Christmas Shock
Chapter 1
Mike wondered through the store looking at Christmas decorations. Since he had retired; he had bought a large farmhouse and was almost finished remodeling it. But, it didn't seem right to not at least have a Christmas tree. He just didn't have a reason to have one. There would be no gifts under the tree, and the holiday would pass by for Mike; sadly of course. He missed his family.
He selected a good-sized Christmas tree, some lights and ornaments. If nothing else, it would give him something pretty to look at for a few weeks. He would also go to Midnight Mass, because that was something he'd always done with Christine and his kids. He didn't think much of God anymore, but he would do it to honor them. He also picked up the groceries he would need for the week, and as he got ready to check out when he focused on a woman. She looked oddly familiar; and as he got closer, he realized why. It was Christine. Her hair was gray and there were worry lines. She had a small calculator in her hand, like she was trying to budget her money.
"Christine?" Mike asked once he was closer. She turned around to face him and almost dropped the calculator.
"Oh, my God." Christine said as her eyes welled up with tears. Mike was finally within arm's reach, so he pulled her into a hug. She just melted into him. He immediately noticed she was too thin and seemed fragile but he wasn't sure why and at that point; he didn't care.
"The girls?" Mike asked and Christine nodded.
"They're okay. I was just trying to get stuff for dinner, but things are so expensive." Christine said.
"Let me…I want to see the girls and I can help." Mike said, clearly stumbling. His marriage hadn't been so strong before. He and Christine had agreed to wait until he returned from the Arctic before filing for divorce. They thought it was better for the kids.
"Of course." Christine answered. She offered him a sweet smile and he gently took the calculator and shopping list out of her hand.
"Where do you live?" Mike asked.
"Its one of those low-income apartments. I had lost my military dependent ID, so its been hard to find a job or good place to live." Christine explained.
"I have a big farmhouse. Its plenty big enough for all of us." Mike told her.
"Good because…I didn't tell you everything when we spoke last. Do you remember that night, about three weeks before you left? We had both been drinking at that barbeque and we had sex." Christine asked.
"Of course." Mike said, even though he didn't remember that night real well.
"Well, apparently my birth control didn't work. I had triplets eight months later. Isaac, Izabella, and Ivee." Christine told him simply. It was a gut punch, but Mike had always loved kids. He had no doubt that they were his. The one thing he and Christine had never done was cheat on each other. He gave her a smile; even though he was a bit overwhelmed.
"How about this…you help me pick out groceries and other items for the kids, so that I can have you all out at my farm for Christmas…and even after. I want you all out with me. I hope you aren't too attached to that apartment?" Mike asked.
"A two bedroom, one bathroom apartment with five kids; including four girls? Mike; no attachment here." Christine joked.
"I have three and a half baths." Mike told her.
"That's enough to convince me. Let's start shopping." Christine said as she put the calculator back in her purse.
"Will they be okay with this? It would be an upheaval." Mike asked.
"They would be absolutely thrilled." Christine said before she began coughing. It sounded terrible. Mike focused on the fact that the grocery store they were in, also had an urgent care attached.
"You sound terrible. First, let's go see about a doctor." Mike said. He took Christine's hand in his own and led her to attached urgent care. Fortunately, they weren't busy and Christine was seen immediately. She had borderline pneumonia and the doctor was not thrilled with how underweight she was. She was prescribed medicine, vitamins, plenty of food and rest; all of which Mike would take care of.
An hour and a half later; he had two carts full of groceries, Christmas decorations and things to keep the kids occupied. He would have to go Christmas present shopping, but he wanted to get home and get the kids and his wife home. Christine had used public transportation to get to the store, so of course; he packed her and all the things that had been bought into his truck. She was thrilled with the seat warmers and heater. She had a vehicle but it was not very reliable and she shared it with Katie, who was also working.
Mike was not thrilled with the area the apartment was in, or the actual structure itself. The heater was not functioning properly and there were drafts everywhere. No wonder Christine was sick. She unlocked the door and gave him an encouraging smile. He was a bit stressed and she knew it. He'd feel better once they were at his house.
"It's gonna be just fine. This is a Christmas miracle." Christine said.
"They may not want anything to do with me." Mike remarked and Christine shook her head.
"The girls have had this hope all these years and they've created some sort of fantasy for the triplets. They are gonna be just fine." Christine said as she pushed the door open. As soon as it opened, Mike heard a happy squeal. Before he even realized it, Hannah had jumped into his arms and was talking a mile a minute. Katie quickly followed, although a bit quieter. The triplets stood back, talking to their mom. He focused on them once Katie and Hannah backed away.
"Hey, guys." Mike said as he sat down next to Christine on the couch.
"Guys, this is your dad. Your sisters and I have talked about him? Mike; this is Isaac, obviously. Izzie has brown eyes and Ivey has blue; like yours. That's the easiest way to tell them apart." Christine explained.
"Mama, where are we going to put him? He's big and there's not much room here." Izzie asked, full of worry. She seemed a bit more calm, where Ivey seemed to be a livewire, due to the fact that she wasn't sitting still and Isaac was just watching Mike.
"Well, we won't be staying here. He has a big house that he wants us to live at." Christine explained.
"It has a yard?" Isaac asked Mike.
"Yes." Mike answered.
"So, we need to start getting stuff packed up. We can come back if we need something, but we'll be there for a long time, I hope." Christine told them.
"Forever." Mike said. The older girls had already started packing things, and Mike immediately figured out that there wasn't a lot to pack. Christmas presents would be some badly needed clothes and toys for the triplets.
In no time; they were on the road. Christine followed Mike in her vehicle with the kids. On the way out, Mike remembered that he hadn't put away his breakfast dishes, or cleaned his master bathroom that morning, but he didn't care. He was already planning which bedrooms the girls would be in, and playing baseball with Isaac in the yard. There would be some busy moments; unloading groceries and supplies, but they were there permanently. As soon as Christine got out of the van, she smiled at Mike.
"Its beautiful." Christine said.
"Thank you. It needs to be a home to a family." Mike commented. The girls were helping the triplets out and Mike put an arm around Christine; knowing she was cold and didn't have a coat. He'd tried to give her his but she had refused. He would go inside and build a fire and make sure she was plenty comfortable.
"We can help with that." Christine said after coughing.
"Let's get you inside." Mike said. He opened the front door and just let his family in to explore. "Make yourselves at home. I'll carry all the stuff in." Mike said.
"I'll help, Dad." Katie said. She had always been a huge help. A good daughter and sister and Mike smiled in response.
"Alright. Christine; just relax. Take your medicine. I'll build a fire when I get in." Mike said and she nodded.
It took over an hour for him and Katie to carry everything in. Hannah had distributed everyone's clothes to the proper places and put groceries away. Some redecorating for the kid's bedrooms would have to happen, but that was a minor problem. Christine had settled on the couch with a blanket and was reading a book to the triplets. Mike built a fire and found a flannel shirt for Katie who was also cold and a bit too thin.
"Tomorrow; can we decorate for Christmas? I saw you had a tree and ornaments." Katie asked Mike as he began cooking soup.
"That sounds good. If you want to go in and sit down with your mom and the others, that's fine. I know you aren't feeling so good either." Mike told her.
"I will. I just wanted to be in here with you." Katie said. Mike smiled at her and hugged her closely.
"Then by all means. Did you find the bedroom you wanted?" Mike asked.
"I want the one with the big picture window and the floral bedspread. Hannah wants the other one with the window seat. We put Izzie and Ivey in the room with the two beds, and Isaac is in the other room; across from your room. Where's Mom going to sleep?" Katie asked.
"The master bedroom." Mike answered.
"With you? Dad…I was still young but even I knew you slept on the couch every night before." Katie asked. It immediately worried Mike. He and Christine had tried to keep their marital issues from the kids.
"Well, maybe this a fresh start for all of us." Mike remarked and Katie smiled.
"I hope so. Mom would never admit it but she has really missed you a lot. I can tell she is really happy right now. Not so worried." Katie remarked.
"I missed her too. And of course; I missed you girls. A lot." Mike said.
"We missed you too." Katie said as she gave him a side hug. He could tell she was running a temperature, but thankfully; Christine had had the foresight to buy some over-the-counter medications as well.
"Go in and sit. I can handle dinner and we have plenty of time to spend together." Mike said before kissing her forehead. She was definitely running a temperature.
"I'm so excited for Christmas." Katie said as she walked into the living area. Mike smiled in response but continued working on the soup; thankful he had already taken it out of the freezer before going to the store that day and that there was plenty to feed his larger family.
Christine, knowing that there was no shortage of food; ate two large bowls of soup and a piece of bread. The older girls also ate their fair share. The triplets also ate and as soon as supper was ate and put away, Christine headed them upstairs to take baths; giving Mike a bit of time with the older girls.
Getting the triplets settled for bed was shockingly easy. It seemed that since they had full bellies and a warm house; sleep would be easily attained. Katie and Hannah also went to bed soon after, leaving Mike and Christine to figure out their own sleeping arrangements. As fractured as their marriage had been, Mike wanted to sleep next to Christine now. He didn't care about sex. She was too sick and didn't have the energy to hash it all out. Finally, he spoke up.
"Why don't we just go to bed? Nothing is going to happen." Mike suggested.
"Together? Mike; its not that I don't want to, but I said some horrible things." Christine asked.
"Yes, together. As far as what was said; I was not a perfect husband or father. Maybe this is my second chance." Mike said and Christine nodded.
"I have to admit; its going to feel good to have you next to me." Christine said before giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"I was thinking the same thing." Mike remarked. He locked the house up, gave Christine his hand and led her upstairs. While he showered; she changed into a flannel nightgown and took her medicine. The nightgown was not at all sexy, but Mike didn't care. Christine settled in next to him and curled as close as she could into his side, just like before their marriage was a mess.
"This feels so good." Christine said.
"Are you warm enough?" Mike asked.
"Mmm. You've always been like a heater when you lay down. It feels really good." Christine said.
"Okay." Mike said as he held his arm up, allowing for Christine to lay even closer. It did feel good to have her close. It was a dream come true. She leaned up and gave him another kiss on the cheek but he went in for a kiss on the lips, knowing he was taking a chance. Thankfully, she didn't pull away. It was something he could have continued had it not been for how sick she was. "Go on to sleep." Mike said.
"Mike; before I do, I know I wasn't perfect before either, but I really do love you. I have thought of that the past five years and what I would do if we ever did find each other again." Christine told him.
"I love you too. Just focus on one thing. This is our second chance. A Christmas Miracle. Let's stop thinking about how terrible we were to each other before." Mike said.
"Deal." Christine answered before giving him a long kiss. He pulled her onto his chest and then wrapped the blankets around her. He had a laundry list of things to do before Christmas, but right now; holding Christine was all that mattered. Getting her and the older girls over their illnesses and getting to know the triplets. Spending Christmas together as a family. Everything would work itself out.
I am going to do another chapter, but it may be later today/tomorrow before its posted. Just wanted a happy little story.