Chapter 2

Elizabeth Quinn smiled at Michaela because she had made up her mind. Josef forgiving their youngest daughter meant that she could do it as well. There were a few realizations and a late visitor yesterday that helped her with this decision though.

When all her family left after dinner last night, Elizabeth had tried to rest. Yet she had to realize that being on her own for the first time since Josef died was a challenge she wasn't prepared for. The house was quiet in a way that unsettled her. Although she had spent hours, even days alone before, this time she knew it was for good. The air in the empty rooms around her began to pile up and press on her chest which made it hard to breathe. That was why the doorbell's ring didn't annoy her but was a welcome distraction. She didn't recognize her visitor right away yet when he said his name, she froze on the threshold. After all, the rift between her and Michaela was partly Mr. Lewis' fault. Yet perfect gentleman manners when he offered his condolences made her step aside, letting him in.

For an hour, he apologized for what he had done in the past, explaining his failing with the blindness of youth. He told the widow, who listened carefully, that he had already tried to right the wrong but chose an unsuccessful way to approach Michaela and his daughter. His words soothed Elizabeth's troubled soul, making her think there was a realistic chance for all of them to correct the mistakes from the past.

Only when Mr. Lewis was gone, of course not without her inviting him to the reception after the funeral, did she remember the young man who accompanied Michaela. He had said for everyone to hear that he would move to Boston if Michaela wanted to live here. At this point, it did not matter to Elizabeth which man would be at Michaela's side as long as she stayed. However, she needed to learn more about Mr. Sully. Remembering the book on Josef's desk, she went down to his office as to get the copy that her husband had studied for weeks.

With something to read she felt she might be able to endure the bedroom that now belonged to only her. Yet she couldn't fall asleep after skimming over the pages. Mr. Sully wasn't a writer, only a collector. The tales were nice to read and the pictures beautiful to look at, but they were created by other persons. There was no creativity from her daughter's fiancé's side. The lack if this quality, however, hinted that there wouldn't be many more books from Mr. Sully in the future which meant he had to go back to his original profession. His biography on the cover said he worked as a waiter. A waiter for her daughter who graduated at the top of her year from Yale!

Elizabeth only fell asleep in the wee hours, making plans for how to convince Michaela that she should forgive David. One argument would be that it was always better when the real father raised the child rather than a stranger. The other one was that Michaela and David shared the same interests. What could be better than to work side by side with your husband? And she herself would watch Katie, teach her all the things a young girl should know. The way the child had spoken to her cousin at the dinner table last night couldn't be called polite.

With all those thoughts still fresh on her mind, Elizabeth welcomed her youngest almost warmly the next morning.

Michaela was the last one who arrived; the family together with the lawyer, Mr. Winterbottom, was already gathered in the living room. All her sisters had brought their husbands and she felt like an outsider once again, wishing that Sully were here. Yet she had asked him to take their daughters out, not wanting them to witness another confrontation between the adults. Fortunately, Rebecca had saved a chair next to her which brightened things up a bit.

The lawyer already had a sheet lying on the table before him and as soon as everyone sat, he started to read Josef Quinn's last will without further ado. Knowing that the words spoke for themselves, he didn't look up from the paper even though gasps and whispers aroused very soon.

Michaela, however, was perfectly still, dumbfounded in fact. For some reason, she had anticipated that her father's wish would simply be that she led his practice, yet now she owned it. The practice was a large part of her parents' property and she had expected that all important material values, apart from some money for the daughters, would fall to her mother. She wasn't able to sort her feelings at this moment let alone respond to her sisters. Her father wanted her to have everything: the premises, all equipment, which alone cost a fortune, and the list of patients, too. If she noticed that her mother seemed to not mind her husband's decisions, she thought nothing of it. Yet. Automatically returning Rebecca's smile she ignored her other sisters' scowls.

"Excuse me," she said, rising from her seat as if in trance. "I think I need some fresh air."

"Miss Quinn," the lawyer's voice stopped her on her way to the door, "I need you to sign some papers."

Slowly, she turned to him. "Right now?"

The man nodded, "It would save us both time."

Yet now the storm broke loose. "Mother! You can't allow that!"

"That's not fair! How can she get so much and you so little? And what about us?"

"Dad wasn't able to make decisions on his last days. He was far too sick!"

The three middle sisters continued protesting, giving each other the words. Elizabeth, however, silenced them, disapproval of their behavior audible in her tone, "First of all, your father made this decision the day Michaela graduated from medical school. Second, this practice already belonged to him before we married which means it was all his. And third, it is not up to you to judge your father's wishes."

Although Michaela heard all the arguments, they didn't reach her. She only continued looking at Mr. Winterbottom, finally responding, "Could you please give me a few minutes? I'll be right back."

Barely waiting for his nod, she hastily left the room. Her heart was pounding in her throat by now, her legs feeling weak. As a doctor she knew that the shock was setting in and she quickly sat down on the bench near the window in the hallway. Bending forward, she brought her head close to her knees, taking some deep breaths. Finally, her pulse slowed to a normal rate and she straightened, already beginning to think. Did the new facts change her mind? Well, she would find a solution. She was responsible for this practice now and she never shied away from responsibilities. Yet before she signed anything, she decided to call Matthew Cooper. He had helped her when David came to Colorado Springs and demanded to get Katie. She wanted the young man to be her adviser again, knowing she could trust him. Yet the first person she would consult was Sully. Sully… Thinking his name made her heartbeat quicken again but this time, it drummed a joyful rhythm.

It took Sully a bit of time before he eventually stood outside of the hotel as to start to the harbor with his daughters. They had left the building together with Michaela and Maude yet found that Hannah and Katie needed their cardigans because a cool breeze blowing from the ocean made them shiver. Once back inside, Sully decided to pull a sweatshirt on as well and so they went from the children's room to Michaela's. Yet now, each little girl needed to see the bathroom. They both had drunk far more than usual in the morning because they had detected a juice on the breakfast buffet which they simply loved.

However, back at this place Sully became distracted recalling the previous night. He thought nothing of it when the children didn't come back right away. After changing, he sat down on Michaela's side of the bed. His expression became dreamy, remembering every moment of them being together. Of course making love to Abigail had always been great yet this time, he had experienced more than the union of two bodies. There had been a sense of oneness he had never felt before. He didn't know how to describe it but he knew he wanted to relive it again as soon as possible.

Beginning to make plans for the evening, he suddenly became aware that Katie and Hannah were still in the bathroom. After clearing his throat he raised his voice somewhat, "What happened in there? Has someone fallen in?"

Giggling told him that they were alright and after a short knock he opened the door. A perfume cloud was telling him what they had been doing and he disapprovingly arched his eyebrows. He didn't have to add one word; both culprits reddened and looked down at their feet.

After this, it had taken them a while until one of the receptionists had time to tell them how to get to the harbor. Eventually back outside, Sully's cell phone rang. He didn't look at the number for he was sure it was Michaela yet the voice he heard sounded unfamiliar first. However, after a few words he recognized it. His editor, Mr. Evans, was calling, telling him that he knew from Cloud Dancing that Sully was in town. "Could we meet? I have an idea I'd like to discuss," the man at last asked.

"Right away?"

"If you don't mind. I'm free till lunch."

The suggestion was tempting because it meant meeting with the editor now wouldn't shorten his time with Michaela later. But Sully still hesitated looking down at the little girls' questioning faces. "I'm on my way to the harbor with my daughters. I promised to show them the ships," he at last responded.

"I see." A short silence indicated that Mr. Evans was contemplating what to do and actually, he continued after a few moments, "Well, how about the four of us take a little harbor cruise together? There is one that lasts only forty-five minutes. The children can watch the surroundings and we can have our talk."

Mr. Evans knew Sully's financial situation and thus he quickly added, "I'll buy the tickets. They will go on my expense account."

Although Sully hadn't even thought about the money yet, the last words decided the matter.

They took the MTBA Blue line to the Aquarium and met the editor in time to go aboard right after their arrival. Since it was a usual working day, the ship was quite empty and they easily found a table next to a window. After making sure that the little girls were comfortable, Sully looked expectantly at Mr. Evans who took the hint, "Mr. Sully, I think it would be good if we changed the concept for your book." Seeing his author suspiciously frowning, he hurried to go on, "Actually, you yourself gave me the idea. You made me laugh with the comments you wrote as to explain how you found some of the stories. We know that people love to read about personal experiences rather than only dry facts."

Peter Evans could tell that he now had all the attention he needed. "That is why I want to suggest to turn the book into a report, or even better a diary."

Sully slowly nodded. He had already thought about this as well. At the book signings, people often asked him how he found the tales and how getting to know a Cheyenne medicine man influenced his life. Thus he responded, "Sounds reasonable. I'll think about it."

Knowing the man across from him a bit by now, Peter Evans smiled. His suggestion had fallen on fertile ground, and this was all he had hoped for.

While Hannah's nose almost touched the window when she excitedly watched all the ships of different sizes, Katie became more and more withdrawn. Since their arrival here, a strange feeling was growing inside of her. The way people in this town spoke the words, the smell of the air and now being on this ship made her inexplicably sad. The last time she had made a harbor cruise was when her mommy and she had celebrated both their birthdays, which were only two days apart, shortly before they moved to Colorado Springs. Although the two of them didn't have guests, it was an afternoon the little girl remembered as a very happy one. The child had never heard of a feeling called homesickness but she clearly suffered from it, suddenly yearning to be with her mommy and even growing misty-eyed.

Since the men were done with the professional talk, Mr. Evans started to explain some buildings they passed. Sully grinned hearing Hannah torturing him with all kinds of questions. Of course he noticed that Katie, who still sat with her back to him, didn't ask but he thought it was because she knew about all these things. Yet when she didn't join their laughter, he gently touched her shoulder in order to make her turn to him, wondering worriedly, "Kates, ya alright?"

Seeing the trail of a tear on Katie's cheek he didn't hesitate to lift her on his lap. Tenderly wiping the moisture from the soft skin he started rocking her, "What's wrong, sweet girl? Tell me."

Pressing her face against her daddy's strong chest, the little girl felt safe but still whispered, "Can we go to Mommy, please?"

"Sure," Sully replied, "As soon as we leave this ship. To be honest, I miss her, too."

As he gained a watery smile, he knew all was well again for his daughter.