Better Together

Chapter 2

Mike could tell something was on Christine's mind. He was married to her for long enough to read that much. He also wondered how badly Mark had hurt her. His guess was that there was some physical abuse and definitely emotional abuse. But, at least she was divorced now and would hopefully find someone that would treasure her.

Hannah had made it home about eight thirty, giving him some time with her before she went to study upstairs. Katie had even managed to get home at ten and he visited with both girls for a while. Christine had gone upstairs so he could have time alone with their daughters and so he decided to bring it up.

"Girls, what is going on with your mom? I know Mark did a number on her but something is off." Mike asked.

"She seems okay to us? The business is doing good and she loves this house. Seems happier than she has in a long time." Katie remarked.

"She is a little sad that we are both so busy, but she's adjusting." Hannah said.

"Girls…do me a favor and spend a bit more time with your mom. I know you're busy with school, work and your friends but something is off with her and you two might be able to help her without realizing it." Mike told them.

"Dad, you do realize Mom still adores you?" Katie asked.

"I do and I feel the same about her. She is the mother to the people I love most in the world. I will make a point to check in on her a bit more often but promise me you two will keep an eye on her too." Mike said.

"You could always just move here? Make this your home base?" Hannah suggested.

"I'll think about it. In the meantime, please just give me your word." Mike said.

"We will." Katie agreed.

"Alright; well your old dad is tired and jet-lagged. I had better turn in. We'll visit a bit more and maybe go out to dinner tomorrow. And yes, we will invite your mom to go with us. I don't want her here, eating alone while we're out having a good time." Mike said. He stood up and gave both girls kisses.

"Love you, Dad." Hannah said as she hung onto him a bit longer than Katie had. Hannah had always been a daddy's girl.

"I love you both. Sleep tight." Mike said. He kissed both girls again before parting ways, locking exterior doors as he went. He had noticed how safety conscious Christine was, meaning she was scared of something. After he got ready for bed, he sent an email that he would be in St. Louis longer than planned but would be available by call or email. He was going to figure out what was going on with Christine.

He fell asleep at some point, but about three am; woke up to someone crying. He thought about minding his own business, but if he did; he might not get the answer he was looking for. He headed up the stairs, glad the girls had left a dim hall light on. He immediately realized the crying was coming from behind the double doors to the primary bedroom. He knocked but there wasn't an answer, so he gently opened the door.

Christine was sitting up in her bed, with her knees drawn to her chest and her face streaked with tears. Mike turned a bedside lamp on and sat beside her, wondering what to do next, until he finally just pulled Christine to where she was crying into his chest. And she sobbed for several minutes until she pulled away.

"Chris, what is going on? I know something is off." Mike asked.

"I'm okay." Christine lied.

"No, you are not. No matter how bad things got between you and I, I don't think I ever reduced you to tears. Are you missing Lucas? I think about him a lot too." Mike asked. It was his greatest sadness. It had to be the same for Christine.

"I do miss him." Christine answered as she got a tissue from the box next to her bed and wiped her eyes.

"But this is not that." Mike insisted. Christine hung her head in shame until Mike squeezed her hand.

"Mark was abusive." Christine said simply.

"I figured that much." Mike said.

"I…not long after he and I got married, I got pregnant. I really, really wanted the baby but Mark didn't. He forced me to give the baby…a girl up for adoption. I hid the pregnancy from the girls and sent them to you to visit when I was due. They don't know. I am so ashamed." Christine said.

"That is not your fault. You have nothing to be ashamed of." Mike told her.

"I wanted that baby so much. I never even got to hold her." Christine said between sobs.

"Any idea what happened to her?" Mike asked.

"No. Mark said she was adopted by a nice family." Christine said.

"I have my doubts about that. You want to find her, don't you?" Mike asked.

"If she has been adopted by a nice family; I don't want her disturbed. I just need to know that she's okay. If she is found and I try to take her, Mark has a chance." Christine said.

"How long after you and I got divorced, did you get with Mark?" Mike asked.

"I had met him before the divorce was finalized, but nothing happened, Mike. I would have never done that to you." Christine said.

"Hey…no, that was not my thought. My thought is…math. Could I make it work that I could claim the baby was mine?" Mike asked.

"Honestly, no. I wish she was." Christine said.

"I will figure that out. What I need you to do is to stop beating yourself up. You could not have stopped what happened. Write down the date she was born and where at; the hospital. I will see what I can do." Mike said.

"Why would you do that?" Christine asked.

"Because…I can tell you are in pain. You've held it in but its boiling over. Now, do you feel better since you finally have it off your chest? Better?" Mike asked.

"A little. I just don't want the girls to know yet." Christine said.

"Why not?" Mike asked.

"I…want them to think I was strong. Its bad enough that they know that Mark was emotionally abusive. They don't need to know about the physical abuse or the other." Christine said.

"Christine, did he rape you?" Mike asked and Christine started crying again.

"I suppose it could be called that. It was so different than with you. You never made me do something I didn't want to. Always so kind and gentle. Mark was…a monster." Christine said with a shudder. Instead of saying anything more; Mike took a chance and pulled Christine back to lay her head on his chest. Thankfully, she didn't pull away and he hung on for dear life. He had let her go once and she was now broken. He was not going to let her go until he figured out where her little girl was.