The Gift
Chapter 24
It was exhausting with Kaitlyn at home. Everyday; Andrea fell into bed totally worn out. Mike still had to work and he certainly helped when he could, but it was tough. Kaitlyn tried, but she couldn't even help with the kids.
Mike had completely moved in, making Andrea's little cottage was too small with all of Kaitlyn's medical equipment, baby gear, plus Mike's stuff. The disorganization drove Andrea crazy and Mike was working a lot of hours, getting ready for another Fleet Week. One night, he came in after ten pm, took his uniform off and laid down next to Andrea.
"So, are you deploying?" Andrea asked, completely dreading the answer.
"No idea yet. I can see about maybe hiring someone to help you." Mike offered.
"Mike; can we really afford that?" Andrea asked.
"I could ask Kaitlyn. She is doing quite well for herself now." Mike remarked. The settlement had been made. Ten million with past and future medical bills paid.
"I hate to. She shouldn't have to do that." Andrea remarked.
"We have to come up with some sort of solution. Its cramped here, and you need help." Mike insisted.
"I'm trying, Mike. I'm going to sleep. I'm tired." Andrea said as she turned away from Mike and shut her light off. Kaitlyn would wake up through the night, needing to go to the bathroom and Eli was still waking up through the night. Mike slept through everything, and it was not easy on Andrea. She felt Mike kiss the back of her head and wrap his arms around her, but she refused to give in.
The next morning, Mike left for work early, leaving Andrea to get Kaitlyn up and dressed before her physical therapist got there. Eli had an ear infection and Molly was into everything. After the therapist left, Andrea helped Kaitlyn onto the couch, figuring she'd want to nap.
"If you'll hand me a book; I'll try to keep Molly occupied." Kaitlyn said as she nodded at the stack of books on the table. Andrea handed her one and gestured at Molly who climbed up next to her big sister.
"Eli is sleeping too. I need to do laundry." Andrea remarked.
"Or go in and take a nice, relaxing bath. You are rung out." Kaitlyn suggested.
"Did your dad say something?" Andrea asked.
"Just that he is really worried about you. I know it doesn't seem like it, but he really cares a lot about you." Kaitlyn said.
"Maybe." Andrea answered. Sometimes Mike seemed to only be in it for her to take care of Kaitlyn and Eli, and for sex. Of course, she loved the kids but it was hard.
"He does. Go in and take a bath. If I need you I will yell for you." Kaitlyn said.
"Mommy, I'll be good, I promise." Molly input.
"Okay." Andrea answered. She had to admit, a bath did sound nice. She was lucky if she got a few minute shower once Kaitlyn and the kids fell asleep, before Mike got home from work.
She spent a little longer in the bathtub then she had planned, and she thought about talking to Kaitlyn about the money issues. They needed a bigger house, something more open for Kaitlyn and more family friendly. Being so cramped was tearing Mike and Andrea apart. If he was going to deploy, she needed more space. Thankfully, when she got out of the bath, Eli was still asleep, and Molly was occupied with Kaitlyn, so Andrea pulled her laptop out and began looking at houses.
"What are you looking at?" Kaitlyn asked.
"Houses. I love my little cottage, but it isn't working so well now. It has four bedrooms, but the living area is so tight and there's no storage. I just can't find one I like." Andrea said.
"We'd have to have one level. I'd like a big kitchen. Open concept. More then one bathroom." Kaitlyn said.
"Yeah. But finances are a little tight. Your dad is still catching up from everything in Brussels, and I'm month to month now. We can't afford much of anything. Your dad may have to deploy too, but that would enable him to get caught up sooner." Andrea explained.
"Why haven't you all said anything? You paid my salary all that time and were barely getting by?" Kaitlyn asked.
"Your dad helped, and even when he was in Brussels, he was sending me money, but Jillian spent him into a hole. Big time. Massive credit card debt. He also had to break his lease over there too. He just didn't want to stress you with it all. Things were pretty fragile before your accident and then after…" Andrea remarked.
"I see. Well, I know one thing for sure; Dad will never ask for help with the credit cards. I remember him being anti-debt while I was growing up, so I'm guessing he is cleaning up Jillian's?" Kaitlyn asked. Molly was playing in the floor and not paying attention.
"Correct. He didn't know until after that she had taken them out. Since they were married, he is responsible for her debt. He was also thinking about retirement, but can't now. He doesn't want to deploy, but he could recoup some." Andrea explained.
"I didn't know. I have been sitting with millions of dollars in the bank, and you and Dad are scraping by? I should have realized." Kaitlyn said.
"Your dad and I are both proud people. You took care of both of us at different points. It is our job to take care of you now. I didn't tell you this to make you feel badly or to have you give either of us money." Andrea insisted.
"And you gave me a home and a family, a way to be close to my dad. I honestly don't know what I would have done all these years without you. And even when you discovered who I really was, you didn't throw me out, and tried to help me with Dad. Tried to keep us going. Helped us rebuild a relationship. Andrea, I have to help the two of you. I don't know how to, but I have to." Kaitlyn insisted.
"You certainly don't have to and I have no idea how your dad will respond to you helping us. He wants to take care of you, but he is on thin ice with the Navy and he has to work." Andrea explained. Jillian had really caused Mike problems.
"I will have to figure that out. What I want you to do is to look at house plans. Find some sort of variation of what you'd like. My biggie is I want a big kitchen and for it be open concept. Bigger bedrooms and I'd like a walk-in closet of my own. Find a house you like and then we'll see about having it built." Kaitlyn told her.
"Okay. If you insist." Andrea said, giving in. She leaned over and gave Kaitlyn a kiss on the cheek. Mike might have suggested asking Kaitlyn for help the night before, but actually accepting it was another story altogether.