Mistakes
Chapter 15
Nearly twenty four hours on antibiotics had done wonders with Molly's mood. Her fever had broken and she was smiling again. With that, Maddie and Teresa made the decision to take her to meet her older sister and to see Mike. Maddie had picked up a new shirt for Hannah and made sure Molly had her new giraffe stuffed animal. Mike met them at the car and immediately took Molly who was all too happy to see Mike again.
"How was it?" Maddie asked.
"She slept really good last night and has napped off and on throughout the day. I did tell her about Molly and she seems okay. Doesn't understand why you all don't live here." Mike remarked.
"I see." Maddie answered. Mike handed Molly over to her and turned back to help Teresa up the walkway due to it being a bit slick.
"Just give her time. I'm sure it's a shock for her." Teresa remarked.
"When I told her Happy Birthday this morning, she didn't even know how old she is. She's lost all track of time. Really has no concept at all." Mike told them.
"Is Children Service's offering any assistance?" Teresa asked.
"They gave me a few names of therapists. Otherwise, no. I did turn down the clothing voucher." Mike said.
"Mike; Mom was a trauma psychiatrist, specializing in children and sexual assaults. She's retired now but she's kept her licensing up. It just never came up in our conversations." Maddie explained as they stepped up on the porch.
"I can talk to her if you want me too. I am not so close." Teresa offered.
"Oh, that would be great. She refuses to talk about it. When I was a cop, I handled a few sexual assaults, but I am lost on this. Despite all the years, I am too close to it." Mike admitted.
"Well, and you are also a man. I doubt she will tell you much at all and that might be a blessing." Teresa said. Mike nodded in understanding and opened the door for Maddie and Teresa. They followed him to the family room area at the back of the house. Hannah was sitting on the couch, but stood as soon as she saw Maddie and Teresa.
"Hannah; this is Teresa and of course, Molly. You've met Maddie." Mike said as he pointed at them. Hannah gave them a slight smile and focused on Molly.
"Would you like to hold her?" Maddie asked.
"Yeah!" Hannah answered.
"How about you sit back down? She can be a bit wiggly and might get heavy." Mike suggested. Hannah immediately complied and Maddie gently placed Molly in her arms, along with the giraffe.
"Molly loves that thing." Maddie told Mike. Teresa sat down next to Hannah and nodded at Mike and Maddie, more or less to tell them to give her and Hannah some privacy.
"Good. Help me sit the table?" Mike asked.
"Of course." Maddie said, following Mike into the adjoining kitchen. He grabbed plates and she grabbed the glasses and silverware. Mike had a formal dining room, which he obviously never used, but it would be nice for Hannah to have something special.
"She is so insistent that you, Molly and your mom should live here, especially once I told her I had five bedrooms. She doesn't understand that you and I…had our issues. She is very black and white about it." Mike said.
"I can talk to her." Maddie said.
"I don't want to hit her with too much right off. Her theory is that since we share a child, we should at least live together. And that to protect Molly, she should live with me. Its confusing." Mike said.
"She's fourteen and been through a lot." Maddie said.
"I suppose so. So, you said last night that you were having trouble paying for Molly's antibiotics. Do you need more help?" Mike asked.
"I honestly don't know. My rent was raised a lot higher. I can't afford to move elsewhere because of the deposits and I've checked into other places. The rent is comparable to what I'm paying now. It's a strain. That money did help though." Maddie explained. Mike had paused and nodded finally.
"I don't care to give you more money, but maybe Hannah's suggestion isn't so far off. Maybe it would help Hannah to have you and your mom here? It would solve your issues. I could be around Molly more. Hannah might be more comfortable. Maybe it is the best solution." Mike said.
"Mike; you made the choice not to be around Molly. I will give you any chance you want to be in her life, but I can't afford to move in here, get settled, and then have you decide you can't handle it and toss us out. If we move in, it is going to have to be as permanent as possible." Maddie told him quietly. She figured he would argue but he only nodded in response.
"I need to take a more active role with Molly. I haven't done right by her." Mike admitted.
"No, you haven't. But, I can also tell, you love her. I think there was a time, you were afraid to but she is young and she loves you, as much as any baby loves anyone. Right now, you have to let Molly and Hannah in. Let me and Mom help you with Hannah. And another thing…if we move in; you and I have to be strictly platonic. There can be no…messing around." Maddie insisted.
"I don't quite understand that, but okay." Mike agreed.
"Mike; I care about you. Maybe even love you, but you hurt me. For most of my pregnancy, I was alone. I understood you having to deploy, but there were several months that you made the choice not to be involved. Maybe someday, I will be able to get past that, but not right now. It was love for me, but for you, it was always just sex. I can't do that again." Maddie said.
"Oh." Mike said. Maddie patted his shoulder before leaving him in the dining room to finish setting the table. He needed to think about what she said and she needed to make a few decisions about living arrangements.
