Family Thanksgiving

Chapter 2

Mike was shocked at how easily the triplets went to sleep. While Christine settled them down, Mike spent a little time with his older daughters. Before, he had favored Hannah and Lucas, very obviously; but he had really missed Kaitlyn too. Their relationship had been horrible, and it was Mike's fault. Kaitlyn had tried. He was going to make up for it. After Hannah settled in, Mike walked into the room that Kaitlyn had chosen for herself.

"You'll have some clothes of your own tomorrow, but anything special you want? For in here or in general?" Mike asked as he sat down on the bed next to Kaitlyn.

"I'd really like some books so I can get my high school diploma if that's possible." Kaitlyn told him.

"Of course." Mike agreed. He wasn't sure what to even say to Kaitlyn. Things had been bad between him and Christine and even worse with Kaitlyn.

"If you want, Mom can go with you and Hannah tomorrow. I'll stay with the triplets." Kaitlyn offered.

"Thanks, honey. We'll figure it out in the morning. Mom says you were a big help to her through all this." Mike remarked and Kaitlyn shrugged.

"I had to. There was no choice in it." Kaitlyn said.

"Well, I know I wasn't good at saying it to you before, but I am proud of you and I always loved you. I've really missed you a lot." Mike admitted.

"That's…surprising." Kaitlyn said and Mike looked at his feet.

"I am sorry it is, but I promise; I did love you." Mike said.

"I know, Dad; what's surprising is that you missed me. You would barely be in the same room with me." Kaitlyn pointed out.

"And I've spent the last several years regretting that. I want this to be a fresh start for all of us, so I have to beg you for a second chance." Mike told her.

"When are you leaving again?" Kaitlyn asked. It was a major complaint before.

"I've retired. Technically, I am still considered active duty, but I've retired. I do a little consulting work, but no deployments." Mike explained.

"How does that work?" Kaitlyn asked.

"Work from home. Some phone conferences." Mike told her.

"But how can you be retired and still active duty?" Kaitlyn questioned.

"I am the Fleet Admiral. Its an active duty position for life, but one can…retire. Kind of an honorary type thing." Mike tried explaining, but he could tell Kaitlyn was suspicious and she had yawned.

"So confusing." Kaitlyn said as Mike stood up.

"When you're not so tired, I'll try and explain it better. Just know; despite how I treated you, I love you and I am sorry for how I acted. I know that isn't going to be sufficient for all the wrongs done, but I need you to give me another chance. I'll prove it to you. Wake us up if you need anything. I put an extra blanket on the end of your bed if you need it." Mike told her before kissing the top of her head.

"Good Night." Kaitlyn said simply.

"Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite." Mike responded, using the same phrase he had told the kids when they were little. Kaitlyn even gave him a smile in response.

"Dad, take it easy on Mom. She's had a really rough couple years and she has really missed you. If you want me to give you a second chance, I need you to give her a second chance. I know you were ready to divorce, but can you forget all that?" Kaitlyn asked.

"I'm trying, honey. I can promise you that and that I will always take care of her." Mike told Kaitlyn.

"She needs you to love her again." Kaitlyn said simply. Years before, Mike would have said it was impossible, but now; nothing was off the table.

"Okay." Mike answered before walking out of the room. Hannah and the triplets were all asleep and Christine was in the master bedroom, sitting on the bed.

"I assume I can sleep in here?" Christine asked.

"Of course. You still want me to sleep in here with you?" Mike asked.

"Yeah, I do." Christine said and Mike nodded.

"Go ahead and get settled. I'm going to take a shower. I know after this many years, most couples would do what we did on that last night, but I'm not there right now. It'll happen but not tonight. I also think you need to recover some. Sorry if that disappoints you." Mike told Christine gently.

"Its okay. Mike…things happened. I'm not ready yet, but I really do want to sleep in here with you. You always kept me safe, even when we were fighting." Christine remarked. Mike had read between the words and sat down beside her on the bed.

"For me to help you, I need to know what happened. Did something happen to the girls?" Mike asked.

"No. I was able to keep them safe, but I…remember Mark?" Christine asked.

"Of course. The guy you were sleeping with." Mike said tensely.

"I had broken it off with him, and told him that I wouldn't sleep with him until you and I divorced. When we couldn't stay at the safe zone anymore, he got in contact with me. I thought he would help me and the kids. I was about five months along then, and I knew it was at least twins. He tried for me to tell him they were his. I knew they weren't. Math wouldn't work. When I refused, he started beating me. Told me he was going to sell Kaitlyn. Things were bad here then, and she would have been sold into the sex trade. I…kind of sacrificed myself, to keep the kids safe. As soon as I had the triplets, he started…I don't know if you'd call it rape, but I didn't want it. I just didn't want him to hurt or sell the girls. He even threatened to sell the babies. He kept us for a long time. That's why I wasn't able to find you." Christine explained.

"What happened?" Mike asked.

"Mark always had some pretty dark habits. Alcohol when we slept together. He took it to extremes. Then it become drugs. Cocaine, specifically. One day, he overdosed. I will admit, I let him die. I could have called for help, but it was only a matter of time before he started hurting the kids. I was beaten, scarred, and starved. Thankfully, the kids were okay…until we were homeless. The last six, eight months have been hard." Christine admitted.

"As if the past six years haven't been." Mike remarked. He was angry. Not at Christine, because he understood the choice she had made. She had trusted someone who she thought would help her, and then when it came down to it, she protected their children.

"Mike; I am sorry. I thought I could trust him. I knew the birth would be complicated. Thankfully, he at least made sure the babies and I had decent medical care." Christine answered. She touched his arm, almost like she was worried that he would hurt her.

"I think once we get you and the kids settled in, medical and dental appointments taken care of; we need to get you into a counselor to sort through all this. I'll make some calls." Mike told her.

"Mike; I agree with the counseling, but more then anything; I just want you to hold me, even if you don't fully understand why I did it, or if you can trust me again. I know that I wronged you, and I am deeply sorry. Through it all, all I could imagine, dream of and pray for was to find you. I knew, even if our marriage was over, you'd protect me. That is what got me through." Christine begged.

"It's going to take a lot, but this is a fresh start. Why don't you get comfortable and I'll take a shower? Kids are settled." Mike suggested as he squeezed her hand and then stood up.

"Okay. This bed is amazing." Christine agreed.

"I agree." Mike said as he walked into the bathroom and took his own shower. There was a lot to get through, but was a fresh and new start. Considering the shape his marriage had been in before, it would be a miracle if he and Christine could work through it all.