Long Road Home
Chapter 12
Mike wasn't sure he hadn't slept at all. He finally got up and went into the living room so he didn't wake Christine. He had looked in at the girls, and was glad to see they were both sleeping. As he stood at Hannah's door, he thought about how small and child-like she seemed.
Instead of dwelling on things, he began cooking breakfast. It was normally Christine's thing but he could cook, so he mixed up the batter for pancakes and began frying bacon. He wasn't paying attention and was shocked when Hannah came up beside him.
"Is one of those pancakes for me?" Hannah asked in a small voice, almost like she was afraid he would tell her no.
"Yes. Here, this one is done. I'll give you another when they finish cooking." Mike said. He put the pancake and a couple pieces of bacon on the plate and handed it to her. Hannah added the butter and syrup before sitting down at the island and beginning her breakfast. "You didn't eat much last night." Mike remarked.
"I wasn't very hungry." Hannah answered. He slid a second pancake onto her plate and handed her the butter and syrup to add to it.
"And you couldn't sleep?" Mike asked.
"No." Hannah answered.
"Hannah, we need to just talk." Mike told her quietly.
"I…don't remember you from before and I don't know what to do with you now." Hannah admitted.
"And so you hate me being here?" Mike asked.
"Not sure I hate it, but it is uncomfortable. You and Katie go for walks and you and Mom have hit it off and I just kind of feel like the outcast. Katie told me you and I were close once and I just wish I could remember it." Hannah said. Mike was a little surprised to see her eyes well up with tears, so he turned the bacon off and sat down next to her.
"We were. I suppose that is why this bothered me so much. I love Katie and Lucas, but…you were always kind of the favorite for me. Don't tell Katie that. Of my three kids, I was only present for your birth. Your mom had a bit of a rough time having you. Her labor was long and she fell asleep soon after you were born, so I got the first couple hours with you." Mike reminisced.
"I think Katie knows." Hannah deadpanned.
"Possibly. My point is…if you don't remember me, let me remember for you. I understand you are uncomfortable and you don't like me being here. All I ask is that you are patient. I will go out of my way to make it better for you." Mike said.
"Okay. Katie brought me some photo album, and this was in it. My name is on the back. Was it me?" Hannah asked, showing Mike a snapshot. It was a photo of Hannah sleeping on his chest when she was about six months old.
"Yes. So, when you were about six months old, you went through this thing where you would only sleep for about a half hour at a time. Your mom was miserable. I got home from deployment and had only been home about a half hour, took my shirt off and you feel right asleep, and slept for about three hours. And your mom took this photo when she woke up from her nap." Mike explained.
"I wonder if I can get a frame for this?" Hannah asked.
"I will take you as soon as the store opens." Mike told her. He kissed her forehead before standing up to begin fixing Christine and Katie's breakfasts. It bothered him a little that Hannah didn't remember him, but he could build on it, now that she finally admitted it.
As he promised, Mike took Hannah to pick out a frame for the photo. They also went to a furniture shop to look at different dining room tables that Hannah wanted to learn to make, and after that, for pie. For the first time, it seemed like Hannah was trying to connect with Mike, instead of Mike doing all the work, even if he was willing to.