Chapter 25

Only ten minutes later, with all of them sitting on wingback chairs in the parlor, Michaela knew that she had been right in not cheering too soon about her mother's change of mind. Elizabeth acted as if Sully wasn't there after she had made sure that he sat comfortably. Turning towards Michaela, she showered her with appointments she had already made for her, "As you know, William will be here soon. He promised to show you his practice afterwards and…" lifting her hand she raised her voice, too, in order to prevent her daughter from interrupting her, "Dr. Walter has agreed to introduce you to the staff of the almshouse; they need a new doctor there since Dr. Hanson…"

Michaela had given up her attempts to chime in her mother's speech. Gazing down on her hands which she had folded on her lap, she only listened and waited until Mother would be done.

"… We will have a family dinner tomorrow night… I booked tickets for the Opera, they will play… And our lawyer, Mr. Benedict will meet you next Wednesday and..."

At this point, Michaela couldn't take it any longer. Straightening on her chair, she spoke up gazing at her mother, "Next Wednesday I will be on the train homewards, Mother. I want to see Mr. Benedict as soon as possible which means rather today than tomorrow."

Astonished, Elizabeth eyed her daughter. Of course Michaela had written that she would stay only three days, but did she really believe she would allow her to leave right away? Yet knowing how stubborn her youngest was, she tried a different tactic. "You just arrived, Michaela. You need to rest. Look at you, you are alarmingly thin and have dark rings under your eyes… I'm only concerned for your health."

And for the first time including him in the conversation after deliberately excluding him from her plans, she added, "And I'm sure Mr. Sully will agree…"

Although he was never someone to interfere with other people's business, this time he couldn't stay quiet. Seeing through Elizabeth's tactic, Sully immediately made clear where he stood, "I think it's up to Michaela t'decide how long she'll stay."

Thanking him with a smile, Michaela relaxed. This time she wasn't alone; Sully would be there for her no matter what. Turning to her mother again she informed her, "We will leave on Sunday the latest. Until then, everything should be settled and we…"

"That's out of the question," Elizabeth impetuously cut her off, "We need more time than three days, I've arranged several things that you can't just dismiss. I only want your best…"

"Mother," Michaela's temper was rising, "I'm sure you remember that I wrote you about my plans here in Boston and that I promised Hannah to return to her as soon as possible… You are saying you want my best. Why do expect that I care less for my daughter than you do for me?"

Sighing in exasperation, Elizabeth sank against the back of her chair; she should have known it. Arguing now wouldn't get her anywhere; she had to be more subtle. Changing the direction of how she approached her daughter, she announced, "Well, I have a surprise for you, someone who is eager to meet you again…"

"Mother!" Incredulously, Michaela glared at Elizabeth who unimpressed continued, "He will stay in Boston until Tuesday and told me he met you only recently."

Satisfied noticing the glance between her daughter and Mr. Sully she at last gave his name away, "It's Carl Wilson. He has some business to do in town and in fact, he said he wanted to talk to you, too."

Her last words were directed at Sully who was as surprised as Michaela learning that his friend Daniel's father-in-law, who they met in February, was in Boston as well. However, they hadn't time to explore this thought further because now, the doorbell was ringing. Everyone in the room knew who the visitor would be and Michaela immediately stiffened, fearing her mother would create an embarrassing moment for all of them. Soon enough Harrison announced, "Dr. Burke, Ma'am," and showed the young man in.

William's expression and his tone were non-committal when he greeted them, bowing his head for the women and nodding to Sully, "Mrs. Quinn, it is nice to see you again. Mike, Mr. Sully."

Without giving anyone the time to respond he turned to Elizabeth requesting, "If it is possible, I would like to talk to you in private, Mrs. Quinn."

Before she replied, Elizabeth considered the young doctor standing across from her for a moment. She had hoped that Michaela wouldn't decline the invitation to come to his practice in front of him again, even though it would only be out of politeness. Yet her daughter dashed her plan once again. William's wish and the silence that had fallen over the room momentarily was Michaela's opportunity to leave her mother's presence. Rising to her feet she glanced at Sully indicating she wanted him to do the same, assuring her friend with a soft smile, "We don't mind, I wanted to take Sully to his room anyway. Good day, William and thank you for everything again."

While Elizabeth nodded in agreement despite her disapproving, Dr. Burke's expression was one of relief. Michaela didn't wait until Mother would change her mind; she took Sully's hand leading him out of the room.

…………………………………………………..

The way Mrs. Dickenson and her husband had welcomed him the night before made Sully want to believe that Michaela's mother might have changed her attitude against him as well. Well, it hadn't even taken an hour to crush this hope. He would have to show her that he wanted the best for Michaela as well. Although, seeing this house, which was even more impressive than the Baker's, caused the doubts he had banished to the corners of his mind to crawl out again. Watching Michaela's gaze following her hands as they lovingly glided across the mahogany handrail of the banister, reminded him that he would never ever be able to give her such a house, even if he would take every job he could get. As she opened the door to her room for him to take a look, he only saw the light in her eyes and misread her excitement as the joy to finally be at home again.

Although Michaela of course enjoyed being in the house of her childhood and the years of working with her father again, Sully couldn't have been more wrong. Michaela had never told him that he was the first man in her life who was allowed to look in there. Not even David received her permission to see her sanctuary and now her heart didn't only beat faster because they had ascended the stairs. Biting her lower lip, she somewhat anxiously watched his face waiting for his reaction knowing that her room gave another bit of herself away to him.

Sully took in the femininity of the place before him. His eyes roamed over a white French lace canopy bed to the matching curtains on a bay window seat and an antique vanity with perfume bottles on it. The only things that disturbed the impression of coziness were some empty bookshelves on the right wall, telling that the occupant didn't live here anymore. He couldn't explain it but for him, this room seemed to open a new door to Michaela. He could picture her hunching over her books at the bureau, her form lying on the large bed exhausted from all her studies yet surrounded by all the luxury.

Since Sully didn't budge, Michaela attempted to explain what it was which made this moment so special for her, "Only my family knows my room, Sully."

She waited a moment for him to understand her meaning yet he seemed to be distracted or confused, she wasn't sure and when suddenly it downed on her that she had spoken like a spoiled society lady, she hastily added, "And the chambermaids of course."
Her cheeks reddened in embarrassment when Sully didn't acknowledge her correction but kept staring at the place of her childhood and youth. Suddenly she felt ashamed remembering that Sully had never known material security when he grew up. She barely dared to touch his arm as she regretted, "I'm sorry, Sully. I must sound like a snob. I didn't want to show off, I just wanted you to know…"
Hearing her voice cracking, Sully snapped back to reality. Immediately pulling her into his arms he assured her soothingly whispering into her ear, "I'm honored that ya let me see it."

Yet both felt the tension that still remained and Sully realized he had to tell her why he felt uncomfortable. He couldn't look into her eyes though and thus he didn't loose their embrace hiding his words in her hair when he admitted, "I'm sorry I can't give ya the house ya deserve."

"Oh Sully," her reply came instantly and she bent back, cradling his face in her hands and locking her gaze with his, "It's not the house that is important, it's the people you live with." And in an attempt to lighten his mood she added, "Didn't Cloud Dancing teach you that?"

However, averting his eyes again Sully still resisted, "I don't want ya to give up all these things because of me. I…"

Laying her fingertips on his mouth, she silenced him. Then she guided his chin so he had no choice but to look at her. Brushing away a lock that had fallen over his brow she reminded him, "I left this place almost two years ago because I wanted to and this had nothing to do with anyone or anything else but me. I searched for a way to build my own life and I succeeded. My life is in Colorado now, with you and Hannah."

"But…" His renewed objection made her only more insistent.

"Sully, don't you understand? I don't care where my bed stands as long as I have the people I love and who love me around."

Although Sully wasn't convinced yet, after all he was sure that mother and daughter loved each other as well despite their disagreements, he gave in for now. He had himself experienced the truth which he acknowledged in a quiet voice, "Home is where your heart is."

Not able to resist her wide smile he gained as response, he planted a soft kiss on her lips and pulled her into his arms again yet approaching steps of one of the chambermaids broke the moment.

……………………………………………..

When they came downstairs after Martha had shown them to the room she had prepared for Sully, Dr. Burke was already gone, a fact that hadn't improved Elizabeth's mood. As she eyed the couple before her, Michaela wondered what William had told her and admittedly, she was growing somewhat apprehensive about the possible effects of what he had said. Quickly deciding that the best tactic would be to avoid her mother for a while she informed her, "I want to show Sully the town and we both want to see the ocean again …Oh, may we take the family carriage?"

She deliberately withheld the fact that she intended to stop by at the lawyer's office as well, knowing that her mother would find a reason to prevent her from leaving the house without her. However, Elizabeth had only ears for the new fact she had just learned about Sully. Ignoring her daughter's request she turned to the man who had much more influence over her daughter than she liked. Well, her main interest at the moment was to keep Michaela away from the frontier; this was no place to live in as she had experienced herself. She had to find out where he was from. Maybe it was a good idea to keep him here as well. As long as she had enough time with her daughter she was sure that the other things she had planned would fall into place on their own accord. "You know the Atlantic Ocean, Mr. Sully?" she finally asked and was very pleased hearing his response, "I grew up in New York, Mrs. Quinn."

This was good news for her. "Well, then we were almost neighbors." Sensing the astonishment her remark had caused, she waved her hand indicating for them to leave, adding, "Of course you can take the carriage, Michaela. You are at home now and you can do what you want with everything that belongs to the household."

Actually, Michaela wanted to reply to her mother's last words yet she decided to let it go for now. So it happened, that she and Sully stood on a small cliff with the sandy beach beneath them only half an hour later. This had always been one of her favorite places and she explained, raising her voice to be heard through the heavy wind, "I've missed this sensation that wherever you look, your eyes don't meet any barrier. I always felt free here."

Sully simply nodded in understanding. He had made this experience himself once, though not on a shore but when he had stood almost on the top of Pike's Peak. He knew Michaela well enough now to know that she was a strong woman in every meaning of the word and at this moment, he promised himself to take her to the mountain's top one day.

Anyway, the wind coming from the sea rather resembled a storm and thus they soon returned to town where Michaela sent the driver with the carriage home. Both she and Sully enjoyed the fact that they were able to take a walk after so many days cooped up on a train, and for a while, they simply strolled along the streets, passing the buildings of the Massachusetts Company and the Old Corner Bookstore where the Boston Globe was published. Michaela's cheeks were flushed with excitement as she explained to Sully all the buildings while he listened with a slight amusement about her eagerness. He wasn't really one who was interested in touring through a town yet he entertained himself picturing Michaela at all the places she showed him.

As they reached the Old State House, which even impressed Sully with its lion and the unicorn, they heard a familiar voice from behind, "Michaela, Mr. Sully!"

Turning around they recognized Robert approaching them and after a mutual greeting Rebecca's husband suggested, "How about I take you to the Union Oyster House for a drink or even an early lunch?"

Sully wouldn't mind getting away from the traffic that he wasn't used to but of course he would comply with Michaela's wishes and thus both men waited for her decision. She didn't have to think about it for long, knowing that Mr. Benedict's office was right across the street and thus she asked for their understanding, "Actually, I would rather go and see if I can get an earlier appointment than Mother has arranged with the lawyer."

Knowing that Sully was ready to follow her there, she lovingly laid her hand on his arm assuring him, "I don't mind that you go with Robert, you can have a little talk between men and I will join you in no time. And," she added dashing his immediate protest, "the restaurant is just over the street, we are practically within earshot of one another."

Sully considered her for a moment, in fact there was something he needed to talk about with Mr. Dickenson without Michaela overhearing them and thus he gave his agreement with a soft smile, "Alright, but if there is any emergency, first call me before you go anywhere."

Raising her eyebrows playfully, Michaela retorted, "I will do as you wish, Mr. Sully. See you later, Robert." As she spoke the last words to her brother-in-law, she was already on her way.

…………………………………………….

When she entered the wooden paneled office, a young man stood in the middle of the room asking her politely, "What can I do for you, Miss?"

Assuming that he was the secretary because she knew that Mr. Benedict was of her father's age she replied firmly, "I'm afraid I must insist on moving my meeting with Mr. Benedict to tomorrow at the latest, I don't intend to stay in town until Wednesday."

Since he had only one appointment on Wednesday, Peter Benedict wondered, "Then you are Miss Michaela Quinn in person?"

She wanted him to take her serious and so she affirming amended, "Yes, I'm Dr. Michaela Quinn." And lightly blushing she apologized, "I'm sorry, I should have introduced myself right away."

Accepting her apology, Peter showed her through a door into a bigger room with a large desk standing in the middle, and he contemplated what to do. He had strict orders from Josef Quinn's wife how to handle this situation and he had hoped to still find a way out. Miss Quinn was his client as well and thus he had to work for her interest, too. To be honest, his heart was with the young woman, if his father would want to run his life the way her mother was trying to do it, he would never had agreed to be his partner. He had a free hand for all decisions he would make and since he was someone who acted rather quickly, he asked, "How about now? I'm free for two hours and we won't need so long."

Surprised, Michaela's eyes flew to him, "You are my lawyer? I thought… oh, I see, the Mr. Benedict I know must be your father… Yes, I have enough time right now."

Seeing him nod, a tentative, hopeful smile crept up on her face and he couldn't help but marvel about her beauty. After all the things he had heard about her he knew he would dash the light in her eyes very soon

While he searched for her record in his filing cabinet, he decided to take the middle way. He would comply with Mrs. Quinn's wishes yet he wouldn't lie either. All he had to do was to think of his words carefully.

After her father died, there had been of course an opening of the will and Michaela knew about the amount of money her father wanted her to have. Back then, she had barely attached importance to the fact that there were more things he had left her, even less that there were conditions. She had been in a deep depression and when she had left Boston, she was determined to only use her father's money when she would have no other choice. So it was a wonderful surprise for her to learn that Father had decided to give the largest part of his books and she was already thinking about the best place for them home in Colorado Springs as one very seriously spoken line captured her attention again.

"I have been ordered to tell you that here is one condition for you to enter on your inheritance."

Questioningly, she looked at him and seeing his facial expression she knew it would be something she wouldn't like. She paled as she heard him say, "Your inheritance is only available here in Boston. All the things have to stay in town, including the money."