Concentration
Chapter 12
"Mom, that dress is so pretty on you." Katie exclaimed when she walked into Christine's bedroom.
"Its new." Christine admitted as she looked down at the teal blue wrap dress.
"All of our clothes are new, Mom." Hannah remarked as she played with her bib overalls.
"Right. I just wanted something nice for our date." Christine said as she looked in the mirror.
"You and Dad are really going on a lot of dates." Katie asked as she looked though Christine earrings.
"We're making up for lost time. It had been eight years since we went before." Christine answered.
"Why eight years? I get six." Hannah asked. She had sat down on Christine and Mike's bed and was still fiddling with her clothes. It was a nervous habit Hannah had developed.
"Honey, your dad and I were really struggling with our marriage for a while before the Red Flu. We hadn't been on a date for a long time." Christine explained. She sat down on the bed next to Hannah, to try to put her heels on.
"But everything is okay now?" Hannah asked nervously as she glanced around the room and began biting her fingernail. Christine gently pulled her hand away from her mouth.
"Everything is fine. Dad and I are just going out on a long-needed date." Christine said.
"Mom, are you going to wear a shawl or jacket?" Katie said from the closet.
"Probably a shawl." Christine answered. She showed Hannah a couple lipsticks and let her pick out the one she wanted Christine to wear.
"That one." Hannah answered.
"It's the same one I would have picked." Christine told her.
"Are Katie and I going to be by ourselves? Hannah asked.
"No. Tom and Sasha are coming over." Christine assured her. The girls were old enough to be left alone but they were very nervous, especially Hannah.
"Will you be back before we go to bed?" Katie asked as she came out carrying a shawl and jewelry.
"I don't know what your dad has planned but probably." Christine answered.
"What do you do on dates?" Hannah asked.
"Dinner, I'm sure. Beyond that, I don't know about this date." Christine answered.
"I would be scared to go out there with just Daddy." Hannah remarked. Katie and Christine exchanged a look.
"Hannah, your dad would never hurt me or either of you two girls." Christine told her.
"Don't be so scared all the time, Hannah." Katie said. Instead of saying anything else, Hannah jumped off Christine's bed and ran out of the room.
"Katie, you need to use a bit of understanding with Hannah. We all went through hell, but you and I remember having a normal life beforehand. Hannah was young. She can't remember that much from before." Christine told her quietly.
"Okay." Katie said.
"Seriously." Christine insisted. Katie nodded and handed Christine the shawl and jewelry.
"I'll go apologize." Katie said. She walked out of the bedroom and Christine finished getting ready. Mike finally came in, fiddling with a tie.
"Katie told me I needed to wear a tie but I am terrible at tying them and she didn't know how." Mike complained. Christine took it out of his hand and began fixing it.
"I'll show her." Christine said. She placed it around Mike's neck and fixed it up.
"You look amazing. I love this color on you." Mike said. She pinned the tie and patted his chest.
"Thank you. I'm excited for this date." Christine said. He gave her a gentle kiss and smiled down at her.
"I have plans." Mike told her.
"So, next week; instead of taking me, I want you to take Hannah out. She needs to know she can trust you." Christine said.
"She seems so nervous." Mike remarked.
"She is. She was young and doesn't remember having a normal life before. I will come up with some ideas for next week, but she needs some one on one time with you." Christine told him. She picked up her purse and grabbed Mike's hand.
"Aye, Aye. I ordered a couple pizzas for the girls and Tom and Sasha." Mike said. They walked down the stairs to find the girls and the other couple.
"Thank you so much for staying with them." Christine told Tom and Sasha.
"Well, in the near future you all can take babysitting duty for us." Tom said and Sasha slapped his chest.
"I didn't want to tell people so soon!" Sasha told him.
"Seriously? Congratulations!" Mike told his best friends.
"Yes, congratulations. How far along are you?" Christine asked with a smile.
"Just seven weeks." Sasha answered.
"Well, when the time comes, we will be happy to babysit." Christine said.
"Thank you." Sasha answered.
"You ready?" Mike asked Christine.
"Yes, thank you for staying with them. Mike said pizza would be here soon." Christine said.
"You're welcome." Tom said.
Christine didn't ask what Mike's plans were but was a bit shocked when he pulled up to a bar fifteen minutes later. She looked down at her dress and at his suit and groaned.
"We're gonna be a bit over-dressed, Mike." Christine remarked.
"Yeah. No ballroom dancing places." Mike answered.
"This could cause a bar fight." Christine teased. She unbuckled her seatbelt and Mike helped her out.
"Well, I happen to know how to fight." Mike teased back. Christine gave him a kiss before they walked into the bar. As she suspected, they were way over-dressed, but there was a live band. They danced through a couple songs before she pulled him back out into the fresh air.
"The air in there is really musty." Christine remarked. Truth was, it reminded her of most of the guards but Christine knew Mike didn't know or need to know about that. He had planned a very sweet evening and she appreciated it.
"Did something bother you?" Mike asked as they walked to the truck.
"Just the air." Christine said. She faked a cough and smile as Mike helped her into the truck.
"If you're sure? I thought we may go find something to eat." Mike asked.
"I am positive and that sounds good." Christine answered. She gave Mike another kiss before he shut the truck door and came around. It gave her a moment to collect her thoughts. Hopefully someday she would be able to go dancing with her husband and not be scared. It gave her more of an understanding of what Hannah was going through.