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The sun light streamed brightly through the curtains in Michaela's bedroom. She rolled onto her back and put her arm over her eyes to shield from the bright light. She could feel the baby moving around. The baby was getting heavier by the day. There was still about eight weeks to go until her due date. Her legs and back were starting to ache on a consistent basis. This made the basic tasks more cumbersome. Today she was going to get the furniture for her nursery and begin thinking of other decorating ideas.

She reluctantly pulled the blankets back and rolled to her side to slowly get out of bed. She stood up, rubbing the knotted muscles in her back. Michaela grabbed her robe and slipped it on to cover her nightshirt and yoga pants. The shirt was getting shorter the more that Katie grew. She descended the stairs and padded out toward the kitchen. As she passed through the living room, she noticed the photograph of her and David on the fireplace mantle. Daniel must have placed it there when he was unpacking. It was the last one they had taken together. They were both smiling and holding up her ultrasound picture of Katie. She picked the frame up and ran her hand over it.

"This seems like a lifetime ago," she mumbled under her breath. She felt her eyes fill with tears. She sat down on the couch and allowed the emotions to come to her.

After a few minutes, she heard a knock at the front door. She stood up, gathering her thoughts and tightening the belt on her robe. She walked toward the front door and looked through the peep hole to see who it could be.

"Sully, hi, "she said, opening the door.

He noticed her red, swollen eyes and immediately grew concerned. "Michaela, is everything okay?" he asked quietly, touching her arm.

"Yes, I am fine," she replied, wiping the last of her tears away.

Sully shifted Hannah in his arms. "You don't look like you are okay. Come over here and tell me what is wrong," he stated, wrapping his free arm around her shoulders and guiding her to the sofa.

"That picture over there on the mantle…" she stammered. "That was David and my last photograph together." She lowered her head so he wouldn't see her tears start to build again.

Sully placed a sleepy Hannah on the floor and went to take a closer look at the picture. It caught his breath as he and Abigail had a similar memory except it was soon after they arrived home from the hospital with Hannah. He could feel her pain and heartache. He knew the absolute despair that she was going through.

He moved back to the sofa to sit beside her and took her hand in his. He put a finger under her chin and turned her face toward his. He felt such immense love for her but had to restrain himself. He still fought the daily guilt and pain of losing Abigail and his growing feelings for Michaela.

"Michaela, it's okay to allow yourself time to feel the pain of losing David. My wife, Abigail, is on my mind all of the time. I understand the pain, the guilt, the hopelessness you feel." He declared, using his thumb to rub the back of her hand.

She looked into his eyes, realizing that she also saw his pain for the first time. His eyes were very kind and trustworthy. She felt safe with him. But she hoped that her eyes didn't give away her forbidden feelings about him. How could she allow the attraction for him to be so strong when she was having David's baby? She patted his hand with her free one. She was feeling a little better. Sully always knew the right thing to say to her.

"Have you had breakfast yet?" Michaela asked suddenly self-conscious about being in her robe.

"I had some coffee," he answered, picking Hannah up and placing her against his shoulder, rubbing her back to soothe her.

"How about I make some eggs and toast?" Michaela asked, getting up from the sofa and walking into the kitchen.

"Why don't you let me do that?" Sully asked. He placed Hannah gently back on her blanket on the floor.

"Okay," she answered, surprised at the ease they felt with each other. "If you will excuse me, I am going to head upstairs for a minute."

Michaela couldn't believe she was allowing Sully to cook her breakfast!" They had barely known each other but she felt so in tune with him. She felt that he understood her on a much deeper level. She didn't know what had happened to Abigail but she felt that their lives must have been on the same track in the last few months.

She reached the top of the stairs and felt a little winded, her girth was starting to make her uncomfortable. She padded down the narrow hall to the master bedroom. She opened the closet door and looked at the vast array of clothes she had. Since her size was changing rapidly, her selections were changing every few days. She chose a pair of white Capri pants and a royal blue peasant blouse.

Sully had just put breakfast on the table when she walked into the kitchen. He looked up from the table and his mouth dropped open. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She had left her hair in a loose braid, hung over her shoulder. Michaela hesitated at the doorway, she noticed his expression.

'What's wrong?" she asked, feeling self-conscious.

"Nothing," he answered, embarrassed that his thoughts were transparent on his face. "That blue is a nice color on you." His eyes sought hers and held them.

"Thanks," she answered. The look in his eyes spoke volumes to her and she wasn't sure she was ready to admit her feelings yet. Just then, they heard Hannah start to stir on her blanket.

"I will get her," Michaela mentioned, wanting to break the spell between them. She reached down to pick Hannah up and she reached out and grabbed Michaela's hand. Sully couldn't believe how Hannah was taking to her. Michaela was going to be a great mother.

Michaela put Hannah on her hip and carried her in the kitchen. She sat down on the kitchen chair and adjusted Hannah so she could eat. She grimaced when she shifted her weight in the chair. Her back was really starting to bother her. There was still so much to do to get Katie's room ready. She went through her mental check list.

"What are you thinking about?" Sully asked.

"Just my list of things I have left to do for Katie's room."

"Oh, like what?" he asked.

"I was just thinking that I need to go buy furniture and paint. Both of which I am not looking forward to with my back staying in knots these days," she mentioned, trying to keep the pain off of her face.

"I can help you out with that. I make furniture for a living," he replied, eating a forkful of eggs.

"You do?" she asked, surprised.

"Yes, what pieces do you need?" he asked

"Sully, I don't want to impose on you." She faltered.

"You are not imposing on me. I would be happy to do it. If you would like, you can come over to my garage and take a look at some pieces that I have done for other customers."

"I would like that but," she hesitated. "I would need it in about 8 weeks," she said, rubbing her belly.

She couldn't believe her luck! He was incredibly helpful to her even though they were just getting to know each other. The more she discovered that they shared the same fears, the easier it was becoming for her to release her guilty feelings over David. She was beginning to allow herself to feel happiness while still honoring David's memory. She felt she was becoming more secure in her new life.

"That won't be a problem," he stated. "Oh, to get back to what I originally came over for," he mentioned, changing the subject. "I wanted to see if you wanted to go out for dinner? I can get a babysitter for Hannah." He had said it! He couldn't believe that those words just tumbled from his lips. He looked at the floor, feeling terrified that he had just pushed her away for good. He was afraid to look at her.

She was stunned at his question. He was asking her out on a date! Should she go with him? She couldn't deny the attraction that was between both of them. Michaela felt that if she took this step, there was no going back, that it would change everything.