Navy Wives
Chapter 9-Leah Reynolds
It was crazy how fast the pandemic took hold in the United States. As a medical professional, Leah was clued in a bit faster but it was honestly stunning. Her office was quickly closed and she helped as she could in the hospital. One afternoon, one of the attendings pulled her aside and pointed at a med cabinet.
"You told me the other day that you have a friend with a daughter that has severe asthma?" Dr. Hansen said.
"Yes." Leah said.
"There's inhalers in there. Since you are a therapist, you are a low need, even though you do help in the emergency room. I suggest you get whatever you might need and get them to your friend, then get out of here." Dr. Hansen said.
"Isn't that theft?" Leah asked.
"It is technically, but no one will notice. This pandemic is getting out of hand. I suggest you get them and get away from the city." Dr. Hansen said. He handed her a backpack and walked away. Leah looked at the cabinet and shook her head. She'd normally never steal anything, but Katie needed the inhalers and Christine had told her it was becoming hard to get them.
She loaded the back pack up and left the hospital, driving straight to Christine's apartment. She was surprised when she opened the door and found that Katie was crying. It was odd for the younger girl and Leah knelt down next to her.
"What's wrong?" Leah asked.
"The camp called. Lucas…died. He got this…whatever it is." Katie answered.
"Where's your mom and Hannah?" Leah asked.
"In the bedroom. Hannah's having a really hard time. Mom's trying to…explain it to her." Katie said. Leah squeezed her shoulder before getting back up and walking to the bedroom that Katie and Hannah shared. She found Christine sitting on Hannah's bed, trying to comfort the little girl.
"I know…I know. Just let it out." Christine said.
"Katie told me." Leah said.
"I have no idea what to do." Christine remarked.
"We need to get out of here." Leah replied.
"Out of…the city? My concern is that Mike won't know where to find us." Christine asked.
"It might not be a matter of him finding you…but you finding him later. I know, right now is hard and you want to just give into the grief but to keep yourself and these girls alive, we need to get out of here. Let's pack some clothes up. Warm clothes." Leah ordered. She leaned down and looked at Hannah. "Sweetie, I know you're hurting. Can you go in with your sister and start packing up food we don't have to cook? And canned soups?" Leah asked. Hannah nodded and slid off the couch before running out of the room. Christine was already at the girl's closet.
"They said he didn't suffer." Christine remarked.
"Good." Leah said.
"I tried to get ahold of Darien. She and the kids are with Jed in the western part of the state." Christine replied.
"And nothing from Mike?" Leah asked.
"No. I worry about him. And now…as selfish as it seems…he won't want to stay married." Christine said as she pulled winter coats out of the closet.
"Why do you say that?" Leah asked.
"Mike waited so long for Lucas. He adores the girls of course, but he always wanted a boy. He will blame me for Lucas dying." Christine replied.
"Its true…a lot of marriages don't survive the loss of a child. But plenty do, because the grief unites the couple. I don't know about the loss of a child. And even if I did, I wouldn't understand the loss of your child. Mike is the only person who will understand it because he will also experience the same loss…only different. You carried Lucas for nine months and have a different bond then Mike, but it is grief for the same person." Leah explained.
"I don't think I can do this." Christine said.
"Losing Lucas?" Leah asked.
"Yeah." Christine answered.
"Frankly, you don't have a choice to buckle up at the moment. Maybe, when you and Mike are reunited, you will, but for now; you have to be strong for those girls." Leah said.
"Its only been an hour and I'm exhausted by it already." Christine replied. Thankfully she was still going through clothes, picking warmer clothes for the coming winter.
"I'm sure you are…okay. It looks like they both have three full sets of clothes, plus a coat, gloves, and stocking caps. And underclothes. Now, lets get yours." Leah said.
"And a pair of boots for both." Christine replied. They packed everything into a suitcase and moved it into the hallway before walking into Christine's room. "What about photos and such?" Christine asked.
"Some." Leah said. She hated that she was forcing Christine to make choices about photos so close to losing her only son, but Christine had to keep going.
"Can you take those out of the frames and tuck them into the album while I get clothes out?" Christine asked.
"You bet." Leah agreed. It was an easy task and was completed within five minutes.
"Should we bring sleeping bags? Bedding?" Christine asked.
"Probably a good idea." Leah said.
"Alright. I have ours…do you have one?" Christine asked.
"No." Leah answered.
"You can use mine and I'll use Mike's. I don't know why I still have it but he wouldn't care." Christine said. Leah was glad she was making logical choices. "I should bring something of Lucas' but I don't know what." Christine said.
"Do you want me to choose?" Leah asked.
"I can't go in there." Christine admitted, pointing towards Lucas' bedroom.
"I'll do it." Leah said. She grabbed a backpack and walked into the little boy's room. She grabbed a teddy bear that was on the bed, a toy dinosaur that she had seen him fiddling with, a ball glove and baseball, and finally a t-shirt that was in his dirty laundry. As someone who had counseled grieving parents, she knew Christine and even Mike would want to smell him one more time. It was an odd thing but Leah was used to it. She also grabbed the ipod that Lucas was attached to. He and Mike had made recordings for each other.
The girls had done a good job packing food up. Leah also grabbed some cooking items and bottled water and they began packing everything up in her SUV. She also grabbed a couple gas canisters to get filled up. Finally, Christine locked the door and they headed for Leah's apartment.
"I got gas canisters out of your storage to fill up. You did get your pertinent paperwork?" Leah asked.
"Yes. Marriage license, birth certificates, military dependant IDs, my driver's license. I also am going to have you stop by and get cash out of the bank. Mike didn't take me off his account and I just got paid. I figure the banks will stop failing soon." Christine remarked.
"Probably a really good idea." Leah said. She made a short stop to get the money out of their accounts and to fill her SUV up and get gas. Then to her apartment to get her clothes, pertinent paperwork and photos. Once done, they got back into the SUV and looked at one another.
"Where now?" Christine asked.
"Do you remember where that cabin is?" Leah asked.
"Yeah." Christine said.
"We drive there." Leah said and Christine nodded.
"I'll warn you…it is rustic." Christine said.
"Its better than nothing. Will the Chandler's mind having guests?" Leah asked.
"Oh, Jed might complain a bit but he'll live." Christine said.
"Alright. Girls, all buckled in?" Leah asked.
"Yes." Katie said.
"I wish I had gotten her prescription picked up." Christine remarked.
"Look in that backpack." Leah said. Christine unzipped the bag and looked at her in shock.
"Where'd these come from?" Christine asked.
"When I left the hospital today I was told to raid the med closet. I knew she would need them." Leah explained.
"Thank you." Christine said.
"Do you have your gun?" Leah asked quietly.
"Yes. I thought it might be a good idea to have one traveling…and I know Jed will have all kinds of weapons out there." Christine answered.
"Yes, good idea." Leah said just as she hit the city limits sign. She and Christine both looked at each other and nodded.