Now and Forever
Chapter 13
"Your home is lovely. I appreciate the invitation." Christine said as she helped Kara pack the food away. Mike was talking to Danny and playing with Frankie.
"It only made sense. No sense in you guys buying a bunch of groceries and eating out all the time." Kara said.
"I appreciate it. And your roast chicken was amazing." Christine said.
"Thank you. Its about the only thing I can cook." Kara admitted.
"My mom always said if you can manage a good chicken recipe; you can have dinner parties and Sunday afternoon family meals." Christine answered.
"Yeah. I'm learning. Frankie went for a sleepover at a friend's house and has been obsessed with pancakes ever since. Those are a mystery to me. I can't get the batter right." Kara said.
"I'll write my recipe down and either have Mike email it to you or bring it with us when we come back for his retirement ceremony." Christine answered.
"I would appreciate it, and for that matter, so would Frankie." Kara remarked.
"So, its none of my business, but Frankie is an only child?" Christine asked.
"Yeah. Danny and I have both been busy with careers but lately, I am regretting it. I just have to get him convinced to have another." Kara answered.
"When Katie was little, Mike and I considered her being an only child, but she loved spending time with her cousins so much. It felt like we were depriving her of something sacred. We were both only children. And magically, I accidently got pregnant due to an incident with some antibiotics. So…there's Hannah." Christine explained.
"Can I ask a question? Its in regards to Lucas." Kara asked.
"Sure." Christine said.
"Knowing what you know now, would you have changed anything? About having him? I suppose that is my fear with having another kid." Kara asked.
"Frankly, I would do nothing different. And if it weren't for Hannah and Katie, I don't think I would have coped with Lucas' death. They gave me something to continue fighting for. If I had only had Lucas, I wouldn't have that. And besides, Mike is a natural. I think if it was up to him, we would have had a baker's dozen." Christine explained.
"But you didn't?" Kara asked.
"Nah. Three seemed like a good number. We both wanted a boy and a girl. We got two girls and a boy. Financially, more would have been foolish at the time." Christine said.
"And you regret that now?" Kara continued.
"A little" Christine admitted as she looked into the living room where Mike was playing cars with Frankie.
They had a fair amount of packing to finish up. Mike had arranged for the furniture to be donated to an abused women's shelter. Really the only thing they were taking with them was his clothing and personal items.
The conversation with Kara was on her mind, but Christine didn't want to broach it with Mike, especially with him thinking she was fragile since her suicide attempt. A baby was not possible right at the moment.