Train of Thought
Chapter 7
"He was so real, Christine. So real." Mike said into the phone.
"Mike; are you okay? They said you had lost a lot of blood and that drug?" Christine asked, not wanting to talk about their son. It hurt that Mike could see him and she couldn't. She had given birth to him.
"They're giving me fluids to flush it out. Its just becoming more…dull." Mike remarked, still talking about Lucas.
"How long before you can come home?" Christine asked.
"I don't know." Mike said.
"Mike; I'm worried about you. Promise me you won't do something stupid?" Christine begged.
"I just want to see my baby again." Mike said as his voice broke.
"I know. I do too, but you have four here at home. They love you and they need you." Christine said.
"Can you send me some more pictures of them? I know you said Katie hates taking photos, but please?" Mike begged.
"That can be arranged." Christine said.
"Thank you. I just miss him so much." Mike said.
"I do too, honey; but I could tell him goodbye. You didn't get that." Christine remarked.
"Maybe the hallucinations was my way to say goodbye? It just feels so…empty now." Mike asked.
"Maybe so. Just hang on for me. I'll get those pictures taken and emailed. It won't be fancy but it'll help. Just hang on." Christine begged.
"I will." Mike promised.
"I love you." Christine said.
"I love you too." Christine answered.
"And tell the kids I love them too, please?" Mike asked before hanging up.
The kids were not thrilled to have their photos taken, but Christine made it clear that Mike needed the photos and when Andrea got home; she took more photos with Christine in them. Christine edited them as well as she could and emailed them to Mike. She had also set up an email account for the girls to communicate with their dad on their own and encouraged both Katie and Hannah to email Mike.
Katie was a little less interested in it then Hannah, but agreed to nonetheless. Christine read the emails before they were sent and they were both very sweet. Several thousand miles away, it was all Christine knew to do. The next morning; Christine had an email from Mike thanking her. The girls also received emails back and it seemed to have opened a line of communication between them.
Mike's calls and emails were erratic and there were times he called at two am because he forgot the time difference but Christine had never minded that. She could tell things weren't going well and it was getting rough at home, even conserving food. It was just hard to ration food with growing kids, and Christine was luckier then most. One night, Mike called at about eleven pm.
"Hey, we are headed home. Have to make a pit stop in Norfolk, first though." Mike said.
"You have the items back?" Christine asked, knowing to speak in code.
"Yeah. It was rough but yeah. And the kicker…I forgot to tell you, Tom's back." Mike said.
"Tom? What about the kids? I'm so confused." Christine asked.
"We have them too. Found him in Greece. He helped us out. Decided it was time to come home." Mike explained.
"I'm glad." Christine said.
"So, it might take us a week or so." Mike added.
"We will be happy when you get home. The girls are loving getting your emails…or Hannah is. I think Katie is too, but she wouldn't ever admit it." Christine said.
"Tough cookie." Mike remarked.
"She loves you, Mike." Christine commented.
"And I love her. Now…what's Piper up to?" Mike asked.
"She is finding her voice. Peter thinks it hilarious when she screeches." Christine said.
"I bet he does. I couldn't believe how much they had both grown." Mike remarked.
"And in no time; you'll get to be woke up by Piper at two am and you can teach Peter how to throw his baseball." Christine said.
"I'd like that. Listen, I have to go, but I wanted to thank you for talking me off that ledge." Mike said.
"You'd do the same for me. I love you." Christine answered.
"I love you too." Mike answered.
"I am going into bed. Talk later?" Christine asked.
"Absolutely." Mike answered before hanging up. It was just the hope she needed.