Bitter
Chapter 1-May 2013
"Seriously? Mike; this kids were looking forward to having you home this summer. And you and I were going to go to counseling." Christine said into the phone. She and Mike had been separated for the past six months, five of which he had been gone for on deployment.
"I can't help it. I've been ordered to go and the orders came from the top. Its just a quick run and it could be a career maker for me." Mike answered.
"I get orders. I just don't understand how your career takes priority over your family all the time." Christine said before hanging up.
Too many months away and both of them having an affair with someone else had caused the separation, but Christine had wanted her marriage to be fixed. Mike didn't care. She suspected his affair was far from over but he swore it was. For Christine, the affair had been out of anger. For Mike, he was bored and wanted someone who understood his career. He had found it with Michelle Bolan.
Christine hadn't made a thing of it because it would have damaged Mike's career. As much as she hated it, with Katie's medical issues and Lucas' therapies, they needed his income. And maintaining his apartment and the house Christine and the kids lived in was taking a toll on their finances too. Her understanding was that Michelle was assigned in Spain so that made her feel a bit better, but there was always a chance.
Was she bitter? Yes. She had cheated first but she hadn't gambled with her heart. Mike had. And now he didn't care about what was best for their kids. Katie's blood tests kept coming back bad and Lucas was a mess without him there and he was going on another deployment. It wasn't going to bode well for the summer. Christine heard the kids come in and Katie immediately laid down on the couch. Hannah and Lucas went to their rooms to work on homework so Christine sat down next to Katie and brushed her hair away from her face.
"What's wrong?" Christine asked.
"Just don't feel good. This humidity makes me hurt. I hate summer." Katie remarked.
"Would a cold shower help?" Christine asked.
"Mom; is Dad getting deployed again? Ashley mentioned her dad leaving on a deployment." Katie asked and Christine nodded, pointing at the bedrooms. "I figured. Can we have him for dinner before?" Katie asked. She adored Mike and had missed him a lot. Christine knew Mike had missed his oldest daughter and her various issues a little less. He had not been happy when she didn't play basketball due to her arthritis. Katie didn't need a broken bone, but Mike didn't get it.
"I will text him." Christine said. She was not thrilled but she refused to damage the relationships between Mike and their kids, even if he was doing a fair amount of damage on his own.
"Thanks. Well, I have finals I need to study for." Katie said as she sat up and groaned.
"Take a shower. It'll help. I'll get a dinner set up with your dad before he leaves." Christine said. Katie nodded in response and headed to her bedroom. Christine pulled her cellphone out and texted Mike.
"Katie got wind of the deployment at school and is wanting you over for dinner. I'm off Saturday at noon and can make a good supper for you. You said you weren't leaving until Monday, right?" Christine texted.
"Fine." Mike answered. It wasn't a confirmation, and it frustrated her.
"Saturday at six. The kids need to see you before you leave. They miss you." Christine answered back. She put her cellphone away so it didn't frustrate her and began fixing dinner for her family, wishing Mike was there with the kids.
Katie's diagnosis had disappointed and disillusioned him. It was after that, that he chose to stay gone longer. Then out of frustration, Christine cheated and in response, he cheated. They separated and he didn't make any moves to fix anything. He held Katie in open contempt, even though the young girl still adored her dad. He would still take Hannah and Lucas out but had not been happy when Lucas struggled with a menu due to his dyslexia. He was beginning to not take him out either.
No one wanted kids with health or developmental issues but not everyone had a perfect family and she had learned to accept it. It was part of loving her kids unconditionally. Not something she ever thought Mike would struggle with. He had always been a loving father. But something had changed in Mike and it was hard for Christine to not be bitter about it.
