Second Father's Day
Despite having his older girls back, and having Susannah, Alexander and Amelia, Father's Day was still a hard day. Mike missed Lucas. He could smile and laugh with his kids, but there was still a pain in his heart.
Maddie knew. She tried her best and the girls seemed to sense that Mike was hurting but Susannah wanted the day to be special for Mike. She didn't understand loss yet, and Mike hoped it would be many years before she did. That afternoon, she climbed up into Mike's lap and kissed his cheek.
"Thanks, sweetheart." Mike said.
"Momma said you sad." Susannah said as she played with his hand.
"A little but you kids make me happy again." Mike answered.
"Why?" Susannah asked. She was extremely inquisitive at two years old.
"I miss your brother." Mike said.
"Alex seepin'." Susannah answered.
"Your other brother, Lucas." Mike said. His wallet was sitting on the end table next to his chair so he found the photo of Lucas and showed it to Susannah.
"I know 'im! He plays dinosaurs with me when I seep." Susannah said excitedly.
"Lucas plays dinosaurs with you?" Mike asked in confusion.
"Yeah, but him said his name is Bubby." Susannah said.
"That's what Katie and Hannah called him when he was little." Mike remarked, more to himself.
"There's a pretty lady too. Her looks like Hannah." Susannah said. Mike picked her up and carried her into Katie's bedroom. Fortunately, Katie, Maddie and Hannah had gone somewhere. He picked up a photo of Christine and showed it to Susannah.
"Her?" Mike asked.
"That her! Is her Katie and Hannah's mommy?" Susannah asked. Mike carefully placed the photo back on Katie's dresser.
"Yes. Her name was Christine." Mike answered.
"Her said to call her Auntie Crissie. She nice. She smells yummy." Susannah said.
"She was always baking something." Mike answered as he carried Susannah back down the stairs.
"I sleepy." Susannah said.
"How about I rock you to sleep?" Mike asked.
"Otay. I tell Auntie Crissie and Bubby you say hi." Susannah said as she settled in his lap.
"Tell them I love them too." Mike said to his very precocious two-year-old.
"I will." Susannah said. She let out a yawn and quickly fell asleep. Judging by her dreams, it was not shocking why she never fought her sleep.
The twins slept until after Maddie, Katie and Hannah got back so Mike enjoyed the time holding Susannah. The girls worked on his favorite meal while Maddie fed the babies.
They ate dinner and Mike received a new grill, some cologne and new photos of all five of his surviving kids. Despite his sadness, he was thankful that he had Katie, Hannah, Susannah, Alexander and Amelia. And come to find out, Lucas and Christine weren't as far away as he thought initially.