U.S.S Hope

Chapter 19

Mike wondered if it was too soon. Katie was still recovering from her suicide attempt. Maddie was having issues healing from her surgery and was still very weak. Tallulah was young.

But, he and Katie had packed up that morning and drove to Deer Park, using it as a starting point. Katie had poured over maps and pictures, and remembered when she and Hannah left the main entrance of Deer Park; they turned left, or north.

Once they turned north; Katie was glued to the window; watching the passing landscape. It hadn't changed in the past several years. Mike had been back to Deer Park a few times, trying to find a trace of Christine and the girls. Katie and Hannah had probably been within five miles of him, a fact that bothered him deeply.

"Dad; turn left here…I remember Rock Road." Katie said. Mike made the turn and began progressing down the county road, much more slowly. Katie was scanning both sides of the road.

"Anything specific you're looking for? I can look on the left and you can look on the right." Mike asked.

"Red barn…and it had this…wood thing going over the driveway…like an entrance. And wagon wheels on the fence around it. I can't remember if it was on the left or right." Katie said.

"Okay." Mike answered. He didn't want to mention that none of those items might still be existing. Mike crept down the road for probably two miles before Katie spoke again.

"There, Dad! There!" Katie said. She pointed at a driveway that matched her description to a tee. But there was a huge truck and a car out in front of the house and it looked a bit rough to him.

"Stay in the truck." Mike ordered before getting out of truck. Katie didn't know that he had a handgun in a holster under his shirt. He was walking towards the house when she caught up with him. "I said to stay in the truck." Mike said.

"I'm not twelve anymore, Dad." Katie remarked. She no sooner said it then Mike was belly up to a sowed off 12 gauge shotgun.

"Who the hell are you?" The man asked. He looked like a biker to Mike; so Mike immediately shoved Katie behind him and put his hands up.

"My daughter and I are searching for my other daughter's grave. During the Red Flu, she and my other daughter came…here, possibly; and my other daughter died from pneumonia. Katie was able to bury her here near where she died. I would like to exhume her, give her a proper burial and funeral." Mike explained.

"How old was she?" The man asked.

"She was eight." Mike answered. He could tell that broke something in the other man.

"I lost an eight-year-old too. A boy." The man remarked.

"I lost a son too." Mike said simply.

"Behind the barn; there was a little wood cross…" The man started.

"Was? Where'd it go?" Katie interrupted.

"Katie." Mike warned.

"It disintegrated in the weather, so I…can weld. I figured something was buried there, but figured it was someone's pet or something. I welded a little cross that would stay better." The man explained. He had lowered the shotgun and began leading Mike and Katie to a path behind a barn.

"Thank you. I'm Mike, by the way." Mike answered. He stopped and shook the other man's hand.

"Joseph." The other man replied.

"And this is Katie behind me." Mike answered. Just then, Joseph stopped short and pointed at a cross, made beautifully by him.

"Here it is. I will give you all a few minutes. You can find me in this house when you need me." Joseph said before walking away.

"He thought Hannah was a pet?" Katie remarked but Mike's concentration was on the cross, signifying his baby's grave. He honestly zoned out as he knelt next to grave.

"Oh, baby." Mike whispered. He was not prepared for how badly it hurt to find Hannah's grave. He thought he would be able to disassociate and prepare to have her exhumed, plan a funeral, find a spot in an actual cemetery, pick the perfect stone and flowers and have somewhere to actually grieve.

Shockingly, Katie left him alone but stayed close by, giving him a bit of privacy. He finally stood up and gestured at her to follow him. He needed to speak with Joseph about having Hannah exhumed. "Don't say anything about the pet thing." Mike warned. For some reason, he and Joseph had connected; probably because they were both fathers who had lost children. They were complete opposite men otherwise but they had one cruel thing in common. He knocked on Joseph's front door and a moment later, they were let into a front room.

"Can I get you some coffee? Its about all I have other than whiskey." Joseph asked.

"No, but thank you. I appreciate you taking care of Hannah's grave all these years and I appreciate you making that cross. I would still like to have her exhumed, but it will mean…disturbing you and your land." Mike said.

"Oh, I ain't doin' nothing with that land. As long as I know when people will be here, I am fine with the exhumation." Joseph said.

"Do you have a phone number? I will personally call you and let you know when it will be." Mike asked.

"I got a phone number but I don't know how to write." Joseph said. Katie made a sighing noise but Mike shot her a look and took a notebook and pen out of his pocket.

"I can." Mike said.

"Its 423-345-8045. It's a cellphone and I always answer it. I work construction and I always like to know when I have a job." Joseph answered.

"Thank you. I have it. So, I will make the appropriate calls tomorrow and will let you know. I will also be here that same day." Mike explained.

"Okay." Joseph said.

"I'll take you up on that offer for coffee that day." Mike remarked as he stood up.

"You'll probably need the whiskey too." Joseph said as they shook hands.

"Probably so. Thank you again. I'll be in touch." Mike said. Katie led him out, wanting out of the dirty house. It had been dusty and Maddie would probably want to wash Mike's clothes as soon as he got home, but he wouldn't be rude to Joseph. Not when the other man had taken care of his daughter's grave.

The first hour of the drive was completely silent. Katie finally voiced needing to use the restroom and Mike needed to fuel up. While he waited on her, he called Maddie; glad to hear her chipper voice.

"How's it going?" Maddie asked.

"We found it. I spoke with the landowner and will start the process to exhume her tomorrow." Mike explained.

"And how are you?" Maddie asked.

"Shouldn't it be Katie we're more worried about?" Mike asked.

"Perhaps, but its not Katie's daughter's grave. Its your daughter's grave. That had to be hard." Maddie remarked.

"It was. Can we talk when I get home? I'm just kind of fried." Mike asked.

"Of course. Just be careful driving home in that state of mind. If you need to have Katie drive, I'm sure she will be okay." Maddie said.

"When Hannah is exhumed; can you come with me? I know Tallulah will have to come with but…I need you." Mike asked.

"I'm sure I can but Katie will want to be there." Maddie replied.

"Perhaps. It was just rough. Okay, she's walking back to the truck. We should be home later this afternoon. I love you." Mike said.

"I love you too. Be careful, Mike." Maddie answered. She disconnected the call and Mike waited as Katie got in.

"I got you a cup of coffee." Katie said. She put his coffee and a bottle of water in the cupholder and fastened her seatbelt.

"Thank you." Mike answered simply.

"We need to go over plans for the funeral and…" Katie started.

"Katie…I can't right now. Let me get home and get a decent night's sleep. I promise; we will. I want you involved in it. I'm just tapped out right now." Mike said.

"Do I need to drive?" Katie asked. He had started the truck and even had it in reverse but he thought for a moment and put it back in park, undid his seatbelt and nodded.

"Probably a good idea. Will you be okay? Its not been that long since your surgery." Mike asked.

"I can drive us home." Katie answered. They switched spots and Mike settled into the passenger seat as Katie began the drive. Before he even realized it, he fell asleep.