Chapter 25

Hannah and Mallory had had a great day as well. Mallory was thrilled to be able to help out and had made it very clear to Hannah that if she thought Mike and Emma needed another day, she was to ask for it. Mallory didn't sleep much and when she did she just crashed out of exhaustion. Hannah knew that her younger sister had died from leukemia, and her mom had been very neglectful of Mallory to care for the younger sister, May. After May died, her mom drank herself to death, and her dad killed himself. Mallory was only fifteen, and become a ward of the state. She married at seventeen, but her husband was abusive. They had twins, a boy and a girl. Mallory had put herself through nursing school despite having two young children and working part time waitressing gigs. She didn't divorce her husband, and he did come around, just to take what money she had and beat on her.

When the virus hit, the twins died. Her husband had come home in a drunken rage, and after beating Mallory, pulled a knife on her, and stabbed her in the stomach. It was still the early days of the virus, but there was still some law enforcement around, when they responded to the scene, because a neighbor had called for help, he pulled a knife on the officer, and the officer ended up shooting him. Mallory recovered from her injuries, and devoted herself completely to nursing. She hadn't given all the details to Hannah but the little bit that Hannah did know, broke her heart. She only knew about the sister who had been sick, and the neglectful mother. Mallory had made it a bit of a personal mission, that Emma not ever feel neglected, and she would do anything to help both girls. She was only 29 but had already endured so much tragedy. Mallory didn't think she could ever trust a man, but Mike and his friends gave her reason to believe that not all men were like her husband. It was hard for her to explain why she was investing so much time in a family that she didn't know that well.

Mike showed back up with Emma about 4:30 and Mallory had dinner almost ready. He insisted she stay and eat with them and commented that he noticed that her driver's side headlight was out that morning when she pulled into the drive. Mallory was completely shocked to see that he had bought a headlight to put in, and while she finished up dinner, he grabbed her keys, and disappeared with the car. What she didn't know was that he had fixed the headlight, put air in all four tires, and filled it up. She wouldn't ever accept money from him but it was the least he could do. She had never had a man be so kind to her and have no expectations. It was kind of refreshing. She knew Mike was very much grieving for his wife and he was off limits to her because of that, besides she was not ready for anything romantic either, despite everything her husband had done, she still wore her wedding band.

Supper was fun, Emma had returned to her normal self, and it was pretty obvious that she and Mike had an amazing day. Hannah was able to feed herself and was doing really well. Mallory helped clean up everything, and Mike got the feeling that she was either hanging around her or was avoiding going home. Either way, he enjoyed the adult conversation. Emma suggested they play a board game and while Mallory and Hannah seemed like they had a big secret, he agreed, everything was going great until Tom rang the doorbell and walked in.

"Mike, I need you to come with me, we're having some issues with one of the former regional leaders and they are trying to cause an uprising. It is going to require a military presence, which is something I can't authorize myself. You can come as you are, I just need help."

Mike missed the wink that Tom gave Hannah because he had ran up to get his boots. While Mike was upstairs, Emma gave Tom the coffee cup she had made for him. Tom was very touched by the gesture and gave Emma a huge hug. Mike had walked back downstairs and gave both girls hugs and kisses. Mallory had already told him she would stay for however long she was needed and he told her to make herself at home, she could use the extra bedroom, there was an extra toothbrush in his bathroom vanity, and if she needed a t-shirt to sleep in, she was more than welcome to one of his. He hated the idea of leaving the girls for an undetermined amount of time, despite how much he trusted Mallory. He told her his cellphone was on, and he would be available.

They had agreed to just use Tom's truck, since they were both headed to the same place, but when Tom didn't go in the direction of the office, Mike looked at him like he had lost his mind. Tom wanted to be well away from the house before he told Mike there was not any issues at work.

"So here's the thing, Hannah asked me to get you out of the house, away from both girls. I knew you would never readily agree to that and the only way I could pull you away was to tell you that there were issues at work. I will understand if you want me to turn around, but I do think you need the time away. There is a ballgame we can go to, or we can just go for drinks. I am your designated driver if that is what you choose. Its up to you."

Mike was shocked at how much conspiring Hannah had been doing, and he could have easily asked to be taken back home, but he did honestly need some time away, Emma's confession had put him in a bit of a tailspin, and he hadn't quite come up with answer for her. He did think a beer sounded good, but refused to get completely hammered. If he did start drinking, he might have trouble stopping considering the mess his life was at the moment. The girls were well taken care of and so he decided to just go with it.

He agreed to go to the bar for a beer or two. Fortunately Tom understood why Mike didn't want to get carried away. He could tell there was something on Mike's mind and he hoped that he could get it pulled out of him before it festered.

Mike and Tom were both very recognizable and while both men were wearing ball caps and were trying to be discreet, everyone in the bar knew who they were. Tom had settled in with a soda, but the drinks just kept coming. People were grateful for what Mike and Tom had done, bringing the cure home, and it seemed wrong to refuse the alcohol. Mike was no lightweight and could easily out drink about anyone, but it didn't take too long before he was pretty sloshed. Mike was a funny drunk who never held back from saying what he felt needed to be said, even if it didn't really needed to be said.

"Did you have a good time with Emma today? I could tell she was really enjoying it when you and she came to the office to see me."

Mike had gotten pretty pensive and started fidgeting with the straw on one of the drinks. He finally confessed to Tom what Emma had told him at the park. Tom could tell that Mike was very deeply affected by the little girl's confession and it had him hearing something that he never thought he would hear his friend question.

"Maybe it would be better for Emma if I gave her up to someone who could love and care for her the way she deserves. I know it would seem like I would be choosing one daughter over the other. But Emma deserves better. She is an amazing girl and so many people love her. I would be doing it to help her. It would hurt like hell but she needs a parent who can be 100% devoted to her. I love her, but I am hurting her so deeply, and it will permanently scar her. She would be better off. Maybe you and Sasha would take her? At least then I could see her if you allowed it, and even if not, I would know she was loved and cared for."

Tom looked like he had been slapped, and he honestly wanted to knock Mike out of his chair for even thinking it. Tom adored his own kids, and if something ever happened to Mike, he would adopt Mike's kids in a nanosecond. He also knew that Mike's words were being prompted from the alcohol and Mike would never be able to give Emma up, but it was on his mind.

"If you think for one second, that giving her up wouldn't scar her, your dead wrong. Mike, I can't believe that you're even suggesting this, my God! That little girl would be completely devastated if she knew you even were considering this. Would I take her? In a heartbeat…but only if you were six feet under. I know you feel like you are this horrible father, but you're not. The fact that you are even thinking this, proves how deeply you care about her. I don't have an answer for you. I know that you feel that you have slid Emma to a back burner, and she feels like that is her place in life and her thoughts and actions don't matter. Hannah won't always be this sick and how would you feel if you had given Emma up, to care for Hannah and in the process completely destroyed your relationship with Emma? If you do give her up, there is no going back. You will have lost a second child, albeit not to death, but that fate, rejecting her? It's worse, because you made the choice. Sasha and I will help where we can with Hannah to give you more time with Emma. I know you don't trust anyone right now due to her health but you know we would do anything to help. Mike, you can't even think like this, my God. "

Mike looked almost small in the chair. Tom knew he hadn't convinced Mike not to think about giving Emma up and if he was in his shoes, Tom wasn't even sure he wouldn't be considering the same thing. The important thing was that Emma never find out what Mike was considering. Tom knew that in the end Mike would never actually be able to give the little girl up but just the idea of it, would destroy Emma worse then being "burnt" on the back burner. If Mike did pursue it, then Tom would take the little girl, just so she at least had someone she knew. It would permanently destroy their friendship and Tom wasn't sure he would even allow Mike around the little girl. He just hoped the thought would go away when Mike sobered up and would never be uttered again.

Neither man was in much of a mood to talk at that point. Tom was shell shocked by Mike's question. Mike felt like a complete failure for even thinking it, he adored Emma and needed her smiles and her amazing love for him, but she did deserve better than what she was getting. His theory was that she would be better off with someone who loved her. He loved her, but he couldn't allow her to be hurt, and if things continued at the rate they were, Emma would be completely damaged. So it was better to just let someone else have her who wouldn't hurt her. If you love someone, sometimes you have to let them go. He just hoped that whoever took her, would allow him to see her from time to time. He was much more serious about it then even Tom realized. There were hundreds of families who had lost children and would be happy to give a girl like Emma a home. Mike would just prefer it be a friend. Tom didn't know it but he had made an appointment with his attorney when he got home from his day with Emma, to weigh his options where she was concerned, to see what it would take to have his parental rights terminated and have someone adopt her. Once his rights were stripped, Mike would have no options on who Emma was placed with but he could hope it would be a friend. He just didn't know how to tell her.