The Friendship
Chapter 2
Mike was fortunately able to get all of his homework done that weekend, and even studied some, despite Hannah having an earache. He and Christine even managed a little make-out time on the couch until Kaitlyn interrupted them. All in all, it was a good weekend.
He liked the more hands on lessons rather then the classes. It was how he was wired. Because of having been a cop, he had skills that the other plebes didn't have. It was the one area that Tom Chandler didn't harass him about. In fact, he seemed to respect it; even asking Mike about being a Navy Seal.
By midweek, Hannah's ear infection was worsening, and with no insurance, Mike had to figure something out to get the baby girl antibiotics. His only answer was his dad, Ralph. Ralph had been a rough and tumble Navy Seal and then a cop and had raised Mike alone after Mike's mom left him. Ralph was a hard man, and had never told Mike that he loved him, but it was obvious. Ralph would do anything for his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughters. On the third ring, he picked up.
"Hey, Dad." Mike said, wanting to keep things neutral until he had to ask his dad for the money.
"Hey, Son. How's Hannah? Christine told me she thought she had an ear infection." Ralph asked.
"Its getting worse…" Mike answered.
"And you are calling me because you need money for a doctor's visit and prescription?" Ralph asked.
"I didn't want to ask." Mike said.
"I know. I will call the bank and have the money transferred." Ralph said simply.
"Dad, I am sorry." Mike said.
"Don't be sorry. It does nothing. I knew going into this and with small children, that I would be having to help you. You, Christine, and the kids are all I have now. I'm retired. I don't have much else to spend my money on." Ralph said.
"Thanks, Dad. I didn't anticipate it being this difficult." Mike remarked.
"If it gets to be too much, send Christine and the girls to me, but don't you quit. You got accepted and you can make a difference as an officer. I know you will miss them, but it isn't permanent. You can come back on breaks and she and the girls can visit. It will prepare her for deployments." Ralph suggested. It was a concern they both had. Christine would not handle deployment well.
"I've thought about it. She misses Chicago a lot. She wouldn't want to move back into her parent's, but she might think about moving into your house; depending on how I present it." Mike remarked.
"Tell her I need something to keep me busy so the girls will be good to have around, I am a terrible cook, and my housekeeping is horrific." Ralph said.
"You have this all figured out?" Mike asked.
"I've known all year that this could happen. Son, I know it will be hard on you, but you can concentrate on school and I will help with your girls. I just don't want you to give up." Ralph said.
"I won't, Dad." Mike said. If his dad was willing to sacrifice his peaceful life to take in Christine and his very loud children, he could finish school.
"Good, talk to Christine and call me back. I will still transfer that money too. You won't get this done immediately and my grandbaby needs her ear medicine." Ralph said firmly before hanging up.
Mike drove home that afternoon, debating on how to suggest to Christine that she and the girls move back to his dad's house. She thought the world of his dad, but it might be a bit much to ask of her. He walked in, and immediately heard Hannah screaming in the bathroom. He rushed into the room and realized that Christine was giving her a bath.
"She loves bath time?" Mike asked.
"Her temp is at 103. I just didn't know what else to do." Christine said.
"Dry her off and dress her. I'll take her to the urgent care. Dad put money in our account this afternoon." Mike told her.
"Oh, thank God." Christine said. She picked Hannah up and began drying her off, while Mike changed clothes. He stuck his head in Kaitlyn's room and greeted her before taking Hannah and her diaper bag from Christine. The baby girl was lethargic and still feverish. It worried Mike.
It was an hour wait time for them to even get into the exam room and another hour before a doctor came in. Hannah had spit up her entire bottle and was generally miserable.
"Definitely has a double ear infection. She's also got bronchitis that is quickly going into pneumonia. She's dehydrated too, from spitting up so much." The doctor said as he listened to Hannah's lungs.
"Does she need to go to the hospital?" Mike asked. He had picked Hannah back up and held the miserable baby girl close.
"I would like to start an IV. We'll give her some antibiotics and fluids. I'll also prescribe some." The doctor answered. Mike could only groan.
"Can you make sure the medicine is generic?" Mike asked.
"Yes, but I am also going to bring in some paperwork for you to fill out. Do you have a pay stub?" The doctor asked. Mike nodded. He had been paid that day and had the stub in his wallet.
"I do. Was paid today. I'm in the Academy so its hardly anything." Mike answered.
"I figured that much. I'll have the nurse come in to start the IV and get the other stuff in her." The doctor answered. Five minutes later, a nurse walked in, with the IV items, a bag of fluids and a few other things. Once Hannah was settled in the crib, with the medicine flowing into her, Mike filled out the paperwork, gave his paystub to the accounting person and called Christine to update her. Thankfully, the urgent care had a pharmacy attached so Mike would walk out with the meds. Ten minutes later, the girl from accounting walked back in.
"The co-pay will be ten dollars. Can you cover that? We can figure something out if not." She asked.
"I can cover it, but how is it so low?" Mike asked.
"We offer a sliding scale here." The girl answered.
"Alright, and her prescriptions?" Mike asked.
"Fifty cents apiece; and I gather there are four. So, in all twelve dollars?" She asked. Mike pulled out his wallet. He had the cash on him, making him feel foolish for asking his dad for money.
"Thank you." Mike said simply, giving her the money. She had Mike sign a paper and left the room. The nurse was monitoring Hannah and gave Mike a kind smile.
"Her fever is down to 100.2. We still have a bag of fluids and she'll be awake most of the night with wet diapers. Can I ask, does her mother breast feed?" The nurse, Nancy asked.
"No. She's never been able to do that. She tried with both of them." Mike said.
"Alright, I know you told the doctor you all had tried multiple formulas. Can I make a suggestion? Something the doctor would not agree with. I raised four kids, all allergic to formula and they are healthy and happy." Nancy said.
"Go ahead. What can it hurt?" Mike questioned.
"Absolutely nothing. Go to the grocery store. Buy a couple cans of Carnation milk, Karo Syrup, and either buy nursery water or boil tap. Mix it up. I would say half a can of carnation, a teaspoon of the syrup and the rest water. As you do it, you will have to adjust the syrup and carnation; the syrup may give her some diarrhea, and as she grows, she'll need more of the carnation. Also, start her on some cereal as soon as possible. When did you start your older child?" Nancy asked.
"I think six months." Mike answered. Hannah was playing with his hand and had even given him a smile.
"I'd start her sooner. Get her used to the carnation, and then go from there. Will your wife be receptive?" Nancy asked.
"She's exhausted so I imagine so." Mike answered.
"Just try it! She's a good baby girl. All done. Can you hold her while I detach all this?" Nancy asked. Mike picked Hannah up and held her as Nancy took the IV out of Hannah's foot, bandaged her up and took her temp. "99.4, still technically a fever but dropping." Nancy said with a smile.
"Perfect. What do you say, Hannah? Want to go to the store and get some of that milk and syrup? Might help that tummy." Mike asked Hannah, who only gave him a smile. Nancy had tucked the prescriptions into the diaper bag and smiled at Hannah.
"She seems better." Nancy said.
"Much. Thank you for the advice. I will try it out." Mike said. He left the urgent care and walked to a nearby grocery store. Thankfully, they had the items the nurse had mentioned, and he bought them.
As soon as he walked back into the apartment, Christine took Hannah as he fixed the bottle. Christine was strangely accepting of the idea and fed Hannah. She took the entire bottle and didn't spit up at all when she was burped.
"Maybe this is the answer." Christine commented. Hannah was happily cooing and smiling. Mike had gone in and tucked Kaitlyn in. Now was the time to bring up her and the girls moving back to Chicago.
"Yeah. I might have another one too. I just don't know what your reaction will be. When I called Dad for the money; he suggested that you and the girls move back to Chicago, and back in with him. He needs help with his meals and housekeeping. He misses the girls too. It would make me feel better to have someone there with him too. I will miss you and the girls, of course; but it would be easier for you too." Mike said. The band aid was ripped off now, and he watched the emotions play across Christine's face. He put an arm around her and pulled her closer.
"It would be easier, but the girls are so young. I hate them missing so much time with you now. They will miss time with you later." Christine said.
"I know, but there will be breaks. I can visit; you can visit. We can call. I will move into the dorms too." Mike said.
"And you won't…look elsewhere? I know there are a lot of female students there, and it's not like you and I have been able to do much." Christine asked.
"I am only interested in you. I just want to make this easier on you." Mike promised.
"I would be closer to my mom and sisters. I can't imagine that your dad will require me to be there constantly." Christine said.
"No, he won't. I will see if I can get out of class early on Friday; drive you all there and fly back. I will see about getting the apartment packed up too." Mike said.
"I can do that this week and we do have the hitch on the van. We can rent a U-Haul." Christine said. She looked upset but accepting.
"Alright. Babe, I don't want this, but this is not working. We need to do what is best for you and the girls." Mike said as they both stood up. Despite Christine holding the now sleeping baby girl; he pulled her in for a kiss. It quickly become passionate.
"I am going to miss this. She is sound asleep, by the way." Christine said. Mike gave her an ornery smile.
"Let's make a quick change to our bedroom." Mike said. He quickly walked in and moved Hannah's crib into the hallway. It wasn't the soundest parenting, but his wife and daughters would be a thousand miles away by the next weekend. He needed to spend a little time just being a husband. Christine laid Hannah down in the crib and smiled down at her. Thankfully she was already in her sleeper and her fever had broken.
Hannah did wake up a few times that night needing her diaper changed, but she didn't spit any more milk up and went to sleep a lot faster. It gave Mike and Christine time to do what they needed to do.
I know the formula thing is controversial, but it is what my mom used due to not being able to afford formula and the fact that we were allergic to the formula.