Learning to Live Again

Chapter 15

Joey made it through the night and when he woke up mid-morning, asked to see his kids. Mike and Libby got the three kids ready, packed a bag for Tamara and one for Joey. Mike had already spoken up and said he would babysit Andy and Abby so that Libby didn't miss a school day.

Joey was sitting up in the bed when they got there. He looked pale and groggy, but genuinely happy to see his kids and he didn't seem to mind Tamara fussing over him. Mike carefully lowered Andy down on the hospital bed next to Joey and warned him of the various tubes and wires that were all over.

"Do you have an owie, Daddy?" Andy asked before giving Joey a sloppy kiss on the cheek.

"Kind of. My belly got hurt last night." Joey explained. He was guarding his stomach with one hand and supporting Andy with the other.

"Have Mommy give it a kiss. I skinned my elbow last week and she kissed it. Now, its all better! See?" Andy said as he showed his elbow to Joey. It was an adorable scene and Joey smiled at Andy.

"I see that. It looks like it really hurt. Mommy has been here all night, taking care of me. She's done just fine." Joey assured the little boy.

"Joey, we brought you a few things and brought Tamara a bag. Mike will watch the kids while I am at school." Libby explained to her brother as she rubbed his arm. Tamara had gone into the bathroom to freshen up and Mike was holding Abby. As always, Bobby was being perfectly behaved, sitting in one of the chairs.

"Thank you both. I really appreciate it. Of course, Tamara could go home, but she wants to sit tight. Probably to monitor my visitors more than anything." Joey said. He had cuddled Andy close and the little boy was acting like he might fall asleep laying next to his father.

"Joey, this is between you and Tamara. I just want you to realize that you and Tamara have been together for a long time. If she can get past this, let her and work with her. She was devastated last night when she called me, and once we found out that you would be alright, all she wanted was to be with you. Whoever this other woman is, would she do that?" Libby asked.

"No, she wouldn't." Joey admitted as he snuggled his son close.

"So, what's the draw?" Libby asked.

"The thing is, I don't even know anymore. Tam told me to figure it out, but I don't have an answer. I did break it off with…the other woman last night. Before I even called Tamara. I just am not sure there is a go back now." Joey admitted quietly. What he didn't realize was that Tamara had come out of the bathroom and was standing on the other side of Mike.

"I'm here, aren't I? I'd like an answer, but it isn't a deal breaker. All I want is for you to never do it again. You breaking it off means a lot. I understand your job requires a lot, and I am fine with calls and search warrants, but you being gone every single night is bad enough. I have to wonder how many times it was calls and such or if it was her. Joey, you have somethings to figure out, but the kids and I will be here while you do. You won't be rid of us so easy." Tamara said and then leaned down and gave Joey a kiss on the forehead. Mike and Libby exchanged a look but felt like they were intruding on a very private conversation.

"Have they given any indication of a release date?" Libby asked.

"Possible Tuesday or Wednesday. They have to monitor for infection. Sorry that you all are having to watch the kids. I hate that it's causing a problem for you." Tamara said.

"Its not a problem. I don't have work and I don't mind watching them during the day. At night, I'll have Libby and Bobby to help." Mike spoke up.

"I'll help but I can't skip school." Bobby said, very seriously. Everyone laughed at him. Joey ended up groaning from pain.

"I'll just be glad to get home. I'm trying to talk my doctor in letting me go earlier." Joey admitted.

"That is not a good idea. I've been stabbed about where you were. You think you are doing good but then you stretch wrong or breathe wrong. Give yourself time to heal. The kids are taken care of. I had to recover from my stabbing on a Navy destroyer. You're lucky to be able to do it while here and then at home, surrounded by people who care about you." Mike told Joey as he bounced Abby up and down.

"He's right. Just relax." Tamara said. She had sat down on the bed and patted Joey's knee. It was hard to believe that just twenty-four hours before, she was learning of his affair. Tamara was hurt and upset but working through things. Her primary concern was Joey and that her kids were being cared for.

They stayed a few more hours until Joey got tired. He had held Abby for awhile and Andy had napped next to him a lot of the time. The nurse needed to changed Joey's bandage and it was a good time for them to leave. As they got the kids settled into Tamara's SUV, Libby realized that Mike might be curious as to what was going on between Joey and Tamara.

"Did you figure out what Joey and Tamara were referring to?" Libby asked. She had settled into the front seat and put her seatbelt on while Mike got in the driver's seat. The boys were watching a cartoon on Mike's iPad and Abby was putting herself back to sleep.

"Yeah, I got the jest of it. It shocked me, but its one of those things. A lot of couples go through it, its just a matter of getting through it." Mike said.

"I hope they can. You sound like you are speaking from experience, but I don't imagine you cheating." Libby remarked.

"I didn't. Christine did. We didn't ever recover from it, but we also had a reminder of it. No real chance to heal." Mike explained.

"Can I ask?" Libby asked.

"Hannah. I wasn't her biological father. By the time I found out, I had already bonded with her. It really hurt. A lot. But Hannah needed a father and I loved her. Christine was a little aloof with her. I know she loved her too, but Hannah was the visual reminder and Christine didn't handle that well. To me, she was just an innocent little girl." Mike explained.

"You must have healed something in your marriage because Lucas was two years younger, right?" Libby asked.

"We did, but it was not something we could ever fully get away from. When we found out she was a girl, I didn't know she wasn't mine and Christine wanted to have an abortion. I'm Catholic and didn't want that. Then she wanted to give her up for adoption. I didn't understand it until a month after she was born. One of the newborn tests showed that she had a different blood type then me, and Christine had to fess up." Mike admitted. Libby could tell it was causing him a lot of pain.

"So, how do you think they will get through this?" Libby asked, changing the subject.

"Time. Rebuilding the trust. Once he recovers, we might give them a long weekend somewhere. Watch the kids for them when needed. He is going to have to spoil her too." Mike said.

"How so?" Libby questioned.

"It doesn't have to be fancy. Just more help with the kids, cook supper; maybe. I don't really know. Things got reversed with Christine. It will be a confusing time for him. I suspect that she has always supported him in his career?" Mike asked.

"Yeah. They aged out of the group home at the same time. He was joining the Army and wanted me out of there as soon as possible. At the time, I thought they loved each other and had a normal marriage. I only, very recently found out that it was…kind of a sham. Eventually, things happened. They had Andy and fell in love. Up until then, she worked some mediocre secretarial jobs. Worked a bit at the bank while she was pregnant with Andy, but once he was born, she wanted to stay home with him and later Abby until they started school." Libby explained.

"Does she have any family?" Mike asked.

"No. She doesn't talk a lot about it, but I do know that she was left at a hospital when she was a baby. Like us, she was in foster homes and then the same group home we were in. Joey has always taken care of me seriously, and him, Tamara and I have always just been a team. I really hope they work this all out." Libby commented.

"I bet so. They seem to still really love one another. That will help more than anything else. And as cruel as this sounds, his injury will force him to stay home and to depend on Tamara. I don't think he will be able to depend on the other woman, listening to him talk." Mike said.

"I don't know anything about her so I can't say. I am curious about her, but I won't ask any questions. Its really not my business." Libby told him.

"True. I just hope she is someone that he can distance himself from completely." Mike remarked. Something about the way he said it made Libby wonder if Christine hadn't distanced herself from her lover.

"Did Christine?" Libby asked.

"No. It was a co-worker. We lived in Florida at the time. It wasn't until we were sent to Norfolk that she cut things off. I think after she gave birth to Hannah; she stopped sleeping with him but continued communicating. Hannah was about two, and she wanted to leave her with him. My name was on her birth certificate, so I pushed the issue. Legally, Hannah was my child." Mike explained.

"I think I would have been really upset. I can't imagine wanting to leave a child." Libby remarked.

"I am not certain Christine ever really bonded with Hannah. I would like to think she loved her, and I hope that as Hannah died; Christine comforted her if she didn't die first, but I don't know." Mike said.

"That is so sad. I hate that I am dredging all this up with the business between Joey and Tamara." Libby said. She reached over and squeezed Mike's hand that was sitting on the console.

"Its okay. I guess I am just really missing Hannah. Her birthday is coming up." Mike said.

"How old would she be?" Libby asked.

"Sixteen. Kate's sixteenth birthday hit me hard too. I think not having a firm confirmation of Hannah's death bothers me still." Mike admitted.

"Is there any chance?" Libby asked.

"Doubtful. She was only eight." Mike said.

"I am truly sorry. Do you want to do anything for her birthday? Something special?" Libby asked.

"No. I've made a point to not celebrate their birthdays the last eight years. I don't eat cake that day or buy them a present. Honestly, I've stayed to myself, if I wasn't deployed. Of course, with you and Bobby, I won't be able to do that." Mike said. It was then that it dawned on Libby; Bobby was eight years old. Would being around another eight-year-old bother Mike?

"Do you want me to take him somewhere that day?" Libby asked quietly.

"I don't know, honestly. I've never given it much thought. Every year before, I've had nightmares about her…anyway, I don't know." Mike said and Libby squeezed his hand again.

"I'll help in whatever way I can. I don't understand anything you are going through, but I will help if I can." Libby said.

"Thank you. The offer means a lot, but the reality is, no one can. That is why Tom and Sasha are wanting to visit this coming weekend. Its Saturday and Tom always likes to keep an eye on me on Hannah's birthday. He does on Kate and Lucas' too, but it doesn't hit me so hard. Probably all the unknowns with her." Mike said.

"Well, despite the biology and lack of a DNA connection, it is obvious that you loved her deeply and that makes it perfectly acceptable. You are a good man, even if you try to act like an ass." Libby teased him to lighten up the very heavy mood. Mike just grinned at her but didn't say a word. He was obviously thinking about his lost daughter. Libby was wondering about how to look for someone who might have lived through the Red Flu but had been a small child at the time.