"Sully, I really like the idea of having our wedding at Cloud Dancing and Snow Bird's ranch." Michaela began. "The views there are amazing."
"I agree, I've always thought the outdoors were the best place for a wedding," Sully replied.
"Are there any special things you want for our wedding day?" she asked.
"Just you, the girls and a preacher are all I need," He stated, leaning forward to give her a light kiss on the cheek.
Michaela blushed at his kiss. She couldn't wait until their wedding night.
"When should we have the wedding?" she asked, hoping her heart would stop racing after his kiss.
"What about Saturday, the 20th of this month?" Sully offered.
"Sully!" Michaela replied, shocked. "That's too soon, I can't possibly get everything planned by then."
"What is there to plan? We are having the wedding outside and we know the date." He replied.
"There's the cake, the flowers, our guests, our honeymoon and…" she began.
"Michaela," Sully began, pulling her into an embrace. "We don't need to have a big production, you know I don't like a fuss."
"Sully, I know that but my family will be here and they are used to the finer things. My wedding to David was a lavish ceremony."
"But you aren't marrying David, you know I am a simple man, I don't need to project something I'm not." He said, getting a little exasperated with Michaela on the subject.
Michaela could sense Sully growing tired of the wedding planning. It really was unfair of her to expect a wedding that wasn't his style. After all, the wedding day was for both of them. "Okay, Sully, I can appreciate your view of things. Why don't we put these plans away for now?"
"I think that would be a good idea," he answered.
"Have you thought about whose house we are going to live in after the wedding?" Michaela asked.
"I've actually been thinking a lot about that since I proposed." He began, smiling. "Cloud Dancing mentioned to me that he has several hundred acres on his land and would like for you and I to take over some of it."
"Sully, I would be honored to live there." She replied.
"I thought you would like it, so the last time I spoke with him, I told him we would buy some of his land."
"Sully, I can't think of a better place to raise the girls."
"And any more that may come along," Sully added, smiling shyly.
That was the first time she had heard Sully talk about adding more children to their family. She felt her heart skip a beat at his words. Her life was finally coming together so nicely.
"Yes, I would love to have more children," she replied, smiling.
"I have often wondered what our children would look like," Sully mentioned.
Michaela blushed at his admission. She had as well but didn't want to seem too forward to him.
Just then, they heard the girls on the baby monitor. "I think some little girls are awake now," Sully stated.
"Yes, I think you are right," Michaela answered.
They went into Hannah's room to find Hannah trying to climb out of the crib and Katie standing up holding the crib bars.
"Katie, you are standing up!" Michaela squealed, bending over to pick her up.
"We are going to have our hands full!" Sully mentioned, picking Hannah up.
Michaela glanced at him and smiled as she walked out of the room.
Later that night, Michaela was sitting at her kitchen table, thinking of how she could incorporate some of her plans to blend with Sully's. She knew that their wedding would be a lot different than her one with David. But she also knew that her mother expected nothing less than the best. She wasn't looking forward to her mother coming to visit. She could be very head strong and a force to reckon with when she had something set in her mind. She decided that she wasn't going to let her mother dictate her plans with this wedding or marriage like she did previously.
She grabbed her phone from the counter and decided to call Rebecca since Katie was already asleep for the night.
"Hello, Rebecca!" Michaela stated as soon as she heard her sister come on the line.
"Michaela! I've missed you," Rebecca replied.
"Sully and I have scheduled our wedding date. It's for the 20th of this month." Michaela stated.
"Michaela! That is awfully close. How are you going to get everything planned?"
"Sully and I are going to keep things simple. This will be the second wedding for both of us. We decided that we want to reflect on the day and its' meaning rather than all of the fanfare and expense," she replied.
"You know Mother isn't going to appreciate your sentiments," Rebecca cautioned.
"Yes, I have thought about her reaction. This is Colorado not Boston. I want something completely different than the ceremony that I had with David," Michaela reasoned.
"Mother is quite opinionated when it comes to ceremonies and parties. She will try to put her own touch on it," Rebecca mentioned.
"I am going to call her later this week and let her know our plans. I hope she will understand and respect our wishes," Michaela stated, fighting back the feelings of dread that were creeping up.
"I wish you all the best in talking with her, I know how the two of you don't see eye to eye sometimes," Rebecca began. "Do you need me to help with anything?"
"Yes, you can talk to Mother for me!" Michaela laughed.
"Oh, I think this is a battle you will have to wage on your own," Rebecca answered.
"Thank you for your help, Rebecca!" she chuckled and hung up the phone.
Michaela put her phone on the counter and reflected on their conversation. She would have to face Mother eventually but for now, she would do some more research on the best places for flowers and cake as this was more fun.
The following night, Michaela and Sully were relaxing on the sofa, discussing the wedding plans. The girls had just laid down for a nap.
"Sully, since the wedding is in two weeks, I have a few last minute things to take care of. I also need to call my mother."
"You haven't called her yet?" Sully asked.
"No, actually, I've been putting it off," she replied.
"Why?"
"Mother can be difficult," she replied.
"I can't imagine she is that bad. She's your mother," he reasoned.
"Sully, she is quite accustomed to getting her own way and she firmly believes she knows what is best for me," Michaela answered.
Sully pulled her closer to him on the sofa and put his arm around her. He hugged her lightly and reassured her. "Michaela, if you need me for support when you call her let me know."
"Thanks, Sully," she replied, resting her hand on his arm.
She was going to have to work up the courage to call her mother soon or it would be too late.
The week passed by in a frenzy of last minute details, dress fitting appointments and cake taste testing. As Michaela was leaving the Soda Springs Bakery, she heard her phone ring deep within her hand bag. She stopped at the bench just outside the bakery and put her shopping bags down to grab her phone.
"Michaela? When were you planning on calling me?" a loud voice demanded.
"Mother?" she asked, picking up her bags and walking to the car.
"Yes, are you telling me you don't recognize your own mother's voice?"
"Oh, Mother, really," Michaela blew out a breath.
"It's hard to hear out here at the store," she replied.
"Well, for Heaven's sakes, you could go back inside, dear," her mother chastised.
"Mother!" Michaela began.
"Well, just when were you planning on telling me about your wedding?"
"I was going to call you as soon as I had some free time, Mother," she replied.
"I feel like you've been putting me off," she stated.
"Well, actually, I have a little. You aren't the easiest person to discuss things with," Michaela offered.
"Why do you say that?" her mother asked, shocked.
"Mother, you have always insisted that I do things according to your standards. Do you recall my wedding to David and how lavish it was?"
"Why yes I do. I thought it was a very nice affair," she said, sounding proud.
"Yes, it was nice, but it was far too expensive and grand. It just wasn't me," Michaela offered.
"I suppose you do not want anything fancy this time?"
"As a matter of fact, we have already planned everything out. We are going to have the ceremony at his friend's ranch just outside of town," Michaela stated.
"Michaela, you aren't getting married in a church?"
"No, we aren't, Mother. The ranch is very beautiful, surrounded by lush forest and mountains. It is a very peaceful setting. We are going to have it outside among nature," She stated, proudly.
"I can hardly believe what I am hearing, Michaela. The Quinn's do not have weddings outside."
"Mother, this is our day and we choose to have it the way we have planned it," she shot back.
Michaela could feel her anger build. Her mother knew the exact buttons to push with her. Her day had been filled with happy thoughts of planning her future, of finally getting her life settled after moving from Boston. But she felt drawn right back there after hearing the words her mother was telling her. She always felt her Mother tried to keep her under her wing.
"Michaela, please let me help you with some of the preparations," her mother begged.
"Sully and I already have everything planned and all of the preparations are finished," Michaela answered.
She heard her mother let out an audible sigh. She knew she was getting frustrated and was probably going to do what she wanted to anyway. Michaela knew their conversation wasn't going to solve anything so she ended their call.
Michaela used the drive home to decompress from the call with her mother. She was upset at herself for always letting her words and attitude get to her.
Sully was in her kitchen when she walked through the door. The girls were playing on the floor with a few toys. She sat her bags down just inside the door. Hannah toddled over to her with Katie crawling just behind her.
"Mom mom mom," Hannah babbled.
Michaela looked up, stunned, as Sully walked in the living room, wiping his hands on a towel.
"Sully, is this her first word?" Michaela asked.
"Yes, it is!" Sully replied, picking her up. "You just said your first word, sweet girl!"
"I'm sorry that Abigail wasn't able to hear her," Michaela stated, picking Katie up.
"Yes, me too," he replied, briefly recalling that fateful day he lost her.
Michaela showed him the wedding preparations she had picked up, hoping to focus his thoughts on something more positive.
"Sully, Mother called me while I was at the bakery this afternoon," she mentioned as he was looking through her shopping bags.
"Oh, how did it go?"
"Let's just say we are at an impasse," she replied, and leaned up to hug him.
He could see the frustration in her face. He embraced her and lightly kissed her on the lips. He couldn't wait until their wedding which was just a few short days away.
Just then, Sully's phone rang. He swiped the screen and saw that it was Cloud Dancing calling. He thought that was odd seeing as he preferred to visit rather than talk on the phone.
"Hello, Cloud Dancing, is something wrong?" he began. After listening for a few minutes, he stated, "I will be right there."
"What is wrong?" Michaela asked, searching his face for an answer.
"It's nothing," he answered. He put his phone back in his pocket. "I need to go out to Cloud Dancing's ranch for a little while. I will be back later. Can you watch Hannah for me?" He asked.
"Sure, be careful," she replied, worried about his sudden change in temperament.