After the holiday rush, I have two stories out that I am finishing up and came up with this—because I was watching a documentary about lost ships in the Great Lakes (I am home sick!), and came up with this idea. What if the Deer Park that Christine was talking about was not the one Mike thought?
Deer Park
Chapter 1-November, 2013
Christine Slattery was proud that she was raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and loved that area, but she had met Mike when he was visiting with friends from Chicago. He was a young homicide detective. What was supposed to be just a one-night-stand turned into a marriage after Christine discovered she was pregnant a month later. Mike had given her his number and she called.
On his next day off, he drove up and picked her up. She quit her job, said goodbye to her parents and left with Mike, excited to be living in Chicago. Turns out, she hated the city and missed Michigan. They had married and welcomed Kaitlyn in August of 2001. In September of 2001, Mike was given a special assignment to assist the New York City Police Department after 9-11, which caused him to get bitten by some sort of patriotic bug and join the Navy, without talking to her first.
Somehow, he was able to go to the Academy and became an officer and some of the duty assignments weren't bad. She had loved living in Rhode Island. It reminded her of Michigan. Mayport wasn't bad. Hannah was born there and then came Virginia. Originally, it wasn't terrible. Lucas joined their family and made it complete. But then, one deployment after another and Mike climbing the ranks had soured Norfolk for Christine. She and Mike began fighting constantly and their marriage was going down the drain rapidly.
It was made worse when he turned down a job at a security firm down in Miami. It would have been a great job. Good money. Nice house. The kids could have done all their extras. Christine wouldn't have to cut coupons and Mike would have been home every night. But he refused and the night before he was to leave for the Arctic; they had had a horrific fight, and Christine had told him she had never loved him, hated him in fact and that she hoped he would die so she didn't have to deal with a divorce.
When the Red Flu hit, and Lucas died; Christine packed the car and the girls and began driving. Fortunately, able to get gas as she needed it and had food for the girls and herself. She drove straight to the Upper Peninsula and found Deer Park, where she had been raised, almost abandoned. Her parents were still alive and gave her a place to settle. It was a safe zone but there were few people there. When Mike called, she simply told him they were in Deer Park. It never occurred to her that she should have specified Deer Park in Michigan. She assumed Mike would know.
Years went by. Her mom home-schooled the girls while Christine worked with her dad. News trickled in slowly and rumor had it, Mike had become a hero. Christine wrote a letter and mailed it to Great Lakes Naval Station, to be forwarded to Mike. It didn't occur to her that the once very busy Naval Station was now shuttered. So, she stayed busy and kept the girls busy. It was all she could do. She was stuck in the Upper Peninsula now with no vehicle or desire to leave.
Mayport, Florida
"You could stay a little longer. You're fun." A nameless blonde said from the bed.
"Sorry, I have work. See ya." Mike said before leaving the hotel room. Truth was, he hated himself for it. Normally he could slip out of the room before the woman woke up. Blondes and red-heads. Never brunettes like Christine. He also tended to like women that were not as petite as Christine had been.
It was a weird hang up. It wasn't like he had some great love with Christine. She hated him and had said so the night before he left. But, she was the mother of his lost children, so she was special in a way no one else had a right to be.
The next week, it was San Diego and a very busty red-head. Mike found himself reverting to habits from when he was a detective in Chicago. He had to just be more careful because he did have a recognizable face. He didn't need a paternity suit. Maybe he should settle down and start a relationship with a nice woman? That would be smart. It was just more fun to do what he was doing and his heart wasn't on the line. Back in Norfolk, he was reading through reports when a young secretary knocked on his door.
"Sir?" She asked. She was a civilian, but because she knew who he was, she was not someone he'd sleep with. But, if she didn't work there, he would.
"Can I help you?" Mike asked.
"Sir, this showed up in the incoming mail. It was forwarded from Great Lakes, but the post mark is quite old." The young woman said. She handed him the envelope and he immediately recognized the handwriting.
"Thank you. That will be all." Mike said. She turned around and left the office. Mike didn't even bother watching her retreating in her mini skirt. He ripped open the envelope, pulled out the aged paper and began reading.
"Mike,
I suppose I should have been clearer. Deer Park in Michigan is where the girls and I are. Mom and Dad are still here and its safe. Not populated.
When this finds you, you can find us. You know where I'll be.
Christine"
Mike immediately felt stupid. It was obvious. He had gone back to Chicago, Rhode Island, Mayport and even Miami looking for Christine and the girls. Deer Park, Michigan should have been obvious. Christine had LOVED her hometown. And the places they lived that were like Deer Park, she loved. Rhode Island had had the same feel. Mayport was on the water. In Norfolk, he had been home a bit more at the beginning, so she was happier.
He called and got a plane ticket to Detroit, the nearest large airport. He wouldn't leave until the next morning so he needed to fill his night. Now that he knew his wife was alive, it was cheating, but it wasn't like his marriage would survive. He found a bar and another red-head named Elizabeth. She checked all his boxes and didn't seem to know who he was. She hadn't even asked for his name. She only frowned when he set his alarm.
"You don't have to do that." Elizabeth said. He had noticed her wedding band but he didn't care. His own was in a pocket.
"I actually do. I have a plane to catch." Mike answered as he kissed down her neck.
"Are you one of those with a girl in every city?" Elizabeth asked.
"Something like that. Do you mind?" Mike asked as he paused.
"No, considering that I am a girl with a guy in every city." Elizabeth replied as Mike put the condom on.
"Glad I packed those." Mike answered, almost to himself.
"You'll need them." Elizabeth said before somehow flipping him onto his back and lowering herself down on him.
Mike knew it was wrong. He knew that Christine was probably still alive. He should have remained faithful before, but especially since he knew now that she was alive. She would not do for him what women like Elizabeth were willing to do for him, but she still did do something that those other women couldn't do. She could love him.
