The Wedding Guest
Chapter 1
Mike had retired and was kind of at a loss. He just kind of floated around. He had an apartment in Norfolk but it was hardly a home. He kept in touch with the Nathan James crew and one day; he received a fancy wedding invitation. The groom was Henry Bell and the bride was Katie Graham…Christine's maiden name and the name of his oldest daughter. It caused a pang of grief, and normally Mike would have not responded but Henry wrote a personal note inside the invitation, practically begging him to come to the wedding.
Mike filled out the RSVP card and stuck in back in the mail so he wouldn't second guess it. He liked Henry and had taken him under his wing before he retired. Without realizing it, he'd become something of a father-figure to Henry. Mike made reservations at the small inn where the wedding would take place and texted Henry that he would be there.
Three weeks later, he pulled up to the charming inn and smiled. It was a large Victorian type house near a lake. Maybe he'd get some fishing in. Mike got checked in and found his room. It had a view of the lake and was nice. Mike was just getting ready to go down to the bar when there was a knock on the door. Mike wasn't expecting anyone; so he opened the door and looked at the tiny woman in front of him in shock.
"I'm really glad the father of the bride made it. Katie will be thrilled." Christine said.
"H…how? I thought…" Mike started.
"May I come in? Its a long story." Christine asked. Mike let her in and smiled at the way she looked around. "Your room is nice. I'm sharing with the girls. Its a bit tight." Christine remarked. Mike pointed at the armchair and sat down next to her.
"So Hannah is okay?" Mike asked.
"Yes. Although; she did contract the Red Flu. I got her the cure in time, but she does have scars from the lesions. She's very self-conscious." Christine warned. Mike nodded.
"So, where have you all been?" Mike asked.
"After Hannah got better; I tried to find you but then one day; Allison Shaw showed up…or her people did. She made us believe that she would get us to you. Of course; she didn't. It was pretty rough. Then we were just…let go. For a long time; I was angry. Hannah struggled. Hell, Katie struggled. Then, I just didn't know how to find you or how to explain it…then Katie started dating Henry. He reminds me of you and I suspect he reminds Katie of you. When he gave me his guests, he starred your name and told me he really wanted you to come. So, I gave him an invitation." Christine explained.
"Do they know I'm here?" Mike asked.
"No. I know Katie is pretty blue about not having you to walk her down the aisle. Both girls have missed you, but Katie has been missing you most lately." Christine said.
"I would like to." Mike said.
"She'll be happy." Christine remarked.
"Why is her last name different? Its your maiden name." Mike asked.
"Ah…that. Well, we started going by my maiden name because I was terrified of someone like Allison Shaw showing up again. I knew you were a target. I was not trying to hide from you, I promise. I was scared and ashamed." Christine answered.
"And Henry? Does he know?" Mike asked.
"No." Christine replied.
"Where do you live now?" Mike questioned.
"Texas. I understand all the questions, Mike and you have the right to the answers, but why don't we go see the girls? Those answers will come." Christine suggested.
"Okay." Mike said. He stood up and followed Christine back out. He was nervous and jittery. So much so that Christine took his hand in her own.
"They will be thrilled to see you. You're still wearing your ring?" Christine asked gently.
"Yeah. I never took it off." Mike answered.
"Well, that gives me a bit of hope. Here we are." Christine said. She unlocked the door and gave him a smile. She opened the door and stepped in. "Girls, I found someone who has wanted to see you for a long time." Christine said. Mike followed her in and Katie immediately jumped up and ran to him. He pulled her into a hug and felt his shirt growing wet. He held an arm up for Hannah. She was scarred, but he didn't care in the least. Once she got to him, he kissed the top of her head and rocked her back and forth.
"I've missed you two so much." Mike said.
"Did Mom tell you about my wedding? You'll walk me down the aisle, won't you?" Katie asked.
"Absolutely." Mike said with a smile. Katie had backed away but Mike was hugging Hannah. It made him realize he hadn't even hugged Christine. "I was going to go get something to eat. Are you girls hungry?" Mike asked.
"Yeah." Hannah answered.
"Alright. Let's go get something." Mike said.
"Katie; can you get me something? That way you can visit with your dad?" Christine asked.
"Christine, why don't you just come with us?" Mike asked.
"Oh…I don't want to intrude. You need your time with the girls." Christine said.
"Please, Mom?" Hannah asked. Mike and Christine had been all but divorced and he wasn't sure what he thought of her now. But he wanted things to be peaceful for the wedding.
"Its fine, Christine." Mike said.
"Alright. Mike; I do need to measure you. I have a suit, using your old measurements, but I'll need to make sure…" Christine said.
"Alright. After dinner." Mike said.
"Can I text Henry and have him meet us?" Katie asked.
"Yes." Mike answered. He led the girls and Christine out and immediately noticed how nervous Hannah was. He put an arm around her and looked over at Christine. She nodded at him.
"Just let him know we'll eat at the diner downstairs." Christine said.
"Okay." Katie answered.
They were seated immediately, and Hannah kept her head down. She was sitting between Mike and Christine. Henry showed up and Christine explained everything to him again. They all ordered and ate, and Mike watched them all interact. Christine stayed pretty quiet, only occasionally talking to Hannah in a low tone.
After dinner, Christine followed Mike to his room with her tape measure. She had always been good at sewing and quickly began doing all the measurements. Mike was a bit surprised when she measured his inseam.
"I don't think that has changed?" Mike remarked.
"Maybe." Christine answered.
"Is Hannah always so nervous?" Mike asked.
"Yeah. She doesn't handle new people well. She's still nervous around Henry. And I suspect she's afraid you'll be ashamed of her." Christine said as she measured his waist.
"Because of the scars?" Mike asked.
"Yeah. She's fifteen and so self-conscious." Christine said.
"But I heard Katie say that Hannah was to be her maid-of-honor." Mike remarked.
"Well, Hannah also really loves her sister. She's going to be lost when Katie moves with Henry." Christine replied.
"I will be in the picture." Mike said.
"I figured." Christine said.
"Earlier, when you noticed that I was still wearing my ring; you remarked it gave you hope. Before; you wanted out of this marriage. Now…?" Mike asked.
"Now, I am hoping that you would give it another chance. I know I was pretty toxic before. But, if you want to wait until the wedding to make a decision; I understand." Christine said.
"You know; I didn't want a divorce?" Mike asked.
"Yes, but its been a lot of years. You might have changed your mind and now that you know I kept the girls away due to fear…" Christine started. Mike pulled her close and gave her a long kiss.
"After the wedding; we'll talk more." Mike said. He gave her another kiss and held on to her.
"Alright. How about we meet up for breakfast. I need to do some minor alterations to your suit and fix the straps on Hannah's dress. You can spend sometime with both girls." Christine suggested.
"That sounds good. I'd like to tell them good night?" Mike said.
"Alright. Come on." Christine said. Mike followed her down the hallway and smiled as she eased the door open. Hannah was sitting on the bed with her waist length hair down. "Girls, your dad wanted to tell you good night." Christine said.
"Sleep tight, sweetheart." Mike said as he kissed the top of Hannah's head. Katie came out of the bathroom in her pajamas with her hair in a towel. He kissed her forehead.
"Your dad will meet us for breakfast and then spend some time with the two of you during the day while I work on your dress, Hannah. I also need to do some work on your dad's suit." Christine explained.
"That'll be nice." Katie remarked.
"Christine, if you need anything; please either call down to my room or just come down." Mike said. He was a little lost with Hannah. She was so quiet. So unlike how she had been as a child. He bent down and kissed her forehead again and smiled at her. "Good night, sweetheart. I love you." Mike said. Hannah smiled very slightly at him. He stood back up and gave Katie another hug and kissed Christine's cheek. She followed him out into the hallway as he left.
"Be patient with her, Mike. I know its hard to see her like this but I think that having you around will help a lot." Christine replied.
"I hope." Mike said.
"After the wedding, we will come up with a game plan." Christine replied.
"The game plan is…I'll move wherever you and Hannah are." Mike said simply.
"Alright." Christine replied.
"Well, good night." Mike said. He actually wasn't sure how to part ways.
"Mike…I didn't stop loving you. I know I did alot of things that made it look like I didn't…but I always did." Christine said before kissing his cheek.
"I love you too. How about we get through tomorrow and the next day and go from there. We'll figure things out." Mike said.
"Sounds like a plan." Christine answered. They kissed again and parted ways. Mike thought about turning around and asking her to join him, but she was already back in her hotel room.