Friends
Chapter 9
Christine had freshened up the extra room but she hoped Mike decided to sleep in her bedroom. She drove to the hospital and waited as the nurses went over wound care and warning signs to watch for. They got Mike settled into her car and she drove him towards her house.
"Tom brought clothes over, as well as a few books he said you had been reading." Christine said.
"Okay, thanks." Mike said. He sounded exhausted. Just then, she pulled into her driveway and waited as the garage opened.
"No stairs, thankfully." Christine said.
"Good." Mike said. She pulled in, shut the car off and got out while the garage door closed. She helped him out of the car and into the house.
"It hasn't changed a lot. Now, you do have an option. I aired out the extra room and got it ready but I would prefer you be in the primary. Bathroom is closer, room is larger and the bed is really nice." Christine explained.
"Will you be sleeping in there?" Mike asked.
"Yes." Christine answered.
"Then that's where I would rather be." Mike answered. Christine nodded and helped him into the bedroom she occupied.
"I'll help you change clothes and get settled in." Christine answered.
"Thanks." Mike said. Quickly enough, she had him changed into pajamas and settled into bed. She could tell he was exhausted.
"So, you have a few hours before the girls get home. You can nap. Do you need a pain pill?" Christine asked.
"Probably wouldn't hurt." Mike said. Christine got the pill bottle out of her purse and helped him with a drink of water. As soon as he swallowed the pill, he settled back against the pillows.
"Are you warm enough? Not too cool? Pillows right?" Christine asked.
"Everything feels just fine. Could you close that blind though?" Mike asked, pointing at a window beside her bed.
"Of course." Christine answered as she lowered the blind.
"I wouldn't mind if you laid down here with me for a while. I know you have stuff to do but…" Mike started and Christine nodded.
"I think that can be arranged. Will just set my alarm." Christine answered before going in and changing into her pajamas. She set her alarm and settled next to Mike. Shockingly, she didn't panic that he was too close or that his hand was touching her leg.
"Thank you, for everything, Christine." Mike said. He leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"You'd do the same." Christine remarked.
"Not the way you have." Mike admitted with a yawn. Christine turned on her side, towards Mike, and smiled at him.
"Go to sleep, Mike. Once the girls get home, they'll wear you out." Christine said. Mike nodded. He couldn't really turn on his side but she wrapped her arms around him and cuddled close as she could without hurting him.
She was apparently more tired then she originally thought, because the next thing she knew, her alarm was going off. Mike's eyes opened, but he seemed disoriented.
"You stay asleep. Hannah will be home soon." Christine answered before giving him a kiss.
"Bed does feel really good." Mike remarked.
"Good. Take advantage of it." Christine answered with a laugh. She got up and headed into the living area where she started dinner. A half hour later, Hannah came in and immediately started looking for Mike.
"Did Daddy not get to come home?" Hannah asked.
"He's in my room, asleep." Christine answered.
"Can I wake him up?" Hannah asked.
"Ah…let me see if he's ready to get up." Christine answered. She walked into her bedroom and smiled. Mike was sitting up and looking around. "Do you need help to the bathroom?" Christine asked.
"I hate to need it, but yes." Mike said. Christine helped him up and walked him to her bathroom. He was still dragging his left foot and his left hand was still numb so Christine had to help him. She could tell he was ashamed.
"Better me than the girls, right?" Christine remarked.
"I suppose so." Mike answered as he washed his hands.
"Don't be too harsh on yourself. You had a massive heart attack and stroke a week ago and since you've had two surgeries and a pretty significant procedure. I think a lot of doctors and nurses are amazed right now. Now, lets get you settled in the living room so Hannah can badger you while I fix dinner." Christine said.
"When's Katie due home?" Mike asked.
"She texted. She'll be home for dinner." Christine said as she helped him out.
"Good. It'll be nice to eat dinner with you all." Mike said.
"You were always welcome. You ready for Hurricane Hannah?" Christine asked as she wrapped an arm around Mike's waist.
"Yeah. Can I sit on the couch until dinner?" Mike asked.
"Of course." Christine answered. She helped him out and smiled at the little nest that Hannah had created for Mike on the couch.
"Here, Daddy. You can sit here. Can you help me with my geography?" Hannah asked. Christine suspected that Hannah didn't actually need help but she wanted Mike to feel useful.
"Of course." Mike said. Christine settled him on the couch, put the blanket over his legs and raised the foot stool. Hannah climbed in next to him.
"I'll just work on dinner." Christine said. He kissed Mike and Hannah's foreheads before walking into her kitchen.
Katie came in a few minutes later, gave Mike a hug and kiss and then began helping Christine. They ate dinner as a family and that seemed to exhaust Mike. While the girls cleaned dinner up, Christine helped Mike shower and settle into bed. He was already asleep by the time she got to done tidying up the bathroom. She shut the light off and left the door open so she could hear him.
"He seems really tired." Katie remarked as she fixed herself a cup of hot tea.
"I think the trip home wore him out. He'll start coming around." Christine replied.
"I am off school tomorrow so if you need to work, I can stay home." Katie offered.
"Thanks, honey. I do need to go in for a few hours, but he is needing help in the bathroom and he won't ever ask you." Christine said.
"Maybe help him before you leave and hope he doesn't have to go again until you get back?" Katie suggested.
"Alright. I'll see how he feels tomorrow. He's already sound asleep." Christine told her.
"Maybe you should go in too. You look tired." Katie remarked.
"I might take that advice. Thank you for giving him a chance." Christine said.
"Tom told me I needed to because Dad has been through a lot and some of it was a reaction to that. That he didn't stop loving us, even though he stopped talking. He just didn't think we were strong enough to handle his trauma too." Katie said.
"That makes a lot of sense." Christine replied before giving Katie a kiss on the cheek. "I love you, sweetheart and so does your dad. Get some rest." Christine said. She walked back into her bedroom and settled into bed next to Mike. She turned back onto her side and kissed his cheek, glad he was finally home.