Long Road Home
Chapter 4
Mike got into the habit of picking Hannah up from school or work and then taking her to the house to build, paint or repair something. Hannah seemed to love that time and Mike also enjoyed it. The house was getting close to move in. One night when he got back to the apartment late, he ate while Christine cleaned the kitchen up. Hannah had eaten and gone in for a shower.
"So, hopefully, the house will be ready at the end of the month." Mike said.
"Good. Should I go ahead and give notice to my landlord?" Christine asked.
"Maybe wait a week just to be sure." Mike said.
"Okay. That will also give us some time to clean this up too." Christine remarked.
"I wish that I was able to build more of a relationship with Hannah before we move in." Mike said.
"Aren't you?" Christine asked.
"Huh?" Mike asked.
"Mike, you pick her up after school or work and take her to the house to build or repair something. She is as happy as a clam." Christine answered.
"She's not as affectionate as Katie." Mike remarked.
"No, she isn't. She never has been. Not even with me. No, she's always been a bundle of energy." Christine said as she sat down next to him at the kitchen island.
"So, its never going to get better?" Mike asked.
"It already is better than it was, correct? Mike, just be patient and keep doing what you're doing. It is making an impression on Hannah." Christine said.
Mike went into overdrive that week trying to get the house completely ready. Katie had caught a chest cold that they were trying to stop from becoming full-blown pneumonia. He could tell it made Christine nervous. The inhaler had helped her and Lloyd Milowsky was confident that he could make Katie better once he got to the States. All Mike could do was make sure that Katie had all the medicine she needed.
It didn't help that it was getting cold and the apartment was drafty. Christine's landlord was not happy that she was moving out and refused to let her caulk the windows. Mike had done it anyways. To add the Christine's anxiety, Hannah had also come from work, sick with the stomach flu. On night three, Mike climbed into bed exhausted.
"Hannah is sleeping on the couch so she doesn't give Katie the stomach flu. She held down that dry toast and hot tea." Mike said.
"Good. Maybe she's coming out the other side." Christine said, equally as exhausted.
"I hope. I'm hoping I can put the finishing touches on the house tomorrow or the next day." Mike replied.
"Good. I am going to start packing. I want out of here." Christine remarked. Mike leaned over and gave her a long kiss.
"Have you thought any more about quitting?" Mike asked.
"I actually have. But…I enjoy baking and I enjoy having a bit of mad money of my own. What I am wondering about is doing my baking from home. Then I can pick and choose what I want to do. The kitchen is as set up as the one at the grocery store too." Christine explained.
"If that's what you want to do, then I am fine with it, but you understand that you can have whatever money you need or want?" Mike asked.
"Mike; I like having a bit of my own. If I want to take Katie and Hannah for pedicures or to buy a gift for you, I don't want to ask you for the money." Christine said. He could tell she was adamant about it and it wasn't that big of a deal.
"Okay." Mike agreed.
"So, I can give notice?" Christine asked.
"Absolutely." Mike answered. She leaned up and gave him another long kiss.
"Everything is going to be just fine, Mike." Christine said.
"I agree." Mike said. If it wasn't for having two sick kids, things might have gotten intense between them but they were exhausted and keeping an ear out for the girls.