rebecca's bed. At least it was made and the book that she had been reading was on Polly's approved reading list.
"Life isn't. Gabby, your dad has had a rough couple day. He misses your brother. His emotions are closer to the surface. I have warned you about the 'you're not my real dad' thing in the past. Your dad has been in your life since you were six months old. He has adopted you, supported you, raised you and loved you. He doesn't regret that, no matter how terrible you are to him. Sweetie, your dad is getting older and has been through a lot. You have to understand, he may not be around forever. So, no, biologically speaking, he isn't your dad but that never mattered to him. Why should it matter to you? You have gotten the best end of the deal. Now, I want you to sit down and write a note to your dad, apologizing for your behavior. An 'I love you' is also requested. I will read the note before it given to your dad. You will also clean this room. Rebecca's side isn't bad and what is on her side, is your stuff. You will clean it all. You have also lost your phone for a month and at the end of that month, I will evaluate if you get it back. Tomorrow and from now on, you will help your dad with the kids. I would guess we'll have Grace's and possibly Henry as well. Your dad needs some help occupying them and Matty had to cancel his day with Tara to help him. That won't be happening again. Clear?" Polly asked.
"Yes, ma'am." Gabby said.
"That better not be lip service. You have done that before." Polly stated as she stood up.
"Its not." Gabby said.
"Have that note written by dinner and bring it to me." Polly said before she left the bedroom. Polly typically handled the tough love part of parenting her and Mike's kids. Mike was admittedly a bit indulgent where his kids and grandkids were concerned. If he and Polly had one argument; it was his parenting skills. Polly had simply learned to compensate, which typically made her the disciplinarian.
Mike had heard Polly's raised voice a few times but knew better then interrupt her when she was arguing or disciplining with one of the kids. He wasn't that brave. Rebecca had come out and was sitting the table for him, even though it was a little early. Grace sent him a text to let him know she would be picking her four kids up before dinner and Mike was already planning on having Hannah, Sam and Henry for supper. Polly came out with a smile on her face, especially when she seen Rebecca setting the table.
"Grace will be out before dinner to get her four. Hannah is planning on eating here with Henry and Sam." Mike explained.
"Good, kids; clean that living room up." Polly yelled into the living room. Polly was a doting grandma but even the grandkids knew better then to ignore her. Matty started showing them how to fold the blankets and set everyone to work and walked into the kitchen to speak with his parents.
"Hey, Tara is going to pick me up in a bit. We wanted to go bowling. If you need me at home though, I can stay?" Matty asked. He and Tara had dated all through high school and Mike suspected that within a few years; he would be attending their wedding. Both Mike and Polly loved Tara and loved how she adored their son.
"That's fine. I assume you'll be gone for dinner?" Mike asked.
"Yeah, if that's okay?" Matty asked.
"Its fine. Why is Tara taking her car?" Polly asked.
"She didn't say. Just said she'd drive and I'm saving my money." Matty said.
"Please tell me you are paying for the bowling and dinner? I know the two of you have been dating for a few years; but you still need to be a gentleman." Mike asked.
"Yes, sir." Matty said. Polly had gone back to the bedroom wing, presumably to change clothes.
"Good." Mike answered.
"Dad…uh; you remember when you told me that you had saved my mom's engagement ring for me to give to the right girl at some point? Can I have the ring now?" Matty asked. Mike had kept Christine's ring back for Matty so that his slightly disorganized son wouldn't lose it. Mike was slightly bawled over by the request. Matty and Tara were only eighteen. Entirely too young.
"I have it and you can have it, but son; you are a bit young, don't you think?" Mike asked.
"You told me that you nearly married your high school sweetheart out of school. Why am I different? And you and Mom married fairly young too." Matty asked. Mike could hear the aggravation in his voice.
"True but that isn't what I want for you. You and Tara both need to go to college, experience life. Son, being married is…its harder then you can imagine. Mom and I love Tara, but you are both so young." Mike argued. He could tell how tense Matty was becoming and he didn't want to argue. He grabbed Matty's arm and led him to his and Polly's bedroom, partly so she was there and partly to just end the argument.
"I don't know if I'm giving her the ring immediately and besides, we can have a long engagement." Matty stated. Polly walked out of the bathroom with a confused look on her face, while Mike went to the box in his dresser where he kept keepsakes, including the ring he had given to Christine many years before. He wasn't thrilled and suspected the proposal would be soon and the engagement wouldn't be a long one, but he didn't want an argument with his son over a ring he had promised him years before.
"I just want you and her to have some experiences. Grace married young, but she and Ryan did some living before they had Mikey. That's all I ask." Mike said as he handed Matty the ring box. It was odd to explain, but it felt like he was giving a piece of himself away. His marriage to Christine had been flawed and there were issues; but he still missed her and wondered what his life would have been like had she survived. Polly had stood in the background and not said a word.
"Yes, sir." Matty said before walking out of the bedroom. Mike didn't like the way the argument ended but Polly pulled him into a hug.
"You okay?" Polly asked.
"Kind of. Can't say I wasn't expecting it, but I was hoping for a couple years for them." Mike remarked.
"Mike, he is surrounded by happy couples. Me and you, Grace and Ryan, Hannah and Sam, Maggie and Alec, and the list goes on. He and Tara love each other. They may have a good life together. My suggestion is, even though you don't like it, give him your blessing. You love him too much not to." Polly told him as she tied her back and took her earrings off.
"Yeah. Glad you grouped me and you into the happy couples." Mike teased as he landed a kiss on her lips.
"You bet I do. I did talk to Gabby. She's lost her phone for a month and that might be extended, and she is to write a note to you, apologizing for her behavior." Polly explained.
"It really wasn't that big of a deal." Mike argued.
"It is because I warned her about saying that and it hurt you. Mike, you've raised her, provided for her and loved her. I get it, she's a typical teenager but we cannot allow this behavior to continue. I refuse to allow her to become self-centered and selfish. She has to think about her actions and words and how they affect others." Polly stated.
"Yes, ma'am." Mike said. He knew Polly was right and would back her up where the punishment was concerned. One of Gabby's little tricks was to cause a division and play her parents against each other. Mike knew it was another typical teenage thing. They walked back into the living area. Grace was there to pick her own kids up and Matty had apparently already left.
Mike wished that Matty had stuck around so he could talk to him before he left, but he would later. He talked for a bit with Grace and helped her load her own kids up in her vehicle. By the time he got back inside, Polly was dishing up their supper and Hannah and Sam showed up, but Mike couldn't shake the odd feeling he had concerning Matty.