Mistake

Chapter 23

Maddie smiled at Hannah and Katie visiting on the couch. Billy had been introduced to his older sister but had very little interest in her…but Hannah adored Katie and had already given her the bracelet Mike had bought on Katie's birthday. Maddie had noticed a tiny mark on Hannah's cheek, and finally mentioned it.

"Hannah, what happened to your cheek? You have a mark that wasn't there this morning." Maddie asked. She noticed Hannah make eye contact with Mike and Mike suddenly shuffle in his chair.

"I tripped over something in my room and hit the corner of my nightstand. Just being clumsy. Dad checked to make sure nothing was messed and said it seemed fine." Hannah said.

"Yeah, it was that rug." Mike remarked.

"Might bruise." Katie said.

"I'm a klutz." Hannah replied. Maddie noticed that there was eye contact between Mike and Hannah for just a second longer than necessary. Something had happened between them. She just wasn't sure what.

Mike decided to order Chinese food for dinner, citing that it had been Katie's favorite. Hannah went with him, but Maddie recognized she was very tense around Mike. At least he wasn't being cruel. Almost soft spoken around her.

Katie did opt to stay at Mike's house. Mike hadn't set up the extra bedroom yet so she would be staying with Hannah. Maddie helped Katie settle, but then gave Mike time with both of his daughters before they went to bed. Finally, a half later, he came into their bedroom but headed in for a shower before Maddie could say anything. It wasn't until he settled next to her bed that she did speak.

"Mike; what actually happened to Hannah's cheek?" Maddie asked, hoping Mike wouldn't lie to her.

"I…slapped her. We were arguing and it just happened. I asked…her to not say anything. I knew that if she did, there was no chance I would ever have a relationship with Katie, or Hannah for that matter." Mike said. Maddie was furious but she could tell that something in Mike had broken.

"Mike, how? You love Hannah." Maddie asked.

"I adore Hannah…and I love that she would lie for me, but it wasn't right to ask that of her. I was being selfish, I suppose. I told her I would make it up to her, but she said not to worry about it, but she doesn't trust me now." Mike remarked.

"Oh, Mike." Maddie said. She was mad and that was justified due to the fact that she was carrying Mike's baby. A baby she would have to trust Mike with. It had been an emotional day and she wasn't surprised to hear him sobbing. While she was angry, she knew that slapping Hannah had hurt Mike deeply, so she wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly. Finally, she spoke up again. "I'll talk to her in the morning." Maddie said.

"Thank you but I think I have broken her trust and I don't know if I will ever get it back again. After, she wanted to keep Billy in her room so that she could protect him. Protect my own son from me!" Mike insisted. He was angry, but not at Hannah.

"I'll talk to her. Did you notice that she gave Katie that bracelet?" Maddie asked.

"Yeah, I noticed it. I actually felt a bit bad about it." Mike admitted.

"You should get her something nice. Not because of what has happened between her and you but because it is the right thing to do." Maddie said.

"What though? And I don't want it to seem like I'm trying to buy her love or forgiveness." Mike asked.

"You have her love and forgiveness. Mike, she adores you too. If she didn't, she wouldn't have lied for you. She wants this family together, perhaps even more so than you. Let me think about what to get her, but it is possible all that she will really want is time." Maddie said.

"Hey, thank you. I know I've been a bear lately and now this. I love you." Mike said. It surprised Maddie and she smiled in response.

"I love you too. Now, hopefully you get some rest." Maddie said. Mike's hand was on her stomach and the baby was kicking wildly.

"I hope so too. I just hope Little Miss will allow you to sleep. She's kind of wild tonight." Mike said with a smile.

"She is probably feeling the hope." Maddie remarked. Mike raised her shirt up and kissed her belly. Not romantic but sweet.

"I still want to name her Charlotte." Mike said.

"Charlotte Sarah." Maddie agreed.

"Charlotte Sarah." Mike repeated before giving her a long kiss.