Long Road Home
Chapter 5
Mike was exhausted but they were spending the first night at his house…or their house now. The girls were sound asleep in their rooms and Mike laid down next to Christine, not surprised she was dozing. As soon as his body hit the mattress, her eyes opened.
"Hey, go back to sleep." Mike said. He leaned over and shut her reading lamp off and smiled at the way she cuddled close as soon as he settled.
"The girls?" Christine asked.
"Sound asleep." Mike answered.
"Good." Christine answered. He kissed the top of her head and pretty quickly; she fell fast asleep.
The next morning when they got up, Mike was not shocked to find Hannah sleeping next to Katie's bed. Christine had wisely picked a beds out for both of the girl's rooms that had trundles but Hannah hadn't pulled it out and was sleeping on the rug with a blanket over her and her pillow under her head. Mike gently woke her up and led her out of Katie's room.
"Honey, if you want to sleep in your sister's room, pull the trundle out so your not on the floor." Mike told her.
"I didn't want to wake Katie up." Hannah said.
"Was your bed not comfortable?" Christine asked.
"It was really comfortable but Katie wasn't in there with me." Hannah remarked.
"Sweetie, next time; wake your dad or me up. We'll help you with the trundle and hopefully Katie won't wake up." Christine suggested and Hannah nodded.
"Its still early. Why don't you go in and lay down and get some more rest? We'll keep an ear out for Katie." Mike suggested.
"Okay, I am tired." Hannah admitted before giving Christine a kiss on the cheek and heading back to her bedroom.
"Someday, I might get a hug or kiss out of her." Mike remarked after he heard the door close.
"Mike; just be patient. She was still a small child when you left." Christine reminded him.
"She was eight." Mike replied.
"Its been a long time, Mike. Just continue doing what you did when you were getting ready to move in here. She loved that." Christine said.
"We're done moving in." Mike said.
"You can find projects. She also really loves sports. Maybe take her to the high school football game?" Christine suggested.
"When is it?" Mike asked.
"Friday night at six." Christine answered.
"Won't she want to go with friends? What about you and Katie?" Mike asked.
"Katie and I don't like football. We will probably plan a nice night in. You should take Hannah for dinner and then to the game. As far as friends, Hannah is kind of a loner. Katie is truly her best friend." Christine explained.
"But is that healthy?" Mike remarked.
"I don't know, but I would venture to guess; we are not the only parents that face that very same question. The Red Flu did a lot of damage to kids in Katie and Hannah's generation." Christine remarked.
"Healthwise and otherwise." Mike admitted. There had been studies about it but Mike ignored it because he had only had to worry about the wellbeing of the Navy and himself. Not two young daughters and his wife.
"Just plan on taking her to the game, Mike. I promise things will line out." Christine replied before giving him a peck on the lips before going into the pantry.