Years and Memories
Chapter 26
To say that Mike and Polly were worried sick about their youngest son would have been the understatement of the year. Tommy wasn't eating and would barely sleep between Mike and Polly. They didn't even attempt to make him sleep in his own room. They had no idea how to solve it. It had helped a little when Tommy saw Matty at church and then later for their family dinner but when Tommy asked Matty where Max was, all Matty could tell him was that Max was working. It had made Tommy cry. The only comfort that Tommy seemed to get was by getting to hold Charlotte. He had a good bond with the baby girl who reserved most of her smiles for him.
Mike had to sit aside all his concern for Tommy who had stayed home from school with his mom and baby sister to go with Hannah to her appointment on Monday. He was scared and nervous about that. Max was already at school when Mike got to Hannah's however Matty wasn't. He met him on the stairs on the way up to Hannah's apartment.
"Hey, Dad! I have a baseball game tonight at six. I understand if you can't be there…" Matty had paused for just a moment and Mike rubbed his arm.
"Provided how today goes. Max playing too?"
"Yep." Matty put his backpack on his back and gave Mike a smile. It reminded Mike of Christine which was oddly comforting.
"I will definitely try to make it." Mike had let a yawn out and then smiled at Matty.
"Charlotte keep you guys up all night?"
"No, she sleeps from about ten until about three before she needs fed and then sleeps til about seven. Tommy's having a rough time. He didn't sleep at all last night. He just cries. Isn't eating. Mom and I are really worried. He misses you guys." Mike didn't mean it as a guilt trip, especially where Matty was concerned. As time progressed he had found himself getting angrier at Max, which also wasn't right. Tommy was generally always happy and very mischievous. To see him so depressed was upsetting to Mike and Polly.
"Bring him to the ballgame tonight? And would it help if I stayed the night? I feel bad." Matty was rubbing his face and Mike could tell he was upset.
"I can't. Mom and I held him out of school today so he can't be at a sporting event. I wish I could. As far as staying the night, maybe but he misses both of you boys. This was not something I figured would happen. The only time he smiles is at Charlotte. He loves his little sister."
"I should have realized it. I will mention it to Max. See what happens. I'd better get to school. Love ya, bye!" Matty gave Mike a quick hug and ran down the steps. Mike yelled that he loved him too and then headed up the rest of the way up the steps. He just hoped that Hannah's always happy-go-lucky mood would rub off on him. He knocked on her door and was greeted by her smiling but swollen face.
"Hey, Sis. What's with your face? It looks swollen." He had also noticed she was holding her mouth oddly.
"Hey, Daddy. How are you? I am well. Your face looks tired." Hannah's smile was a little off but at least she was joking.
"I am tired but I am worried about you. What's going on?" He had followed Hannah into the apartment and she filled his coffee cup up.
"Tooth. I think it's my wisdom teeth. Not sure. Hurts like…well, you know."
"Have you called a dentist?" Mike wet a clean wash rag with hot water and pressed it to the side of Hannah's face, not caring about her make-up.
"Daddy, dentists cost money. I have dental insurance but there's still a copay and I refuse to take more money from you. Let's just get to Doctor Grant and see what he says." Hannah was proud, even more so than Grace. Mike hated seeing her in pain but knew that she wasn't going to be convinced until after her appointment with Doc.
"Alright but I am keeping an eye on you. Let's go." Mike wrapped an arm around Hannah and kissed the top of her head. Between a bad tooth and her upcoming appointment, Mike was worried about Hannah. She locked up and they headed downstairs and to his truck.
On the way to the appointment, Mike and Hannah went over details for her upcoming wedding, talked about Tommy, and the concerns where Max was concerned. Polly had always joked that Hannah should have been a therapist and Mike felt better just talking to her. With Grace, the old issues and resentment came up and Mike didn't feel comfortable talking with his younger kids like he did with Hannah. He could be a complete open book with Hannah and she just soaked it in. Aside from Polly and Tom, Hannah was Mike's best friend. It was especially odd since she was his daughter and there had been a point in time that Mike barely acknowledged Hannah.
They got to Doctor Grant's early enough and the nurse drew some more blood from Hannah. She was still so fragile from her bout the year before that Mike was terrified. She would not be able to withstand another fight against Leukemia. Mike was sitting next to her and had her hand in his when Doctor Grant came in. Part of the appeal with Doc was that he went straight to the point and as soon as he sat down, he started.
"Okay. The good news is, the Leukemia is still not showing up. The bad news is, something is screwing with your levels and the blood is telling me you have an infection. So, what's going on?" Mike liked that Doctor Grant spoke to Hannah in general terms and was at times, even a bit fatherly to her.
"I feel fine…" Hannah was fibbing and normally Mike would have kept his mouth shut but he knew Hannah wouldn't tell what was going on.
"Would a bad tooth cause that?" Mike gave Hannah a sideways glance and Doctor Grant cocked his head as he looked at Hannah.
"Could. Hannah, your face does look swelled. How long have you had a toothache? Open up." Doctor Grant took a tongue dispenser and examined the inside of Hannah's mouth. Once he finished, he gave Mike a look. He threw the tongue dispenser away and sat back down.
"A couple weeks. It's not a big deal. Just a tooth. I probably just bit down wrong."
"Nope. You have an abscessed tooth, and it is pretty inflamed. I also see your wisdom teeth are pushing against the others. I am no dentist but you need to have those wisdom teeth pulled along with the abscessed one. My guess is that the infection is leeching into your blood stream. It happens. I am going to put you on some antibiotics and refer you into an oral surgeon who's a friend of mine. You'll like her and she does have a sliding scale if that's a concern."
"We'll figure out the money side. What a relief!" Mike knew Hannah hated going to the dentist but it was better than the alternative.
"Says the guy that has never had a cavity or any dental problems in his life." Hannah smirked at Mike and they all stood up. Hannah had gotten her mother's dental issues where Grace and Matty had inherited Mike's perfect dental record.
"Hey, you'll get good drugs at least. I've seen you on laughing gas. It's hilarious." Doctor Grant was laughing at Mike and Hannah's antics and spoke with the nurse for a second.
"Okay, Hannah, I am calling in a prescription for some pretty strong antibiotics and we'll call the oral surgeon. They'll call you with an appointment time. My guess is that they'll do a consultation and then the surgery. I also want to recheck you in a month to make sure your counts are evening out. So the big day is coming? I got the invitation and plan to be there with my wife."
"Great. Yeah, two months. And just a word of warning, my dad will cry." Doc had escorted them to the door and gave Mike a look. It was something only dads would understand.
"Yeah, well I did too. No judgement here. Have a great day." Doc gave Hannah a hug and shook Mike's hand and then they left the office.
"So, lunch? Something soft?" Mike asked Hannah as they got in the truck.
"Pancakes? Whatever you want."
"Hannah, what's wrong?" Mike paused while buckling his seatbelt. Something was off where Hannah was concerned. He knew her too well.
"Just finances, Dad. Nothing else, I promise. Stinks that I can't even afford to take my own dad out for lunch. Stupid leukemia." Hannah so rarely cried that it bothered Mike and he reached over and ran a hand through her hair. It had come back in the same color but curly. It made her look even more like Christine, especially since she had it done in a cute bob style.
"There will come a time that you will be able to and until then I am not worried about it. Matty's solution is to take me and feed me off the dollar menu, with money I gave him. Seriously, sweetie, I am not worried about it. You do plenty for me and this family. We all love you and want to help you. Now, I have looked forward to this time out all weekend. After lunch what do you want to do?"
"I really need to go grocery shopping. I guess I never realized how much the boys ate. My God, Dad!" Hannah wiped the tears and gave Mike a smile.
"You don't want to imagine our grocery bill. It's insane and I wouldn't have it any other way. Let's go."
Mike took Hannah out for the requested pancakes, and then found the place in the mall that they could go zip lining, go cart driving and rock climbing. Despite their highly competitive natures; it was a relaxing time for both of them and one Mike had realized he needed badly. Afterwards, they went grocery shopping and Mike picked up the tab. He knew that Matty and Max living with Hannah was causing her a financial strain. He wanted his boys moved back in with him but there was no telling how long it would last.
After dropping Hannah home with all the groceries, he headed home. When he walked in, Polly was sitting on the couch, letting Tommy hold Charlotte. There were tears on the little boy's face and it just made Mike's heart hurt. He sat down next to Tommy and kissed the top of his head. The little boy kind of leaned into Mike and Charlotte gave him a big smile.
"Hey, buddy. Are you getting tired?" Mike smoothed back Tommy's hair and gave Polly a smile.
"A little. Is Hannah okay?"
"She's fine. She has a bad tooth that's making her sick. She'll get it taken out and will be just fine. How about we give Charlotte to Momma and I'll hold you?" Tommy handed Charlotte over to Polly and Mike pulled the little boy onto his chest. Polly had moved and taken Charlotte to a quilt on the floor. As soon as Mike got settled, Polly put a blanket over Mike and Tommy.
"I told Matty I would go to their ball game this evening. Max is also playing. Do you want to go?" Polly had knelt next to Mike and was rubbing Tommy's back.
"I'd like to but I'd better stay home. Still sore and I don't want Charlotte out in the sun like that just yet. So, just a bad tooth, huh?"
"Yeah. Thank God. Why don't you relax some too? You barely have. I think Matty may stay the night tonight. See if it helps Tommy any." Polly had sat down next to Mike and he could see the exhaustion on her face. She hadn't taken Matty and Max moving out well and had tried to hide it.
"Let me put Charlotte in the playpen and I'll lay down here with you. That is, if you don't mind your big, fat wife so close."
"You are perfect. Absolutely breathtaking." Mike leaned forward and gave Polly a kiss. He was going to need to plan a date day soon for her. She got up and laid Charlotte down in the playpen. Mike scooted over so she could lie down next to him and set his alarm to pick the kids up from school. As soon as she got comfortable, she laid her head on his shoulder and wrapped an arm around Tommy.
Polly and Tommy went to sleep quickly but Mike stayed awake. Charlotte was in her playpen and watching a mobile that Andrea Garnett had had overnighted to them. She was fascinated by it and was happily gurgling and cooing. At two, Mike heard his cellphone chime with a text alert. He was able to get the phone out of his pocket and was shocked to see Max's name on the ID.
"Matty told me about Tommy. I'm really sorry. I didn't think he would react that way. Can I come home? I know you are probably upset with me but I truly didn't intend on that happening."
Mike was in a state of shock. He didn't even thought of Max having that reaction. He had been a little angry at Max but all that dissipated and as much as he didn't want to wake Polly; he needed her input in the response. He wanted his boys home but sometimes he struggled with the optics. He gently shook her awake.
"Babe, sorry, I wouldn't wake you normally but Max just texted. I obviously want him home but I need your help with a response." He handed the phone to Polly and she quickly read it and then started responding. He trusted her to respond correctly. She handed the phone back before the send button was pressed.
"I know you didn't intend on it. None of us imagined how he would react. You are more than welcome back here. You always were. We are not upset with you at all and I understand what you were doing. Please come home. We love you, I love you."
Mike read the message and hit send. For the first time in three days, Polly had a smile on her face. He bent down and kissed her and then rubbed Tommy's shoulder. He thought about letting him read the text but almost as if reading Mike's mind, Polly shook her head.
"Mike, I understand you want to tell Tommy but if something happens and the boys don't come home; it will really break his heart. It's best to just surprise him." Mike nodded at her. It was a normal request. He just was trying to rein in his excitement.