Chapter 10

Much to Michaela's astonishment Sully embraced the idea of paying Charlotte a short visit for she had assumed he wanted her to go straight home and have some rest. She couldn't know that he had his reasons when he agreed, and she didn't even grow suspicious when he asked her for the way to Charlotte, saying he needed to see the bathroom first.

Dr. Bernard, however, had guessed Sully's intention and stayed behind as well. As soon as Michaela was out of sight, Sully turned to him. "Ya gotta tell me the truth this time. Will she make it?"

For a long moment, the old doctor considered the young man before him, contemplating whether to tell him again that nothing and no one would have been able to prevent his wife's death; that Nature didn't ask for its creatures wishes. Realizing that this wouldn't be any assurance but in the contrary might raise unnecessary fears, he decided to only talk about what they'd just seen. "Both babies are fine, and Dr. Quinn is a strong and healthy woman. There is no need to be concerned as long as she sticks to my advices. She needs less work and more rest. And she has to eat regularly. We doctors are known for our bad eating habits, and I'm sure she is no exception."

"She ain't," Sully slowly nodded, already making plans for the next meals. He wasn't done with his inquiring though. "Ain't she too small for two babies? I mean she looks so fragile, and when I remember how Abby looked in the end I can't imagine Michaela havin' twice that belly."

Dr. Bernard knew that he needed the trust of the father-to-be, especially this one's, and thus he explained patiently, "With twins, none of babies will grow as big as if it were a single one. But they will still be very difficult to carry, that is why bed rest might be required during the last weeks before the birth. But honestly, I believe our biggest problem will be Dr. Quinn's resisting any idea of her slowing down." The corner of his mouth turned up, and he gained a short, understanding smile in return. "I will monitor this pregnancy as closely and carefully as possible, Mr. Sully," the doctor added, "and if any problem occurs, we will fight it right away. At the moment, however, there is no need to worry at all. But if you don't catch up with her soon, she might get concerned which isn't good for her condition."

Giving him a half smile in response, Sully agreed, "Yeah." But before he parted from the gynecologist, he had a last request. "Can I call when I think somethin's wrong but she's too stubborn to admit?"

"Of course," Dr. Bernard said, fishing a calling card from the breast pocket of his jacket, "anytime."

xxx

They didn't stay long with Charlotte because shortly after them, her children entered the room. Fortunately, their friend's condition had improved considerably, and soon she would be able to go home. Since she would still have problems with moving around, Sully had promised to make sure that she get all necessary help. Matthew, however, instantly rejected the idea, pointing out that he and his siblings were old enough to take care of their mother. In the end they agreed that the Cooper kids would call if need to be.

As they at last stepped out of the hospital into the glaring afternoon sun, Sully touched Michaela's arm, beckoning her back in the shadow of the building. "Wait," he said, "I wanna call Cloud Dancing."

He actually began to like the idea of having dinner with their friends. It would give him not only the opportunity to explain his reason for not returning to the camp but spread the news they'd just learned, too. Michaela, seemingly reading his mind, stopped him though as he started dialing the Cheyenne's number.

"Ya changed your mind?" Sully asked, frowning.

"Not about the dinner, no," she hastily replied. "It's just…" Clasping her hands before her body, she looked down at them, searching for the right words. Sully waited without disturbing her until she was ready and looked up again. Seeing the red hue on her cheeks he knew she would say something that was difficult for her. "Tell me," he coaxed her gently, running his hand down her arm.

Holding his gaze, she pleaded, "Could we please not tell anyone about the twins yet?"

"Sure," he instantly agreed yet then wondered, "Why?"

Not certain about how he would take her reasoning, Michaela averted her eyes again. "People will be excited," she said. "They always are when they hear someone will be having twins. But I'm not. Not yet. I'm rather scared. And I only want other people to know when I can feel this excitement, too." Locking her eyes with his again, she anxiously asked, "So can we still keep it to ourselves?"

Resuming running his hand down her arm, Sully nodded. "If that's what ya want."

Sighing in relief, her expression relaxed. "Thank you," she uttered as she watched him pushing some buttons on his cell phone.

Michaela didn't quite listen whilst Sully talked to the Cheyenne, her thoughts still troubled. Her mind raced with new questions while old ones were still unanswered. Would there be enough room for two babies in the nursery? Would Sully get crazy about earning more money again with having to provide for one more child now? Would she be able to breastfeed twins? Would she ever be able to work again? Realizing that it was about time to face the fact that she couldn't avoid finding answers any longer, she sighed.

Sully, glancing at her from time to time, wondered what she was brooding about; maybe she remembered the phone calls he made in the morning. When he at last cut off the line he'd made up his mind. It didn't matter what she recalled or not, he still had to explain.

As they started strolling towards his van, he began, "The other day, Catherine needed to go to town to buy some things. Cloud Dancin' and I watched her kids, and she wanted me to call her in case she needed to return sooner than planned."

Michaela gave no sign whether she listened or not while they walked on, but he continued anyway, "I wanted to write her number on a sheet of paper yet she asked why I not simply saved it in my cell phone. I told her that I'm not good with this kind of stuff."

Despite herself, Michaela smiled. She knew that he memorized numbers rather than input anything into his phone. Encouraged by her response, he continued, "So she snatched my cell from where it lay on the table and saved her number on speed dial."

They had reached the van by now, and Sully held Michaela back when she was about to get to her side of the car. "It means nothin' that I have her number. Actually, I ain't needin' it again. So could ya please delete it?"

Michaela knew that he tried to reassure her. Her deleting the other woman's number felt like being back at high school though. "That's not necessary, Sully," she at last responded, looking up at him so he could see it in her eyes that she was serious. "You might work with her again. And there will be other women you share a job with just the same way I work with men."

Speaking the last words she was already on her way to the passenger's seat.

Of course Sully knew she was right, but he would still make sure to get the teacher's number deleted from his phone. If Michaela didn't do it, he would actually make an effort and learn to do it himself.

However, there was something else that gnawed at him. When they both had fastened their seatbelts, he didn't start the engine but turned to her. Searching for the right words, he ran his hand through his hair, not realizing that he worried Michaela. Only when he at last looked at her he noticed the anxiety in her eyes. Thus he hurried to say what he wanted her to know, "Ya don't have to go through this alone."

Sensing the tension leaving her body his face lit up. "I wanna take care of you and the babies. All ya have to do is let me."

Patiently, he waited for her reaction. At last she gave him a shy smile, "That would be nice."

"Good," Sully said, grinning widely. "First things first though. Let's go to Grace and have a late lunch and then…"
"I had the sandwiches. I'm not hungry," Michaela immediately contradicted but Sully disregarded her objection whilst slowly rolling across the parking lot towards the street.

"Ya will be as soon as ya smell her stew."

Knowing he was right, Michaela relaxed in her seat. If she was honest, it felt good to know someone took care of her. Not that she would ever admit that out loudly.

xxx

Michaela lay on her bed, rolled on her side, only covered with a thin blanket. Still sound asleep she didn't stir when Sully crouched down next to her. He watched her for a long moment, his heart aching with the desire to pull her in his arms, holding her close. Actually, after their conversation earlier that afternoon he didn't quite understand why she was still so distant. She wasn't angry, as he had feared, for his working with Catherine or having her phone number. Obviously, he had no choice but give her more time, and so he would.

Eventually, he tenderly touched her cheek with his fingertips. As her eyelids fluttered open, her gaze fell right on his face. She wasn't prepared to seeing him so close before her, and for the fraction of a second she was stunned.

"Guests are here," he said quietly, "ya up to comin' down?"

"Certainly," Michaela replied, still transfixed by his nearness. Yet then he rose and the spell was broken.

Sully was already half out of the door when he heard her softly groan. In an instant, he was back at her side. "What is it?" he asked concerned when he saw her sink back onto the pillow.

"Low blood pressure," she muttered, closing her eyes again. "I got up too quickly."

"Ya need anythin'?" Sully asked anxiously.

"Yes," she replied, something akin exasperation audible in her voice, "I need to remember that I should rise slowly."

Eventually looking up at him, she caught herself as she noticed his expression. "I'm sorry, Sully," she apologized, "I didn't want to worry you. But it's really nothing."

As he still eyed her suspiciously, she suddenly breathed, "Oh."

For a few seconds she seemed to listen to something not audible before she beckoned to him, "Sully, come here."

Smiling broadly now she put her hand over the spot where one of the babies had moved.

"Can you feel it?" she asked as she guided his palm there as well, looking at him expectantly.

Lowering himself onto the edge of the bed, Sully furrowed his brow in concentration until he more sensed than felt the feather-light tapping against his skin.

"Yeah," he said in awe, wanting to sit like that forever. Yet their friends were waiting for them down in the yard, and so he reluctantly suggested after a few minutes, "Ya could still stay here, and I come back when we're ready to eat."

He rose while speaking, but Michaela held out her hand for him to help her get up as well. "I'll be with you in a second," she assured, sounding full of energy now, "I just want to get dressed."

She couldn't possibly show up in just the tank shirt she was wearing together with her sweaters.

xxx

One and a half hour later all six people at the wooden table in Sully's yard were full. The used dishes and empty bowls had been taken to the kitchen where the dishwasher was already working. Everyone had a drink before them, and Michaela saw with satisfaction that her plan seemed to work out, for William and Sam were immersed in conversation. Sully and Cloud Dancing were talking as well, and so she had time to catch up with Snow Bird who was sitting next to her.

"So, how are things between you and Sully?" the Indian woman asked softly before Michaela, who'd prefer any other topic but this one, could come up with a question herself.

A sigh was all her reply, and Snow Bird regarded her thoughtfully. After a moment of consideration she began to speak only for the two of them to hear, "You know, I always thought that falling in love is actually something that goes in the opposite direction: you climb up together to never known heights. But in the end there is a top, for even the highest mountain can only be a so high; otherwise Mother Earth would refuse to carry it. However, up there you feel like flying, you want to soar the sky together, but you will soon find out that you can't stay on this summit forever. Too little place, figuratively speaking." Snow Bird and Michaela exchanged an understanding smile.

"Daily life pulls you down on its plains," the Cheyenne continued. "And mastering these plains as a couple is the true challenge. Wandering them you will often think that you haven't made any progress for seemingly nothing has changed. Yet it is simply difficult to judge how far you've already come." Pausing for a moment, the Indian woman looked wistfully as if realizing that her words applied to her as well. Catching herself, she advised, "If you are insecure, just halt and take stock to find out where you actually stand."

Michaela stayed silent for a long while, but Snow Bird didn't expect her to reply anyway.

Eventually, after glancing at Sully, Michaela responded to her friend, "I will do that. Taking stock, I mean."

Then she smiled, breaking the intensity of the moment. "How come that you are so wise?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"A long marriage's experience," Snow Bird retorted, chuckling.