Together
Chapter 28
"Can I sleep in between you and Mama, Daddy? I know that I'm supposed to be a big girl and make Hannah feel safe, but please?" Katie asked Mike. He and Christine exchanged a look, because they didn't typically let the kids sleep with them. It had not been an easy conversation and there had been plenty of tears.
"You bet." Mike answered.
"Why don't you go put your pajamas on and brush your teeth?" Christine suggested.
"Okay." Katie answered. Both Mike and Christine gave her a kiss on the forehead before she ran off to her bedroom.
"That was rough." Mike remarked as they turned their bed down and Mike put a pillow in the middle for Katie.
"It was but I think she handled it well." Christine said.
"As well as an eight-year-old can. I'm still pissed that I had to have the conversation." Mike told her.
"Just make sure she knows you're not mad at her. I understand the frustration, but she doesn't understand." Christine remarked.
"Given." Mike commented. Just then, Katie came back in wearing her pajamas.
"I'm ready." Katie said.
"Is Hannah asleep?" Christine asked.
"Yeah. I was quiet in there." Katie answered.
"Lets go to bed." Mike said. He picked Katie up and put her on their tall sleigh bed. She giggled a bit but settled in the center, and within a moment, both Mike and Christine joined her. She immediately cuddled closed to Mike and Christine put her arms around her. Within just a few moments; she was sound asleep. Mike tucked the blankets around her and smiled over at Christine. "Not our normal Friday night." Mike remarked.
"It's okay this one time. She needed us." Christine answered.
"Thank you for being so good to her." Mike said.
"Its not like its hard. She is a sweetheart and I love her." Christine commented.
"And I love you." Mike said. He leaned over his oldest daughter and gave Christine a kiss.
"I love you too." Christine answered. He put his arms around both Katie and Christine and settled in; glad one of the hardest conversations he had ever had and would probably ever have was over. Now all he had to do was heal Katie up and take care of Grandma Hannah.