Chapter 15

Josef held an expressionless face as he listened to Sully talk, but he was impressed with his abilities and the high regard he held for his daughter. There was a light in his eyes every time he said Michaela's name. Something he never noticed with Jack. As much as he didn't want Michaela to get involved with anyone right now, he couldn't help but be fond of him.

"Her abilities amaze me," Sully smiled. "And I know I don't know everything she's been though. But she's strong, and I don't think she even realizes it."

Josef shook his head. "Mike's always been like that. And I'm afraid it's twofold."

"What do you mean?" Sully looked up.

"Well, she's so strong and proud that she didn't come to her family when it got to hard. She let things happen to her. Not that I'm blaming her. No," Josef shook his head. "I just wish she would have given in and come to us."

Looking down Sully didn't know what to say. Only knowing Michaela's past through snapshots was hard on him, only hearing the bad things from her past made him cringe. He didn't know what she could have ever done to warrant such heartache for herself.

Josef eyed Sully, realizing he might not know what he was talking about. "Did she tell you about Jack?"

"A little," he shook his head. "She's afraid he's going to find her."

"He won't," Josef was adamant.

"No, he won't," Sully's eyes emphasized his seriousness.

"Are we ready for dinner?" Michaela walked into the room. "Sully," she smiled. "I'm glad you decided to join us."

"Oh," he jumped up. "I'm glad you invited me. These are for you," he held out a bouquet of flowers.

"Thank you," she smiled.

"And these are for you." Sully walked up to Elizabeth handing over the other bouquet. "I hope you like them."

"Oh," Elizabeth's eyes widened. "Well, umm, thank you."

Smiling, Michaela walked over to her mother. "I'll just put these in some water then we can be on our way."

"I'll help you," Sully followed her into the kitchen.

Rounding the corner into the kitchen Michaela looked around her shoulder, "So did my father put you through the third degree?"

"I felt like I was back in high school," he laughed.

"That bad?" She turned around frowning.

"Nah." He picked the vase off the top shelf, "Your dads a good guy."

"Wish I could say the same for my mother. I just want to warn you, I don't know what she's going to say tonight. I don't want you to get offended."

"I won't."

"You don't know my mother. I'm serious Sully. And I want you to know; I don't feel the same way toward things like my mother does."

Sully neared Michaela. "I know," he rubbed her arm. "It's just dinner."

"It would just be dinner with your parents," she shook her head. 'With my mother it will turn into the Spanish Inquisition."

"At least I won't be alone," he grinned.

Placing his menu to the side of the table Sully looked up and noticed Elizabeth's stare quickly move from him to the window. Moving in his chair, he felt uncomfortable under her gaze. Looking over at Michaela she smiled briefly at him.

Michaela looked at both her parents and noticed them both looking out the window. Deciding to start conversation Michaela placed her napkin in her lap and turned to her father. "I talked to Rebecca and Maureen the other day. They said they're flying out Saturday morning."

Josef nodded, "They're very excited to see you."

"As I them," she smiled. "It's been too long since we've had a good talk. I want to see my sisters."

Smiling, Elizabeth, was glad to hear her say that. If anything good at all came out of this situation it would bring the family closer together. Something Elizabeth had always craved. "You know Michaela, that house you loved on Applemay Street is for sale."

"The one with the flowerboxes in the windows!" she grew excited.

"Yes," Elizabeth new she perked her daughters interest. "I could look into it for you when we get back home."

"Look into what?"

"The house," she smiled. "We could make a bid before someone makes purchase agreement on it."

"Mother I can't buy that house," she laughed.

Turning to look at Michaela, Sully realized for the first time that maybe Michaela's intentions weren't to say in Colorado. Maybe she wanted to move back to Boston after everything was settled. He couldn't blame her for wanting to be with her family after everything she'd been though. "I'll build you flower boxes," he blurted out.

Both Elizabeth and Josef quickly turned their heads toward Sully.

"If…if you want," his face turned red.

"Michaela that house would be perfect for you," Elizabeth said, still looking at Sully.

"I'm not living in Boston, Mother."

"Michaela, you love that house. That house is all you've ever talked about since you were three-years-old."

"Father," she sighed. "Please tell Mother I know what she's doing and I'm not moving back to Boston."

"Not this again," Elizabeth shook her head. "You've done he same thing since you were a teenager. Freeze me out and make you father the go about."

"So Sully," Josef turned his attention not wanting to be in the middle of another Michaela, Elizabeth fight. "Michaela tells me that you've constructed the entire children's wing at the hospital."

"I did," he nodded, taking a drink from his water. "I got one of the best construction teams this side of the Mississippi."

"We just constructed a new maternity ward at Boston Memorial," he spoke. "It took us six years to raise the funds for it. But it's all state-of-the-art. We're very proud of it."

"The children's wing came out better than I hoped. I just wanted something that all the kids couldn't enjoy while they had to be in the hospital. It…it meant a lot to me." Looking down, a flash of his little brothers face appeared before him causing Sully to flinch.

Looking at Sully, Elizabeth could tell that something struck a chord within him, something soft, and something within. "You seem to have a personal motivation for the completion."

"Mother," Michaela broke in.

"It's all right," he held up his hand. "I did. When I was seventeen my mother had another child, my brother, Liam."

"I didn't know you had a brother," Michaela turned to him.

"He died when he was seven," he voice shook slightly.

"Oh, Sully," she touched his arm. "I'm so sorry."

"It's all right," he touched her hand. "My mother just had a hard time leaving him in the hospital when she had to go to work. He would just lie in bed all day, because there was nothing he could do."

Michaela's eyes grew sad. "He was bedridden."

"No," he shook his head. "There was just nothing else he could do. That's why I built the ward the way I did. Children shouldn't have to be kept in a room all day."

"Nothings harder than seeing a sick child," Michaela sighed.

Sully shook his head, "I agree."

"Your mother," Elizabeth began. "Is she going to be able to see it?"

"Yes," Sully smiled. "She's coming out next week for the opening."

"Good," she nodded.

"Rebecca! Rebecca!" John shouted up the stairs. "Where are you? Rebecca!" Pacing the front foyer of their house John held a phone in one hand and a sheaf of papers in the other. "Rebecca!" Hearing the back door slam he hurriedly made his way into the kitchen.

"John what is it?" she was out of breath. "I could hear you screaming all the way from the garden."

"I think he knows," John pinched the bridge of his nose. "That son of a bitch."

"What?" Rebecca's face turned white. "What are you talking about?"

"Jack!" he threw the folder on the kitchen table. "He just got on a plane to Colorado."

"What!" she covered her mouth in panic. "No! No, he can't. John, no!"

"I've been keeping tabs on him. He's been in the Hampton's and just got on a plane this morning."

"What if it's business," she started to grab at straws. "He's always going to places on business."

"Do you want to take that chance?"

"Oh God," she cried. "We have to tell her."

"I'm going to call Josef," he pulled out his cell. "It's up to him if he wants to tell her."

"Please no," she closed her eyes. "Please God, no."

"Rebecca," she felt her husbands hand on her shoulder. "Go book another ticket. I'm coming with you and Maureen."

"Why?"

"So I can see that bastards face when he realizes we're on to him."

Putting away the teacups Michaela closed the cabinet door. Looking out the window above the sink she noticed the last light go out in Sully's house.

"He really surprised me tonight," Elizabeth's voice came from behind. "He's very dedicated in his work."

"Yes, he is," she bit her lip.

Taking her daughter by the arm she turned her so she could look into her eyes. "And so did you."

"What do you mean?"

"Michaela," Elizabeth sighed. "I saw how you looked when you were talking about the children tonight. It's the same look you always have when you're around your sister's children, or any children for that matter."

Stepping away from her mother, Michaela went and locked the back door. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I know you wanted to have children, Michaela," she frowned. "I'm sorry you can't."

"Can't?" she turned. "I can have children, mother."

"But I just thought-"

"Jack didn't want them," she turned. "He wouldn't let me."

"I….I didn't know."

"Yes, well there are a lot of things you didn't know."

"Michaela I-" she began.

"If I want to have a child, I can still have one," she leaned against the sink. This was the first time Michaela voiced her feelings aloud. She had been thinking about children a lot more lately, and about her age. She knew if she wanted children badly enough she could do it on her own. As long as the child had one loving parent that was all that mattered.

"What are you thinking?"

"Nothing," she sighed. "Mother, I'm not thinking anything."

"Yes, you are," she prodded. "You're not going to do anything stupid are you?"

"Like what mother? What do you think I'm going to do?" she was on the verge of tears.

"Michaela…."

"I'm not talking about this right now. You're welcome to say up, but I'm going to bed."

"Michaela," she called, but it was too late she heard her door shut. "I'm sorry."

Turning over in bed Sully looked at the clock and noticed it was ten after twelve. He went to bed early knowing he had to get up at six for work. But no matter how hard he tried he couldn't fall asleep. His thoughts kept turning back to Michaela and the dinner. He thought it went pretty well, but he knew Michaela's mother still didn't care for him. And Michaela herself was still a little on edge around him. Rolling over he heard a sharp knock. Getting up he sat for a moment wondering if he imagined it, but then he heard it again.

Scrambling out of bed he pulled a shirt over his head. Rushing to the front door he unlocked it and came face to face with Elizabeth and Josef.

"Is Michaela here?" Elizabeth's face was near panic.

"Umm… No," he brushed back his hair.

"Listen," Josef spoke. "We're not mad, we just need to know, is she here?"

"No, No she isn't." he shook his head. "I thought she was at home."

"Oh dear," Elizabeth bit her lip. "We had a little fight and she went up to bed about an hour ago. I went to check on her and she was gone, her car is gone too."

"Maybe she just went for a drive," Sully reasoned.

"That's not all," Josef looked at him. "I just got word from John, Michaela's brother-in-law, seems that Jack is on his way to Colorado. In fact he's probably all ready here."

"What!" Both Elizabeth and Sully said in unison.

"Josef, why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to get you upset, and I didn't want Michaela to know. We don't know why he's here."

"I know why he's here," Elizabeth folded her arms across her chest.

"I'll find her," Sully walked into his house pulling on his shoes. "I promised her," he whispered.

"Promised her?" she asked.

"I promised her that I wouldn't let Jack find her."

"Oh, God," Elizabeth's hands started to shake. "What if he's got her? We have to call the police!"

"The police aren't going to do anything," Sully pulled on his jacket. "You said that you and Michaela had an argument. What were you fighting about?"

"I don't think that's any of your business," she scowled.

"Lizzie," Josef eyed her. "We need to know why she took off."

Sighing, tears began to form in the back of her eyes. "We were talking about children," she looked at Sully. "She was just talking about children and how she wanted them. I…I just don't want her to act impulsively."

"Children," he whispered. Biting his lip he brushed his hands again through his hair when it hit him. Running back into his house he grabbed his keys. "Stay here in case she comes back."

"Where are you going?" she demanded.

Stopping, Sully turned toward Elizabeth, "To get your daughter."

Slowly a tear ran down her cheek. "Sully, please bring her back. I can't let anything happen to her. Not now….not now."

"I'll bring her back to you," he looked at Josef and Elizabeth. "I promise."