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Chapter 24-Christine
Christine actually felt sorry for Mike. Sure, she gave him an ultimatum, but she knew he was struggling and because a part of her would always love him, she knew it was killing him. Especially where the kids were concerned. He had tried with Henry and the little boy was slowly coming around. Hannah was the one causing problems again, blatantly ignoring Mike, picking fights and instigating the other kids against him. One night, Christine found Mike looking at a picture album from when Kaitlyn and Hannah were little.
"Mike; it'll get better." Christine said as she sat down next to him on the couch. The kids were in bed and Christine was already in her nightgown and robe. She'd had physical therapy that day and was exhausted.
"Wish I was so sure." Mike commented.
"She can't stay angry forever. At least Henry is coming around." Christine remarked.
"Henry had a right to be angry. I was wrong where he was concerned, but with Hannah; she knew better. What gets me is that she hasn't apologized for how she felt." Mike said.
"Because she shouldn't have to. I do agree, she should apologize for what she said, but she has a right to feel however she wants. And you have to forgive her and love her regardless, something I think you're struggling with that part." Christine said.
"I love my daughter." Mike insisted.
"I'm certain you do, but the longer this goes on; the harder that is going to be. Hannah is seventeen. She turns eighteen in four months. It isn't going to take much for her to leave and she might stay in touch with me, but I don't know about you. Perhaps you are going to have to extend an olive branch." Christine said.
"I didn't do anything wrong." Mike told her.
"I will say; you were justified in your anger concerning her letting Henry teach Joy to say mama, but you were not justified in how you handled it. There were other ways to handle it, but you didn't do that. This entire thing has snowballed." Christine remarked.
"Yeah, it has." Mike agreed.
"Mike; the one thing I have noticed was; you haven't filed. I figured you would." Christine said.
"I…just can't. If its stringing you along, I am sorry. You also could file." Mike mentioned and Christine squeezed his hand.
"I can't either. We are a mess." Christine said with a laugh. Just then, Joy started crying.
"I'll get her." Mike told her before handing the photo album to Christine. After he walked away, Christine focused on a picture. It was taken at the hospital after she had Hannah. For most couples, it would be a happy time, but not for them.
"Mike; I'm sorry. I know you were hoping for a boy." Christine said as Hannah nursed greedily.
"Its okay. There was a fifty/fifty chance. Maybe next time." Mike remarked.
"I suppose we could have found out, then it wouldn't have been such a shock." Christine remarked.
"She's healthy and that's all that matters. Everything else will work itself out." Mike commented. She could tell that Mike was deeply disappointed and he hadn't held Hannah yet. When Kaitlyn was born, Christine had almost had to fight Mike for a chance to hold their daughter.
"Would you like to hold her? She's finished." Christine asked.
"Nah. She's content with you. I can always hold her later." Mike answered. It immediately worried Christine but she decided to just go with it.
In hindsight, it should have worried Christine more, because now it was obvious that Mike's uncertainty concerning Hannah initially had been a precursor for their troubled relationship. There were times, they mixed like oil and water. Christine knew, Mike did love Hannah deeply, but something was missing and Christine had no idea how to fix it.