Lost Loves
Chapter 14
Mike had been surprised by the kiss. He wondered if he should have pulled away but he didn't want to communicate that he didn't want Christine to feel safe enough to get closer.
The next day, he got home from work and smiled at Sophia, who was waiting for him at the front door. He sat his briefcase down and picked her up. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and began walking towards the kitchen.
"Is your momma in here?" Mike asked and Sophia nodded. He walked into the kitchen and Christine gave him a sweet smile.
"She's been waiting since about three." Christine remarked. Sophia was playing with one of the insignias on Mike's uniform shirt. He kissed the top of her head and smiled down at her.
"Sorry I made you wait so long." Mike said.
"It's okay." Sophia said. Christine's eyes grew as big as saucers and she and Mike exchanged a look.
"Thank you, sweetheart." Mike said. He wanted to encourage her to talk more, but he also didn't want to pressure her unnecessarily.
"I just love that little voice. Sophia, do you want to help me mix up the pie dough?" Christine asked and Sophia nodded.
"What pie?" Mike asked.
"I though I would do an apple at Hannah's request and a cherry." Christine said.
"Good." Mike said. Cherry pie was his favorite and Christine knew it.
"Apple Pie." Sophia said. It made both him and Christine smile. He had sat Sophia on the counter, where she was playing with a wood spoon.
"That's Hannah's favorite too. Mike; she had another panic attack. I walked to the mailbox and I came back to her hyperventilating." Christine explained.
"Hence the apple pie." Mike remarked.
"Yeah, and apparently its Sophia's favorite too." Christine said.
"I'll talk to her. I'm going to go up and change out of this monkey suit." Mike said. It made Sophia giggle and Christine nodded. He kissed the top of Christine's head and he headed up the stairs. He greeted Katie in her room, gave Samuel a hug and then found Hannah staring out her window in her bedroom.
"Did Mom tell you?" Hannah asked.
"Yeah. She's worried about you, and I am too." Mike said as he joined her at the window.
"Because I don't fit in. I don't fit into a perfect little box." Hannah remarked.
"No, because we love you and we don't like to see you hurt." Mike objected.
"What happens when you leave again…deploy?" Hannah asked.
"I am retiring. The only reason I'm going into the office now is to finish some things up." Mike said.
"Really?" Hannah asked.
"Yes, really. I just told your mom last night." Mike answered.
"She didn't say anything." Hannah remarked.
"She might have wanted me to tell you. Just know, everything will be okay. And you fit in exactly where we need you." Mike said before giving the young girl a hug. He was not shocked that she clung to him and he would never pull away after not having had her or Katie for so long. She finally did pull away and nodded at Mike, letting him know she was okay.
He changed out of the uniform and then helped Christine with dinner, including grilling hamburgers for the kids and steaks for him, her, Katie and Hannah. It was Friday night and he was thrilled to be home with his family.
Sophia didn't say anything else that night, but they had at least gotten four words out of her. 'It's okay' and 'apple pie' had sounded wonderful to them. That night, after the kids all went to bed, Mike smiled as Christine sat down next to him on the couch.
"This is becoming something of a habit." Mike remarked.
"Do you mind?" Christine asked.
"Not in the least." Mike said.
"Do…you think we can start sleeping together…just in the same bed?" Christine asked. Mike almost choked on his beer and had to collect himself for a moment.
"Where'd that come from? I'm not saying no, I'm just shocked." Mike asked.
"Because eventually, we'll need to separate Samuel and Sophia." Christine answered.
"That can't be the only reason. Christine…I am okay with it but I want to make sure you know that I will not force you to do something you don't want to." Mike said.
"I am not ready for that. I just…I suppose I miss the closeness." Christine said.
"Okay." Mike answered simply.
"Are you okay with it? I know I had hurt you pretty badly before." Christine asked.
"Its been a lot of years." Mike said.
"I scarred you pretty deeply. Those scars don't just go away." Christine said.
"We just need to take one step at a time. We can start by sleeping in the same bed." Mike replied.
"Mike, if you don't want to…" Christine started.
"I do. Stop stressing about all the things that happened years ago." Mike answered. She nodded and squeezed his knee.
