New Chances
Chapter 4
True to his word, Mike worked with Ollie, playing ball, and even played a bit with Charlotte. The kids adored him. He and Ellie hadn't been able to go out on another date, due to her work schedule, but he did eat dinner with Ellie, Gwen and the kids. It seemed to be the highlight of his days.
Ellie only wished she wasn't so tired. The overtime pay was nice, mostly because of a bad tire on her car and then Charlotte become ill. It came on quickly and involved a harsh cough. Ellie had a government sponsored insurance on the kids, but it didn't pay for prescriptions, so she tried to home treat it. As she walked in from work, Charlotte was laying on the couch with Gwen standing over her.
"No better?" Ellie asked.
"No. Her fever is at 104. You are going to have to take her to the doctor. I'll help with the prescriptions." Gwen answered.
"Alright, let me change my clothes." Ellie said. She walked into her bedroom and changed into a pair of workout leggings and her t-shirt and grabbed Charlotte's medical cards. By the time she walked back into the living room, her mom had Charlotte sitting up and was putting her shoes on. The little girl was extremely fussy, and it took both of them to get it accomplished. And it was also an accomplishment to get her to Ellie's car.
Her car had been making a noise, and when she put her key in the ignition, and turned it, nothing happened. It made a clicking noise. On the third attempt, she looked back at miserable Charlotte who had her head leaned onto the window. Ellie wasn't sure what she could do, because Charlotte would never be able to walk to an urgent care, and then there was a light tap on her window. It was Mike. She opened the door and tried to give him her most convincing smile.
"Is everything okay? It sounded like your car didn't want to start." Mike asked.
"It doesn't. Just makes a clicking noise and the engine isn't turning over. I have to got to take her to the doctor. She's running a high temperature. I'll have to walk there with her." Ellie said.
"No, you won't. I'll take you." Mike said as he walked around, opened Charlotte's car door, and gently picked her up. Charlotte cuddled into him and Mike gave Ellie a worried look. "She's burning up." Mike commented.
"Yeah, she's been sick, but I tried to treat it at home. I have one of the government subsidy insurances on the kids, but no prescription coverage." Ellie admitted. She followed Mike to his truck and watched as he put Charlotte in his backseat and buckled her in.
"We'll figure it out." Mike said simply. He and Ellie got into the truck and he began the drive to the nearest E.R., where Ellie worked.
Thankfully, they were able to get in immediately and the doctor began assessing Charlotte. Mike held the little girl's hand as they did blood work and various other tests. An IV was started to give her some fluids and antibiotics. Finally, the E.R. Pediatrician walked in.
"Little Miss has pneumonia. Its just setting in, so you got her here in time. We will give her a steroid, antibiotics and a breathing treatment. Do you have a nebulizer?" The doctor asked.
"I do. My son has some breathing issues sometimes." Ellie said.
"Utilize it for her. She is borderline dehydrated as well. How about we finish this bag of fluids, some IV antibiotics and a steroid?" The doctor asked and Ellie nodded.
"And she'll have prescriptions to take home?" Ellie asked, as a sense of dread filled her.
"Yes." The doctor answered.
"I can run down to the pharmacy and get them." Mike offered. The doctor left the room and Charlotte was half asleep.
"Thanks, but it's the no prescription coverage issue." Ellie said with tears in her voice. She had a car that was broken down, a sick child and no way to pay for the prescriptions or to fix the car. Mike walked around the bed and wrapped his arms around her. Ellie hadn't been expecting him to do something like that, but it felt good. Too good.
"How about this? I go deal with the pharmacy and pay for the prescriptions. We'll deal with the money end of it later, but right now; she needs her medicine." Mike suggested.
"Alright, but I will pay you back." Ellie said as she pulled away. She immediately missed being in Mike's arms as soon as she wasn't.
"I'm not worried." Mike answered. He leaned over and tucked the blanket around Charlotte and then left the exam room.
"Momma, I think he likes you a lot." Charlotte said.
"I don't know about all that. Are you feeling better?" Ellie asked.
"I am just tired and hungry." Charlotte said. She hadn't had an appetite in days.
"We'll get you home with some dinner in your belly and into bed." Ellie answered.
"Okay." Charlotte said.
Ellie sat down next to Charlotte's bed and watched her fall asleep. After working countless overtime shifts, she was a little tired herself, and must have dozed off, because the next thing she knew, Mike was back with a bag of prescriptions and a stuffed bear under his arm. Charlotte had woken up and gave him a happy smile when he tucked the bear down next to her.
"Thank you, Mr. Mike!" Charlotte said happily. Just then a nurse walked in and began the process of discharging Charlotte.
A half hour later, they were walking out of the hospital. Ellie had called her mom before they left, and she had supper reheating. The drive back to the apartment was quiet and Ellie told Mike to join them for dinner. As they pulled into the apartment parking lot, Mike pointed out her car.
"Do you have work tomorrow?" Mike asked.
"No, thankfully not." Ellie answered.
"Let me deal with the car too. It needs a starter, I think. If you'll give me your key; I will look into it. Tomorrow is a rare day off for me as well." Mike said.
"I hate to ask that of you. I know nothing about cars, though." Ellie admitted.
"I'm afraid if you call a mechanic, they will rip you off. Just give me the key and I will handle it." Mike insisted. Ellie reached over and patted his arm before unbuckling her seatbelt.
"I don't know why you are doing all this, but I do appreciate it." Ellie said.
"You don't have anything to worry about." Mike said simply as they both got out of the truck. She opened the door and Mike picked the now sleeping Charlotte up. The little girl cuddled into him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"She's going to be really heavy carrying her up the stairs." Ellie remarked.
"Good thing I am really strong." Mike said. They walked into the apartment building, up the stairs and into Ellie's apartment, and Mike finally laid Charlotte down on the couch. Ellie put a blanket over her and smiled down at the little girl who had her new teddy bear tucked under her arm. "I am going to go and change clothes. I'll come back and eat, I promise." Mike said. He was still in his work uniform and was probably getting tired.
"It'll be ready." Ellie said. As soon as he walked out of the door, she looked at her mom.
"What's wrong?" Gwen asked.
"Its…he paid for her prescriptions and wants to deal with my car. I just can't figure out why." Ellie said.
"I can. He reminds me a lot of your father. I think in the entire time we were married, he told me he loved me; maybe five times. It was just not his thing. But he showed me he loved me every day. He never let me take the garbage out. I hadn't put gas in my car in twenty-five years. He paid for everything. Sweetie, you didn't have a good example with Jack, but men like Mike; they may not like saying the words, but they do love you." Gwen remarked.
"You think he is in love with me?" Ellie asked.
"I do. And I think you are in love with him. You trust him. You rely on him. You are not yourself without him around. There is nothing wrong with it either. You are widowed. He's a widower. Nothing wrong with it." Gwen said.
"Mom, we've only been on three dates alone." Ellie reminded her.
"And countless times out with the kids. Most people starting a new relationship would have already slept together." Gwen said.
"We haven't even spoken about it. Not certain he's interested." Ellie said. She was sitting the table and watching Charlotte. Ollie was already in bed.
"He's a man. El, not all men are Jack. I know he was particularly cruel within the bedroom, but Mike is a nice person. I cannot imagine him being like that." Ellie remarked.
"So, you think I should sleep with him as repayment for the prescriptions and the car?" Ellie asked, half joking.
"No, but I think you should allow yourself a little fun. I can keep an eye on Charlotte if you need me to. She sleeps in my room with me when you work nights anyways. Maybe tonight is not the night, but don't think its impossible." Ellie said. Just then Mike walked back in, wearing sweats and a t-shirt.
"Supper smells good. I was getting really hungry. Should we wake her up?" Mike asked, pointing towards Charlotte.
"Probably a good idea. She was hungry." Ellie said. She walked over and gently woke the little girl up. Charlotte was groggy but glad to see Mike again.
They all ate the soup that Gwen had fixed and talked about what they were doing that weekend. Ellie had a rare weekend off and knew she would spend it getting Charlotte well again. She didn't bring up spending the night with Mike; because honestly, she wasn't sure about it. She was attracted to him but as her mom had pointed out, she wasn't entirely sure of it.
They finished eating, Mike gave Charlotte a goodnight hug and kiss on the forehead, before Gwen conveniently suggested she would put the little girl to bed. Ellie just gave her a look. Mike was already down the hall and almost to his apartment when Ellie realized she had forgotten to give him her key. She caught him as his apartment door and stopped him.
"Here's the key. I forgot." Ellie said as she placed it in Mike's hand.
"Right. I'll call my mechanic first thing." Mike said.
"He works on Saturdays?" Ellie asked.
"For me he does." Mike remarked with a smile. For Ellie, the smile left her weak in the knees. Before she had time to rethink it, she leaned up and kissed Mike. It was amazing, and she began gently pushing him into his apartment. "Are you sure?" Mike asked between kisses.
"I think so." Ellie answered.
"That doesn't sound very convincing." Mike responded.
"Mike; I want this, but Jack was…not nice. I guess I am worried you will be the same." Ellie said.
"I won't be like that." Mike said. Ellie simply nodded yes to him, and he reached behind her and locked the door before grabbing her hand and pulling her towards his bedroom.