Mistake
Chapter 13
Maddie didn't answer Mike back and she didn't try to contact him anymore. It wasn't that she didn't love Mike. She did and she was terrified that she would be hurt again. She missed him and she missed Hannah and Billy.
At least he wasn't angry enough to take it out on her mom. Sarah offered to take her with her to dinner every Sunday and Maddie declined the invitation. It would mean seeing Mike again and she wasn't ready. Maybe someday.
She also didn't feel good. She wasn't sure what was wrong with her but she was exhausted. Maddie was now without medical insurance so she couldn't even go to the doctor. She was not shocked to find her mom at the door Monday morning.
"I wanted to check on you. You look horrible." Sarah said.
"I feel terrible." Maddie admitted. Sarah leaned forward and touched her cheek and forehead, checking for a fever.
"No fever. You're heartsick." Sarah said.
"Huh?" Maddie asked as she settled back on her couch.
"You miss Mike and the kids." Sarah clarified.
"I am the one that ended it." Maddie remarked.
"No, honey. You didn't end it. You just stopped talking to him. What you did was worse than breaking up." Sarah answered.
"You're supposed to be on my side." Maddie said.
"I am, which is why I'm here. This isn't good for you. Just call Mike." Sarah said.
"Mom…I think I'm pregnant." Maddie admitted tearfully.
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Sarah said with a laugh.
"Mike and I aren't together. And if…I lost another baby…" Maddie started.
"So, we find out for sure if you are pregnant and then we get you medical care. As far as losing another baby…stop thinking like that. Mike lost two children but he is still an amazing father to the two he has left." Sarah answered.
"What happens if he doesn't want a baby?" Maddie asked.
"I don't think that will be your issue." Sarah answered.
"I'm scared." Maddie admitted.
"And fear will not help that baby if you are pregnant. Honey, you have no reason to fear Mike or his reaction. He adores you." Sarah said.
"I'm nothing like Christine." Maddie argued.
"Perhaps not or perhaps what has attracted him to you is the same thing that attracted him to Christine. He told me that Christine was very spirited. Like you. He said that Christine also was a good mother. Like you. You do look similar to her as well." Sarah explained.
"I saw a photo of her in Hannah's room. Pretty pink dress and make up and…" Maddie started.
"Maddie, stop it. Mike loves you. He loved Christine too but he loves you now. A part of him will always love her but now its more about preserving her memory for their children. And he said that Christine would have wanted him happy again." Sarah said.
"I won't ever measure up." Maddie argued.
"He doesn't expect you too. All he expects is for you to love him in return and to love Hannah and Billy. I get that you're scared but you have nothing to lose and everything to gain." Sarah said. She stood up and looked around for a moment. "I'm going to go get you a pregnancy test and some decent food. You should clean yourself and this place up." Sarah answered before leaving Maddie stunned.
She did listen. Maddie took a shower and began cleaning up the apartment. She'd started a load of laundry and was washing dishes when she looked at her phone, sitting on the counter. It was probably not a good idea, but she picked it up and typed out a text to Mike.
"Can we talk some time soon?" Maddie texted. A few minutes later; her phone dinged.
"I would love to but I have the kids. Could you come here?" Mike asked.
"Yes. I can come out this afternoon if that's okay?" Maddie asked.
"Of course. We've missed you." Mike answered.
"I missed you all too. See you soon." Maddie texted back soon.
Her mom got back with the pregnancy test and some chicken soup she had made up. While Maddie took the tests, Sarah heated the soup up and continued cleaning the apartment. As Maddie had suspected, the pregnancy test came back positive. Given her text exchange with Mike, the positive test made her almost giddy. When she walked out of the bathroom, she nodded at her mom and got a hug in response.
"I'm going out to talk to Mike after lunch. He didn't have anywhere for the kids." Maddie said.
"I would have been happy to watch them." Sarah said.
"I know and the time for that may come but for now, they are a part of this too." Maddie answered.
"Good girl." Sarah answered. She gave her a kiss on the forehead and pointed at the bowl of hot, steaming chicken soup.
"This smells delicious." Maddie said. She sat down and smelled the soup before she began eating it. Sarah had settled next to her and began eating as well. And for the first time in a few weeks, Maddie was beginning to feel some hope.