Found Love
Chapter 36
Mike and Laura Kate visited Wolf the next morning. Mike could tell that Laura Kate really cared about Wolf and he seemed to care about her. He wasn't certain where their relationship would go, and he wasn't wild about the age difference, but he had to respect their relationship. All he really wanted was for his daughter to be happy and she seemed to be with Wolf.
They also went for lunch and went shopping for the meat that Mike would need for the barbeque and some things that Christine needed. She hadn't wanted to take the twins out and Mike was happy to comply. It gave him a good idea on how Laura Kate got around, which was a slow process. If she sat too long, she had difficulty. He had to slow his own rushed pace to help his daughter. Christine had gotten used to it but for Mike, it was a whole new world. As they walked through the grocery store, Laura Kate smiled up at him.
"Sorry its taking so long, Dad. I'm just a bit slow." Laura Kate said.
"Its alright. Will just take some getting used to it. Is…this permanent?" Mike asked.
"Pretty much so. It could be worse though. Therapy was really rough and there were times that I didn't think I would be out of that wheelchair." Laura Kate commented as Mike grabbed a bag of potatoes.
"But you persevered." Mike argued.
"Yeah. I didn't want to stay in that wheelchair. I didn't want Mom to have to deal with that with having the twins." Laura Kate explained.
"I appreciate that. She said that you hadn't been walking too long when they were born." Mike said as he looked over Christine's grocery list and compared it to the items in the cart.
"No, and I was still in the wheelchair some. Mom had a rough time recovering from her c-section and hated not being able to visit the twins in the NICU. It was kind of an incentive. Josie was also pregnant, and I didn't want to put too much on either of them." Laura Kate told him.
"I appreciate that, honey. Okay, I think we got everything; can you think of anything?" Mike asked.
"I bet Mom would like some of those flowers." Laura Kate said, gesturing a shelf with floral arrangements.
"I do owe her a push gift or two." Mike said as he looked at the arrangements. He finally selected an arrangement with pink roses and lilies. Laura Kate nodded in approval at his selection.
"What's a push gift?" Laura Kate asked.
"A gift that the father of the baby gives the mom after she gives birth." Mike explained.
"But Mom didn't push; she had the C-section." Laura Kate stated.
"All the more reason to get her something. We need to get home but there is a jewelry store next door. Care to help me pick out something a bit more permanent?" Mike asked.
"Sure, did you have something in mind?" Laura Kate asked as Mike and she got in line to checkout.
"No." Mike commented. He really had no idea what to get Christine.
"She has mentioned wanting a mother's ring. I doubt that they would have one ready-made, but you could get one ordered." Laura Kate said.
"True. Is that with all of the birthstones?" Mike asked.
"I think so." Laura Kate told him. It brought up another flood of emotions; Lucas' birthstone. Should he put it on the ring?
"I wonder about Lucas' birthstone?" Mike asked.
"I think Mom would want it on it." Laura Kate stated.
"I just don't want it to be a constant reminder of him. Sometimes, the reminders really hurt a lot." Mike explained.
"I'm sure but I think it would really bother Mom if his birthstone wasn't on the ring. Think about it this way, if we got you something for Father's Day or something and didn't include Lucas in on it." Laura Kate lectured as Mike paid for their groceries.
"You're right. I wouldn't like it so well." Mike agreed. They took the groceries to the truck and then walked into the jewelry store. Within five minutes, Mike had found the ring that he wanted to order.
"You know, Dad; maybe you should wait, what if you and Mom have another?" Laura Kate teased.
"I doubt it. You figured out which engagement ring Wolf is going to get you?" Mike teased back. He knew that Laura Kate wasn't ready for that and he certainly wasn't ready for her to be married.
"No. We're taking things slow anyway." Laura Kate reminded him.
"Good for you." Mike told her as he filled out the paperwork for the ring for Christine. He included Lucas' birthstone on it; knowing Laura Kate was right. He didn't want the ring to be a reminder that Lucas had essentially seized to exist and not putting his stone on it would. He knew he was taking a chance. The salesperson gave him a print out of what the ring would look like and Mike made the purchase. He needed to get the groceries and Laura Kate home and he wanted to cuddle with the babies.
As soon as they got home, Laura Kate laid down on the couch. She had exhausted herself and Mike had to remember that. He put the groceries away, marinated the meat and then went and checked on Christine who was in the nursery with the babies. She was nursing Noah, who only seemed concerned with Christine.
"All groceries are bought, meat is marinating, and Laura Kate is sleeping. How are they?" Mike asked.
"Norah is great, and Noah is great as long as I keep him like this constantly. I had forgotten about cluster feeding. Course, I never actually did that with the others. I just pumped." Christine admitted. She would always feel like she was a neglectful mother and Mike couldn't fix it because she hadn't been very present.
"Is he not getting his fill?" Mike asked. He knew next to nothing about nursing other then when Christine pumped with their other babies.
"I think he is just a piggy. They both had a checkup and the doctor said they are both gaining which is good since they are preemies." Christine stated.
"How much did they weigh?" Mike asked.
"He was four pounds, ten ounces and Norah was three pounds, eight ounces. There was also some lung issues and Norah had a slight heart murmur, but the doc thinks she's growing out of it. They'll monitor it, but he thinks they are in the clear. Later, they may have some eyesight issues, but time will tell on that." Christine explained.
"So tiny. I am sorry about not being home. And you had issues?" Mike asked.
"Yeah, just healing. When they did the c-section, they realized my appendix was near rupturing, so the OB made the decision to take it out. They also tied my tubes at the same time. I had lost quite a lot of blood and required a transfusion. It was rough, and I was not a fan of not going to the NICU to hold and nurse the babies. I didn't get to see them until they were about three days old, but Laura Kate and Josie kept me supplied with pictures. Had just gotten a glimpse of them before they were taken away." Christine explained.
"I feel horribly about not being there." Mike commented. Norah had woken up and Mike picked her up.
"You're here now and that is all that matters. Does having my tubes tied bother you? We hadn't discussed it at all." Christine asked.
"Given the amount of trouble you had, I wouldn't want to chance another pregnancy. I am perfectly satisfied with the kids we have." Mike told her and then leaned down and kissed her.
"Good. That is what I was hoping you'd say." Christine said as they traded babies. Noah was not thrilled with not having his constant supply of breastmilk and let Mike know about it.
"Son, your sister needs to eat too, and Mama needs a rest. Someone has a temper." Mike commented as he burped Noah.
"Yeah, he does. Bath time with Noah is also an adventure. He hates it with a passion, and Norah loves her baths. Sometimes, I think she has diaper blow outs just, so she can have a bath." Christine said with a smile as she looked down at their youngest daughter.
"Hannah loved bath time too." Mike commented as his cellphone rang. It was Tom. He handed Noah back to Christine and answered it.
"Hey, figured you were taking a couple days off?" Mike asked.
"Just worked this morning. I spoke with the President about your retirement. More or less guilted him into giving you full retirement, housing benefits, and insurance on yourself, Christine and the kids until they turn twenty-one. They will also be eligible for educational benefits." Tom stated.
"Was he not willing?" Mike asked.
"Not at first but I reminded him that he had forced you to leave your dying child's bedside. He is wanting to be re-elected and doesn't want that sort of publicity." Tom explained.
"So, you blackmailed him?" Mike asked.
"Not really…or kind of. I made him think it was his idea. Doesn't help that I am retiring, and Russ is too. Word has it Danny and Kara are too. I talked to her today. They are retiring and going to buy a farm in Kansas. Raise chickens, I guess." Tom said.
"You are such a city boy. I would guess they are going to be raising more then chickens. Vegetables, cows, pigs, kids?" Mike teased.
"Probably but you're from a city too. So, what time is dinner?" Tom asked.
"Six. Bring your own adult beverage." Mike ordered."
"Sounds good." Tom agreed.
"Thanks for helping me with the retirement package. Gives me a chance hang out with Christine and the kids." Mike stated.
"Your welcome. Once we both get retired, I thought a fishing trip sounded good. You, me and Russ?" Tom asked.
"I like that idea. See you in a couple hours." Mike said before hanging up.
"Tom got the full retirement package." Mike told Christine.
"Oh, great." Christine said with a smile as she handed Noah back over. Norah was still nursing.
"I had better get out and start getting stuff ready. Do I need to peel the potatoes?" Mike asked
"If you don't care. Wake Laura Kate up enough and lay him down with her. He loves cuddling with her." Christine ordered.
"Yes, ma'am. I love you." Mike said as he bent down and gave Christine another kiss.
"I love you too. And you also love that I haven't had a cover-up on this whole time." Christine teased.
"It was a view that I didn't mind." Mike said as he walked out of the bedroom. He shook Laura Kate up and helped her situate Noah and then started getting ready for the barbeque.
People started arriving by five and had brought several dishes. The backyard and house were crowded, and Noah and Norah were passed around. Mike could tell that several of the female crew members were getting baby fever. Noah even behaved himself. At one point, he looked over and Russ had the baby boy. Mike walked over and immediately smiled at how awkward Russ was.
"You'd better get in practice, holding babies." Mike teased.
"They say its like riding a bicycle, but I don't think so. Noah is squirmy." Russ complained.
"Yeah, Norah might have been a better option for you. She is sweet. He's already ornery." Mike stated.
"Takes after his father?" Russ asked.
"Probably. You ever held a football? Its kind of like that." Mike asked. Instead of attempting it; he passed Noah back over to Mike who tucked Noah into the crook of his elbow, into a position that looked like holding a baby.
"Where did you ever learn that?" Russ asked.
"When Laura Kate was born, I was terrified to hold her. I wanted to, but I am big, and she was this tiny baby. My mom came to the hospital and was visiting and could tell how uncomfortable I was, so she told me to hold her like I was holding a football. It worked until I got more comfortable. Then I figured out how to burp her and all. It just took time." Mike explained.
"And you still do it?" Russ asked.
"Yeah. Just become habit and I think Noah likes it. Norah likes to be up closer, she likes feeling people's hearts beating. Noah likes to look around more." Mike explained.
"You got them figured out quick." Russ said."
"Yeah. I am ready to be home with them on a permanent basis. There are times that I feel like I don't know Laura Kate or Hannah that well. And Laura Kate and I have been doing some talking but we still have some patching up to do. I didn't realize how bad things were with her until just seconds before she was shot. She didn't think she mattered to me. That hurt and then she was shot, and you know the rest of the story." Mike said, obviously focusing on his oldest daughter, who was talking to Kara Greene across the room.
"You'll get there with her. Just be patient. She seems like she is doing pretty good, physically." Russ said.
"She is doing alright, not good. We went and visited Wolf this morning, then to the grocery store and the jewelry store. She came home and napped all afternoon. Christine says she overdoes it easy. With all my time off, I am going to start going to her therapy appointments with her." Mike said.
"So, aside from spending time with Christine and the kids, what's the plan for retirement?" Russ asked.
"I don't know. I got full retirement, so I don't have to work but Laura Kate suggested maybe working part time in her dispatch center. I don't want to be a cop again, so I am thinking about it. What about you?" Mike asked.
"I want to just be at home. I haven't given it much thought other then that." Russ admitted.
"Well, Tom mentioned a fishing trip at some point. We should definitely do that." Mike said as he put Noah up on his shoulder and rubbed his back.
"Yeah, sounds good. Josie and I are going to find out the gender of the baby one day this week." Russ agreed.
"What are you hoping for?" Mike asked.
"A healthy baby. Aside from that, either gender is fine. You were pretty set on having a boy and ended up with both." Russ stated.
"Yeah but I would have been alright with girls too and Norah is a little sweetheart." Mike told him.
"Not like her brother." Russ said just as Noah spit up all over Mike's shoulder. When Mike pulled him off his shoulder, Noah had a smile on his face.
"Yeah, ornery. Noah, lets get you cleaned up." Mike said as he headed for the nursery.
Everyone ate and visited. Several of the crew were retiring and it was probably the last gathering that they would have for potentially years. There were promises to stay in touch and plans to meet up again, but they all knew, it probably wouldn't happen or if it did, they would be missing people. Before everyone started leaving, Christine got them all to pose for a picture. She had also collected addressed and promised to send copies to everyone.
There were hugs and a few tears shed as everyone started leaving. Russ, Josie and Tom stayed and helped clean up. They were making plans for their retirement, including a fishing trip for the guys and a weekend getaway for Tom and Sasha, Mike and Christine, and Russ and Josie. They also talked about renting condos at the beach in the summer for vacation. Sasha was the only one not retiring but Tom was working on convincing her to. It was the perfect beginning to all their new lives.
This is not the end, I plan one more chapter featuring Josie and Russ (and their new baby). Thanks for all the reviews.