Stuck
Chapter 9
Mike groaned as soon as his eyes opened. The room was too bright and his body felt like it was on fire. He recognized that he was in a hospital room and started searching for a call button with his good arm. He was a little surprised Christine wasn't there. Maybe she had gone for a sandwich or something?
"Michael, Michael. Stop moving around." Mike's mom, Mary Alice said.
"Where's Christine?" Mike asked as he searched the room with his eyes. His dad came into his line of vision and he saw them exchange a look.
"I'll call for her." Mike's dad, Paul said.
"Where is she?" Mike asked again.
"Son, calm down. It was not appropriate for her to be here. We are your family. You didn't need some floozie here." Mary Alice said.
"Mom, what did you do?" Mike asked; already getting aggravated.
"I had your father send her away. Like I said, you didn't need some floozie." Mary Alice answered. Just then Mike's dad walked back in.
"She'll be here soon. Your partner and Christine were already planning on being here at nine so they are just coming earlier." Paul said.
"She should have not been sent away in the first place. I wanted her here." Mike insisted.
"Son, calm down. She's on her way and I will make sure she stays." Paul said.
"Paul…" Mary Alice started to admonish.
"I want Christine here. End of story. I'm sorry if you don't like it. I made my intentions very clear when we visited and they haven't changed. She may not be who you want for me, but she is who I want and you have to accept it." Mike continued. He could tell his heart rate was up due to the machine chiming and his dad was patting his good arm.
"Son, just calm down. I will handle your mother. You just calm down." Paul said. Mike decided to take his father's advice. If he got worked up, he wouldn't be able to see Christine. They would sedate him or something stupid and his parents would probably agree to it.
"You'll handle me?" Mary Alice asked. Mike could recognize the tone in his mother's voice.
"Mary Alice, I am trying to calm our son. I told you sending the girl away was a bad idea. She is a part of our son's life and we had both better just accept it. If you want to continue being a part of his life and our future grandchildren's lives, you'd better just accept it. And Christine isn't all bad. He could have picked a lot worse." Paul said.
"Like my ex." Mike said. Just then, David and Christine came in and she rushed for Mike.
"I was so worried about you." Christine said. Mike wondered if the rails were down if she would have climbed up with him.
"Let's give them a moment." Paul said as he led Mary Alice and David away.
"I'm sorry about my parents. They shouldn't have sent you away like that. I wanted you here." Mike told Christine.
"I wanted to be here but I didn't have any legal footing." Christine said.
"That is going to change in the near future." Mike remarked.
"Mike; I wasn't hinting." Christine said.
"I know but I don't want this to happen again. Its not romantic and I don't have a ring, but would you marry me? I love you." Mike asked.
"I love you too and yes." Christine answered. She leaned over the rail and gave him a long kiss.
"This is not how I planned it." Mike said.
"I'm sure not, but it works. I don't need a fancy ring and all that. I just need you." Christine said.
"I will make it up to you, I promise. Soon as I get out of this bed." Mike told her.
"No hurry." Christine answered before giving him another kiss.