Chapter 17
Sully hadn't felt right about Michaela going to work a couple hours ago. He knew she was still in a great deal of pain yet of course she insisted, bringing the old argument of her needing to show up at the hospital now and then since she had some responsibilities there. Her words had been accompanied by a playful smile but he could tell that she was serious.
Fortunately, their daughters had fallen asleep quite quickly and so Sully had time to finally settle down as well. Letting the last forty-eight hours pass in review he was again struck by how close he had come to losing his entire family. Michaela could say what she wanted; he still knew that the accident was his fault. They had been on the street because of him. Looking at it from a distance, he wondered why he had run away at all. It appeared foolish now; he simply had to get used to the idea that his former main problem of how to earn enough money to provide for his family didn't exist anymore. The hard part about accepting this was that it was not thanks to him but Michaela. This thought reminded him that he still needed to speak with Hank…
Sinking against the back of the couch, Sully grew drowsy. He knew, however, that he should try and organize the following day. He didn't only want to be there for the children when Michaela would sleep in the morning; he needed to go to the BMW garage as well. They had called earlier and made some suggestions about how to handle things. He couldn't help but smile kind of proudly because Michaela had asked him whether he would mind taking care of that. And last but not least - he had to do something about Loren although he wasn't sure yet whether he would be able to take the first step. And if his surprise were to work, some more dialing would be in order…
Sully was about to drift off as the doorbell rang. He wasn't even sure whether he had heard it at all. Not wanting the children to wake though, he quickly rose and hurried to the entrance. Peering through the peephole he froze. His heart started to race and he literally saw red. Yet there was no way of avoiding this confrontation forever. Closing his eyes, Sully drew in a deep breath. Letting it out ever so slowly he told himself to stay calm. For his family's sake, he had to stay calm.
Maude had purposefully chosen this time for her and Loren to come to talk to Sully. The girls would be asleep which meant the men couldn't yell at each other. That Dr. Mike was at the hospital didn't hurt either. On one point she agreed with her husband: this was a family affair and it was better when they handled it in private.
Maude had heard Sully approaching the entrance and gathered he had seen them. Knowing a bit about his temper she pleaded, "Sully, please open up. Do it for Hannah."
She had barely spoken the words as the door opened. Not deigning them a look, Sully stepped aside. "Kitchen," was all he said and after another moment that he still needed to gain his composure, he followed them into the small room.
Too worked up as to sit with his former parents-in-law at the table, he rather leaned against the kitchen sink, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. Clenching his fists inside of them he waited.
Maude looked at her husband, exhorting him to finally grumble without looking at Sully but rather stubbornly returning his wife's gaze, "Awe… alright. I'm sorry."
They had had a vehement argument earlier. Loren still couldn't believe how much his quiet wife had changed since she first met their granddaughter. However, Maude had made it absolutely clear that she would never forgive him if Hannah would vanish from their life. Thus he had conceded and promised to apologize. To be honest, after this Miss Gibb had talked to him he was somewhat startled. His showing up at the youth welfare office could have had severe consequences for Hannah. She could have got lost in the system; that's how the social worker phrased it. Well, in the end things had worked out fine. All he had to do was to eat crow and that was why he was able to get the words out.
For Sully, who felt as if he had gone through hell since the moment Miss Chambers rang at the door, Loren's meager four words sounded like mocking rather than an apology. Maude could easily recognize that because she had watched his face carefully from under her lids. Sully's blue eyes were ablaze with anger and the color of his cheeks had heightened.
"Sully," she quickly spoke up as to correct the impression her husband had made, "Loren didn't think. He was angry that we weren't allowed to see Hannah at the hospital. He felt as if you forbade us to see her…" Sully's complexion was going back to normal and thus encouraged, Maude continued, "It's inexcusable what he did but he did it out of fear. Now that we've gotten to know Hannah we don't want to lose her again." Seeing Sully frown she hastily added, "And we want you with us too, so the family can be together again. Right, Loren?"
Expectantly she looked at her partner who affirmed although only grudgingly, "Yeah."
Sully didn't react to this statement nor did the wrinkle on his brow vanish. Yet the anger at Loren was replaced by a deep disappointment.
"I thought you'd understood," he at last addressed Maude. Not giving her time to reply he went on, "What about Michaela and Katie?"
Maude's heart skipped a beat. Sometimes it still hurt that Sully fell in love again after Abigail died. Yet after getting to know Dr. Mike and seeing how good she and her daughter were for Hannah, she embraced the thought of her marrying into the family. "They will always be welcome in our home," she quickly assured, nodding. Again seeking for her husband's affirmation she reiterated the words from earlier, "Right, Loren?"
As her husband finally responded, he looked up at Sully, "Yeah, I don't mind them bein' with you now. They're quite nice." Admitting this openly wasn't easy for him.
Sully, however, shook his head. Running both hands through his hair and staring at his feet, he exhaled exasperatedly. He hadn't met his former father-in-law for about a decade and was somewhat startled seeing what the years had done to him. It wasn't only that his hair had turned almost white but the deep lines on his face made him look much older than he actually was. Yet Sully couldn't feel pity; this man had almost ruined his daughter's, better said all his family's life. It was the same selfish reason that had made Abigail unhappy: like her, Loren simply wanted Hannah for himself. But Maude disturbed him even more. After her initial problems with another woman in his life, something he actually understood, he had gained the impression that she not only accepted Michaela and Katie but had grown fond of them. He had never expected for her to see Michaela a necessary evil she had to take when she wanted Hannah.
Taking a deep, calming breath, Sully at last stepped to the table. Supporting his hands on the top of it he bent towards Abigail's parents setting them straight, "Ya kicked me out of your family a long time ago. Although fact is, ya never took me in. I built my own life, first with Abigail, then with Hannah and now with Michaela and the kids. I understand that ya wanna have a connection to your daughter's daughter but for that ya gotta accept that she is mine, too. I'm her father and I'm responsible. Ya two have no right to meddle in her life. Ya wanna be a part of it? Fine, but only on my terms. That's it."
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Although Maude had already had a few serious conversations with Sully, it was this speech that opened her eyes, cut her to the quick. She needed two days to be ready to acknowledge that he was right. Actually, thinking about her true motives for being there for the children, even though she hadn't been aware of them, made her feel incredibly bad. While she simply tolerated Dr. Mike and Katie in the beginning, she had grown very fond of them. Now she felt as if she had betrayed their confidence. Yet she knew what to do.
Sully, however, never told Michaela the exact words that had been spoken that night. He didn't want to spoil her relief that was palpable when she learned that the Brays had been at her apartment to offer a truce. Thus Michaela's smile was open and wide when she opened the entrance in order to let Maude in a few days later. "It is good to see you," Michaela greeted the older woman, "But unfortunately I have to leave for work. I'm sure though that Sully will appreciate some company."
Yet Maude's intention was to apologize. "Dr. Mike," she began, venturing into the hallway, "I'm so sorry that I…"
"That's alright," Sully chimed in, looking over Michaela's shoulder. He was holding the jacket for her to shrug into it. "Welcome back." His gaze at Maude didn't hold any anger. For him Maude's coming meant that she accepted his conditions. That was all he needed as to go on.
After Michaela had bid her goodbye to everyone, including the little girls who greeted Hannah's grandmother enthusiastically, Sully only asked his former mother-in-law in order to be on the safe side, "Ya sure ya want it my way?"
"I am," Maude nodded, tears in her eyes.
"Good." Sully didn't dwell on it but rather said, "I could use your help."
As soon as the little girls were out of earshot again, he let her in on his secret plan.
Katie's arm healed well, and Hannah was back to her old self a few days after the accident. No one told the little girls what all the strangers in their apartment had really wanted. So the only remnants of this dreadful day for Hannah and Katie were occasional bad dreams that were immediately soothed by either their mommy or daddy. Soon they went back to the kindergarten and were even stable enough that Sully could dare to leave for Boston overnight. He didn't like to go away, not even for a couple of days, but he had things to do. That was why a second number was programmed to the children's cell phone and Hannah could reach her father when she felt the urge to hear his voice.
Thus everything was back to normal and Sully's preparations for his surprise went on without Michaela noticing it. Only once he had to fear she might find out what he was doing when she suggested that they all go to Boston on her next free weekend so she could look after her practice. Fortunately she listened to him when he pointed out that she could call Dr. Cook and ask him to send the records via Internet. His hint that she could use a break decided the issue. It had turned out that not only the seatbelt had caused a bruise but the steering wheel as well. The result of the latter was a contusion on her lower ribs which still hurt.
Anyway, three days before the weekend that was meant to be special everything was prepared. Already home from her day shift, Michaela made coffee while the girls were watching Shrek and Sully cleaned the kitchen.
As the doorbell rang, Michaela went as to answer it. Since the incident with Miss Chambers she acquired the habit of first peering through the peephole before she opened the entrance. As she did it now, she was stunned for a moment. She had never expected to see this woman here.
However, her smile didn't give away her astonishment when she opened the door. "Hello Miss Miller, what can I do for you?"
Yet Catherine hadn't come to exchange courtesies, "I need you to talk some sense into Sully. He will miss his best chance ever to get to be known country-wide because of you."
It didn't even occur to Michaela to ask the young woman into her apartment. All she could muster was, "I beg your pardon?"
"We invited two other writers and him to a symposium but he says he can't come because he has other plans for the weekend. Plans with you! If you really care for him you tell him…"
"Tell me what?" Sully demanded, joining them. "Is this still about the reading?"
Glaring at him Catherine affirmed his suspicion, "Yes, it is. And it's not just a reading. I won't leave before you tell me that you'll come."
Glancing up at Sully Michaela suggested, "Maybe we should discuss this inside."
Yet Sully refused, "Nope. No need. I already told her I ain't coming. We have other things to do."
Inwardly, he was cursing. How dared this woman show up here after he made it clear that there was no way to change his decision? She would ruin everything! Seeing Michaela's expression he knew she would support Catherine and thus he quickly considered how much to give away. "I prepared our housewarming party," he eventually revealed to Michaela, holding her gaze.
"You did?" she whispered in amazement. For a moment, Michaela forgot that they weren't alone. Throwing her arms around his neck she exclaimed, "That's wonderful, Sully!" Yet it only needed another minute for her to sober again. It wasn't because of the dull ache on her ribs from her pressing herself against him but the embarrassment that she only thought of herself at this moment. She was fully aware of the importance of being invited to a symposium. Slowly, she lowered her arms. "We can have the party another time," she hesitantly admitted.
Sully sighed; he should have known it. He scowled at Catherine for her interfering, making him reveal even more of his surprise. "Michaela," he said softly, turning back to her, "It has to be this weekend and it will. Your family from Boston is coming."