CHAPTER 15:
One morning, towards the end of the summer, Michaela was at the clinic. Colleen and Brian were at school and she knew Sully was taking pictures near Pikes Peak. She had more and more patients and she was delighted. In general, it was after an event that her number of patients increased. For example, when she had operated on Brian, Mr. Bray, or after the epidemic. Or when she had operated on Myra or treated influential people in the city such as Reverend Johnson, Horace Bing or even Hank.
Now, in general, she found herself busy all day with patients: women, men, children, young people, old people... And it was really for her greatest happiness. And as she finished a routine examination on Mrs. Gleason's baby boy and the woman thanked her with jars of homemade jam, she heard the carriage come into town. Michaela smiled. Finally she would get the medicines and medical instruments she had ordered.
And as she escorted Mrs. Gleason and her son out of the clinic, she too stepped onto the porch, knowing full well that the carriage would stop right in front of it. A small crowd of people had already gathered so that they, too, could get what they had asked for.
When the carriage finally stopped, everyone tried to reach out for what was theirs. And as she was handed a large package with her name on it and she smiled looking at it, she looked up at the carriage and her breath caught.
The carriage door was open and a tall, gray-haired man stepped out, glasses on his nose, dressed in a black suit. It was her father. Joseph Quinn. Michaela froze in shock. Her father... her father had come all the way here to see her. And as she stared at him, her mouth hanging open, he reached for the still open door of the carriage and she immediately recognized her mother's hand, adorned with rings, resting in her father's. Then she went out in her turn, in her magnificent attire, her hair in an elaborate bun, a stern look on her face.
And while the young woman simply remained frozen, her mother saw her and she could see directly in her eyes that she did not like what she saw.
"Look how your daughter dresses now…" Elizabeth muttered to her husband, loud enough for Michaela to hear.
"Hello to you too, mother." Michaela could not help but smile, happy to see her parents.
And while her mother remained unmoved, her father smiled at her and approached her. Then, after a few seconds of staring at her, he hugged her. A gesture that greatly surprised Michaela, unaccustomed to affectionate gestures from her parents.
"You are beautiful, Michaela. Radiant." smiled her father, looking at her again. "And these clothes fit you perfectly." he whispered in her ear so his wife would not hear, before turning back to Elizabeth.
"So? Are not you going to escort us somewhere?" Elizabeth asked sharply, looking around dismissively.
"Oh yes." Michaela considered. "The problem is that I have other patients to see and I do not live in town."
"Well what a welcome…" sighed Elizabeth.
"Patients? Michael it is great! Where is the clinic you mentioned in your letters?" Joseph asked, his eyes shining with pride.
"Oh! Just there." laughed Michaela, pointing to the building directly in front.
"It is big enough." his father commented, a smile on his face.
"And come see what the townspeople got me for my birthday!" enthused the young woman as she descended from the now empty porch, the carriage gone.
Her parents joined her and looked up at the large sign with her first and last name.
"Did the locals give you that?" asked Joseph, impressed.
"Yes…" Michaela smiled, remembering that perfect evening.
Michaela glanced at her mother who said nothing, and just continued to stare at the sign, her face closed.
"You don't introduce us to Michaela?" a drawling voice suddenly asked from behind them, causing them to turn around.
Michaela spotted Hank, still on the porch, cigar in hand.
"Hello Hank." Michaela replied politely. During the months following her arrival, the young woman had had the opportunity to get to know the man. And the least we could say was that he was very special. Yet there was still something endearing about him. "I present to you my parents. Elizabeth Quinn and Joseph Quinn."
She immediately saw the saloon owner step back slightly. "Well, if they're like you..." he finished before stepping back into the building.
Michaela chuckled in amusement. Before turning to her parents who seemed so uncomfortable in this setting.
"Doctor Mike!" Loren called suddenly. "You haven't forgotten my date, have you?" he asked her as he walked towards her but saw her with two people.
"No, of course Loren." replied the young woman with a smile, her hands clasped in front of her. "May I introduce my parents: Elizabeth Quinn and Joseph Quinn."
"Oh...delighted." Loren replied with a charming smile as he gently kissed her mother's hand. "I hope they are not like you."
Michaela sighed hearing that phrase for the second time.
"I present to you Loren Bray, the owner of the Mercantile." Michaela spoke.
She saw her mother smile at Loren Bray for the first time since her arrival.
"Well, come Loren, and follow me too father and mother."
The young woman walked towards the clinic and opened the door. She let her parents and Loren pass and looked around.
"I will let you settle in Loren, I will be right back. If you will follow me father and mother?"
Joseph nodded, looking around, fascinated by what his daughter had put together. And although his wife kept a straight face, he knew her by heart and he could see in her eyes that she was also impressed. But, in truth, she still had not digested the sudden departure of her daughter miles from Boston.
Michaela walked up the stairs, followed by her parents, and opened a door into which was a bedroom. Her old room from when she lived at Charlotte's boarding house.
"Would you mind waiting here while I finish with Loren? Then we can go to my place."
"We have no choice, I suppose?" his mother sighed.
"Elizabeth… It will not be for long." Joseph scolded her. "There are no worries, Michaela. We will wait."
"Thank you, father." Michaela nodded before closing the door and heading back downstairs to check Loren on her latest surgery.
Note: Well! The Quinn parents came all the way to Colorado Springs to see Michaela! Thank you so much for your reviews ! I am happy that you are attached to this story but unfortunately everything has an end haha! I think I've covered it (almost, because there are still a few chapters left). And I can't really respond to your reviews on the story so as not to spoil what's left ;)
Anyway, I already have a big idea for a new story - not started. It might be interesting!