Friends
Chapter 1
"We found them, Mike. Sasha has them and is getting them checked out." Tom explained.
"Checked out?" Mike asked as he paused.
"Medically. I guess Christine is quite thin." Tom answered. He followed Mike out of the office and got into the passenger seat of Mike's truck.
"You're not telling me something?" Mike remarked.
"Apparently, Christine is also…extremely angry. She thinks you deliberately didn't find them. Of course, Sasha and I will tell her differently, but…the dye is cast, I suppose." Tom answered.
"I'll talk to her." Mike said, even though he had a bad feeling. All those years apart had created a lot of distance. Hopefully, the girls would let him in.
They got to the hospital and were let into an exam room. Both girls were sound asleep in two beds. They had grown some but not as much as they should have. Mike was concentrating on them when he heard a very familiar voice behind him.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Christine asked.
"Christine? Its so good to see you. I've missed you…" Mike started. Christine stood up from her wheelchair and slapped him across the face.
"Get out!" She yelled. Mike turned and looked at the girls, desperately wanting to see them awake, talk to them, hug them… "Get out!" Christine repeated.
"Mike?" Tom asked from the door. He nodded at Christine before following Tom out.
"I just want to see the girls." Mike remarked.
"I know. Give her space." Tom answered.
"They are going to need a place." Mike said.
"The doctor said they will be in the hospital for a few days. Christine is especially malnourished but the girls aren't in the greatest shape. Sasha and I will keep up with them if you want to find a place and get it set up." Tom suggested.
"I'd rather be here." Mike replied.
"I know. And I'll make it clear to her." Tom answered.
"Just…tell them that I love them." Mike answered before leaving. One of the hardest things he had ever done.
Mike took the rest of the day off and found a nice four-bedroom, two bath home. It was newly remodeled and for the time being, Mike was renting but he would work out purchasing the house. It was newly painted and Mike would skip that project. He bought furniture and the next day would buy all the many things his wife…or estranged wife would need, as well as both daughters. Sasha would help him.
He had picked a four-bedroom house in hopes that Christine would at least let him stay with them. He would keep his apartment until he knew one way or another but at least Christine and the girls would be safe and eventually healthy.
It was a sleepless night. Mike got up early and went to the new house, waiting on the furniture delivery. He'd have to do some rearranging once he had purchased some area rugs, and apparently Sasha was going to have Courtney Miller, her mom, and Kara Greene help get everything looking more home-like.
Once everyone got there, Mike just kept out of the way. Courtney, her mom and grandmother were going to fill the freezer with casseroles and soups, and the pantry and fridge with ingredients to cook with. Sasha and Kara would go shopping for everything, with Mike tagging along to pay the bill. He didn't mind, but he would prefer being close to the girls and even Christine. Once they picked everything up, including enough clothes to get them by until they gained weight, Mike dropped Kara off at her house and looked at Sasha.
"Just spit it out." Mike said.
"Katie is agreeing with Christine about not seeing you. Hannah does want to see you though." Sasha said.
"Why is she so angry?" Mike asked.
"She blames you for everything. Tom's explained to her that you never stopped looking for them. That you haven't moved on in anyway." Sasha said.
"It hurts." Mike admitted.
"Just give her time. Tom and I will continue working on her and Katie, but I promise, Hannah does want to see you." Sasha assured him.
"I got the four-bedroom, hoping that I would be able to stay in the other bedroom. Don't think that's going to happen." Mike remarked.
"Maybe not initially. Just be patient. Tom thinks she'll wear down. Said that Hannah is really giving her grief about it." Sasha answered.
"Yeah, but Hannah is only one out of three. Just please let her know that I do want to see her and that I do love her. For that matter, tell the other two that, not that it'll help a lot." Mike said as they pulled up to the house. Mike would carry the many bags in and the next morning, the women would get together and make the house a home for Christine and their daughters.