Chapter 23

Maureen woke to the sound of knocking at the front door. Rolling over she noticed it was after eleven in the morning. Rubbing her eyes she slowly got out of bed and pulled on her robe. "Just a moment," she called. Tying her robe, she padded down the hallway to the front door. Opening it she came face to face with Sully.

"Sully," she smiled.

"Maureen," he looked around. "Michaela home?"

"No, I'm sorry," she leaned against the door. "She's at the hospital."

"Oh," he looked down. "Okay."

"You want to come in?" she asked.

"Oh, no, I just wondered if she was home is all," his face dropped.

Knowing that he was discouraged, Maureen offered, "She's been keeping late hours at the hospital recently. She leaves before I wake up and when she comes home she just falls into bed. I've barely see her myself."

"I see," Sully looked up. "It's been almost two weeks, I just wondered if she was alright."

"She's fine," Maureen smiled at his sincerity. "I've lived with doctors pretty much my entire life, this is normal."

"Okay," he didn't seem comforted. "Tell her I stopped by?"

"Tell you what," she thought. "Tomorrow is Michaela's day off, why don't we plan something for the three of us. You know the town better than us, take us around."

"Ummm…sure," he nodded. "I can do that."

"Okay then," she smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Having spent most of her day walking around the town of Colorado Springs, going in and out of children's boutiques, purchasing a half dozen outfits and walking the centre square three times, Maureen's feet started to hurt and she decided to call it a day. Returning back to Michaela's she was surprised to see her BMW parked in the garage. Glancing at the time she noticed it was only a little after three.

"Michaela?' she called, upon entering the house. Setting her packages down on the dining room table she looked around. "Michaela?"

"I'm in the office," she called.

Walking down the hallway she entered the room and noticed her sister sitting at her desk. "You're home early."

Not looking up from the computer she answered. "My afternoon surgery was cancelled till Thursday, so I decided to call it a day after rounds."

"That's good," she sat down on the couch. "You need some time off."

Shutting off her computer she turned to Maureen. "I'm sorry I haven't been home lately," she commented. "I don't want you to think I'm neglecting you."

"Don't worry about me," she waved her hand. "I think there's someone else missing you though."

"Who?" she wondered.

"Sully came over today."

"He did," she turned, shuffling her papers around. "What did he want?"

"He wondered how you were doing. I think he thinks your avoiding him."

"Why would he think that?" she looked out the window.

"Are you?" she asked.

"Course not," her face turned red.

"Michaela, what's wrong? You haven't seen him in two weeks! Since that night at the fair and you two were inseparable then."

"I'm not trying to avoid him; you know how busy I've been. It's not easy being the new doctor on staff."

"Michaela," Maureen could tell her sister wasn't being completely honest. "What happened? Did you two have a fight?"

"No."

Looking at her sister for a moment it dawned on her. Moving in closer, Maureen sat on the side of Michaela's desk. "You slept with him didn't you."

Michaela's head snapped up and looked at her sisters squarely in the eye. "How…how did you…"

Maureen giggled a bit, "Because you have the same look, Claudette and Marjorie had after they did."

"Same look?"

"Euphoric and guilty all at the same time," she smirked. "So was it any good."

"Maureen!" she turned.

"Oh Michaela, we're both adults here. I know you wanted him."

Biting her lip, Michaela looked at her sister. "It all happened so fast and unexpectedly."

"The best sex usually is!"

"Maureen you know I don't act like that."

"Michaela, Robert and I had sex all time before we were married. Mother even caught us once."

Michaela's mouth hung agape. "No!" she was stunned. "What did she do?"

"She shut the door," Maureen laughed. "Then forbid me to see him until our wedding. Like that happened!"

Sighing she looked at Maureen with tear filled eyes. "I just don't want him to think I'm some…some…"

"Skank."

"Well…for lack of better words…yes I suppose."

"Michaela I don't think he thinks that. He came over today, just wanting to know how you are. He's called a few times….during the day, so we know it's not a booty call."

"Maureen!" Michaela's face turned red.

"Michaela he's a decent guy. He respects you I can see it, I wish you could too."

"He told me he loved me," she blurted.

"Oh!" Maureen's eyes turned wide. "So that is what this is about."

"That's not all of it," she frowned. "I said it back."

"Oh! Oh…okay then. Ummm…anything else?"

"God," she held her head in her hands. "I totally messed this up. I should have known I can't be in a normal relationship. I should have stopped this before it started."

"Michaela," Maureen wrapped her arms around her." You didn't ruin anything! He told you he loves you. Isn't that what you said you wanted, where you wanted it to go?"

"I'm scared Maureen," she sobbed. "There's no way something this wonderful could last. I…I don't deserve this."

"Deserve?" Maureen pulled Michaela back to look into her eyes. "Sweetheart no one deserves to find love and happiness more than you."

"No, I don't," she shook her head.

"Who told you that?" she wondered. "Was it Jack? Was it?"

When Michaela didn't answer Maureen got her answer. She didn't know how she would be able to erase all the years of brainwashing her sister probably received from Jack. Taking her sisters hand she spoke softly, "Michaela listen to me. The reason this is so hard is because you care. I know you, Michaela Quinn, and you have never taken anything worth wild lightly, especially love. You love him and I know it. And yes, it can be that simple. He loves you and you love him. Don't push it away because you don't think you deserve him."

"I'm afraid I already have," she frowned.

"No, you haven't," Maureen smiled. "Mr. Sully is at home planning our day for tomorrow as we speak."

"What?"

"When he came over today I told him tomorrow was your day off and I asked him to take us around town. Show us the sights and he so graciously accepted!"

"Did he really want to know how I was doing?" she asked.

"God, Michaela," she laughed. "I thought that poor man was going to cry. You got him so whipped."

"I do not," she laughed.

Glad that she finally got her sister to laugh she decided to go in for the kill. "So spill it already. How was it?"

Picking up a stack of papers and the telephone Michaela started to walk out of her office. "That sister dear is a tale for another time!"

Walking across the lawn, Michaela knocked on Sully's door.

Hearing footsteps walk across the oak floor of the foyer the front door opened. "Michaela?"

"Hi," she smiled. "I…I…just wanted to say hello."

"Did Maureen tell you I stopped by?" he wondered.

"Yes," she looked down. "I've been so busy at the hospital I just…."

"Byron who's at the door?" a woman's voice was heard.

Michaela stepped back at the sound of the voice. "I…I'm sorry I didn't know you had company."

"Michaela it's…"

"No," Michaela held up her hand, starting to walk down the porch steps. "I…I'm just going to go. Sorry to interrupt."

"Michaela wait," he called, walking out onto the porch taking her hand. "There's someone I'd like you to meet."

As Michaela turned the front door of the house pulled open further and a women in her mid sixties emerged. She was wearing a red cardigan draped around her shoulders, her hair graying a bit at the temples and she had a rather familiar look about her.

"Michaela I'd like you to meet my mom, Katherine."

"Michaela!" Katherine's eyes lit. Walking down the porch a little she took Michaela's hand and led her inside. "I've been wanting to meet the woman my son doesn't stop talking about."

Turning a little Michaela caught Sully's eyes and he blushed. "Sully didn't tell me you were coming this week," she told the woman.

"He didn't know," she giggled. "I surprised him. I just got off the plane about an hour ago."

"What a wonderful surprise."

Sitting down on the couch Katherine motioned for Michaela to take a seat next to her. "So Sully tells me that you're a doctor?"

"Yes," she nodded. "I'm a surgeon at Penrose."

"That's wonderful. It's so great to know that someone can take care of my baby if he gets sick," she looked to Sully. I always get so worried about you out here by yourself."

"I'm fine mom," he smiled.

"He's just like his father, God rest his soul, had such an independent streak about him."

"My mother tells me the same thing," Michaela turned. "But I don't think she likes it much."

"I can't imagine she would be. It would be much different if I had a daughter that wanted to move across the country by herself. You are a brave one."

"I tell her that all the time," Sully smiled, placing his hand on Michaela's shoulder.

Smiling up at him, her eyes held gratitude. Katherine noticed the look between the couple and smiled. She was so happy her son had finally found someone after years of being alone. Even though she had only been in the room with Michaela for mere seconds she could tell why her son was taken with her.

"Mom I was thinking, I'm taking Michaela and Maureen around the city tomorrow, why don't you join us and we can all have a picnic at the park you like so much at the base of Pikes Peak."

"Oh, I almost forgot," Michaela placed her hand to her forehead. "I told Maureen I'd make her dinner tonight. I'm afraid I've been neglecting her as well with my busy schedule."

"Maureen?" Katherine looked up. "Is…is that your daughter?"

"No," Michaela shook her head. "It's my older sister. She's staying with me for a few weeks while her husband is in Washington. She's pregnant and eating me out of house and home."

Katherine laughed, "I remember those days."

"Well at any rate, I'd love for you to come with us tomorrow, Mrs. Sully."

"Oh, call me Katherine," she smiled. "None of this formal stuff."

"Alright," she nodded, getting up. "I do hope you'll join us tomorrow. I'd like to get to know you a little better."

"I'd like that too," Katherine rose. "I'll show you some pictures of Byron when he was a baby."

"I'd love that," she turned to Sully, batting her eye lashes. "I'll see you both tomorrow then."

"Let me walk you out," Sully placed his hand on the small of her back.

Walking to the front door he closed it behind them. "I'm really glad you stopped by."

"I'm sorry I've been neglecting you," she looked down.

"Hey," he drew up her chin. "That's not what I meant. I know you're busy. I do. I just missed you is all. And I was a little afraid you were avoiding me."

Biting her lip she thought about telling him how she felt, but she knew she was being foolish. Marjorie was right, Sully was an honorable man and the way he looked at her confirmed that. "I missed you too," she wrapped her arms around him. "I promise things will start to slow down soon," she told him. "It's always hard in the beginning. I…I just need to establish my routine."

"Don't worry about me," he continued to hold her. "I'm not going anywhere."

Setting her napkin on top of her plate Maureen sat back and sighed. "That was a wonderful dinner, Michaela," she was truthful. "I remember back in the day when you couldn't even boil water."

"Well I had to learn," she got up taking the plates. "Maureen, I was thinking. Would you like to stop in at the hospital for a bit?"

"Go to the hospital?" she frowned. "I thought you were done for the day."

"I am," she smiled. "I meant for you. I was thinking you might like to have an ultrasound. Maybe even find the out the sex of the baby."

"I'm having a girl," she crossed her arms.

Michaela rolled her eyes remembering what the fortune teller told her. "Okay…"

"Well," Maureen hedged. "Perhaps an ultrasound would be nice. Just to make sure everything is okay."

"I think it's a good idea. We can call Robert if you'd like. So it's like he's there. I think he'd like to know."

"I think he would too. And Ethan wants to know as well. I got an e-mail today from him at baseball camp. He want's it to be a boy."

"He wants a brother," Michaela smiled. "I remember when he was little and he told me wherever he looks he sees girls!"

"I know he's almost fourteen, but I miss him," Maureen frowned.

Going to her sister's side, Michaela wrapped her arms around her. "It's natural to miss one's children, no matter what age."

"I know," she wiped away her tears. "And I guess it's just my hormones."

"That too," she laughed. "Come on lets go. I'll do the dishes when we come back."

Sitting on the swing of his front porch Sully turned as he heard his front door open. "Thought you might want a piece," Katherine smiled two plates of apple pie in hand. "I know it's your favorite."

"I thought I smelled you cooking something," he laughed, taking the pie. "You didn't have to make it."

"Nonsense," she waved him away, taking a seat next to him. "I know it's all you've been thinking about since I've stepped off the plane."

"You caught me," he smiled. "Thanks."

Silently eating their pie, Sully remembered the first time he saw Michaela and a smile crept to his face and he laughed to himself.

"What is it?" Katherine looked up.

"I was just thinking of the first time I met Michaela. She was taking apples from my tree to make a pie."

"She was?"

"Yea," he nodded. "I think I scared the daylights out of her."

"I hope you weren't mean to her," she joked.

"Course not," he laughed. "I told her if she baked me a pie I'd invite her over to dinner."

"Did she accept?"

"After a little hoaxing. Not that it really mattered, I ended up burning dinner and she cooked for me."

Katherine was enthralled by son's tale, happy to finally see him enjoying himself. She knew the dark place he went to after his wife left him. She was afraid he would never come back and be the son she used to know. "You like her a lot don't you," she asked.

"Mom."

"Byron," she rolled her eyes. "If it makes you feel any better. I like her."

"You don't really know her."

"It's woman intuition."

"Well then I'm glad," he said. "Cause I think she'll be around for awhile."

"Good," she nodded. "But I do have one question about her."

"What's that?" he turned.

'Why'd she move all the way out west away from her family and everyone? She seems to be very smart; you'd think any hospital would be happy to hire her."

Not knowing how to explain or even if he should he remained silent. Michaela's personal life wasn't his business to tell, even if it was his mother. "She just wants to start over in a new place," he nodded. "And she knew some of the doctors out here."

"Oh," Katherine nodded, having a feeling there was more to the story than Sully was letting on. "Well I think you two are just right for each other."

"You don't think I'm too good looking for her?" he smirked.

"Well," she hesitated. "I was thinking she was too pretty for you."

"Good lord Michaela that's cold!" Maureen jumped as Michaela squeezed the sonogram gel onto her stomach.

"I'm sorry," she frowned. "It's new and hasn't been sitting at room temp."

Adjusting in her chair, Maureen sat back and sighed. "I can't believe Robert's still in a meeting at the capital. He's been working so hard."

"He does work hard," Michaela nodded. "But just think how surprised he'll be when we email him the sonogram picture. He'll love it." Rubbing the gel onto her sisters belly she commented, "You're really starting to get big."

"Thanks for the reminder. And I know it's going to take twice as long to get rid of all the weight now that I'm older. I never thought I'd be having another child in my forties."

"I think you should consider yourself very lucky," Michaela nodded as she picked up a pair of rubber gloves.

"Oh, Michaela I'm sorry," Maureen shook her head. "I didn't mean it like it came out."

Michaela looked down, biting her lip. "I know."

"Have you looked more into your options?" she asked. "I know you've been thinking about it."

"I don't think it's going to work," she said. "I barely have time for myself. It wouldn't be fair to a child. I'm afraid I wouldn't be a very good mother."

"Michaela," Maureen sat up. "You would be a wonderful mother. The children love you. Look at Elise, remember all those fights she had with Marjorie and how she threatens to come and live with you."

"Marjorie would get so mad," Michaela laughed.

"You know Michaela, if none of your options work out I would…I'd have a child for you."

Michaela quickly looked up, her eyes growing wide. "W-what?"

"I would do that for you."

Michaela looked at her sister with new found love. She couldn't believe she would actually do that for her. "That's very generous of you, but I could never ask you to do that, Maureen."

"Michaela I know how much you want this. And you deserve it more than anyone."

Looking away Michaela pointed to the monitor. "Look," she said. "It's your baby."

"Oh my goodness," Maureen leaned on her elbows. Look…"

Moving the scope around her belly Michaela stared to point out the body parts. "There's the arm, oh and look at its little fist!"

"Are…are those the toes," Maureen guessed, her voice full of emotion.

"It sure is," Michaela too starting to get teary. "Would you like to know the sex?"

Maureen looked at her sister, closed her eyes and nodded.

Michaela moved the scope to the lower edge of her belly and smiled. "It's a girl."

Exhaling Maureen's face broke into a wide grin. "Oh, thank God. If I had to return all the stuff I bought I'd be so mad!"

Michaela laughed at her sisters' comment and continued to stare at the miracle on the screen, just transfixed with the unborn child. "How about I print this out and we'll send one to Robert."

Maureen gushed, "He's going to be so happy. Let's send one to mom and dad too!"

Michaela squeezed her sisters' hand, "We'll send one to everyone."