North Stars

Chapter 2

It had taken Christine Slattery a lot of years to work up the courage to find Mike again. Fear that he would blame her for Lucas' death. Shame for the shape their marriage had been in. Concern that he might have found someone else and that she didn't look the same. She had seen pictures of Mike. He had aged too but her hair was salt-and-pepper gray. The girls were at the hotel and Christine waited at the dock in Florida, watching the stars and waiting as the Michener docked.

She knew the process and that Mike would make sure the young sailors and injured crew were off before he departed. He was one of the last off. He was too focused on a young sailor who was talking to him, that he didn't see her until she was three feet away. In fact, the young sailor spoke up first.

"Ma'am, can I help you?" The young sailor asked. Christine nodded and then met Mike's eyes. He instantly recognized her.

"Bell, can you let Admiral Chandler know that I have an engagement and will check in on him tomorrow afternoon. Let him know I am okay. Maybe tell him that…Christine is back. He'll know what you mean." Mike said.

"Yes, Sir." The sailor answered before walking away. Once he was a few feet away, Mike closed the distance and pulled Christine into a stiff hug. She could feel the tension in his shoulders and wondered if he was just hugging her for lack of anything else to do.

"The girls?" Mike asked into her hair. Christine pulled away but kept her arms around Mike's waist.

"They are at the hotel. I wasn't sure what I would find when I got here and I didn't want them to be disappointed or hurt." Christine answered.

"I want to see them. I've missed you all." Mike said simply.

"Have you?" Christine asked.

"What kind of question is that? I've spent five years thinking my family was dead! Where have you been? Surely you could have found me before now." Mike demanded. Christine knew she had to de-escalate Mike and she could also tell he was exhausted and overwhelmed.

"Mike; let's…find a coffee shop or go for a walk. I know I have a lot to explain, but there are so many people around." Christine suggested and Mike nodded.

"Let's just take a walk." Mike said. Christine nodded in agreement and they began walking. She directed him towards the hotel she was staying in and he looked at her in confusion.

"The hotel is a couple blocks away. Give us time to talk." Christine said. She was surprised a little when Mike took her hand and they walked several yards before he spoke.

"Christine; please. Just talk. I need to know why." Mike begged. For a moment, Christine looked up at the sky and prayed. The night was cloudy and wet. Occasionally, she could see stars peeking through the clouds. It gave her a tiny amount of hope.

"After I spoke with you, the safe zone quickly become unsafe. Hannah was infected…I got her back to the house and found the cure you left. I was able to give it to her in time and it took a bit of time to get her back to normal. She still has a scar on her chin from it, but otherwise; she's okay. Katie and I both didn't catch it. I was scared. Terrified. I knew the way I spoke to you and then Hannah almost dying…I was afraid of what you would do if you found out. I hid and I hid the girls…but as internet and such came back; they wanted to find you. They've missed you and I had to get over the fears." Christine explained.

"I thought you and the girls had died. I can't tell you how many times I just wanted to put a gun to my temple and just end it all. The pain…the nightmares. Staying away put me through hell. I never gave you a reason to fear me, did I?" Mike asked.

"No. You were always an amazing husband. I suppose I was afraid of rejection. That you might have found someone else. Or that because of Lucas dying and Hannah having been so sick…that you would blame me." Christine said.

"I went back to the house and had investigators." Mike pressed on.

"I found a car to drive and packed the girls and I up. Then I found a farm in Arkansas. We hid there. Through the government take over, the famine and this latest trouble. Then the internet came into our area and Katie started looking for you. She was almost desperate to find you." Christine continued.

"And she and I fought like cats and dogs." Mike remarked with a laugh.

"Regret does a lot. Both girls have missed you, but I think Katie was the one who would have left to find you. I finally just packed them up and headed here. Figured it was better if I surfaced. A little more street smart than Katie." Christine admitted.

"Probably so." Mike remarked. Christine looked up the sky and smiled. There were more stars.

"Are you ready to go inside and see your girls?" Christine asked.

"Yeah. I have to say; I am starving. Due to combining crews and then taking on Marines, we were under restrictions. I haven't ate since yesterday. Does the hotel have room service?" Mike asked.

"Yes. But I'm only paid 'til tomorrow. It was all the money I had." Christine answered.

"Its fine." Mike said. They walked into the lobby and then to the elevators. Christine could tell Mike was nervous.

"Mike; they are excited to see you." Christine assured him.

"I…am scared of how I am supposed to act around them. When I left, they were young. Now…Katie is nineteen, Hannah is fourteen and Lucas is gone." Mike said.

"Just start with hugs. That is all they really want." Christine said.

"That's easy, I suppose." Mike answered.

"So, I have two adjoining rooms. I can stay with the girls if you'd rather…" Christine started and Mike smiled.

"I'd rather you didn't. No, as much as I need to get to know the girls again; you and I need to get to know one another again. That won't happen by sleeping separately." Mike answered. They stepped out of the elevator and Mike gave Christine a kiss on the forehead.

"I feel like I've found my north star again." Christine said.

"And I was just thinking the same thing." Mike answered. He gave her a kiss and then she pointed at a door.

"Here we are." Christine told him before unlocking the door. She opened it for Mike and both girls began squealing. Mike had only gotten about two feet into the room before both girls were hugging him and talking a mile a minute. "I'll order you a cheeseburger and fries before the kitchen closes." Christine said as she rubbed Mike's back. Somehow, he handed her his wallet and nodded.

"Order for you and the girls too. I won't eat in front of you, knowing money has been tight. You've probably not eaten well either." Mike said before concentrating back on their daughters. It only made Christine smile in response. It was just typical Mike and she was excited to have him back again even if she didn't understand why.