Christmas Surprise

Chapter 3

Mike and Christine both overslept. Hannah finally came in about nine asking Christine if there was going to be any breakfast. Christine jumped up to get it started while Mike showered and shaved. By the time he got done, she had bacon, scrambled eggs and biscuits almost on the table. Hannah had set the table and Caroline was reading a book on the history of the Navy. She looked thrilled to just have something to read. He decided to go over and see if Ashley had something more age appropriate for Caroline and to give his credit card to Sasha.

"Christine, I'll be next door at Tom's. I need to see about a book for Caroline and I need to give Sasha something. Will be back in just a minute."

"Okay but who's Sasha?"

"Tom's girl…Christine, Darian died from the Red Flu. I should have told you last night. Sorry. I know you were friends." Her eyes filled with tears but she nodded at him. A lot of their friends were no longer with them and it was a reality for them.

"So, Sasha is Tom's girlfriend. Are the kids okay?"

"Sam and Ashley are fine."

"Good. Breakfast will be ready in about ten minutes."

"Be right back." Mike kissed her cheek and the top of Hannah's head. Caroline was in deep concentration and just nodded at him. He grabbed a jacket and his wallet and headed out the door. There was a bit of snow on the ground and Tom and Sam were outside clearing Sasha's car off for her.

"Hey, Sasha was just saying she needed to get a credit card from you but didn't want to disturb Christine and the girls. Everything okay?"

"Yeah. We just overslept. She's making breakfast now. Does Ashley have any books I can borrow for Caroline? She's reading a book about the history of the Navy like it's the Holy Grail."

"You own a book?"

"A few, but none that are very interesting for my sixteen year old. I think her reading level is beyond mine."

"Hannah's is probably beyond yours. Ashley is awake, I think she has some. She isn't the reader that Caroline is though. May not interest her too much."

"Thanks." Mike ignored the jab about his reading level and headed up the porch steps. Sasha met him at the door and Ashley was in the living room messing with her phone.

"Ashley, I don't know if your dad told you but Caroline, Hannah and Aunt Christine is over at my house right now. Do you happen to have a book Caroline could borrow?"

"What kind of book does she want to read?"

"Anything will work." Ashley got up and headed into her bedroom. Reading was definitely not her thing so Mike knew he was going to have to find some other books that would pique Caroline's interest more than whatever Ashley had.

"So, what do we need to get other than clothes and Caroline's bedroom décor?"

"Honestly anything you can think of. I want them spoiled rotten. I'll take care of the furniture and text you the pictures. I need to get some bedroom furniture for all three bedrooms, a bigger dining room table, a better couch, and lots of odds and ends. I told Christine I wanted it to be homier."

"Piece of advice? She doesn't know me or Kara, so she may not appreciate another woman decorating her house. Take care of the furniture and see if she wants to the décor stuff today and if not, I can take her so she can pick out what she wants."

"I guess you have a point. Is this too much?"

"No. We will get basic stuff and she can pick out special stuff later. She has to get used to having a husband, home and a cupboard full of food again. It might embarrass her if we pick out every item for her home and all her clothing."

"True. I did get them underclothes last night."

"Just basic stuff? Bras, panties and socks?"

"Yeah."

"Alright. We will figure it out."

"Thanks so much."

"Your welcome. I can't wait to meet them."

Ashley came out with a stack of books and after thanking her; he headed to his own house. As soon as Mike walked out on the porch; he got hit with a snowball. He heard Tom laughing and he gave him a look and an inappropriate hand gesture.

"No thanks."

"Hey, if I have the furniture delivered today; can you help me put it together?"

"Yeah. Just holler at me."

Mike nodded at him and headed into his own house. Christine was dishing up breakfast and he sit the books down in front of Caroline. She gave him a slight smile and reached for the top one until Christine told her it was time for breakfast. She followed Mike up the steps and they all sit down.

"So girls, you and Mom both have an appointment with Doc Rios, this morning. Just a general going over. Than I thought we'd do a bit of furniture shopping and get some other stuff for the house if you felt like it. Maybe some stuff for your bedrooms?"

Both girls nodded at him but were concentrating on their food. He knew the shopping trip would be extremely stressful; mostly for himself. He hated shopping but at least Sasha, Andrea and Kara were helping him with the hard part. Furniture shopping wouldn't be terrible.

He helped Christine clean up the kitchen quickly and got them all out of the door by ten thirty. Sasha was already gone and judging by Danny playing out in the snow with Frankie, Kara was with her. He quickly sent out a text, telling her that he thought they would be getting Caroline's bedroom stuff and to call or text with any questions.

The appointment with Rios went as he expected it to. He had antibiotics for Christine and vitamins for the three of them. He essentially told them to eat whatever they wanted and that the girls would grow with proper food. He advised them to stay out of the cold as much as possible.

He decided to take Christine and the girls for lunch so they could spend the afternoon shopping. There weren't many restaurants open and so they settled for a burger place. They ate fairly quickly and headed for a close by furniture store that offered delivery.

For all her apprehension concerning voicing an opinion on clothes, Christine knew exactly what type of furniture she wanted. Comfortable. A big comfortable sectional and big recliner for Mike, a coffee table that was a trunk and matching end tables. For the dining room, she picked a rustic type dining room set with comfortable chairs. Hannah picked out a white wood bedroom set and Caroline settled on a wicker set and a big comfortable chair and small table. They also found a book shelf that would work for her. Most of the furniture that Mike had was junky and so Christine picked out a big bedroom set for their bedroom. The salesmen, who worked for a commission was thrilled and promised Mike the furniture would all be delivered at five pm. He texted Tom in case they got there before Mike, Christine and the girls returned home. Tom would let them in and help get the furniture moved in. The only mattress and boxed springs, he had to buy was in Hannah's room and so the girls would be in their bedrooms that night.

Caroline was still set on her room staying the same cream color and so they went to a paint store to pick out paint for the rest of the rooms. The living room would be brown, dining room and kitchen would be beige with the dining room having a rust colored accent wall. Hannah's room was going to be pink and Mike and Christine's bedroom beige. He just had to convince Christine to pick out décor items.

"We have time before the furniture is delivered and Tom is going to help with that. How about we get some stuff for the house to make it homier?"

"Okay, but this is a lot of money that you're spending?"

"I have it in savings. It won't be a problem. I want you girls settled and one of the ways I can insure that is to make you feel at home."

Christine nodded at him and they headed for a home store. In no time; there was several throws and blankets for the living room, pictures and picture frames for family pictures, a dish set to replace the paper plates that Mike had been using, kitchen utensils that Christine said they needed including a set of pots and pans, comforters and blankets for all three bedrooms. They let the girls pick out all their own items and when they finally met up; Mike was shocked at how mature their decisions were. Caroline had helped Hannah pick her comforter, blankets and other items out and they had picked a soft pink set that coordinated perfectly with her paint color.

Sasha had sent Mike periodic updates and just before they headed home; she sent him a picture of his Christmas tree with tons of packages around it. The furniture had been delivered and Danny and Tom were putting it together. Things were going much more seamlessly then Mike thought possible. Aside from painting and putting pictures up; the house would be set up. He was excited to get them home.

As soon as the girls walked in, their eyes went wide seeing all the many wrapped packages and Christine had tears in her eyes. Kara and Sasha were in the bedrooms instructing Danny and Tom on furniture placement. They had a couple outfits left out for both girls and Christine and Mike could tell they were excited. He carried in their bedding and other items in and the girls immediately begin making beds, hanging curtains and putting their items up.

Christine had immediately hit it off with Sasha and Kara and he was hearing talk of a big Christmas dinner and baking the next day. Fortunately Christine had had the forethought to put a big roast in the crockpot and she invited Tom, Sasha, Danny and Kara to eat with them. Sam and Ashley were at friends and Danny had to get Frankie from Kara's mom before supper.

Supper was fun and there was a lot of laughter. Caroline had come out of her shell when Danny brought Frankie in and enjoyed playing with the little boy. Danny was already making plans for date nights since they had a new babysitter and Caroline seemed thrilled with the idea. Frankie loved Caroline and Hannah both but he and Caroline had buddied up.

Mike put a movie in and started a fire in the fireplace. Christine made hot chocolate and they all curled up on the couch and relaxed. Hannah quickly fell asleep against his shoulder and Christine kept dozing off. Caroline was reading one of Ashley's books.

Both girls settled into their perspective beds. Christine had gotten a heated mattress pad for Hannah's bed since she had talked about how warm it was all day. Both girls were resistant to being tucked in but Mike still checked on both of them before they went to sleep. Christine had settled into their bedroom and was already half asleep. When Mike came out of their bathroom with his pajama pants on but no shirt, she looked at him and frowned.

"I got warm last night. I can put a shirt on if you want me to?"

"No, no. I'm fine with you not wearing a shirt. Where did those scars come from? The one on your stomach and your arm?"

"It's a long story."

"And you don't want to talk about it?"

"I was stabbed in Sardinia. We were trying to get the seeds that saved the food supply. The one on my shoulder is from getting shot by the Immunes. And that one on my forearm is when I was a POW. They etched my blood type into my arm. They used me for a blood bank because the cure wasn't working for them due to chemical warfare. It's long and painful and I would just as soon concentrate on you and the girls."

"Okay. Are you downplaying everything?"

"Maybe. You guys were homeless and I was…"

"Going through hell?"

"Well yes, but not like you."

"The girls and I weren't shot, stabbed or held against our will. Why don't you lie down?" Mike nodded at her and laid down next to her. He hadn't meant to be so defensive; she had a right to know about the scars. She shut the light off and wrapped both arms around him. He leaned down and kissed her and settled down. Christine laid her head on his chest and was sound asleep in no time at all.