A few days later Michaela received a phone call from Elizabeth.
"Calm down, calm down…" her mother was close to being hysterical in the other end of the phone,
and at first Michaela was unsure of what she was talking about, but then it all made perfect sense, and she got the chills.
Sully… how dreadful it had to be to wake up and find out that every detail of the divorce hearing was in the papers.
Belonging to a successful family the tabloids were more than interested in Annabel and Sully's divorce,
and even more now the Quinn family was being dragged into it as well.
This sense of scandals and adultery of course made the story more spicy to the reporters, but to Elizabeth it was a disaster.
"I've got my flower show coming up next month. Do you realize what consequences this has?
My daughter is half-naked on the cover of every tabloid in Boston… with that man!
What were you thinking? She questioned, and Michaela took a deep breath.
"Those photos were taken without our permission. I am suing Annabel over this, and just so you know it, Sully and I are friends – nothing more, nothing less."
"Yes, and Hell has frozen over!" her mother spat.
"So you believe the papers over your own daughter? I'm telling you we have done nothing to compromise Sully's marriage"
"But you want to… it's obvious from those pictures. The look on your face, Michaela, you look like a…"
"Don't…" Michaela sighed .
"So what if I want to? It does not make any difference. As long as he's married nothing is going to happen. We agreed on that.
Besides my private life is none of your business."
"None of my business? It is when you're on display all over Boston – not to mention in the local news.
It seems that Annabel Sully is more than happy to fill everybody in on the details. Why doesn't he speak up for you, if what you tell me is the truth?"
Elizabeth's voice cut through the air, and Michaela sighed "That's exactly how he is different, Mother. Now I must go. I have patients to attend."
She had only just hung up when Charlotte came in.
"There's a reporter on waiting on the line..?" Michaela shook her head.
"No reporters, Charlotte. I have to work. I don't have time to talk to them." Charlotte nodded, and for a moment Michaela stared at the files before her.
Her focus was elsewhere.
"Sully…" she whispered, her heart reaching out for him. How did they get into this mess in the first place?
A soft knock sounded on the door, and William entered. Seeing her, she looked a little lost.
He sat down opposite her and pushed a cup of coffee across the table.
"You know…" he stated, and she sighed "Mother, was on the phone earlier. It's quite hysterical really."
They sat in silence for a while, and he finally said "well my mother was also on the phone this morning. She was quite appalled…."
Michaela had always liked William's parents, and she looked away
"Yes, I can imagine. I know how it looks… like I'm the seductress… tell your mother I'm sorry about the grief it has caused her."
William smiled to himself, it was so typical of her to blame herself like that. "
She's not appalled with you, Mike. It's Annabel.
She called my aunt and told her the truth – that you are not like that – that you are the most sensible and most down to earth person she knows.
That those allegations speak against everything you stand for. She was really angry, Mike."
"Oh.." Michaela blushed a little. "Tell her thanks then. It's very sweet of her."
"She likes you, Mike. She always has. Besides we all know what Annabel can be like."
Michaela wherever he looked she was there on display.
He frowned feeling disgusted by Annabel's decision to give the photos to the press – to subject Michaela to this treatment.
He really wanted to call her, and tell her how sorry he was to put her through this, but Lewis adviced him against it.
"It's best if you don't speak to her at the moment. I'll tell Robert to pass a message to her if you like.
Today Daniel will testify, and hopefully he can give the court the right impression of you and of your marriage to Annabel."
Daniel was a little nervous when he took the stand, but he was determined to make a good impression.
Lewis gave him an encouraging smile, and started asking questions about how long he had known Sully, and what kind of friend and man he was.
Daniel did well. When asked about his impression of Sully's marriage to Annabel he looked at Annabel.
"Sully always loved Annabel, but they've had issues that they could not agree on for years." Lewis nodded encouraging Daniel to continue
"Sully's goal in life has always been to have a family. We have talked about it many times, he and I.
It was not until a couple of years into their marriage that Sully told me, Annabel did not want children.
He was not sure if he should leave her, but he decided to stay. I think he hoped to convince her to change her mind."
"Did you talk about this divorce?" Lewis asked, and Daniel nodded
"Yes. He seemed very certain, but I know he had been giving it a lot of thought"
"And Dr. Quinn's role in this?" Lewis felt he had to ask otherwise Annabel's lawyer would.
"Like I said, this issue has been there all along. From all I know, she's a friend who's willing to listen."
"How would you describe Mr Sully?" "He's the most decent person I know. He is a man of his word – someone you can count on.
He's a good friend who is there when you need him."
Afterwards the police officer in charge of investigating how Sully got hurt was to testify.
"Detective Lee what is it that you are investigating?" Lewis spoke, and Detective Lee explained that the circumstances of the accident indicated foul play,
and his team had investigated exactly how Sully came to be hurt not far from his and Annabel's house.
"Everything points at a hit and run – a driver has deliberately run into Mr. Sully and caused his injuries."
"Do you have any idea who the driver is?" Lewis questioned the detective who was hesitant to name anyone, but said that they had a few suspects.
While talking his eyes darted in Annabel's direction, and she looked away.
Meanwhile in Colorado Michaela was feeling poorly.
She had just gotten off the phone with Robert who had told her about the status quo of the tabloids and their coverage of the divorce.
He had told her not to contact Sully, and not to speak to any reporters. And he had also delivered another piece of news that she was a little apprehensive of:
Annabel's lawyer wanted her to testify about her relationship with Sully.
"Is there any way I can avoid this?" she had asked, but Robert's answer was negative.
"You have to be here by Monday."
That night she tossed and turned in bed. Her body ached to just hear his voice – to talk things over with him, to console him and offer him comfort.
"Sully you'll get through this…. we'll get through this. If only I could be with you right now."