Together
Chapter 13
Christine actually felt a bit sorry for Mike. He was in a terrible predicament and she knew he felt terribly about Fiona. For being a tough guy and despite the way he had been raised, he had a good heart. They both took a short nap before he was due to 'visit' with his Grandma Hannah. Christine had to work that night, so she opted to stay home. She felt it was something Mike would need to handle alone, mostly because her presence had contributed to Fiona's death. As Mike got dressed; Christine reached up and kissed the back of his neck.
"You should try and sleep." Mike said.
"Yes. Just worried about you." Christine commented as she rubbed Mike's shoulder. The muscles were tense.
"I know." Mike said. He turned around and she gave him a soft kiss.
"You cared about her." Christine remarked.
"I didn't at the time. She was just someone I grew up with. For me; it was just sex. For her, she imagined something else." Mike said.
"What you and I have now." Christine said.
"Is there even a definition for this? We…live together. Sleep together. We have sex. Sometimes, we go out for dinner or bowling. There has got to be more to marriage than what we have. Essentially for us; its sex. I am beginning to wonder if I am even capable of loving someone." Mike remarked. It hurt Christine a bit; but he had a point. Its what their marriage boiled down to.
"I think you are. You love your sister. Your grandma. And you already care about this baby. You want to be involved with her childhood. I think you are very capable of love, but I also think you are not good at being loved in return. There is not an easy answer for this, but if you need to; bring that baby home with you, and she will show you what love is. It won't take long." Christine said.
"And you?" Mike asked.
"I will raise her as my own and I am sure I will love her." Christine answered with a smile. Mike leaned back over and gave her a kiss before putting his coat on.
"Not quite what I meant, but I need to go. I was supposed to be at Grammy's in fifteen minutes." Mike said. He kissed her again and was out the door before she realized exactly what he did mean. It took a while before Christine fell asleep, and all too quickly; she had to get ready for work. Mike was still not home and Christine had to work an evening shift. As she was getting ready to leave; the landline rang and Mike's voice came over the line.
"How's it going?" Christine asked.
"I wanted to call you before you went to work. Alice is already back and she wants me to take the baby. Said she wants to be involved but because she lives with my parents, they would make her give her up. Its…her only option of seeing the baby regularly." Mike explained.
"So, bring her home. Have you met her?" Christine asked.
"Yes. Just gave her a bottle and rocked her to sleep. While she naps; I am going to a friend who has a crib and some baby items. Will get it set up at our place and then I'll bring her home. She'll be there when you get off. That is; if you are okay with it?" Mike asked.
"Why wouldn't I be? She needs a home. She's your baby and I will grow to love her. Alice needs to be able to see her daughter's baby too, so its pretty simple what needs to happen." Christine answered.
"This must be difficult for you; especially knowing that I had been with Fiona and that you and I were trying for a baby." Mike hinted.
"I am not so naïve that I didn't know that before. As far as us trying; we need to put the kibosh on that for a while and concentrate on…what's her name? Mike; at the rate its going, she might be our only chance of having a baby, so we need to grasp the opportunity." Christine commented.
"Kaitlyn Alice." Mike answered.
"Alright." Christine said as she smiled at the baby's name.
"Alice calls her Katie, and I like it. Alright; you go to work and I will do what I need to do." Mike said.
"Works for me. Take care, Mike." Christine said.
It wasn't until she hung up that she realized that most couples ended a phone call with 'I love you,' but Mike and Christine didn't. It made their conversations seem flat and she wondered if they ever would have a normal conversation; but none of that mattered. All that mattered was a baby girl named Katie. Christine realized she couldn't wait to watch Mike bond with her and realize just what love was.