Bitter

Chapter 18

The dialysis was rough on Katie and Christine hated seeing her suffer. Mike did come home for a few days when it first started but it was too much for him. It made Christine laugh. Everyone talked about how brave Mike and his crew were and Mike had all sort of medals from his time on the James during the Red Flu, including a Congressional Medal of Honor, but he didn't have the courage to watch his child suffer.

Jed was wonderful; helping her with the other kids and giving her the courage to deal with Katie's illnesses. Russ Jeter, Tom and even Andrea checked in frequently, and Mike never hesitated to call or email, but he just couldn't bring himself to come home. Anytime Christine voiced a need, especially for Katie; it arrived by the next day.

Then Mayport was attacked. For a few hours, Christine was terrified. Mike had called her that morning to let her know where he would be and that he 'might' arrange a flight home for a couple days. She hadn't counted on him coming home, but knowing he might be laying at the bottom of a bay gutted her. Finally, Tom called her to let her know that Mike was alive but would be unreachable for an undetermined amount of time.

Katie was in dialysis three days a week, so when Mike called, wanting her and the kids to come see him in Florida, she had to say no. He couldn't get back to St. Louis due to work and Christine thought he would be mad, but instead of anger; she caught a hint of sadness. Then one day, while she was doing laundry; Christine heard Katie crying. When she walked back into the living room, she found Katie watching the TV, which was featuring somebody holding a gun to Mike's head. She immediately shut the TV off.

"They say him and some other people have been taken hostage at SouthComm, Mom. We need to know what's going on." Katie insisted weakly.

"No, honey. I will text your dad and have him call you as soon as he is okay, but he won't want you to see that." Christine said. Katie nodded in agreement. She would always do whatever Mike wished. Christine kissed her forehead and stood back up. Once in the kitchen; she took her cellphone out of her pocket.

"Katie saw the news coverage and I know you are busy at the moment. As soon as you can; can you call her and let her know you are okay? She's upset." Christine texted.

Hannah came home from school, having seen the same news coverage and being just as upset. Fortunately, Parker hadn't seen it, only being in kindergarten and Liam was down for his nap when Katie seen it. Christine fixed dinner for her family, and they were just sitting down when her cellphone rang. Mike's name was on the caller ID.

"Mom, phone at the table?" Hannah lectured. It was one of Christine's rules.

"Hush, its your dad." Christine said. As soon as she answered it, Mike started rambling.

"Hey, let the girls know I'm okay but really busy. I would have called Katie but didn't want her to feel rushed. I promise as soon as I can, I will call both of them. If I can get everything handled, I will visit before I get shipped out but can't promise." Mike said, barely giving Christine time to reply.

"I'll tell them. How long will you be in Florida?" Christine asked.

"It depends on how long it takes to get everything together. I might have a better answer in a day or so." Mike said.

"Understood." Christine answered.

"Tell them I love them and will be in touch as soon as possible." Mike said before hanging up.

"Dad is alright. He loves you all and will be in touch soon. Really busy with work. I think since he'll be in Florida for a bit, we might get him a box of goodies together." Christine suggested and both girls nodded. They LOVED putting boxes together for Mike.

"Can I send him my new baseball trophy?" Parker asked.

"Don't you want to keep that?" Christine asked.

"No. I want Daddy to have it." Parker said.

"I bet he'd like that." Katie said.

"I need to run to the store after dinner. I'll pick up some snacks." Christine said with a smile.

"Don't forget the peanut butter cups. Or will you make them?" Hannah asked.

"I will do some cookies and such for it, but will probably just buy the candies so we can get it to him sooner." Christine said.

"We'll work on notes and the boys can do pictures while you're gone." Katie said.

"Perfect." Christine answered.

"I'll clean up supper so you can come straight home and get the boys settled. Then I'll write my note." Hannah said. Of the two girls, she had some misgivings where Mike was concerned, but that was something Mike would have to deal with one day.

"That works. Thank you, honey." Christine said.

They finished eating dinner, and Christine ran to the nearby store to get all of Mike's favorite snacks, ingredients for cookies, some personal hygiene products, and new socks. By the time she got back, Hannah had bathed both boys, cleaned the kitchen up and was helping with drawings and writing her own note for Mike. Katie began helping Christine with the cookies for Mike.

The kids went to bed, but Christine spent the night baking and making home-made candies for Mike. Once the last batch was in the oven, and the box was mostly packed, she sat down to write her own note, something she didn't usually do. Seeing that gun pointed at Mike's head had bothered her far more than she wanted to admit after everything Mike had done.

"Mike,

The kids wanted you to have another box and I hope it gets to you before you have to ship out. I'm having it delivered to your office so hopefully the cookie and candies pass inspection. As I told you, Katie saw the news coverage, but Hannah and I both did as well.

For all of our issues, I didn't like seeing you in so much danger. I know in the past, you've said there is no version of us working this out, but I still hope. That is my right.

Please enjoy your box and remember what I said. Come home.

Love,

Christine"

Christine took the last batch of cookies out, let them cool while she cleaned the kitchen up, sealed them and her note in the box and headed to bed. It was almost two am and it would be rough the next morning, especially since she had to get the kids to school and Katie to dialysis, but she would manage. The box would be shipped out in the morning and would hopefully get to Mike in time.