Navy Wives
Chapter 6-Leah Reynolds
"Alright, Katie; first of all–anything you and I discuss is strictly confidential. Unless I feel its detrimental, I will not tell your parents." Leah said. Normally, she would have drawn a line at counseling a friend's child, but Christine asked Leah to try first.
"Okay." Katie said.
"So, how are you doing with the increased responsibilities since your parents split?" Leah asked.
"I don't mind it. I like helping and Dad made sure to give my mom money for allowance before he left." Katie answered.
"What do you plan to do with your allowance?" Leah asked, to make Katie comfortable.
"I'm saving it. When my dad gets back, I'm going to somehow convince my mom and dad to go on a date. I have almost enough for them to eat and have a hotel room. I've been watching the rates close." Katie answered.
"Katie–your parents may not want to do that." Leah said.
"I think they still love each other." Katie remarked, not understanding that her plan was flawed. Very sweet, but very flawed.
"Sometimes when longtime partners separate, they don't stop loving each other, but its not the same kind of love. Its a friendship." Leah explained.
"They miss each other." Katie said.
"I'm sure that they do. How do you feel about the split?" Leah asked.
"I don't like that they aren't happy. Mom is tired all the time and stressed about money. I know my dad helps her. And I miss having my own room, as shallow as that sounds. Hannah is noisy and messy." Katie said.
"Your mom said that because of where your dad lives, he can't have you kids overnight. That bothers you?" Leah asked.
"I really miss Dad but I understand it. He gives all his extra money to Mom to help her out." Katie said.
"Katie–what I am getting here is that you are minimizing your own feelings about things. You know your parents miss each other, that they love each other. You understand why he can't keep you all overnight. Et cetera. I am just concerned that someday you will resent your parents." Leah replied.
"I'm hoping when Dad gets back, its still warm enough and we can go camping. With Mom." Katie remarked.
"She said you enjoy that." Leah said as she walked to her small fridge. "Would you like a soda, juice or water?" Leah asked, knowing Christine didn't allow the kids to have soda. She wanted to see what Katie chose.
"Soda, please." Katie answered. Leah handed her the can of soda, and a glass with ice.
"Your mom told me the other day she doesn't let you kids have soda but your dad does. Can I ask why you chose it today?" Leah asked.
"I guess I really miss my dad. There's something off about this deployment. It came about so fast." Katie said. She was definitely a 'Navy brat.' She knew how the Navy worked.
"It ended up making him cancel a lot of plans. Did you and he have any plans for the summer?" Leah asked.
"No. He had plans for all three of us, but he can't really single me out because with Mom working the way she does, if he takes Lucas out, he needs me to watch Hannah, and vice versa. If he only takes me out, Mom doesn't get any sleep." Katie explained.
"What kind of things did you and your dad do before, when it was one on one time?" Leah questioned.
"Go to museums. Dad likes history and so do I. We also liked going out to breakfast together. Sometimes, we used to get up early on a Saturday and he'd take me to this little diner. I really miss that. It makes me wonder if Dad misses it too?" Katie remarked.
"I bet he does. You really love him alot." Leah replied.
"Oh, I love Mom just as much. But, Dad and I are closer for some reason. Always have been. I worry about both of them. They both seem very unhappy and lonely." Katie remarked.
"You seem very perceptive." Leah replied.
"I suppose." Katie said as she drank her soda. She seemed to be savoring it.
"Your hour is almost up. What i want you to do this week–think about what you want to do with that allowance money that doesn't involve your mom and dad. Something you want to do or have. A new shirt? Jewelry? Some kind of phone?" Leah suggested.
"Mom and Dad take care of all that stuff. I would like to get my ears pierced though." Katie remarked.
"Well, there you go. Talk to your mom and see if she'd take you." Leah answered as they both stood up. Katie finished her drink and grabbed her back pack.
"Mom is supposed to pick me up. She had court again today." Leah said.
"Does she work tonight?" Leah asked.
"Thankfully, no. She's so tired all the time. Last night, I heard her crying. Even though they aren't together right now, she really misses having my dad around." Katie said.
"She misses the support system." Leah remarked.
"I hope you, Mom and Darien connect. Then she would have what she needs until Dad gets back." Katie remarked before leaving Leah's office.
Katie was amazingly perceptive. She seemed very intune to her parent's thoughts and feelings. It made Leah wonder how Katie would handle it if her parents didn't get back together. Because of patient confidentiality, Leah would not tell Christine of anything that was said. But she was concerned for Katie. Leah texted Christine to let her know that she would come up with dinner for her and the kids that night and scheduled a pick up for take out for five pm.
Leah had a good job and had decided to spoil the Slattery kids a little, knowing that Christine didn't eat out a lot due to the cost, so when she arrived with two bags full of different Chinese dishes, Christine was overwhelmed and the kids were excited.
"You didn't have to do this?" Christine said as they dished up plates for themselves after helping the kids.
"I didn't want to eat at home alone." Leah said.
"I know you won't tell me what Katie said during her appointment, but is she okay?" Christine asked quietly.
"She really misses her dad and she misses you together. She knows you are both lonely." Leah answered, keeping it to the facts that Christine probably already knew.
"It is really hard not having him here. Even though we are separated, I could count on Mike for help with the kids or to just talk to. To vent to. And he was in the weeds with me." Christine admitted.
"Katie really wants you back together." Leah remarked.
"I know, but I have no idea how to facilitate that." Christine said.
"We'll see. I do have a suggestion…I know you love being a cop. Is there something you can do, that the hours would be more regular? I am concerned that might be one of Mike's conditions and you are exhausted." Leah asked.
"Actually; my boss pulled me aside today. There's a position that is mostly at the office. I would be supervising warrant entries, sex offender registrations…its something I did for awhile while I was pregnant with Katie. I put in for it. No guarantee I'll get it. But the sheriff does want someone commissioned for it, so I fit that bill." Christine explained.
"Sounds like a better set up." Leah said.
"Yeah. I spoke with Mrs. Adams. She can keep an eye on the kids and help Katie with meals. Only issue will be her therapy appointments." Christine said.
"We'll work that out. I hope you get it." Leah said.
"I reached out to Darien. We are supposed to meet up Saturday. I'm nervous." Christine said.
"Okay? What are you going to do?" Leah asked.
"We are doing a picnic with the kids at the park. Just talking I suppose." Christine said.
"A picnic is a good idea. On neutral ground. Just remember to keep your voice down and just talk." Leah replied.
"We'll see. I guess I didn't quite understand how hard this deployment would be, without her or Mike as a support system. I am thankful for you, though." Christine said.
"And I appreciate this. So, suggestion for Mike…you can't talk to him right now, but write your thoughts down in a journal. Kind of like a letter to him. He can read it when he gets back if you want…or not. It'll help to get it off your chest. Here you go?" Leah said as she handed Christine a nice leather bound journal.
"Thank you, for everything." Christine said. Leah just smiled at her. Hopefully, Christine was on the way to healing. In doing that, Katie would find her own healing.