Living Again
Chapter 4
Molly knew she had probably overstepped but the words were out there. Slowly, she deep cleaned every room and began figuring out what Mike liked. She actually enjoyed decorating the house and found that Mike's taste was similar to her own. He just wanted a home. While she cleaned, cooked and decorated, Mike kept Tucker and sometimes Ella occupied.
He still hadn't figured out that she couldn't read or write. Once he did, it might be a deal breaker. She had had a learning disability growing up and then the Red Flu hit and any resources that might have been available for her, were absent. Her parents had never cared and in turn, neither had Trevor. A compassionate nurse had helped her at the hospital when she had Ella and she'd had Tucker at home. Trevor had taken care of the paperwork so that he'd have a birth certificate. One day, a few weeks after Mike had moved them in, he walked in with the mail and smiled at Molly.
"You have mail. I think it might be Ella's birth certificate so you can file them for medical assistance now." Mike said. He handed Molly the envelope and waited for her to open it.
"Okay, I'll look at it soon." Molly answered. He had gotten her the paperwork but she hadn't filled out Tucker's yet, for obvious reasons.
"Do you need help with it?" Mike asked.
"Maybe. I'm not very good at that stuff." Molly said.
"I was always horrible at it too." Mike admitted. "Can I open this? So, I can get it started?" Mike asked.
"Sure." Molly said. She handed him the packet of papers and he looked at it for a moment.
"There's nothing filled out on Tucker's, either?" Mike remarked.
"Yeah…I hadn't started it either. His birth certificate is attached." Molly admitted.
"Molly…do you not want them on the government assistance? They need medical care, as do you." Mike asked.
"I'm fine with them having it. I just didn't know how to fill the paperwork out." Molly said.
"Oh. You just write in the information." Mike said as he looked over the papers.
"Yeah, that was the part I struggled with." Molly said. Mike looked at her for a moment and nodded.
"You know recipes by heart, can't help Tucker with his ABCs, and can't fill these forms out. Molly, can you read and write?" Mike asked.
"I…no. I never learned. I had a learning disability in what little bit of school I had and my parents didn't bother to help me. Then the Red Flu happened and any help I might have had as an adult was not there. Trevor just dealt with everything…sort of." Molly admitted. She was quite ashamed of it.
"What would you have done at the restaurant?" Mike asked.
"I can cook. I just can't read recipes or the tickets. I could also wash dishes and bus tables." Molly said.
"What was the learning disability?" Mike questioned.
"Dyslexia? I don't know." Molly said.
"You know, my son was dyslexic. It was a struggle for him but he eventually learned. Christine and I had to rethink how we did things with him. I can help you." Mike offered.
"Why would you?" Molly asked.
"Because I can tell it bothers you that you can't read at the moment. It ashamed Lucas too. His sisters were good students and he felt left behind but Christine was particularly good with him. When he couldn't get school; she homeschooled and when I was not on deployment and off work, I helped her out to give her a break. I don't know why I kept it, but I have her supplies still…I'll look through it and see what we can still use." Mike said.
"And so you can sleep with me?" Molly said as she prepared the roast for their dinner.
"That is not why. I've told you before that is not my plan. Now; dumb question, how old are you? I need your date of birth anyways for these forms." Mike asked.
"My date of birth is November 1st, 1989." Molly answered.
"Perfect." Mike answered.
"Can you teach Tucker? I'm afraid because I don't know how to, he won't learn." Molly asked.
"That was my plan. He's already saying his ABCs so we'll go from there. Trevor never taught you? I would have thought…" Mike asked.
"Nah. He didn't want me to learn. It was a way for me to be dependent." Molly told him.
"True. Abusers find a way to keep their victims financially dependent and to isolate." Mike remarked. Molly must have looked at him suspiciously and he smiled in response. "I was a cop, once upon a time." Mike said. Just then, Ella began crying and Mike jumped up to get her. As Molly watched him pick her up from her bassinet in the adjoining living room, she began wondering if sleeping with Mike would be a bad thing.
Trevor had used sex as a punishment. Molly didn't know much but she did know not all relationships were like that. Mike had obviously had a very loving marriage and he still adored his wife. Something had been right about their relationship. Molly had to wonder if she would ever have a normal relationship? Not necessarily with Mike, but in general?
Ella gurgled happily at Mike and Tucker adored him. He was wonderful with the kids but Molly had to wonder what would happen if she slept with him. And what if Trevor showed back up? She knew he had purposely not put himself on Tucker's birth certificate and the nurse hadn't put him on Ella's but he was still entitled to them.
"I think she's hungry." Mike said, breaking Molly's train of thought. She took the baby and headed upstairs to nurse, now wondering about her own sanity.