Mother's Day Memories

Mike hadn't thought Mother's Day would hit him the way it was. Maybe because he had retired and settled. He had a house finally, and the days become long. He had gotten a dog but the conversations were one-sided. And Mother's Day was just one more holiday that he didn't have anyone to buy anything for and do anything for.

His friends suggested dating, but Mike had still never given up hope of finding his 'girls.' And with Mother's Day, he was thinking about the day Christine had become a mother, his own mother, the fact that Katie was old enough now to be a mother and his own mother. As hard as Mother's Day was, he could only imagine what Father's Day would be like. Saturday evening, he was watching TV when the doorbell rang. Mike wasn't expecting anyone so he was a bit surprised. As soon as he opened the door, he was even more surprised by the woman standing on his porch.

"Christine?" Mike asked with a shaky voice.

"Hey, stranger." Christine said with a laugh. Her hair was almost completely salt and pepper gray, and there were worry lines, but to him; she was still the most beautiful woman in the world.
"The…the girls?" Mike asked. All he wanted was to pull Christine into a hug but he had to know about his daughters.

"They are fine. In the car. Katie's husband is in the Army, so they are out there with the baby. I just wanted to make sure it was okay before we all showed up on the door. And your mom is out there too." Christine said.

"I've missed you so much." Mike said as he pulled her into his arms. He could hear car doors opening, but was concentrating on Christine. Finally, she pulled away.

"Your mom will need help up these steps. And the car seat gets awfully heavy for Katie. Matthew is a chunk." Christine said. He gave her a kiss and then stepped down his steps to help his elderly mother back up them. He turned back around and took a car seat from his oldest daughter, with a sleeping baby inside. Hannah had run forward to help Christine get his mom into the house. By the time he and Katie were in the door, Christine had his mom, Nancy sitting on the couch. Once he settled the car seat down, Hannah ran forward for a hug and a moment later, Katie was hugging him. Finally, Hannah pulled on his sleeve to get his attention.

"Daddy, we didn't have the money to get anything for Mama and Grammy and tomorrow is Mother's Day. And Matthew is too little to get anything for Katie." Hannah whispered.

"We'll go in just a bit." Mike said quietly. Hannah gave him a sweet smile in response.

"You two are already conspiring, huh?" Christine remarked.

"Maybe. Seriously, though; I do need to get some groceries. I don't even have enough of anything for tonight." Mike admitted. He wanted all the answers as to where his family had been, but that would come later. He was glad that he had bought and outfitted such a large house.

"Can you pick me up a bag of diapers too? Hannah knows the size and brand…if she's going with you." Katie asked. She tried to hand Mike some money but he shook his head in response. She was holding the baby and Mike peeked at him for a moment. He was awake now and was moving around and Mike couldn't wait to get his hands on him.

"Anything else?" Mike asked. Christine had walked into his kitchen and was inspecting his fridge and pantry like she had lived there forever.

"I'll write a list." Christine said. He handed her a pen and notebook and settled next to his mother. Katie had fixed a bottle and handed him the baby and bottle.

"Figured you wanted him." Katie said with a smile.

"I did." Mike answered. Mike popped the nipple into the baby's mouth and smiled over at his mom, who looked exhausted.

"I'll show Christine the room I have in mind for you so you can nap before dinner." Mike offered. His mom had always been amazing and it was hard to see her look so frail.

"That would be nice. The car ride was long." Nancy admitted.

"Where have you been?" Mike asked quietly.

"Christine found me after the safe zone and we found an out of the way place and hid out. We managed for a long time, and then Katie met Aaron at work. He joined the Army and found out how to find you and here we are. He's deployed so Katie stayed with us since Matthew is so tiny." Nancy explained.

"How old is he?" Mike asked.

"He'll be two months. Started out a little early so he's a little guy." Nancy answered, obviously adoring her great-grandson. Matthew was watching every move Mike made, while taking his bottle like a champ. Christine and the girls were going through his kitchen and making sure they would have needed supplies.

"Mike; we have a crib for the baby, but it'll need to be put together." Christine said.

"I'll do it when I get back. He's not rolling over, yet; right?" Mike asked.

"No." Katie answered.

"Alright; if he needs to go to sleep, you can lay him in my…our room. It's the first door on the left down the hall." Mike said. Christine nodded with a smile before walking back into the kitchen.

"She's been worried. I know things were rough before and she was scared. Afraid you would have moved on or wouldn't want her back. She doesn't feel as pretty now as she was before." Nancy explained.

"We've all aged." Mike remarked as he looked down at his grandson. Matthew looked identical to what Katie had looked like as a baby.

"Yes, we have. So, I can take him so you and Hannah can go." Nancy offered. Mike handed Matthew over and smiled at the way the baby stretched out in Nancy's arms, obviously feeling safe.

"Alright, Mike. You have quite the list. If you can't get it all today; I put the essentials here and from there we'll figure it out." Christine said, showing him the list and pointing out the essentials.

"No problem. You ready, Hannah?" Mike asked his younger daughter.

"Yeah." Hannah answered. Mike leaned down and gave Christine a kiss and smiled as she wrapped her arms around him.

"I love you. That never changed." Mike whispered in her ear.

"Good. It never changed for me either. I love you too." Christine deadpanned.

"Make yourselves at home. If Mom needs to nap; let me show you the bedroom I had in mind for her." Mike said, as he led Christine into the room for his mom. Christine smiled at the bedroom.

"This is nice. She'll love it." Christine said. Mike gestured at Christine to follow him and led her to 'their' bedroom and on-suite. "Oh, Mike. This is beautiful. This is yours?" Christine asked.

"And yours too, if you'd like?" Mike asked.

"Very much so." Christine answered. She leaned up and gave him a long kiss that was only interrupted by Hannah yelling for him.

"Dad!" Hannah said. Mike only groaned. He would much rather be with his family at home rather than shopping. He gave Christine another kiss before leading Christine back into the living area.

"Katie, the back bedroom is slightly bigger. It'll fit the crib a bit better. I'll set it up when I get back. Every bedroom has its own bathroom too. Hannah, your room has a prettier view so you haven't completely lost out." Mike told the two girls.

"It'll be fine." Christine assured him.

"I'm good with anything." Katie said with a smile.

"Alright, let's go; Hannah." Mike said.

"Finally!" Hannah said and Mike laughed. She followed him out to his truck and he began driving to the nearest store. Hannah chattered the entire way, but to Mike it was music to his ears.

Once at the store, he sent her to pick out gifts for his wife, mom and daughter while he got the groceries and essentials Christine had requested. He finally found Hannah looking at flowers. She had an armful of items and Mike helped her put them in his cart.

"I found the necklace for Katie; with Matthew's birthstone and a card. For Mama, she loves chocolate and taking a bath so I got her some fancy bubble bath and candles. Grammy; I got her some puzzle books and that robe and slippers. I got both of them cards too. But, is it all too much?" Hannah asked.

"Nope. Its fine. We need to get bags and tissue paper too. Did you want flowers for them?" Mike asked.

"Yeah, kinda but I wasn't sure." Hannah said.

"Well, Grammy loves red roses, and your mom likes pink. Let's get Katie the sunflowers, okay?" Mike suggested as he picked out the bouquets.

"That sounds good." Hannah answered.

"Alright. And you and I will make them breakfast too." Mike said and Hannah nodded.

"Thanks, Daddy." Hannah answered. Mike gave her a smile before they picked out the bags and tissue paper and checking out. They hid the gifts in the garage and began bringing everything in while Christine set the kitchen up like she liked. Mike put the baby crib together and smiled as Katie settled Matthew into it. Seeing her as a mom was an adjustment but she was a good one and Matthew adored her already.

Christine began cooking a dinner with Katie's help and for the first time in years, Mike enjoyed eating with his family. The girls cleaned dinner up while Mike cuddled with the baby and Christine. She helped his mom get ready for bed and helped her settle and then helped Katie settle Matthew since he was a bit offput by his new surroundings.

Finally, late into the night; she crawled into bed next to Mike. He could hear his family's soft snores and the way Matthew occasionally cooed in his sleep. It was all music to his ears and he couldn't be happier. Christine cuddled into his side and smiled up at him. He kissed her forehead and smiled down at her.

"I know you probably want to talk or something, but I am tired. I think the past several years have caught up with me and all I want is for you to hold me." Christine said.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm happy to." Mike answered as he wrapped his arms around Christine.

"I missed this." Christine remarked.

"Me too. And tomorrow; you won't lift a finger. Hannah and I are going to fix breakfast for you, Mom and Katie. You know; I was really dreading Mother's Day. Holidays have been rougher since I retired. It made me really dread Father's Day, but now not so much." Mike said.

"I'm glad. I will still miss Lucas though." Christine remarked.

"Me too. He loved spoiling you on Mother's Day." Mike said.

"Yeah. He did." Christine said. At first Mike thought she was crying but she was actually just getting sleepy. He pulled the blanket over them and listened as she slowly fell asleep. It would be one of his favorite memories in the coming years.

His alarm went off too early and he had slept through the night without having any nightmares. Mike's nights were filled with nightmares normally but with having his family close, he slept well. Hannah was already awake and had started coffee for him. He began preparing breakfast as slowly but surely, the rest of his family appeared and he and Hannah served them breakfast. He held Matthew so Katie could eat and Hannah washed all the dishes up.

All three women loved their gifts and Mike had made a lost minute decision to put a framed picture of Lucas in Christine's, especially once she said that she didn't have any of her own. They spent the day relaxing on the couch and watching TV. For Mike; it was perfect. He had his arm around Christine's shoulder and could help his mom out. He liked watching Katie with Matthew and even though Hannah wasn't a mom yet(and wouldn't be for many years hopefully), she was a light for them all and Mike loved it when she cuddled into his other side.

There were a lot of unanswered questions and things to work through, but that wasn't important at the moment. Even though it wasn't his 'day,' Mike couldn't imagine there being a better day. It sure beat being alone all day. And maybe Father's Day would be just as amazing.