Long Road Home
Chapter 9
A simple sliver had caused a dam to break between Mike and Hannah and it made both Mike and Christine happy. And better yet was that Katie was doing really good on her medicine. It all seemed too good to be true.
Mike and Christine were settling in and doing good too. Mike was shocked how quickly they developed a routine. They were able to go on frequent dates and Mike spent time with both girls individually.
Katie's immune system was iffy and she was a home-body, but Mike and she went for walks every evening together and they had gotten her a dog that didn't shed that Katie adored. She had also started online college courses.
Hannah was still working at the hardware store, was a good student and she thoroughly enjoyed building stuff with Mike. They had done the pie safe, the jewelry box, a 'hope chest' for Katie and were working on a coffee table Christine wanted. One day while they were fixing the hardware; Hannah looked over the mess in Mike's workshop.
"Mom would have a fit in here." Hannah remarked.
"Yeah, this is my domain." Mike said.
"You let her do whatever in the house." Hannah remarked.
"Because that is her domain. As long as I have recliner; I'm fine." Mike answered.
"You guys are so strange." Hannah commented.
"Nah. Most couples are like us." Mike told her.
"Most couples haven't had to spend years apart." Hannah replied.
"True. And most kids haven't had to spend years away from their parents." Mike remarked.
"That wasn't your fault." Hannah said as she fiddled with a tool.
"In some ways it was. I could have come here when I couldn't find you all back home. Your mom just always hated this town and I couldn't imagine her bringing you girls here willingly." Mike said.
"She was trying to isolate us after Lucas died." Hannah said.
"I understand that." Mike answered.
"I still think you could have came here a lot sooner when you didn't find us." Hannah remarked.
"Hannah, I didn't and I have to live with that." Mike said a little too sharply. Hannah's head jerked up and she threw the tool down on the bench before running back into the house. Mike figured it would be best to let her cool off, but five minutes later, Christine came into the garage.
"You really need to understand that tone of voice matters with teenage girls. They are sensitive creatures." Christine said.
"I didn't say anything wrong." Mike argued.
"No, you didn't but it was how you said it. I think Hannah was wondering why you stayed gone for so long because to her, me bringing the girls here was a logical decision. Now, you've communicated to her by the tone of your voice that you preferred being gone." Christine said.
"It was a two-way street. You could have found me too." Mike answered.
"Mike, I was just trying to keep two girls alive and my sanity after losing a child. When the storm clouds cleared, I could have but I was terrified that we would be put in a fishbowl. I am beginning to wonder if Hannah's suspicions aren't correct." Christine remarked. She started to turn away but Mike grabbed her arm a bit too harshly.
"Is that why she won't connect with me?" Mike asked. He let go of Christine's arm, knowing he was squeezing her bicep too hard.
"She is afraid you'll leave again, so yes." Christine said.
"I've retired and bought this house before I found you all. Where would I go?" Mike questioned.
"Mike, do you really want that answer?" Christine asked.
"I suspect I need it." Mike said.
"Perhaps. She thinks that you probably found someone else and has a family elsewhere. I didn't tell you because I knew it would hurt you." Christine answered.
"I don't have a family elsewhere. Is that what you thought too? Katie?" Mike asked.
"Katie didn't. I did for a minute. I don't know. Hannah in convinced and frankly, I don't know how to convince her." Christine told him. Christine was right. It did hurt.
"I've never even slept with anyone else, let alone had another family." Mike said. Christine reached up and stroked his cheek.
"Mike, I know. Hannah is young and she was only eight when this all started. You had been in the Navy her entire life. She doesn't exactly have a baseline with you." Christine said.
"I've been trying." Mike said.
"I know you have." Christine agreed.
"So, what now?" Mike asked.
"I'll talk to her some more. Just bide your time." Christine said.
"Easier said then done." Mike complained.
"Mike, please just be patient." Christine answered. She gave him a kiss on the cheek before heading back to the house.
While he waited, he found a storage box and opened it, immediately finding a photo of Hannah when she was two, trying to wear his combat boots. It was a funny photo, but it made Mike sad because he remembered just getting home from a deployment and being aggravated at Hannah for being too noisy and trying the boots on. Now, he was glad Christine had had the foresight to snap a photo. A few seconds later, Mike had grabbed Hannah out of the boots and made her cry. Not so different then present times.