Together Again

Chapter 1

Christine Slattery was more tired than she wanted to admit but she had just bought her first house. She had given up on Mike finding her and the girls, and they needed to be settled. She found a little three bedroom, two bath ranch style home and set about redecorating it and making it her own. The girls were thrilled to have their own spaces and were doing well. Christine had gotten a job as a dispatcher, something she had done years before and loved every minute of it.

She had tried a thousand different ways to get to Mike. It wasn't that she didn't want to connect with him. She missed him everyday, but so long after; it just didn't seem to be in the cards. She had called his office, but his secretary didn't believe her and so she had to go on with her life. Hannah, in particular missed her dad. Katie was angry about Mike not finding them and wanted nothing to do with him.

The department she dispatched for was relatively small, and Christine was in charge of the paperwork and training. It led to some long days, but Katie was grown and Hannah was nearly grown. They didn't need her so much anymore. It was during those lonely hours, that Christine really missed Mike. The sheriff had called Christine into his office to go over one of the new training programs for both the dispatchers and deputies. She walked in and noticed there was coffees and pastries set up on the table in the sheriff's office.

"Please help yourself. Our guests should be here momentarily. It will likely be boring so my secretary set that up." Sheriff Gray said as he signed off on some paperwork.

"Thank you, sir. I worked the overnight shift, so coffee is a no-go for me." Christine answered, before selecting a pastry, some fruit and a bottle of water.

"Well, hopefully we can get you out of here relatively soon. Do you work tonight?" Sheriff Gray asked.

"No, thankfully not. My younger daughter has a volleyball game tonight though. I will need to get some sleep today so I'm not exhausted." Christine explained.

"Ah, yes. My granddaughter is also playing. I am so glad Hannah and Mallory hit it off. After all the troubles she had last year, Mallory needed a good friend." Sheriff Gray said. He and his wife were raising their granddaughter, who had struggled with drugs. She was a recovering addict and for whatever reason, she and Hannah were as thick as thieves; with a lot of supervision.

"Hannah needed one too. Good for both girls." Christine answered before Sharon, the sheriff's secretary opened the door and stuck her head in.

"They're here. Let them in?" Sharon asked.

"Yes. We're ready." Sheriff Gray answered. He stood up and Christine sat her water and plate of food down, just as the 'guests' arrived. As soon as they entered the room, Christine knew things were going to change, hopefully for the better.

"Mike?" Christine said as moved towards him, glad she had sat the food and water down. She would have dropped it if she hadn't.

"Christine?" Mike said, also moving towards her.

"I guess you know each other?" Sheriff Gray remarked.

"Yes, he's my husband." Christine answered just before she reached Mike. He immediately pulled her into a crushing hug, and hung onto her for dear life.

"Sir?" Mike's young secretary asked.

"Let's give them a moment. They've been apart for a very long time." Sheriff Gray said before showing her out of his office. All that mattered at that point was being in each other's arms finally.

"I've missed you so much." Christine cried into his chest.

"I've missed you too. The girls?" Mike asked. She pulled away but kept her arms around his waist. She could see the pain in his eyes.

"They are both okay." Christine said simply. She would have to explain later how Katie was upset with him, and how much Hannah missed him, but that would wait. At the moment, all that mattered was Mike knowing they were alive and well.

"Thank God." Mike answered before pulling her back. She laid her head back on his chest and closed her eyes in sheer bliss. It was the moment she had waited for for almost six years.