Chapter 25

April 26th 1867
Quinn Estate

Locking herself in her room Michaela sat at the edge of her bed wrapped in towel. A puddle of water sat at her feet as she stared at the wall in front of her. Looking at nothing, her eyes bounced around her bedroom until finally they came upon herself in the full-length mirror in the corner of her room. A tray of food Martha brought in earlier sat discarded and cold upon her writing desk.

Trying to calm her nerves and to keep her tears at bay, she didn't even notice she was pinching the skin of her arm. She couldn't believe Sully was denying what he did, and with such conviction. She hated to think her mother was right, she didn't want to think he was some serial charlatan. Biting her lip, she shivered from the cold and reached over grabbing her dressing robe. One thing was for sure…. she wasn't going to be made a fool of again. She wouldn't let him see how much it affected her.

Tying her robe tight around herself she sat at her vanity and took the pins down from her hair that was still curled from the night before. Large waves cascaded down her shoulders and back as she picked up her brush and began the arduous task of brushing the knots out.

"Miss Michaela?" a knock startled her from her thoughts. "Are you finished with your bath?"

"Yes Martha," she sighed.

"Would you like some tea, Miss?"

Not paying attention, Michaela zoned out and continued to just look at the wall and aimlessly brush her hair. She didn't even feel like she had the strength to talk. She just wanted to be left alone and go back to having no one care about what she did or where she went.

She heard her bedroom door open, and the shuffling of petticoats enter her room. "Martha, I don't want any tea!" She rose her voice and looked at the door.

Rebecca softly lifted her hand as if to announce herself. "It's me," she said gently.

Shaking her head, Michaela looked away again. "I'm afraid I'm not very good company right now Rebecca." she said. "I'd like to be left alone."

Not listening to her sister, she sat at the edge of her bed. "Michaela," she was indignant. "You're going to listen to me, you're going to listen to what I have to say."

Turing back to her sister, Michaela was a little surprised at her ire. "Not you too, Rebecca." Thinking that she was going to get another lecture about Sully not being a suitable husband, she didn't want to listen. "I already had to take it from Claudette and Marjorie."

"I don't think what you saw, or what you think you saw last night was really what happened," she came out with it. "I believe Sully."

Michaela blinked a few times at her sister, not sure if she understood what she was saying. "Rebecca…"

"Hear me out," she held up her hand. "Something just isn't right. From what I can see from Sully…the way he treats you…the lengths he goes to make sure you're happy," she shook her head. "Michaela he wouldn't do this…much less in the guest room of mothers' house!"

Pulling a handkerchief from her pocket Rebecca held it in front of her. "When Claudette went into Sully's room, she found this under the bedside table. Look at the monogram."

Taking the handkerchief, she looked at it and turned it over "A D," she said to herself. "A…. D", she repeated. "I can't recall anyone with those initials."

"Neither can Claudette or Marjorie."

"…Okay," Michaela didn't understand what Rebecca was trying to get at. "So Sully didn't…didn't cheat on me with one of our friends…or family members."

"Maureen said that she heard one of the scullery maids talking about seeing a woman with long brown hair leave Sully's room and out the service entrance last night. Wasn't the woman we saw Sully dancing with last night also have long brown hair?"

"He said it was my cousin," she remembered. "Ann…Anna…something?"

"Annabelle," she shook her head. "Michaela, the only cousins that were in attendance last night were Edison and Leroy."

Thinking for a second, nothing made sense. "Okay, so he lied to me," she shrugged.

"I'm going to find out who this woman is," Rebecca stood.

Boston Common Frog Pond

Sitting outside on the unseasonably warm spring day, Sully watched the ducks float by in the pond and the smell of azaleas tickled his senses. Hannah had fallen asleep on the blanket by his feet. After speaking with Rebecca earlier that day he still had little hope of making amends with Michaela. Absolutely nothing made sense to him, and he was scared out of his mind that she would never speak to him again.

He knew that he had to leave the Quinn home as no one wanted him there. He packed his bag and walked down the back service entrance hoping not to see anyone, but much to his chagrin even the help gave him dirty looks. He had no idea where he was going to stay. He used most of his money on the train tickets to Boston and Michaela's wedding present.

Rebecca told him that she would meet him at 5:00 pm at the opening of the Common on Tremont Street. It was only 3:15 pm and the hours seemed to go unbelievably slow to him. He wished that he could do something to help his situation, but he was at a loss. Boston was as foreign to him as the 15 different forks that were set next to his plate at dinner last night.

Turning around he could see the Quinn Estate. It was one of the larger townhomes that faced the Common and he knew that from Michaela's room she could see this exact spot. She had a corner room at the end of the hall. It was one of the smaller rooms in the home but had the best view of the Common. He had caught her a few times staring out the window, just memorized at the lamplighters below after dark.

"What are you lookin' at?" Sully questioned as he leaned against the doorway of her childhood bedroom, following her gaze to the streets below."

"The lamplighters are out," she nodded across the garden and into the edge of the Common.

"Mm…" Sully moved into the bedroom and looked below as the men methodically lit the streetlamps with their tall poles, causing more and more of Boston Common to come into view. Wrapping his arms around Michaela from behind, he rested his chin on her shoulder.

"It's funny, you know…"

"What is?" he questioned.

Licking her lips, Michaela spoke softly, "I must had seen them do this a thousand times, and it's still my favorite part of the day. I've missed it living in Colorado."

"Well maybe we talk to the town council about gettin' them installed through town. It'd be nice to have something t' see once you get to the meadow," he thought. I'm sure the reverend wouldn't mind having light to the church."

Smiling she nodded in agreement. "You see that tree at the edge of Frog Pond over there? The large elm?"

Moving closer he squinted to see clearer and pointed, "right there?"

"Mmhmm," she nodded. I used to sneak away when I was little and sit under that tree. I must have read 100 books under its shade," she smiled at the memory. "Whenever I'd get mad at my sisters I would 'run away' and hide under it."

Sully smiled and breathed in the scent of her hair as he tightened his hold on her.

"I thought I was so smart and that nobody knew where I was," she laughed. "Little did I know my mother would come up here and watch me, making sure I was safe."

"I would have loved to have known ya when ya were younger," he breathed in her ear. "Blazin' all those trails"

Michaela couldn't help but laugh. "I'm not sure about that. The only place you'd find me would probably be the library."

"Speakin' of the library," he turned her around. "Your ma showed me your father's library, it's pretty impressive and I don't think that place has been touched since he passed," Sully rocked her in his arms. "His pipe is still sittin' at the edge of his desk."

"It's the one room in the house my mother didn't redecorate after father my died" she said softly. It may not seem like it, but my mother can be pretty sentimental."

Sighing Michaela remembered coming home one day after rounds at the hospital a few weeks after her father had died. There was a large dray parked in front of their home and dozens of men were bringing furniture out the front door. She had remembered her mother saying something about redecorating, but she had no idea her mother was practically getting rid of everything in the house. It had angered her and one of the last straws of her decision to move out west. She couldn't bear to see her father's favorite chair, his nightstand, even some of his suits, casually tossed aside as if he never existed.

"You should take some of his book's home with ya," Sully looked in her eyes. "Or anything else ya want. We have an entire homestead to fill."

SighingSully looked up to the sky. Was that going to be true anymore? Were they going to have a homestead to fill? Would Michaela even go back to Colorado Springs?

Colorado Springs
May 1868

Michaela descended the steps of the homestead and looked around the first floor not seeing her husband anywhere. Peeking into the kitchen she noticed a pot a coffee cooling on the stove, a single mug pulled from the shelf sitting next to it. Looking at the front door she saw the silhouette of her husband moving around on the front porch. Taking a deep breath, she walked across the room and grabbed her shawl from the hook next to the door and wrapped it around herself. She pursed her lips and reached for the doorknob, holding it for a moment before turning it and opening the door.

Walking outside she saw Sully sitting on the step enjoying a hot cup of coffee. "Room down there for one more?" she asked softly.

"Of course," he smiled and opened his arm to her. "Suns about to set," he nodded across the horizon.

Taking a deep breath, she sat down and rested her hands in her lap.

"Baby down?" he asked blowing across his cup.

"Mmhmm," she nodded looking at the horizon.

"Hannah?"

"She's putting her dolls to bed, probably waiting for a bedtime story."

Pullin' her into his embrace he felt her hesitation. "What ya been frettin' about today?"

"I'm not fretting," she lied, biting her tongue.

"Okay," he didn't believe her. "But you haven't looked me in the eye all night and don't think I didn't notice you sugarin' instead of saltin' your chicken at dinner tonight."

"Sully I'm pregnant," she blurted out.

He turned his head and looked at her. "What?" he said in disbelief.

"I don't know how it happened."

He eyed her.

"I mean, I know how it happened…I just…I can't believe it," she shook her head. "Rose is barely three months old Sully."

Not saying anything, Sully sighed and looked out to the horizon.

"I'm sorry," her voice shook.

"Hey…hey," he pulled her into his arms. "You got nothin' to be sorry for. It should be me apologizin' to you."

"To me?" she questioned.

"Michaela…is this dangerous for ya?"

She was silent.

"Michaela," he pulled away to look at her, his pulse beginning to beat in his ears.

"There could be complications," she was hesitant.

"What type of complications?"

"Sully let's not talk about bad things," she turned back to the horizon just as the sun set below the tree line.

"Michaela, I need ya to tell me," his voice shook. "Is this gonna jeopardize ya in any way?"

"Women…have been known to have premature births if they don't wait at least…six months or so between pregnancies," she looked at Sully noticing his eyes turn large. "And some women don't have any problems at all," she said quickly.

Standing up he leaned over and held onto the railing of the porch, looking down at the ground below. "We were careless," he turned and looked at her. "I knew we should have waited longer. I let myself get carried away with ya."

"I didn't exactly tell you to stop," she moved closer to him. "And it doesn't matter anymore, I knew the risks."

"How can ya say that," he started to pace. "I can't lose you Michaela."

"Hey…hey," she went to him. She took his hand and lightly touched his chin to look into his eyes. She knew he was going to blame himself and that was the last thing she wanted. She hated to see the hurt in his eyes. "Nothing is going to happen to me."

He swallowed, "you don't know that."

"Sully, something could happen to me in a complete normal pregnancy," she shook her head. "Something could happen to you tomorrow for all we know."

He knew what she was trying to get at and he shook his head. "But this was preventable."

She sighed.

He ran his fingers through his hair and crossed his arms. "What do we have to do t' make sure things go smoothly."

"Well…." she thought. "A good diet is important, and I should rest more, so I should probably cut down on my hours at the clinic. Light exercise should keep me strong….and probably more frequent visits to see Dr. Bernard."

"Okay," he nodded. "Okay"

She took his hand and placed it to her flat stomach then looked him in the eyes. "We're going to have a baby," she smiled lopsidedly.

Sighing he couldn't help but have a small smile play on his lips.

Boston Common
April 1867

Sully was waiting at the entrance of Boston Common off Tremont Street for the last 30 minutes and was about to call it a day when he saw Rebecca scurrying across the street towards him. Making sure Hannah was sitting comfortably on the park bench he rose. Searching her eyes, he hoped for the best.

"I'm afraid I don't have much to report," she sighed. "I spoke to Michaela and she's adamant about what she saw, but…" she pulled a handkerchief from her pocket. "Claudette said she found this on the floor of your room last night," she handed it to him.

Looking at the handkerchief he shook his head and noticed the small read letters on the corner. "A. D." he said aloud. "I don't….."

"Annabelle….."

"Your cousin?" he suddenly looked up.

"Sully," she shook her head. "We don't have a cousin named Annabelle, and much more I looked at Mothers guest list…we don't even know an Annabelle."

"I don't understand," his brow furled.

"Neither do I," she sighed and touched his hand. "I'm sorry Sully, I wish I had more."

Shaking his head, Sully looked at her and smiled. "Don't be sorry, you're the only one that tried t' help." Looking around he noticed the sun was starting to set across the tree line. "You should get goin' home. It's starting to get cold."

"What about you? Where are you two staying?" concern etched in her voice.

"I'll find a boarding house," he smiled softly looking back at Hannah. "We'll be fine."

"Don't go back to Colorado," she said softly.

Sully smiled and touched her shoulder. "I'm not going anywhere."

The Quinn Estate

Michaela hadn't left her room the entire day. She felt so embarrassed and couldn't face her family and her mind tossed and turned most of the day. She didn't know if she was going to go back to Colorado and face everything that reminded her of her life with Sully or just remain in Boston. Her thoughts often returned to that of little Hannah. The thought of never seeing her tore at her heart. She thought of her as a daughter, and it ripped her to shreds thinking she had to let her go.

Pulling back the curtain she looked down at the Elm and noticed they were now gone. She watched Sully and Hannah sit under its shade for a good part of the afternoon. She wondered if Sully did that on purpose, knowing that she could see them.

Looking across to Frog Pond she could see the last remaining rays of sunlight as it shimmered on the shallow waters. She promised Hannah that they would picnic there in the coming days knowing that she would love to dip her tiny toes at the water's edge and probably splash everyone until they were soaked.

"So many promises," she whispered to herself.

Taking a few deep breaths, she tried to relieve the tightness she felt in her chest. It was like someone was twisting her muscles in her back as well as the front. It hurt to breath, hell it hurt to blink. She hadn't felt that way since the nights before a big final in medical school. Anxiety was getting the better of her and all her old tricks couldn't push it out of her mind.

Being in her old room she tried to remember what it was like living here…living when her father was still alive. Looking upon her armoire a photograph still sat at the top. It was taken on the day she graduated medical school. Her father had the brightest smile on this face, and she could remember that day like it was yesterday. She knew without a doubt that was her biggest and greatest accomplishment—still to this day.

Suddenly her door opened, and Elizabeth walked in.

Turning, Michaela brow furled. "I didn't realize knocking was so hard."

"I didn't realize I had to knock in my own home," Elizabeth sat on her bed. "I want you to come downstairs. It's time for supper."

Getting up Michaela walked to the opposite side of the bed. "I'm not hungry."

"Michaela, you haven't eaten since last night," Elizabeth followed her around the room. "Martha told me you haven't touched anything she's brought up to you. You can't go on like this."

Sitting down at her vanity Michaela remained silent.

"Fine," Elizabeth held her hands up. "I will let you sit and wallow for Mr. Sully for today…but after that Michaela it's time to move on. You have your whole life a head of you. There is so much for you here."

Michaela winced at her mothers' words. She for once she felt like she was neither here, nor there. "Thank you for your concern but, I'm feeling rather tired tonight," she stood.

Giving her one last look, Elizabeth shook her head and walked out of the room.

Ruthies Boarding House

After walking through the streets of Beacon Hill to Back Bay, Sully finally had someone take mercy on himself and his daughter. A genteel landlady named Ruthie welcomed him and Hannah with open arms. An Irish woman with fiery red hair, and an accent to match pulled them inside and cooked them a hot meal. Throughout the entire meal Hannah kept asking when she was going to see her grandma and Dr. Mike. Not knowing what to say Sully kept telling her soon.

"I just put fresh sheets on the cot for the wee lass," Ruthie smiled. "And on your bed too Mr. Sully. There are extra blankets in the closet inside your room if you get cold."

"Thank you, ma'am," Sully nodded as he climbed the steps with Hannah in tow.

"Nite Miss Ruthie!" Hannah waved.

"Good night darlin'," Ruthie smiled and waved back to the little girl. Watching the father and daughter climb the steps a small smiled played on her face. She couldn't help but wonder about their story and who the woman was little Hannah kept asking for.

Setting his daughter down on her cot, Sully knelt level with Hannah and began to take off her shoes. "Are you gettin' tired?" he asked softly.

"Nope," she said as her tiny legs swayed back and forth. "What we do?"

Sully chuckled and opened their suitcase. 'We're going to get ready for bed."

"Awww…." she wined. "Do we have to?

Pulling out her nightgown he sat it next to her. "Yes"

Looking around Hannah thought for a moment. "Is Dr. Mike Mama gonna read t' me?"

"Not tonight," he said softly.

March 1865
Kansas State Penitentiary

"Oh no you don't!" he pulled the bottle from her fingers. "You are NOT getting away that easily," John P. Mitchell threw the bottle to the ground. "Death is too good for you."

"No!" Abby fell to the ground trying to pick up the shards of glass that contained Laudanum. "No!"

"Get up!" he pulled her tightly by her arm. Grabbing his keys from the large ring that hung from his pocket he unlocked her door and started to drag her down the hall.

"Where are you taking me?" Abigail shouted trying to pull her arm away. Stop it! Where are we going!"

"We're not going anywhere," he laughed. "But you're going to a new home." Laughing, John had promised himself once he got Abigail Sully into his possession, he was never going to let her out of his sight. But once overcrowding hit the prison and he got orders to send the women out he knew where he could make her suffer the most…and it wouldn't matter if he was there or not.

"W-what do you mean?" she tried her best not to sound affected by his words.

"The east coast is calling you." He continued to walk her down a back hallway as his keys jingled at his hip. Opening a large iron door, he pushed her to walk down the dark, cement steps to the basement."

"Not solitary," she cried out. "John no!"

He laughed again. "You should probably get used to it….oh you're going to love New York."

Abby's eyes turned wide in shock and horror. "No! John No! I'll do anything. Please God, no!" She dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around his left leg. "Anything…I'll do anything. PLEASE!"

Looking down at her he shook his head in disgust and shook her off his leg before kicking her back further in the room and walking to the door. "Enjoy Sing Sing."

It's been 18 years since I started this story and 15 years since I last posted. I've thought about this story for many years and it always bothered me that I never finished. I finally realized that it's never too late to finish something that you started. Here's looking at you Elizaellen :) :)

Happy New Year to you all. Let's raise each other up and have the best year of our lives.

Let me know what you think about this chapter. My hope is that it flows well with the last 24 chapters and no one can tell there was almost a 2 decade break in-between!