Holiday Second Chances: An old flame returns to town for the holidays, reopening old wounds and rekindling forgotten feelings.
Snowball's Chance
Christine Slattery knew she didn't have a snowball's chance in hell. She had filed for divorce before the Red Flu got bad and then stayed gone, first out of necessity and then out of shame for years. Had kept their daughters away from Mike. It was really unforgiveable.
But Katie had contracted the Red Flu early on, but had received the cure. She had never completely recovered and her health was not great. Christine couldn't afford her healthcare any longer and she hoped Mike would help. She knew he would, but also knew their marriage wouldn't survive because she had initially kept the girls away. Mike adored his children. She pulled up to the address the Navy had given her; a nice farmhouse with the lights on and a Christmas tree in the front window.
"Are you sure this is it?" Katie asked.
"Address matches. You girls stay in here. I'm not sure how this will go." Christine said as she got out of the car. She knew Mike would accept the girls but he might have moved on. She walked onto the porch and noted the muddy boots by the door. They were Mike's size. She rang the doorbell and waited. Finally, the door opened and Mike's jaw dropped.
"Christine?" Mike asked.
"Yes…" Christine answered, prepared for the door to slam in her face. She was not anticipating Mike opening the screen door and stepping out.
"The girls? Please tell me they are okay?" Mike asked in a shaky voice.
"They're alive. Honestly, Mike; Katie had the Red Flu early on but she got the cure, but her health is not good. She needs expensive inhalers and such and I…can't afford them. I found you and came straight here. Should have a lot sooner." Christine admitted.
"Hannah?" Mike asked.
"She's okay." Christine answered. He looked at the beat-up car Christine was driving and looked back at her. "I'll get them, but Mike; you need to prepare yourself for Katie. She's in rough shape." Christine warned.
"Where are you staying?" Mike asked.
"I didn't have a plan." Christine answered.
"Okay." Mike said as he followed her off the porch, presumably to help Katie. He opened the passenger front door and helped Katie out before giving her a hug. He held an arm out and Hannah ran for him. Christine's eyes misted up, knowing the reunion should have happened years before. He kept his arms around both girls before leading them towards the house. "Are you coming? I'll get your luggage." Mike asked Christine. She followed him into the house, which was very obviously a bachelor's house.
"You have a nice place." Christine remarked, looking around. The house was nicely done, but the furnishings and décor was simple.
"Not really. I haven't been here very long." Mike said. He was getting Katie settled on the couch.
"Is there a bathroom I can use?" Hannah asked, dancing around.
"In that hallway. Second door. Sorry about the mess." Mike said.
"Can I get a glass of water, please?" Katie asked.
"I can get it. Kitchen? Christine asked. It was open concept; but Mike pointed towards it.
"There's glasses in the drainer." Mike told her gently. She nodded and walked into the kitchen. It was definitely a man's kitchen. There were barely any dishes. She got the glass of water and walked back into the living room, where Mike was talking to both girls. She felt very out of place. She sat down in the chair, not knowing what else to do. Mike was talking to both girls and Christine looked around the house.
"Where are we going to stay tonight? Mom doesn't have the money for a hotel." Hannah asked suddenly. Christine made eye contact with Mike but hung her head in shame.
"Here, of course." Mike answered.
"Even Mom?" Hannah asked. Hannah had always been a daddy's girl and she was becoming increasingly hard for Christine to handle. Another reason to find Mike.
"Yes." Mike said.
"Thank you. I didn't want to be separated from them." Christine admitted.
"I'd better get your bags. In the trunk?" Mike asked as he stood up.
"Yes. I'll help you." Christine answered. She followed Mike out the door, and once they were out of earshot, he spoke.
"I know about the divorce. It didn't go through due to the Red Flu. So, technically, we are still married. I just wasn't sure if that would make you happy or not." Mike explained.
"Does it make you happy?" Christine asked as she popped the trunk.
"I never wanted a divorce." Mike answered.
"I figured you had moved on." Christine remarked.
"I might have if I had confirmation of your death, but it seemed wrong without. I will admit, there have been a few one-night-stands but I didn't feel anything for them. At first it was out of anger and then loneliness." Mike admitted.
"Understood." Christine said. It was better than she expected and she couldn't get angry about some one-night-stands, especially when she hadn't been very faithful before.
"Look…I get that you don't want separated from the girls. I won't do that. I never wanted the divorce and was willing to forgive everything. And now, I've retired. I think that was your big ask back then. This is me, giving you a road back if you want it. If not, I will still make sure you and the girls are taken care of. My guess is, you are wanting the road back, but you didn't know how to ask. Course, I could be overestimating myself." Mike explained.
"You aren't." Christine admitted.
"Good. We'd better get back in. Is this it?" Mike asked.
"Yeah." Christine said.
"Well, I know what to buy you all for Christmas." Mike remarked.
"That's not necessary." Christine said.
"Maybe not necessary but definitely needed." Mike said as they carried the luggage back to the house.
"Mike; seriously, you don't have to buy us anything. I just needed to make sure I could get Katie her medicine and I needed help with Hannah. She's a bit hard to handle sometimes." Christine admitted.
"I figured. Seriously, don't worry about Christmas. I'll take care of it." Mike said just as they got back to the house.
Christine was not shocked at how at home Mike made them feel or the fact that he made sure she was in the better bedroom that night. They had both agreed it would be best to sleep separately and Katie and Hannah were together. The house was warm and the bed was amazing. She slept in, but Mike was fixing breakfast for the girls when she got up.
"I slept too long." Christine remarked as she helped Katie with her medications.
"You were out when I looked in. I hated to bother you. I figured once you ate and got ready, we'd go Christmas shopping and to get a few things for the house." Mike explained.
"Towels." Katie said.
"Dishes." Hannah said.
"I've been a bachelor for a while." Mike remarked.
"I'll get dressed while you finish cooking." Christine said. Katie was taking her medicine and Hannah was helping Mike.
"Okay. Hannah, flip that pancake. Its bubbling." Mike instructed. It made Christine smile. Quickly enough, she and Mike were on the road to go shopping.
They picked up the supplies for the house first and then began getting items for the girls. While she was looking at clothes, Mike had snuck off. She would guess to buy her gift, although she didn't need one. If Mike was willing to give their marriage another shot, it was all the gift she would ever need.
He insisted on getting her some clothes and they ate dinner out before going to a grocery store. It all seemed frivolous to Christine but Mike had good intentions. All the gifts were carried into her bedroom to wrap and Mike cooked dinner. The next day was Christmas and Christine was excited for the first time in years.
Once the girls went to bed, Mike helped her wrap presents and carried them into the living room. It was very festive looking in the living room with all the presents and the Christmas tree lights. Christine could tell something was on Mike's mind and was a bit worried about what it might be. Was he having second thoughts? "Mike, I think I'm going to go to bed. Thank you for today. It was really nice." Christine said before giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"I…was thinking. I knew we had decided to sleep separately for awhile but…I missed you last night. It was like I knew you were close and should have been with me. We could just sleep in the same bed." Mike said.
"Its important to you, isn't it?" Christine asked.
"Yes." Mike answered.
"Well, then; c'mon." Christine said, surprising even herself. Truth was, she had missed Mike too. He followed her into the bedroom she had slept the night before, the primary bedroom and quickly settled next to her.
"Merry Christmas." Mike said.
"Merry Christmas to you too." Christine answered. She knew Mike was giving her a chance she didn't deserve. But, she would do everything to earn it. He was a good man. Better than she had ever realized. "Mike, thank you. I know it might be hard to believe, but I do love you." Christine said.
"I love you too." Mike replied before giving her a soft kiss. It was not passionate but it was sweet. And the next day, they would have the happiest Christmas they had had in years. Turns out, she did have a snowball's chance in hell.