Cheater

Redemption songs

Michael had been calling Bernadine religiously, every chance he got, he was calling her, leaving messages, writing letters. Michael decided if he turned on the TV, he'd see himself, chasing his wife down the street, and he wasn't ready for the evil headlines.

"Bernadine, call me. We have children together, we have so much, I love you," his voice cracked, "Bernie, please just give me a chance.." He whispered, putting the phone down.
Michael wasn't content. He'd been ringing her sisters too, seeing if she was with any of them, because if someone did pick up, it was staff, and they weren't telling where she was.

Michael had no option other than her mother.
"Michael?" Jeanie was old and wise, and a typical protective mother.
"Hey. It's Michael.."
"Oh, I know. I know all about you, Michael.." Jeanie tutted angrily as Michael sighed. Jeanie was like his second mother, and he hated the disappointment in her voice.
"Mrs- I know you hate me. I hate myself, your daughters hate me too, especially the one I'm in love with.." Michael was babbling as he did lately.
"Michael. Don't you use my babies name and love in the same sentence. You don't love my child-"
"No! I do! I do, I promise I do! I love her more than I've ever loved anyone! More than anything! More than my passions.. I love her! I just need to know she's safe.."
"Know she's broken. Know that. She treasured you.." Jeanie's voice broke.
"I know she did," Michael felt his heart twist again, "I treasure her.." He whispered.

"When has treasuring someone ever meant cheating? For months! With the same girl! You treasure your mistress.." Jeanie hissed.
"Mrs-"
"No, Michael. Don't. I thought you were different for Bernadine. She's been your wife for ten years! She was so in love with you!"
"Was?" Michael spluttered as those tears came back.

"What? You want her to love you after this? You laughed in her face and slept with a woman so much lesser than her!" Jeanie growled.
"I know, and I'm sorry!" Michael cried.
"Sorry isn't enough. She's through. Know that. Know that, Michael. Ten years she was a faithful wife, and you wipe it out for one groupie!" Bernadine's mother could rip Michael's throat out.
"I'm so sorry. You have to help her forgive me!"
"No. I told Bernie what I think. She'd be clever to steer clear of your ass!" Jeanie hung up as Michael sobbed into his pillows, the smell of Bernadine still lingered from her visit, and she even made her way into his dreams.
She danced around him in the sun, in a thin summer dress, she danced and sang, and pulled him through the meadow.

The tears only kept coming.
***
It was late and the phone was ringing. Michael's eyes were sore from crying, and the last of tinge of hope that Bernadine might be calling ran through him.
"Bernie?" He groaned sadly.
"No. Dad, this is Mia.." Mia spat into the phone as Michael shattered again.
"Mia! Baby girl, are you ok? Is your mother there?" Michael asked softly.
"I'm fine, mum? Not so much. Dad, how could you cheat on mum? I thought you loved her-"
"Mia, you don't even know how much I love your goddamn mother. Don't you dare!"
"No! Don't you dare! All she does is cry and smash things. She's going to burn your wedding photos tomorrow! You know that daddy?" Mia hissed, disappointed in her father. Michael escalated deeper into depression. Now his kids hated him too?

"Burn them? Take them! Hide them under your bed! Don't let her do it!" Michael rubbed Bernadine's ring in his pocket for comfort, although more comfort would come from her wearing it again.

"Dad, she's through. I've never seen her this upset. Aunty Jan has been here for ages now, daddy. Even grandma Kathy. They're trying to bring some order to the house, because the young ones just cry.." Mia sighed. Michael felt terrible. He'd done this to his family. To his beautiful Bernie.
"Where is she now?"
"She's in the guest room. She won't sleep in your room anymore.." Mia huffed.
"Take her the phone, Mia.." Michael sighed.
"'She doesn't want to speak to you-"
"Mia! Do you want divorced parents? Take your mother the PHONE!" Michael growled as there was silence.

"Hello?" Bernadine sounded drained and dark. Michael didn't know what to say, he was just relieved to hear her voice.
He knew she'd hang up if he spoke.
"Mia, nobody here, girl.." Bernadine mumbled to her daughter.
"Just listen, mummy. Please.."
"Is it your father?"
"Don't break up. Please, mummy. Don't break up.." Mia pleaded as Michael's heart broke again.
"That's nothing to do with me. It's not my doing, Mia.."
"Just listen mumma! Listen to daddy. I won't let you break up. You can't. You love daddy.."
Silence.
"He doesn't love me Mia. I know that's hard, but that's the reality. He. Doesn't. Love. Me.."
"Not true! Why is he doing the most to speak to you?" Mia spluttered as Michael listened to their voices.

"Mia.."
"Mum! Speak to my father!" Mia ordered as Michael almost wanted to tell his daughter off for speaking this way. Bernadine was shocked at her daughters tone and the fear in her eyes.
"Hello?" Bernadine growled.
"Bernie," Michael breathed.
"Don't call me Bernie.." Bernadine spat, with poison on her tongue.
"No? Ok.. Bernadine. Hello.." Michael spoke softly and worriedly.
"What the heck do you want?"
"I wanted to tell you I love you and I want you back.."
"Great, thanks. Bye-"
"Bernadine fucking listen to me! We are not breaking up! This isn't the end for us! This is not where the story ends! Bernadine, I'll fight to the death till I sign some damn divorce papers!" Michael shouted as Bernadine was slightly taken aback.

"Who the fuck are you screaming at?" Bernadine mumbled as Michael sighed and regained his composure.
"You heard me. Send me the papers. Do it, I dare you. You'll get a hell of a fight. There won't be no damn divorce. I love you and I'm going to be your husband. We can get passed this.."
"Uh, thanks?" Bernadine scoffed, "This monologue would be cute if it want my life. This is real life. Remember?"
"Of course I remember, B. I love the bones off of you, I'm not going to give up.."
"Great, but judges usually grant divorces regardless if a spouse has cheated, have fun-"
"Bernadine Lolita Jackson-"
"Don't ever put that fucking name on me. Ever. I'm not a Jackson. Only on a piece of paper. I stopped being that when you fucked that girl!"
"Bernadine. You'll always be a Jackson. You'll always be my beautiful girl.." Michael sighed.

"The same girl that told me I was too shy, the same woman that invited me to hang out, when I was an awkward, pimple ridden teen, the same woman who I fell in love with years ago! The same woman who accept me! You accepted me! The same woman who kissed the vitiligo on my skin, and the same woman who carried my babies! Bernadine. I'm not throwing us away.." Michael was crying again.

"You did. You threw it all away, Michael.." Bernie sighed heavily; as she felt the tears coming too.
"I refuse to believe that you don't want me. Just like I refuse to accept you want to be free of me. You're my wife, the love of my life, you're the woman I want to kiss every morning, for the rest of my days! I made a stupid, stupid mistake! Stupid mistake.. I was dumb, and an arrogant bastard, but now I want you. I want my woman. You're mine Bernie!" Michael hissed.

"Don't call me that. I'm not that anymore!" Bernadine cried.
"You are, B. You always will be. You'll always be the love of my life. I'll tell our kids that, I'll tell you, I'll tell the world. I'm going to do better. I'll do better for you!"
"No, don't bother.."
"Bernadine! Don't hang up! Don't you dare! I've spent weeks chasing you down, don't you dare hang up!" Michael screamed, "You listen and you listen good. We. Are. Not. Getting. Divorced. Till death do us part. Put that on everything, Bernie!" Michael spat. Bernadine hung up quickly as Michael slammed the phone down and cried some more.