Dr. Andrew Cook glanced over at his new wife, Colleen Cooper Cook. She was so beautiful. She was wearing her mother's snow white wedding dress and an equally bright smile. Andrew could see the life and joy sparkling in her eyes as she danced with Sully. When Andrew had complimented her eyes, the way they sparked with life, Colleen had lightly kissed him and told him he did that to her.
They were a shy romance from the start. But they had been getting more bold. It was easier, especially since their engagement. Andrew could still see the look of absolute ecstasy on her face when he asked her. He had been so nervous! How could he ask someone so wonderful to marry him? But Colleen had been thrilled. Andrew had felt such joy at that moment that he never though he could feel.
Andrew glanced at Michaela, who was watching her husband with her daughter. There was pride in her eyes, one brown, one green. Andrew was glad. She had seemed so against the marriage. Normal maternal concern, he guessed. Andrew admitted he had proposed at that time because of Colleen going away but he knew he would have proposed sooner or later.
He wondered if Sully told Michaela yet that he was the one who urged Andrew to do something about the separation.
Michaela was indeed watching her husband with Colleen. She remembered the awkward time when Colleen had been infatuated with Sully. But that seemed like a completely different Colleen. She was a different girl now.
She was a woman.
"No sense in either of us not dancing."
Michaela looked up to see Andrew standing by her side, a small boyish grin on his face. Michaela smiled, knowing that their professional boundaries had to break. She was looking at her first son-in-law. "Are you asking me to dance?" Michaela asked.
"Well, it seems Sully stole my bride so I think I should steal his," teased Andrew, feeling far more comfortable with the woman than he used to. He had always been looking to impress her before. But now he knew her. He was related to her. "May I have the pleasure of this dance?"
Michaela smiled, seeing the charm that Colleen had so easily fallen for. Michaela put her arm through his with a teasing Boston airiness that they both knew so well. Andrew grinned and led her up to the dancing dais.
On the side, Loren Bray was handing Dorothy Jennings off to Cloud Dancing. Mayor Jake Slicker was showing his wife, Teresa Moralles Slicker, new house plans. Matthew was 'dancing' with Katie. Brian was getting up the nerve to ask Sarah to dance. On the floor, Grace was telling Robert E. she was pregnant.
It was a happy day.
Then the train came. The town saw off Andrew and Colleen Cook. As the train rounded the corner, they saw Colleen giggle as Andrew picked her up.
Michaela and Sully reached for each other's hand at the same time, turning to each other with a smile. They remembered that all too well. They knew they would not see the couple until Christmas. It made it hard to let Colleen go. But they could definitely manage. They would be very much missed but what could happen in six months?
Matthew smiles to himself happily. He wishes it had been him in Ingrid but his day to get married would come one day. He can't believe how grown and matured his sister is now. He had never really noticed it till today.
Brian walks up to him. "What are you thinking about Big Brother?" he says with a smile.
"A lot of things. Especially how glad I am because Colleen is," Matthew answers.
"Are you thinking about Ingrid, too?" Brian answers.
"Yes, it's hard not to think about her at least once a day. She was very special to me," Matthew says sadly
"I know, and one day you will find someone you love almost, -or- the same amount you love her," Brian says, giving his brother a smile.
Matthew hugs his brother. "I hope you're right."
Things slowly began to get back to normal in Colorado Springs. Things were a bit more quiet for Michaela...a little too quiet. She missed Colleen desperately. Although she knew that Colleen was about to embark on a wonderful adventure of realizing her dream to become a doctor, Michaela still missed her oldest daughter.
Today, Michaela was on her way to the Chateau clinic. She had to honor the agreement made when Sully had found someone to buy the resort from Preston. It would be difficult for awhile, until they were able to find a new doctor, but at least for now, the Chateau's patrons would get all necessary medical treatment, without the doctor having to be concerned for her employment. Michaela arrived and looked the place over...the equipment was quite modern. Everything that had not actually belonged to Andrew had been left there in pristine condition. All was very organized. All Michaela had to do was to move in. As pleasant and modern as the conditions were, Michaela hoped this would prove to be a temporary situation. She had her own clinic to think about. Michaela sat at the desk and waited for her first patient.
Colleen and Andrew had quickly settled into a small flat in Philadelphia. It was located fairly close to the medical school. This made it very convenient for Colleen to go to class while Andrew looked for employment. They had both saved enough money for the two of them to survive comfortably for quite some time before they would need to worry, but Andrew was still very grateful when he was accepted for a position on the local hospital staff, thanks to a good recommendation from his uncle.
Colleen and Andrew Cook's new life in Philadelphia had gotten off to a fine start. "Colleen!" Andrew called, as she was preparing their dinner.
"Yes, darling?" Colleen answered.
"I received a letter from my uncle today. He says he was happy to hear about my new job, although he would have preferred that I would reconsider going into practice with him, as he'd planned it since my father died.." Andrew paused for a moment. The loss of his parents, in close succession, shortly after he'd entered medical school, still stung even after several years.
Colleen sensed this and stopped what she was doing. "What else did he say, Andrew? Any news?"
Andrew smiled. "Yes, Colleen. I wanted to tell you as soon as I could. My uncle is coming from Boston for a visit. Now that we're closer, he feels he can leave his practice long enough to see us. He also said how sorry he was for missing our wedding. He'd like to make it up to us in this way."
Colleen paled. "When is he coming?" The thought of meeting Andrew's uncle for the first time made Colleen very nervous.
"Well...the letter is dated two weeks ago...his plans were...."Andrew paused to do the math. "Oh no, Colleen! He'll be here tomorrow! Not a lot of time to prepare, but I know you can do it, right?"
"Tomorrow?! Andrew...the flat...I'll never be ready in time!!! What will your uncle think of me?!"
Andrew pulled Colleen into his arms. "He'll think you're a wonderful, delightful young woman, and that his nephew is a very lucky man, as do I! I love you, Colleen!"
"I love you too, Andrew." Colleen said, as she tried to deal with the fact that she would be meeting Andrew's uncle for the first time tomorrow...what would she do? She hoped she would make a good impression.
When Mike came home from work, she'd found Brian and Sully had cooked supper for her and all she had to do was sit down.
"Where's Matthew?" Mike asks.
"He took a walk." Brian says sitting Katie at the table then sitting himself.
"Are you covering up, Brian, because you said when I came home two hours ago he was taking a walk." Sully asks.
"He left about 3 1/2 hours ago. He had just been sitting on the porch when I got home from school then about 10 minutes later he starts walking to the woods and called out 'I am going for a walk'," Brian says, a little mad that Sully would think Matthew still needs to be covered up for.
"He's been somewhat out of it since Colleen got married." Mike notes.
"He's probably thinking abut what his future would have been like if that was him and Ingrid." Sully states.
"Ingrid?" Katie asks .
"Matthew can tell you about Ingrid. I'm sure he can tell you more things about her then we could." Sully says.
As he says this he hears footsteps on the porch. Matthew walks in the door. "Hello everyone." he says in a calm voice even though everyone but Katie can tell he was crying recently.
"Who is Ingrid?" Katie asks cheerfully.
Matthew picks Katie up and sits in the chair by the fireplace. He sets Katie on his knee. "Ingrid was my fiancee. But she died right before you were born." He pauses for a moment. "From the first moment I saw her I knew I loved her."
"Do you still love her?" Katie asks.
"Yes, that is something you should always remember that you can still love someone after their dead. Because they are up in heaven watchin' you." Matthew tells her.
"Can you finish telling me about Ingrid?" Katie asks.
Wanna see the list of authors? Come on, I know you do. It includes which part they wrote and their E-mail address to give them feedback.