Tempest
Chapter 4
Mike's orders would have him based out of Mayport so he found a three-bedroom house there, close to the ocean, with a nice kitchen. He and Antonia were married with just Russ, Wolf and Azima there.
Of course, Mike would much rather have a normal marriage but he and Antonia got along well and she was adjusting to her life in the United States and recovering from her injuries. She did seem happy being able to decorate the new house and once there was more a supply, she proved to be a very good cook.
He was kept busy, rebuilding the Navy and trying to rebuild a life. Tom had retired and was teaching at the Academy. He still didn't approve of Mike's marriage but they talked weekly anyways. Mike and Andrea began a revival of sorts of Roosevelt's Great White Fleet and Mike was named as Admiral of the Fleet just before.
Antonia was to meet him at the dock that day and he smiled as soon as he saw her. She gave him a warm hug and smiled at the guys repelling down the Michener.
"Have you done that?" Antonia asked.
"Not necessarily that. But yes, I have repelled like that before. What are your plans? They have sausages." Mike suggested.
"I planned on going on the Tiger Cruise around the bay on the James. In fact, I had better go." Antonia said. Her English was still halting at times and very formal but they could communicate at least.
"I'll see you shortly. I have to do some interviews." Mike explained as he led Antonia to the RHIB that would take her and a few others to the James.
"Don't sound so enthused." Antonia remarked with a smile. He helped her board and nodded at the young enlisted sailor.
"I'll try not to. They might think I like doing them." Mike said.
"That would be a shame." Antonia teased just before the RHIB left the dock.
An hour later, Mike was glad that he had put her on that RHIB, especially after he was told that the James lived on. He only got to see her for a moment and gave her some hurried directives before jumping onto the RHIB. Despite Tom not caring for Mike's marriage, he nodded at Mike and put a hand on Antonia's back, gesturing for her to follow him.
Due to their situation, no calls went out. He couldn't email Antonia either and he hoped that Tom was at least looking in on her. Then Tom ended up with them but assured Mike that Russ and Alisha were checking in on Antonia.
It was some weeks before they were able to limp the James back to the Mayport to be repaired. As quickly as he was able, Mike headed home. For not having a conventional marriage, he looked forward to seeing Antonia and enjoyed her spoiling him. As soon as he walked in, she smiled at him from the kitchen.
"You are home!" Antonia said before giving him a hug.
"I am. I'll be working a lot but I will be based here for a while." Mike explained as he untucked his shirt.
"Before…so, a young woman found me a few weeks ago, after Tom went back to the James. She claimed to be Hannah. She does look like her." Antonia started. Mike looked up the stairs.
"Where is she? Did Russ speak with her?" Mike asked.
"She is upstairs and yes. He had her DNA ran but those results are not back yet. She…was quite hungry and she had a baby with her. Apparently, her baby…" Antonia said nervously.
"Hannah is only fifteen!" Mike exclaimed.
"Old enough to have a baby. Russ and I spoke with her. The baby is the result of a rape, but she is quite attached to him. He's only about a month old. I have been helping her care for him." Antonia explained.
"She is too young." Mike said simply.
"She is still a mother and she wants to keep this baby. She is very good with him." Antonia said.
"I should…go up there." Mike answered nervously.
"Let me. She is nervous around men." Antonia answered. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and pointed at the stove. "Watch the soup." She ordered before heading up the stairs.
While she was upstairs; Mike texted Russ to get his thoughts. He got a message back that basically said that he was sure it was Hannah and to just take it easy. Just about then, Antonia came down the stairs carrying a small baby and an older Hannah followed her.
"Daddy?" Hannah asked before looking at Antonia uncertainly.
"I will look after Hunter. You go ahead. You are safe." Antonia said. Mike nodded at her but looked to his youngest daughter. Before, Hannah had been a livewire. Of course, Mike adored Katie and Lucas; but there was just something about Hannah that he loved a bit extra…but that part of her soul seemed to be shattered. Her arms were crossed across her chest and she was looking around nervously.
"Hannah…I won't hurt you, I promise. I've really missed you." Mike said, not even trying to hug her; even though he dearly wanted to. Just then, the baby began fussing.
"I…better…" Hannah said before gently taking the baby from Antonia.
"He is probably hungry. I will get his bottle. You should sit and visit." Antonia said. Mike pointed to the couch and once Hannah settled, he sat down next to her; but at an arm's length distance.
"This is?" Mike asked, pointing at the baby.
"Hunter. He's…my baby. I hope you aren't going to take him away and get rid of him?" Hannah asked. It burnt into his heart.
"Of course not. We will need to come up with a game plan later but I won't take him from you." Mike said. The baby was still fussing and Hannah was looking around in confusion. "May I?" Mike asked. He could tell Hannah was nervous about it but she handed the baby to Mike and he put him on his chest and began patting his back.
"Here's the burp cloth." Hannah said. She handed it to Mike and he tucked it onto his shoulder before patting the baby's back. Within a minute; he let out a burp.
"Maybe he doesn't need a bottle. I think he had a burp in there." Mike told Antonia. He settled the baby on his knees and tickled his belly.
"I thought I had burped him?" Hannah remarked.
"Sometimes, babies are just gassy. Sometimes, the formula does that." Mike explained.
"He is a good baby." Antonia remarked as she sat down on Hannah's other side. She gave her a reassuring look and rubbed her knee. The two had obviously bonded.
"I can tell. He reminds me of you when you were a baby, Hannah." Mike said. Hunter was watching him and playing with his finger.
"And you really aren't going to make me give him up or get rid of him?" Hannah asked. While Mike hated the idea of his fifteen-year-old baby girl having a baby of her own, he knew she loved the baby and would be destroyed if Mike forced her to give him up.
"No, honey. I am sure Antonia and I will have to figure out how to help you so you can have something of an education but we wouldn't make you put him up for adoption or whatever else. We would help with him." Mike said, hoping Antonia agreed.
"See, I told you. I am home all day anyway. I can watch him." Antonia told Hannah.
"And it would be awhile before you could go to formal school. Honestly, we probably need to find you a tutor and that could be here. My point is; you don't have to worry or be scared anymore. You are safe. Hunter is safe. He will only ever know love. Same goes for you." Mike assured her. He wanted to hug her, touch her…but it was off the table.
"Don't I need to work? Food, clothes, diapers and formula is all really expensive." Hannah said as she fidgeted with her sleeve.
"No, honey. You just need to relax and recover. I make plenty of money that I can afford whatever you or Hunter might need. Most of your wants too." Mike said.
"I got her and Hunter enough clothes to get by with. I didn't want to make a lot of major purchases until you got back, but I did kind of want to spoil Hunter." Antonia said as she reached behind Hannah to pat Mike's arm.
"Oh, he is going to be very spoiled. He'll never want for anything." Mike remarked. While he would have preferred becoming a grandparent much later in his child's life, it was the card they were being dealt. Hunter would be well taken care of.
Hannah was willing to let him hold and cuddle Hunter, but Mike didn't dare to touch her and that tore him apart and it made him wonder if he would ever have a hug from her again. At least she had bonded with Antonia. And he trusted Antonia with her.