Another Father's Advice
Chapter 12
Mike handled the move while Madeline handled getting the house set up. She had made it clear that she didn't want to be months unpacking boxes and so Mike and his buddies moved in furniture and boxes and Madeline, Sasha and Kara quickly unpacked them. Mike figured it would be an all-day affair but by two, they were in the house and he had a hammer in his hand, putting pictures up and hanging curtains. Hannah kept Joey and Elizabeth occupied and everyone had left by evening. Mike was hanging up pictures in the family room with Madeline instructing him.
"Little to your left. Maybe an inch." Madeline ordered, and Mike complied. "Perfect." Madeline told him.
"Alright; I am going to take a minute before I start again." Mike told her before taking a drink of his water.
"Have I worn you out?" Madeline teased.
"A little. I didn't sleep much last night. Where does your energy come from? You were awake when I was." Mike asked as he sit down on the couch, they had bought that morning.
"I figure I'll pass out tonight. So, lawyer and bank tomorrow?" Madeline asked as she sit down next to Mike.
"Yep. Nine at the attorney and bank after. Kara going to watch the kids?" Mike asked.
"Yea. She's bringing Frankie along. Wants to spend time with him before she leaves. I told her it wasn't a problem." Madeline explained.
"What's on your mind?" Mike asked. He had wondered because Madeline seemed preoccupied.
"Your perceptive. I need to make a doctor's appointment and would prefer to do while your still home to stay with the kids." Madeline commented.
"Are you okay?" Mike asked out of concern and Madeline stood up and walked towards the fireplace.
"Its just…we haven't talked much about…another baby. I'm not opposed to it, but I do want to wait awhile." Madeline stated.
"I hadn't thought about it. Guess I should have." Mike commented.
"I assumed that you still could…anyway, sorry if you don't want one. It would probably be odd to have a baby with a woman that you don't love." Madeline commented, and Mike stood up and wrapped his arms around her.
"I can. I just hadn't thought about it. Birth control is just as much my responsibility. As far as having a baby with a woman that I don't love…a lot of people have babies with people they don't love, and I never said that I wouldn't ever love you. I'm not even convinced that I don't already. Let me get back; and we will think about having a baby, okay? Maybe put it off a bit until Elizabeth is a bit older?" Mike asked.
"Okay." Madeline said just before giving him a kiss. It quickly become passionate until they heard the kids coming down the stairs.
"When's supper?" Hannah asked as she adjusted Elizabeth on her hip.
"Soon, what do you want?" Madeline asked.
"Pizza!" Joey yelled.
"Chinese food?" Hannah asked, and Mike groaned. Hannah could live on a diet of Chinese food. He just hated denying her anything.
"How about both?" Madeline suggested.
"Sounds good. I am hoping for a home-cooked meal at some point." Mike commented.
"I'll get right on that." Madeline said sarcastically as she pulled away. He had screwed up and knew it. Hannah fortunately had picked up on it and motioned that she would go upstairs. She handed Elizabeth off to Mike and patted Joey on the shoulder, indicating for him to follow her. Madeline was in the kitchen, puttering around. After Hannah and Joey were safely upstairs, he followed Madeline to the kitchen.
"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. I just didn't want to burst a bubble if I said that I wanted a home-cooked meal before I deployed. I wasn't demanding…" Mike started apologizing. He hadn't even been married forty-eight hours and was already in a doghouse.
"Mike, I understand, and I will make sure you have your favorite meal before you leave. We are both out on a limb here. We just have to make sure it's the same limb. I tell you that I love you and you tell me that you might love me someday. I agree to adopt Hannah. I don't regret that because she is so sweet. You are adopting my kids and you do seem to care about them, but I don't just want them cared for. I can deal with you not loving me. I'm an adult. But Joey and Elizabeth deserve to have you be the dad that you are to Hannah." Madeline said as she wiped a tear. Mike knew something more was going on but couldn't put a finger on it.
"How about you tell me what's really going on? I can handle it." Mike asked, and Madeline really started crying. He put Elizabeth down in her pack-in-play and then gently turned Madeline around and put both hands on her shoulders. "Are you having second thoughts?" Mike asked.
"No…its not that. I shouldn't have lashed out. Remember when I told you about Trent's soccer uniform?" Madeline asked as she dried tears.
"Yeah." Mike answered.
"The last time that my mom was at the apartment, she took it. I had let her use my bathroom and it was in my closet. I had it packaged up to save it. Today when I was packing things, it was gone. I knew you would never move it, so I texted her." Madeline paused.
"And?" Mike asked.
"She told me she burnt it. The only thing I have from Trent and she burnt it." Madeline answered.
"Oh, Lord." Mike said as he pulled Madeline into a hug. She began sobbing all over again.
"I don't even have a picture of my baby boy. I don't know what to do." Madeline said between sobs.
"Would anyone else have a picture?" Mike asked.
"James and Darcy…my nanny and her husband might." Madeline told him.
"Do you have their number? I can't get the uniform back, but I can try to get you a picture at least." Mike asked.
"Why would you? Mike, I hate to beat a dead horse, but you don't love me." Madeline asked.
"Because…I have lost two of my own kids. I have things of theirs. Kait's charm bracelet, Lucas' ball glove. I would trade those things in have them back, to hug them one more time, to see Kait wear that bracelet or Lucas use the glove. But I have that stuff and pictures. I know what I would feel like if I lost those things. I will call those people to see if I can get you something back." Mike promised and kissed Madeline on the forehead.
"I just don't understand it. How a mom can be so cruel. Hannah and all that she done to her. This. I don't understand. My kids are my whole world. I was four months along with Joey when Trent died and that was the longest five months of my life. I held Joey and my favorite role was back. Then I had Elizabeth. My world isn't complete but…well, you know. You've been without your kids. Lost two and got Hannah back. I am sure there are times that you know your world is still not complete. Even with Hannah." Madeline said as she walked over and picked Elizabeth up.
"Being a dad was my favorite role too. And Hannah is not the only one who has made my world more complete. You, Joey and Elizabeth have done that too." Mike told her as he rubbed her shoulders. She had cuddled the baby close and kissed her head. Elizabeth was obviously not sure what was going on but loved cuddling with her mommy.
"I'll text the number to you. I just don't have the energy to do anything. I just want to cuddle with my kids…and my husband of course." Madeline said.
"I would hope to be included. How about I go get the food and find a movie. We will take it easy tonight, okay?" Mike asked.
"Sounds perfect to me." Madeline said as he gave her a kiss. She settled on the couch and he made the calls to the pizza place and Hannah's favorite Chinese restaurant. While he was puttering around, Madeline texted him James and Darcy's phone number. He stepped into the office area to make the call, praying that they would have any sort of picture. On the second ring, a man answered the phone.
"This is James Adams. Who is this?" The man asked.
"Sir, uh…I am Madeline's husband, Mike Slattery. We only married a couple days ago and…" Mike started.
"Yes, she called us. You best take good care of that girl and her babies. She's a special one." James told him.
"I know. I have every plan. I'm calling for Madeline. Her mother visited her recently and took Trent's soccer uniform. Madeline messaged her to see about getting it back. Anna told her it was burnt. Madeline is…struggling a lot with that. She mentioned that you might have a picture of him. It might help." Mike explained. He could hear James cussing under his breath.
"I'll talk to Darcy. I think we may have a few. Damn Anna." James stated.
"Yeah, exactly. Madeline is very broken up about it. Doesn't understand how a mother can be so cruel." Mike admitted.
"Its not her first experience at that. I don't think Anna ever physically abused her or Cody, but she hated being a mother. I know her driver quite well. I will check into the uniform. Maybe he saved it and just told Anna it was burnt. Anna wouldn't have burnt it herself. Text me your address and I will see what I can do." James instructed.
"Yes, sir. Thank you so much." Mike agreed.
"And remember, take care of that girl. You are a lucky man to have her and those kids. You hold her, protect her, love her and she will make your life great. You don't, and I will make your life miserable." James warned.
"Yes, sir." Mike agreed. He didn't want to tell James the intricacies of his relationship. He knew James was serious and it scared him.
"Just keep that in mind. Text me that address and I will let you know what I find out." James said before he hung up.
Mike texted the address then walked upstairs to let Hannah and Joey know that it was okay to come downstairs. The kids were playing a board game on Joey's bedroom floor. Mike stood and watched them for a minute and smiled. He loved how well that Hannah was blending into Madeline's ready-made family. He struggled but his thirteen-year-old had taken to it like a duck to water.
"Hey, guys; you can go downstairs. I'm going to run and get the food." Mike told them, and both kids stood up.
"What are we having?" Hannah asked.
"Joey's pizza and your Chinese food. And a movie?" Mike asked.
"And soda? Candy? Popcorn? Please?" Joey asked.
"Maybe. Your mom is kind of upset so she needs to relax tonight." Mike told the little boy who gave Mike a stern look.
"Did you make her sad?" Joey asked.
"She is upset with your grandma." Mike told him, and Joey pulled on his shirt. Mike leaned over, and Joey acted like he would whisper in his ear but instead spoke out loud.
"She really loves chocolate. Get her chocolate and maybe pink flowers. When I get her those things, she cries happy tears." Joey told him seriously.
"Yes, sir. She will also want to cuddle, so you two, go downstairs." Mike told them.
"Daddy, I can help you. Pick out the flowers and such, please?" Hannah asked.
"Alright. Joey, you'll stay home and look after your mom and sister?" Mike asked.
"Yes, sir." Joey agreed. Mike followed the two kids downstairs and as soon as they walked into the living room; Joey sat down next to his mom and cuddled close.
"Hannah and I are going to run to the store and then to get the food. Do you need anything special?" Mike asked Madeline.
"Nope. All good here." Madeline told him as she cuddled Joey close. Mike winked at the little boy and bent over and kissed Madeline and Elizabeth.
"We'll be back in a bit. Joey, take care of my girls." Mike ordered, and Joey fake saluted him with the wrong hand. "Right hand, buddy." Mike told him, and Joey nodded.
Thankfully, there was a gift shop with ready made arrangements and Hannah picked out a bouquet of pink roses. They also went into a candy store and got an assortment of chocolate candies. Mike also ran into a grocery store and got chips, soda pop and other candy. The pizza place and Chinese restaurant were in the same shopping center; so within just a bit they had a cooler full of candy, soda, chips and other food; in addition to the supper and Madeline's chocolates. By the end of the week, Mike would likely not be home, so it was nice to spoil Madeline and the kids. Once they got home, Mike carried in the cooler and pizzas and Hannah got the Chinese food and bouquet of flowers. Madeline was still sitting on the couch and Hannah handed Mike the flowers and he grabbed the bag of assorted chocolates out of the cooler and walked up and sit down next to Madeline. She gasped when she saw the items in Mike's hands and she teared up again.
"Joey told me that when he gave you pink flowers and chocolate, you cried happy tears. I hope that's what those are?" Mike asked, and Madeline smiled despite the tears. Mike leaned down and gave her a kiss and got a nod from Joey. He had met the little boy's approval.
They ate, drank the soda, watched movies and cuddled. For Mike, it was a perfect night. Madeline had perked up a bit and Hannah loved the closeness. Joey kept a close eye on his mom all evening and Elizabeth just loved cuddling, she didn't care about the circumstances.