Lost Loves

Chapter 9

Christine knew Mike was absorbed. She wasn't sure why. She had done nothing but hurt him but he was treating her with so much kindness and tenderness. It made her hope they could have some sort of future.

She was very concerned about his shoulder. There were times she would look over and he was rubbing it, but as soon as he realized she was watching him; he'd drop his hand. He also was dropping a lot of things and had no strength in that arm. But he kept telling her he would contact his doctor after he found the twins.

One day, while he was in his home office researching somethings, she walked in with a tray with a sandwich, a glass of water and some over-the-counter pain reliever.

"Thought you might be hungry and hurting." Christine said.

"Thank you. Yes, I am a bit hungry." Mike said. She sat the tray down in front of him and indicated the medication.

"You're welcome." Christine answered with a smile.

"Sasha Cooper is helping me. She works for the Office of Naval Intelligence." Mike explained between bites.

"Do I know her?" Christine asked.

"She and Tom Chandler are together." Mike explained.

"Tom hates me." Christine remarked. She and Mike had already had a conversation about Tom and why he hadn't been around.

"He…doesn't like the decisions you made previously." Mike explained.

"Mike; Tom has been there for you through thick and thin. I wasn't. Don't choose between me and him. I don't deserve that sort of loyalty. He does." Christine insisted.

"Actually, he hasn't always been there. There was a point in time that he walked away from all of us with little thought to what we needed. Now, granted, he had been through an emotional upheaval but still?" Mike explained.

"Mike; I don't really understand why but somehow you have forgiven me enough to allow me to live here with the girls and you and you are looking for the twins. Perhaps you should afford the same forgiveness for Tom?" Christine suggested.

"Not quite the same." Mike answered.

"My point is; up until whatever happened, Tom was a loyal friend and it seems he is trying to be again. I was less than loyal to you and you have every reason in the world to not forgive me but you have…or I assume you have?" Christine said.

"Yes." Mike answered.

"Mike; just think about it. Don't sabotage a friendship." Christine replied before walking back out of the office.

Sasha came over later that afternoon, but only exchanged pleasantries with Christine. She was nice enough but Christine suspected that she would always be an outcast among Mike's friends. Only Russ Jeter had welcomed her warmly, but than he had never treated her badly, even at her worst.

About a week later, Christine was in the laundry room; ironing one of Mike's uniforms, something she never thought she'd do again when he walked in and smiled at her.

"I have a bit of a lead. I maybe gone overnight but Russ said he is close and to call if you need anything. He offered to sleep on the couch if need be. I put his number on the fridge." Mike explained.

"Thank you. Please be careful." Christine said.

"I will be. I will call tonight." Mike answered. He leaned over and kissed her forehead, surprising Christine. He was gone before she could say anything.

They managed through the night without Russ, but Christine didn't sleep good. She was worried about Mike and wondering what his lead was. He had told her when he called that Tom and Sasha were with him and he was okay. It eased her mind but she was still counting down the hours until he came home; reminding her of when they were newlyweds. In love.