Living again
Chapter 10
Mike could have kicked his own ass for kissing Molly. Still, what was done was done and he couldn't take it back. It reminded him of being a hormonal teenager, only back then; he had Christine to fool around with. But Molly was far more fragile than Christine had ever been. Of course; Christine had never known anything but love. From her parents, Mike and their kids. Molly only knew being used.
He had chased careers while Christine stayed home with the kids. She had a high school education and had taken a few night classes until having a family and being a military spouse got in the way. She had never wanted to be more than she was. But with Molly; he understood that she didn't want a flashy degree or important job. She simply wanted to be able to ready her kids' homework assignments and to be able to help them; at least through elementary.
During their daily lessons, Mike figured out despite the lack of confidence; Molly was bright. She wanted to learn. She wanted to please Mike and she wanted to make her kids proud. Mike kept his distance for the next week, and happily accepted Tom's invitation to a lunch out. He could tell a third of the way through appetizers that Tom had something on his mind; so he finally brought it up.
"So; I got the feeling you had an ulterior motive for wanting to eat out." Mike remarked.
"I…did. Mike; what are you doing? With Molly and those kids?" Tom asked.
"Why do you ask?" Mike asked, hoping answering a question with a question would distract Tom.
"Because I'm not blind and I saw how you and Christine were. Half the time, you two made me want to throw up in my mouth. Married so many years and still holding hands and kissing all the time. Even when you fought, you were all over each other. You are not like that with Molly. In fact, other than that show of a kiss, I've not seen you touch her." Tom answered.
"I remember." Mike said, still hoping to distract Tom.
"Mike; you're deflecting." Tom said.
"Its…this can only be between you and I. The marriage is one of convenience. The kids' father was abusive and she is trying to hide them from him; so I will adopt them since he's not on the birth certificates." Mike answered.
"Mike! If the media gets ahold of this…Why isn't he on their birth certificates?" Tom asked.
"Because she can't read or write." Mike said. He might as well be honest now. Tom rubbed his face and stared at Mike for the longest time.
"What were you thinking?" Tom asked.
"I…wanted to help her." Mike said.
"By marrying her? Mike; what happens if the ex shows up? If she uses you? There are about a thousand different ways this could go badly and in all of them; you end up hurt. You are already attached to those kids and I don't know how you can stand anymore losses." Tom lectured.
"You know I don't like being reminded of Christine and the kids." Mike said angrily.
"I do know, but I also have your interests at heart. Maybe Molly is innocent and doesn't have long-term expectations, but I am worried what impact this has for you." Tom said.
"Are you judging her because of her education level?" Mike asked, hoping to shift the conversation off his dead family before he got emotional.
"No. Frankly; she had me fooled. I don't care about a lack of education but I do care about how this impacts you. I hope I'm wrong, but this could be bad." Tom said.
"But, you aren't going to say a word to anyone, correct?" Mike asked.
"Correct, but it's a bad decision." Tom answered.
"What if I'm right?" Mike asked.
"What if you aren't? How do you cope?" Tom retorted.
"I manage just as I always have. Christine would have wanted me to help her." Mike answered.
"She would have, but she would also want you loved. Will you ever have that?" Tom asked.
"You never know." Mike said.
"No. I don't but who is going to be here to mop up the mess when the inevitable happens? Tom asked back.
"I mop up my own messes. Just like when I lost my entire family because I went back to that damn ship." Mike answered.
"You didn't have to." Tom remarked. They were finished eating and had Tom not been Mike's ride; he would have left already.
"No, I didn't and that is something I live with daily. Having those kids around makes my days a bit brighter and it will be my burden to bear if this doesn't work out. I know what's at stake. Don't doom something that could turn into something good." Mike answered, effectively ending the conversation. He was done discussing that what if's. That was Tom's thing. Not his.