Surprises
Chapter 26
Mike was reading to Oliver when Katie brought his dinner in. Maddie had told him about her conversation with Katie and he had to find a way to connect with his oldest child. He just wasn't sure how.
"Oliver, your mom said that you needed to go eat your dinner." Katie said. She put the tray over Mike's lap and took the book from Mike.
"Go, do what your mom says." Mike told the little boy.
"Can I come back in before I go to bed?" Oliver asked.
"Yes." Mike answered. Oliver wrapped his arms around Mike's neck and gave him a hug.
"I love you, Daddy." Oliver said.
"I love you too, son." Mike answered. He gave Oliver a kiss before Oliver jumped off the bed and ran out of the room. Mike was a little surprised that Katie was hanging around, fidgeting with her sleeve.
"Can I help you, honey?" Mike asked Katie.
"Did Maddie talk to you?" Katie asked.
"She did." Mike answered.
"She said that you love me." Katie remarked.
"I do and I always did. She mentioned that you said I had never told you before. I suppose I thought I had, but apparently not." Mike said. Katie had finally sat down in the rocking chair but was fidgeting with her sleeve still. It made Mike wish he could sit up better.
"Was it because we fought so much?" Katie asked.
"Honestly, maybe? Every time I opened my mouth it seemed like I was stepping into a landmine. It became just easier not to talk to you. In doing that, I communicated that I didn't want to talk. Didn't want to spend time with you." Mike answered.
"I just wanted you to stay home and spend time with us…with me." Katie admitted.
"Honey, I wanted that too. I hated missing out." Mike said.
"Hated missing out on Hannah and Lucas' childhood." Katie said bitterly.
"Not just their childhoods. Yours too." Mike answered. He leaned over and got a photo out of his nightstand. "I found this the other day. Do you remember that day?" Mike asked. It was a photo taken by Darian Chandler after his first deployment. He was holding a five-year-old Katie on his hip and laughing at her playing with his cover.
"I remember that it smelled like fish." Katie remarked.
"You were pretty young." Mike said.
"I remember that I had missed you and you swooped me up as soon as you saw us. You sat me down so you could hold Hannah." Katie said.
"I hadn't ever held her." Mike remarked.
"I know. It just seemed like I didn't matter anymore." Katie commented.
"Katie, I can understand why you would think you didn't matter to me but I promise; I always loved you." Mike insisted.
"What happens when you get tired of me being here? There aren't enough bedrooms. All of us here and only on your retirement. Hannah could have been hurt." Katie asked.
"We may have to look at a bigger house soon and money is fine. I have a very generous retirement and some investments. As for Hannah, you protected her." Mike answered.
"She could have been hurt. I just didn't know how to find you. I tried but I just didn't know how. I even went into a recruitment place for Marines but I couldn't remember your serial number. They thought we were imposters." Katie said.
"I am sorry. I had put orders out that if you or Hannah showed up they were to contact me, even if they thought you were imposters. I'm sorry that didn't happen." Mike explained. He really did feel badly that it was simply an oversight that caused his daughters to be homeless for years.
"What happens now?" Katie asked.
"I honestly don't know. I would love for you and I to connect somehow. I am just not sure how." Mike admitted.
"Maddie and I went to the cutest coffee shop today. Do you think once you can, you and I can go there? Just the two of us?" Katie asked.
"Yes, we can." Mike answered. He wasn't into cute coffee shops but he did want to spend time with his oldest daughter. He wanted to bridge the gap between them.
"Your dinner is getting cold. You should eat." Katie said. She stood up and started to leave but he caught her hand.
"Katie; I know I made you believe that I didn't love you before, but I did. I love you, then and now. I am proud of the young woman you've become and how you took care of Hannah." Mike said.
"Thank you." Katie answered. She walked out of the bedroom and Mike stared at the door in complete confusion. The whole conversation had been weird, but maybe it was a start.