For personal use and select distribution only © February 2001 by "Tiff" Amber Stockton
The Heart Will Find a Way (cont'd)
by Tiffany Miller
"Good morning, Loren," Michaela called as she and Sully entered the mercantile.
"Good mornin', Dr. Mike. Sully," he returned. "What can I get for ya both?"
"I need some flour and oatmeal, and some sugar," Michaela stated.
"I need some nails and some of that twine you keep in stock," Sully added.
"All right. Jared, why don't you get the things Dr. Mike needs, and I'll help Sully, here," Loren instructed.
"Sure thing, Mr. Bray," Jared replied, immediately moving to collect the items Michaela had specified. "Will you be needin' five or ten pounds of flour and sugar, Dr. Mike?"
"You'd better make it ten, Jared," she replied.
In just a few minutes, their supplies were on the counter, and they handed Loren the money to pay for the items.
"Loren, would it be possible for me to pick these up later? I have to meet a patient at the clinic, and I see she's waiting already."
"Of course, Dr. Mike. I'll have Jared deliver them for ya, save ya the trouble of comin' back and gettin' them yourself," he offered.
"Thank you, Loren," she replied. "Have a good day!"
Sully gathered his items. "Loren. Jared." He nodded his head to each in turn and quickly joined Michaela. "I'll see you after work. I'll be busy all day today. See what you can do, and maybe we can finish our talk later tonight?"
"I don't know, Sully," Michaela replied, uncertain. "It seems as if every time we try, we're interrupted."
"We will have our talk," Sully quietly promised.
Michaela only nodded, and they each stepped down off the sidewalk into the dirt street, going their separate ways.
Loren hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but he couldn't help but hear their conversation. Sully's words made him wonder if everything was all right between them. He certainly hoped they weren't having another disagreement, not after all they'd been through, lately. He decided he needed to talk to someone about it or he'd just burst with curiosity.
Leaving Jared to mind the store, he hurried over to Jake's. There was one customer in the barber's chair, so Loren waited for the man to pay Jake and leave before he said anything.
"All right, Loren, what's the matter with you?" Jake asked, slightly disinterested. "You look like you're just dyin' to tell me somethin' ya heard, probably just gossip again."
"It ain't gossip, I tell ya," Loren demanded. "Do you know anythin' about Dr. Mike and Sully havin' problems of any kind?"
"What makes ya say that?" Jake asked, cleaning off his razor and walking to get the broom to sweep the floors beneath the chair.
"Well, they was just in the store, and as they were leavin', Sully told Dr. Mike he'd be busy all day, but he'd see her after work and then asked if they could finish their talk later tonight." He paused and watched Jake's face.
"So? What's that got to do with anythin'?"
"No, you don't understand. Dr. Mike didn't say nothin', just nodded. They didn't even look at each other or kiss or nothin'. It just ain't like them."
"Loren, I think you're just jumpin' to conclusions again," Jake stated.
"Jake's right, Loren," Hank spoke up. Loren hadn't even seen him sitting there when he walked in. "You got it all wrong. Sully said what's goin' on when we was out gettin' them horse thieves last Saturday. Jake, you were there. You remember what he said," Hank admonished. At Jake's nod, he continued. "Sully and Michaela are just lookin' to spend some time alone. Seems they ain't been gettin' much of it, lately. Fact is, that mornin', I caught em kissin' at the clinic when I went to fetch Dr. Mike to see to one of my girls," Hank informed them with a smirk.
"Guess they ain't gettin' time enough alone at home, so they's gotta find someplace else."
"Sully mentioned that they've been tryin' to make plans, but they keep gettin' interrupted," Jake added.
"Who keeps gettin' interrupted?" Horace appeared in the doorway to the barber shop.
"Dr. Mike and Sully," Loren replied.
"Who's interruptin' them?" Horace was confused.
"Come on, Horace, get with it, will ya?" Hank stood to his feet and walked over to Horace, blowing a cloud of cigar smoke in his face, making him cough.
"Is there somethin' ya need, Horace?" Jake asked.
"Yeah, I come for a haircut," he replied, waving the air around him to clear the smoke away.
"Well, sit down, here, and we'll tell ya what's goin' on," Jake instructed.
* * * * *
"I don't know, Jake," Loren stated. "I ain't so sure we should be interferin' in their business. He was seated with Jake, Hank and Horace at one of the tables at the café, eating some of Grace's famous meatloaf.
"So, when did you become worried about interferin' all of a sudden?" Jake returned.
"Yeah, Loren," Hank added. "You're the one who came runnin' all the way over to Jake's this mornin' cuz you was sure Michaela and Sully were havin' problems again. Now, you're sayin' ya ain't sure about gettin' involved?"
"Well, I didn't say I didn't want to get involved. I just don't know if we should be makin' these plans. They might get mad us for stickin' our noses in where they don't belong," Loren replied.
"Who might get mad?" Grace interrupted their conversation from the table right next to them. She and Robert E were enjoying lunch with the Reverend and Anna Marie. Lydia and Dora Mae were able to handle the few customers in the café at the moment.
"Dr. Mike and Sully been tryin' to have some time to themselves, but they ain't been able to," Horace filled in everyone. "I just don't see why they don't have enough time. They're home every night together."
"With two kids at home, too," Jake remarked.
"Come on, Horace, you remember what it was like when you had Myra and Samantha with ya," Hank added, a little bitterly.
Rather than reply to Hank's obvious jab, Horace just remained silent.
"I think we should do somethin' for them." Grace spoke up.
"Yeah, but what?" Loren replied.
* * * * *
"Dorothy!" Preston called, just as Dorothy was about to enter the café.
"What can I do for you Preston?" the redhead replied.
"I'd like to place an ad in the Gazette for tomorrow. I need some new help at the front desk of the Chateau," he informed her, then looked inside. "Are you going to lunch? Allow me to accompany you," he invited.
They walked towards the two tables where most of the townsfolk sat.
"Valentine's Day is tomorrow, and I'm sure they'll wanna spend it together," Grace interjected.
"Well, what do we have here?" Preston interrupted. "Was there a meeting of the town council called and I wasn't notified?
"Even if there was, you wouldn't have been told. You ain't on the town council," Hank replied, snidely.
"That may very well be," Preston stated, "but I am a member of this town, so I consider it a necessity to be a part of the discussions which occur." He pretended not to notice the tension which obviously existed, and chose to leave the group, instead. He couldn't resist a parting comment, though. "I'll leave you to the gossip all of you enjoy so much." As he walked away, he overheard them begin talking again.
"Dr. Mike ain't gonna want us gettin' involved in this. She's not gonna like us tryin' to make plans for her and Sully, I can tell you that, right now."
"Robert E's right," Dorothy agreed. "We can't make it too obvious."
Preston turned his head and noticed Michaela enter the café with Katie and Madeleine Craven, so he stepped back towards the tables and cleared his throat, gesturing towards the door.
Immediately, the group separated and returned to their meals, trying to act nonchalantly, hoping Michaela wouldn't think something was suspicious. Grace and Anna Marie hurriedly stood to return to the ovens and counters in the back to prepare some more food, and the rest of them quickly began other topics of conversation.
Michaela lead Madeleine and Katie to a table, and Lydia came over to serve them drinks, taking their orders as well.
"Michaela!" Preston greeted. "So nice to see you this afternoon!"
"Good afternoon, Preston. I believe you've met Madeleine Craven."
"Yes. It is a pleasure to see you again Miss Craven.
"The same to you, Mr. Lodge," she replied, formally.
"I haven't seen Sully around lately. Did he run off again on some job, leaving you alone with the children?"
"Preston, I don't recall that being any of your business where Sully is. He is working, if you must know, but I'll thank you to keep to yourself in regards to affairs which are none of your concern," she replied, hotly.
"I was merely exchanging pleasantries, Michaela," Preston stated. "Good day." He turned from their table and walked back to the door, returning to work.
Lydia arrived at that moment with their meals.
"Thank you, Lydia," Michaela said, and the young woman merely nodded, bending her knees slightly before waiting on another customer.
"All right, Miss Katie. It's time you learned to eat with your utensils without wearing more than half of your food," Michaela admonished with a smile.
"I use my fork," Katie replied.
"Yes, I know, but I want you to try extra hard to get all of the food on the fork to your mouth without spilling it. You're getting to be a big girl, now, and you need to be able to eat like one."
"Yes, mama." Katie took the fork next to her plate and awkwardly scooped a forkful of mashed potatoes, thinking they would stick to her fork and not fall off. She concentrated very hard as she moved the fork closer and closer to her mouth. She opened her mouth to take a bit and saw it start to slip, so she quickly moved her mouth forward and shoved the forkful into her mouth.
Michaela laughed. "Very good, Katie! I knew you could do it! Now, next time, try to not take so much. It will be much easier with less on your fork," Michaela advised.
"Yes, mama."
The meal progressed in much the same way, and Katie succeeded in only dropping food twice throughout the entire meal.
"She's really growing up fast, it seems," Madeleine remarked.
"Too fast," Michaela replied.
"Don't worry about it, Michaela," Madeleine comforted. "You still have plenty of time with this little one. My guess is she will be the last one to want to leave her mama and papa, especially seeing how much Sully dotes on her. She's truly her papa's little girl."
"Papa love me!" Katie stated, showing she was hearing their conversation, or at least recognizing certain words, even while she was trying to finish her lunch.
"Speaking of time," Michaela began. "I need to return to the clinic. Will you be all right with her for a little while longer? Sarah will be out of school in two hours. You can bring Katie by the clinic, then."
"We'll be fine, Michaela. You go on back to tend to your duties."
"Thank you again, Madeleine." Michaela stood and hurriedly exited the café, nodding and saying a brief word of greeting to her friends as she left.
It wasn't a few minutes later when Madeleine and Katie finished and left as well. With the three of them gone, the townsfolk moved together again to continue their previous discussion.
"I think we should arrange a romantic evening for them," Dorothy began.
"With candles and a delicious meal, cooked by yours truly," Grace added.
"And perhaps some nice poetry in front of the fireplace afterwards," Anna Marie suggested.
"What are ya thinkin'?" Jake interrupted the women.
"Yeah, Sully ain't gonna want no romantic meal," Loren grumbled.
"And just how do you know that?" Grace placed her hands on her hips.
"Cuz Sully's a man, just like us," Hank replied.
"That's right," Loren added. "Simple, that's what they need. Nothin' fancy."
"I don't know," Horace stated. "Sully seems like the kind of man who would want somethin' like that. Then again, maybe you're right, he ain't gonna wanna fuss with a big meal."
"Yeah, well who asked ya, anyway?" Hank threw a look at Horace, who just as quickly closed his mouth and sat back.
"Mark my words. I don't much care what you men think. I know Dr. Mike will like the candles and the romantic dinner," Grace continued to insist.
"What do you think, Robert E?" Jake turned to include him.
Robert E took one look at Grace's determined look. "I think this is my time to keep quiet," he replied, intelligently. "I got work to do. Just remember. It's Valentine's for the two of them. No use gettin' everyone involved for somethin' so simple," he said in parting.
"I agree with Robert E," Hank interjected. "What the two of them need is a night with no interruptions, forget the talkin' part of it. They'll find other things to do," he stated with a knowing grin.
"Now, Hank, I don't think it's wise to discuss Dr. Mike and Sully's private life in such a public manner," the Reverend remarked.
"That's right, Hank. Leave it to you to come up with a remark like that," Dorothy added.
Hank simply shrugged his shoulders and leaned back from the table a little. "Do what you like, but I'm tellin' ya. Ain't gonna make much difference what you do, as long as you figure out a way to get them two some time alone," he said, wisely. At least he was aware of the frustrations the couple was facing, even if everyone else just wanted to plan a romantic evening for them.
"Hank does have a point," Jake agreed.
"I don't know. I still think we should let them be and allow them to worry about it themselves," the Reverend stated.
"But, Reverend," Grace began, "Dr. Mike and Sully have been tryin' to handle this themselves for a while, now. With all that they've been through, I think we owe it to them to help, as their friends."
"Grace is right," Dorothy added. "Brian's been workin' with me at the Gazette, and he mentioned it to me a couple of weeks ago. So, I know they've been thinkin' about it at least that long, most likely longer."
"Well, does anyone have any idea how we're gonna pull this off?" Loren asked.
They all looked at each other and realized they needed to come up with something, and quick. Time was running out.
* * * * *
Sully stopped into the Mercantile on his way to picking up Michaela after work. "Afternoon, Loren. I need to order some more wood for this job I'm doin'," he stated.
"Sure thing, Sully. Will that be the same wood you ordered last time?"
"Yeah, and make it the same amount, all right?"
"You gonna tell me what this job is you're doin'?"
"I thought you already knew," Sully replied.
"Well, you ain't told me, that's for sure," Loren grumbled.
"I'm addin' an extra room to Clayton and Ginny's cabin, makin' a place for their baby they just had a few weeks ago," Sully explained.
"That's right. I'd forgotten they finally had their baby. They sure didn't give up hope, did they? I know I would have had trouble if I had been in their shoes, losin' their baby and all," Loren remarked.
Sully just remained silent, shifting from one foot to the other, uncomfortably.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Sully. There I go again, openin' my mouth when I shouldn't. I didn't mean nothin' by it," he apologized.
"It's all right, Loren. I know," Sully reassured him.
Loren reached under the counter and pulled out a tin can. "Here," he said. "It's a can of sweets. They ain't been sellin' well, and I figured you could give them to Dr. Mike for Valentine's Day."
"Loren, I can't take those." Sully pushed the tin back across the counter.
"I won't take no for an answer, Sully. Now, go on and take em, but don't tell Dr. Mike they're from me, ya hear?" Loren instructed.
"Thanks, Loren," Sully replied. "You'll let me know when that shipment of wood arrives?"
"Of course," Loren agreed.
Sully closed the door to the mercantile behind him and stepped down into the street. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Jake standing by his partially-open door, leaning against the doorjamb. He nodded, and Sully noticed an odd look on his face. It wasn't quite a smile, but it wasn't an angry look, either. Not worrying about it, he continued on his way, issuing a brief "Jake" in greeting.
He reached the clinic and stepped up onto the porch, seeing Hank come out from inside the saloon and lean against one of the posts on his own porch.
"Sully." Hank nodded.
"Hank," Sully returned.
"I hope you and Michaela have a real nice evenin'," he stated with a knowing look. Sully just stood there for a moment, wondering about Hank's odd behavior, but brushed it off and moved to knock. Michaela greeted him at the door and Katie immediately ran to hug him.
"Papa!"
"Hello, there, Kates!" Sully greeted. "Did ya miss me?"
"Yes, papa," the little girl replied, giving her father a hug.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Dr. Mike. Goodnight, Katie," Sarah called.
"Bye-bye, Sar-wah," Katie replied.
"Goodnight, Mr. Sully," she said to him as she left to join her mother.
"I noticed you were in town, Mr. Sully, and I realized it was time to head home for the evening," Mrs. Sheehan stated. "Have a very enjoyable evening," she called, walking with Sarah around the side of the clinic and towards the livery, where they left their wagon.
Sully and Michaela stared after the two for a moment, before Sully turned to face her. "Are ya ready to go home?"
"More than ready," Michaela replied. "Just let me get my coat and bag, and we can be on our way." She re-entered the clinic and in just a few moments, she was out again, pulling the door closed and locking it behind her.
Michaela allowed Sully to help her into the buckboard, then took Katie from him and settled her in her lap. Just as Sully climbed up to join her and stepped across to take his seat beside her, Dorothy came towards them with Brian from the Gazette.
"Hey, Ma, Pa."
"Good evenin', Michaela. Sully," Dorothy greeted, as well. "I was wonderin' if you'd mind Brian stayin' a little later to help me work on some real important articles for tomorrow's Gazette." At Michaela's almost immediate denial, she quickly continued. "I know it's last minute, and it's gettin' late, but he can just sleep in the spare room at the newspaper office. I'll make sure he gets his sleep for school tomorrow."
Michaela hesitated for a moment.
"Please, Ma?" Brian pleaded. "I really wanna do this, and it'll help Miss Dorothy a lot."
"You're certain you'll remember to get your rest for tomorrow?" Michaela admonished.
"Yes, Ma," Brian replied.
"Don't you worry about a thing, Michaela. I won't let him stay up late," Dorothy reassured her.
Michaela looked to Sully, who shrugged his shoulders, indicating his assent. "All right, but just this once. This is your final year at school, and I don't want this to become a habit."
"It won't, Ma. Thanks!" Brian came up to the wagon and climbed up to give Michaela a kiss on the cheek. He also kissed Katie and shook Sully's hand. "See you all tomorrow. Have a real good evenin'," he called.
"Good night, Michaela. Sully," Dorothy echoed, only she was clearly fighting hard to keep the smile from showing on her face.
Sully urged the horses into motion and pointed them in the direction of home, but as they rounded the corner of the Gazette office, they were stopped by Grace and Robert E, each holding a twin.
"Good evenin', Dr. Mike. Sully." Grace greeted.
"You folks on your way home?" Robert E inquired, switching his son from one arm to the other.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, we are," Michaela replied.
"We just ran into Dorothy, and Brian's gonna stay with her to work on some articles," Sully added.
"Well, that will certainly be interesting for him," Grace replied. "Now, we got somethin' to ask the two of you." At their nods, she continued. "We apologize for it bein' such short notice, but Robert E and I were wonderin' if you wouldn't mind Katie spendin' the evenin' with us, tonight."
"Grace, the two of you have enough to do with the twins. I can't imagine you would want the added burden of Katie as well," Michaela refuted.
"Oh, it ain't no bother, Dr. Mike. Besides, it's been a long time since we spent some time with our goddaughter, and I'd say it's long overdue, wouldn't you agree, Robert E?" Grace turned to him.
"Grace is right. Katie wouldn't be any problem. We actually been talkin' about it for a while, now, but didn't think to ask you until tonight."
"Fact is, Katie would be more of a help to us than a bother. She's helped with the babies before, when Miss Craven brings her in for lunch during the week. And like I told you the other day, Dr. Mike, the babies are sleepin' through the night, so they'll be in bed early, and then Robert E and me can spend some time with our goddaughter." She tried to sound convincing, knowing it was very important she succeed.
Sully looked at Robert E and chuckled. "You sure about this? You're askin' for quite a bit tonight!" he warned.
"Sure, we're sure," Robert E quickly replied. "We miss spendin' time with her, and I'm sure the two of you could use a break."
"We'll make sure she's at the clinic tomorrow morning after you arrive," Grace assured them.
Sully and Michaela just looked at each other, wondering why everyone was so willing to help all of a sudden, then turned to Katie. She had climbed down while the adults were talking, and was now allowing one of the twins to squeeze her finger and coo.
"Would you like that, Katie?" Michaela asked their daughter. "Would you like to stay with Miss Grace and Robert E and the babies tonight?"
"Stay with babies? Yes, mama, yes!" Katie exclaimed, clapping her hands in delight. "I pat backs and sing, just like mama," she stated.
Her parents shrugged their shoulders and couldn't see any reason to refuse. "All right, Katie, but you have to promise to be a good girl for mama and papa," Michaela instructed.
"I be good, mama. I pr-womise," Katie replied.
"Well, looks like you got three little ones tonight," Sully observed with a chuckle.
"Robert E, can you hold this one for a moment. I need to go inside and get something," Grace requested. She returned a moment later, carrying a covered dish with a pie on top. "I baked a special chicken recipe tonight, but there weren't enough customers to eat it all, so I put what was left in this dish, here. Why don't the two of you take it home and enjoy it, along with this pie. It'll just go to waste otherwise."
She stepped towards the wagon, but one of the twins reached out and put his hand right on the edge of the pie, upsetting it and causing Grace to drop both the pie and the covered dish. She stood, horrified, as she watched the dish fall to ground in a mess, the pie falling on top of it and splattering on the ground.
"Oh, Grace, your pie and all your hard work!" Michaela exclaimed.
"Dr. Mike, Sully, I'm real sorry about this." She glared at Robert E.
"Grace, I'm sorry for not holdin' them back. I didn't know they was gonna reach out like that."
"Grace, it's all right," Michaela quickly assured her.
"Yeah, no harm done, really. It ain't the only time we'll be samplin' your specials," Sully added.
"We appreciate your thoughtful gesture, Grace, but everything is fine. Just enjoy your time with Katie and the twins, and we'll see you in the morning." Michaela looked down at her daughter. "Katie, come give mama a hug and kiss goodnight."
Grace lifted the little girl to Michaela and Sully, who hugged and kissed their daughter in turn. "Remember what I told you, Katie. Be good for Miss Grace."
"I will, mama. Love you," Katie replied.
"We love you, too, Kates," Sully answered.
Michaela handed down Katie to Grace, then turned in her seat and waved to their friends as they drove towards home. Michaela placed her head against Sully's shoulder, and Sully wrapped his free arm around her, pulling her close, both silently dwelling on their own thoughts.
* * * * *
Sully came in from unhitching the team and putting the horses in the barn, going over to wash his hands at the sink. Michaela stood stirring a pot on the stove, and as soon as Sully dried his hands, he tried to snatch a piece of a vegetable, but Michaela smacked his hand away with the spoon.
He grinned and kissed her on the cheek, saying, "I'll be right back."
She watched him take the stairs two at a time and momentarily wondered where he was going, but focused her attention back on her cooking. She couldn't help but smile at the events that had happened recently.
Sully came downstairs and found Michaela smiling and stirring their supper. He walked behind her and put his arms around her waist, placing his chin on her shoulders. "Looks just it's just us tonight," he whisperd.
Michaela shivered as his breath tickled her ear, then recovered and stood straight. "You do realize, Sully, that this was an obvious attempt to allow you and I the night away from the children?" she pointed out.
"Yep," he replied, and Michaela could hear the smile in his voice. He reached up and released the clasp holding up her hair and gently coaxed the soft masses to tumble down her back. "I was wonderin' why I was gettin' strange looks from Loren, Jake and Hank. Even the Reverend, when he came to pay a visit on Ginny and Clayton and their new baby," he told her. Then, he brushed the hair aside from one shoulder and began trailing kisses from her ear down the side of her neck.
"Mmm, remind me to thank our friends in the morning," Michaela uttered.
Sully turned her slightly around and he met her halfway, moving his lips across her jaw and finally meeting her mouth. Michaela soon became lost in his kiss and her hand lowered very slowly above the pot she had been stirring.
"Ouch!" she suddenly let out.
Sully jerked upright and stared at her. "What happened?"
"My hand touched the pot on the stove," Michaela explained.
"Here, let me see." He took her hand in his and inspected it. "We'd better run some cold water over this," he instructed.
"No, Sully," Michaela protested. "There's no reason. I only barely touched the pot."
"Michaela, no arguments, all right?" He didn't wait for her respose, but pulled her towards the sink where he pumped the water several times before some came gushing out. Immediately, he held her hand under the sporadic stream, pumping a few more times before reaching for a towel to dry off her hand.
"Sully, it really wasn't a bad burn," Michaela feebly stated. She glanced down at her hand, being tenderly rubbed by both of Sully's, and took an unsteady breath. Her heartbeat quickened, and she forced herself to focus on something else, anything else but his touch at the moment. "We really should tend to our supper," she said, her voice coming out much more in a whisper than she'd intended as she attempted to step towards the stove.
"Michaela, there ain't no reason to be nervous," Sully countered, holding her still and preventing her from moving away from him.
"I'm not nervous," she denied, but upon seeing Sully's raised eyebrow and knowing look, she relented. "All right, so I'm a little nervous. I just want this evening to be perfect. We never were able to finish our plans..."
Sully quickly silenced her with a kiss, then pulled slightly away. "Sometimes things are best unplanned," he whispered.
Smiling, she urged him back towards the stove. This time, Sully picked up a fork and was successful in spearing a long string bean. He blew off the steam, then took the bean from the fork and held it, temptingly in front of Michaela's mouth. She smiled, fighting the urge to accept it, but seeing the look in his eyes, daring her to take it, she couldn't resist.
She mirrored his actions and held the string bean in front of his mouth, only before he took it, he stepped away from her and walked to the front door. Michaela, confused, watched him from where she stood.
He came back a moment later, and seeing her confused expression, explained. "I was just checkin' to make sure there wasn't anyone on the road comin' here to say there was an emergency in town or that I was needed for some job." He grinned.
Michaela laughed, thinking about the last time they had attempted to enjoy a meal very similar to this one. "Now that you have assured us that we won't be interrupted, will you join me in finishing our meal, Mr. Sully?" she lowered her voice, enticingly.
Amidst kisses and feeding each other, they began eating the vegetables and rice. Just after Michaela placed another string bean in his mouth, Sully captured her fingers with his lips, sucking the juices from them. She quickly removed her hand, but leaned towards him, and their mouths met in a very passionate kiss. They became lost in each other's arms, and Sully began walking them towards the stairs, but Michaela broke away, breathless.
At the questioning look in Sully's darkened eyes, she fought to regain her breath and her senses in order to explain. "The doors should be....locked....and we should....bank the....fires," she finished in a whisper.
Sully grinned and shook his head, reaching out to run tenderly cup the side of her head in his hand. "My ever practical Michaela, thinkin' of lockin' doors and puttin' out fires at a time like this." He sighed. "All right, let's go."
Michaela removed the pot from the stove and opened the door to the oven to spread the wood and ashes around, helping the fire to go out faster. She took a step towards the front door, and Sully was right beside her, his hand around her waist. It was obvious he wasn't going to leave her side, and she smiled, knowing how much he wanted this chore done. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized how quickly she, herself, wanted to complete this task.
When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Michaela went to turn down the lamp, but Sully covered her hand with his, causing her to look at him. He smiled, and she did as well, leaning in to kiss him as they turned out the lamp together. Sully then swumg Michaela up into his arms, startling her and causing her to laugh.
"Sully," she started to protest, but remained quiet and wrapped her arms around him as she allowed him to walk up the stairs to their room. He kicked open the door with his foot and Michaela was privy to her first glance of their room since this morning.
"Oh, Sully!" she exclaimed in a breathless whisper, allowing her eyes to roam around the room, noticing the roaring fire in the fireplace, casting jumping shadows on the walls and furniture, the rose petals scattered across the bed, and even a book of Whitman's poetry propped against the pillows. "You shouldn't have gone to all this trouble," she protested, her voice lacking any conviction.
Sully just smiled and placed a kiss on her lips before walking the rest of the way into the room and kicking the door closed behind them. He placed her on the edge of the bed, and stepped back to remove his shirt, then walked around to the other side of the bed.
Michaela's eyes followed his every move, and she pivoted to watch him climb into bed beside her and settle himself back against the headboard, picking up the book and extending his right arm towards her, inviting her to lean back against him. She did so, immediately, and rested her head against his shoulder as he opened the book to a marked page and began reading.
"Passing stranger! You do not know how longingly I look upon you.
You must be she I was seeking. It comes to me as of a dream.
I have somewhere surely lived a life of joy with you.
All I recall'd as we flit by each other, fluid, affectionate, chaste, matured.
I ate with you and slept with you.
Your body has become not yours only, nor left my body mine only.
You give me the pleasures of your eyes, face, flesh, as we pass.
You take of my beard, chest, hands in return.
I am not to speak to you.
I am to think of you when I sit alone or wake at night alone.
I am to wait. I do not doubt that I am to meet you again.
I am to see to it that I do not lose you." * *
Sully finished and reached down to pick up a rose petal, twirling it between his fingers before running down her cheek, under her nose and down her neck.
Michaela smiled, knowing he had changed some of the words of the poem as he read, but enjoying it all the more because of that. She found herself lost in his eyes, and her heartbeat quickened its pace as he reached out and undid one button of her blouse, then kissed her, undid another button, and kissed her again. He continued this until he was able to pull the blouse from her skirt and push it back off her shoulders.
He ran the rose petal again across her lips and down her neck, and she reached out to run her hands across his bare chest, sliding them up and around his neck and moving herself closer to him. His eyes darkened in intensity, and he reached out to gently guide her face towards his as their lips met.
They both quickly became lost in their embrace, and Sully broke apart only to reach behind him to turn out the lamp. He turned back to face her and smiled. "Happy Valentine's Day," he whispered. "I love you," he added, placing a soft kiss on her lips as a punctuation to his words.
"I love you, too," she echoed. "Thank you....for such a wonderful evening," she breathed.
"It ain't over yet," he teased, capturing her lips once more and sliding them together down onto the bed.
THE END
* selected passages from Thumbelina by Hans Christian Anderson.
* * To a Stranger by Walt Whitman in "Leaves of Grass"