Emma was in a good mood this morning. She would be staying in Colorado Springs at least through Thanksgiving. Perhaps by then, Matthew would have made plans...she hoped those plans would include her. She would have to see that they did.
She was alone in her suite. Gilda had left very early to finalize plans for the concert the Saturday after Thanksgiving with Daphne. Emma was getting ready to go to breakfast when she heard a knock on her door. "Who's there?" She called. "It's Matthew! Can I come in?"
"Why...why...in a minute!" Emma called back. She quickly ran to the mirror and checked her appearance.
"Ohhh...I wish I had a better dress on," Emma whispered, trying to smooth down the front of her forest green dress, that was decorated with plaid ribbons.
Emma finally finished worrying and hurried back to the door and opened it. Standing in the doorway was a sheepish Matthew, holding a bouquet of wildflowers.
"Why Matthew..." Emma started to say. He quickly handed her the flowers. She took them and breathed in the scent.
"Oh, they smell so heavenly! Thank you!" Emma kissed him on the cheek. "Now, I think that if you give me flowers, at least you can come with me to breakfast at Grace's cafe."
"Oh course." Matthew extended his arm and Emma accepted.
The two of them took the long way to town, talking and laughing.
"Emma, do you have plans for Christmas?" Matthew asked.
"Christmas? No..." Emma said.
"Then how would you like to join me and my family? I hear that Dr.Mike is planning a trip to Philadelphia to visit Colleen and Andrew."
"I'd love to! Just let me clear this with Gilda!" Emma squealed.
"How about getting a few weeks away from Gilda?" Matthew said, suddenly blushing.
"Even better."
Emma felt her heart swelling up from excitement, and from the fact Matthew was being so sweet. The two of them suddenly arrived in town. Matthew suddenly leaned down toward Emma and gave her a long kiss. They were suddenly lost to everything around them; the two of them only existed.
"We're almost there Katie!" Michaela called from the front of the wagon. She was on her way to work, with Brian and Katie. Michaela decided it was time to give Gretta get a day off.
Town finally came into sight.
"See, we're here!" Michaela said. As she slowed the horses, she saw a couple standing off to the side of the road. Suddenly, a dreaded feeling filled Michaela. It was Matthew and Emma. Michaela tried hard not to stop the horses. Instead, she bit her tongue and continued on. As soon as she had time, she was going to find Sully and talk with him.........
Nathaniel, Alexandra and Erin were absolutely shocked by Catherine's calm, cheerful demeanor.
"What did you do to her, Daddy?!" Erin whispered to her father.
Charles smiled and whispered back, "I'm as confused as you are, darling. I merely reminded your mother of the fact that Sasha's baby would be our very first grandchild, and that if she wanted to have any influence..."
"Speak up, Charles! We couldn't hear you!" Catherine said, a bit of the usual tone creeping into her voice.
"Nothing, my dear!" Charles replied.
An annoyed look quickly crossed Catherine's face, but was replaced by a new smile. Being the peacemaker was going to be a struggle.
Erin decided to test her mother.
"And what about medical school, Mama. Surely you still don't approve of my attendance?"
There was an uncomfortable silence as Catherine paused to give Erin a wilting look.
"We shall discuss that again after the holidays. After the baby is born." Catherine finally replied.
"For now, I think it's wonderful that your sister...and brother-in-law...have taken you in. Again, that is something we can discuss after the baby is born."
The family all stood dumbfounded as Catherine said. "Well don't just stand there...Alexandra, you must get off your feet. Let's all sit down and discuss our plans for Thanksgiving."
They all moved into the parlor and sat down. "We can still have dinner here, Sasha, if that's all right with you and Nathaniel, but I won't have you lifting a finger!"
"Mother, really...I am perfectly capable..." Alexandra replied, still awestruck at her mother's sudden change.
"No, Sasha, you must listen to your mother!" Nathaniel said, feeling vaguely light headed as he realized that he had just agreed with his mother-in-law. Perhaps he ought to examine himself as well as Catherine. He visually located his medical bag...just in case.
The discussion was going surprisingly well, then, someone came to the door.
Erin got up and brought Nathaniel his bag. It was Clara Pennington.
There was a deathly silence, broken only by Catherine's far too cheerful, "Why Clara, what a pleasant surprise. Won't you join us?"
Brian watched Katie while Michaela began her day at the clinic. She saw several patients, nothing too serious, which was a good thing, since Michaela's mind really wasn't on her work.
All she could think about was Matthew and Emma. She thought back several months to when Colleen and Andrew had decided to postpone their wedding because she hadn't approved.
Of course she couldn't help but think about how she thought Matthew and Ingrid were too young...
Emma had gone away before. Would she go this time, and leave Matthew broken hearted yet again?
But how could Michaela know what would happen? She couldn't, and that's what was troubling her.
How could she remain silent?...and yet, what right did she have to say a single word?...Matthew was of age...yet he was still her son...Just what are Emma's intentions?
So many questions...
"Dr. Mike!"
Michaela was startled to see Horace rushing into the clinic, carrying the limp form of his daughter.
"Dr. Mike, help! Samantha's burning up!"
All questions about Matthew and Emma were put aside as Dr. Quinn attended to her young patient.
Gretta had been having a lovely day off. She had spent most of the morning with her brother, getting to know him again.
That afternoon, Gretta had finally relented, and gone to lunch with the man who had previously owned the Springs Chateau and was now the manager, Preston A. Lodge III.
Although he was a charming host, and actually quite handsome, Gretta was fairly unimpressed, however, she hid it well, and Preston was thoroughly smitten.
Gretta had to admit she loved the attention, and besides, it did help take her mind off Ryan Bell.
Gretta wondered when Nicholous would be back from the "business errand" he was running. She hoped she could join him for dinner later.
She continued strolling, lost in thought...
"Gretta!"
She turned around. It was Dr. Bell.
"Gretta!" He repeated. "We need to talk!"
Clara looked as if she had walked into the wrong house for a moment, but quickly recovered.
"Um...of course. I just stopped by to see if Alexandra had the Thanksgiving plans under control or if she needed any help."
"Oh, of course Alexandra will not be doing any of the work, what with her condition. But your input would be most welcome," Catherine replied in the same faux-cheerful voice.
Perhaps it was not the best time to chime in, but Alexandra was growing quite tired of being treated as a child. "Ok, everyone please listen to me." Everyone looked up, a bit startled at the tone of voice Alex had chosen.
"My "condition" is not a deathly illness, malady or paralization of any sort. I am expecting, for goodness sake! Everyone is acting as though I am a complete ninny when it comes to knowing how to care for myself! I know exactly how much I can do and when it is best for me to stop! Now, I will host this dinner as planned. I will supervise this work. I will not spend the entire remainder of this nine-month period sitting in a chair and I WILL NOT tolerate being treated like an invalid!" she announced.
"Alexandra! I do not believe what I am hearing! Will you stop being so self-centered and think about the health of my grandchild?" Catherine said with a shocked voice.
"Mother, I am not being self-centered, and neither is Erin. Now, I know that you want to be a part of my life and of Erin's, but we are ADULTS! You simply can not control us or our actions any longer! It doesn't mean we don't love you, it just means that we are able to live our own lives, lives that you can still be a part of!"
Catherine stared at Alexandra for a moment, torn between getting angry again or realizing that her daughter was right. She was afraid of losing her daughters
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