Navy Wives
Chapter 8-Darien Chandler
Darien did feel better after talking to Christine. She knew their friendship had taken a hit though. Nothing would fix that. The warmth was gone. Darien wondered what would happen once the men got back home. In the meantime though, she had planned to host Christine and Leah Reynolds, along with the kids.
Darien wasn't sure what to make of Leah Reynolds. She felt intimidated and felt like the third wheel, but she could be a gracious host. She and Christine made sure the kids had their food and drinks and then settled in the sunroom with Leah.
"So…Christine, any word on the new job?" Darien asked.
"None yet. I'm hoping to hear this week." Christine answered.
"Darien, your home is lovely." Leah remarked.
"I was always a bit jealous of this house." Christine said.
"Thanks. It was Tom's grandmother's house. Thankfully, I've been able to make it my own." Darien explained.
"I hope if Mike and I end up back together, we end up with a four-bedroom." Christine remarked.
"It would be better with the kids." Leah replied.
"I think you and Mike will end up back together but its probably going to take a bit of time." Darien warned.
"It might be a bit better to date a bit before getting back together." Leah agreed.
"I'm not even for sure Mike will want back with me, so I shouldn't be thinking about a house." Christine said.
"But, you're already looking, aren't you?" Darien asked.
"I found this place…in Colonial Hills. On Kathy Court. If I get this new job, I can afford it on my own. But I would have to dip into Mike's account to get it." Christine explained.
"Christine…I think you should wait until he gets back. If you did get into the house; and he didn't like it, you would be starting off with a disagreement." Leah said.
"And with both incomes, you might come up with a house you'd like better." Darien agreed.
"True. I'm not even sure I'll get the job or Mike will want back with me." Christine said.
"There's nothing wrong with having a bit of hope. Just wait on the house until he gets back so he can have a voice in it." Leah replied.
"Darien, are you still going to the cabin?" Christine asked, changing the subject; one of her defense mechanisms.
"Jed really wants us to." Darien said.
"Lucas' camp starts next week and Hannah has a day camp." Christine said.
"What about Katie?" Leah asked.
"She didn't want to do anything." Christine replied as she refilled the glasses of sweet tea.
"Is she still missing Mike as much?" Darien asked.
"She's been having nightmares. I was just told this morning. I think it would help if Mike could email her, but he can't." Christine said. Darien noticed a look pass between Christine and Leah.
"This time seems worse." Darien remarked.
"Yeah. She has a bad feeling." Christine admitted.
"Hopefully the deployment won't take as long as they figure." Leah said.
"Usually, with the Navy; it'll take quite a lot longer than planned and if they end up ahead of schedule, the Navy will find something else for them to do…a goodwill visit or something." Christine explained.
"It is true." Darien agreed.
"When are we going to start editing the book?" Christine asked Darien.
"Soon; I've been rereading it. Making notes." Darien said with a smile.
"Editing the book?" Leah asked.
"We got to talking and decided to edit 'The Code.' Make it more modern. Not so restrictive." Christine explained.
"In the eighties, when my mother wrote it; most of the rules were still in play. Now…not so much." Darien said.
"It does make sense to do a rewrite." Leah remarked.
"One of the things I've always liked about the book is that it tells us how to behave in certain situations. To be graceful, poised, gracious, how to be good hosts. That sort of thing." Christine admitted.
"Remember when we did Sammy's christening and Mom got upset because Mike and Tom were smoking cigars beside the church?" Darien asked Christine.
"She was pissed. She wouldn't let either Mike or Tom handle Sammy because of the smoke." Darien said.
"And the priest tried to hand Sammy to Mike? It was hilarious. I actually thought he was drop the baby!" Christine continued.
"She was not a fan of Mike's." Darien remarked.
"Or mine for that matter. She thought I was a 'negative influence.'" Christine replied.
"She thought everyone was a negative influence." Darien said.
"So, not to interrupt the trip down memory lane, but will you have the book rebound and all that?" Leah asked, gesturing at the book that was sitting on the sofa table.
"I haven't thought that far ahead, honestly." Darien answered.
"I think we need to really read through every chapter. Update the bits about fashion and such." Christine said.
"Perhaps we should ask for some help from younger wives on that, although Leah has great fashion sense, it seems?" Darien replied.
"I do love clothes, purses, jewelry…although I'm not a wife." Leah said.
"We'll take help. Even Katie has remarked on your clothes. I didn't think she cared about those things." Christine said.
"I should have both of you shop in my closet." Leah remarked.
"Your closet is that big?" Darien asked.
"So, I have a three-bedroom apartment. I kept one room as a guest room and home office, but the other room; I've turned into a closet. It's my favorite place." Leah explained.
"My closet at the apartment is tiny. I had a bigger one at our old house but shared with Mike." Christine remarked.
"This is a two-hundred year old house. Closets are very sparing." Darien said.
"So, Leah can help us write the chapter on fashion. I remember your mom giving me a lesson in how to walk in heels. I had to give Katie the same lesson before her father-daughter dance. Mike told me she had a horrible time of it." Christine remarked.
"She's tall for her age." Leah said.
"She has Mike's height. I think Lucas will too. Hannah got my short person gene." Christine said.
"This has been really nice. I've enjoyed it." Leah remarked.
"Good. I'm glad. It has been nice." Darien replied.
"We should definitely do it again." Christine said and both Darien and Leah nodded in agreement.