Part of Michaela's daily morning routine with Brian was to get him ready for school, or for the day if it was the weekend, give him his breakfast, and then they would cuddle together until it was time to leave. Michaela had a chaise longue in her living room that was placed diagonally from her sofa. She sat with Brian there, like she did every morning, and cuddled with him.
Elizabeth was sitting in her spot on the couch and was working on her cross stitch, which was very interesting to Hanna. The little girl had never seen an embroidery hoop before and found it very interesting to watch Elizabeth make a picture in that way.
Elizabeth found that she liked that Hanna was sitting next to her, watching. She talked to her; explaining what she was doing, as she was doing it.
"For this pattern," Elizabeth explained, "we have to use two colors for the tree trunk. That is how we give the tree depth."
"I try?" Hanna asked.
Elizabeth looked at Michaela and Michaela shook her head no. Elizabeth understood why Michaela didn't want Hanna to try, and agreed, because it was not wise to put sharp objects, like her tapestry needle, in the hands of a small child.
"I'll tell you what," Elizabeth explained to her, "This one is going to be a gift, so it's best that I work on it. But, I'll be in town for several days. How about I get you your own cross stitch and help you work on it?"
Hanna smiled, liking that idea, and shook her head yes.
Michaela looked at her mother in horror, not at all liking what she promised Hanna. The whole reason for her signaling to Elizabeth that she didn't want Hanna to try it was because the little girl was too young to be working with a sharp needle. Now her mother went and promised Hanna that she could.
"You girls and my grandchildren have never been interested in my cross stitch," Elizabeth said in her daughter's direction, "For your information, they do sell cross stitch patterns for children that come with plastic needles. It's perfectly safe for her to work on one with supervision."
Michaela nodded at her mother, and truth be told, she didn't know that they sold cross stitch patterns for children. Why would she know that? She, along with her four older sisters, were never interested in any of Elizabeth's sewing projects. In fact, Hanna was the first child she had ever met that was interested in Elizabeth's sewing projects. Her children couldn't care less, and that sentiment was also true of her nieces and nephews.
"Would you like your own cross stitch pattern?" Elizabeth asked Hanna.
"Yes," Hanna said with a smile, "and this," Hanna touched Elizabeth's embroidery hoop with her little hand.
"Oh, you like the embroidery hoop, I see," said Elizabeth, now fully comprehending what was holding Hanna's interest. Elizabeth was just pleased that she finally found a child that was interested in one of her favorite hobbies. She didn't care if Hanna was more interested in the hoop, than the sewing, she wanted to share her love of cross stitch with her. The trouble that she saw now was that the children's cross stitch patterns were usually completed on hard plastic cross stitch boards. Elizabeth shrugged that thought off. She felt that she could find a way to attach the board to an embroidery hoop to hold Hanna's interest.
While Michaela was relaxing with Brian on the chaise, she heard a knock at the door. Assuming it was Sully, she got up, shifted Brian to her hip, and went to the door, "Did you lock the chain lock?" she asked her mother as she undid it.
"We had an escape artist searching for her father this morning," Elizabeth said, and used her eyes to gesture at Hanna.
Michaela nodded silently and unlocked the door. It was Sully. He entered the house with Loren following behind him.
When Loren said he'd come, Sully expected him to want to come around noon because Loren made most of his extra money on Thanksgiving morning. Sully thought that when he left at noon to get the pie from Grace, it would have been easy for him to swing by the store and pick-up Loren. However, Loren surprised him and said he wanted to come that morning. He closed up the store and left with Sully then. Sully was amazed, but did believe that it was a good thing that Loren valued seeing his grandchildren over turning a buck.
"Welcome back," Michaela said with a smile.
"Glad to be back," Sully said.
"Daddy!" Hanna squealed. She slid off the couch, ran to Sully, and wrapped her arms around his leg.
"Hi, Baby," Sully greeted as he stumbled, but didn't fall, when Hanna attached herself to his leg, "These are for you," he said to Michaela, and handed her the bouquet of roses.
Michaela adjusted Brian on her hip, before accepting the flowers. Once she had them in her free hand, she smiled, her cheeks turned a little red, and she simply said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Sully said, pleased with her reaction. He saw her blush, just a bit, so perhaps his message and intentions got through to her.
Even if the message hadn't gotten through to Michaela, it did get through to Elizabeth. She understood the romantic gesture and meaning behind those flowers, and she knew exactly what Sully meant when he gave them to her daughter.
"Come and see Grandma, Brian," Elizabeth said, wanting Michaela to hold and look at the flowers unobstructed by her son. She hoped if she did that, Michaela would understand Sully's intentions.
Michaela let Brian down, and Brian went to stand next to Elizabeth.
"These are for you, Ma'am," Sully said, handing the second bouquet to Elizabeth.
"Thank you," Elizabeth said, accepting them. It was now her belief that he was either a player or well trained by his own mother. Not only was he attempting to make his intentions and feelings known to Michaela, he appeared to want to get on Elizabeth's good side.
"I want flowers," Hanna complained.
"You want flowers?" Sully questioned and crouched down to be at Hanna's level, "I got you somethin' that I think you'll like more than flowers," Then Sully reached into the plastic bag that was hanging around his wristed and showed the can of cranberry sauce to Hanna.
Hanna smiled wide. She couldn't read, but recognized the picture on the can, "We eat it now?"
"We will eat it at dinner, after you've had somethin' nourishin' that will fill ya up," Sully said, "Can I have my good mornin' kiss now?"
Hanna kissed and hugged him, and that was the first time that morning that Sully noticed that she wasn't wearing her clothes.
"Did she have an accident?" he asked Michaela.
"She woke up wet, so my mother gave her a bath," Michaela informed him, hoping he wouldn't be upset.
"Thank you, Ma'am," Sully said, in earnest, to Elizabeth. She may have the appearance of being snooty, but she was kind enough to care for his daughter and he was grateful.
"You're welcome," Elizabeth said and met Michaela's eyes with a very self-satisfied look on her face. She was silently telling her daughter, I told you so.
"I have your clothes in the truck," He told Hanna and stood up again, "Where are the other kids?"
"I checked on them a few minutes ago and they are still sleeping," Michaela said, "It's almost 8 now, and I wasn't going to let them sleep past 8:30. I know it's a holiday, but I don't want them sleeping the day away."
"Before we do anything else," Sully said, and moved so Loren would move in closer. Since they entered the house, Loren had been standing by the door. When Sully looked at him, he saw that his eyes were focused on Hanna, "Loren?"
Loren stepped forward and stood next to Sully.
"This is my father-in-law, Loren Bray," Sully introduced him to everyone.
"Good Mornin'," Loren said. Then he looked at Michaela, "I know this isn't the first time I've met you. I apologize for my behavior and I'm grateful to you for allowin' me into your home."
"I'm glad that you're joining us, Mr. Bray," Michaela said.
"You can call me Loren," he said and extended his hand and Michaela shook it.
Michaela had told her mother when the toddlers were eating breakfast that Loren was a widower, and he lost his daughter, who was Sully's wife. She also informed her that he was coming for Thanksgiving because he wanted to spend time with his grandchildren. What Michaela neglected to say was that this was not her first time meeting him. Elizabeth didn't know what happened during her first meeting with the man, but she was going to grill her daughter about it later.
"Hi, Honey," Loren said to Hanna, getting down on his knees and holding his arms out for a hug.
Hanna didn't recognize him and didn't know what to do, so she looked up at Sully.
"Give Grandpa a hug," Sully instructed her.
Assuming it was safe to do so, Hanna walked into Loren's arms and let him hug her.
"I sure have missed ya," Loren said and he kissed Hanna's cheek. Feeling that Hanna wasn't quite comfortable with him, he let her go and stood up. It was a baby step, he thought to himself. Some kids would throw a fit. Since she didn't do that, Loren took it as a good sign.
When Loren stood up, he looked in Elizabeth's direction and a large goofy smile formed on his face.
"I'm Elizabeth Quinn," she introduced herself.
Loren, almost giddy, practically skipped to Elizabeth and shook her hand. Gesturing to Michaela, he told Elizabeth, "Loren Bray. Now I know where that one gets her good looks."
"Thank you, Mr. Bray," Elizabeth said, now finding Loren to be very charming.
Sully's eyes bulged. He was stunned. The last thing he expected was for Loren to be attracted to Michaela's mother.
"Like I told your daughter, you can call me Loren," he said with a smile, "What do your friends call you? Betty? Betsy? Lizzie?"
"My friends call me Elizabeth," she said, giggling at him.
"How long will you be in town?" Loren asked.
"I haven't decided yet," Elizabeth answered.
"If you need any of life's little necessities while you're here, don't hesitate," Loren said, "You come and see me at my store."
"Where is your store located?" Elizabeth inquired.
"I hear that I am right across from your daughter's office," he said and looked at Michaela. When Loren saw that Michaela was wearing scrubs, he asked, "Hey Doctor, are ya plannin' to cook the bird or shock it back to life?"
Michaela didn't know how to answer and Sully looked down in embarrassment. Elizabeth, however, understood the joke and started laughing.
Emboldened by Elizabeth's laughter, Loren yelled, "Clear!" and acted out a thirty second, one-person skit, using his fists as defibrillators on his chest, and then yelling, "Gobble! Gobble!" afterward. His actions made Elizabeth roar with laughter.
"I'm going to put these in water," Michaela said to Sully, and left the room immediately.
"Tell her to put mine in water too," Elizabeth said to Sully, still chuckling at Loren's behavior.
Sully took the bouquet from Elizabeth and left the room. Though he was embarrassed, he noted that this was the first time he saw Loren flirt with a woman, ever. He was also grateful that Loren was joking around. He'd rather Michaela be the butt of his joke, than the casualty of his insults.
"Your ma wants you to put these in water too," Sully said to Michaela who was filling a glass vase with water.
Michaela retrieved a second glass vase from under her sink and began filling it with water.
"You sure have a lot of vases under there," Sully remarked. He didn't have any vases in his house. He didn't even think about putting the flowers in water when he bought them.
"When I moved, many friends from the hospital in Boston sent me flowers after I sent them my new address," Michaela informed him. Getting self-conscious, she asked, "Should I change my clothes? Do I look ridiculous? I don't own an apron to cover my regular clothes."
"No," Sully insisted. Sensing Michaela's unease, he said, "If all he did was make fun of your clothes, ya got off light. Wait till he starts on me."
Michaela nodded and placed her roses in water. She carefully arranged them, and then took Elizabeth's bouquet from Sully and started to arrange her flowers as well. After she was done, she set both flower arrangements on the kitchen table. Then she returned to the sink and gathered all of the cellophane that the bouquets came in and threw it away in the trash can.
Sully took note that she had a whole cupboard built into her kitchen cabinetry that was made to hold her garbage bins. He thought about the dreams he'd been having about her and their life together in the future. He secretly wondered if "their" kitchen had one of those custom cabinets.
Sully looked at Michaela, who was now smiling to herself, "Whatcha laughin' at?" he asked.
"I haven't ever seen my mother so… charmed, by a man before, not even by my father," Michaela said, "Don't get me wrong, she loved my father, but she's never behaved that way. Not that I've seen."
"I've never seen Loren openly flirt like that," Sully told her, "His wife died before I met her though."
"What time should we start cooking?" Michaela asked, changing the subject.
"What time do ya wanna eat?" he asked in return.
"I think a six o'clock dinner would be nice," Michaela suggested, but didn't want to make the final decision.
"Okay," Sully said, "It takes about four hours to cook a turkey in the oven. Sometimes it takes a little longer. I think it'd be good to put it in the oven around one, to give us extra time, if we need it. We can make some of the side dishes now, but we don't need to actually cook them until about an hour or so before we want to eat."
"Perhaps we can wait until the kids get up and have breakfast before we start," Michaela said.
"Sounds good to me," Sully said with a wink.
It was now the middle of the day, and Michaela and Sully were cooking. All of the children were up and were spending time with their grandparents in Michaela's living room. Sully left the kitchen to check on everyone. He noticed that the kids were involved in some board game. Elizabeth and Loren were sitting on the couch and talking with each other. Sully squinted his eyes, when he realized the topic of their conversation was him.
"Has he always been a hippy?" Elizabeth asked Loren as they were chatting on the couch.
"As long as I've known him, he's always dressed like one," Loren explained, "He has the hair and beard… and sometimes he wears hippy, pirate shirts."
"What exactly is a hippy, pirate shirt?" Elizabeth asked.
Sully rolled his eyes, and went back to the kitchen, "Loren has moved on to me," Sully informed Michaela as he rejoined her to continue cooking. When he saw her visibly upset, he asked, "What's wrong?"
"I don't have any Swiss cheese and cornflakes," Michaela said, starting to worry. They went over all of the ingredients the previous night, she didn't know how they missed that.
"Why do you need that?" Sully asked.
"Well the recipe says…" she began.
"What recipe?" Sully questioned. He couldn't think of anything that they were cooking that required cornflakes and Swiss cheese.
"This one, for the green bean casserole," she answered, and showed him the recipe that she pulled up on her iPad.
"You don't need Swiss cheese and cornflakes for green bean casserole," Sully explained, "Some people eat it that way, I guess, but my family has always used the dried fried onions on top. We don't add cheese. Do ya have the fried onions?"
"Yes," Michaela answered, starting to relax.
"Then we're just fine," Sully said, "Since you're on to the green bean casserole, I'll start boilin' the beans."
Michaela nodded at him and smiled. She was glad she had him there. So far, he knew how to cook most of the side dishes from memory. He did need her to look-up a recipe or two as a reminder. When she looked up the green bean casserole and she saw two ingredients that she knew she didn't have, she couldn't help but panic. Sully was calm and even-tempered with her, and she appreciated that very much. She watched him boil the green beans and thought for a moment about the fantasies she'd been having about him being her husband. She imagined he would be a good husband, patient and kind.
"We did it!" Michaela cheered happily. She and Sully had finished cooking and set the table. She couldn't believe all of the food that was on the table, "I never understood before, but cooking can be a comfort."
"It can be," Sully agreed, "You wanna call everyone in and taste the fruits of your labor?"
"Our labor," Michaela corrected him.
"Our labor," Sully amended. He did a lot of the work that evening, but it was something that he'd done before. Michaela was really proud of this meal, and he wanted to make her feel good about it.
"You can call everyone in," Michaela said, " but I need to go upstairs and change before I sit down to dinner."
"Okay," Sully said with a nod, "but hurry back, I don't want to start eatin' without ya."
Elizabeth waited with everyone else at the table for Michaela to join them. When Michaela entered the room, Elizabeth was very pleased to see that she had changed out of her scrubs and into an elegant dress. She also let her hair down and it looked like she'd sprayed it, so it laid nicely, but she didn't flat iron it or curl it. It looked like her hair was curled as a result from being in a bun for most of the day. Elizabeth was also pleased to see that she refreshed her make-up and put on some jewelry.
What interested Elizabeth was the reaction from the men in the room. Sully appeared to be very pleased with what he saw. His lips curled into a smile and his eyes looked as if they were smiling seductively at her when she entered the room.
Loren also took notice of Michaela's change. He seemed to indicate with his facial expressions that Michaela looked nice to him, but he wasn't attracted to her in the same way that Sully was.
Sully couldn't help but be attracted to her. She wore an off the shoulder black dress that reached her knees. The dress was cinched in at the waist and fit snugly around her hips. It wasn't so snug that she looked like she was about to go to a nightclub, but it was fitted well enough to show off her womanly curves.
"You look nice, Dear," Elizabeth said and kissed her daughter's cheek.
"Thank you," Michaela said, "Should we sit down to eat?"
After dinner, Sully offered to help Michaela clean up. He didn't want to go home, leaving her kitchen in disarray.
When they had finally finished the dishes and put everything in its proper place, Michaela asked, "Before you leave, I want to pack you and your father-in-law some food to take home."
"I appreciate that, but I don't want to take it from you, especially with your mother here," Sully said, trying to be helpful.
"Thank you, but we'll never finish it all before it spoils, even with her here, and…" Michaela started to say. Sully was a very polite and generous man, she knew she had to convince him to take some food home, "... I want to share it with you. You did most of the work. I suspect that it would not have tasted as good as it did without your work. Please take some."
"Okay," he agreed, getting the sense that it might make her feel bad if he didn't agree.
"This was a really nice holiday," Michaela said, "I'm glad we spent it together."
"So am I," Sully said, coming close to her. He placed his hands on her shoulders close to her neck. With feather light touches, he ran his hands up her neck and down again, and then his hands reached her shoulders and then her upper arms. He bent down and pressed a small kiss to her collar bone, catching a slight whiff of her perfume. He was sure the scent was perfume and not shampoo this time. It smelled really nice. He backed away, so he could look at her and talk to her. He kept his hands on her arms, near the bends of her elbows, "I hafta tell ya, you look gorgeous tonight. You look gorgeous every time I see ya, but the way you look in this dress, the way your hair falls, everything about ya, is beautiful."
Micheala bit her bottom lip as she smiled, "Thank you."
"Really," he said, wanting to make sure she understood, "it's not just your physical beauty. Your inner beauty… Your heart, kindness, passion, you… You just take my breath away, Michaela."
"I think that is the kindest thing anyone has ever said to me," she said honestly.
"Michaela," he said in a sound that was just a little louder than a whisper, "Michaela. I don't wanna call ya Dr. Mike anymore, it doesn't feel personal enough."
"Then don't," Michaela said, moving her face closer to his and placing her hands on his waist. Since Halloween, Sully had been going back and forth between calling her Michaela and calling her Dr. Mike. She thought it was perfectly fine for him to address her as Michaela, they were well past formalities at this point.
"Michaela," he whispered seductively, "My darlin'," He pulled her close by removing his hands from her arms and placing them on her back. He leaned his head forward and kissed her hard and full on the lips.
She let out a soft, barely audible, moan when their lips parted for a few seconds and tightened her arms around his waist.
Keeping one hand firm on her back, he lifted the other hand up, so he was holding the back of her neck, over her hair. He kept pressing his lips against hers over and over again.
Michaela had her arms around his waist, with her hands on his lower back. She gently started moving her hands, so she was rubbing his back with the same rhythm as their kisses.
Sully wanted to increase the passion by pushing the kiss a little further. He opened his mouth and softly ran his tongue over her bottom lip. Then he gently bit down, not hard enough to hurt, but hard enough to send a little shock wave through her system.
Once the little rush that Sully gave her subsided, Michaela removed her arms from around him so she could touch his face, "You look good clean shaven," she told him between kisses as she caressed his smooth jaw and cheeks with her hands.
As they were kissing, the heat was building up so much that neither of them noticed when Elizabeth walked into the room to see if they'd finished the dishes. She didn't say anything, she just watched them kiss for a few seconds and quietly walked out. On her way out, she stopped Loren from entering the kitchen, wanting to give her daughter some privacy.
Whatever Elizabeth felt about Sully, she decided to keep it to herself. After this evening, she found that she liked Sully a lot even if she wasn't 100% sure about him. If she was being completely honest, she'd never seen Michaela kiss anyone so heatedly, or be so passionately enthralled with a man. Elizabeth had seen Michaela with her late fiancé and with her ex-husband. Nothing she saw with them came close to comparing to how well she worked with Sully during the day, or how passionately she was kissing him that night.
As they were kissing, Michaela heard a loud, unexpected crash and jumped, letting out a small scream, "What was that?" she asked.
"The storm," Sully said.
To be continued. Please review. =)
Do you think that Loren as a little crush on Elizabeth?
A/N: Hello and thank you for reading. I'm sorry it took me a little longer to update this chapter, I am a schoolteacher by trade, and I had to close up my classroom for the summer. In addition to that, I am having surgery next week. I love writing this story, and I have no intentions of giving it up, but you might not see an update for a while because I will be recovering. Again, thank you for reading. I am glad that you are enjoying the story and thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.