Chapter 7
“You think they know?” Mike asked, his head still very much hoping they were dead to the world. Sadie gave him a look.
“Have you met my son?” she asked.
“We should probably talk to them then,” he proposed.
“And what exactly would we say?”
“The truth, that you and I are…”
“Are what? We don’t even know what we are. How are we making announcements to the kids?”
“So what do you want to do? Tell them we’re sharing a bed because? These are ten year olds. They know how sleepovers between adults go.”
“Alright then. Let’s talk and agree on what exactly it is we’re doing so we can inform our kids,” Sadie said sitting up. The sheet dropped from her naked breasts and Mike’s eyes dropped to them almost against his volition. His eyes narrowed and his face changed, lust coloring his features.
“Hello. Eyes up,” Sadie said but she was smiling.
“Sorry…it’s…been a while since…”
“Since what?”
Mike shrugged, “Since…I’ve been with a woman…like this. I try to be a good example for my flock. I do. But being with you makes me feel like I’m full of shit.”
Sadie laughed, “You might want to watch the language too.”
“Right. Make me feel like a total failure why don’t you?”
“Not a failure Mike. Human,” she said gently.
Mike turned his whole body to face her, a thoughtful look on his face. He rested his face on his hand, hooking his elbow on the bed to give him leverage. He looked like he wanted to say something important but he just continued to lay there looking inward.
“What is it?” Sadie asked.
“I know that we haven’t really…but I’ve been watching you and you are…I feel like we could…I don’t want to rush you into anything but…”
“Very eloquent. I sense a question in there somewhere but I can’t quite tell what the question could be.”
“It’s been six years since Mickey’s mother and I went our separate ways. There hasn’t really been anyone else after that.”
“What happened between you two?” Sadie had been dying of curiosity and he had opened the door.
Mike shrugged, “We just grew apart. Different priorities. I met her in my old life. She wasn’t willing to walk with me into this new one. She liked the easy money, the lifestyle, the street cred that came with being the boss’ number one bitch. I still had the money I earned; I figured I could use it for good though – started up a crisis center for drug addicts,” Mike laughed, ”Ironic huh?”
“Not ironic,” Sadie said with a shake of her head.
“I feel sometimes that I’m a hypocrite because I kept the money, you know? I feel sometimes that I’m just shinin’ people. But I don’t mean to. I just want to bring people some peace.”
He was so earnest; Sadie just wanted to gather him close and nestle him in her bosom.
“You do that. You’re very popular. My mother in law likes you and she’s a very good judge of character.”
Mike nodded sardonically, “Yeah well…anyway so we started fighting a lot and…it wasn’t healthy for anyone. So we went our separate ways. She’s still mostly back in Chicago; running the streets.”
“That’s…crazy. What about Mickey? Does she see her mother?”
“Yes. Audrina comes by to see her about twice a month. She gets that its safer for her here rather than for Mickey to go to Chi-town,” Mike inclined his head, studying her. “I think she would see how you’d make a good step mother for her daughter.”
‘Step mother?’ Sadie thought with alarm. How had they gotten to step mother already?
“That’s good to know,” she said instead.
There was knocking on the door.
“Mom? Dad? Can we come in?” Jaden called from the other side. Sadie and Mike exchanged horrified glances.
“Just a minute baby. We’ll be right out,” she called scrambling from the bed and searching for clothes. Mike was busy doing the same.
“What are we telling them again?” Sadie asked as she pulled her jeans on.
“We’re telling them that we like each other and we’re thinking about making it official if they’re agreeable.”
“What?”
“What? You’re saying you’re not looking for someone stable? For commitment?”
“I…am but…”
“Well so am I. Why should we wait if it feels right?” Mike asked matter of factly as he buttoned up his fly.
“Ummm…”
“Well? What are you thinking Sadie? Are we doing this or not?”
Sadie stared at him. She wasn’t sure she was ready to put Maury aside and let someone else in her heart. On the other hand…Mike.
*****
Mike pulled into the driveway of a nondescript suburban house on a cul-de-sac. It had been Sadie’s choice; a compromise between the sprawling split level in which he and Michaela had made their home and Sadie’s apartment in which she’d lived with her late husband. Jaden was playing in the front lawn, sitting in a cardboard box, and Sadie was holding another box, drawing something on it. The boy squealed with delight and accidentally smacked the box to the ground, and she bent over to pick it up.
Mike did have to admit she had a nice ass.
He got out of the car and went around to help Michaela out, gently picking her up.
Sadie was walking towards him with a large grin on her face. “Moon of my life!” she announced theatrically.
Mike swallowed back his laughter when he spotted an elderly woman watching them on her porch next door, rocking back and forth in a chair.
“My sun and stars…” Mike said back awkwardly, accepting the hug. “Great. Now they’re gonna expect us to use nicknames for each other all the time,” he said quietly.
“Ah, and you always do what’s expected huh?” she said in a soft voice. “We should go inside and get things settled, let’s not give Mrs. Luong too much to talk about. I told her you were bringing the rest of the furniture and stuff.” She smiled at Michaela, curled up in Mike’s arms, face pressed into his neck. She looked up shyly at Sadie, giving her a little wave. “Hi there, cutie pie,” Sadie said. “Wanna see our new house?”
Michaela nodded, and they followed Sadie inside.