All Roads Lead Home

Chapter 13

Christine was playing hard to get, but Mike had been successful before in convincing her to be with him. He just couldn't remember how he did it. Christine had gone grocery shopping one day while the girls were away at school, and Mike found a photo album from the early part of their relationship. Mike settled back into the bed so Christine didn't yell at him and opened the album. The first picture he saw was on their first anniversary from dating.

He had an arm around her waist and they were both smiling. They were younger, thinner and with no worry lines. Mike had asked her to marry him three months later and they had a short engagement. Her parents had wanted her to have a big wedding, and the next pictures showed her in a huge white dress and him in a tuxedo. He remembered being so nervous that day and how they both agreed the day was more for their parents then them. They finally got to their honeymoon destination the next day and barely spent anytime on the beach. Katie was a 'honeymoon baby.'

In retrospect, Mike knew he hadn't always been a good husband. Christine had never expected grand gestures. She didn't even require him to pledge his love every day. Somewhere in the midst of long deployments, raising kids, mortgage payments, and day-to-day life; they drifted apart. They didn't take time for dates or even romance. If they did have sex, it was because one of them was drunk or just before one of his deployments. It was a matter of habit or duty. There had been no passion.

Mike heard Christine come in, so he slowly made his way into the living area, where she was putting away groceries. Her hair was done in a long French braid, and there was gray sprinkled in. The corners of her eyes and mouth had laugh lines, her forehead had worry lines and there was a sadness in her eyes that hadn't been there years before. It was the same sadness Mike felt surrounding Lucas' death. Mike finally cleared his throat to get her attention.

"Oh, Mike! You shouldn't be out of bed. Let me help you back in." Christine said. She put a gallon of milk away before wrapping her arm around his waist and guided him back to the bedroom. She helped him back into the bed and carefully lifted his legs back up on the bed. Mike moved the photo album to the other side of the bed, hoping she would notice it. "Alright. I need to finish putting groceries away. I'll have your lunch ready soon." Christine said. Instead of convincing her to stay and talk, Mike nodded in response. At the rate he was going, they would never get back together.

Mike must have fallen asleep, because the next thing he knew; he heard Hannah's voice talking to Christine. He was hungry and needed to use the bathroom, but didn't want to get yelled at again. Thankfully, Hannah appeared with a bright smile. "Sweetie, could you have Mom come in here? I need some help to the bathroom." Mike asked. It was the one thing he would draw a line at. His daughters were not helping him shower or go to the bathroom.

"Of course." Hannah said before giving him a kiss on the cheek. Mike patted her arm and smiled up at her.

"Thanks, honey. Hope your day was good?" Mike asked.

"Yep. I'm glad its Friday. I'll go get Mom." Hannah said before walking back out of the bedroom. A moment later, Christine was at Mike's side and was helping him out of the bed.

"I didn't want to get yelled at again." Mike commented.

"You are pushing too hard." Christine said as she maneuvered him to master bath.

"It might come as a surprise, but I really don't like needing help to take a piss." Mike said grumpily.

"Its not permanent and you need to remember that." Christine said before positioning him in front of the toilet and tugging his pajama pants down. It was becoming embarrassing to Mike. Fortunately, she looked away while he did what he needed to, while still standing next to him. She pulled his pants up, helped him adjust and wash his hand. He could walk unassisted but Christine didn't like it and it was easier to lean on her, but he noticed her rubbing her back.

"Did you hurt your back?" Mike asked. She helped back into the bed, but he noticed her straining to lift his legs.

"A little. I haven't been sleeping right and I moved a bag of bird feed into my car at the store. I shouldn't have." Christine admitted.

"Do I need to lecture you?" Mike teased.

"No. I know better." Christine answered with a laugh. Mike pulled on her hand and made her sit next to him on the bed.

"Where's it hurt?" Mike asked. He was able to get Christine turned to where her back was to him and he took his sling off and waited for her to say.

"Lower back on my left." Christine finally told him. Mike began slowly massaging the area until he felt a gentle pop.

"Better?" Mike asked.

"Yes, much." Christine admitted. She'd always had a bad back and it wasn't unusual for Mike to have to pop it back into place.

"Good, now; go in and have the girls order a pizza or two for dinner and relax the rest of the night. You are overdoing it too." Mike insisted.

"You sure? I know you prefer home-cooked food." Christine asked as she turned around.

"I'm sure. You need a break." Mike said. Christine started to stand up, but Mike stopped her and wrapped his arms around her. He didn't try to kiss her, just held onto her and Christine was strangely accepting of it. She put her head on his chest and took a deep breath. Maybe he wasn't good at romance, but he could do this. This was easy.

"Mom!" Hannah yelled and Christine raised up and stood up quickly.

"Christine?" Mike asked.

"Yeah, what'd you need?" Christine asked before she left the room.

"Remember, relax tonight. Instead of sleeping in Hannah's bed; come in here. Nothing will happen that you don't want to have happen. I'm not a monster." Mike told her.

"We'll see." Christine said. She walked out of the room and Mike sighed in frustration. How hard could it really be to make Christine fall in love with him again?

Instead of pizza, the girls convinced them to order Chinese food. Mike was fine with it because it meant that Christine hadn't cooked, and Mike was able to convince the girls to wash up dishes. Christine relaxed on the couch next to Mike even falling asleep with her head on his shoulder. Mike eased Christine to where she was sleeping with her head on his lap. Katie covered her with a blanket and Mike gently massaged her back as she slept. Maybe that's what he was supposed to do to make her fall back in love with him again.