Train of Thought
Chapter 16
Christine smiled when Mike crawled into bed next to her. She reached over and gave him a long kiss and took a deep breath, appreciating the smell of his aftershave. It had always been a favorite smell of hers.
"Peter thinks I need to teach him to shave." Mike remarked.
"Oh, yeah?" Christine asked.
"Yeah. I'll probably play shave him." Mike said.
"Did Katie talk to you?" Christine asked.
"Yeah. I told her that it wasn't all on her. I was no great shakes. She didn't seem to believe me, but its live and let live." Mike said.
"And me?" Christine asked.
"Huh?" Mike asked as he turned and looked at her.
"Mike, I knew you would forgive Katie. She is your daughter and you love her unconditionally. But, I also wronged you and you don't have to love me unconditionally. Katie told me that you were still worried that I would go through with the divorce." Christine explained.
"I suppose so." Mike admitted.
"Mike…I love you. I think that is why I could never sign those papers. I had them drawn up in anger but actually going through with the divorce? I don't think I ever could have. I know it might take you awhile to fully trust me, but please?" Christine begged.
"Just a lot to work through. I wanted to be the person to find Katie and bring her home. I wasn't the one to find her, but I was with her soon after. I thought it might right my wrongs with her." Mike said.
"Do you think it helped?" Christine asked.
"We are communicating better. I think she is a bit more ashamed of what I had to do before I got her home, but she didn't want anyone else to do it and I didn't have to heart to tell her no. After all she went through, I could set aside my pride." Mike explained.
"Mike, you are a wonderful dad and a wonderful husband. Yes, you were gone for over a year and yes, we needed you home, but Katie needed you more and once you found her, you got her straight back." Christine said. She reached over and gave Mike a long kiss.
"It was hard…I knew I was needed here. But, I was afraid that if I came back, she would die and it would be my fault. So…I didn't come home. I missed you and the kids. I knew that made you angry and I am sorry for that, but I just couldn't come back until I brought Katie back one way or another." Mike said.
"Well, I am glad you brought her back the way you did. She will recover and in time, so will you and I." Christine said.
"I hope so." Mike agreed. He gave her another kiss and then pulled her close. It seemed he just wanted to hold her.
"I love it when you do this." Christine remarked.
"Good." Mike said as he kissed her neck. There wasn't a lot of passion, but it still felt good.
"I do love you, Mike." Christine said.
"I love you too." Mike answered. He reached over and shut the bedside lamp off and pulled the blanket up.