Never Again, Again

Chapter 27

"I never blamed you or felt you were responsible for what happened to me. You assigned that blame to yourself. Don't you think my recovery might have gone smoother if you were home more? Even called occasionally so I could talk to you? But, my feelings are actually minor. What has it done to Mom? Katie, whose health is not great? James and Julia? They've grown up without you and barely remember you." Hannah said.

"I've been busy. The Navy needed rebuilt." Mike argued.

"Dad! We needed you at home. I know you still love Mom. Its her that you've wrote to. She's sick, Dad. Its cancer and she is scared. She needs you and honestly if she doesn't make it, you won't be able to live with yourself if you don't come home. Get your ass home, Dad." Hannah said before hanging up.

Mike stared at the phone in disbelief. It was guilt that kept him away. His daughter had been brutally raped and tortured. He couldn't fit into her recovery.

"Penny for your thoughts, Sir?" Russ said as he walked into the Comms room.

"I called home." Mike answered.

"Good, you've needed to." Russ remarked.

"Yeah, I should have. Christine is sick. Cancer. Hannah didn't go into detail. I don't know how bad or what sort. Didn't sound good though." Mike explained.

"So, what will you do?" Russ asked.

"If I go home; how do I fix all those broken relationships? Christine? The kids? James and Julia don't even know me." Mike asked.

"Sometimes the first step in repairing things is taking the first step. In your case, go home. The Navy survived over two hundred years without us. There comes a point that we all have to give it up and go home. For me, this is home. I don't have a family at home. You do. You can do something about it. If you don't go back now, there will be no road home. Hannah gave you a road home." Russ said before walking away.

If Mike went home; he was going to have to be honest with Christine. That he had cheated on her. Instead of going home, he had gotten involved with a woman that he really didn't care about. The relationship was over but she was dead and their child was not. A nanny was taking care of Carly, but Mike knew he was going to have to assume responsibility.

They landed in Mayport and Mike checked in with the nanny, explaining that he had to go home but would be back for the baby. He couldn't show up after two years with a baby on his hip.

Once in St. Louis, he rented a car and headed home. He immediately noticed Christine's flowers weren't as well tended and there were still Christmas decorations up on the porch, indicating that Christine hadn't switched the decorations. He still had a key but he rang the doorbell and a minute later; Christine appeared at the door. She looked tired and old. She had a scarf around her head, covering her scalp and she coughed into her hand.

"You came?" Christine said. She let him into the house and then kissed his cheek.

"Hannah got ahold of me." Mike said.

"I'm sorry for what she said but I am glad to see you. I've missed you." Christine remarked.

"Where are the kids?" Mike asked.

"The twins are in preschool now. Hannah's in school and Katie is taking classes for a real estate license." Christine explained.

"They went back to school?" Mike asked.

"About a year ago." Christine answered. He followed her into the kitchen, where she started a pot of coffee.

"Hannah said you were sick?" Mike asked.

"Yes, ovarian cancer. They did a hysterectomy about two months ago and I started chemo and radiation shortly after. So, I'm a bit short on energy but things are better." Christine said with a bright smile as she fussed around the kitchen. Mike had sat down at the island and fidgeted with a salt shaker.

"Did they get it all?" Mike questioned.

"They think so but they did the chemo and radiation because the lymph nodes seemed 'agitated.'" Christine explained.

"I see." Mike answered.

"So, how long are you home for? I heard about the James. Its sad." Christine asked.

"I…so, this…" Mike started.

"Mike, just say it. I suspected what kept you away was that you had met someone. You are here to end things." Christine said. Her voice had a bit of an edge to it.

"I did but…its over." Mike answered.

"Okay." Christine answered.

"She died in childbirth." Mike said, figuring it was best to just jerk the band-aid off.

"And I'm assuming it was your baby she was having?" Christine asked.

"Yes." Mike answered.

"Did the baby survive?" Christine asked.

"Yes." Mike said.

"Mike, please stop with the one-word answers." Christine demanded.

"The baby, a girl named Carly, is seven months old. She is back in Florida with a nanny who is watching her until I can assume care." Mike explained.

"Then I suggest you go back and get her. You seem very detached?" Christine remarked.

"I've barely been in the same house as her for more than hour. My last six months has been a bit on the crazy side." Mike answered.

"Mike; go get her. I will handle the kids. Just bring her back and we'll figure things out. Its time you start being a father again." Christine said.

"Just a father, huh? Not a husband?" Mike asked.

"Honestly, you stand a better chance with me. With the kids, you are going to have work your ass of." Christine remarked.

"The baby?" Mike asked.

"You are going to have to get to know that baby too. She deserves love. Her nanny is paid to care for her, not necessarily love her." Christine said before walking out of the kitchen, leaving Mike to his own devices.