Ch 17

On Friday, Michaela was busy and had to ask the receptionist to find all the places she could about rentals in Colorado Springs.

That evening she spent time Googling the places that looked the most promising. She found many that where too far from her work, alternatively they were too far from the children's schools, and most were unaffordable. Eventually she went to bed hardly sleeping at all, too worried about their future.

Next day she had promised Brian she would take him to Sully's to play with Wolf. Matthew drove them there and then went to pick up Ingrid from the supermarket where she worked casually on weekends.

Michaela sat on the porch step that seemed to have become a favourite place as Sully went and made coffee. While he waited for the kettle to boil he came and leant on the door post, silently watching her thumbing through the Colorado Springs papers, the Gazette, Independent and the Denver Post. Before she had looked at a few leaflets from Real Estate, and over her shoulder he saw that her IPad was also looking for rentals.

Finally he brought the coffee out and handed her a mug before settling down beside her.

"Want to tell me what ya fussing about?" he asked as she tried to hide the papers and closed her IPad.

"It's nothing, really, Sully," she answered without looking up, seeming to concentrate on Brian and Wolf running through the long grass behind the barn.

He gently took her chin and made her look at him, "Mi..cha..ela." he drew out her name in a question, letting her know she was not fooling him in the least.

She had at some point in the night wondered about Sully's home, deciding she would not, no could not impose on him as he still had a lot of things to recover from. Apart from that she was still raw over the way David had behaved with children who were not his own.

"Sully, really, it is nothing," she insisted as she tried to hide the papers once more.

"Don' look like nothin' to me, all these things about rentin'," he said, picking up a rental page from the Colorado Springs Independent. It had a few red circles on some of the apartments.

All of a sudden the tide broke and she was relieved to tell someone of her dilemma.

"I have been through one of the biggest challenges of my life when I chose to take the children. I am not a natural mother, but I am learning... we are learning. Now here we are! I am letting them down; we are losing the roof over our heads. So soon after having shifted them here..." A tear started to blur her vision as Sully guided her head to rest on his shoulder.

"I can help" he offered. Looking at him she drew some hope for a brief moment.

"How? Sully, you have come a long way but you have not yet completed what you need to do for yourself."

"I know that!" he huffed, "but don' ya think it will help if I have someone who cares helping me daily?"

"You realize that I will have to hand your case over to another colleague?" She cautioned.

"Yep, but don' you think most of the hard work has been done already?" He quizzed her.

Nodding she agreed before adding, "There is just one small piece left that I have to complete first." She did not look at him but dropped her gaze to her hand clenched in her lap.

Looking puzzled Sully did not ask what was so important that another doctor could not cover it.

Finally Michaela conceded that maybe it would be a good idea at least for the time being, to accept the offer Sully had so generously made, until they could find another alternative. Sully made her feel safe and cherished.

As they discussed the arrangements of the extended family, Brian waved from the small hill behind the barn.

Michaela stood to yell at him not to go too far, but Sully pulled at her hand.

"Let them be. They are quite safe playing there," he reiterated.

Sitting again she looked at him, admitting he was correct, "Yes you're right. As I said it is hard for me not to be overprotective, after hearing how David treated them. Maybe I tend to overcompensate."

They once again watched as Wolf nipped at Brian, ran a few feet away and went down on his front legs like he was bowing, his tail wagging in the air and waited for the lad to chase him.

They both laughed loudly, "See they are having fun."Sully pulled her closer and planted a kiss near her ear, stirring the fine hairs there. She shivered and snuggled a little closer.

"Ugh! Sully we need to get back to deciding how this will work. Matthew needs a room of his own; the gap between the boys is too great. Colleen and I could share but... that leaves Brian, you... and I." She decided to continue the discussion that was interrupted minutes ago.

"Well, as I see it the kids need a room of their own," he was watching Michaela intently as he said this.

"Sully?"

"Michaela, I need holdin' and snugglin'. We know we love each other, I promise nothin' will happen till ya ready. We'll take it ever so slowly."

She nodded. She knew he was right, after all this was one of the reasons she had accepted his offer of a home.

He kissed her soundly when he knew he had actually got her to agree.

Michaela was amazed when Sully's pick up pulled up outside the apartment and he alighted all smiles. His first venture out on his own, another huge step forward. He was happy to be able to help the family he so much wanted to be apart of.

The next couple of weeks were busy with the shifting, arranging the furniture and making the adjustments of becoming a larger family. Brian was thrilled to have Sully there all the time. Sully had shown him a small creek where he could fish. Sully used some fishing rods and reels and lures that had been stored in the barn. Brian loved learning to fish and supplied enough for dinner.

The two older children were happy at having their own rooms. Matthew tried to get the adults to allow Ingrid to sleep over, but both said a resounding no. Matthew retreated to his room and putting on head phones he listened to his music.

Michaela and Sully snuggled at night, happy to be together. They listened to each other and started making plans for a future.

Finally the time of transition was over and the school holidays arrived. Michaela had arranged that the children attend a summer camp for a couple of weeks. This was before the shift and now she was happy for some quiet time with Sully.

It turned out the timing could not have worked out better.

Waving goodbye to the children's busses she turned to Sully, knowing that the next day could be very challenging.

The early morning was glorious and they sat on the porch enjoying their morning, when a large SUV came through the opened gate. Looking up, Sully was not sure if this would be for him or Michaela. She sat quietly saying a silent prayer that this would go well.