Living Again
Chapter 7
Molly was exhausted. Talking to General Dufine had brought everything to the surface. She was a perfectly kind lady but it was still hard to talk about. Mike had walked her out to her car while Molly cleaned up the kitchen from making donuts and settled Tucker down for a nap. When he came back in, Molly could tell something was on his mind because he just kind of hung around. Finally, after the kitchen was clean; he pointed at the table.
"Please, I'm exhausted. No lessons today?" Molly begged. It was usually where she had her reading lessons.
"No. I wanted to…talk to you about a thought I had." Mike said as he pulled a chair out for her. She sat down and waited. "So, your main objective is to keep the kids away from Trevor, correct?" Mike asked.
"Yes." Molly answered.
"I have a suggestion or thought. When I suggest this, though; I have no expectations. No sex. My suggestion is simple. We get married and I adopt Tucker and Ella. Trevor not being on the birth certificates helps with that. We would sleep separately and the marriage would be in name only. Chiefly, to protect you and the kids." Mike explained. Molly was shocked but she could see how it might work.
"Why?" Molly asked.
"Because despite the fact that the marriage would be in name only, I do care about Tucker and Ella. Tucker told me today that he didn't want to be like his dad. A three-year-old should never worry about that. The thing with this though, is if asked; we have to make it seem like a loving and normal marriage. We don't want to give Trevor a foothold." Mike explained.
"How would you do this?" Molly asked.
"I would concoct a story about us being madly in love and eloping. I kind of told Anita what I was thinking. She thinks I'm crazy but agrees it might be your best chance. I do need to show you how to sign your name though." Mike said.
"Can I think about it for a bit?" Molly asked.
"Of course." Mike agreed. Molly looked towards the family room where the kids were sleeping and realized how exhausted she was, about the time she let out a yawn. "How about I order dinner in? You're done in." Mike suggested.
"Sure. Chinese?" Molly asked.
"You bet." Mike said before he went to find the menu. Molly rubbed her face in exhaustion, wondering what she should do. Trap herself into a loveless marriage just to protect herself and her kids from her abuser? Was she jumping into another fire? Was it safe? So many thoughts.
"You promise that you won't hurt me or the kids if I do this?" Molly asked when Mike walked back in.
"I won't ever hurt you or the kids." Mike said.
"Okay. Get it arranged." Molly said. It showed just how scared she was of Trevor, to marry a man she barely knew.