Lost Loves
Chapter 7
Christine had to admit; she felt better having let her biggest secret and regret out to Mike. She was afraid of him judging her, but he didn't seem to be. But he was very focused on finding the twins and Christine knew better than to stop him. Once Mike was focused on something, there was little that could shift his focus.
The girls seemed relieved that the secret was out and their father knew. He had talked to both girls a little, trying to figure out where they had been at the time of the birth. Katie remembered hearing the radio station saying they were based out of Atlanta and Hannah remembered a newspaper from a small town in Georgia, so Mike began digging.
Christine was simply enjoying making Mike's house into a home. She wondered how long she would be allowed to stay. Mike knew she wanted a second chance with him, but she wasn't ready.
She had evaluate why she wanted another chance. Mike had been more than generous with chances before. She was the one that caused the most problems. Yes, he had cheated too, but only after she had cheated several times. There was a lot of different reasons their marriage fell apart.
Now, she was craving all the things Mike offered. Safety, security, protection, loyalty, love and a lack of judgement. All the things she hadn't wanted before. She was in her own world one day, organizing the kitchen when Katie came in from the backyard where Mike and the girls were planting a garden for her.
"Mom, Dad asked if you wanted the zucchini in the raised bed?" Katie asked.
"Sure." Christine answered. Katie stuck her head out the door and yelled at Mike and than turned back to Christine.
"Mom, what's on your mind?" Katie asked. Katie was only nineteen but was unbelievably mature. Katie had been a lifesaver for Christine.
"What makes you think something is?" Christine asked.
"You and I have never spent a day apart my entire life. I know you. Dad knows about the twins already so that isn't it. My guess is that you are wanting to have a normal relationship with him but aren't sure how to." Katie said.
"Possibly." Christine answered.
"Mom, Dad didn't stop loving you. Its why he didn't push for a divorce before the Red Flu. I think he always hoped there was a possibility you'd come around. Of course, he never wanted you hurt the way you were. My point is; you won't have to try very hard when you are ready. But I do think Dad will have to know every detail before he can move forward. Just remember, he is not Charlie. You know that or you wouldn't have sought him out." Katie said before walking back outside, leaving Christine to remember back to when Hannah was a baby, right after they got the news that Mike was in fact her father.
"So, what now?" Christine asked as she rocked Hannah back and forth. She had even doubted Mike being Hannah's father and was a little surprised when the DNA test came back.
"You have to not cheat again, ever. I feel like shit even thinking what I thought about an innocent baby." Mike said.
"Its not my fault that you refused to bond with her." Christine pointed out.
"I was not going to bond with a baby that you could have taken away at any point. It would have not been fair to me or to her." Mike replied.
"And now? She's almost three months old." Christine asked. Mike had been unsure of Hannah but Hannah had always been fascinated by him and was watching him intently.
"And now, I have to catch up. Just remember what I said. No more cheating." Mike said as he took the baby. Hannah immediately melted into him.
Christine looked out the kitchen window and smiled at Mike and the girls. He was handling the shovel and Hannah was planting seeds and plants. To watch them, a person would have never guessed that Mike hadn't held Hannah until she was nearly three months old. Their bond was strong, even after so many years apart.
Christine had cheated on Mike after that day but it was one of the happier times in her marriage, between Hannah and Lucas' births. There was no question of Lucas' paternity but his birth came with a disappointment. Christine had been warned not to get pregnant again, which caused Mike to get a vasectomy.
He had wanted a big family. Five or six kids had been his goal. It was after that that he had cheated in response to her cheating on him again. That was when things fell apart completely.
He was so committed to finding the twins if they were alive. He might just get his big family yet, if he could accept raising another man's children. Christine was just hoping that Mike could fall in love with her again.
