Long Road Home
Chapter 3
A week later, Mike smiled at the much calmer yellow in Katie's new room. It was no longer highlighter bright. Now, it reminded him of soft butter. He walked into Hannah's room and looked around.
Hannah insisted the bedroom stay the emerald blue-green but she had asked for new book-shelves. She wanted those painted white. Both girls were helping Christine pick out furniture but Hannah was not so enthusiastic.
Lloyd Milowsky was currently in Brazil but would be back soon. In the meantime, Katie's doctor had sent some emails of scans and x-rays and Milowsky had prescribed a certain inhaler that Mike had to drive to Springfield, Illinois to get. But, it was helping. Katie had even walked around the block that morning.
He and Christine were getting reacquainted. Sometimes it was a struggle. The weird part was, the biggest issue they argued about was Hannah. Mike was not as patient with her. He couldn't understand why she didn't remember him. He also didn't know how to build a relationship with her. An idea had occurred to him though. Her bookshelves and her interest in carpentry and building furniture.
Mike drove to Christine's apartment and smiled at Katie when he walked in. She was baking cookies in the kitchen with Christine's help. He gave Christine a kiss before stealing a cookie off the rack.
"Where's Hannah?" Mike asked.
"She just messaged. She's headed home from work." Christine answered.
"Good. I finished your paint today, Katie. It's a lot gentler." Mike said.
"Her bedspread arrived too. Maybe tomorrow we can take it and make sure it works together?" Christine suggested.
"Sounds good. We may wait until afternoon so the fumes aren't as harsh." Mike answered.
"I'm excited for my own room." Katie remarked.
"Just remember that Hannah isn't so excited. She is nervous to be on her own." Christine said.
"Hopefully we can make her room special enough that she won't mind so much." Mike said.
"Its going to take her some getting used to." Christine remarked. Just then Hannah came in from work and the subject was dropped.
They ate dinner and watched a movie together before the girls headed to bed. It was weird to Mike that aside from Hannah's school and work, they did everything together. Most dads would love for their teenage daughters to be so close. Mike just wanted them to have individual personalities and likes.
The next morning, while Christine and the girls were matching bedspreads and curtains, Mike began working on Hannah's bookshelf. He wasn't shocked when she found him in the workshop.
"What's this?" Hannah asked.
"Right now, just wood but it will be your bookshelf." Mike answered.
"Poplar?" Hannah asked.
"Its good for furniture. Especially since you want it painted white. Does Mr. Gibson let you use the saw?" Mike asked.
"No. Legally, I can't." Hannah answered. He could tell she wanted to, so motioned her over.
"I'll stand behind you and make sure you don't get your fingers too close. Here's a pair of safety glasses." Mike said as he handed her the glasses. He stood behind her and guided her arms as she made the cut. Once she was finished, she smiled at her work.
"That was easy!" Hannah said.
"You are more than welcome to help. I just don't want you missing with that saw if I'm not in here, okay?" Mike suggested.
"Sure." Hannah agreed.
"Okay. I'd better go in and check to see if your mom and sister need anything. She was talking about tiling that backsplash in the kitchen. Maybe you can help me?" Mike asked.
"Yeah!" Hannah said.
"Okay. We will figure out a good time." Mike answered as he opened the door for his younger daughter. He put a hand on her shoulder and smiled at her long hair. So like Christine's.
"Mike; can you hang up the brackets for the curtain rods?" Christine asked. Mike winked at Hannah and grabbed the drill.
"C'mon, Hannah." Mike said. He and Hannah quickly went to work and got them all hung up while Christine put the curtains on the rods and Mike hung them up. The place was starting to look more home-like and Mike couldn't wait for them to be settled. Maybe then, he and Hannah could really connect.