Together
Chapter 24
They settled into life with a newborn and a preschooler and Mike was able to visit every weekend. Thankfully, Grammy being there helped greatly, but she was getting older and arthritis was taking over her body. Christine could tell that it bothered Mike to watch his beloved grandma going downhill.
On Hannah's first birthday, Christine found that she was pregnant again. To say that Mike was less than thrilled was an understatement. He didn't want another baby so soon. It caused a lot of fights and Mike barely came home anymore. One weekend, after he hadn't been home for a month; he strolled in on a Saturday morning; still drunk from the night before. It did nothing for Christine's mood.
"Nice of you to join us." Christine said after the girls went to the backyard to play and Grammy laid down for a nap.
"Been busy." Mike said as he looked through the fridge.
"I've been busy too, but you didn't bother to even call after my doctor's appointment." Christine remarked with her arms crossed over her chest.
"To hear you gripe? No thanks." Mike said.
"Mike; the doctor thinks I will have to have a C-section. If the baby doesn't turn, it could be a breech birth. She wants to schedule me for it." Christine answered. He shrugged.
"If its scheduled through the week; I won't be there. You know that." Mike said.
"I am sure you could get out of a class. You surely don't want to miss your child's birth?" Christine asked.
"A baby I don't want. I told you I was satisfied with Katie and Hannah." Mike remarked.
"And you were the one that didn't wear a condom. Remember; I can't take birth control; so it was on you." Christine said.
"Mmm. Maybe I should just abstain from here on out…at least with you." Mike said. It went all through Christine. Mike had never been so cruel but something had changed in him.
"You know; you have responsibilities here at home. I support you in your career, even when it meant uprooting myself and our daughters mid pregnancy. I make sure; when you do come home, you have a good meal. The girls are happy and healthy and I take care of your grandma. If you want to spend your time out there, doing God knows what, that is on you. Just remember; you never wanted to your father. And you aren't doing anything illegal, but you are cut from the same cloth." Christine told him before walking out of the room.
Mike left soon after their argument, and on Monday; Christine had a doctor's appointment, and afterwards; she was admitted to the hospital for a C-Section. The cord was wrapping itself around the baby's neck. She was terrified; and of course, Mike didn't answer his cellphone. Thankfully, Kathleen had arrived to help Grammy with the girls. Christine had called Mike's dormitory and gotten the run-around, so she allowed herself to be prepped for surgery, and prayed that Mike would be there when she came out of surgery with a hopefully healthy baby.
She was in and out of consciousness, but she did hear the baby's cry and the nurse tell her it was a baby boy. Mike would be thrilled. Even though he loved their girls, he had always hoped for a boy. But, before Christine could hold him, she heard alarms going off and things began going black.
"Christine; a cyst just ruptured. I am going to have to do a hysterectomy, as we discussed." Dr. Adams said.
"My husband…" Christine moaned.
"We'll call him but there isn't time to wait. You will bleed to death." Dr. Adams answered.
"The baby…is he okay?" Christine asked.
"Yes. He is fine." Dr. Adams answered and she nodded.
"Go ahead…tell my husband I love him in case…" Christine said.
"We will but you'll be fine, honey." Dr. Adams assured her. She liked the older doctor and how straightforward she was. It was what she needed at that point, especially since Mike was not so straightforward anymore.
She woke up several hours later in severe pain. It felt like someone had taken a hammer to her lower abdomen. The nurse helped her up and to the bathroom and the baby was brought in. He was absolutely perfect in every way. He looked a lot like Mike and the nurse asked her for a name.
"I wish my husband was here to help me decide. Where is he?" Christine asked.
"We've been unable to make contact. I've tried myself several times. Things got a bit…rough during surgery. He needed to be here, making decisions. I believe Dr. Adams is speaking with people at the Academy. Now; any names you were interested in?" The nurse; Sandra asked.
"He had mentioned one he liked. Lucas. I like it too." Christine said.
"Honey; you have done this pregnancy alone. You did this very difficult birth alone. You get to pick the name. Do you like Lucas?" Sandra asked.
"I do. Lucas Michael." Christine said with a smile as she stroked the baby's chubby cheek.
"Alright. Are you going to try and nurse?" Sandra asked.
"I'd like to. I struggled with it with Hannah." Christine admitted.
"Well, different babies are different. You might be able to with Lucas. Let's try. I'm sure he would like to eat." Sandra said as she helped Christine get situated. Lucas latched on immediately and watched Christine the entire time.
"He reminds me of Mike. He's very intent." Christine remarked.
"I am going to leave you with him, but do not try and overdo. You had a major surgery, and you are not going to come out of it too fast. Call for us and we will help." Sandra said.
"I am just going to lay here and enjoy him. He is a good baby." Christine agreed.
"Yes, he is. Remember, skin-to-skin contact too." Sandra said before leaving the room. It gave Christine the time she needed with the baby, but she only found herself missing Mike. Where was he? But more importantly; how was she going to get him back to his family before his Naval career started and he would be gone for months at a time? She missed her husband deeply.