Falling Back in Love
Chapter 6
Once Eden was fed, changed and had slept for a couple hours in a comfortable crib, she was the happiest baby Christine had ever encountered. Christine had set the crib up in her room and Debbie had an extra playpen that could be used downstairs.
Hannah loved helping with Eden but Kaitlyn was upset and angry. Her comment to Debbie was that it just proved that her dad had been messing around on her mom. Christine wasn't sure how to handle it and she felt she didn't have a choice. Eden was innocent and defenseless. Christine had read the paperwork concerning Sally. It was discouraging because by the time Sally had realized she was pregnant, the Red Flu was already killing people in the United States, Mike had been in the Arctic for a few months and Sally had voiced wishing she could have an abortion. She hadn't been able to have one and having Eden had killed her. Eden was only two and a half months old.
Christine wasn't sure how she was going to explain things to Mike or even what his reaction to Eden would be. He was a really good dad and she knew he would take his responsibility to the baby girl seriously. Christine had also read the DNA test report and aside from that, Eden looked like Mike. Same eyes, nose and chin. The set of her mouth was the same too.
As the days passed, Christine knew that she was becoming too attached to Eden. Mike might take the baby away when he got home. Christine also knew that her girls were feeling a little jealous. Hannah handled it well enough but Kaitlyn was scared now that Mike had another baby girl, she and Hannah would be forgotten about. Christine knew better and was more concerned that Mike wouldn't bond with Eden.
Mike still hadn't called and was several days overdue. Christine was getting worried and the girls were starting to notice. She hadn't been able to get ahold of Tom or Kara. Tom wasn't terribly surprising but Kara was. Debbie had told Christine that Kara was working a lot. Christine was in the kitchen cooking dinner while Eden was napping when she heard a commotion in the living room.
"Girls, quiet. Eden is sleeping." Christine warned.
"Momma, look; its Daddy!" Hannah responded with tears in her voice. Christine walked into the family room and saw Mike's face on the TV. Broken, bloody, bruised and incredibly pale.
"He looks sick." Kaitlyn remarked. Christine noticed both girls were crying. Mike and a group of his sailors were POWs and the broadcast were from their captors.
"He'll be fine. I'm sure your Uncle Tom is working very hard to find them and you know your dad, he's tough." Christine tried reassuring the girls.
"Mom, if he doesn't live; what will happen to Eden? You're just kind of doing Dad a favor right now. Eden is his responsibility." Kaitlyn asked as her eyes strayed back to Mike's face.
"He'll be fine and I will take care of Eden until your dad tells me different." Christine assured her. Even though Kaitlyn was angry and upset with her father, at least she seemed concerned with the beautiful baby girl.
"Momma, he needs medicine. Daddy looks sick." Hannah said. She was still crying and Christine sat down on the couch between the two older girls and put her arms around them, pulling them close.
"Daddy will be fine. He is strong and he loves the two of you so very much. No way would he die on you two now. You are his world. He doesn't know about Eden yet but he does know about you and he will move heaven and earth to get home." Christine told them. Her own heart was breaking because she still loved Mike and now, he was hurt. She was realistic enough to know, he might not make it home. What would she do without him?
One Week Later
Still no word from the government, Kara or Tom. Kara, Debbie and Frankie were no longer home and Jed Chandler had taken the kids elsewhere. Christine considered packing the kids up but if she did that, it would be harder to be found. Plus, traveling a long distance with a three-month-old was not fun. Staying just seemed like a good idea.
She had had calls from the media but nothing from the President's Office and it was offsetting when Michener killed himself. Mike had told her it would be easy to have a coup due to how fragile the government was. Kara and a journalist had arrest warrants out for them and Christine was confused. Finally, the phone rang and it was the one voice that could put Christine at ease.
"Christine?" Mike's crisp voice came over the line.
"Oh, my God, Mike; what's happening?" Christine asked.
"It's a long story. There's a coup and you cannot trust anyone. Kara is in the wind so you can only depend on yourself. I left some guns under my bed. Get them and keep the handgun on you. Use it." Mike told her.
"Should I pack the girls up and leave here?" Christine asked.
"No. Not because I don't think you shouldn't but I don't know where you would go that would be any safer than there. I don't know when I'll be home. It's gotten bad out here. Don't let the girls watch the news and don't believe anything you hear unless it comes from me or a member of my crew." Mike insisted.
"Mike, you take care of yourself. I'll handle the girls. I don't know if this is a good time to bring this up, but Sally was pregnant. Social Services showed up here a couple weeks ago with a baby and a DNA report. Mike, the baby is yours. I have her with me. Her name is Eden. There was really no other choice and Mike, I'm sorry but Sally died in childbirth. I know she must have meant something to you and this is not ideal. Eden is three months old and she's really a good baby. I didn't know what else to do but to take her." Christine said.
"Oh…God. I didn't know. Sally didn't want kids. I'm shocked she carried her to term. How are the girls adjusting to this?" Mike asked.
"Hannah is okay. Loves helping with Eden. Kaitlyn is struggling a lot and they've both been worried sick about you. They saw the broadcast. I told them you'd be okay. They are worried that you will love them less now that you'll have Eden." Christine explained.
"I can't talk to them. Not enough time but please tell them that I love them so very much. And thank you for taking care of the baby. I know it must be uncomfortable for you and I appreciate you putting that aside." Mike said.
"She's a good baby. Total joy, really. She'll have you wrapped in no time at all." Christine teased. Mike had always been a softie for his girls.
"I hope to meet her soon. Chris, I have to go. Just be careful, please? I couldn't handle it if anything happened to you or the girls." Mike begged.
"We will be but you get yourself home. We love you." Christine said, and then realized she had slipped up. Too late now.
"I'll do that. Take care and please tell the girls that I'm okay and that I love them." Mike said before hanging up.
Christine went to bed that night with a gun on the nightstand next to her. She was glad Mike had taught her how to shoot years before, she just hoped she wouldn't have to. Eden slept through the night and was all smiles when she woke up. As Christine got her ready for the day, she began her own little conversation with her.
"So, baby girl; I finally got to tell your daddy about you. I think he's just a wee bit excited to meet you. You'll like him just fine. He loves babies so he'll make a complete fool of himself for you. I promised him I would take care of you until he got home. Once he's here, I don't know what will happen. Not sure how I feel about you not being here." Christine said as she picked the baby up and kissed her cheek. Christine knew that she had become too attached but Eden was just an innocent baby. She couldn't help that her father hadn't known about her and her mother didn't want her. Christine would take care of and even love the baby until Mike got home, and then she could only hope he would allow her to see Eden.
Two Weeks Later
Christine hadn't heard anything else from Mike or anyone. It was making her nervous. The government and regional leaders were making things really hard. Thankfully, Christine had stockpiled food, formula and diapers. She had essentially holed herself and the girls up. She was scared. Michener was dead and the new President had been kidnapped by Kara and Tex. She felt like a sitting duck. Except that Allison Shaw had seemed to have forgotten about her and the kids.
Late one night, Christine had made sure her kids were settled in bed. Eden had taken her late bottle and Christine had rocked her to sleep. She was cuddling the baby, enjoying the soft little snores and Eden's baby smell. The way her blonde hair curled in place and the length of her eyelashes. Christine had realized that she loved the baby, possibly as much as she loved her kids. She just didn't know how to explain it to Mike. He was just going to have to accept it. She was just laying Eden down and could of swore she heard a door downstairs open and close.
Thinking it was Mike finally returning, Christine ran towards the steps, still wearing her nightgown. By the time she got to the foot of the stairs; she realized that it was not Mike, but it was too late and she didn't have the handgun. There were two men in the living room ransacking things.
"No idea when Captain Slattery is coming home?" One man asked the other. Christine thought about going back up the stairs but knew it was draw their attention. She glanced into the office and saw a letter opener on the desk. She very quietly slipped in, grabbed it and then stepped back out. She could hear the men ransacking the living room and talking back and forth. She didn't know what else to do but to confront them. There were no police to call and Mike was nowhere to be found.
"Hey, what are you doing in my house?" Christine asked. Both men looked at her in shock.
"Slattery didn't send you away?" One of them asked.
"No. Didn't feel we'd be safe." Christine answered.
"He was wrong because you aren't safe here either. Shaw told us we could do whatever. Now, normally; I don't go for women your age but I think we could take turns with you. What do you think, Patterson?" One of the men asked the other.
"Doesn't Slattery have a daughter? Katherine or something like that? I think I'll find her. You can have the mother." The other one said.
"No, you leave my daughter alone." Christine said.
"How are you going to stop us? You don't have a gun and you are only one woman." Patterson questioned. The problem was, he was right.
"Take her, Patterson." The leader ordered as he pulled a knife out. Patterson had edged his way around and grabbed Christine from behind. The letter opener hit the floor and Christine began elbowing and kicking. "Oh, I like a fighter. You must like it rough. Don't worry; I can oblige that and I promise, you will like it better than anything Slattery ever did." The leader said. Patterson was maneuvering Christine to the couch.
"Get your hands off of her!" Mike's voice echoed through the downstairs. Probably a half dozen guys had shown up and had guns pointed at the two men and Christine. Patterson manhandled Christine to stand in front of him and put a knife to her throat.
"I'll kill her!" Patterson yelled.
"It won't matter to him. We were all but divorced. Papers drawn up and just waiting for his signature. You can do whatever you want to me. Just leave my kids alone." Christine said, knowing that Mike needed the distraction to position the guys behind her. He gave her a very slight nod.
"She's right. We could barely be in the same room. Kill her for all I care." Mike said.
"And yet, you stand here with a gun pointed at us." The leader said.
"Yeah, well, the one thing I can agree with Christine on is that we want our kids to be okay." Mike said. Christine was blinking in pain. The knife was digging into her neck and she could feel blood pouring out of it.
"Ouch." Christine finally cried out. She gave Mike a nod and then lifted her left foot, scraping her heel along Patterson's calf and elbowed him in the ribs. Patterson had released her but not before the blade of the knife rammed into her neck. She fell to the ground and heard gunshots.
Mike turned her over and she heard something about getting the medics. Someone handed him paper towels to put pressure on the wound and Christine heard Greene say something about keeping the kids upstairs, but all Christine could concentrate on was Mike's blue eyes, so like Eden's. Eyes she had looked into many times. She could feel everything fade and then go black, all while Mike begged her to hang on.
