Five Years Later

Chapter 10

The car dealer was nothing short of an idiot. Mike didn't like using his rank but purposely introduced himself as Admiral Slattery. He had also worn his Nathan James ball cap. The man was intimidated and thankfully agreed to take the car back and didn't require a payment for that month. Once he realized that Grace had someone in her life that would protect her, it was not worth him fighting to get money out of her.

By the time it was all said and done, Grace insisted on taking Mike out for lunch. He knew that she felt like she should and so he agreed. Lunch was an enjoyable experience and they went over the college class schedule. She wasn't completely sold on being a teacher and wanted to take some criminal justice classes and voiced going to police academy. Mike was not thrilled with that idea but it really wasn't a huge surprise. He had been a cop when she was young and she had essentially been taken in by a cop and had worked around them for a year. She had also volunteered some at the sheriff's department before she could legally work there. Her being a cop wouldn't be shocking. She was barely five foot tall and probably didn't weigh a hundred pounds. If being a cop was her end goal then Mike would make sure she knew how to defend herself and could shoot. He would be proud of her regardless.

Grace had laundry to do that afternoon and so Mike promised to pick Matty up after school and show him around the farm, than come back in and get Hannah. They would all eat supper together and then just go from there. While Grace was doing the laundry, Mike sit down and read the medical report on Christine's death and Matty's birth. It was hard but he didn't really need clarification on any of what had happened to her. She had bled to death. Typically they would have put her into a surgery and done a hysterectomy but she bled out too fast and they couldn't get her back. Matty was eight pounds and ten ounces and twenty-two inches long. There was a newborn picture of him attached and his medical records at birth. They had kept him long enough to circumcise him and then released him to Grace. The doctor truly believed that she was eighteen. Reading it made him sad but he also knew it was a necessary thing. Grace still felt that Christine had given up and maybe she had. She was angry at her mother and Mike hated it but he didn't know what Christine's frame of mind had been like before her death and Grace did. She wasn't willing to talk about it.

Matty was excited to go to the farm but seemed quiet. Mike had wanted to wait until he asked about what happened to his mom but decided it might be the right time. Before picking Matty up from school, he had stopped and got fishing supplies and so he would have the discussion over fishing that afternoon. Matty was thrilled with his room and couldn't wait to spend the night, even asking if he could that night. Mike would be thrilled to have him but he also wanted to leave it up to Grace. They finally went out to the pond about four. It didn't give Mike much time but it might also not be much of a conversation.

"So Gracie told me you were asking about your mom?"

"Yeah. One of my friends at school was telling me about his grandma that had died. Then the teacher told us a little bit about when so many people got sick. Is that what happened to my mom?"

"No. Your big brother died from the Red Flu, but not your mom."

"Did my mom die from cancer? That is what my friend's grandma had."

"No, Matty. And she didn't have an accident."

"How?"

Mike pulled him onto his lap and sit both fishing poles down. Matty had turned to where he could see his face and Mike could see the sadness in the little boy's eyes.

"Matty, when a woman has a baby, sometimes things happen. It's not always easy to understand why. A woman can bleed some when the baby is born and it's still okay but in your mom's case she bled too much having you. The doctors and nurses couldn't stop it. They tried really hard. She died a couple minutes after you were born. I wasn't there. I wish I had been but I wouldn't have been able to stop it. Your mommy had to go up to heaven and be with Lucas, your big brother. He needed her up there. She knew you would be okay. You had Gracie and Hannah and I would eventually show up. Matty, I don't want you to ever, ever think you caused her to die. She loved you very much and would be thrilled with you. She wouldn't want you to think that. Do you have any questions?"

"Are you mad at me for her dying?"

"Absolutely not. Not in the least. I know I only met you a couple days ago but I already love you very much. Anything else?"

"Are Grace and Hannah? She was their mommy too. They must miss her."

"You know, I'm not sure. But I do know one thing, they love you very much, especially Grace. She had to step up and take care of you and love you just like your mommy would have. And I personally think she did a really good job at it. As far as Hannah is concerned, I don't think she is. She is angrier at me for not being here. I do have a question for you and I need you to be honest with me. I won't get mad at you, I promise. Did Hannah cause that bruise on your arm?"

"No! She never hurt me. I promise. When I fell off the jungle gym and skinned my knees I hit my arm too but I didn't want to tell Grace because she would want to take me to the doctor and I didn't want a shot. The last time she took me there; they gave me a shot and did something called a blood test. It costed Grace money and I didn't want to go back. And then you got here and I just didn't want to go get a shot. But I promise Hannah didn't cause it."

"Okay that makes me feel a little better. I was worried. Do you have any more questions about your mom?"

"What was she like? And Lucas?"

"She was amazing. You look a lot like her. Your eyes and hair are the same color. She was an amazing mommy and I am sorry that you didn't get a chance to know her but she is watching you from heaven and she is so proud of you. She would have loved to go fishing with you. It was something me and her and Lucas did together. The girls never liked it much. But the three of us liked it. Lucas didn't like school as much as you, he liked dinosaurs better. He liked football and baseball too."

"You miss him?"

"Every single day. But I want you to know, you don't have to be like him. You just have to be you. I don't need you to be a replacement. I just need you. Lucas and your mommy are in my heart and they are in yours too. Anything else?"

"Just two things. Can I have my fishing pole back? And I love you!"

"I love you too."

They spent the next hour pretty quietly; Matty even caught a good sized fish. He was thrilled when Mike took a picture with his phone. Mike texted it to both the girls and Tom. He didn't know who Tom was but Mike explained to him that he was a really good friend and would be like an uncle to him. Matty immediately asked when they would meet him. Mike knew that he would have to get Tom and Sasha to the farm at some point.

After releasing the fish back, Mike and Matty headed to get Hannah and go to Grace's for supper. Matty hadn't said anything more about his mom and Mike actually was glad to be able to talk to him about her and Lucas. It was cathartic. Hannah was in a good mood but told Mike she needed help with her homework. He showed her a picture of her finished bedroom but told her they didn't have any pictures hung up or any décor stuff. Matty had his headphones on and wasn't listening.

"I know you and Grace are going shopping and that's fine but could you and me go sometime? Just me and you? It doesn't have to be to pick stuff out for my room. I just want to go with you and spend time with you. I know I've been really mean and you probably don't want to…"

"Hannah, I would love to spend time with you. I don't like some of the stuff you've done and there will be consequences but that doesn't mean that I don't love you and want to spend time with you. We can go Saturday. I'm sure Grace won't mind spending the day with Matty. Just think about what you want to do. I will tell you, I am okay what you've been wearing today and yesterday but your other clothes, the revealing Goth stuff, goes in the trash or give it away. I will buy you new stuff if you don't have it. That is a must. Otherwise, we will do whatever you want, provided it's legal."

"Okay. Do you remember when we used to go bowling?"

"Yep. Is that something you want to do?"

Hannah didn't need to even answer because she gave him a massive smile. They had pulled up to the apartment by then and Mike lifted Matty down and held his hand and threw the other arm around Hannah. Mike was concentrating on both the kids and didn't notice a guy walking up to them but he did feel Hannah tense up under his arm.

"Hannah, you and I need to talk now." The man had ahold of her arm and was gripping it tightly. Hannah was getting as close to Mike as she could and Matty was already hiding behind Mike.

"And you are?"
"None of your damn business. This is between Hannah and me."

"Well she is my business and she is terrified of you." Mike had noticed Alec and Maggie come out of the restaurant and started walking up towards them. Something about Alec's body language had him worried and the man didn't see him coming at them. The man had dropped his hand off of Hannah's arm thankfully but she had ahold of Mike's shirt.

"Admiral Slattery, do you need some assistance with Daniel here? He's the one you and I spoke about."

"Yeah. Hannah and Matty go in with Ms. Maggie please. Sheriff and I are going to have a little conversation with Daniel here."

Both kids released their grip on Mike's hand and shirt and headed towards Maggie who ushered them into the restaurant. A deputy had also showed up and was standing next to Mike.

"So what's your business with a fourteen year old and why is she so scared of you? Not to mention the fact that my five year old is terrified of you too."

"She owes me money."

"For the marijuana that you've been trying to get her to sell at school?" Alec had come up beside Mike and had a grip on his forearm. The deputy was not holding Mike but was close enough too. He did have ahold of his tazer and seemed equally as nervous as the sheriff.

"That's none of your business."

"Oh but it is. You have been trying to get several young girls like Hannah to sell drugs for you at the school. It's not just marijuana but methamphetamines too. When you get them hooked and they can't afford their habits you prostitute them out. Only Hannah threw off your plan. She never got into the meth and smoked up the marijuana herself. And then she had a change of heart when her dad came to town and decided to apply herself at school, be a better kid, make him proud of her. Now you're here to collect money for the marijuana or you'll what? Rape her?"

"I'm not saying anything 'til I talk to my lawyer…"

"I haven't arrested you yet, you idiot!"

"You prostitute fourteen year olds out for drugs?" Mike felt sick to his stomach. It explained a lot where Hannah was concerned. He just wished she had told him what she needed. He could tell Daniel was a piece of work and he was shrinking away from the three of them and finally just turned around and headed to his car. Mike knew Alec didn't have enough to arrest Daniel for but he was obviously working a case. The deputy had gotten a call over the radio and left Alec and Mike standing on the sidewalk.

"Okay, I am going to move the two younger kids in with me. It's a bit sooner than I planned but it might be safer for Hannah. I don't think I can convince Grace to move though. I might be able to get her to stay with me for a couple days. If she doesn't, can your department keep an eye out for her? I had planned on moving them in anyway once they got a little more adjusted to me being here."

"Sounds like a plan. When we go in and get the kids, write down directions to your house so if something happens I can get guys out there quick. I have read your file and know that you are more than capable of protecting yourself and those kids but I just want to make sure."

Both men walked into the restaurant and Mike wrote his directions down. Hannah and Matty were sitting in a booth eating a plate of French fries. Mike could see the tears streaking Hannah's face and he planned on talking to her alone. Alec took Matty up to Grace and explained the situation to her. They would eat supper and Mike and Hannah would go for a ride. He could tell Hannah was nervous and scared and his heart broke for her.