Mistake
Chapter 16
Maddie smiled when she heard the sound of the baby's heartbeat. Mike bent down and gave her a kiss. She noticed that he was a bit misty eyed. They were told the baby was perfect in every way so far. She was amused at how protective he was of her.
He had told her about the dream. She wished she could figure out what would bring enough peace to send Katie back to her mother and brother, but also help Mike. The dreams really bothered him.
They had talked about her moving in. She was not sure just yet, but had agreed that once the baby was born, she would be more open to it. Mike just hated missing out on any milestones but he had two kids to care for already. The last thing she wanted was for Hannah or Billy to resent her or the baby. She made a point to go out to his house a few more times a week.
On one particular night, she got there just as Mike was settling Billy into his bed. He was reading to the little boy and Billy was almost asleep on his chest. It was a perfect picture to her and she settled next to Mike.
"How's my favorite little boy?" Maddie asked Billy.
"He's sleepy." Mike said. Billy looked like he might argue but instead laid his head back on Mike's chest. Arguing took too much energy apparently. Maddie leaned over and gave Mike a kiss.
"I looked in on Hannah. She was going to head to bed too. Said tutoring is rough." Maddie said.
"She's have a hard time with it. Her tutor isn't the most likeable either. She complained to me that Hannah only had a second-grade reading level." Mike remarked. He kissed the top of Billy's head before sliding out from under him. Billy fussed for a moment but was tucked in and loved on by both Mike and Maddie. Once he finally fell asleep; they slipped out of the bedroom and Mike headed in to tell Hannah goodnight.
Maddie had brought some food from the restaurant and she and Mike ate a late dinner together. It was their date nights now but Maddie didn't mind. She loved the cozy evenings sitting by the fireplace and talking about the baby and the kids.
Mike was a devoted father who adored his kids, but Maddie could tell the dreams about Katie were wearing on him and he was unusually quiet that night. She cuddled close and smiled up at him.
"You're quiet tonight. Everything okay? Did you have another dream last night?" Maddie asked.
"No dream last night. Just…Katie's birthday is coming up and I miss her, even though I see her nearly every night in my dreams. I keep thinking; if I had found them sooner, she would be alive and healthy. She and I might be fighting still but she would be alive and here." Mike remarked. His voice caught at the end and Maddie was at a total loss to help him.
"Do you want to do something special for her birthday?" Maddie finally asked.
"I honestly don't know." Mike admitted. Instead of saying anything else; Maddie wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his shoulder. She was a bit shocked to feel Mike shaking as sobs tore through his chest. It was a rare show of emotion and Maddie wondered if Katie could see her father now.