Back Home
Chapter 1
The divorce had been finalized for three months when Mike shipped out on an emergency deployment. Christine and Mike were still learning how to co-parent post-divorce and not end up in a screaming match, so one night, in early June, he called her on a Tuesday night about eight-thirty.
"Are the kids asleep? Can I run by?" Mike asked.
"Mike…it's a school night and I don't like disturbing their schedules on a school night." Christine said.
"I know and normally I wouldn't even ask but I just got ordered to a deployment. Its an emergency of some sort. I just want to see them before I go." Mike said.
"When do you leave?" Christine asked.
"Tomorrow morning." Mike answered.
"Really last minute." Christine remarked.
"I know and I'm sorry. I just really want to see the kids. I've…got a bad feeling about this cruise and I'm not sure why. I know the lawyers said we had to adhere to the visitation schedule but I…just really need to see them." Mike begged.
"Okay." Christine conceded.
"Thank you. I'll be there in fifteen." Mike said before hanging up.
Christine didn't tell the kids that Mike was coming by and had them in their pajamas when he appeared twenty minutes later. He carried in a bag and handed it to Christine.
"For Katie's birthday. They said we should be back before Thanksgiving so I didn't get Christmas presents but…I don't know how to wrap presents." Mike admitted. Mike had had to learn how to do certain things since their separation, including ironing his uniforms. Christine finally had to give him a lesson.
"I'll take care of it." Christine said.
"Are they in bed?" He asked.
"They're reading. Just go in. I'll put this away." Christine answered as she indicated the bag.
"Christine, thank you. I know you could have said no. I…don't know why I feel this way about this cruise. Maybe because of how fast it came up. And…I still have you as beneficiary on my life insurance. I don't have an executor set up and would have to due to Katie being underage. I guess I've been neglecting things a bit." Mike admitted.
"I'll take care of things. Just don't overthink it. You know what they say about negative thoughts influencing you." Christine said.
"Thanks. I…miss you." Mike admitted. It surprised her because she knew Mike was staying busy on the nights that he didn't have the kids. He had a very active social calendar according to Katie, and supposedly, was already dating someone casually.
"Mike, I couldn't do the rapid deployments anymore. The months alone. But, I didn't stop caring about you. Our kids love you and because of that, I will always make room for you in their lives, even if its not on the visitation schedule. Go in, tuck them in, stay with them until they fall asleep." Christine instructed.
"Thank you." Mike answered before touching her shoulder and walking into the bedroom wing. She stowed the present in her room where Katie wouldn't find it and fixed Mike a dish of hummingbird cake. It was a cake her mom had always made and Mike had loved. Finally, about forty-five minutes later, he walked back into the living room. Christine could have sworn his eyes looked a bit red.
"They asleep? I made Mom's recipe for Hummingbird Cake this morning with Katie. I thought you might like a piece." Christine said. She sat the plate down on the kitchen island and Mike sat down and began eating the cake.
"Yeah. Katie is a bit upset about me missing her birthday and Lucas isn't happy about me missing the camp. Hannah is her typical self." Mike said.
"They'll be okay. You can call on her birthday and there will be other camps." Christine answered as she handed Mike a glass of milk.
"Its Em-Comm Alpha One. No calls, no emails. Maybe on the return trip but not for the bulk of the trip." Mike answered dryly.
"Oh…well maybe it won't take as long as they anticipate." Christine said.
"I hope not." Mike said.
"How about this…go home and write them notes and before you leave, drop them by. Put them in the mailbox and I'll grab them. I'll make sure they get them when they are really missing you." Christine suggested.
"That's a good idea." Mike remarked.
"And stop overthinking your bad feeling. It probably has more to do with you missing the kids." Christine answered.
"Maybe so." Mike said.
"Take care of yourself, Mike. The kids adore you. Do you need any help with bills?" Christine asked.
"Just my cellphone bill and vehicle insurance. I didn't even think about that." Mike answered.
"Leave the information and a checkbook with some signed checks. I will take care of it for you." Christine said. She knew she should be making Mike do it himself but he hadn't actually wanted the divorce, even if he already had someone else.
"The house payment comes out automatically and you've been covering the utilities but if you need anything…just get what you need." Mike said as he stood up.
"Thanks." Christine said, even though she wouldn't. She had been doing pretty good since the divorce.
"No, thank you. I just wasn't prepared this time." Mike said.
"Its okay. When you get back, I'll help you get stuff set up. Just take care of yourself." Christine answered. She had come around the island and gave Mike a kiss on the cheek. She wasn't entirely shocked when he pulled her into the hug and hung on for a long moment.
He was gone just a moment later and Christine checked on the kids before going to bed herself; exhausted by the emotional night and feeling badly for her ex-husband, as odd as that was.
She shouldn't care what Mike was up to but it had bothered her when Katie reported that Mike was already seeing someone. She could only hope he would choose wisely, but she was getting the impression from Mike that it was either very casual or that maybe Katie was wrong. She hoped Katie was wrong.