The Wedding Guest
Chapter 3
Mike felt totally unprepared to be walking his oldest down the aisle. Katie was a beautiful bride. She reminded Mike alot of Christine on their wedding day. He gave Katie a kiss on the cheek, shot Henry a warning glance and settled next to Christine.
It was actually a simple ceremony and reception. Mike danced with Katie, as expected but he also danced with Christine and Hannah. The next morning; he would be following Christine and Hannah back to Texas. Katie would be following Henry to Norfolk. Mike hoped Henry's next duty station would be much closer.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Christine asked. She sat down next to him and smiled over at him.
"Just hoping Henry's next duty station is closer." Mike remarked.
"I'm hoping he retires and they move back to Texas." Christine said.
"They are so young." Mike said.
"Mike; they are older than we were." Christine deadpanned.
"True." Mike agreed.
"She could be fifty and she'd be too young to get married, according to you." Christine teased.
"Do you think differently?" Mike asked.
"I want grandkids someday so; maybe twenty-one is young but fifty is a bit old." Christine answered.
"There's always Hannah?" Mike replied. They both looked over at Hannah; sitting by herself and with her head down.
"Mike–be patient with her. I think having you home will do a lot of good for her, but she is painfully introverted." Christine said.
"As much as I will miss Katie; it will be nice to concentrate on just Hannah for a while." Mike remarked.
"And me?" Christine asked, tongue-in-cheek.
"Definitely you too." Mike replied. Just then; Hannah walked up to them and sat down next to Christine.
"When can I go upstairs and change?" Hannah asked quietly.
"Let's wait until a few more guests leave." Mike answered.
"I'd like to talk to Katie for a couple minutes alone too." Christine said with a wink at Mike.
"I know we won't see them in the morning; but can you give her this? My number?" Mike asked.
"I can, but so can you. She'd like to see you before we all part ways." Christine said. She took his hand and they walked to where Katie and Henry were standing. "We will probably go upstairs soon. Your sister is starting to get a bit cagey, but we wanted to check on you both." Christine said.
"When do you all start back to Texas?" Katie asked.
"We hope to be on the road by seven." Mike said.
"I don't know if we'll be up early to see you off, but we can try?" Katie offered.
"Nah. Enjoy your wedding night. Your dad wanted to give you his number so you could stay in touch with him too." Christine explained. Mike grimaced at the 'enjoy your wedding night' but he handed Katie the piece of paper with his number written on it.
"Daddy; I am really glad you were here. The day wouldn't have been right without you." Katie said as she gave him a hug.
"I'm glad I had the opportunity to walk you down the aisle. It was exactly what I had dreamed of since before you were born. Henry, you take care of her and make sure she has opportunities to get back to Texas." Mike ordered and Henry nodded.
"Yes, Sir." Henry answered.
"Katie; a moment?" Christine asked. Katie nodded and followed her mom out of the reception hall.
"So…I wanted to ask…how did you not know that Katie was my daughter?" Mike asked.
"Katie didn't talk about you. It wasn't because she didn't want to. It hurt and the closer we got to the wedding, the more she missed you. They didn't have any photos so I just honestly thought Katie's dad had died. She had told me you were in the Navy but she wouldn't give me your information and I didn't have the ability to have her checked out." Henry explained. It was definitely plausible.
"I see." Mike answered.
"Look; had I known; I would have called you immediately. I wouldn't have ever withheld this from you." Henry said. Hannah was walking up and Christine and Katie had come back in.
"Is it almost time?" Hannah asked.
"Yes." Christine answered. Hannah gave her sister a hug and gave Henry a high-five.
"Call me if you need me?" Christine said before giving Katie a hug and kiss on the cheek.
"I will. I love you guys." Katie said.
"We love you too, sweetie." Mike remarked.
"I'll see you all at Christmas." Katie replied. Mike gave her another hug and a kiss on the forehead.
Katie and Henry were staying downstairs to visit with friends, so Mike, Christine and Hannah settled upstairs with Chinese take-out and a board game. Because Hannah was a minor, she couldn't be left alone in Christine's room so Mike moved his stuff in with them and gave up his own room. It would not be romantic but Mike looked forward to spending a bit of time with his youngest daughter.
It was nice to watch her drift off to sleep and to tuck the blanket around her. Other than the scars, she hadn't changed much. But her personality certainly had. Hannah had been gregarious and a total joy. Now, she was introverted and nervous. Mike could only hope he could help her.