The Gift
Chapter 21
There were times when things were so uncomfortable, and Mike was unduly sharp with Kaitlyn. Thankfully, she took it in stride but there were times that Andrea would catch her wiping tears away when Mike wasn't looking. After one of his more cutting remarks, Kaitlyn escaped into the kitchen and Andrea followed her.
"Just give him some grace. He is still coming to grips with everything." Andrea said as she patted Kaitlyn's back.
"He has a right. I'm honestly thinking about finding another job and an apartment. Maybe, stay close, but so he isn't faced with my lie every time Molly forgets to call me Kaitlyn instead of Ally." Kaitlyn told Andrea as she put the dishes away.
"I don't know what the easy answer is." Andrea admitted.
"Me either. I just don't think we can even hope to rebuild our relationship like this." Kaitlyn told her.
"Do you want to?" Andrea asked.
"I want the dad back that played basketball with me, helped me with my homework, and always cheered me on. I realize I burnt a lot of bridges, but Mi…Dad is so mad." Kaitlyn said.
"He can't be that person ever again. Kaitlyn, he went through hell. The anger is now more about you letting him grieve for you all those years and never saying. Grief isn't bulked up. He didn't grieve for his entire family. He grieves for your mom, and the next day, it might be for you. Birthdays, holidays…how did you stand by and watch that?" Andrea asked.
"I don't know. There were times it really bothered me, but I was so deep into it by then, I didn't know how to get out of it." Kaitlyn admitted.
"Kaitlyn, he loves you and in time, he will heal, but right now; he is licking his wounds. I don't have an easy answer for you, but just remember; he does love you." Andrea said as she gave Kaitlyn a hug. She knew she should be angry at Kaitlyn for lying, but she felt sorry for her.
"I'm going to go get milk. We're almost out." Kaitlyn told her after they pulled apart.
"Okay." Andrea said. Kaitlyn grabbed her purse, the keys and money that Andrea kept in a jar, but instead of going out the side door, she walked into the living area where Mike was playing on the floor with Molly and Eli. Kaitlyn bent down next to them and gave both kids a kiss, before looking over at Mike.
"Dad, I know you are really upset with me right now and you have the right to be, but please know; I love you, even if you can't love me right now." Kaitlyn said before standing up and leaving. Andrea had sat down on the floor next to Mike and watched as he closed his eyes and exhaled.
"Mike, ease up on her a bit. What she did was wrong, but she did it for the right reasons." Andrea told him.
"I know, its just hard." Mike said.
"Just watch the comments. Those are really hard on her. She's been in tears several times and I know you don't want that." Andrea said.
"No." Mike said as he picked Eli up and cradled him in his arms. Eli had recently started 'kissing' and he gave Mike a kiss on the chin. It made both Mike and Andrea laugh.
They played with the two younger kids and Andrea began fixing dinner. She was a little shocked that Kaitlyn wasn't home yet. It was not like her and Andrea could tell that Mike was getting worried. Finally, Andrea's cellphone rang.
"Is this Andrea Garnett?" A man's voice asked.
"It is." Andrea answered.
"Ma'am, I am Trooper Alan Johnson with the Florida State Patrol; I understand you employ a young woman by the name of Ally Graham?" Trooper Johnson asked.
"Yes, is something wrong?" Andrea asked.
"Ma'am, Miss Graham's vehicle was struck by a wrong way, drunk driver. She has been airlifted to Mercy General, but it doesn't look good. They think she has a head injury, and possibly a torn aorta. She might not have made it to the hospital." The trooper explained and Andrea looked in at Mike. He would be absolutely devastated.
"We'll head there." Andrea said.
"Alright. Driver has been taken into custody and I will meet you at the hospital." Trooper Johnson said before hanging up.
"Mike, we need to head to the hospital. That was a Florida State Trooper. Kaitlyn was in an accident, and she has been an airflighted to Mercy General with some head trauma and some internal injuries." Andrea told him.
"Oh, God…" Mike said. Andrea reached down and picked Eli up and gave her hand to Mike.
"Molly, can you find your shoes? We gotta hurry." Andrea asked as she tossed things into a diaper bag.
"Yeah." Molly said simply. Mike was watching them all with a pained and shocked look.
"Mike; help her. I've got Eli." Andrea ordered and snapped her fingers. She could only pray that Kaitlyn would hang on and Mike would be able to get there if not.