Train of Thought
Chapter 9
The advantage to Mike being home was that she had help with the kids. The disadvantage was that Mike and Katie had some ferocious fights. Christine spent most of her time mediating. Mike tried with Katie but Katie was totally resistant. One night, after a particularly horrible fight, Christine climbed into bed next to Mike. He was reading something on his phone.
"Work?" Christine asked.
"Yeah. I'm going to have to start organizing a deployment. You know how we've been ramping up recruitment? It'll be a Great Fleet." Mike explained.
"How long?" Christine asked.
"How long before I leave or how long will I be gone?" Mike asked.
"Both." Christine answered.
"Both are unknown at this point." Mike answered.
"Mike, the kids need you." Christine said.
"Honestly, maybe Hannah, Peter and Piper do. But, if there's any hope of me having any sort of relationship with Katie someday, I had better go." Mike said.
"Mike…that's a bad idea. I understand you needing to leave for work. Katie needs her father though." Christine said.
"I agree. She needs me. But, she doesn't want me and that breaks my heart." Mike admitted.
"Promise me, though…you will still come around. For the others and for me?" Christine begged with tears in her voice. Mike leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"I will. I will still be your husband and their father. And if, at any point, Katie wants me back in her life; I'll be here. I just can't let her issues with me disrupt Hannah, Peter or Piper's life." Mike said.
"Before you leave, please tell her that you love her?" Christine asked.
"I will." Mike answered. He gave her another long kiss, which quickly became passionate.
They had a lot to do the next day, but spent the best part of the night making love and talking. Afterwards, they fell asleep in each other's arms. Morning came entirely too early and Katie was in a particularly bad mood.
After Mike left for work, Christine found Katie in the screened in porch, working on schoolwork. Christine sat down next to her and sat her book aside. Katie gave her a dirty look.
"Mom! I needed that." Katie said.
"Your dad is going to be leaving again soon. He feels it will be better. He really loves you but he's afraid all these fights will damage his relationship with you and eventually the younger kids." Christine said.
"Your point?" Katie asked.
"There has always been some weird disconnect between your dad and you. Despite that, he adores you and you have always looked up to him. I think you are fighting him so hard because you are terrified to lose him. Him being stabbed really scared you." Christine said.
"Didn't it scare you?" Katie asked.
"Not enough to push him away." Christine said.
"I remember before Hannah was born. He would pick me up and read to me. I always loved it." Katie said with a smile.
"He loved it too." Christine said.
"He's just always so busy. With work and the younger kids and the house and…" Katie started.
"You're needing some one on one time with him, aren't you?" Christine asked. Katie slowly nodded and Christine smiled. "He will still have to go on his deployment but I'll get something together. In the meantime, stop fighting with him. Maybe give him a hug. He honestly is scared he's losing you, okay?" Christine remarked.
"Okay." Katie agreed. Christine leaned over and kissed her temple.
Christine texted Mike to let him know what was going on and what she was planning. He was all for doing something with Katie if it helped and would be thinking of things to do.
That night when he got home, Katie was at least not rude. She just didn't seem sure of how to have a conversation with him. Before the older kids went to bed, Mike stopped Katie and kissed her on the top of the head. Christine wasn't sure what was said between the two of them, but she nodded up at him and he smiled. Hopefully, it was a good sign.