It was dusk when she returned home. She had spent most of the afternoon walking along the Charles and sitting by the harbour waterfront.
She opened the front door as quietly as possible, but Elizabeth was waiting for her return.
"There you are!" she exclaimed and gestured for her to follow her into her father's library.
"She's back, Joseph" Elizabeth stood behind her husband, who was sitting by his desk.
"We need to talk, Mike" he pointed at the chair across from him, and Michaela sat down.
She felt 10 years old again. At first her father did not speak, but merely sighed, and she knew then that the situation was bad.
"David came and talked to me today…" he started. She swallowed wondering what words might have been exchanged between the two men.
Yet she remained silent waiting for him to continue.
"He wants to cancel our contract…" Michaela was surprised at his words, and she frowned a little.
"He demands that I buy him out, because he became a partner under false pretenses."
"Why?" the word escaped her mouth, and the moment she had said it, she wished she could take it back.
However, inwardly she wondered what false pretenses David was referring to.
"Why… is not so important right now. What are important are the consequences."
She met her mother's stern face, and quickly looked away.
"If David leaves the clinic I may have to close –unless you step in."
She shook her head a little. "Dad… I can't do that."
Then there is only one option left – Elizabeth quibbed.
Michaela could tell just by looking at her mother what she was thinking.
"No" she said firmly. "I'm not marrying him. How can you even suggest that?" she exhaled sharply.
"He's a good match, wealthy, you get to work as a doctor nicely and comfortably. It'll be the perfect partnership in all respects.
You won't have to worry about a thing."
Michaela shook her head. "I can't… I won't."
"Just as I feared", Joseph said. He rubbed his temples.
"There is no easy way about this… Mike. If you do not comply with the family's wishes, we have to cut you off."
Michaela felt her temper rise. She knew her mother was behind it, but she would not let her know how angry she was.
It was not about the money, it was the whole situation.
"I don't believe this.." she mumbled, but Elizabeth cut in.
"You better believe it young lady. From now on you won't get anything from us. I don't think you realize the situation you have put your father and I in."
"Do you even realize the situation you are putting me in? I don't care about the money. I'm not like you."
She glared at her mother who laughed softly.
"Michaela… you'll learn, and you'll come back when it is too late."
Michaela had heard enough. "Forget it.." she got up.
"You're so naïve and stubborn. You don't know what is good for you.." her mother continued.
But the words did not impress Michaela. Instead she simply left the library.
In her room, she let her tears flow into her pillow.
She was angry with her parents for trying to control her life like this, and unsure of her future.
If David withdrew his partnership her father would have to work harder... she knew what that meant.
He was not a young man anymore, and should really retire.
'False pretenses…' she wondered what David had been promised when joining the practice? There was only one way of finding out.
Swiftly she picked up her mobile and sent a text before grabbing her keys and sneaking down the stairs.
She slowed down once she was a few blocks away.
Approaching the heavy wooden door, she took a deep breath.
The door opened before she had the chance to knock.
"I saw you from the window." He stepped outside and closed the door behind him.
"Let's walk."
They walked in silence until they reached the Common.
She eyed him unsure where to start, but she decided to start with the most pressuring question.
"What did they promise you?" They sat on a bench near the ducklings.
"You.." he simply stated, and she looked at her feet.
"And you believed them?" she questioned.
David sighed leaning back. "Well, I believed they would be able to persuade you… but since you are here… I assume they did not succeed."
She shook her head wistfully. "You really expected them to? I thought you were intelligent."
"I love you Michaela. I guess I'm blinded" he met her gaze.
"David" her voice was soft.
"You have to give it up… I'm leaving soon, and I won't be back for a long time. I just wish you would not take it out on my father."
He shrugged his shoulders in response.
"Will you think about it, please?" she questioned, maintaining eye contact with him.
"Maybe.." She took a deep breath –knowing this was his way of getting back at her.
"Don't be unfair… I've always been honest with you about how I feel."
"But you don't know what it is like to be me!" he exclaimed twisting his hands. "Do you even know what love is?"
"David.. don't…"
"No. It's my turn to speak. Don't you think I want to move on, to forget about you? I look for you in all women I meet. You're a curse, Michaela."
"I better go…" she got up. "For what it is worth; I'm sorry."
Then she walked off.
The conversation with David had not gone as she had hoped, and in her misery she missed Sully terribly.
Across the country the sun was setting, and Sully was preoccupied making a fire with a group of yonger children when he got a strange feeling in his stomach.
It was difficult to pinpoint its source, and it was quite unsettling.
"Michaela…" he did not know why his thoughts flew to her.
Normally he would keep himself busy with the children during the day, and only indulge in sweet thoughts of her when he was alone.
But now he sensed an extreme sadness combined with an overpowering feeling of her.
She had only just dropped off her bags before taking off. She felt restless.
When she walked into the café, Charlotte frowned a little, and went to her table.
She looked miserable, so she simply placed a hot cup of coffee and a muffin on the table.
"It's on the house." Charlotte sat down.
"What's going on?"
Michaela felt her hands shake a little –she did not know where to start.
"I guess, I just had to leave early," she mumbled staring into the hot liquid in the cup before her.
"Sweetie" she could tell Charlotte put on her motherly tone.
"It's me –now talk to me. You look awful."
The tone of her voice, her sincerity and her kindness caused Michaela's tears to flow.
She told Charlotte about the whole situation, and how unreasonable both her parents and David had been.
"Don't worry, Mike. I'll help you sort everything out here." Charlotte gave her hand a squeeze.
Then she smiled. "I'm visiting the children at the camp tonight. Why don't you come?"