Going Home
Chapter 10
Tommy wanted to have a celebration at home, instead of having a family vacation somewhere else and they waited a full month for him to regain his strength and appetite. The whole time, he added to the guest list, and the food list. It would be a potluck dinner.
In that time, both Mike and Mallory spent time with the other kids. Mike went to the dance with Faith and made it a special night for her with a new dress, flowers, he wore a suit, pictures and ice cream after. They also spent time with their older kids, knowing the girls had sacrificed a lot. One day, about a week before the party, Mike took Emma out for breakfast. She had happily given her dream job up to stay home.
"So, things have been so busy, I haven't had a chance to ask a lot about the new job. How's it going? It isn't Chicago, where you really wanted to be." Mike said.
"I think I actually like it better. I was worried about being so far from home with that other job, rent being so high and just not knowing anyone. Here, I know people, and am close to home. I have been looking at a few condos too. There's a loft I really like, but it's a purchase, not rental." Emma said.
"Can you qualify for a purchase? Those things aren't as stringent as before. Honestly, home ownership is always better than rent. You are just helping someone else with their mortgage. You could be building your own credit and a loft would be low maintenance." Mike advised.
"Well, I checked with everything. I can get the loan, and the mortgage payment comes out cheaper then rent, renter's insurance and all that. Even with home insurance, I would come out ahead. The building I am looking at has both rental and homeowner-owned properties. The problem with the rental is that you also have to rent a parking spot, and you have to pay extra for all the amenities, like the gym, security, parking, etc. With home-owned, all that is rolled in." Emma explained.
"Is there a home association fee?" Mike asked.
"Its minimal, $125 a month, and it doesn't even add up to rent and all the fees." Emma said as she took a bite of her waffle.
"Well, let me ask this then and you don't have to answer. What's the mortgage, insurance and association fees, compared to the rent and other fees?" Mike asked.
"Mortgage, insurance and fees will be $1300 a month. The rent alone will be $1600, plus $250 for insurance, and an added $300 for all the other stuff. And I forgot to mention, the mortgage pays for basic cable, internet, water, electricity and trash. With rental, that is yet another fee. Plus, the loft is bigger than a rental unit, and honestly recently remodeled. I like it better." Emma explained.
"Well, if I was in your shoes, and could do it, I would buy; not rent. What exactly do you need from Mom and I?" Mike asked one final question.
"Honestly, I just want you to look at it. I don't need a co-signer or anything. I want to make sure it isn't too good to be true. If you want, the manager said he could meet us there at eleven." Emma said.
"Well, eat up." Mike said. He had really struggled with Emma giving up her dream, but if she was loving her new job, and buying a loft apartment, he could temper his disappointment. He did like having her closer. He would miss her if she was so far away. He sent Mallory a text that he had to look at an apartment with Emma and would be home later.
They ate breakfast and headed for the apartment building. It was in a good neighborhood, close to Emma's work, but also on the way to Mike and Mallory's subdivision. It had been built a year before and was targeting people like Emma. Young, single professionals. There were also so older couples in the building. They met with the manager, and Mike began inspecting the loft that Emma wanted.
It was a bit too modern for Mike's taste, but Emma seemed to love it. He checked the water pressure, if the gas stove lit easily, the water heater, how strong the steps to the loft area was and asked a thousand questions, involving security, alarm systems and things Emma wouldn't know to ask. He also asked about hidden costs. The only downfall was that Emma would have to buy furniture. By the end, Mike gave his stamp of approval on the apartment. On the way home, Emma smiled at him.
"Thanks for asking all the questions, Dad. I knew they needed to be asked but was afraid the manager was sugar-coating things. I'll have to buy furniture though." Emma remarked.
"I'm sure Mallory would love to help you with that part, and I will paint and hang curtains or blinds. It is a nice place and it fits the security concerns any father would have. Close to work and the house." Mike said.
"Thanks, Dad. I really do appreciate it. I know the past few months have been rough. You were not thrilled that we put our lives on hold, but we wanted to. We wouldn't have felt right to just go on like nothing was happening. I would have hated living in Chicago, knowing how sick Tommy was and that you all needed help." Emma told him.
"I loved having you guys there. I just hated that you all were sacrificing for us." Mike said.
"Well, we didn't feel that it was a sacrifice. We just felt we needed to go home and be a family. If things didn't go so well for Tommy, we wanted to be close. I wouldn't have been able to come home if I was in Chicago, and Sailor would have been deployed again. Hannah was just letting some stuff go that was stressing her anyway. You and Mom mean too much to us to allow you to be so stressed out. Honestly, it didn't feel like we were sacrificing much at all, and like I said, I love my job, perhaps more than I would have loved Chicago. I am close to home, I will have a great apartment, and things are good. Tommy is getting better every day. No sacrifice where we are concerned." Emma stated.
"I really do love you girls. Although, you aren't girls anymore. You three are all women now and I couldn't be prouder." Mike said.
"We love you too, Dad. I just wish that it wasn't wrong to still climb up into your lap and fall asleep. We all miss that. Even Faith was complaining about it." Emma complained.
"All of my kids have stopped doing it. Alex stopped it about a year ago, and I miss it a lot." Mike remarked.
"Just wait a few years, Dad. There might be grandkids in your lap." Emma teased.
"Don't remind me. I am not ready for you girls to be married off. I do like the idea of grandbabies, but that can wait." Mike insisted. They pulled into the driveway at the house and Mike put his arm around Emma as they walked up the walkway.
"They'll have an amazing granddad. You will have them spoiled rotten in no time at all." Emma said with a laugh.
"Still, wait a few years. Enjoy this time in your life. I love having you kids and love every second I have with you all and Mallory, but I also enjoyed the single life." Mike admitted.
"I will, Dad, I promise. Let's go inside. Its still a little chilly out here." Emma remarked and they made their way inside. Tommy was sitting at the kitchen island with Mallory going over his requested foods for his party.
"I really would like those deviled eggs, Mom. And that cake you make with the whipped topping, caramel and chocolate." Tommy said. His appetite had returned with a vengeance.
"A holy cow cake? I can make that, and I can see about Debbie making the deviled eggs. Dad and Tom are handling the meat, but right now, its hamburgers, hot dogs, bratwursts, chicken, pork steaks and some beef steaks. That sound good?" Mallory asked. Emma had gone upstairs, and Mike wrapped his arms around Mallory and kissed the top of her head.
"Yeah. I have the list of people that are coming from school too. Just my ball team, a few friends, less than five, and my coach, his wife and their three kids." Tommy said as he gave Mallory the list.
"Perfect. Your dad and I have invited some people and its becoming a block party more than anything. We also invited some people from my work and church. Just Dr. Crider and a few others." Mallory said as she put the list from Tommy in her notebook. She was ultra-organized and was organizing the party.
"Thanks, Mom and Dad. I know this is all costing a lot, but I do prefer this to a family vacation. I like including other people in our celebration. I love you both." Tommy said. Mallory gave him a smile and pulled him into a hug and Mike wrapped his arms around both of them.
"We love you too." Mike said simply. As he hugged his wife and son, the memories of cleaning an endless amount of vomit up, taking care of his sick son, and neglecting his other children just kind of faded away. They would always be there, but the happier memories were taking over. They just had to get through the stress of the party.
