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Chapter 9
The house Mike found for them was nice and already furnished. They literally only had to hang up their few clothes and settle in. The government provided them with groceries and some clothing. Christine didn't like being so dependent on the government, but Mike didn't seem worried.
It was a four-bedroom house and Mike opted for the smallest room. Christine got the primary. Katie was being impossible and clearly didn't want Mike staying with them, but Christine understood. That night, after the girls went to bed, Christine slipped into the room Mike would be occupying and made the bed since she had washed all the sheets. From behind her, Mike cleared his throat.
"I could have done that." Mike said.
"Its fine. I was the one that insisted on cleaning and washing everything." Christine said.
"I hope you like the house? If you want something changed; we can do that." Mike asked.
"The house is really nice and I appreciate it being set up. I am just nervous about being so dependent on the government." Christine admitted.
"In a manner of speaking, we have been for a long time. This is just a bit more. You'll be able to gain some autonomy." Mike said.
"I don't know what money will be like but I would like to get the girls settled before starting to work. I know I will need to, but I would like for them to be a bit more comfortable first." Christine remarked as she fixed Mike's pillows.
"I don't think that will be a problem." Mike said.
"Good. Alright, I think this will work. Are you sure about this double-sized bed? I could manage it but I'm not sure you can." Christine asked.
"Can I answer that in the morning?" Mike joked.
"Mike…you can sleep in the primary." Christine said.
"You lit up when you saw that room. It'll be fine." Mike said.
"If we need to trade, we can. I don't mind this room." Christine said.
"Its fine." Mike answered.
"The girls were asleep and I figured I'd go lay down too." Christine said. It seemed very awkward and odd all of a sudden. After all that passion in the hotel room, it threw Christine off. Probably against her better judgement, she pulled Mike's arm and gave him a long kiss.
"I was trying to avoid that because I was afraid I couldn't stop." Mike said.
"Then don't." Christine answered simply. He nodded in response, gently picked her up and laid her back down on the bed that she had just made. He slipped away to lock the door.
"Are you sure?" Mike asked.
"Never more so." Christine answered as she pulled Mike down onto the bed with her. They made out for quite awhile before things heated up and they began making love. It was one area that they had never struggled in and afterwards, Christine started to get up.
"Not staying in here?" Mike asked.
"The girls might get scared. If they can't find me…" Christine said.
"You regret it, don't you?" Mike asked as he touched her back.
"No. I just thought you had moved on. Katie said…that you had a girlfriend before." Christine remarked.
"I dated a lady not long after the divorce was finalized but she wasn't the right fit with the kids and my career. I was just dipping a toe into the dating pool. The kids hadn't even met her." Mike explained.
"Then how did she know so much?" Christine remarked.
"Christine, I love Katie but she is very against me being near. Maybe she told you I was dating someone because she didn't want you to be tempted to retry our…relationship. She's fourteen, and not above lying." Mike pointed out.
"She knew you didn't really want the divorce." Christine remarked.
"She did. In her mind, she probably thought she was protecting you, but I promise; I wanted this to happen." Mike said.
"I know. I just…have to figure out a way to help Katie. As much as we both would like to continue this, its selfish of us. We have to help Katie." Christine said.
"And Hannah?" Mike asked.
"Hannah will just be glad we're here together. She doesn't understand nuances." Christine said as she put her pajamas back on.
"She understands better than you might think. Look, I love Katie and I agree that we need to help her through this, but I don't agree that we both have to give up any happiness we might find because of her." Mike said.
"Her happiness is more important than either of ours." Christine replied.
"And generally, I agree with that. Just don't…wrap everything into Katie's opinion." Mike said as he sat back up and put his boxers back on. He gave her another long kiss that almost made her renege on her previous decision. "Just don't forget, I want this. You want this." Mike said before she walked out of the bedroom.
She was afraid she had made a terrible mistake. She didn't think through actually having sex with Mike. It had given him false hope and maybe it had given her hope too. But they had to do right by their daughter. Giving into their own desires wasn't going to help Katie.
It had just felt so good. Mike was honestly the only man she had ever been with. She had been too scared to try to date when they initially divorced. She cleaned up and tried to fall asleep, only wishing Mike was next to her.