New Chances
Chapter 3
Mike was wondering what had gotten into him. He hadn't been on a date in years. When he and Andrea were seeing each other, they were usually deployed so they couldn't actually date. Mike had never been able to connect with the woman that Kara tried to set him up with, so his last date was with Christine, probably twenty years before.
He liked Ellie. She was a lot like Christine. Matter of fact, generous, and sweet. She also was a very devoted mother and daughter, just as Christine had been a devoted wife and mother.
The kids were adorable. Yeah, they reminded him of his dead children, but not in a bad way. Mike had always loved kids and he missed being a father. Over the years, he had done a lot of grieving for Kaitlyn, Hannah and Lucas, and every time he thought he was through the grief, a birthday or holiday would creep up. He missed the hugs, the smiles and laughter, and the innocence of having children. Ollie and Charlotte had reminded him of the good parts of having kids. Not the part where he had lost them.
After he got off work, he went by a children's store and bought a left-handed catcher's mitt and ball for Ollie and a doll for Charlotte. He had noticed she was particularly attached to her dolls, and the one he bought came with several outfits. He remembered Hannah and Kaitlyn both having similar ones when they were Charlotte's age. Mike also bought a bouquet of yellow roses for Ellie.
As soon as he walked into his apartment, he noticed how fresh and clean it smelled. He had given Gwen his spare key to do the cleaning, and everything was sparkling. She had shared with him that they were trying to come up with money for Ollie's baseball fees, and the related items. Mike knew that Ellie would never accept the money, even on loan, so he came up with the cleaning for Gwen and Ellie to do. His apartment did need cleaned and Ollie needed his gear.
Mike changed into a button-down shirt, a pair of nicer jeans and a blazer. He had gotten reservations at a steakhouse, feeling that Ellie would prefer that to some fancy dinner that left them both hungry after. He grabbed the flowers for Ellie and the gifts for the kids and walked down the hall to Ellie's apartment. Gwen answered the door and gave him a massive smile.
"You clean up well! How's the apartment?" Gwen asked as she let him in.
"Perfect, thank you." Mike said. He sat his items down and handed her two-one hundred-dollar bills. It was well over what he would pay anyone else, but to him, it was money well spent.
"Thank you! That should cover Ollie's ball fees and then some." Gwen said.
"Good. I also got him a mitt and ball. I'll work with him this weekend on catching." Mike said. He still had Lucas' ball glove and he could have lent it to Ollie, but he just couldn't. Ollie needed his own ball glove.
"Well, thank you. I will get Ellie out here. I think Charlotte is trying to do help her with her make-up." Gwen said. She disappeared down the hallway, just as Ollie came out. He gave Mike a massive smile and Mike pulled the glove and ball out of his bag.
"Hey; buddy. I brought your mom and sister something too, but I knew you were needing this. I will work with you this weekend. We'll throw the ball around down in the park." Mike explained as he handed the ball and glove to Ollie. The young boy was clearly excited.
"Thanks! How do I put it on?" Ollie asked, trying to get it onto his left hand. Mike put the bag down and began helping him. Suddenly, Gwen, Ellie and Charlotte joined them. Once Ollie was occupied with the glove, Mike pulled the doll out for Charlotte.
"My daughters both had one similar to this and it has several outfits, so you'll be able to change her clothes." Mike explained, and then handed Charlotte the doll.
"Charlotte, what do you say?" Ellie asked.
"Thanks, Mr. Mike! I just love her!" Charlotte said before giving Mike a hug. She reminded him so much of Hannah, even though they looked nothing alike.
"I'm glad." Mike said. He patted the little girl's back and then handed the roses to Ellie.
"Thank you, they're beautiful." Ellie said.
"Your welcome. You look really nice." Mike said, gesturing at her darker blue dress. It was a similar style to the one she wore the night before, but it hugged her figure a little more snugly.
"Thanks. I'll just put these in a vase and be ready to go." Ellie said. By the time she walked into the kitchen, Gwen had a mason jar ready for the flowers and sent her daughter out of the room with an order to enjoy herself. Ellie kissed both kids goodbye, grabbed her purse and followed Mike out.
Mike remembered his manners, opening the truck door for Ellie, and helping her into the much taller truck. The steakhouse he had picked out was close to the apartment, because he figured she would want to get home early to tuck the kids in. It did overlook the river and Mike had purposely reserved a table that had a nice view.
"Order whatever you would like. Do you want a bottle of wine?" Mike asked.
"Not a bottle, but maybe a glass. I prefer merlot, but I have no idea what they have, or what is even good." Ellie admitted. The waiter showed up to take their drink orders, and Mike ordered two glasses of merlot.
"I'm not much for wine, but if I drink it, its generally red for me too. Goes good with steak." Mike said.
"If you don't drink wine normally, what do you drink?" Ellie asked.
"Beer or whiskey. I try to limit that though. I am not so young anymore." Mike remarked.
"That's everybody's story." Ellie said with a smile.
"True. So, aside from work and the kids, what else interests you?" Mike asked.
"Not much time for anything else. I work as much overtime as I can get and if I'm not doing that, I'm at home with the kids. I am blessed that Mom is with them. I'd be lost without her." Ellie admitted. The waiter appeared, and they both ordered. Ellie got the strip steak with shrimp and grilled vegetables, and Mike ordered a rib-eye with a baked potato and a salad.
"Your mom is a character. Have you ever looked into going into nursing school? They have some great programs right now." Mike asked.
"Way back, I wanted to, but now, it's a lot of time away from the kids. Ollie is struggling with the amount of time I am gone now, and I don't want to add to it." Ellie explained.
"Ollie is at a weird age. He's still a kid, but he is older and not wanting as much to do with his mom, sister and grandma." Mike commented.
"Did he tell you that?" Ellie asked. She was a little hurt by the comment. How a near stranger had her son figured out when she couldn't figure it out.
"No. He didn't have to. I was raised by a single mom. From the time I was ten until I was about fourteen or fifteen; I resented her, fought her at every turn. You name it." Mike explained.
"So, what changed?" Ellie asked.
"She remarried, when I was sixteen. He taught me how to drive, paid for football and gave me money. In retrospect, it was to get me out of the house, but it gave me independence." Mike explained.
"Why did he want you out of the house?" Ellie asked.
"Well, in hindsight, it was to beat on my mom, but of course, I didn't know that then." Mike said. Ellie was a little shocked at his honesty.
"What happened?" Ellie asked.
"It took her several years, but she eventually left him. I was a cop, and Christine and I had just had Kaitlyn. She called me one night from the ER, asking me to pick her up. I thought she had been in an accident, but he had beat her up. She left with the clothes on her back, and no money, but she got away from him. Up until then, I never knew. When he beat on her, he was careful not to bruise her where it couldn't be seen." Mike told her.
"Christine was your wife and Kaitlyn was your daughter?" Ellie asked.
"Yeah. Kaitlyn was six weeks old, and Christine was struggling with going back to work. Hated leaving her. Mom moving in gave us the perfect answer. She wanted to watch her first grandchild and it gave her time to heal. Win, win." Mike explained.
"It was good of you to take her in." Ellie said.
"I was all she had, and Christine was insistent." Mike remarked. Their food arrived and they began eating.
"You mentioned your son and daughters? What were their names, if you don't mind me asking?" Ellie asked.
"Kaitlyn, Hannah and Lucas. Kaitlyn was thirteen, Hannah was eight and Lucas was seven. It took me years to find out that Christine and the girls had died, and I had found out about Lucas while I was still on the James." Mike explained.
"Red Flu?" Ellie asked.
"Yeah…or I assume so. With Lucas, definitely, but with Christine and the girls, I'm not sure. I just know that I finally found record of their deaths when I returned after the Red Rust." Mike explained.
"I'm sorry; I shouldn't have brought all this up. Aren't first dates supposed to be light?" Ellie apologized.
"Not always. What about you?" Mike asked.
"Well, as told you; my husband and dad both died during the Red Flu. Ollie was three and Charlotte was born three months after Jack died." Ellie told him.
"So, they don't remember their dad, or never knew him?" Mike asked.
"No. What makes it worse, is I only have one picture of him. It makes it harder for Ollie. Charlotte has just never known any different." Ellie explained.
"They are great kids." Mike said.
"Thank you. I appreciate the gifts, but you didn't have to do that." Ellie said.
"Your welcome. Honestly, I am enjoying this and want a second date and so on. I don't want the kids to resent me. I don't know for certain, but I think that will mean giving them time and attention as well, if you will allow it." Mike said.
"I think it is good for them both to have someone like you around. I've not seen Ollie be so upbeat in a while." Ellie commented.
"I'm home tomorrow. I was hoping to take him down to the park and throw that ball around. I'll find something to do with Charlotte too." Mike responded.
"He'd love that. As far as Charlotte is concerned, you'd better be careful. She'll have you playing with her dolls." Ellie warned.
"Not the first time I've played with dolls." Mike admitted awkwardly.
"That's an image of you that America needs. You kind of have a reputation." Ellie remarked. Mike's brashness made it to where he was not a press favorite.
"Yet, you are on a date with me? I just hate it when the media asks stupid questions. Its not a favorite part of my job." Mike pointed out.
"So, what is?" Ellie asked.
"I enjoy being out at sea. I am not made for the politics, but if I can advocate for those that are out, then I've accomplished something. Having said that, I miss being settled. I have the apartment, but its barely home. I just hated the idea of the BOQ's…Bachelor Officer Quarters or staying in a hotel when I did make it back to St. Louis." Mike explained.
"It makes sense, and you didn't want the upkeep of a house." Ellie remarked.
"Exactly. Granted, I miss having a honey do list, but I am barely at the apartment three nights a month. My neighbors would hate me." Mike said.
"What sold you on our apartment building, then?" Ellie asked.
"The gym downstairs, and it had a washer and dryer hook ups in the apartment. I don't particularly want to wash my underwear in a communal area." Mike said with a grin.
"Good point." Ellie said with a laugh.
"What drew you there?" Mike asked.
"Laundry in apartment, and the rent was reasonable. School district is good and there is the park close. It won't work for a lot longer, because eventually Charlotte will want her own room, but for now it does. Ollie is at the age where he needs his own space, and with all that my mom does for me, I would never ask her to share with one of the kids." Ellie explained.
"So, you share with Charlotte?" Mike asked.
"Yeah, kind of ruins any plans you might have, huh?" Ellie said.
"I wouldn't ever ask that of you after the first date, and I also understand it. Your kids need to be your priority." Mike said.
"I'm glad you agree then." Ellie remarked. They were both finished eating and were just talking.
"Kids always need to be the priority." Mike remarked.
"Most people have a point in their relationships where there aren't any kids, and they can enjoy themselves and their partner. In my case, I have them already. I've enjoyed this, but I understand if it causes you a headache. I'm not sure if you are the sort of person who likes being settled or wants a…friend with benefits." Ellie said.
"At one point, I was…Christine called me a man whore. I met her and that all changed. Until long after she died, I never looked at another woman. So, yes; I like being settled." Mike explained.
"So, what about her made you toe the line?" Ellie asked.
"She wasn't afraid to call me out if I misbehaved. Honestly, she wasn't scared to stand toe to toe with me. I like women that are strong. As the years went on, we had our issues, and were in counseling. The therapist told us that we both had too strong personalities and that made us fight. She made it sound like we weren't combatable, but I never believed that. When we were good, we were great. Now, that I've spilled all that, you may run away." Mike told her.
"Why would I?" Ellie asked.
"Being in counseling and on the verge of a divorce?" Mike reminded her.
"No, it tells me you were fighting for your marriage. Every relationship goes through hard times." Ellie said.
"So, now that I've told you about Christine, tell me about…Jack?" Mike asked.
"Well, we were high school sweethearts. I got pregnant with Ollie, first part of my senior year. Jack was a traditionalist. We married quickly and I dropped out of high school. I never got around to getting a GED, so that is part of the reason I can't go to nursing school. We had Ollie, and then I got pregnant with Charlotte, and then the Red Flu happened. More or less, I was stuck. My marriage was nothing to write home about. In fact, it was very similar to your mom's marriage. As bad as it is, I am thankful he died before the kids got older. I didn't have the courage to leave him and had no way of earning money to even get back to my parents. The Red Flu did me a favor where he was concerned, and that makes me a terrible person." Ellie explained.
"He isolated you, financially imprisoned you, didn't allow you an education and kept you pregnant. That doesn't make you a bad person." Mike assured her.
"Thank you. I embellish him so the kids think he was a great person and pray every day that Ollie never remembers any different. He probably won't. He had just turned three when it all started. If he ever does, it will at least be vague." Ellie explained.
"We are just a mess of issues. This has been a heavy first date." Mike remarked as he handed the ticket and a debit card to the waiter.
"It has. I promise to keep the next one a little more light-hearted." Ellie joked.
"I'm just thrilled to have a second date. Did you want dessert? I should have asked before I got the ticket." Mike asked.
"No. I'm good." Ellie said.
"I do know a really good diner that has excellent pie. It is a little…lower brow then this, but its delicious." Mike remarked.
"That I might go for." Ellie said with a grin.
"Good, that is what I was hoping you'd say." Mike said. The waiter brought his card and ticket back, and they both got up.
The diner that Mike took Ellie too was homey and they ordered an apple pie and coffee. Instead of talking about heavier things, they discussed on the kids. As the night wore on, Mike didn't want it to end, but Ellie did want to get back to her kids and they both had work the next morning. While Mike drove them back to the apartment, he decided to pursue a second date.
"So, when can we do this again?" Mike asked.
"I work a twelve tomorrow, so that's not a good day. I do have Sunday off, but I always take the kids to church. Your welcome to come along, and maybe we can do something at the park after?" Ellie suggested.
"I can let you know tomorrow. I don't know when I fly out again. I have your number, so I can text if that's good?" Mike asked.
"That's fine. Does it bother you to be gone so much?" Ellie asked.
"Honestly, I've not had a reason to miss home. It was a comfort to keep my mind busy. In some ways, I am afraid to slow down." Mike admitted.
"Because you haven't grieved?" Ellie asked.
"Yeah. In some ways. Maybe that it's why I'm not committing to church." Mike said.
"Well, you certainly don't have to go to church with us." Ellie told him.
"Let me think about it. I really do want to spend time with you and the kids." Mike responded. They had pulled up to their apartment building. Mike parked and they began the walk up the stairs.
"We want to spend time with you as well, but we don't want to push you into something you don't want to." Ellie told him.
"You won't. I guess this is where we say goodbye?" Mike asked. They had reached the top of the stairs. Ellie's apartment was down the hall to the right and Mike's was to the left.
"Yeah. I had a really good time." Ellie said.
"Me too. Definitely want to do it again." Mike agreed.
"Definitely. Well, good night." Ellie said. Things were getting awkward. Did she kiss him? Hug him?
"Good night. Holler if you need anything." Mike said.
"You too." Ellie said. She finally just decided to walk away. A kiss on the first date seemed a bit forward anyway. As she unlocked her apartment door, she heard Mike's door close. Hopefully he didn't see the lack of a kiss as a rejection, because she had enjoyed the time with him.