The Gift
Chapter 10
Andrea was shocked when Mike walked in at six pm the next night, changed his clothes and began playing with Molly on the floor. He was laying down on his back and she was crawling all over him. He was laughing, tickling and cuddling with her as Andrea sat down on the couch.
"Ally is finishing supper. I'm kind of shocked to see you at home so early." Andrea stated. Mike sat up and held Molly close.
"Yeah. I was missing Molly. Decided I needed to be home more. Hope that isn't a problem?" Mike asked.
"No, of course not." Andrea answered. Molly clamored off of Mike's lap and immediately pulled her hair out of her pigtail.
"She really hates her hair being put up like that." Mike said as he pulled the other one out and fixed Molly's thin hair with his fingers.
"Yeah, but its wild otherwise." Andrea said. She was so disappointed in Mike. She knew what he had been up to and she had known Christine. Andrea understood grief, but Mike hadn't handled things well. If it wasn't for Molly, she would throw him out, but she didn't want to take the little girl away from Mike. Or take Mike away from the little girl, rather.
"How was physical therapy?" Mike asked.
"Rough. I'm exhausted." Andrea admitted.
"Once we eat, if you want to rest; I can handle bath time and bedtime with little miss." Mike offered.
"You're not going out?" Andrea asked.
"No." Mike answered.
"Alright. I'll see how I feel after dinner. I'm going to see if Andrea needs help." Andrea said. She walked into the kitchen and looked at the baked ham that Ally was drizzling with a mixture of brown sugar and pineapple juice.
"That looks really good." Andrea said. She could cook, but nothing like Ally.
"Thanks. I see that Mike is home." Ally remarked.
"Yeah. Kind of shocking." Andrea said as she got the ingredients out for salad and began chopping things up angrily.
"You should tell him how you feel. All of it." Ally said.
"That I think he acted like an immature idiot? That he brought a strange woman into my home with my two year old daughter?" Andrea raged quietly.
"Yeah, that and also that you love him, and because of that, you are disappointed in him." Ally said and Andrea looked at her in shock.
"I'm not in love with him." Andrea said. Maybe she was but she would never admit that, least of all to Mike.
"Aren't you? Remember, I live here too. Those nights before he started 'dating' and you and him would cuddle up with Molly? Maybe you don't realize it, but you are." Ally asked.
"Well, even if I am; he can't ever know it." Andrea said.
"Why not?" Ally asked.
"Because…I don't know. He's obviously still grieving." Andrea said.
"Yeah. So are you. Look, you have a kid together. Maybe go on a date together. I'll watch Molly. She needs her parents to be happy and neither of you are." Ally answered.
"Oh, fine." Andrea said. She looked into the living room, where Mike was playing with Molly. One thing was for sure. Molly adored her daddy. Andrea watched Molly give Mike a kiss on the forehead. It was sweet and very cute. Andrea made a decision. She couldn't allow the animosity to touch Molly. Molly only ever needed to feel love from her parents. She walked back into the living room and sat down on the couch.
"Everything okay?" Mike asked.
"Yeah. Do you think you and I could go out for dinner sometime? Ally will watch Molly. I need some adult time and I think we need to talk." Andrea asked. Mike looked at her in surprise and then nodded.
"About my recent behavior?" Mike asked.
"Yes. Honestly, I've been pissed. You brought a woman back here with her." Andrea said, pointing at Molly.
"Justified. That was a mistake. It won't happen again." Mike said.
"I would hope not. Mike, I get it. You're grieving. What are you scared of?" Andrea asked.
"I guess losing more people. The night I brought her home…it was mine and Christine's anniversary. I woke up the next morning and immediately saw her picture on my dresser. I felt worthless." Mike commented.
"Would Christine like what you did?" Andrea asked.
"No. She would want me to move on, be happy in a relationship, but not have a series of one-night stands." Mike said.
"She would be kicking your ass into next year. I knew the woman. She was sweet, but she wouldn't put up with that. No grave, but every time you do what you did that night, the one night stands, you are stomping on her grave." Andrea said.
"I suppose so." Mike agreed.
"Mike; you aren't a bad person, and you do have someone to love. Just make sure you're worth her love." Andrea said as Molly toddled up to Mike and handed him her stuffed bear.
"Nap nap?" Molly asked, using her word for cuddle time.
"After dinner, baby girl. It'll be done soon." Andrea answered.
"But we can still cuddle." Mike said as he swept Molly up and sat on the couch with her, next to Andrea. The little girl cuddled onto Mike's lap and smiled up at Andrea. She had them both completely wrapped around her little finger.