Shadows of the Past
Chapter 13
The money orders from Mike dwindled. Christine was thankful for her job, but it meant that Hannah couldn't go to college, which did nothing for her opinion of Mike. They simply could not afford to send her. A drought hit and they had a bad crop. Katie got a job at the grocery store to supplement the farm income. Christine began working at a factory, in addition to the café, and Hannah began working at an insurance agency. Paul and Mary Alice were both becoming increasingly frail, but they kept Rebecca, Molly and Jacob out of trouble.
Of course; it angered Christine, but more than that; it saddened her. She hurt for Mike. All that he was missing in their children's lives. If he ever did come to his senses, it would be nearly impossible for him to bridge the gap, but still; Christine prayed that he would. She occasionally called Tom Chandler to let him know the kids were okay and that they all missed Mike. She knew he was not comfortable being in the middle. He would tell her Mike was alright. Not that he missed them, loved them or wanted to come home. At least Tom had the decency to not lie. Christine made sure he had her address, figuring Mike would have her served with divorce papers at some point.
It left her in a weird limbo. She was a not a divorced woman, so she didn't feel she could move on, and honestly didn't want to, but she was lonely. Her days were long, but the nights were even longer and she felt like she was an island. All she could do to comfort herself was remember when her marriage was strong and she thought everything would always be perfect.
"She loves it when you hold her like that." Christine said as she watched Mike walk around their bedroom, holding their three month old daughter against his chest. He only had his boxers on, and Kaitlyn was just in her diaper, but she loved the skin-to-skin contact.
"There will be a day she'll be mortified by this." Mike remarked.
"Probably, but we will enjoy it while it lasts. Your mom and dad are sure ready for her first Christmas. She's going to be so spoiled." Christine said.
"She's their only grandchild. So, they spoil her a bit. Once we have other kids, they'll spread the spoiling out a bit. Divide it up better. Since she's the only one right now, they are concentrating it all on Katie." Mike commented. He laid Katie down in her crib and came back to bed. Thankfully, Katie fell back asleep and Christine gave Mike a long kiss.
"When do we want to get started on that?" Christine asked.
"What?" Mike asked, even though he knew.
"Another grandchild for your parents." Christine answered.
"I was thinking we would hold off and enjoy Katie a little longer." Mike said.
"Ah, darn." Christine said before climbing on top of Mike and beginning to unbutton her nightgown.
"But; we can always practice trying. Practice makes perfect; you know." Mike said between kisses.
"Good answer." Christine said.
Christine would have given anything to go back to that time in her marriage. She had read the news articles and knew Mike was involved with an ex-Navy helicopter pilot. They were a striking couple, and she was much younger. What shocked her was that Maddie Rawlins looked like her twenty years before. Dark hair, dark eyes. A little on the petite side but with a curvy figure. She had a kind look to her and Christine wondered what Mike told her about his family. Surely, she wanted to meet his children and parents? They seemed to be in love in the picture so Mike would need a divorce someday soon. One night; as she was getting off from the café, her cellphone rang. She was surprised to see Tom's name on the ID since it was so late, but immediately answered.
"Tom; its late. Is everything alright?" Christine asked. She had a bad feeling and she wasn't sure why.
"I'm sorry that its so late. There was an accident yesterday…Mike's physically alright, banged up but will be alright, but Maddie…uh…the woman he was seeing; she died. And she was pregnant, Christine. Only six months along. They delivered the baby but…he's not going to make it either. Mike is in a bad way and that is why I am calling you." Tom explained.
"I really hate that for him and will certainly be praying, but I'm not sure what I could do." Christine said.
"You could come to Virginia. I think…I know it would help him to see you. He is seeing Maddie and the baby dying as some sort of punishment from God for how he treated you and the kids." Tom answered.
"Look; its not that I don't want to, but money is tight. I don't have the money to get there, and even if I did, I need the money from working. I care about Mike and I hate that he is suffering so much. He is welcome to come here and heal. I'll do everything I can to make sure that he is welcomed warmly. I know Paul and Mary Alice would like to see him." Christine offered.
"What if…what if I paid for the plane ticket and gave you the money to get by one from missing work?" Tom asked.
"It means that much to you?" Christine asked.
"Yes. Christine; its bad. I don't know how else to help him. I'm afraid if I don't do this, he will kill himself. I don't mean to guilt you, but it's a fact.
"Why me? He still has living parents? Children he hasn't seen in years. Katie is mature and she could handle it, I'm sure." Christine asked.
"It has to be you. I just don't think it would be as effective if it wasn't." Tom answered.
"Alright. I am going to tell my bosses. I can't guarantee I'll get the time off, but I will call you." Christine said.
"If you don't get the time, quit. I'll cover it." Tom answered before hanging up.
Christine didn't care for how blasé Tom was about her jobs, but she also knew he had to have been absolutely desperate, so she made the calls to her bosses. Neither was pleased at all, but she was given the time off. She called Tom and he shockingly already had the flight made. She would fly out the next morning, leaving her very little time to pack and sleep, before she had to be up at 4:30 to catch the plane. She hoped her kids also understood why she was taking off to take care of a father that had abandoned them years before.