Chapter 14:

“What would you like to drink, sir?” a flight attendant asked.

“Water will be fine, thank you,” Luis replied.

He was heading to Harmony. Home. But somehow he knew it wouldn’t be the same without Sheridan at his side. He had tried repeatedly to talk to her, but she had rebuffed him every time.

Her “friend” Lila refused to let him talk to her-whether he was on the phone or at the door. Now that he thought about it, Lila looked a lot like that seductress that had started this whole mess.

Suddenly, it hit him. Lila was keeping him away from Sheridan so that Kylie could get him! He didn’t remember ever meeting Lila or even hearing about her. She had probably heard about Sheridan’s amnesia and Kylie had wanted to use it to her advantage.

Damn it! He wanted Sheridan-not Kylie or any other woman. Sheridan Katherine Crane was the woman he was supposed to be with. She was his one true love. His soul mate.

Now if he could just make her see that.

“Sheridan! My dearest daughter!” Alistair Crane exclaimed as he walked towards her with his arms outstretched. “I thought I had lost you.”

“Father?” Sheridan asked.

“Of course it’s me, sweetheart. I’m so glad that you’re safe.”

“Me too. I’m glad to be back on solid ground again.”

The boat had docked in Miami, Florida earlier that afternoon. Sheridan was finally back in the good old US of A.

She was glad to be off of the boat. If she ever saw Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald again, it would be too soon.

“Nathan will be so happy to see you,” Alistair told her. “He’s waiting for you in New York right now.”

“Nathan?” Sheridan asked. “Who’s Nathan?”

“Nathan Reynolds. Your fiancé.”

“Wait, wasn’t Luis my fiancé?” Sheridan was getting really confused.

“Yes, but after you broke it off with him, you started seeing Nathan. Nathan is a wonderful guy, and you two were very much in love. He had proposed just before you were stranded on that God-forsaken island with Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald.”

“But, Father, why does everyone think that I am still engaged to Luis?”

“We never told the press about your break-up since we didn’t want to embarrass you. We simply planned to announce your involvement with Nathan after a significant amount of time had passed. People would be able to make their own assumptions. And no one knows about your engagement to Nathan since it wouldn’t have been tasteful to announce such a thing after your tragic disappearance.”

Sheridan simply nodded in response to Alistair’s words. This was a shock. She was engaged? To a man named Nathan? Oh, she wished Lila was there at her side. But her best friend had needed to return to Paris with her fiancé. Sheridan understood, but she really needed moral support at a time like this.

“Come, darling. The Crane Jet awaits.”

Wordlessly, Sheridan Crane followed her father onto the Crane Jet, wishing she could remember her life. At least then she would have some idea as to how to handle this whole confusing situation.

A smile filled Luis’s face. He was almost home. He couldn’t wait to see his family. They must have been so worried about him!

Minutes later, he walked into the airport, searching for any sign of Mama or Theresa or Miguel.

“Luis!” he heard his sister shout.

He turned and saw her sprinting towards him. He dropped his small bag and gave her a big hug.

“Luis, it’s great to have you back,” Ethan said. “We’ve all missed you a lot.”

“Mijo,” Pilar began, speaking for the first time, “Where’s Sheridan? Isn’t she with you?”

“No, Mama,” Luis replied sadly. “She’s not with me. I don’t know where she is. She’s refused to speak to me for a few days now.”

“Well, let’s go home, Luis,” Theresa suggested. “Mama made a wonderful dinner.”

Luis nodded, wishing again that Sheridan were here to share this moment with him. But she wasn’t-and it was all because of Kylie and her sister Lila.

Nervously, Sheridan entered Nathan’s apartment building. Father had had to tend to some business, but he had sent her to find her fiancé. She knew what Nathan looked like now-she had asked Alistair for a picture so she could try to remember their times together.

Nathan had dark hair and chocolate brown eyes. There was something about him that seemed familiar. Sheridan didn’t know what it was, but she supposed that it was just her memory trying to surface.

If only it would. The Crane doctor had told her that her amnesia was most likely permanent since her memory hadn’t returned yet. But he did say that it was possible for a person or event to trigger her memory. Hopefully, Nathan would bring her memory back to her.

She stepped into the elevator and hit the button for the 15th floor. The penthouse. Nathan was obviously rich. Father had told her as much.

As the door of the elevator opened, she hoped that she could be the Sheridan that Nathan had fallen in love with all those months ago. The Sheridan that she feared had disappeared along with her memory.

Apprehensively, Sheridan knocked on the door.

“Sheridan?” a deep voice asked as the door opened. The man looked at her and stared into her eyes. “It’s you, my love. It’s really you.”

Knock, knock.

“I’ve got it,” Luis called as he stood up to answer the door.

He opened the door and said in a voice filled with contempt, “What the hell are you doing here?”

Chapter 15:

“What are you doing here?” Luis demanded.

“I-I-” the woman stuttered.

“Who are you anyhow? Kylie? Lila? Or is there a third one of you?” Luis’s voice was laced with disgust and disbelief. The lengths that these women would go to in order to keep him from Sheridan! It was sickening!

“Luis, it’s me. Kylie. I really want to talk to you-and explain why I acted the way I did. I don’t usually come on so strong and I thought that you deserved an explanation.”

An explanation? It’s about time someone told me what the hell was going on! Luis fumed.

“Kylie, would you like to come inside?” Luis asked.

“Sheridan,” the man repeated. “Sheridan, you’re back. You’re back in my arms. Oh, this is all that I’ve dreamed of and more!”

“Nathan?” Sheridan asked.

Stupid! Sheridan scolded herself. Of course he’s Nathan! He only looks exactly like the man in the picture!

“Of course it’s me, darling,” Nathan replied lovingly.

“It feels good to be home,” Sheridan told him with a smile. Oddly enough, this apartment didn’t feel like home. It didn’t feel like a place that was filled with warmth and love. But she did live here-with her fiancé! She shook her head in frustration. She would have given anything in the world to have her memory back. At least then she would know what was going on.

“Sheridan, sweetheart, I’m afraid I have some bad news,” Nathan said softly.

“What?” Sheridan questioned worriedly.

“Oh, it’s nothing big. I just need to go to Harmony, Maine to talk to your older brother Julian tomorrow. So we won’t be able to stay here long. I know that you would like to stay home, but I’m sure that your family would love to see you. Would you like to come?”

Harmony? Sheridan asked herself in disbelief. My brother has to live in Harmony?!? Figures that he lives in the same city as that using, abusing Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald!

After a few moments of consideration, Sheridan knew that she had to go. What if one of her relatives could trigger her memory?

“I would love to come with you, Nathan,” Sheridan said with a smile. “When do we leave?”

“So you want to be a police officer?” Luis asked. “That’s why you were hitting on me?”

“Yeah,” Kylie replied. “I know it sounds dumb, but I thought that you might be more willing to help me if…”

“If what? If I were getting something out of it? That’s not who I am,” Luis scoffed.

“I know that now. I’m sorry. I realized that I ruined things between you and your girlfriend. And I’m sorry. That was never my intention.”

“It’s ok, Kylie. Sheridan’s been searching for a reason to hate me for months now. You just helped her find one. And if I really loved her, I wouldn’t have kissed you. I would have moved away before you had a chance.”

“Luis, you really shouldn’t be so hard on yourself. Yes, you did kiss me, but it was just a mistake. And I made sure to do everything I could to attract your attention. If you hadn’t been attracted to me, I would’ve been hurt! Mortally wounded! Never again able to carry on a successful relationship because of my inability to attract a guy…”

Luis laughed heartily. “Well, then I guess it’s a good thing that I did kiss you. We can’t have that now can we?”

“Thanks, Luis.” Kylie paused. “Well? What do you think? Will you help me?”

“Well, Kylie, you’re in luck. I just talk to Sam-he’s the police chief around here-and he told me that I can have my job back. Since I’m in such a good mood I’d be more than happy to help you. It won’t be long until you’re raising hell with all those guys at the Police Academy.”

Kylie forced a smile. Police Academy. Great. Alistair Crane had better get her out of this somehow. There was no way that she could survive a stint at the Police Academy. No way in hell.

She was walking down the stairs, looking for Nathan when she heard her name mentioned in Julian’s office. Softly, she hid outside the door, wondering what they were talking about.

“Alistair, are you sure you want me to marry Sheridan? What about Anna?” she heard Nathan’s voice ask.

“What about Anna?” Sheridan heard her father scoff. “You will marry Sheridan. Do what you wish with Anna, but Sheridan Crane will become Sheridan Reynolds by the end of the month. You have never questioned me before, Nathan. Do not begin to do so now.”

Sheridan felt the energy sapped from her body as she heard Nathan question their engagement. She had to get out of there-now. He could never know how much he had hurt her. She could never allow him that kind of satisfaction!

She raced outside to the large garage on the Crane property. The red Jaguar caught her eye, and she quickly hopped inside. Without a second thought she put the petal to the metal and sped off of the Crane property.

“Damn him!” Sheridan said to herself as tears poured down his cheeks. “He was only kind to me because Father had threatened him-but with what? Oh, who cares! All that matters is that Father lied to me. He told me that Nathan loved me. Nathan told me that he loved me. Hah! Nathan doesn’t know the meaning of the word love! If he loved me, he would have wanted to marry me!”

Luis was sitting on the side of the road, keeping an eye out for speeders. He hated this part of the job. If you pulled someone over, they were rarely in a good mood. And each had an excuse to try to get out of their ticket.

Luis sighed loudly. But work was work. He needed something to do with his time. Something to keep his mind off of Sheridan and the royal mess he had made of things.

Luis glanced down at his radar gun as he saw a red blur fly by. 84 mph? In a 45 zone? This driver was getting a ticket, no two ways about it. Although there was rarely traffic on this road this time of day, the car would be in town in no time. There was no telling what kind of havoc this manic driver could wreak.

Luis pulled out onto the road and turned his flashers on, but the car showed no signs of stopping. Reluctantly, Luis gained speed until he passed the Jaguar. He positioned his squad car across the street so that the driver would have no choice but to stop.

Luis watched in disbelief as the driver of the car didn’t stop. Rather, the red Jaguar plowed into his car.

“Well, this is just perfect,” Luis muttered to himself as he checked himself for injuries. Luckily, he had escaped the accident unscathed. “My first day back on the job, and I already wrecked my car. Sam is gonna love this.” Quickly, Luis radioed for backup before walking over to the other car.

Luis’s disbelief grew as he thought he recognized the driver of the other car. “Sheridan?” he asked as he walked closer. “Sheridan, did you just wreck my squad car, again?”

But there was no response from the driver of the other car. The driver was lying unconscious, her head on the steering wheel.

Chapter Sixteen

Sheridan cruised down the street, unaware of how fast she was going. All that she knew was that she had to get away from Nathan as fast as humanly possible.

She didn’t even see the cop car pull out behind her with its flashers on. She didn’t see the squad car ahead of her until it was too late. Horrified, she tried to slam on her brakes, but she was much too late. Before she could come to a stop, her red Jaguar had crashed into the cop car.

As her car jerked to a stop, Sheridan’s head hit the steering wheel. After that, everything went black.

"Sheridan!" Luis shouted as he ran beside her car. "Sheridan, open your eyes! Look at me! Sheridan, wake up!"

Luis felt tears well up in his eyes as he noted Sheridan’s unresponsive state. He wanted to take her from the car and hold her in his arms, but he knew he couldn’t do that. Sheridan would kill him if she woke up in his arms. Besides, if she had a spinal injury, he would only make things worse.

Cautiously, Luis touched Sheridan’s face. "Sweetie, you have to wake up. There are a lot of people in this world who need you. There are a lot of people who love you. Come back, Sheridan. Please, come back."

FLASHBACK:
"I can’t believe that Jean Luc had the nerve to propose to me when he was already engaged to Mimi! Just another man that I can add to the list of those who never loved me. The list of the men who only wanted to use me. But no more! I am through with men!"

Sheridan glanced up at the road ahead of her, and, to her surprise, saw a cop car parked in the middle of the road. Immediately, she slammed on the brakes, but she was too late to avoid hitting the car.

Great, Sheridan thought. My life is already in shambles. What more can go wrong?

"You try anything else, and I’ll use your tired for target practice," a deep, masculine voice informed her.

The officer walked closer and Sheridan could read his irritation in his voice and on his face. Great. Now she had to deal with an officer with an attitude.

Luis was fuming mad. Some bozo who didn’t know how to drive had decided to race down the street like they were racing in the Indy 500.

"Well, I hope you had a good time, buster, because you're about to say good-bye to life as you know it. There is no way your sorry behind isn’t doing jail time after moves like that," Luis said as he approached the car door.

How dare he! Sheridan fumed. Doesn’t he know who I am?

"My name’s not Buster, my behind is anything but sorry, and you can’t arrest me!" Sheridan proclaimed, her Crane pride shining through.

Luis looked at the woman. He didn’t know who she was kidding, but there was no way in hell she was getting out of a night in jail. "You’ve broken at least 10 laws in the last 5 minutes. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t throw your ass in jail right now."

Sheridan stared right back at him. He honestly had no idea who he was dealing with. Well, she’d give him a reason alright. She’d give a reason that would give him nightmares for the rest of his days.

"Because my last name is Crane."
END FLASHBACK

FLASHBACK:
Julian is wrong! He has to be! Luis isn’t using me. He wouldn’t-he couldn’t! It just isn’t in his nature, Sheridan’s mind told her as she walked down to the wharf to talk to Luis.

The wharf. The place where merely an hour ago, she and Luis had shared their first serious kiss. The place where Sheridan realized just how much she liked Luis-how much she wanted Luis.

As she approached the wharf, she heard Luis on a cell phone. Not wanting to interrupt, Sheridan stood beside a nearby wall to wait for him to finish his conversation.

"Yeah," Luis said. "She fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. The Cranes have used and abused my family for years. Now it’s my chance to use one of theirs-their Princess Sheridan."

No! Sheridan’s heart screamed. Luis cannot be like the men in my past! Oh, Luis! I thought you were different! Why did you have to turn out just like them?
END FLASHBACK

FLASHBACK:
"Luis, if you just admit it, I can forgive you, and we can be together!" Sheridan pleaded.

She loved Luis so much-but she couldn’t be with a man that would lie to her. She wanted nothing more than to be with Luis, but if he couldn’t admit that he had said it-for whatever reason-she just couldn’t be with him.

"Sheridan, you have to believe me. I never said those things about you. Ever! To anyone!"

Luis was so frustrated. Sheridan had finally told him why she had slapped him at the Youth Center that day. The fateful day before she left for Paris, before he saved her from the drug dealers, before he realized he was head-over-heels in love with Sheridan Katherine Crane.

Sheridan thought he had used her. He almost didn’t believe it when he first heard it. He thought that Sheridan trusted him more than that. She would know that he would never treat anyone like that.

But she had been dead serious. She honestly thought that he had told someone that he was using her to get back at her family. He honestly didn’t know how he could even use Sheridan to get back at Alistair and Julian! Like sleeping with Sheridan would make them pay for what they did to his Father? To his family?

Sheridan had told him that if he just admitted it, she could forgive him and they could be together. He wanted to be with Sheridan. He wanted it more than he had ever wanted anything. His love for her ran deep-deeper that he had ever wanted to admit to himself.

If he wanted to be with Sheridan he only had to do one little thing. He simply had to say what she wanted to hear. Who cares if it wasn’t the truth? It would all be worth it if it would allow him and Sheridan to finally be together.

But Luis knew he couldn’t do that. He couldn’t start off what would probably be the most important relationship of his life with a lie. He couldn’t do that-he wouldn’t. His mother had raised him to be an honest, upstanding man. If he lied to the woman he loved, he would be going against everything he had been taught.

"Luis, if I hadn’t seen and heard you myself, I never would have believed it. I was there. Just admit it!"

Why did Luis have to be so proud? Why couldn’t he just own up to it and face the fact that he had been caught in a lie? Sheridan knew that he loved her, that he wanted her. She could see it in his eyes. But if he loved her, why couldn’t he just tell her the truth?

"Sheridan, how did you feel about me before you went to the wharf? What were you feeling that night?"

"I-I was really happy. I liked you, Luis, and I was so excited when we kissed. I couldn’t wait to see you at the Youth Center the next day. It seemed like everything in my life was finally falling into place," Sheridan recalled with a smile dancing on her lips.

Then, her face turned cold and stony. "But Julian warned me that you were using me. I refused to believe him, so I returned to the wharf to prove him wrong. There, then, I heard you on the phone. I don’t know who you were talking to, but it didn’t matter. Your words cut deep into my soul. You said you were using me!"

"Sheridan," Luis began earnestly. "I swear to you, I never said those things. What if we just say that that day didn’t exist. That never happened."

"Luis, as much as I’d like to believe that, it happened. I was there. I saw it. I heard it. I’m not going crazy."

"Sheridan, I don’t have an explanation for you. Honestly, I don’t. All I can tell you is that it wasn’t me. If we just make that day not exist, you don’t hate me anymore. We’re right back where we were before the kiss."

"And where would that be?" Sheridan asked lifting an eyebrow.

Luis almost sighed with relief. She believed him. Thank God. He had hoped that her love would be enough to convince her that he wouldn’t say those things.

"We’re just two people who want nothing more than to kiss each other."

Slowly, Luis lips descended upon Sheridan’s, capturing them in a sweet, soulful kiss.
END FLASHBACK:

FLASHBACK:
Weakly, Sheridan walked into the church. She hoped to go to Midnight Mass, but on her slow walk into the church, she heard Luis pleading with God for a miracle.

"Please, God," Luis begged. "Please. I love Sheridan so much. I never should have left her to go with Agent Freeman to Washington. I would have gladly given my life so she could have lived. God, we just confessed our love to one another. Our love is deep and true-don’t take it away from us so quickly. I know that Eve said that Sheridan is never going to wake up, but I know that you can make the difference. Please, God. Please, bring Sheridan back to me."

Sheridan felt a wave of love sweep over her. She knew Luis loved her, but she had no idea that his feelings ran so deep.

"Luis." Sheridan’s voice was like a whisper in the wind. "Luis, I’m here."

Luis spun around, sure that he was hearing things. His look of shock disappeared and was instantly replaced with one of pure joy.

"Sheridan," Luis whispered, almost afraid that she was an illusion. "Sheridan, it’s really you!"

"Yes, Luis, it’s me," Sheridan replied.

"You need to be in the hospital, my love," Luis scolded as he scooped her up. "I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you."

"I love you, Luis," Sheridan whispered.

"I love you too, sweetheart."
END FLASHBACK

FLASHBACK:
Luis was going to propose soon. Sheridan knew that. Luis had told her as much. She only wished that Luis would hurry up and get it over with. He already knew how she was going to respond!

But he wanted it to be perfect. Romantic and sweet-just like he was. Sheridan supposed she could understand that.

Suddenly, Luis walked through the door. "Sheridan, my love, would you be willing to accompany me to a secret destination?"

Sheridan grinned. Maybe now was the time. "Of course, Luis!"

"But, first…" Luis moved towards Sheridan and tied a blindfold over her eyes. Now Sheridan knew that the proposal was coming!

Moments later, Sheridan could smell flowers all around her. She knew that they were in the garden.

"You ready?" Luis asked with a grin. This was the moment he had been waiting for all his life.

"Oh, yeah!" Sheridan cried in response. The time was here. Luis was about to propose.

Slowly, Luis untied the blindfold from around her eyes. Sheridan looked around the garden and saw all that Luis had done to prepare for this moment.

"Oh, Luis!" she cried. "It’s just like in my dreams! My goodness!"

"You like it?" Luis asked earnestly.

"I love it!" Sheridan exclaimed with a huge grin. "You shouldn’t have done this. It must have cost you a fortune!"

"Nah," Luis replied. "I want this to be a special occasion. It’s a once in a lifetime thing."

As music began to play, Sheridan asked, "Where’s that music coming from?"

Luis smiled. "See for yourself."

Sheridan turned to look and saw a group of musicians walk in. She opened her mouth to speak, but Luis interrupted her.

"Care to dance?"

Sheridan simply nodded as Luis gathered her into his arms. After what seemed like only a moment, the music ends and the musicians leave the garden.

Luis glanced at his watch. "Your present is due to be delivered any minute now."

"Present?" Sheridan asked. "What present?"

At that moment, a man entered the garden and handed Luis a small box.

"Ah, thanks," Luis said as he took the box.

Sheridan gasped. "It’s just like the box in my dreams!"

"Well?" Luis asked. "Open it!"

Sheridan did as she was told and found a red box with a ring inside. "Your grandmother’s ring," she breathed.

"I know it’s no surprise," Luis apologized. "You’ve already seen it."

"It doesn’t matter," Sheridan insisted. "It’s still beautiful."

Luis took a deep breath before he said another word. "It’s no secret why we’re here. We both know I’m going to ask you a question, and we both know what it is. Before I do pop the question, I want to tell you why I think that you’re the most wonderful woman in the world. I know the life we’ll build together will make all our hopes and dreams come true. I’ve never met anyone like you. I’ve never wanted to be with a woman as much as I want to be with you. You’re everything I could have dreamed for and more-infinitely more. I want to be with you every day, even every minute, and every second. And to make sure that happens, to make sure we’re joined together forever, I’m going to ask you a question. A question I hope will be the first step down the road to our happiness."

Luis moved and knelt before Sheridan. "My grandmother told me that when I met the perfect woman, it would be like a phonograph in my head playing my favorite song over and over, and that it would be so beautiful, so perfect, that I’d never want the music to end."

"Do you hear that music now?" Sheridan asked.

"I guess it was always there. I just had a hard time hearing it because of all the times you crashed into my car, and all the arguments we had. But I hear it loud and clear now. My grandmother was right. I never want the music to end, and there is only one was to make sure the music will never end. Sheridan Crane, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me?"

"Yes, Luis, I will marry you. Yes, yes, yes!" Sheridan cried. She threw her arms around his neck and enveloped him in a soft, loving kiss.
END FLASHBACK

FLASHBACK:
Sheridan paused outside the door to the house. The house DeeDee and Luis had been at earlier that night. This woman claimed that she needed Sheridan’s help. That Luis was hurting her. She had said that Luis had left for a moment, but he was sure to be back any minute.

Sheridan didn’t believe what the woman said-she couldn’t. Luis would never hit anyone. It simply wasn’t in his nature. Luis hated people who abused others. He was always disgusted every time someone was arrested for abusing his or her family.

So Sheridan had talked to Luis about what DeeDee had told her and they had come up with a plan. Cautiously, Sheridan knocked on the door.

Instantly, DeeDee opened the door, fear written all over her face. "Sheridan? You have to get out of here! Luis is really mad. I don’t know what he’ll do to me if he found out that I told you!"

Sheridan looked at DeeDee. She had a black eye and small cuts all over her face. She had bruises on her arms and legs. Sheridan couldn’t believe her eyes. This was worse than she had imagined.

"DeeDee!" Sheridan heard Luis’s voice shout. "Where the hell are you?"

Sheridan watched with shock as Luis walked into the room. He had an open bottle of whiskey in his hand and was obviously drunk. "Sheridan?" Luis asked. "DeeDee, why is Sheridan here?"

DeeDee whimpered, and Sheridan’s heart went out to her. The poor woman was so scared of the monster Sheridan had never believed Luis could become.

"You told her, didn’t you?" Luis reached out and slapped her hard against the jaw. "Damn you!"

"Sheridan!" DeeDee cried with a voice laced with fear. "Get out of here! Save yourself!"

Sheridan turned to leave and saw a man standing in the doorway. Luis. It wasn’t him hitting DeeDee. Thank God.

"Are you ok?" Luis whispered before he made his presence known. Sheridan shot him a weak grin, and he smiled back.

Luis walked over to his look-alike and punched him in the jaw. ‘Luis’ and DeeDee glanced over and saw the real Luis. DeeDee paled instantly-she knew that Sheridan knew the truth.

‘Luis’ responded to Luis’s punch with one of his own. The two men fought, and soon the fake Luis was unconscious beside the fireplace.

Luis walked up to him, felt below his chin and began to pull something off of his face. Sheridan watched in shock as she saw the likeness of Luis come away in the real Luis’s hands. The man beneath the mask looked nothing like Luis. She’d been had.

Angry as hell, Sheridan launched herself at DeeDee. The woman had had the nerve to call Luis’s cell phone and pretend that something was going on between them. She slept with "Luis" and claimed that he was abusing her. But he wasn’t. It was all a setup.

"Who put you up to this?" Sheridan cried as she slapped DeeDee hard against the jaw. "WHO?!?"

DeeDee refused to respond. As she prepared to hit Sheridan, Sheridan shoved her into the closet door. The doors buckled under the unexpected weight and DeeDee fell to the floor-landing on top of Julian and Rebecca.

Damn it, Luis thought. I should have known they’d be behind this!

Because of the damn Cranes, Luis had lost valuable time with Sheridan. Time they could have spent loving each other, and cherishing what they had together. Because of their fear, he and Sheridan had spent months hating each other and denying their true feelings.

Luis turned to Sheridan and saw her in tears. His heart went out to his love, and he put his arm around her. It had to be hard for her to accept that her family disapproved of their relationship so much. They had gone through so much trouble to keep them apart. But now Sheridan had him-and he would spend the rest of his life showing her the love that a family should share.
END FLASHBACK

FLASHBACK:
"Luis! LUIS! LUIS!!" Sheridan screamed in fear, as she stood shell-shocked. There was a bomb on their boat!

The bomb was going to explode soon, and Sheridan knew that she had to move, run, do something to avoid the blast that she knew was coming. But her feet seemed to be glued to the floor. All that she could do was scream in horror and hope that Luis could save her, yet again.

9… 8… 7… 6… 5…

Luis was climbing back up onto the boat after untangling the anchor when he heard Sheridan’s desperate cry for help.

"Sheridan?" He called in response to her frantic cry.

He heard her yell again. He could sense the fear in her voice, and his intuition was telling him that she was in danger.

"SHERIDAN!!" he shouted, as he sprinted towards the galley.

Please, God, Luis prayed. Sheridan and I have just found our happy ending-don’t take it away from us. Please!

4… 3… 2… 1…
BOOM!

END FLASHBACK

Chapter Seventeen

Tears were welling up in Luis’s eyes as he recalled all of his times with Sheridan. Their first meeting-a scene much like this one. The community service. Their first date. Their first kiss. His rescuing Sheridan in Paris. Hal assigning Luis as Sheridan’s bodyguard. Their confession of love. Sheridan returning from the dead. The first time they made love. His proposal. Their horror of an engagement party. Their ruined wedding. Their pre-Honeymoon-Honeymoon. And then all that had happened on their boating expedition.

They had shared so much together-and there was so much more that Luis wanted to share. A successful wedding. The Wedding Night. Their Honeymoon. The birth of their first child… and second… and third… Grandchildren.

Luis had had so many dreams for him and Sheridan, but they all were about to go up in smoke. Sheridan had crashed into his squad car-again. But this time she wasn’t lucky enough to walk away from it. This time, she was seriously hurt.

"Luis, what happened?" Sam asked after he and an ambulance arrived on the scene.

But Luis wasn’t listening. He was too busy watching the paramedics extract Sheridan from the car and load her into the ambulance.

"Luis?" Sam prodded.

"What?" Luis said, finally coming back to Earth. He had just realized Sam’s presence.

"What happened?"

"Same old, same old. Sheridan was cruising and refused to stop after I put on my flashers. So I rushed out in front of her so she’d stop, and she rammed into my car-again. Except this time, she was hurt."

"I’m sorry, Luis. I know you’re worried about her. Wanna ride to the hospital?"

"Please, Sam," Luis replied. "I need to be with her. I can’t leave her-not like this."

Hours later, Luis paced back and forth in the ICU waiting room. Theresa and Ethan were there with him, but that was it. Sheridan’s own family hadn’t even bothered to show up.

"Hey, Luis," Eve greeted him. "How are you holding up?"

Luis ignored her question. "How is she, Eve? Is she going to be ok?"

"I don’t know for sure, Luis, but it doesn’t look good. Her condition is very serious, and the next twenty-four hours will be the most critical. Spend time with her, talk to her. While she may not be able to respond, she may be able to sense your presence. Let her know that you’re here and that you love her. Ok, Luis?"

Luis forced a grin. "Ok. Thanks, Eve."

Ethan and Theresa were listening to what Eve said, and told Luis that he should go in first.

"Hey, Sheridan," Luis softly greeted her.

"Ethan and Theresa are here with me-they’ll be in soon. We all love you so much, sweetheart. You need to come back to us. I love you, Sheridan. Please, don’t leave us. Don’t leave me," Luis begged. He needed Sheridan. More than he had ever imagined.

He couldn’t believe that this had happened to her. She had made it through so much already-she couldn’t die now.

She was so quiet, so still. He wished that she would wake up and yell for him to get the hell away from her. As much as that would hurt, he knew that it had to be better than the dull ache he felt in his heart right now.

Sheridan was dying. His Sheridan was dying. And there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to save her.

Chapter 18:

Luis knew that he should let Ethan and Theresa spend some time with Sheridan, but he couldn’t seem to tear himself away from her side. Eventually, he forced himself to walk towards the door.

As he reached for the doorknob, he said, “I will always love you, Sheridan.”

Luis heard a soft moan come from the bed. Instantly, he rushed back to her side.

“Sheridan? Sheridan, are you awake?” Luis asked anxiously. “Sheridan, can you hear me?”

“Luis…” Sheridan moaned. “Don’t leave me…”

“Never, my love. Never.” Luis pressed the call button so Eve would get in here. He had promised Sheridan he wouldn’t leave her side, and that was a promise he intended to keep.

“So she’ll be ok? She’ll wake up?” Luis asked anxiously, a wide grin beginning to form on his face.

“I can’t guarantee anything, Luis, but in my personal opinion, she probably will.”

Luis sat down in a nearby chair and let out a sigh of relief. A huge weight had just been lifted off his shoulders. Sheridan was going to be ok. Now if only she would be able to forgive him.

“I’m right here, Sheridan,” Luis replied, taking her hand in his.

“Luis?” Sheridan asked in surprise. “Where’s Kylie?”

“Kylie? What about her?” Luis asked. “Why would she be here?”

“You love her, don’t you? I ruined it between us, with my stupid jealousy and doubt. I’m so sorry, Luis. I know you would never use me!”

Luis chuckled. Sheridan thought he loved Kylie? How did she know Kylie’s name anyhow?

“Luis, this isn’t funny!” Sheridan cried out.

“Sweetheart,” Luis began, cupping her face, “I don’t love Kylie. I barely know Kylie. I love you.”

“Well, in that case…” Sheridan tried to move her arm to reach for him, but she had tubes everywhere. For the first time, she realized she was in the hospital.

“Luis, why am I in the hospital?”

“Well, you were racing down Mill Road again, and-”

“I crashed into your squad car? Again?” Sheridan asked in disbelief. “Oh, Luis, I’m so sorry.”

“You remember? You remember crashing into my car before?”

“Yeah. I remember everything, Luis. The accident must have triggered my memory.”

Luis leaned down and gave her a quick kiss. “I’m going to go let Eve know you’re awake. I’ll send Ethan and Theresa in, ok?”

Sheridan nodded and watched the man of her dreams walk out of the door. Luis loved her, and she knew everything was going to be ok.

Chapter 19:

A week later, Sheridan was recuperating at the Lopez-Fitzgerald home. Luis was at the station that day.

Sheridan grinned as she thought of how hard it had been to convince Luis to go to work. He had been adamant about wanting to stay home with her, but Sheridan had insisted. She knew she could find enough things to do to occupy herself.

Theresa had left to meet Ethan at the Book Café. Before she had left, she had handed Sheridan armloads of photo albums to look through.

There were so many pictures of Luis, as well as the rest of the family. Sheridan saw pictures of Luis in his soccer uniform. In his basketball uniform. In his baseball uniform. If it was a sport, Sheridan was almost positive that Luis knew how to play it.

Then there were the pictures of Luis with his science fair project. Sheridan remembered hers. “What effect, if any, does the liquid used to water plants have on their growth?” It was a simple project to complete. She simply used water, vegetable oil, rubbing alcohol, and orange juice and tested the difference. It wasn’t anything spectacular, but Sheridan’s educational experience had never been all that illustrious.

Luis, on the other hand, had made his own terrarium, complete with fish, crabs, frogs, and toads. Sheridan knew that it had to have taken a lot of time and effort. Sheridan knew then that Luis could have been anything he wanted to be, given the opportunity. But his father and brother had disappeared, and Luis had had to take responsibility for his family.

Sheridan flipped the page and saw Luis and another boy-probably Antonio-mugging for the camera before they left for a dance. Sheridan knew that she had never met Antonio, but there was something about him that was just… familiar.

Sheridan quickly flipped through the albums, searching for a larger, clearer picture of Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald. She knew that she had seen him somewhere. The only question was, where?

Luis grinned as he pulled into his driveway. He knew that Sheridan would be mad when she found out he hadn’t gone to work. He had had more important things to do.

“Sheridan?” Luis called as he walked in the door. “Sheridan, where are you?”

Sheridan stood up when she heard, Luis’s voice. “Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald! Why aren’t you at work?”

Luis grinned. “I had more important things to do.”

“Like what?”

“It’s a surprise,” Luis informed her while pulling a bandanna out of his pocket. He tied the blindfold on her eyes and carefully led a protesting Sheridan out the door.

“Luis, what are you doing? Where are you taking me?” Sheridan demanded.

“All will be clear in a few moments, my dear,” Luis replied cryptically.

Sheridan looked around and gasped aloud as she realized where they were.

Luis removed a small box from his pocket. He opened the small blue jewelry box and knelt down before her.

“Sheridan, we both know that I have done this before, but we both also know that the circumstances have changed since that day. So, today I will ask you again. Sheridan, Father Lonigan is inside waiting for us right now, if you will you do me the honor of becoming my wife. Will you marry me, Sheridan Katherine Crane? Will you make me the happiest man alive?”

Sheridan was touched, but she knew that there was only one answer she could give. “Luis, I can’t.”

Chapter 20:

Luis’s eyes bugged out in shock. Did Sheridan just say "no"? She told him that she remembered everything and that she loved him. What had happened to change all of that?

Sheridan saw Luis’s reaction and felt horrible. "Luis, I didn’t mean it like it sounded. I do want to marry you, but right now… Well, Ethan and Theresa aren’t here. Neither are Gwen, or Hank-or Pilar! Your own mother isn’t even here, Luis! We can’t get married-not now, not yet."

"Sheridan, trust me," Luis insisted, after he had recovered from the shock

Sheridan looked deep into Luis’s eyes and saw… something… lying there. Was it a surprise?

"Okay…" Sheridan trailed off. "Yes, Luis, I would love to marry you."

Luis grinned. That was exactly what he had been waiting to hear. "Then let’s head inside!"

"Luis, I don’t have a wedding gown!"

"Sheridan, do you trust me?" he repeated. She nodded, still confused over what was happening. "Then come with me."

Perplexed, Sheridan took the hand he offered her and followed him through the tall, oaken doors.

Inside, Sheridan saw all of the people that she would insist upon having at her wedding. Pilar. Ethan and Theresa. Miguel. Gwen. Hank. Sam and Grace. Everywhere Sheridan looked there was another person that Luis had somehow known she would want at her wedding.

"Oh, Luis," Sheridan said softly, looking up at his love-filled eyes. She should have known he would think of everything. That was who Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald was.

"Theresa has your gown all ready-and I’ve got our rings right here," Luis said with a soft smile, patting his pocket.

Sheridan reached up and gave Luis a soft peck on the cheek. "Thank you, Luis. Thank you for everything."

Everything was perfect. At least Luis hoped it was. He had done his best to recreate the wedding he and Sheridan had planned for themselves all those months ago, and he hoped with all of his heart that this wedding would have only one significant difference-this time he and Sheridan would exit the church as Mr. and Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald. As the music started, Luis’s eyes flew to the doorway. He ached for a glimpse of his beautiful bride-to-be. Theresa had refused to let him see the dress she had designed, but Luis knew that Sheridan would look beautiful no matter what she wore.

As the wedding march began, Luis saw Sheridan emerge, clothed in a simple white gown. With seed pearls and sparkling thread sewn all over it, she shone like an angel coming down from above.

An angel, Luis thought. That’s exactly what she is. Sheridan has always been my angel-and she will be forevermore.

After what seemed like an eternity, Father Lonigan said to the congregation, "If there is anyone here who feels this couple should not be wed, speak now, or forever hold your peace."

The oaken doors creaked open, and a tall, dark figure entered the church. "I do," he stated in a loud, clear voice. Sheridan’s head swung towards the door, wondering who would not want her and Luis to be wed. As soon as she recognized him, Sheridan’s eyes rolled up in her head, and she fell to the floor.

Chapter 21:

“Sheridan?” Luis asked in a panicked voice. “Sheridan, are you all right?”

The mysterious stranger was forgotten. Sheridan was all that mattered now. If she didn’t survive, Luis didn’t know what he’d do.

He had already come so close to losing her so many times. And each time, he prayed it would be the last. It almost seemed as if his and Sheridan’s relationship was fated to be turbulent. Just when it seemed like they would live happily ever after, life threw them a curve ball.

Their first wedding had been ruined by a tabloid, and at the second, Sheridan had fainted. Could they ever be married?

“Luis, move to the side. Let me examine her.”

Eve. Thank God she had been able to rearrange her schedule so she could attend their wedding. Hopefully, she would be able to revive Sheridan.

Luis glanced up to look at the mystery man. “Who the hell are you anyhow? Why don’t you want me and Sheridan to get married?”

The man responded in a crisp voice. “I’m Nathan Reynolds. Sheridan is my fiancée.”

“Like hell she is! In case you didn’t notice, I’m the one who’s up here marrying Sheridan, not you.”

“Sheridan and I are engaged to be married. If you don’t believe me, ask her father.”

At the mention of Alistair, Luis half-expected the man to come bursting through the doors to drag his daughter away and out of his grasp. Luckily, the heavy doors remained shut.

“Luis…” Sheridan moaned.

“Eve?” Luis asked hopefully. “Is Sheridan awake?”

“She’s coming to, Luis. She’ll be ok.”

“Oh, thank God!” Luis breathed a sigh of relief.

“Sherry,” Luis began as he rushed to her side, “Open your eyes and look at me. Sherry, wake up.”

“Luis?” Sheridan opened her crystal blue eyes and looked at the faces crowding above her. “Where’s Luis?”

“I’m right here, sweetheart,” Luis soothed. “Everything’s going to be alright.”

Carefully, Luis helped Sheridan to her feet. She glanced around, as if looking for someone or something.

“Sheridan?” Luis questioned. “What are you looking for?”

Sheridan’s eyes stopped scanning the room and immediately focuses on one thing. “Antonio,” she breathed.

“What?” Luis asked. Did she just utter the name of his lost brother?

“Antonio. He’s here.”

“Where?” Luis asked, scanning the crowd for his brother. But the 17-year-old of his memories was nowhere to be found.

“There.” Sheridan pointed at Nathan.

“No, Sheridan, my dear, I am your fiancé. Nathan Reynolds. Do you not recall?”

“No, no. Luis, I looked through your photo albums earlier today. The photos of Antonio reminded me of someone-I just couldn’t remember who. Now I know. Antonio is Nathan. They are the same person.”

“Ludicrous!” Nathan dismissed Sheridan’s accusations without a second thought. “I am Nathan Robert Reynolds, as I have been my entire life. I am the son of Robert and Michelle Reynolds, and I will soon be the son-in-law of Alistair Crane.”

As Nathan was talking, Pilar was moving closer, attempting to get a better view of the man Sheridan thought was her son.

“Dios mio!” Pilar cried out joyfully. “My Antonio. You have returned.”

Needless to say, that day’s wedding festivities were postponed once again. It took a lot of convincing, and numerous photographs, but the Lopez-Fitzgerald family finally had their third son back.

Antonio was home. While he may not remember this home, or any of the time he had spent with them, he knew he was where he belonged. He felt it in his heart and in his soul. The only question was, why did Alistair Crane tell him he was Nathan Reynolds?

Chapter 22:

“Drat! Those damn Lopez-Fitzgeralds have ruined my plans again! When will they learn that meddling with my affairs hurts only them!” Alistair Crane fumed.

Luis had somehow managed to convince Sheridan to believe him over her “dearest friend” Lila. Lila had done exactly as ordered, and it had worked-until Luis managed to use his persuasion to convince her that he wasn’t using her.

“Dammit!” Alistair swiped his things off of his desk. They smashed to the floor, but it was of no matter to him. He could replace them easily enough.

Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald, apparently, was irreplaceable in his naïve daughter’s heart.

Alistair knew that the nosy Luis would, given the opportunity, discover what had happened to his father all those years ago. And that was something that simply could not happen.

Alistair Crane simply wouldn’t allow it. And if he willed it so, it wouldn’t. Not a single person or thing had gone against him in the past. There was no way this would change now. No way in hell.

“I-I can’t believe this,” Antonio said for what must have been the hundredth time that day. “I’m not Nathan Reynolds. I’m Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald. My whole life has been a lie!”

“But, mijo, now you are back where you belong. Back home with your family.” Pilar was overjoyed to have her eldest son back. Her family was coming back to her, piece by piece. Her Martin was still missing, but she held out faith that he would soon return.

“Yeah, it’s good to have you back, bro,” Luis agreed.

“Luis, Sheridan, I’m so sorry. I hope you two are very happy together. I was told by Sheridan’s father that we were engaged, and that Sheridan loved me. I had no reason to doubt him, as I had no recollection of my past. I realize now that I was being manipulated. I hope you two can eventually find it in your heart to forgive me.”

“Antonio, you are not the only one to be manipulated by Father. Don’t blame yourself. He tried to use my desire for paternal love to stop me from marrying Luis. He played upon my fears to separate us for months. He has done so much to us already-you shouldn’t blame yourself.”

“Yeah, Tony. Don’t worry about it. You realize the truth now. That’s all that matters.”

“Thanks, guys. This means a lot to me.” He looked at his younger brother. “Luis, I know you want to marry this lovely woman, so just do it already. I’ll be fine.”

“Thanks, Tony,” Luis responded with a grin. He offered his arm to Sheridan. “Shall we, milady?”

“I can’t wait, Luis. Soon, I will no longer be Crane. Rather I will be a Lopez-Fitzgerald. A member of the family I have always dreamed of being a part of.”

Luis gave his bride-to-be a peck on the cheek. “I can’t wait, Sheridan, my sweet. I simply cannot wait.”

The wedding ceremony was resumed, and it soon reached the point where Father Lonigan asked again for objections. Luis glanced at the door, half-expecting to see Alistair come barging through the doors to carry Sheridan off.

Luckily, he didn’t appear. Luis desperately wanted to marry her, and he didn’t know how he’d react if Alistair tried to come between them once again.

“Have you the rings?” Father Lonigan asked.

“Yes, Father,” Luis replied, reaching into his pocket. “They’re right here.”

Father Lonigan took the rings and held them up for the congregation to see. “The couple that you see before you is very much in love, and each has written their own vows, which they will share with you now.” Father Lonigan then nodded towards Luis.

“Sheridan, I know that neither of us will ever forget our first fateful meeting. I hated you on sight-simply because you were a Crane. Looking back, I realize that I didn’t hate you, could never hate you.” Luis paused to smile at the beautiful woman before him.

“Sheridan Katherine Crane, I love you with all of my heart and soul, and I feel as if I have loved you my entire life. You have changed my life simply by being in it. I know that I will love you for the rest of my life. As it is engraved in your ring, I will love you ‘til death do us part.’”

“Luis, you have been my knight in shining armor. You saved me from so much but expected so little in return. While you did save me in the literal sense, you also saved me from a life without love. You have shown me what it means to love and be loved and for that, I will be forever grateful to you. You are my soul mate, Luis, and I know that our love will last forever.”

“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Luis gave Sheridan their first kiss as husband and wife. It was a slow, sweet kiss, and while it lacked the passion and heat of their previous kisses, this one was better than all the rest. This kiss spoke of love and hope. It contained promises for the future, for the life they would lead together. A life that they hoped would keep them safe from the power of Alistair Crane.

Chapter 23:

Hours later, Alistair Crane heard a knocking at the door, interrupting his scheming against the Lopez-Fitzgeralds. Annoyed, he instructed the intruder to enter the room.

“Well?” he asked irritably when he saw who it was. “Did you manage to convince her?”

“Mr. Crane, I was too late to stop the wedding, and she thought I was Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald. But I let her believe her assumption was correct, so she would believe that I had seen and heard proof of Luis using her, as I claimed. She said that she would sneak away from him sometime tonight and meet me in my hotel room.”

“Well done, Nathan. Well done. Marriages can be annulled easy enough. The important thing is to separate Luis and Sheridan before any more time passes.” A thoughtful smirk began to fill Alistair’s face.

“I agree, Mr. Crane. In no time at all, I will be married to the beautiful Sheridan Crane-and a member of the most powerful family in the world.”

Alistair grinned wickedly. Nathan had potential. Perhaps, with time, Nathan would be named the Crane heir. While he wasn’t a Crane by blood, he certainly seemed to have the Crane mentality.

Not much later, Alistair was giving Nathan last-minute instructions for his meeting with Sheridan. Nothing could go wrong. If Sheridan was to be convinced of Luis’s “true personality,” everything had to go perfectly.

“Nathan, put on this tie tack. There’s a small camera in it that will allow me to see everything that is happening during the meeting. By seeing Sheridan’s reaction, I will be able to turn her against Luis. There will also be small microphones hidden all over the room so I can listen in on your conversation. The Crane Empire is at stake, Nathan. Saving it is up to you.”

“I will not fail you, Mr. Crane. Sheridan will be mine.”

Nervously, Sheridan walked into the hotel lobby. She had promised Antonio that she would meet him here, but now she was having second thoughts. She was positive that Luis would never lie to her. She remembered everything.

But if she was so positive, why was she there?

She trusted Luis with her mind, body, and soul. He had never given her a reason to doubt him, yet Antonio had sounded so certain, so convinced when he told her that he had proof.

Sheridan hoped with all her heart that Antonio’s “proof” was simply more of Father’s tricks to keep her away from Luis. She didn’t know if she could bear life without Luis-even if he was using her.

She remembered so much of their times together. The love they shared was strong. He loved her-of that she was certain. The only question was whether or not he got an added bonus out of their relationship.

Sheridan took a deep breath and approached the front desk. Soon, she would know the truth.

Ring, ring!

The phone startled Nathan out of his daze. He had to be on his toes if he was going to convince Sheridan that Luis was using her. Alistair had provided him with armloads of proof. Sound bites, film clips, photographs, and more. You name it, Alistair had it.

Nathan had to grin. Being a member of such an affluent family certainly had its perks.

He answered the phone and learned that a Miss Sheridan Crane was waiting for him in the lobby.

Perfect. The truth was about to be revealed. In a matter of minutes, Sheridan would be his, and her relationship with Luis would be nothing more than a distant memory.

Chapter 24:

Remember, she thinks you’re Antonio! Her brother-in-law. Don’t screw this up Nathan. She’s your way into the Crane family. Whatever you do, do not screw this up! Nathan told himself as he headed down to the lobby. Play the part of the worried brother-in-law-not the sexy fiancé.

The elevator doors parted to reveal a nervous Sheridan Crane pacing back-and-forth in the lobby.

Perfect. He hadn’t even shown her any proof yet, and she already was doubting Luis. His job was going to be so much easier.

Still, his unwavering belief that Luis was using her had gotten to her. Why else would she have been there? Why else would she have left Luis-on their Honeymoon no less-to meet Antonio here?

Hugging the photo album to her chest, Sheridan paced back-and-forth. She knew Antonio would want to see pictures of his life in Harmony. Maybe they would spark some memories.

Antonio walked up to her. “Sheridan Cr-” he began, before he laughed. “Excuse, Sheridan Lopez-Fitzgerald. Thank you very much for coming here tonight. I realize that you have more pressing matters to attend to, but why I am going to show you may change your life.”

“Antonio, I…” Sheridan trailed off. This was exactly what had gotten her here. He was so positive that Luis was using her. But, now that she thought about it, wouldn’t he want to believe the best in his brother? What exactly was going on here?

As she walked with Antonio towards the elevator doors, she promised herself that she would get to the bottom of this. By the time she left, the truth would be revealed.

As soon as they got into the room, Sheridan thrust the album into Antonio’s arms. “Look what I brought! I thought you might want to see some photos from when you lived in Harmony. There’s albums full of pictures at Pilar’s house, but this one has the most recent photographs of you in it. This is where I recognized you. The resemblance is uncanny!”

He glanced at them for a moment. “Thanks for bringing them. I’ll look at them later, if you don’t mind.”

Sheridan was shocked. She would have thought that he would want to pout over them immediately. When she had amnesia, she was desperate for anything that could spark a memory. Antonio just didn’t seem to care.

This was great. Another piece to add to the already complicated puzzle. A puzzle that appeared to be impossible to solve.

“Sheridan, shall we get started?” Antonio asked. “Would you like to see the proof you came to see?”

“Antonio, I know that Luis would never use me. I don’t know what kind of ‘proof’ you think you have, but nothing will be able to shake my faith in him.”

“If that’s so, why are you here? Why did you come see my on your Wedding Night?”

“I came to give you the photographs,” she claimed.

He didn’t buy it for a minute. “Sheridan, I believe that if you simply look at the proof that I have, all of your worst nightmares will come true. I don’t want you to see this, but I feel that you deserve to know the truth about your husband.”

Skeptical, Sheridan looked out at the photos of Luis. “Ooooh! Pictures of Luis! Now I know he’s using me! Now I know this trip was worth it!” she exclaimed sarcastically.

He grabbed the remote control and pressed play. “Sheridan, what you are about to see and hear will betray the trust you have in my brother. This will prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald does not deserve to be trusted.”

Sheridan knew that she had to talk to Luis though. After the big misunderstanding with the Luis imposter on the wharf, Sheridan had promised herself that she would never run from Luis again. She had to face up to him and tell him what she knew.

Sheridan prayed that it was all a big misunderstanding, but deep down she knew that Luis would never be able to explain his way out of this one.

Chapter 25:

“You think I WHAT?!?!?” Luis shouted angrily. He had thought he and Sheridan had gotten past this, past all of the impostor confusion.

But, apparently, Alistair Crane had struck again, just as Luis had expected. Alistair had gotten to Antonio before he had realized his true identity.

“You heard me, Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald,” Sheridan replied, leveling him with a glare. “You slept with Kylie. Don’t even try to deny it. I saw pictures and a video.”

“You saw a video of me in bed with another woman?” Luis asked in disbelief. How the hell did Sheridan get footage of events that had never happened?

“God, no!” Sheridan cried in horror. “I wouldn’t let Antonio show me that tape. I could never see you with another woman! But I did see you sharing passionate kisses, her asking you to stay with her, you gladly agreeing… It made me sick, Luis! I never thought you could be like that!”

“It’s not me, Sheridan. Honestly, it’s not. I would never hurt you. I love you!” Luis pleaded with Sheridan to believe him, but it was to no avail. How the hell would be able to convince her of the truth? If he didn’t know what had happened, how could Sheridan ever be convinced?

Then, it hit him. Alistair had created an impostor’s mask in the past. He could easily do it again and film the impostor with a Kylie-impostor.

Or-and it pained Luis to realize this-Kylie may have been a pawn of Alistair. Both she and her twin sister Lila always seemed to be in the worst place at the worst possible time. Kylie and Lila had played an integral role in causing Sheridan’s mistrust. He was almost positive now. They were both working for Alistair.

Now, he just had to convince Sheridan of this…

As Nathan headed down to the bar, he congratulated himself on a job well done. Alistair’s plan had worked to a T. He had to admit, the man knew exactly how his daughter was going to react.

When he bumped into someone, he was jolted out of his reverie.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” he heard a high-pitched voice exclaim.

“No, I’m afraid that I’m to blame,” Nathan admitted. “I was a bit preoccupied.”

The woman froze when she heard his voice. “Tony?” she whispered. “Is that you?”

“I’m afraid you must be mistaken, miss. I’m Nathan Reynolds.”

“No, no, I’d know that face anywhere. Tony, don’t lie to me! I’ve missed you so much!”

Nathan just stared at the red-haired woman. Who was she? And who the hell was this Tony character she was talking about?

Chapter 26:

The woman stared at him. “Oh my God. Tony Lo-Fitz, do you mean to tell me that you honestly don’t remember me?”

Lo-Fitz? Nathan thought. She thinks that is my last name?

“Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald, are you going to answer me or not?” the mystery woman whined. “I was hoping we could reminisce, but apparently you’re too high-and-mighty for me nowadays. Give me a call if you ever decide to grow up.”

“W-Wait.” Nathan pleaded as her words ran through his mind. She thought he was Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald too? This Antonio guy had to be his long-lost twin brother or something!

The woman turned and raised one perfectly-plucked eyebrow. “Give me one good reason why I should?”

“I have amnesia. I was told my name was Nathan Reynolds, and I honestly don’t remember you. I really want to remember my life, so if you would be willing to talk with me…”

“Oh, Tony!” the woman lamented. “That’s horrible! Of course I’ll talk with you! Shall we go to the Book Café?”

“Only if you lead the way,” Nathan agreed, flashing her a wide grin.

He turned Sheridan against Luis and had met a beautiful woman in the space of a few short hours. This was turning into a wonderful night.

“Sheridan, I think I know exactly what happened. Please, let me explain! It will only take a minute!”

“One minute listening to lies is two minutes too long, Luis. I just can’t believe you’d do this to me!” Sheridan took a deep breath in attempt to stop the tears that were threatening to fall.

“Sheridan, I didn’t. Remember how last time you thought I used you it was all because of the elaborate scheme of your father? Well, I think that he’s struck again-as I knew he would.”

“R-really?” Sheridan sniffled hopefully. It almost sounded too good to be true.

Luis reached out for Sheridan, but she moved back. She couldn’t get too close to Luis-not until she knew for sure that he was telling her the truth.

“No, Luis. Don’t touch me.” The tears were falling freely now.

Luis wanted nothing more that to hold her in his arms and heal all of her wounds. But until she trusted him, that wouldn’t happen. He had to explain the situation-and hope she wouldn’t hate him for suggesting her father could be behind this type of scheme.

“Okay,” Nathan began over two mocha lattes, “Why do you think that I am Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald?”

“I don’t think you’re Tony-I know it. Deep down in my soul I know for a fact that you are Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald,” she responded cryptically.

“What?” Nathan asked in confusion. What the hell was this woman talking about?

“I’m sorry, Tony. I realize that that made me sound like a Loony Bin-escapee. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Victoria Eleanor Lowther. You always called me Vicki though. Do you remember me now, Tony? Do you remember me at all?”

Tony racked his brain. Vicki… The name seemed familiar, but why? He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he knew her-somehow. Then it came to him. Oh my God! Vicki was from…

Chapter 27:

“Oh, Luis!” Sheridan cried as she soaked his shirt with her tears. “I’m so sorry! I’ve done this time and time again. I doubt first when I should be trusting first. You have never lied to me and have never given me a reason to think you would. Yet, I still suspect you of trying to hurt me at every turn. Can you ever forgive me?”

Luis smoothed Sheridan’s hair and held her close, a loving smile on his face. “There’s nothing to forgive. I love you, Sheridan Lopez-Fitzgerald. You’re not getting away from me that easily.”

“But how can you love me after all that I’ve done to you?” Sheridan asked in disbelief. “Father was right. I don’t deserve to be loved…”

Luis’s jaw dropped. She didn’t think that she deserved love? He had thought that he had dispelled all of the doubts that Alistair had implanted in her mind. Although Sheridan was now a Lopez-Fitzgerald, she was still suffering the effects of being raised as a Crane.

“Sheridan,” Luis began, a soft fire burning in his dark eyes, “you are a beautiful, sweet, caring woman who is loved by everyone she knows. Sheridan, everyone you meet is immediately enamored with you. As much as I tried to deny it, I was as well. Sheridan Katherine Lopez-Fitzgerald, my love for you is wider than the seas, as deep as your beautiful blue eyes, and will outlive Father Time. I’m yours Sheridan, until the end of time.”

“Luis…” Sheridan trailed off. “How did I get so lucky as to have the sweetest, most romantic, most understanding man in the world as my husband?”

“If you ask me,” Luis informed her, his voice husky, “I’m the lucky one.”

He leaned in and kissed each of Sheridan’s tear-stained cheeks. Then, he softly kissed her full lips and rekindled the flame that they knew would burn forever in their souls.

FLASHBACK:
“So, bro, you ready for the time of your life? This dance is going to go down in history!”

“Tony, what are you planning?” Luis asked suspiciously. His older brother was always up to something.

Tony smiled innocently. “Who me?”

“Tony…” Luis warned. “I’m looking forward to a fun night with my girlfriend-not a night spent cleaning up after the messes you always manage to make.”

Luis couldn’t believe he was related to Antonio sometimes. He and Antonio were nothing alike. Tony was wild and crazy while Luis was sensible and responsible. If he didn’t know better, he would have thought that Antonio was the younger of the two Lopez-Fitzgerald brothers!

“Luis, I’m not planning anything. Honest. But, it just so happens that I have a hot date tonight.”

“Yeah, I know you’ve had your eye on Vicki for weeks, bro.” He paused to glance at Tony, with a wide grin on his lips. “Well, our dates await us. Let’s go!”

With a grin upon his face, Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald headed out to meet the woman of his dreams.
END FLASHBACK

“You remember, don’t you?” Vicki flashed him a knowing grin. “I can see it in your eyes. Who am I, Tony?”

“You-you’re Vicki!”

She fought the urge to roll her eyes, and instead nodded, as if speaking to a young child. “That’s right, Tony. How do you know me?”

“You-you were my date to a dance… in high school. Right?” His eyes sought out hers for confirmation.

Her eyes sparkled merrily. “Yup. I was so lucky! I had the most popular guy in school as my date for the Fall Ball.”

A grin appeared on Nathan’s face. “Really?”

“Yeah, but then he dumped me. And I thought, well, Tony’s almost as popular… So I decided to go with you instead.” Vicki saw his jaw drop and erupted in laughter. “I’m kidding, Tony. It was a joke.”

She paused slightly, reliving the event herself. “It was a wonderful night, Tony. We had so much fun at our last Fall Ball. We were even crowned King and Queen.”

Suddenly, Vicki’s expression turned sour. “A few short weeks later, you disappeared without a trace. We had only been dating for a short time, but I could feel myself falling for you. Your father had already disappeared, and now Luis was left to support your family. He was sixteen, Tony. Sixteen! He should have been out having fun-cruising around town with his girlfriend, preparing for college, playing ball with his friends. Instead, he had to earn money to keep a roof over their heads. With the two of you working, his job at the Burger Barn was enough. After you left, he had to get another job-this time at the police station.”

Nathan was in shock. He was still having problems believing that he was Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald. He had seen pictures of his life as Nathan Reynolds! He had met his parents! How could he be someone else? And if he was Antonio, why would he have deprived his brother of so much?

But Vicki wasn’t done with her tirade. “Luis got into Harvard, Tony. Did you know that? He had a full ride to the college of his dreams. But he didn’t go because your mother needed him. He gave up what he had worked for his entire life, so that he could fill the shoes that you had abandoned. He’s so happy to see you again that I know he’d never say any of this stuff to you. But you need to know what you’ve done to your family. How much you’ve taken from the people you’re supposed to love.”

Nathan’s world seemed to be falling down around him. One minute he was a very successful businessman and the fiancé of the very beautiful and very wealthy Sheridan Crane. The next, he was being mistaken for a middle-class man who had run out on his family years ago. He hated to even think it, but could he be Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald?

But before he could respond, Vicki resumed her speech. “You told me you loved me, Tony. I don’t know if you meant it or not. I probably won’t ever know. But that doesn’t matter. I was just your high school girlfriend-they are your family. Besides, I’ve gotten over you, Tony,” she informed him matter-of-factly, waving a large diamond ring in his face. “I just hope you can make it up to them before it’s too late. Have a nice life, Tony.” With that, Victoria Eleanor Lowther stood up and walked out of the Book Café.

As Tony watched her walk out of his life, he made a decision. Right or wrong, it was done. There was no going back now.

Chapter 28:

Their soft kiss quickly escalated into something more. As Sheridan’s fingers quickly worked to unbutton Luis’s shirt, his fingers ran through her soft, curly locks. Sheridan rained kisses on Luis’s body, as her fingers uncovered it inch-by-inch.

Once his shirt was discarded, Sheridan ran her palms over Luis’s finely toned torso. His hands slipped to the zipper of her dress and began to remove it from her overheated body.

Just as it slipped to the floor, there was a crisp knock at the door.

“Ignore it,” Luis begged breathlessly, moments before he captured his lips in a passionate, searing kiss.

“I was planning on it,” Sheridan replied, her breath ragged as she pulled him closer to her.

“God, I love you,” Luis replied.

Knock, knock, knock!

The knocking persisted, but Luis was still determined to ignore it. It was his Wedding Night, for heaven’s sake!

Knock, knock, knock!

“Luis, Sheridan, open up!” a loud male voice called.

Moaning loudly, Luis separated himself from Sheridan. Seeing as how he was the most fully clad of the two, Luis went to answer the door while Sheridan threw on her clothing.

“Tony!” Luis groaned as he opened the door. “What the hell are you doing here? It’s my Wedding Night!”

“Actually, Luis,” Tony informed him helpfully, “it’s almost morning.”

Luis shot him a glare. “You’ve monopolized the majority of the night already. Can’t we have the rest of tonight alone?”

“I’ll be out of your way momentarily. I just need to talk to the both of you for a minute.”

Grumbling loudly, Luis stepped aside and ushered his brother into the suite.

“Tony! Hi!” Sheridan greeted him, as she emerged from the bedroom wearing a red terrycloth bathrobe.

“Tony needs to talk to us, sweetie,” Luis informed her. “It’s very important-right, Tony?”

Tony had to work hard to hide his grin. Luis’s frustration was obvious, but what he had to say was important.

“That’s right. I want to tell you the story of where I’ve been all this time. I think it will explain my actions.”

“Well, Tony, if you want to talk, we’ll listen to anything you want to say.” Luis shot Sheridan a desperate glance, but Sheridan glared back at him. She meant every word she said-she knew how frustrating it was to be without your memory. Anything that he knew or remembered, she would be more than happy to listen to.

“My earliest memory was of waking up in a hospital bed, recovering from a terrible car accident. I didn’t know who I was, and that scared me. I didn’t know who I was or where I had come from. I was one of those people from those TV shows that Paloma always used to watch when we had off of school. I had amnesia.

“Soon, my ‘parents’ came to visit me, loaded with pictures from my childhood. Robert and Michelle Reynolds were of Irish descent-just as I was. They told me who I was and filled my mind with events from the past.

“Months later, after I had fully recovered, I met a friend of our family-Alistair Crane. After I got my start in business, he gave me lots of advice-and lots of breaks. He was like my second father.

“Years later, I was twenty-seven and the president of a very successful business-Reynolds Technologies. Alistair came to me and told me of his beautiful daughter who had gone through some ‘very traumatic relationships.’ He described your most recent relationship and told me of your rescue at sea. He told me that his blonde-haired beauty needed a man just like me. A man who would love her and protect her from horrible men who simply wanted to use her.

“After I met you Sheridan, I was determined to keep you. You were a beautiful woman that I knew would make me a wonderful wife. While I was originally disappointed at the thought of losing my Anna, Alistair told me I wouldn’t have to. I could have both you and Anna, and you would never be the wiser. I agreed with him then, but now I realize that somewhere, deep down, I knew that it would have been wrong.

“After you forgave Luis, I stormed into your wedding to stop it. You called me ‘Antonio,’ and I went along with it. I thought that it would make my task of ‘reclaiming’ my woman much simpler.

“And it worked… at least temporarily.” Antonio chucked, recalling his brother’s fury when he opened the door. “I claimed that I had seen proof, which was a bold-faced lie. I was sure that your father was honest and trustworthy-”

“Alistair? Honest?” Luis laughed out loud. Sheridan shushed him with a soft nudge and a meaningful stare.

“Anyhow, I didn’t think that Alistair would lie to me-especially about his wonderful daughter-so I said what I did. I was sure that he had proof, somewhere. I just had never seen it myself.

“After your marriage, I met with him and told him what had happened. He promised that he would find some proof that I could show to you. I knew that proof would be necessary to convince you of Luis’s ulterior motives. A few hours later, he had more proof than I could have ever imagined existed. That should have been my first clue. But I carried on like the dutiful son-in-law-to-be and did as I had promised. And it worked like a charm.

“But now I realize that your father doesn’t love you, at least, not the way that I thought he did. If he loved you, he would realize that Luis isn’t using you-it simply isn’t in his nature. Luis gives and gives until there is nothing left to give. Then, he does all that he can to find more within himself that he can give and share with you. He would never, and could never use anyone for his own benefit.

“Obviously, you two have worked through your problems, but I just wanted to make sure that all of Sheridan’s doubts were put to rest. I felt guilty about what I had done, and I knew that I had to do all that I could to set things right. I’ll leave you two alone now. I’ll be seeing you both.” Antonio stood up and began to walk towards the door.

“Antonio?” Sheridan called after him. “What convinced you that you were, in fact, Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald and not Nathan Reynolds?”

“It was more like a who, Sheridan. More like a who,” he responded cryptically as he shut the door behind him.

He walked down the hall and out of the hotel whispering to himself, “It was a beautiful woman named Victoria Eleanor Lowther.”

Chapter 29:

A few days later, Luis stormed into Alistair’s Boston apartment, with no advance warning. Simply flashing his badge and the warrant had gotten the security guards to allow him to enter.

“Mr. Alistair Crane!” Luis’s voice boomed loudly. “You are hereby arrested for the conspiracy to impersonate an officer of the law. Further charges may be filed pending further investigation. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you can not afford one, one will be provided for you by the court. Do you understand these rights as they are read to you?”

“What is this?” Alistair snarled. “You don’t have any evidence! You’ll never make the charges stick, Lopez-Fitzgerald!”

“Do you understand these rights as they are read to you?” Luis repeated.

“God dammit, yes!” Alistair shouted. “Not that it matters anyhow. I’ll be out of jail before you can blink, Lopez-Fitzgerald! You have nothing that can keep me in jail. Nothing at all…”

Luis had to refrain from rolling his eyes. This was exactly as he had imagined it. Too bad this time Alistair was going down-for good.

Through Antonio, Luis had managed to track down the impostor. He agreed to testify, and in exchange he would not be prosecuted. Kylie and Lila had also been persuaded to testify against Alistair Crane, and Luis knew that no amount of bribery could overcome three solid witnesses.

Despite all of the tricks that Julian and Alistair had tried to separate him and Sheridan, none of them had worked. He and Sheridan were as happy as could be in their new house.

Antonio’s feelings for Sheridan had dramatically changed once he realized that she was his sister-in-law, and he was now engaged to his girlfriend Anna.

All in all, things were back to normal in Harmony, Maine-at least, as normal as Harmony could ever be!