Coffin of Hope

Chapter Fifty Nine

Mike opened his door to admit Mercedes. "Hey?"

"Hi." She came inside.

He shut the door and leaned against it. "How are you?"

"I don't want anybody else's love."

That confused him terribly. "What?"

"Growing up, I always wanted Mal's and Marcy's love. They were perfect. But somewhere along the way...?"

"We're not Mal and Marcy."

"We will never have their love."

"No one will ever have their love."

"Not even them." She turned sad.

His eyes lowered. "I don't know. It's been quiet for a while. No yelling or anything."

"I don't think we'd hear anything with the doors shut."

"There wasn't even any yelling when we were eavesdropping in the hallway. I think they don't need people trying to fix them. If it can be just them two, they'll work it out."

"Really?" She was afraid to hope.

"I thought you didn't want their love?"

"I want yours."

He looked up.

"We both do."

A knock sounded at the door.

OF

"I have to tell you something." Laura paced in their room.

Marc was sitting on their bed, watching her. "I know."

"You do?" She stopped.

"Yeah. I overheard you guys talking."

"You were eavesdropping on us?!"

"Like we just did Marce and Jr."

She wrinkled her nose. "Fine. You know. Maddie's pregnant."

"What?!" He popped up.

"You said you knew!"

"I know you have a boyfriend! Not that my baby sister is knocked up! I'm putting them all in convents!"

"Marc?!"

"I'm serious! When did she even get pregnant?! Who's the father?! What is she even going to do?!"

"She has a plan."

"A plan?! A plan!"

"You know about Colin?" She sat in a chair.

He shook his head. "Yeah."

"And you're not mad?"

"How could I be? I let you get away once and I let you go once. One day I'll be out of chances."

She wasn't exactly sure what he was saying. "I'll always love you."

"But you're not in love with me anymore?" He plopped down.

"No!"

He winced.

"No, I mean that's not it. I am in love with you. I just want you to know that."

He looked at her. "Even though I messed up so bad?"

"You were trying to find our baby. Our first baby. She was lost and hurt and afraid and you did something. It's better than what we did."