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Chapter 28
Hannah cried herself to sleep that night and barely ate breakfast. Mike wouldn't allow her out of the bedroom, so she had to eat alone. Tom had asked Christine not to let Hannah break up with Todd, in case he had to use her to lure Todd out. It only prolonged things and Mike was making it impossible. For everything Hannah had done to Mike, she didn't deserve what Mike was dishing out and Christine wasn't afraid to let him know. The next night, after Hannah cried herself to sleep again; Christine walked into the bedroom she and Mike had been sharing. He was sitting up in the bed reading something.
"Kids finally asleep?" Mike asked.
"Yeah. They have been for a while, but Hannah was pretty upset and I stayed with her until she fell asleep." Christine explained.
"She is seventeen; almost eighteen. She made the decision." Mike said. He watched Christine change into one of her nightgowns and then climb in next to him.
"Mike; I don't agree with you and I know Hannah hurt you by slapping you and writing that note. Some of the things she said, but this isn't the right way to handle this. She made a mistake, and it was one she will have to live with, but that doesn't mean she is unlovable or undeserving of your love." Christine said.
"My not wanting to see her has nothing to do with her note or hitting me. It does have to do with Maddie dying and you almost dying. And Joy. Had Maddie not had her early; she may not have had to have heart surgery." Mike argued.
"So, how long is this going to go on?" Christine asked.
"I have no idea. I know good and well you won't allow me to throw her out, so I suppose when she moves out." Mike said.
"Well, since I haven't been able to go back to work yet, you pay the rent here, but no; I don't want Hannah to leave. And I do want you to fix things with her. She is devastated, Mike." Christine answered.
"And I'm not? My fiancée died, my wife nearly died and my daughter had to have heart surgery. All because Hannah betrayed me!" Mike exclaimed.
"No, Mike. Hannah made a mistake, and was taken advantage of because of who her father is. I get you think she should have known better, but she is a teenager who had been uprooted from the only home she's known for years, been in the middle of our rather complicated marriage and had to deal with the uncertainty of that. Right now, just pray she starts her period. She's late and she may very well be making us grandparents by the end of the year. She is going to need us if she is pregnant. You are not throwing a seventeen-year-old, possibly pregnant girl out. If anything; you owe her an apology." Christine said. She hadn't planned on telling Mike that Hannah might be pregnant, but she also knew; Mike would have to know eventually.
"Did you know before that she could be pregnant?" Mike asked after a moment.
"No. Hannah finally told me last night. I wasn't even aware she'd had sex or I would have had her on birth control. Should have anyways, but I figured since Katie had been so easy to raise and would comply, so would Hannah. She was in love with Todd and was willing to give up her relationship with him once she found out the connection to you. She didn't want to sacrifice any hope of having a relationship with you. Mike; you have a lot to figure out, but instead of taking this out on Hannah, support her and figure this out with this Todd character." Christine said.
"Let me think about it. I'm not saying yes or no." Mike said as he got comfortable in the bed. Christine knew it was the best she could hope for at that point. She could only hope that Mike's love for Hannah would win out over the anger and frustration. She leaned over and kissed him before getting comfortable. He pulled her on top of his chest and wrapped his arms around her. Christine had to admit, it felt good.