Mistake
Chapter 9
Once Mike told Maddie about the dream, she felt horribly for him. She went with him to look at the house and promised to help him furnish it. She knew he had put his retirement in, and was a bit surprised he was so adamant about settling in New Orleans.
He was spending a lot of time with Hannah and Billy, but they went home with Sarah every night. Given how much Mike paced the floors at night, he was not liking being separated from Hannah and Billy. He bought the house but it needed some work, which extended the time away from Hannah and Billy. As time passed, Mike mood worsened. One night, Maddie woke up and saw the light on in the living room. She put a robe on over her nightgown, one she had put on to interest Mike, and walked into the living room. The nightgown hadn't worked. Nothing had since the dream.
"Mike, its three am. You should try to sleep." Maddie said.
"I'm fine." Mike answered.
"The contractor told you that they would be done in a week or so. You'll be with the kids then." Maddie said.
"If they want to be." Mike remarked.
"I'm sure they will. Hannah seems excited." Maddie said.
"Not Billy though." Mike answered.
"He'll get used to you. Just be patient. So, I have two hours before I have to open, and I'm awake now. How about we make use of the time we have?" Maddie suggested. She took the book out of his hand and climbed onto his lap, untying the robe and letting it fall to the floor.
"Maddie…" Mike started.
"Ssh." Maddie said before giving him a long kiss, which he was thankfully receptive to. She was a bit surprised when he stood up and carried her into the bedroom, laying her on the bed. "Don't you think about walking back into the living room. I have plans." Maddie said.
"Is that a fact?" Mike asked as he stood over her.
"It is. Come here." Maddie said. She sat up and pulled Mike back onto the bed. "I liked it when you picked me up like that. I'm gonna miss this when you move into your house." Maddie said after pulling Mike's t-shirt off.
"Unless you move with me." Mike suggested. He pulled her back onto his lap and began working the straps of her nightgown.
"Seriously?" Maddie asked.
"Yes, but we'll talk more about it later. I have plans now." Mike said as her nightgown joined his t-shirt on the floor. Maddie could only laugh in response. This was the Mike she could handle. Not depressed and withdrawn.
She ended up being late to work and had left Mike sleeping upstairs. The only thing that bothered her was that Mike hadn't worn a condom. They had been in a hurry and he just didn't bother. She hadn't gotten pregnant the year before, so maybe she would be lucky a second time.
It wasn't that she didn't want a baby. She was scared of losing another one after losing Zoe. She didn't even mind having one with Mike, but he wasn't in the right headspace. And neither was she for that matter.
If he was serious about moving in with him at the new house, it would mean their relationship meant something more then sex. She had kind of liked it the way it was. Informal. Easy. She didn't want to complicate things, but she also wanted Mike. And she adored those kids of his. And she was falling in love with him.