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SULLY'S ANGUISH
By Judy G
August 2015
Chapter 1: The Discovery
The morning sun was beaming through the bedroom window, the rays sweetly kissing Sully as he slept.
It had been a long, arduous week trying to convince the Hard Rock Mining Company to move their location further down the river. Sully would have preferred the company went out of business, but since that wasn't going to happen, he could at least prevent them from contaminating the Colorado Springs water supply. Working for the Park Bureau Service and trying to keep businesses from scorching the land took a lot out of him. It didn't take him away from his family too much, but when it did he couldn't wait to get home. However, this time he was so tired (and yes grumpy) when he arrived home, it wasn't long after dinner time when he went straight to bed with barely a kiss for his wife and children. He had been hoping to sleep late this morning and so far his sweet, considerate wife had obliged him.
A rap on the bedroom door, however, soon interrupted his sleep. Opening one eye, he hoped the intruder would go away. But no, another rap. Then a giggle. His other eye opened and he managed a smile. Tired or not, that was his beloved daughter on the other side.
"Come in precious girl," he called cheerily, pulling to a sitting position.
The door flew open and golden-haired, three-year-old Katie ran in, jumping on the bed and into her father's arms. "Good morning sleepy head! Mama finished breakfast hours ago!"
Sully chuckled at his daughter's propensity to exaggerate. "She did, huh? Did she save me any?"
Katie nodded her head enthusiastically. "Yep, on the burner waiting for ya."
Sully tenderly kissed the top of his daughter's head before asking, "And where is Mama?"
"Oh she's out in the barn looking for something in that old chest of hers."
Sully was curious what Michaela could be looking for first thing in the morning, but chose to lay that question aside. Fully dressed since he had been too tired to even change into night clothes, he climbed out of the bed and with his daughter in his arms headed downstairs.
Michaela still hadn't returned from the barn when Sully finished his breakfast, so he headed over to find her. When he opened the barn door he smiled at the sweet sight of his beautiful wife sitting in the hay, leaning against the old chest, still in her night clothes…and sound asleep. He walked slowly over to her, knelt down beside her and kissed her gently on the cheek. How could he have been too grumpy to pay his angel of a wife more attention last night? Sully's touch on her cheek was enough to wake his sleeping beauty and she smiled that cute little crooked smile at him. "Sully you're awake!"
Sully chuckled "But you are not."
"I am so! I was just...resting my eyes."
Sully smiled and nodded his head teasingly. "Ok just resting your eyes, what are you doing out here?" Sully lifted his eyebrows in his best seductive manner and asked, "Are you waiting for a roll in the hay?"
Michaela laughed and swatted Sully's arm. "Oh, you're incorrigible. Where are the children?"
Sully lowered himself completely onto the hay and took his wife in his arms. "Brian took Katie into town. Said they were going to meet Loren and go fishing."
Michaela sighed in contentment. "Loren is really taking his job as surrogate grandfather to heart. Katie loves him so, and of course Brian always thought of him as a grandfather."
Sully nodded in agreement, but then smiled sweetly. "So it's just us…and the hay."
Michaela smiled and considered his offer for a moment, but then sighed in regret. "Oh Sully, I've got to search through this chest for some fabric my mother sent a few years ago. Katie wants a new dress for her doll and I think it would make the perfect outfit. You know, a matching outfit for both Katie and her doll."
Sully understood the sentiment, but not the haste. "Ok, but why does that have to be done now? This old trunk ain't going anywhere."
"You don't understand, Sully. Katie has been begging me for days and I keep putting it off. I promised her I would at least start on it today."
Sully sighed heavily, knowing he wasn't going to win. "Ok. I'll get started on the chores." Disappointment evident in his tone, he stood and walked out of the barn.
OOO
An hour later Sully found Michaela still sorting through the chest. He was now getting a bit annoyed. "Come on! You can't have that much in that chest!"
Michaela jumped at the harsh tone in her husband's voice. "I'm sorry, I guess I just got caught up in the memories."
Softening a bit, Sully walked over to see what treasure she had uncovered. In her hand was a hair bow pin delicately trimmed with acorn drops and the 'knot' engraved in gold with the name "Mike'. "What memory is that?"
Michaela slowly lifted her eyes from the clip to Sully and replied, "It was the last gift my father gave me before he passed. She laughed at the memory. "He wanted me to know that even though he called me Mike, I was a princess to him."
Understanding swept through Sully's heart and he took her hand in his, taking the clip from her. "It's real nice. Why don't you wear it?"
"When I first arrived in Colorado Springs it was too soon, the memory made me sad. Then I'm ashamed to say I forgot about it." Michaela then took the clip from Sully and placed it back in the trunk. Next she saw the one and only photograph of David. She lifted it out of its resting place and looked at Sully warily. "You don't mind do you? David was an important part of my life but he is no longer. If you want me to get rid of it I will."
Sully looked at the photo, then at his wife. All he saw was concern for him in those gorgeous mix-matched eyes. He slowly smiled and shook his head. "No you keep it."
Smiling in gratitude for such a kind, understanding husband, she placed the photo back in the trunk and sighed heavily. "I really am getting tired of searching. There's not much in here, but I keep reliving what everything stands for."
Sully stood, took Michaela's hands and lifted her to her feet. "I tell you what. I'm sure I can tell what fabric looks like. You go inside and rest and I'll continue the treasure hunt."
"Really Sully? You don't mind?"
Sully kissed his wife's hands then gently kissed her lips. "I don't mind."
Michaela was quite worn out so with a grateful smile and equally sweet kiss to Sully's lips she headed out of the barn.
Sully looked down at the trunk and sighed heavily. There was very little he wouldn't do for his wife but wondered if he knew what he was getting himself into. Kneeling down, he reached into the trunk and picked up a child's drawing. He smiled at the memory. Brian had drawn a picture of what he had hoped to be his future family. Of course, the three Cooper children were evident, as were Sully and Michaela. Brian had also included two smaller children. "Well, Brian", Sully laughed, "We just have one more child to go to fulfill your dream."
He set the drawing gently back into the trunk and reached for the next treasure. Uncovering a leather- bound book, he grinned and picked it up. "So you liked to read romance stories?" As he began skimming through the pages, he grinned widely. "My sweet angelic wife. I love the romantic side of you. Why have you hid this away?"
Sully started to place the book back, but it slipped from his hands, landing in the hay. Some pages fell out of the book and Sully, curiosity winning out, picked them up. One of the pages was folded and he gently peeled it open. Lifting it up, he started to read.
The first line on the page sent chills through his entire body. The smile left his face to be replaced by shock and confusion. He quickly picked up another page and looked at the bottom. He suddenly felt like the earth was moving under him and he sank down deeper into the hay. "I don't understand," he muttered disbelievingly to himself. "Why does she have this? Why did she keep it?"
No longer did he feel the sun that was shining through the barn door. His world had become cloudy and cold. He picked up the first sheet of paper and stared again at the words that troubled him deep to his soul. For this was not notes on the story his beloved wife had jotted down, as he first suspected. It was a letter - a letter with a salutation that glared back at him bright and powerful. Those small letters looked big as life and had just turned Sully's life upside down.
"My Darling Michaela…"