"Oh Charlotte, when did this happen?" Michaela asked.
"Well, they told us a while back, but I didn't think I'd have this much trouble findin' another place," she sighed as she handed Michaela a pile of plates to be put in the cupboard. "But now it looks like I've run out of time."
Charlotte and Michaela had spent the entire day helping to finish off Michaela's new apartment. All that was needed now was furniture for the lounge and bedroom, and Michaela's personal things. Sully was in the bedroom putting on the final strokes of paint as the women cleaned in the other rooms.
It came as a shock to Michaela to learn that the unit Charlotte rented was due to be demolished in a very short time. An investor had bought the entire building and was putting up a more modern block in its place. All the residents had been given plenty of notice to relocate and had also been given the opportunity to return once the new building was done.
"Why didn't you tell me before?" queried Michaela as she pulled the last of the kitchenware from its box.
"Oh Dr Mike, you've just had so much goin' on, I didn't want you to worry about me as well," smiled Charlotte, dusting her hands together. "But it's done now, and I'm prayin' that somethin' will still come up. That's all I can do I s'pose."
Sully had heard their conversation from the bedroom, and he couldn't help but feel for Charlotte. Why did bad things always happen to good people he wondered. She had always looked out for everyone else; she was the least selfish person he knew. He thought maybe he could ask around to see if he could find something for the small family. Or maybe when Michaela moved out of his place he could take them in? He was very fond of the children and Charlotte was such a good friend, it was the least he could do.
His chest tightened at the thought of Michaela moving away. He knew he would still see her often, and at least she wasn't too far away, but it wouldn't quite be the same. He had become so used to having her there, sharing meals, taking walks and their endless discussions. It gave him an unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach. He knew they had been heading to this for some time, but now that it was so close it would be hard to see her leave. She had been excited about this place since the first day he met her, and he didn't want to stand in her way, he wanted her to be happy.
"Oh, would you look at the time. I gotta go Dr Mike, I promised Colleen I'd take her to the library this afternoon, and I have ta pick up Brian from baseball practice," Charlotte said as she gathered her bag. "I'll see you tomorrow ok. Bye, Sully!" she called.
"Ok, I'll see you then. Don't worry Charlotte, we'll figure something out, I promise," replied Michaela. Sully stepped out from the bedroom and nodded goodbye as Charlotte headed out the door and down the stairs. He wiped his hands on a rag to remove some spots of paint and said, "Do ya think she'll find somethin' in time?"
"Oh, I'm sure she will. And we'll do everything we can to help," she said looking over to him.
"Yeah, we will," he said as he leaned on the doorway. He gestured with his thumb behind him and continued, "Well, I'm all done in here. Just give it a bit ta dry and then we can head home ta grab some of ya things if ya want."
He shuffled his feet slightly and looked at nothing in particular on the floor. Michaela immediately felt her stomach turn at the mention of moving. She was excited at the prospect of having her own clinic but she would miss Sully terribly. He was so caring; someone she could turn to for anything, and she hadn't been this happy for such a long time.
She noticed his lack of eye contact and said, "Oh, so soon?"
"Yeah. Thought ya might wanna move in as soon as possible. Maybe before ya open the clinic next week?" he smiled weakly looking down at the floor again.
Maybe he was just looking forward to having his house to himself again she thought. She couldn't blame him. She had been there far longer than they had originally planned. But he had asked her to stay. They had become closer than she could have thought possible. But was she just a... convenience? Her face paled and her breath stopped as her mind came across this thought. David. Was he just like David, his attention on her simply because she was there?
She closed her eyes; her heart stopped and her body began to feel numb. "How could I have been so foolish?" she thought. She wanted to fall in a heap on the ground and cry, but she didn't want to give another man the satisfaction of knowing he had fooled her. This was the last time, she thought to herself.
She steadied herself and moved quickly to the window, resting her hands on the sill. She took a deep breath trying to gain some composure. The more distance she could put between them the better. She had to get out of there. She couldn't be here with him anymore, but what excuse could she use? Her mind raced until she finally said, "I... need to go and get some ah, things from the store. I'll be back later." She reached for her purse and walked quickly to the door.
Sully hadn't noticed her reaction to his words or the way her body had gone rigid. He had been too busy silently scolding himself for his previous thoughts. Could he just stand back and watch the woman he loved move away? They had both agreed a long time ago that they weren't quite ready to be couple that "lived" together, but things had changed since then, and knowing that she was actually going scared him. It scared him a lot. He didn't want to lose her.
Both lost in their own thoughts, he looked up as she stood grasping the handle to the door and blurted out, "I don't want ya ta go!"
She spun around and glared at him, "For goodness sake Sully, I'm only going to the store," she spat. She wanted to leave but something held her to the spot. His eyes were the brightest blue she had ever seen, and his gaze locked with hers. Only now did he notice how tense she seemed. His eyes narrowed as he contemplated the reason behind her sudden change of attitude, and it suddenly dawned on him what she was thinking.
Realising she hadn't understood his meaning he walked slowly toward her and clasped her hand, "I mean, I don't want ya ta leave. I want ya ta stay with me...in our home," he said quietly. When she didn't say anything he kept going. "Michaela, I love you and I want to be with you, I need to be with you, always. Please stay with me." he pleaded. "And...Marry me?"
Michaela heard the words but they hadn't had the chance to sink in yet. She stood there with her hands in Sully's, mouth agape. "Michaela?" he said as he squeezed her hands.
The wall she had built around her heart at that moment crumbled. "You, you want me to... you're asking me to...you want to get... married?" she stuttered.
His mouth turned upward into a grin as he nodded. That was all Michaela needed as she pulled her hands from his and threw them around his neck squealing, "Oh Sully. Yes. I'll marry you!" She held him tight and pressed a series of quick kisses to his face. "I love you so much," she said breathlessly. Sully picked her up off the floor and pulled her into his arms kissing her deeply. "I love you too," he replied.
..............................................................................................
Michaela entered the apartment and set the take out and wine on the bench in the kitchen. She had gone out to get them both something to eat while Sully finished packing away the last of the painting gear, deciding to stay and celebrate a little before they returned home. Michaela opened the bag and set the cartons of food out. "Sully?" she called. There was no answer. Michaela frowned and went to the bedroom to see what he was doing. "Sully?" she asked again. He wasn't there, but as she walked from the room she heard the shower running. A wry smile spread across her face and her eyes twinkled.
She quietly crept into the bathroom, making sure not to make a sound. Sully had made a lot of changes to the once pitiful looking space. His design of the whole room was amazing, and had even installed a large bath because he knew how much Michaela liked to soak in the tub. She smiled at the memory of their first kiss as she saw Sully's outline behind the smoky shower screen. She removed her clothes letting them fall to the floor as she glided over to the shower. She felt a little anxious at her boldness; it wasn't that she was particularly shy about these things, but she didn't take the initiative very often, so it was a rather new feeling.
She held her breath as she opened the screen door; Sully was immersed in the steady stream of the shower, running his hands over his face. She followed the trail of the water with her eyes at it slid down his shoulders, over his muscular chest and down his stomach to his region below. She shuddered a little at the sight, then stepped in closer to him, feeling the warmth of the shower splash over her body as she placed her hands on his chest. "Mind if I join you?" she asked.
Sully startled as he heard her voice and quickly moved out of the water. He sucked in a short breath at the sight of her and gazed into her eyes smiling. "Not at all," he said.
He enveloped her in his arms and moved back into the warm water with her. Pulled up against his body she could feel his arousal growing quickly. "I seem to recall the last time we were here, I had the same reaction on you," she said cheekily.
Sully chuckled and said, "Yeah, but last time I didn't get ta see this much of ya." He eyed her smooth skin and leaned down for a deep kiss.
"Oh really," she blushed a little, and leaned in to be kissed by him again. "And now that you can see more of me what are you going to do about it?" Her voice was purring and Sully's heart quickened. "Let me show you," he growled from deep within as he moved to place a kiss to her neck. In the steamy warmth of the water the two made love, words of devotion and tenderness between them; completely oblivious to anything else in the world except each other.
to be continued...