Bitter
Chapter 25
Mike was lost in his own thoughts and feeling a bit lonely. Katie had been released the day before and Christine was getting her settled; which meant that Mike didn't have as many visitors. It meant more soul-searching and trying to plan next steps. He had written his resignation letter on his laptop and sent it to the President; so he wasn't terribly shocked when Tom came strolling in carrying cups of coffee with him.
"Can you have this?" Tom asked, raising up one of the cups.
"Yes. I've been drinking coffee all along; although the stuff they call coffee here leaves something to be desired. Christine did let me have a drink of hers yesterday but it is more cream and sugar then coffee." Mike complained.
"So, how long are you here for?" Tom asked as he handed the cup over.
"I have to be fever free for thirty-six hours." Mike explained.
"And?" Tom continued.
"My last fever broke last night about nine; so fourteen hours. We'll see tonight. Pain level is better." Mike said.
"I talked to Christine earlier. Katie is doing well." Tom remarked.
"That is what I hear." Mike answered.
"And I heard you put your papers in." Tom continued.
"Please don't tell me I am making a mistake." Mike said, figuring that would be the next comment.
"The mistake would have been if you didn't. You are getting a second chance, that honestly; you don't deserve. I don't think you've ever realized how incredibly blessed you are to have a woman like Christine or kids like you do." Tom said.
"I'm on thin ice though." Mike remarked.
"Yes; you are but it is not going to be as hard as you think. You just have to buckle down and be a husband and father. Christine is really looking forward to that date, by the way." Tom said.
"Haven't been on a date for years." Mike said with a laugh.
"Didn't you and Michelle go on dates?" Tom asked.
"Tom; what Michelle and I were doing was against regs, so we couldn't be in public. And Christine and I never really dated. We knew each other, and had what we thought would be a one-night-stand. She called me a month later that she was pregnant with Katie. We met at the courthouse a week later and got married." Mike explained.
"Jeez, Mike." Tom exclaimed and Mike shrugged.
"We had a good couple years. We were happy when we had Hannah and Lucas." Mike said.
"You can have good years now too." Tom remarked.
"I don't know. Lots of water under the bridge. Christine has been so hurt. I think right now, she is just doing what her heart wants. When her brain gets involved; there will be trouble. She is tired from taking care of Katie for so long and she isn't thinking." Mike said.
"And your heart?" Tom asked.
"My heart wanted Michelle. Now, I don't know." Mike admitted.
"I think that people don't just have one soul mate. I've been lucky to love two women—two very different women, and to have that kind of love that made me weak in the knees. You said yourself, you and Christine had a couple good years. What made those years so special?" Tom asked.
"I was home. It was during Officer Candidate School and some further training for engineering. I was able to be home with her and the kids a lot. It allowed for us to…I suppose, develop a rhythm." Mike explained.
"And when you went out for back-to-back deployments; you lost that?" Tom pressed.
"It was after 9-11. Didn't have a choice." Mike said.
"And then she cheated?" Tom continued.
"Yep. Katie was getting sick and she wanted me home more; wanted me to take that desk job in Miami. I suppose now; I understand why, but I thought at the time; she was being selfish. It was endless arguments. I shipped out for the Indian Ocean and then, suddenly; she told me that she had slept with a yoga instructor or something. Of course, you know my temper. I was pissed and there had been some mild flirting with Michelle. One thing led to another and pretty soon; there was no turning back." Mike explained.
"And then I ended it for you so you didn't destroy your career?" Tom said.
"Yeah. I had made a point…one day, I called home and Christine was distressed about something with Katie. I had to get my dig in, so I choose that moment to tell her that I had been screwing around, didn't love her, had never loved her and wanted a divorce. She was shattered." Mike said.
"But…you had loved her. I remember when we couldn't her and the kids after Shaw…you were just as shattered." Tom remarked.
"At the time; I fooled myself into thinking that it was for the girls, but yeah; if Christine had died, I would have been saddened. Maybe even grief-stricken." Mike admitted.
"Mike…my suggestion is simple. Move back into your house and be a father to your kids, but stay in the extra room and rebuild your relationship with Christine. You and she have the capability to have something good. You've done it before. Don't sleep with her immediately. Take her on dates. Spend time with her. Fall in love properly. Explain what you want to do so there is no more hurt or confusion. Be up front and honest with her for a change. I think you will find that the girls will want to help, once they know you can be trusted with Christine's heart again. And remember; you don't deserve this chance. You have done everything imaginable to sabotage it and if you screw up again; you will be alone. Even Parker will choose Christine. He doesn't remember Michelle now. Christine has become his mother." Tom said.
"But how do I stop our past from shaping this?" Mike asked.
"You can't, but you can make her and the kids forget it. If the truth were known; the kids have already forgiven you and Christine always had. You just need to help them forget it by being present. And on that note; I am going back to see my kids. Talk to you later." Tom said as he stood up.
"Thanks for coming by, for talking and most of all; for the coffee." Mike said.
"And I thought you'd say; 'and thanks for the friendship.'" Tom teased before walking out of the hospital room; leaving Mike to his own devices.