Stuck
Chapter 10
Christine assessed the apartment one more time; knowing Mike and his parents would be there soon. They had picked him up from the hospital and were bring him back to the apartment, where Mike insisted he would recover at, with Christine. Things were still very frosty with Mary Alice, but Paul tried. Finally, Christine heard Mike's voice outside the door and she opened it for them. He already looked worn out and Paul helped him in. Mary Alice was looking over the apartment.
"Its dusty in here." Mary Alice remarked.
"Its fine, Mom. Stop complaining so much. I'm just glad to be home." Mike said.
"I really think you should come back to the farm to recover." Mary Alice continued. Christine rushed forward and placed a pillow behind Mike, before Mary Alice could. Mike gave her a smile in response.
"I want to be here. Christine will make sure I don't overdo. She will do everything you can do." Mike said.
"Alright, Mary Alice; remember, we need to get back to the farm. Son, if you need anything; you call. You understand?" Paul asked.
"I do. Thank you, Dad." Mike said. Paul bent down and gave Mike a hug. Mary Alice began fussing over Mike, so Paul pulled Christine away.
"If you need anything or he gets to be too much for you to handle, you call me, okay? He can be a terrible patient." Paul said as he handed her a piece of paper with a phone number written on it.
"Thank you. I know you and Mrs. Slattery would prefer he go home with you all." Christine said.
"We would, but he wants to be here with you and in the meantime, I will work on my wife to be a bit nicer to you. She loves Mike and he is her whole world. We both knew someday he would find someone to share his life with but it is a bit for her to digest. She will come around." Paul said.
"She wishes I was…more proper." Christine remarked.
"Ah, maybe, but that doesn't matter to Mike and it shouldn't to her. Just stick by him. Take care of him. That's all we really want. He is our only son…now, our only child. To keep him in our lives, we would move heaven and Earth. If he loves you, and you love him, that's all we ask. Just don't ever hurt him. Or if you do, make sure Mary Alice never finds out about it." Paul said with a smile. He was teasing but Christine also knew he was serious.
"Thank you for giving me a chance. I will take good care of him." Christine promised.
"You're welcome. Thank you for loving Mike." Paul said before walking back to his wife and son. He gave Mike a hug before pulling Mary Alice away.
"Thank you both. I will be fine and I will call if we need anything. I love you both." Mike said.
"We love you too, son. You make sure you rest." Mary Alice said. She gave Mike another kiss before she and Paul both left.
"I am so glad you are back here." Christine said before giving Mike a long kiss.
"Afraid my parents would kidnap me?" Mike asked.
"Your mother, yes." Christine answered. She settled next to Mike on the couch and looked at the various prescription bottles. Mike was in pain, judging by them.
"I wouldn't let them. I thought, when I got to feeling a bit better; we'd go ring shopping?" Mike suggested.
"I want to be surprised, but maybe David would help you?" Christine asked.
"I can call and ask, but I'm afraid I will get the wrong ring or size…or something." Mike said.
"I wear a size six. I am not picky at all and it doesn't have to be a real diamond. How's that?" Christine said with a grin.
"I suppose it'll do. Can I talk you into laying down in bed with me? I can't do anything else, but I need to sleep and I want you next to me." Mike asked.
"You wouldn't have to talk very hard." Christine said. She stood up and helped Mike off the couch. As he got undressed in the living room; she made sure everything was locked up and laid down next to him in bed, before giving him a long kiss. "I haven't slept good since you've been in the hospital. I'm just glad to have you here." Christine said.
"I'm glad you're here with me. Makes recovering so much easier. I love you." Mike said.
"I love you too." Christine said. She cuddled close and pulled the blanket over both of them; glad she could be there to take care of him. They linked hands before they both fell asleep, not caring about his parent's opinions, rings, or anything else.