Never Again, Again
Chapter 20
Mike was glad to get home. He was tired and still recovering. He missed his kids and wife. He had talked to Christine a few times and knew Hannah was giving her issues again. Russ drove Mike home and Mike let himself into the house; immediately hearing one of the babies crying and Christine's raised voice.
"Hannah, please! Your dad is due home." Christine said. Mike headed up the stairs and found Christine standing in the hallway. They made eye contact and she smiled at him.
"What's wrong?" Mike asked quietly.
"Her room is a mess." Christine answered.
"I'll talk to her." Mike said. He leaned down and gave Christine a long kiss and then kissed the top of Julia's head.
"Take it easy on her, Mike. She doesn't need to be mad at us both." Christine said before heading downstairs. Mike opened Hannah's bedroom door and immediately frowned. The bedroom was a disaster.
"Young lady; this is completely unacceptable. I will bring the vacuum and trash bags up. This to be cleaned before dinner tonight." Mike said. Normally, he took a softer touch with Hannah, but he couldn't at the moment.
"Daddy!" Hannah said before running for him and giving him a hug. Normally, Mike would have accepted it happily but this time; he pushed her back gently.
"Nope. You have given your mother hell for the past two weeks. I am not excusing that behavior." Mike said.
"She hates me." Hannah replied.
"No. She loves you. Now, clean." Mike answered before walking away.
He visited with the rest of his family; checking on Hannah ever little bit. She was in a huff about Christine tattling on her. Dinner was ready and Mike knew the bedroom was far from being complete. He was prepared to leave Hannah upstairs but Christine put her foot down.
"Mike; we eat as a family and we can't withhold food from her. No behavior would justify that." Christine said.
"She could make the whole dinner miserable for us." Mike answered.
"She could, but we have to treat with her some grace. And she needs to know she can lean on you. I've ruined my chances with her, but you shouldn't." Christine told him.
"There's always a chance…" Mike started but Christine shook her head.
"No, Mike. She's done with me. I hope someday she'll change her mind but she's done for now. I just have to show her some grace because if I don't, she won't ever call me for help." Christine answered. She gave him another kiss and patted his arm.
Thankfully; dinner was peaceful…or peaceful as possible with two-year-old twins. Katie was talkative and Mike promised to take her out sometime in the next week. Normally, he would have told Hannah the same thing, but he didn't this time. He could tell it bothered her.
The room passed Mike's inspection and he made Hannah help haul out the trash bags. She went to bed without a word to either him or Christine. In fact, the only ones she paid any attention to was James and Julia.
He helped Christine settle the twins and spent a bit of time with Katie before she went to bed. He had already settled into bed when Christine came out of the master-closet wearing a silky negligee.
"What's that for?" Mike asked as she climbed onto his lap.
"This if you want." Christine answered before giving him a long kiss.
"I definitely do." Mike answered. They had never worked anything out but things were good between them. The kisses become passionate, clothes hit the floor and they spent the next few hours getting to know each other again.
It was early in the morning before either of them fell asleep and Mike knew they would regret that later. He could only hope things weren't a landmine with Hannah.
