Concentration
Chapter 5
Mike was glad to be out of the hospital with his family and now he was with them in a hotel suite, so that they could gather strength. Christine was concerned about the cost of it all, despite Mike reassuring her that they were okay.
Tom had gone back, but on the guise that he was going to get the house Mike had purchased ready. Mike had to wonder what they would walk into. Christine had been asked what she wanted, but all she would tell them was that she wanted a home.
The hotel room had a balcony, where he found Hannah standing the morning after they were released from the hospital. She was taking really deep breaths and looking at the city scape.
"Honey, its chilly out here." Mike said. It was early October.
"I know. I was just smelling the air. Its so…crisp." Hannah said.
"It is nice." Mike remarked.
"I like this place but where are we going?" Hannah asked.
"Mayport, Florida. The house I bought is close to the beach." Mike answered.
"A world away from where we were." Hannah remarked. She was leaning against the banister, looking at the street.
"I've only seen photos." Mike said, hoping to encourage Hannah to talk. She was the one who had been the quietest about what they had gone through, but it was like she didn't have the words for it.
"Daddy, I can't talk about it yet. Maybe when we get further away from it. Here, we are only a few miles from that place. I can almost still smell it." Hannah remarked.
"Its almost ten miles away." Mike said.
"That's not far enough. How far is Mayport from Amarillo?" Hannah asked.
"Over a thousand miles." Mike answered.
"That might be far enough." Hannah said before she walked into their suite. Mike followed her and smiled at how Christine and Katie were glued to the TV.
"Mike…you did all this?" Christine asked, gesturing at the TV. They were watching one of the many documentaries about the James crew.
"Uh, yes. So, what would you all like for lunch?" Mike asked.
"We get to choose?" Katie asked.
"Yes. I can order whatever you like. Of course, your doctors advised against a lot of spices." Mike reminded them.
"Perhaps some soup and sandwiches from room service would be best." Christine said.
"Actually, there is a deli-type place in the lobby. I can go down there." Mike said.
"That sounds good." Christine agreed.
"Perfect. I'll be right back." Mike answered. He grabbed his wallet but was shocked when Hannah jumped up.
"Can I go? You'll need help carrying it all." Hannah begged.
"Yep. C'mon." Mike said. He winked at Christine and Katie before leading Hannah out.
Hannah was thrilled to get to pick out her own soup, sandwich, drink and Mike even had her pick out cupcakes for 'his girls.' He was not shocked that she picked chocolate. Mike had noticed people looking at her funny, but then he remembered, she was impossibly thin and very small for her age. She was thirteen but looked closer to ten-years-old.
Mike actually enjoyed watching his family eat something they choose to eat. In a few days, they would at the new house on Beach Avenue. Then the healing could really start.
As the days went by, Mike was happy to see his wife and daughters slowly gain strength. He was a bit scared to put them on a plane and fly them half-way across the country. Thankfully, someone else was handling all those details. He was just concentrating on his family and deciding what his next move with his career.