The Gift
Chapter 8
One step in front of the other, Andrea learned to walk again. It was agonizing and she wouldn't be running any 5k's. The injuries were also a career ender and Andrea had put her papers in. It was not how she wanted her career to end, but it was done. Now, she was a full-time mom. Ally stayed with her, because she had nowhere to go. Andrea didn't need a full-time, live in nanny anymore, but Ally had no one else and Molly loved her.
Andrea hadn't heard from Mike, and realized; he thought she was dead. She knew he would check on Molly as soon as possible and would have a surprise. Before Tom had left, he had visited with Andrea and told her that Mike had been the one to drag her away from danger and had held her. He thought she was dead because of how limp she went. Finally, she saw Mike walking up the walkway and smiled at the surprise on his face when she opened the door for him.
"How?" Mike asked.
"I lost consciousness. Went limp. Its been a hell of an experience but I'm walking now. Career ender." Andrea told him. Mike blinked several times and then did something that shocked her. He pulled her into a hug.
"I thought you had died too." Mike finally commented. He was still holding her and Andrea just allowed him.
"Tom said. I thought he might have told you." Andrea said. She had pulled away and they walked towards the front door.
"We were so busy. I should have asked." Mike said. At best, Tom was a little absent minded. Andrea had an arm around Mike and she opened the front door.
"Well, Molly will love seeing you. She's grown so much. I have kept Ally on. Needed help at first and she just has nowhere to go. I couldn't let her go." Andrea said and Mike nodded just as Molly ran up to them.
"Daddy!" Molly said. Her vocabulary was fairly advanced for a child her age, but Ally worked a lot with her. Mike picked her up and gave her a big kiss.
"I've missed you, baby girl. Have you taken good care of Mommy?" Mike asked.
"Yeah." Molly said as she played with his appellate. She was a perfect mix of Mike and Andrea. Her hair, his eyes, mouth and chin. She even had a mix of their personalities.
"And you behaved for Ally?" Mike asked.
"No." Molly said. It made both Mike and Andrea laugh.
"She was fine." Andrea told Mike as they sat down on the couch.
"Good. I'll be fine for a bit. Not sure how long." Mike explained.
"You'll tuck me in tonight?" Molly asked.
"You bet I will." Mike answered. Molly gave him a kiss on the cheek and cuddled back up. Within just a few moments, she was asleep in Mike's arms.
"She is going to droll all over your uniform." Andrea pointed out.
"It'll wash." Mike remarked.
"True. I am really glad your home. Molly has really missed you." Andrea said.
"I'm glad to be home. So, are your papers in?" Mike asked.
"Yeah, as of last week; I'm officially retired. Not thrilled with that, but I am too slow on my feet now." Andrea explained and Mike nodded. She could tell something was on his mind.
"I see." Mike responded.
"Mike, is something wrong? You, of course, are welcome here." Andrea asked.
"Its just…your retired now. You could have a relationship." Mike said.
"I could, but I have a little girl that I want to concentrate on. You could too. You have gotten confirmation of Christine's death." Andrea said.
"I sometimes wonder what she would think of Molly, and how she came to be. Or what my other kids would say." Mike remarked.
"I think they would be happy that you've allowed yourself some happiness. Molly is that for me, and I think she is for you too." Andrea said and Mike nodded in agreement.
"Yes, she does bring on some smiles and laughs, but I still miss my older kids. I've found myself thinking about them a lot. I'm thinking, now that I am somewhat settled, about buying a plot at the cemetery and putting a stone up for them. Purely symbolic, but it would be a place to visit sometimes, not all the time; of course." Mike said.
"I think it's a good idea." Andrea agreed.
"Maybe then, I can move past…I don't think I can move past the kid's deaths, but maybe Christine's. I could start dating." Mike remarked.
"Mike; I think she would want you to be as happy as possible. I didn't know Christine real well, but as a wife, I would have wanted Bill to move on." Andrea told him.
"Christine was jealous, so I don't think so. I really don't know how she would have reacted to any of this." Mike remarked.
"So, focus on yourself. Date. Of course, I want you to spend time with Molly, but Christine is gone. Not to be cruel, but you are free to date, Mike. Enjoy yourself a little." Andrea commented.
"I don't even know how." Mike said.
"You and Christine dated." Andrea said.
"No, actually we didn't. She was a nurse I worked with a little when I was a cop. Bad case and one night stand that resulted in Kaitlyn and wedding bands." Mike said.
"But you loved one another. I saw the two of you together." Andrea pointed out.
"Mmm. We were married, and I was in the Navy. She had Hannah to get me to come home more, and Lucas was a shore baby. I don't know if we even loved one another. I just didn't want to screw things up with my kids. I might not have loved their mother, but I did love my kids. I was raised in a home believing that children did best with parents that were together, even if the parents were unhappy together. Divorce was not an option." Mike explained.
"Well, do yourself a favor. Find love. Find someone who will love you and Molly, if you still want her around." Andrea said.
"Oh, Molly is a package deal. Anyone I date or become involved with will have to understand about her." Mike remarked.
"Good. Well, let me know if I can help in anyway. Dating advise, picking out jewelry, whatever." Andrea said with a smile.
"You're a good friend and we will remain that way no matter what." Mike promised and Andrea squeezed his hand.
"Good. That was going to be my one condition." Andrea said.
"So, were do I start?" Mike asked.
"Oh, go to a bar? I can see if Ally has any single, female friends." Andrea suggested.
"That are older than her? Ally isn't much older then what Kaitlyn would have been. I am not a cradle robber." Mike answered.
"Okay." Andrea answered. She slowly got up to start dinner while Mike cuddled with Molly. Ally had gone out with friends and would be back later. For Andrea, it was a quiet evening, in a very family-like setting.