Back Home

Chapter 14

The family vacation was nice. Mike spent a lot of time with the girls. He and Christine talked some more about remarrying, and they certainly tried for another baby, but all too soon, he was deployed again. Katie was bitter again and Hannah was a little lost. But the vacation was still nice.

Thankfully, Christine had been stockpiling groceries for a while so they were fine. Mike was able to email and call home, and had even taken to emailing Katie. Christine didn't know what was in those emails, but Katie did always seem a bit lighter after receiving one.

Then the news came that Mike was MIA and the Navy knew he was injured. It was twelve hours of immense worry and concern. And because Mike and Christine were no longer married, Andrea was not supposed to tell her a lot. She probably over-shared but Christine knew that Katie didn't understand what was going on. She was hurting too much.

Late that night, Andrea called Christine to let her know Mike was found, back on the James, had been drugged and was recovering from his stabbing. From what Andrea related, 'he was not in a good place mentally' but he would recover. Christine woke Katie up to let her know, knowing Katie would not be happy if she wasn't woke up.

It was later afternoon before Christine got another call, this time from Rios, explaining Mike's injury and his mental state. He also should have been talking to Katie but his remark to Christine was that Katie wasn't old enough to fully understand Mike's mental state. Mike apparently had had hallucinations about Lucas and Emma and was not in the best mindset. Finally the next morning about five am, Christine's phone rang and she answered it immediately, prepared to get Katie if needed.

"Christine?" Mike asked. His voice even sounded tired.

"Oh, Mike. We've been so worried about you." Christine said. She knew she had to be strong for Mike.

"The girls? Are they sleeping?" Mike asked.

"Yeah. I can wake them if you'd like though?" Christine offered.

"No. Let them sleep. I'll email Katie and call later." Mike said.

"How are you?" Christine asked.

"I'll be back to work in a day or so. I lost some blood, but I'll come out of that." Mike said.

"Mike—I know about you being drugged and the hallucinations. Rios told me. Are you okay?" Christine asked.

"No, not really. I'll be glad to get home." Mike remarked.

"We will be happy for you to be home." Christine said.

"Hey, so on the bright side, not that there is one…TC found us." Mike said, utilizing Tom's initials if the phone call had been tapped.

"That's good. I'm glad. Still worried about you though." Christine said.

"I'll be okay. Its just going to take some time." Mike admitted.

"Mike—we love you. I love you. The girls love you. Just don't forget that, okay?" Christine said. The connection was iffy at best.

"I love you too. Please tell the girls that I love them too. I'll be home as soon as I can." Mike said.

"We'll be waiting for you. Call me if you need me." Christine said before the call broke up completely.

True to his word, Mike did email Katie and called and spoke with both girls. Christine could tell it made Katie feel better. Late that night, Christine found Katie in her room and Christine stepped in.

"Katie, bedtime was almost an hour ago." Christine said.

"Yeah, I know. I wanted Dad to get this email when he woke up, if he checks his emails." Katie said. Christine decided not to explain about the time difference, even though Katie knew if she thought of it.

"I'm sure he'll like reading it." Christine said.

"Mom…you should marry Dad again. He really loves you and its kind of sweet. I don't mind being his next-of-kin, but I would feel better if it was you instead. I don't think I would have known what decisions to make." Katie said.

"I would help you." Christine said.

"I know, but you and Dad love each other." Katie said.

"Let me think about it. In the meantime, you finish that email and then go to sleep. Its been a rough few days for all of us and you need to rest." Christine said. She stood up and kissed Katie's forehead. "I love you and your dad does too." Christine said.

"I love you too." Katie answered.

Christine slept better than she had the night before and her biggest concern was Mike overdoing or really not being okay from whatever hallucination he had had. She could understand him hallucinating about Lucas. They both missed Lucas and Mike had been particularly grief-stricken, not that he ever talked about his feelings. But Emma? Mike was very clear in that he didn't miss Emma, hadn't wanted her and certainly didn't love her. For him to dream about her was odd at best. She would feel a thousand times better when she could see and touch Mike.

The next morning, she got up early and found her wedding album. It was not something she looked at frequently. The girls loved looking at it and dreaming about their own weddings. If she was going to do it a second time, she would have a much smaller, more intimate wedding. Christine's mother had insisted on a huge wedding with two hundred guests and the big dress, cake and the whole bit.

Christine found herself looking at wedding gowns for more mature brides. White wasn't quite right, but she found a creamy satin dress that she loved. She would have to talk to Mike before making the purchase and so she emailed him.

"Mike,

Katie made a funny remark last night that I needed to marry you. She doesn't mind being your next of kin, but she thinks it should be me. That we both love each other and being fourteen…she thinks that's enough. We both know better but I do love you. I suppose this is me finally accepting your proposal if you're still asking.

I found myself looking at our old wedding album and dreaming…not of a two hundred guest wedding. Something much smaller and more intimate. I found a wedding gown I'd love, but didn't make the purchase not sure how you felt still?

My point is…I would be willing to do it again. Perhaps do it better but I do love you and I would only ever want you as that groom again. And maybe this time…we won't have fruit cake as our cake? That was AWFUL!

I love you so much,

Christine"

She sent the email and got busy with the girls. Since the schools were shut back down, she was home-schooling again and Katie was her most difficult student. So like her father. Hannah was just so happy-go-lucky that not a lot bothered her. That night, Christine checked her email and smiled when she saw one from Mike.

"Christine,

Buy the dress and I agree…no fruitcake. Not sure what other ingredients we could get at the present time. Once I get back to the States, I'll find the ring. I think you need a new one. Unfortunately, we might be a bit delayed. Make the plans and I'll be there the day of.

This is giving me something to look forward to.
I love you too,

Mike"

Mike was a man of few words but he always managed to get his point across. Christine decided instead of ordering the dress she had found, to take the girls to a dress shop and let them help pick out her new dress, within Christine's perimeters. Remembering her first wedding, Mike would be no help with the planning, so she would also include them on the plans. It would make the fourteen and eight-year-olds happy.