Ghost Of You (Michael Berzatto X Black!OC X Eventual Richie Jerimovich)

20. Must Be Love On The Brain

2019-Chicago, Illinois

Michael stood at kitchen counter, finishing up Sophia's lunch. She was packing her schoolbag when she looked up at her father.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah, princess?"

"What's divorce?"

He turned around to look down at her. "Where'd you learn that from?"

"Auntie Tiff and Uncle Richie were yelling about it when I was at their house. Was does it mean?"

"Uh, well, when married people fight a lot, sometimes they get a divorce so that they're not married anymore."

"Oh. Are you and Mommy getting divorced?"

"What? Why would you ask that?"

"Because you fight a lot."

Mikey knelt down to be eye level with his daughter. "Oh, baby, we don't fight. We just have little disagreements sometimes."

"But I hear you. It sounds like fighting."

"You hear all that?" She nodded. He sighed and brushed her brown curls out of her face. "I'm sorry. You shouldn't have to listen to that."

"Do you still love Mommy?"

"Honey, of course I do. I love your mom so very much. You know who else I love?"

"Who?"

"You."

She grinned and hugged him tightly, pressing a kiss to his bearded cheek.

Angie came out into the kitchen and smiled at her daughter and husband. "Ready for school?"

"Yeah."

Mikey put her little pink lunchbox into her matching backpack. Sophia slung the bag onto her shoulders and grabbed her parent's hands as they walked out the door.

🤍

Mikey's gaze was fixated on the pendulum swing on the desk. He found himself tapping the arm of the couch in time with the clicks.

"Michael?" Dr. Hanson asked.

"Huh?"

"Did you hear my question?"

"Sorry, Doc." He gazed down at his hands.

"Where's your head at?"

"I just zoned out. That's all."

"Can you pay attention?" Angie whispered.

"Sorry."

"How's this past week been?"

"Good, I think." Angie sighed with a tired smile.

"Yeah. It was good."

"What'd you do?"

"Mikey taught Sophia how to make spaghetti."

"That's sweet."

"She's a natural."

"We watched a movie together."

"That's good. So you're spending more quality time together?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "We do all that quality time shit."

"And, how many weeks sober are you now if you don't mind me asking?"

"Uh...six weeks. Right, babe?"

"Yeah. It's been a little on and off since June, but he's been good for a bit."