Navy Wives

Chapter 18-Leah Reynolds

Leah was adjusting to the ship. Christine and Darien were great helps and knew most of the lingo. Darien was still a bit harder to figure out but Leah liked her well enough. When she wasn't 'working' in the med-bay, she spent her time with Russ or with the Slattery family.

MIke was another hard one to figure out. Leah could tell he was totally devoted to his wife and daughters. If Leah didn't know better, she would think Mike and Christine were a very happily married couple. One afternoon, on her way to visit with Christine and the girls; she literally ran into Mike in the p-way.

"Oh, sorry." Mike said.

"It's alright. How's Christine today?" Leah asked, picking up on Mike's frazzled mood.

"She's had a pretty rough day. Has been short of breath. Are you done for the day?" Mike asked.

"Yes." Leah answered.

"Could you…stay with her? Tom is wanting me on the bridge and I am concerned about her. Katie is still young." Mike asked. Leah could tell he didn't ask for help easily.

"Absolutely." Leah replied.

"I still love her. I don't know how to stop." Mike remarked.

"Perhaps you shouldn't stop." Leah replied.

"Dr. Scott said she still isn't sure Christine is going to pull through. Said her pulse ox is still dipping and one bout of pneumonia could do her in. I tell myself I should stop loving her. That it would hurt less…" Mike explained.

"No, because then you would feel regret, in addition to grief. My suggestion is; stop fighting it. Let yourself love her." Leah said. She patted Mike's shoulder before continuing down the p-way. Katie let her into the Slattery's quarters. Christine was sitting on the couch, looking pale.

"Hey." Christine said; obviously exhausted.

"Hey. I ran into Mike on the way in and he said you weren't feeling well." Leah remarked.

"Just overly tired." Christine replied. She was watching the girls working on school work at Mike's desk.

"How about you go in and lie down. I'll look after Katie and Hannah." Leah suggested.

"That does sound good. Mike got woke up through the night and I didn't sleep good while he was gone." Christine remarked.

"I bet he hated leaving you." Leah said as she followed Christine into the bedroom area.

"You know, it didn't used to bother him. Now…he's different. But, Mike was also really good about separating work and home. Those lines have been blurred." Christine remarked.

"It's been blurred for everyone but I am sure he is glad you and the girls are with him and fairly safe." Leah said.

"When we split up; I gave him back my engagement ring and wedding band. Turns out; he has kept them with him. They were with his dog tags." Christine explained.

"Were?" Leah asked. Christine held her right hand up. They were on her ring finger, but on the right hand. "The right side?" Leah asked.

"He wanted me to have them back, but agrees there's a lot to work on. So, our compromise is the right hand, instead of left." Christine explained.

"That makes sense." Leah answered.

"Are we getting our hopes up? Mike told me that there is a good chance that he will be on back-to-back deployments once we get settled somewhere." Christine asked.

"I don't think you are getting your hopes up and I think you are both being realistic. I also think you are acknowledging that there's work to be done on your marriage. He loves you alot." Leah said.

"Where did we go wrong?" Christine asked.

"I think you are both very passionate people. And as with most married people; you get bored. You and Mike have known each other for years before you married?" Leah asked.

"Yes. Since first grade. We started officially dating in eighth grade, but we were sweet on each other before then. My dad wanted us to wait to get married. Maybe date other people. And we both waited. We were twenty-three when we got married. I am glad we waited. But, we never dated anyone else…so we had never slept with anyone else, until we both cheated." Christine said.

"You had to wonder if it would be different with anyone else." Leah said.

"I did. Mike was busy and when he was home, he was

totally about the kids. We got complacent. I cheated, because I felt unappreciated and unloved. Mike reacted." Christine replied.

"Do you still feel unappreciated and unloved?" Leah asked.

"Definitely not unloved. Unappreciated, maybe still a bit." Christine answered.

"My advice is…tell Mike. There's not a lot he can do about it

now, but he needs to know. You can't fix something you are unaware of." Leah remarked.

"He's a good man." Christine said.

"He is a good man, but he still is a man. He is probably not always the most observant." Leah said as she brushed Christine's hair out.

"For having been a cop, no." Christine said with a laugh.

"Just be patient with him and remember; he loves you. He might have slept with other women, but it was you that he is still choosing to give his heart to." Leah said with a smile. Christine nodded as she settled into bed.

"Thank you, Leah. I'm glad you're with us." Christine said.

"You're welcome and I am glad to be included." Leah replied.