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Chapter 32

Christine looked at the tests in shock. Sure, she and Mike had talked about another baby and they certainly hadn't tried to prevent it but it still surprised her. Between Mike's retirement, Katie's recovery, Levi's sleep regression and building a new house; she was kind of surprised. But, the thought that Mike would be home the entire pregnancy, birth and childhood made her happy. She hid the tests and walked back into her and Mike's bedroom, where he was still sleeping, with Levi tucked in next to him.

Mike had an arm around Levi and Levi had his head on Mike's arm, happily sucking on his pacifier. Christine laid down beside them and Levi smiled at her around the pacifier. He sat up and held his arms out, wanting held. It was the only invitation Christine needed. She sat back up and pulled Levi onto her lap. He spit his pacifier out and gave her a wet and slobbery kiss.

"He was sucking on my chin earlier. I think he was trying to kiss…or nurse." Mike remarked.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you." Christine replied. She leaned down and gave Mike a kiss.

"It's okay." Mike replied.

"Katie's nightmare was pretty rough. I hope she sleeps in." Christine remarked.

"Me too. Everytime I think she's getting ahead…she falls back. I'm worried about her." Mike said.

"Mike…I just took three pregnancy tests. They were all positive. Probably the worst time possible." Christine remarked.

"Hey…we had talked about a baby. I'm not upset. We will figure things out." Mike replied. He leaned over and gave her a long kiss.

"But the girls?" Christine asked.

"A baby might give them both something to focus on. They both adore Levi." Mike said. He had a point. Just then, Levi let out a screech because Christine wouldn't give him back his pacifier.

"He definitely has his sweet moments." Christine remarked. Mike picked the baby boy up and Levi cuddled into his bare chest. Something Levi seemed to love doing, and Mike never seemed to mind.

"Give him a few years." Mike replied.

"Maybe this one will be a boy?" Christine suggested.

"Or both." Mike said.

"Michael Sean Slattery!" Christine replied. He just gave her a grin.

"Levi, do you want a new baby brother AND sister?" Mike asked.

"Yay!" Levi said. It was his new word and he said it to everything.

"Levi, do you want a new baby brother OR sister?" Christine retorted.

"Yay!" Levi said with a giggle.

"You're hopeless." Christine remarked. She gave Mike a long kiss and smiled at how Levi had cuddled back up to Mike. "I do want to wait a bit before we tell the girls. Just to make sure all is fine." Christine said.

"Secret is safe with me…and Levi. He won't tell a soul." Mike remarked.

"YAY!" Levi exclaimed. Mike and Christine just laughed in response. He handed Levi over and threw his t-shirt on before they stepped out of the bedroom.

Thankfully, they could hear Katie snoring lightly. Hannah was downstairs reading in her favorite chair. Mike fixed breakfast while Christine kept Levi quiet so Katie could sleep, which she did until almost ten am. It was rare for her and Christine could tell it made her feel badly. Mike and Hannah ran to the store to get some items for dinner and Christine settled next to Katie and handed her a cup of tea.

"I hope you sleep a bit better tonight." Christine remarked.

"Me too." Katie replied.

"Was it about your dad being gone again?" Christine asked.

"Kind of. I had gotten my own apartment. 'They' broke in." Katie said, highlighting the word 'they' with air quotation marks.

"And?" Christine encouraged.

"I called Dad for help and he never showed up…because of everything before." Katie answered.

"Well, first of all; anytime you call your dad for help, he'll be there. That is just how it is. And its going to be awhile before either of us will want you in an apartment. Your place is with us." Christine said.

"I think he would be there if I called now, but there was a period of time that he wouldn't have." Katie remarked.

"Perhaps not. But…your dad brought you home. If he was so against you, he would have not done that. Or made sure you had your surgery, drove you to all your appointments, held you when you wanted him to and backed away when you needed him to." Christine pointed out.

"I suppose so." Katie said.

"I know so. Katie, if you had not survived I think your dad would have never survived it. He might have acted indifferent, but he was really hurting." Christine remarked.

"I think what I'm most scared of is that we will get like that again." Katie said.

"I think he's scared of that too, but I also think he is working incredibly hard to make certain that it never happens again." Christine said.

"Maybe what needs to happen is that I have to find a way to forgive him for all that and he also has to forgive me and himself." Katie said.

"I think that you have forgiven him and he's forgiven you, but you both need to forgive yourselves." Christine replied.

"Maybe?" Katie said.

"Most, if not, all of your dreams are about your dad not being around or not helping because of something you've done to him. That tells me you need to look inward. Not because you've not forgiven him, but because you've not forgiven yourself." Christine said.

"That does make sense." Katie replied.

"Just think about it." Christine said. She kissed the top of Katie's head and squeezed her hand. Katie nodded at her in response.