Love is Only Sleeping

Part 22

           

Tracey woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs, a meal Mike would always cook for them.

She walked downstairs wearing his button down white shirt, and saw him with his shirt off, cooking in his plaid boxers. She laughed at the sight of his hairy arms and legs.

"Did you get hairier?" she joked.

"Well, I am older now, so I think that just happens," he said.

"I'm surprised you didn't catch on fire near the stove," she said, teasing him.

Mike threw a piece of bacon at her that was cooling on the plate.

"Hey, that's wasteful!"

Tracey threw an orange slice that was on a plate on the kitchen table that hit Mike on his forehead.

Mike looked at her and grinned "Oh, you're gonna get it now!" and chased Tracey throughout the house. Tracey screamed and yelled, and he ended up grabbing her waist and pinning her against the wall in the dining room.

"You didn't seem to mind my hairy body all over you last night," he growled in her ear, in his sexy low, Texan accent.

"Yeah, the lights were off," she said sarcastically.

He started kissing her neck.

"Breakfast will get cold," she yelled.

"Well, we can take it in bed, my hairy body will keep it warm," he said sexily joking.

They ended up eating their breakfast in bed, while having a side of sex. Tracey knew Mike needed this as he was dreading the day to come.

She left for the market to pick up food to make for dinner that evening. She thought it was important he was alone at first to sort through his mother's belongings.

She was gone for an hour or so, and when she arrived back at the house, she walked in to find Mike sitting on the floor in his mother's bedroom, clinging onto one of her dresses, and sobbing uncontrollably. She had never seen him so distraught.

Tracey rushed to Mike's side and started holding him, his body was trembling as he let out loud sobs. She let him cry, as he turned to her, his face red and blotchy, and put his head on her shoulder.

They sat on the floor in his mother's bedroom as he grew silent, Tracey holding him, and they sat there in silence for a few hours. She knew this was not easy for him, it was hard for him to open up to women in the first place, and his mom wasn't the easiest person for him to open up to. But, she was the only one who ever knew Mike, and Tracey was a close second to knowing who Mike Nesmith really is.

"Baby?" Mike said, exhausted and his voice sounding out of breath.

"Yes sweetie?"

"I can't go through her things right now. Can we do this tomorrow?"

"Of course, whatever you need Mike."

Mike went to take a shower as Tracey went downstairs to the kitchen to prepare dinner. She felt the need to take care of him, and didn't want to leave him alone again. She made his favorite that night, steak and baked potatoes.

He came down the stairs and walked up behind Tracey as she was standing at the stove, his arms wrapped around her waist, as he nuzzled his bearded face in her neck, him smelling of soap and aftershave.

"This smells great," Mike said. "Thanks again for cooking."

Tracey turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"You smell great," she said as she hugged him, resting her head on his shoulder.

They sat at the table and ate quietly, both exhausted from grief. Mike grabbed Tracey's hand at one point during dinner. She looked at him as tears were falling down his cheeks.

"You don't know how much this means to me, you being here for me," he said, choked up.

"Mike, where else would I be?"

"But, you have a husband that needs you. I'm sure he misses you, I know I would."

"You know I would rather be here."

"Right, but what happens after tomorrow? Will you be going home to him and this was just a fantasy?" Mike asked, angrily.

"Hey, I told you how I felt last night. I know what needs to be done. It's just scary for me, that's all."

"Are you going to leave him for good?"

"Yes, but that entails a divorce, moving out, and a long talk with him I'm not looking forward to before all that," Tracey said, nervously.

"Sorry, I don't mean to get impatient with you, it's just, well, my mom's death has taught me life is too short to not be happy. Last night, after we made love, I just held you and looked at you, and all I could think was how I've loved you all of these years, and the bad timing, and the chances we missed out on. And how now, I don't want to waste another second."

"Michael, what are you saying?!" Tracey yelled out as she saw him get down on one knee and grab her hand.

"Now, I don't have a ring with me, but I just can't wait any longer. Tracey, you're the love of my life. Will you please do me the honor of being my wife and spending the rest of your life with me?" Mike said as his hands were shaking, tears falling down his cheeks.

Tracey knew this wasn't a perfect situation, She knew they were both still married, they had to get divorced. But, sitting in his mom's house, feeling like in a sort of way they were fated to meet again, and remembering how his mother told him they would end up together one day, it all made perfect sense. Mike was the love of her life, and she could no longer deny that she wanted to be with him.

"Of course, yes, I will marry you!" she said smiling looking into his deep brown, watery eyes, as he met her at eye level and hugged her, both crying,

"You called me 'Michael,'" he said, laughing. "I don't think you have ever called me by my full name before."

"I don't know why, I guess you just freaked me out!" Tracey said, wiping tears from her face.

"Hey, I know this isn't the ideal situation, but I couldn't wait any longer. I will help you with whatever you need for your divorce."

"I know it's definitely not the best situation, but I think I needed to know we were going to be engaged in order for me to leave David, just to know where I was going to be."

"Baby, you always have me, ring or no ring. I just wanted to make sure you know you're mine, once and for all."

They continued talking about their future that evening, and Tracey said she would live with Mike in California, and the first thing they talked about after their divorces were final was having a wedding ceremony of their own, with close friends and family.

Tracey headed back to Chicago the next day, and dreaded "the talk" she would have with David.

She walked into her home, David sitting on the couch, and before she could speak, he knew what was written all over her face.

"You're back with Mike, aren't you?"