He checked the clock for the eighth time. Something was wrong, his gut told him so.

“Mijo, relax, please. Sheridan might have been tired after the flight and napped or perhaps they lost track of time catching up…”

“Yea, Luis, calm down. Put on the TV and let’s watch something better than your fidgeting,” Theresa replied, snuggling up to Ethan who was holding Destiny, their three-year-old daughter.

“Fine,” he sighed, clicking on the TV and settling on one of Harmony’s local stations. The fiery wreckage of an airplane showed on the screen and Luis’ gut feeling worsened.

“The fiery remains of Flight Fourteen-thirty-nine from Portland to Los Angeles reminds the nearby towns that life is ever hanging in the balance. Survivors are being pulled from the wreckage and families will be notified if a family member is found. Right now, the count of deceased is thirty of the one hundred twenty passengers.”

“Mijo?” Pilar noticed how Luis paled and neared the TV, searching for someone in the smoke.

“Th…that’s Sheridan’s flight,” Luis’ breathing was uneven as he looked at the screen; he prayed the phone would ring. But Luis knew the phone would never ring, something had happened to Sheridan and he had a feeling he would never see her again. He only prayed that he was wrong as he watched his entire world collapse around him.

Chapter One

When he proposed to her a year ago, Beth thought heaven has just landed right into her lap. She had wanted nothing more than to be Luis’ wife since high school, but then Sheridan Crane had moved to Harmony and stolen his heart. How long would had they have been married? Five years or was it six? She couldn’t remember but then Sheridan disappeared without a trace, three months pregnant.

Sighing, Beth glanced out the back window where Luis was settled with the triplets: Luis Jr., Katherine and Trinity, his children with Sheridan. Beth had wanted that, children with her husband, but he never wanted to sleep with her and she wasn’t about to force herself on him. The triplets were five-years-old now and Sheridan had been missing for a over three years. Three arduous years where nothing and no one had heard from Sheridan. In fact, not even the rescue teams had found Sheridan’s body. Beth knew what Luis thought, that the Cranes had taken her away and were hiding her somewhere, but they swore it wasn’t true.

“She’s dead and I’m fighting the ghost of the woman he still loves,” she slammed the photo onto the dresser. “The woman he always loved.”

The children called her Beth, refusing to call her Mom as if they knew she wasn’t the woman that bore them. Luis never used terms of endearment and he never kissed her either, or at least not the way that she deserved. She was the laughing stock of Harmony, the woman fighting a dead lover. The only newlywed that would stay with a man that didn’t love her: Beth Lopez-Fitzgerald was pathetic. They had been married for three months and she swore he only married her so the triplets had a mother. Hell, he didn’t even sleep in her bed!

She walked downstairs and then outside into the sunlight, the only place she felt right. The house was theirs, Luis and Sheridan’s, and he refused to move out of it. The photos were of their family, the smiling blond mother and her three gorgeous children standing with the man of her dreams. Not one picture of Beth adorned a wall in the home. She was an outsider, a surrogate wife until Sheridan reappeared and it hurt.

“Hey,” Luis smiled, sweeping Trinity into his arms and heading over to Beth. Trinity was the runt of the litter. She was the youngest of the group, smaller than the other’s by a few inches. Her dark brown hair reached past her shoulders and her bright blue eyes were reminiscent of her missing mother. She was a perfect blend of mother and father: tan skinned, dark haired and light eyed.

“Hey,” Beth sighed. “Hi, Trin.”

“Hi, Beth,” Trinity grinned, her small white teeth glowing.

Beth rolled her eyes. Sheridan was dead. She had to be. It had been far too long for her to reappear out of thin air. She had never made it to Los Angeles and she would never return. Sheridan was dead! Then why was she still fighting for Luis’ love if she was his wife? “We need to talk,” Beth ignored the tot in her husband’s arms.

“What about?” he placed Trinity back on her feet and watched as she ran over to LJ and Kathy. She noticed his gaze wouldn’t return to her, he was staring at the happy little blond playing with her siblings. She was Sheridan’s twin in every way and she was beautiful. Luis often watched her play, her cute blond ringlets framing her face.

“You’re doing it again,” she cried, hating the way he ignored her. Hating herself more for setting herself up this way.

“What?” he asked, returning his attention to Beth. “I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry isn’t going to work anymore, Luis. How long have we been together, Luis?”

“Eleven months,” he watched as LJ jumped onto the swing set and began pushing himself. “Nice going, kiddo. That’s great.”

LJ smiled and waved, continuing to swing.

“I’ve been fighting her ghost for a year now, Luis. I’ve been trying my hardest to let you remember her because she’s your wife. I was there every Sunday when you visited the grave you set up for her in case it was true and she passed away. I’ve tried my hardest to support you and this family in any way I could, but Luis it’s just too much. I’m fighting the ghost of a woman that has been dead for three years.”

Luis’ first reaction was to die that Sheridan was dead, she couldn’t be. His heart would have told him if she was. But he had remarried; he had tried to move on. Obviously, he knew she wasn’t coming back, but part of him knew she had to be. Sheridan couldn’t have died in that crash, she was out there. “So? What are you saying Beth?”

“What I’m saying is I’m going away for a little while. I have a friend in New York that’s wanted me to visit for ages and I’m going to go see her. I’m going to leave you and *your* children with the ghost of a woman. When I come back, you’ll have to make a decision about us. Are we going to stay married or do you want a divorce to stay with your ghost,” with that said, Beth returned back inside the house, not even looking back.

Luis knew he should feel sad, but he didn’t. Looking over at his triplets, his lasting legacy of their mother, Luis knew that he had to find his real wife. She was still out there; she had to be.

Chapter Two

He didn’t even take her to the airport.

Beth shook her had and sank into the uncomfortable plastic chairs in the airport. Hank had dropped her off. Hank Bennett was the only man in Harmony that didn’t laugh in her face when she needed someone. In fact, Hank had been her shoulder to cry on for the last few years. She felt close to him and, had Luis not proposed, things might be different between them. Sighing, Beth fiddled with her pocketbook trying to find some chewing gum. She shouldn’t leave. This was definitely a bad idea and she knew it. Too late for that though.

She looked around at everyone and everything in the area. Of course, the flight from Portland to Newark wouldn’t be more than two hours at the most, but it would be the longest two hours of her life. Her friend lived outside of New York, in Staten Island. The small borough was hardly city like. In fact, it was a piece of woodlands in the middle of the city. She had visited there once, back when Luis and Sheridan had first gotten married and she needed an escape.

“All passengers on shuttle Flight 499 to Newark Airport please come to Gate 22 for boarding. Once again, passengers for Flight 499 to Newark Airport should now come to Gate 22 for boarding.”

Beth looked at her carry on and then at the door to the gate. Luis hadn’t even said goodbye. He retreated to his bedroom, his three little ducklings behind him, and closed the door. It was as if she didn’t exist, as if she was only there to cook and clean when he worked. He needed a maid, not a wife, and that hurt her more than anything in the universe. She was around to do his chores. Picking up her carryon, Beth headed for the gate without looking back. She needed this time out of Harmony before she blew a fuse.

Luis watched as the triplets played in the living room with some Legos that his mother and sister had decided to buy them. Sure, they weren’t really building anything, but they were having a lot of fun with the blocks. Katie, Trinity and LJ got along wonderfully, despite the fact that they were raised with only their father. They might not have their mother around, but Luis made sure they didn’t forget her.

“Daddy, look,” Katherine lifted a box of cubes. “I’m gonna build it real big to get to Mommy! Then I’m gonna bring her home!”

Luis smiled at his little girl, touched by how sweet she was. Katherine was Sheridan’s twin and it brought Luis joy to have his darling daughter in his life. His children had been the reason he made it through every day and Kathy was especially his favorite: his little link to Sheridan.

“You can’t get to Mommy, stupid,” LJ replied. “Heaven’s in the clouds. She’s gone forever.” LJ, on the other hand, was his father’s twin and there was simply no denying he was Luis’ son. Unfortunately, even at the age of five, LJ was far too realistic for his own good and Luis knew without Sheridan around the child would be even more serious in the future.

“Can so!” Kathy cried. “I can so get to Heaven! Daddy, tell him!”

Luis pulled his tiny daughter into his arms. Looking straight into her deep blue eyes that held so much sadness and caressed her cheek. “Sweetheart, it’s a very long way to go to heaven and if you went, you’d never be able to come back to me. I’d miss you so very much.”

“Oh Daddy, I’d miss you too! But I miss Mommy!” she cried, burying her head in his chest. Her tears fell hard and fast, each drop tearing at Luis’ heart.

“Mommy isn’t in Heaven, anyway,” Trinity shook her head. “She’s coming back.”

“No she ain’t,” LJ jumped up. “She ain’t never coming back! She’s dead!” He glared at his sister and took off for his bedroom. Luis sighed.

“Sheridan,” he whispered, “please come home.”

Beth walked into the terminal at Newark Airport and looked around for her friend Diane. Diane Norton was her closest friend in High School and had only left Harmony when offered a job on the New York Stock Exchange. It didn’t take long for Beth to spot the tall, strawberry-blond, with the big bright eyes. That was Diane; her hair up in a ponytail and the most casual outfit from her closet on when she was off from work.

“BETH!” Diane grinned and rushed to her friend, giving her a gentle hug. “I’m so glad you came.”

“Diane,” she hugged her friend. “Where’s Bryan?”

“He’s at home. He hates this place with a passion. I swear, I don’t know how he goes on business trips when he hates airports,” she laughed, leading her friend down the halls to the baggage claim. “You’ll meet him later. He’s been dying to meet little Beth Wallace…”

“Lopez-Fitzgerald. It’s Beth Lopez-Fitzgerald.”

“What? He finally popped the question? When did you two get married? Why didn’t you tell me sooner, Beth, I would have been there.”

“Three months ago…when he decided that his wife wasn’t going to be coming home every again. She disappeared in a plane crash three years ago and he refuses to believe she’s dead, just missing. We got married by a justice of the peace, Diane, it wasn’t exactly newsworthy,” Beth sighed, pulling her only bag off of the carousel. “Ok.”

“Wait, so you married LoFitz because his wife has disappeared and been pronounced decease?” Diane laughed. “Beth, that’s stupid.”

“I loved him!”

“Yea, well, that still doesn’t make your decision intelligent,” she sighed. “Look, I hope you don’t mind but before you asked to come visit, Bryan and I planned a dinner at our house. Some of our friends will be there…”

“No problem, I don’t mind meeting some new people. Besides, I have to get my mind off of him and his damn kids. I don’t know how I could do this to myself, Diane, I seriously don’t. I said I would marry for love and I ended up marrying because the man I fawned over needed me.”

“Well, maybe this vacation away will give you both things to think about. I’m sure we can make you both very happy when you’re back together again.”

“Diane, we technically haven’t been together ever. We haven’t even consummated our relationship.”

“Sounds like McKenzie,” Diane replied without even thinking.

“Who?”

“Mac, a friend of mine. She’s married to this man Matthew but she always makes up excuses when he wants to get her into bed. She told me it doesn’t feel right to be with him, but he’s a good father to her son Martin so they stay together. I don’t know why Matt deals with it. It’s weird.”

“Umm, ok,” Beth rolled her eyes. “Come on, I want to get to that dinky little island of yours and see the town. I remember it to be so beautiful.”

“Yea well, as beautiful as New York can be,” Diane teased and help Beth put her bags in the car. Sighing, Beth climbed into the passenger side. Two weeks away from Harmony and Luis is just what she needed. And who knows, maybe she would make a new friend or two and figure out a way to stop fighting a dead woman’s ghost.

Chapter Three

Beth settled onto Diane’s couch, tucking her shoeless feet up underneath her. Diane sat across from her, a cup of coffee in her hands while Bryan did the dishes in the kitchen. He had made a delicious dinner on the barbeque outside and now was cleaning up his mess.

“So is Luis the same as he was in high school?” Diane asked, sipping her coffee.

“No,” Beth sighed. “He’s in love with a dead woman and coddles their three children while I have my own room and clean their house.”

“Beth, it sounds like a maid, not a wife,” Diane shook her head. “How could you put yourself in that situation?”

“I was an idiot. I was too busy being happy that he even asked me to marry him to realize that he didn’t really love me. He does have three beautiful children, but they look so much like him and Sheridan.”

“Sheridan?” Diane asked. “Wait! Not Sheridan *CRANE*.”

“The one and only,” Beth played with the spoon in her coffee mug. “They met when she hit his car.”

“And he married her?” Diane laughed. “Mr. ‘the Cranes ruined my life’?”

“Yup, he was head over heels in love with her, Di. He still is, swears she’s alive and coming home someday. I wish she would, at least then I wouldn’t have to be in this farce of a marriage anymore.”

“Divorce him.”

“I can’t. I do love him, Di. I do.”

“I feel for you, hun, really,” Diane offered a weak smile. The doorbell rang and Diane crossed to the door to see who it was. “McKenzie!”

“Hi Diane. I hate to bother you, but could I borrow a cup of milk? I forgot to go shopping today.”

“Sure. Come on in and I’ll get the milk,” Diane pushed open the screen door and allowed McKenzie to pass.

“I didn’t realize you had company, Diane…”

“She’s an old friend of mine from Harmony. Beth Lopez-Fitzgerald, meet McKenzie Philips.”

“Hi,” Beth continued to stare into her coffee.

“You know, Harmony sounds so familiar, I wish I knew why,” McKenzie stated as Diane disappeared to get the milk. Then again, Lopez-Fitzgerald was painfully familiar too and for the life of her McKenzie could place the name. “I guess it’s because Diane talks about home all the time.”

“Yea,” Beth sighed. “Harmony is a great place. I wish I was there with my husband now…” She wondered what Luis was doing while she was visiting in New York.

Luis stood before the plot that had been marked for Sheridan Lopez-Fitzgerald. It was his wife’s resting place…or would be if she had been found in the wreckage. She had never been found and that was all the proof he needed that she was still out there somewhere. His Sheridan had to be there. Still, he let them have their funeral and mark a place where memories of her were buried in place of her body. He let them take her away, even when she was still alive.

A tear rolled down his cheek and he brushed it away. Even if he did believe she was alive and well, he did miss her. It had been hard to raise their triplets these last three years knowing that his pregnant wife had disappeared. He wondered if she lost the baby or if the child had survived. Was it a boy or a girl? Would he ever see them again? If she was alive, why hadn’t she come home and if she was dead, why couldn’t he feel it in his heart?

Sighing, he kissed his fingers and touched them to the cold headstone. He hoped she could feel that kiss wherever she was. He hoped she remembered him and was happy knowing he loved her.

“Hey babe,” he finally spoke. “I was a little lonely tonight. The kids went with Mama for pizza and a cartoon movie and I didn’t feel like it. I wish I could feel something anymore. It’s hard, you know, pretending not to cry and move on. I can’t believe I allowed myself to marry Beth. When she comes home I’m going to ask for a divorce. This is wrong…it’s a farce and I can’t bare to be a part of it anymore.”

He looked around and sighed, sitting on the damp grass around her grave. “I miss you. I love you so much it hurts and I hate to think that you are out there without me. You should see the triplets. Kathy looks more and more like you all the time and LJ is me all over again. Trin, well Trin is her own person and you’d love her, Sher. You would.”

He released a choked sob. “God, Sheridan, why did I let you go on that damn trip? I should have told you to let Marie come to us like she offered. I should have never let you go. Why the hell did I let you go?” He broke down. “Why?”

“Luis?”

Luis shivered, remembering the sound of her voice on Christmas when he thought he had lost her. When he turned around though, it was his sister and Ethan. “Oh, hey.”

“Luis, I thought you said…”

“I miss her, Theresa! She was my heart!”

“I know, Luis,” she went to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You were her world.”

“She’s got to be out there, doesn’t she? I mean they didn’t find her body…”

“Luis, she’s gone.”

“No!” he shook his head. “I won’t…no I can’t believe that.”

Theresa sighed. Her brother still believed that his dead wife would return and that worried her. Why couldn’t he see that Sheridan wasn’t coming back?

“I’m sorry, you look sad, is there anything wrong?” McKenzie asked. “Sorry if I’m prying.”

“No, I’m having a few marital problems. My husband was married before…his wife passed away in a place accident and well, he’s still in love with her. He married me for the sake of his children I believe.”

“That’s terrible,” McKenzie sat on a nearby chair. “Matt married me because he’s unable to have children and I had a son. I guess that’s alright since I can’t give my heart to him.”

“Why not?” Beth asked.

“Because I can’t remember my past,” Kenzie sighed. “I can’t remember anything after Matt found me in the woods.”

“That’s…” Beth looked up at the woman and gasped. “Oh my God!”

“What?”

“Nothing,” Beth shook her head. If McKenzie hadn’t had waist length brown hair, Beth would have sworn one thing…that this was Sheridan Crane and not McKenzie Philips.

Chapter Four

“Here’s the milk you…something wrong, Beth?” Diane asked, entering the living room with a glass of milk for McKenzie.

“No, everything’s fine,” Beth replied, still staring at the woman across from her. Amazing, that’s what it was. Simply and utterly amazing! That hair! Those Eyes! Either this was Sheridan or someone was playing a nasty trick! Did Sheridan have a sister? No, she was the only daughter and she didn’t have a twin, that’s for sure. No cousin could resemble her *that* much could she?

“Beth and I were just talking about her husband, Diane. I think she just misses him,” McKenzie grinned and then heard a knocking on the aluminum door. Followed by “MAMA! OPEN DE DOOR!”

“I’ll get that, Diane,” McKenzie blushed, heading for the door and opening it to find her son. Beth gasped. The child was the spilling image of Luis except for his deep blue eyes. But that wasn’t possible…THIS wasn’t possible.

“Martin, what did Mommy say about coming downstairs alone?” McKenzie asked her three-year-old as she swept him into her arms.

“Umm, do it?” he giggled.

“No,” she smiled. “Beth, this is my son Martin,” she kissed his head.

“Wh…what made you name him Martin?” Beth asked, afraid to know.

“To be honest, I don’t really know,” she shrugged. “Something inside of me said I planned on naming him Martin so I did.”

“Do you know who his father is?” Beth asked. This was uncanny. If everything was planned just right, Martin was the age of Luis’ missing child and well, McKenzie was a dead ringer for Sheridan, no pun intended.

“No, I already told you I couldn’t remember anything before Matt found me. I…I guess I must have left the father.”

“Why?”

Mac fidgeted nervously, her discomfort obvious. Diane knew her past was a touchy subject for McKenzie, especially since she couldn’t remember much, if any, of it. “It’s a long story, Beth, and I’m sure McKenzie needs to take Martin upstairs now,” Diane interrupted the interrogation. “Besides, I’m sure you want to call your husband…”

McKenzie forced a smile. “I should be going,” she took the milk from Diane. “I’ll return the glass after it’s washed. Thanks Diane.”

“No problem,” she smiled.

“Say goodbye, Marty.”

“Bye Marty,” he laughed again, causing the adults to laugh with him. Mac smiled at the other women and left the room, heading for her own home.

“That’s surreal.”

“What is?” Diane asked, sipping at her now cold coffee.

“Nothing,” Beth shook her head. “You’re right. I should call Luis. Where’s the phone?”

“You can use the one in the spare room…let you have some privacy.”

“Like I’ll need it,” Beth grumbled, heading to the spare room in the back of the house. She sighed. Seeing McKenzie was…well just odd. What if that was Sheridan? After all, the only difference was that hair! Who was to say Sheridan was a natural blond? Better yet, McKenzie could not be a natural brunette! Picking up the phone, she dialed the number to her house. Maybe she should tell Luis…

“Hello?”

“Hey, Luis.”

“Beth! I didn’t expect you to call tonight. How are you? How is New York?”

Should she tell him? No! She was better off just giving herself time to piece together the truth. After all, what good was making him see a woman that could possibly not be his wife? Not that it mattered; he did have her now. She smiled. “I just missed you and wanted to see how everything was. I’m having an ok time so far.”

“Good. I’m kinda glad you called. I think there are things we need to talk about…so I was kind of considering flying down there so we could talk.”

“Luis I’ll be back in two weeks. Can’t it wait?”

“No,” was all he said.

“But I really wanted to have some time alone, Luis. I thought we needed this time to think…”

“I’ve thought, Beth, I thought a lot. We really need to talk about this and over the phone won’t do.”

“Then I’ll come home…”

“No, I think I need some time away from Harmony and I’ve never been to New York. I can be down in a few days.”

Beth sighed. “Well if you’re coming down then there is something I need to tell you.”

“What’s that?” Luis asked.

“There’s a woman here, Luis. Her name is McKenzie…I think you’d be interested in meeting her…”

“Why?”

“Because…well…”

“Spit it out, Beth!”

“Because she looks like Sheridan!”

Chapter Five

‘Because she looks like Sheridan…’

That’s what Beth had said; the words were whispered into the phone but clear as day to him. How could someone look like his Sheridan? How could there be anyone in the world like her?

As he shoved random outfits into his bag, he came across a bottle of her perfume: Forever Mine. It smelled sweet, like her, and he missed her terribly. Life hadn’t been the same since he lost his wife, even after he married Beth. The thought that someone out there could be anything like Sheridan gave him hope that perhaps it WAS Sheridan.

So he packed…

He planned on being in New York sometime the next morning to meet the woman that was sure to change his life. Beth has said her name was McKenzie…McKenzie Phillips. Sure, that was a drastic change and even if she did *look* like Sheridan, it didn’t mean it was her. After all, why would Sheridan change her name and fake her death? She did have three children waiting for her at home…

Speaking of children, what happened to the baby she was carrying when she disappeared? Had she delivered their child? Was it a boy or a girl?

Were these questions even pertinent considering the fact that he had yet to meet this woman?

Sighing, Luis picked up a photo of Sheridan and the children taken before she disappeared…before everyone believed she died in that accident. She was beautiful, not that he would ever think she wasn’t. The triplets sat in front of her on the floor of the living room, their toys spread about. The picture was taken on their first birthday and Sheridan had never looked more tired. Well, except the day they were born. Three babies, they never believed it was possible.

“Soon, Sheridan, I’ll bring you back to us soon…” He kissed the photo, returning it to its home on his night table and then returned to his packing. He had to be at the airport early if he wanted to find his wife.

“Soon…”

McKenzie shivered. Never before had she heard his voice so clearly. Yes, she had heard that man whisper to her in her dreams, his face darkened by the shadows around them or the fog in the air. But never had she been awake when she heard his voice. Never before had she felt him with her like she did now.

“I’ll bring you back to us soon…”

She shuddered again. Who was he and where was he going to bring her? Who were “us”? Just what was she missing? Looking over at her son and husband, McKenzie wondered what she could possibly forgotten about the some thirty years in her life. She didn’t know who she was, but she knew her age and birth date. She wished she remembered more…remembered anything from her past. It was terrible. Her memories were so sporadic and incomplete. She just wanted to see him and know what connection they had.

“McKenzie, sweetheart, what are you doing? You’ve been standing there for five minutes now” he asked, looking up from his evening paper. This was Matthew, her very handsome yet overpowering husband. She hated that about him: hated how he demanded things of her she couldn’t give. And he hated her…hated her for not allowing him in her bed.

Sighing, she turned to face him. “Nothing, darling, just thinking,” she poured herself a glass of iced tea and joined him and Martin at the table.

“Mommy, we go to the park tomorrow?” Martin asked, munching on the soggy cereal he demanded for dinner. Of course, that had been nearly twenty minutes now and he still hadn’t finished. McKenzie had offered to take it from him, but he swore he wasn’t done eating.

“Sure, Marty, we’ll go to the park tomorrow,” she smiled and ruffled his hair. Dark hair that showed his sparkling blue eyes all the more. Olive skin…his father’s skin. Whoever that was!

“McKenzie, do you think it’s wise to take him out in the heat…”

“It hasn’t been so hot, Matthew. Besides, he wants to go,” she stared at the glass of tea and watched the ice bob up and down. He was always like this, especially when it came to Marty.

“Whatever…” he got up and left the room, leaving her to the slurping sounds of her son and the up and down motion of the ice. She sighed.

“Soon…my love…soon…”

Beth sighed and fell back against the pillows on the bed. So he was coming to New York and it was to tell her it was over. Oh hell, it was for more than that now. Why the hell had she opened her big mouth about McKenzie looking like a dark haired Sheridan? Was she really so stupid?

No, but she did love him and she knew he missed Sheridan. Sher had been his everything; she realized that now. Without Sheridan, he had nothing in the world. Not even his children could fill the gaping hole she left in his heart. But did that mean she would give up without a fight?

Hell no!

Elizabeth Anne Wallace had married Luis because she loved and adored him more than anything in the world. In fact, he was her life…her obsession. Everything she did was for him and his children and never would she regret that. This had been her dream since high school and no one, not even Sheridan’s ghost, would take him away from her. Never again! She was determined to make herself his reason for living, becoming the woman he loved and cherished like the vows had stated.

But just how far could she go? What if that was Sheridan upstairs? What if she wanted to reclaim her place in Luis’ life? Could she possibly take that away from Luis and his children? Could she take knowing she has separated them again?

Well, what if Beth could make it so Luis didn’t want to interrupt her life??

An evil smirk covered Beth’s face and she laughed. Yes, that was just what she’d do. She would make him realize just how happy McKenzie was with Matthew and Little Martin…and then make him realize just how happy he could be with her. Soon she would have the husband she deserved and wanted. It wouldn’t matter if McKenzie was Sheridan, because he wouldn’t want Sheridan ever again when she was done with him.

Closing her eyes, she prayed that for once she could get what she wanted from her life. Just once she needed this…she needed him.

But a knocking on the door brought her prayers to an immediate stop. “Beth?”

“Come on in, Di,” Beth sat up.

“How’d the call go?” Diane joined her friend on the king sized bed.

“Not bad if you consider the fact he’s flying down here to ‘talk’ to me.”

“Oh dear…”

“Yea. Di, can I tell you something?” Beth asked, fiddling with her plain gold wedding band.

“Of course!”

“The reason I was staring at McKenzie is…” Beth sighed.

“Is?” Diane prodded.

“She looks like Sheridan Crane! She looks a lot like Sheridan Crane. Her twin even…all except that hair. Don’t you see it?”

Diane shook her head. “I haven’t seen pictures of Sheridan since that accident that claimed her life Beth. Remember, Sheridan’s dead.”

“Yea, tell that to the ghosts that haunt my house and the woman living upstairs with a child that could only be Luis’.”

“I think you need a good night’s rest, Beth. I know it’s early, but that flight must have drained you. Why don’t you just relax? Feel free to peruse the book shelves…find yourself a good book to read.”

“Thanks, Di.”

“Night Beth.”

“Goodnight,” she watched her friend leave. “Deny it all you want, Diane, but that’s Sheridan and I’m going to make sure she doesn’t take him away from me again! Damn sure!”

The fog surrounding them was thick, making seeing even their hands in front of them far too impossible. She could hear children laughing and singing nearby, their happy voices warming her heart as she walked through the thick fog. She didn’t know where she was heading, but she knew she couldn’t stop. The laughter was calling to her, begging her to come to them, to find them and hold them close for all time. In the breeze a scent of a man’s cologne drifted, that familiar scent he wore when he returned home to them, home from his office, from his job. But it wasn’t Matt’s cologne, wasn’t that sickeningly strong smell that caused her to become dizzy. It was different, much more subtle and far more masculine. But who was he? Where was he? What about the children?

“Mommy, come look!” a little girl cried, her voice filled with laughter. “Look what we found! Mommy, come see!”

“Mommy, mommy! Push me!” another voice called, another little girl. She sounded so happy, so full of life. “Mommy!!!”

“Please Mommy!” came a third, this time a little boy’s, but not her Martin’s. He was near her, his smile bright. “I found a froggy, Mommy! I want you to see him! Please come play”!

“Matthew? Matthew, are you here?” she called into the dense fog, seeing a dark shadow appear. “Matthew, is that you?”

“No, I’m not Matthew…you know who I am. I love you! I’ve always loved you…” his voice returned. It wasn’t Matthew’s; it was deeper and more comforting yet unfamiliar. Or was it? She felt that she should know his voice, especially since the sound of it filled her soul with such peace and hope. Still, she couldn’t identify it.

“Please, who are you?” she begged, the headache returning from her attempts to remember. “Please, I want to know who you are…I want to know who you all are!”

“Look into your heart, I’m always there…we’re always there…”

“No!” she could see his shadow in the fog and he was leaving, taking her memories and the children with him. “No, please come back! We’re not done! Come back!”

“I love you…we all do,” he replied, taking the hands of three smaller shadows. Children! Were they hers? Theirs?

“Please, I want you to help me remember! Don’t leave me! I need you now!” she cried.

“I’m a part of you, mi amor, a very big part of you. Just look into your heart. You’ll know me there. You’ll remember me there.”

“Please,” she begged, falling to her knees. “Don’t leave me again!”

“I love you…”

“Stop!”

“Forever…”

McKenzie gasped, her body immediately sitting up in bed as the cool morning air touched the perspiration that had formed on her pale skin. The dreams were returning, more so now than even in the beginning. The ones then were scattered and painful, trying to force memories forward that she couldn’t find. But now they seemed more painful! Children! There were children in this one, three of them. She knew somehow that they were hers…that they were all the same age: triplets! But the man wouldn’t reveal their faces or his own. He wouldn’t say her name, or his, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to deal with the vague memories and odd dreams.

She glanced at the clock: four am. It was far too early to be awake, but she needed to calm her nerves before she could consider returning to sleep. Not like she’d ever get to sleep. By time she calmed down, Martin would be awake and Matt would need his breakfast before work. Sometimes she wondered what her life was like before Matt found her. Was she a loving wife to some man? Matthew never told her if he found wedding rings. He never mentioned finding anything of hers. She wondered if he was hiding something.

Sighing, she quietly left the bed, grabbing her robe and sliding into it. She glanced to see if Matthew was still asleep before silently leaving the room and heading across the hall to Martin’s. She didn’t need to wake him; he was nasty enough in the morning.

Martin, though, was so cute when he slept, his little arms always clinging to a tiny stuffed bear Diane had given to him. He was her special little man; the only link she had to the man that she sensed was her one true love. Matthew was a suitable replacement. He took good care of them and kept them comfortable. But he wasn’t Martin’s father and they both knew that. It was always a bitter pill to swallow.

Kneeling beside the bed, she played carefully with the unruly dark black hair on his head. It had to be his father’s hair, since she knew it wasn’t her color. Her hair had been blond when she first met Matthew, but he insisted she dye it. So she did, a chocolate brown that made her blue eyes seem so dark. She looked at her son again, everything about him reminded her of the faceless man in her dreams. Suddenly, a memory came to her:

She was in a cottage, obviously one of someone with wealth. Her perhaps? Silently, she crept to the orange couch where a figure lay sleeping. Something was wrong; she was worried about him and wished to seek comfort from him at the same time.

The cottage was cold, she could tell that from the gooseflesh forming on her skin as the air made it’s way through her flimsy satin nightgown. Her feet were bare, making it hard to control the pattering sound she was making as she neared him. But still, she continued to move towards the couch and the sleeping form there.

Finally, she found herself standing behind him. She wanted to touch him…to know he was really there without waking him. Kneeling by the arm of the couch, she watched his deep, even breathing before she cautiously reached out to play with a few locks of his thick, black hair. She only ran her fingers through it once, watching his face for any signs that he was waking. Nothing…just as slowly as she reached for him, she pulled back, considering what it would be like to be in his arms…

The face on the man was blurry, but she remembered feeling love for him even then and now she knew that he held her heart in his hand. She didn’t know why, but Martin reminded her of him, even if she couldn’t see his face. Something about him just screamed I’m my Daddy’s son! “The problem is, just who is your Daddy, sweetheart, and why hasn’t he been looking for us?”

Kissing her son’s forehead, Sheridan stood and left the room, heading for the living room to look out the windows at the land outside. From her window, in the predawn light, she could see the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, it’s blue-green lights twinkling in the distance. Somewhere out there was the father of her child and a whole other life that she knew nothing about.

Luis had been given the address to Diane’s house, as well as directions, and was told that everyone would be up at five, since Bryan had to work and the girls planned on shopping in Manhattan. He was due to arrive there before they left and he landed at three. With luck, he would be arriving just before they left. His only hope was for almost no traffic so he could be there early.

He rented a car, using the directions from Beth’s friend to travel from Newark into Staten Island, where Beth was staying. It wasn’t a long trip, though there was an amazing amount of traffic attempting to get into the city. No wonder he had never been here before! He could never handle this traffic for extended periods of time.

Sighing, he started to think about Sheridan and the last few conversations they had before she disappeared. All of them had been positive, not one argument for weeks, but still he wished he had said, “I love you” one more time or begged her not to go. Sometimes he wished he would have had more time to talk to her without the children needing something or one chance to hold her close and remind her that she was everything to him.

He missed her so much it hurt to get up in the morning. He was muddling through, attempting to bury the pain in losing her while supporting his children. Of course he loved his little angels, his ray of sunshine in a very dark world. But still, Sheridan had been his everything and right now he had nothing without her.

Finally finding the street he was meant to turn down, Luis headed for the house where he would meet this look-alike. What would he do when he met “Sheridan’s Twin”? Would she be able to handle the fact that she looked like his deceased wife? What if it was Sheridan? What would he do? He made the sign of the cross, saying a silent prayer that he would find Sheridan in this house, that his whole life would finally fall back into place and that he wouldn’t have to face another day without her.

Beth couldn’t remember actually falling asleep the night before as she pulled on some clothing. Luis was due to arrive soon and she was dying to see him. She had one chance to convince him that McKenzie wasn’t his Sheridan and, even if she was Sheridan, that she was very happy with Matthew. Of course, Beth didn’t *know* Matthew and she was pretty sure McKenzie didn’t *seem* happy, but that really wasn’t her problem. Her problem was convincing Luis that Sheridan was happier now and belonged here. She had to keep her husband.

Heading outside, she settled on the porch and watched the cars that passed by, finally seeing the rental car with Luis in it. He parked the car and started to get out, never seeming to notice anyone was watching him. He was here and she was finding it hard to find the excitement in seeing him. She knew that he would want one thing from her: separation.

A door behind her swung open, the aluminum door slightly banging as it shut. The scent of roses filled the air and Beth knew it wasn’t Diane. “Beth? What are you doing up quite so early?”

Oh no! She wasn’t supposed to be down here this early! How could she keep him from seeing her now? “Mc…McKenzie, what are you doing up so early?”

“Came to see if the paper boy brought the paper yet. Matthew always looks for it with his morning coffee,” McKenzie sighed, seeing the car parked out front. The strange man in the car made her shiver and she immediately sensed Beth’s apprehension. “More company?”

“My husband,” she watched Luis open the trunk, oblivious to the two women on the brick porch talking about him. “He said we had to talk and he was coming to town immediately.”

“Oh,” she smiled slightly, somewhat disappointed that he was here for Beth. Why did she care anyway? It wasn’t like she knew him. But he looked familiar to her, though she hadn’t a clue why. “Do you think…would you mind if I met him now since I’m here?” she didn’t know why she asked. “I mean I can leave you two…”

“No, it’s fine,” Beth groaned internally. If he met her now her plan was shot. He’d know it was Sheridan; there was no denying it!

McKenzie looked herself over, tightening her robe. She was glad she had a chance to brush her hair before she came downstairs. This wasn’t exactly the way to meet someone, her face without makeup, her hair pretty much unfixed and her pajamas still on. But something told her she had to meet him and soon, that her clothing wouldn’t matter to him because he was interested in something else. Not that it mattered; it was too late to change.

Beth saw Luis lift his bag from the car and close the trunk, heading up the brick walkway through the chain link fence. He finally looked up, his eyes meeting hers and then looking away. Finally, his eyes moved to the brunette beside her and he dropped his suitcase.

He knew…there was no way to deny it. Luis knew, his eyes immediately lit with recognition and he moved closer. Their gazes met and Beth immediately felt invisible. What was with these two?

“Sheridan?” he whispered, again stepping closer.

She knew his voice, heard it before. Why did she know it? Closing her eyes, she began to sway on her feet as her dream rushed back to her.

“I’m a part of you, mi amor, a very big part of you. Just look into your heart. You’ll know me there. You’ll remember me there.”

“No!” she whispered before falling to her knees clutching her head. “No…”

Chapter Seven

McKenzie groaned and opened her eyes, trying her hardest to focus on the room around her. Squinting against the brightness from the window, she lifted a hand to her throbbing head. Where was she? Shielding her eyes, she noticed that she was in bed, her bed. How had she gotten here? She didn’t remember coming upstairs after speaking with Beth outside…

Reaching over to the other side of the bed, she noticed it was empty and made; Matthew was obviously gone for work. If Matthew was gone than it had to be after six, so where was Martin?

“Marty?” her hoarse throat called, squeaking slightly from the attempt. “Martin?”

The door creaked open and her little boy’s head appeared, a bright smile on his face. “Mommy, you up!” little Marty cheered, running into the room followed closely by Diane, who looked worried.

McKenzie automatically opened her arms and hugged Martin close as he bounded onto the bed with a laugh. It must have been a dream, a terrible horrible nightmare like all the others. There was no man, he hadn’t called her Sheridan and his voice wasn’t the one from her memories. He wasn’t here, he wasn’t coming and he was never going to take her away from the life she knew. It was all a terrible mistake and now that she was awake she could take care of her son and forget that the entire thing happened, never telling any of it to a single person on this earth.

“Thank you for watching him, Diane, I guess I overslept…”

“Actually, you were awake earlier. Luis carried you up here. Beth said you fainted outside…are you feeling all right?” Diane sat on the side of the bed and looked her friend over, trying to find something that could possibly have caused her to faint.

“Luis?” her eyebrows rose in query. No, it wasn’t possible.

“Beth’s husband…” Diane explained.

No, it was just a coincidence that Beth’s husband arrived the same day, right? It wasn’t possible that Beth’s Luis was the man in her dreams. After all, she had never been to Harmony, had she? “I guess I should thank him when I get a chance,” Sheridan tried to sit up, feeling the pounding get worse and therefore ending up back in her original position. “But I need some aspirin first.”

“I’ll get it for you,” Diane offered, getting up to find the needed medication in McKenzie’s medicine cabinet.

“Thanks,” she sighed, cupping her son’s cheek. “Did Diane stay and play with you when Daddy left for work?”

Martin nodded. “We still go to park?”

“Of course we’ll go to the park, my love. I promised to take you, didn’t I?” She attempted to smile, but settled for a weak grin.

“Mr. Wuis is real stwong,” Martin leaned back against the pillows beside his mother, folding his hands behind his head. “He cawwied you up all de staiws.”

Mac grinned. “Yes, he must be terribly strong if he was able to lift someone as big as Mommy, right?”

“Wight,” he nodded.

She chuckled slightly. “Did you meet Mr. Luis?”

“Nope, but I sawed him,” Martin replied. “I gonna go get Mr. Beaw.”

“Ok, go get Mr. Bear,” Mac kissed his cheek and watched him wipe the area.

“Gwoss!” he ran off, still swiping at his face where she had kissed him.

She would have laughed had the pounding in her head not worsened. So Luis brought her upstairs. That would explain how she was back in bed with Matt gone for work. Her fainting would definitely explain the time gap that she couldn’t seem to remember as well. The only problem was figuring out why it all happened. Luis was just a married man here to see his wife whom he missed terribly, right? He couldn’t possibly be the man she had been waiting for. Things like that only happened on television and in the movies, and this sure as hell wasn’t a soap opera.

“But then why did he call me Sheridan?” she sighed, trying to piece this puzzle together.

“Who called you Sheridan?” Diane asked, returning to the bedroom with the pill bottle and a glass of water. “Something you’d like to share with me?’

Great, just what she needed, to explain to Beth’s best friend that she thought Luis was a man from her past here to return her to her missing family. Like that was going to make things better!

He ran his hands through his hair and sighed, closing his eyes to see her again. There she was, her big blue eyes shinning with love and her shoulder length blond hair pulled back in a lose braid. She was happy, singing to her abdomen where their triplets were nestled waiting to be born. So long ago and yet the sounds, smells and feel of things were so new that they felt like it was happening all over again. Why couldn’t life always have been their happy little family living contently in their house where the roses blood every spring and where they built snowmen every winter?

Beth entered the room, he could tell by her perfume, and neared him. He didn’t want to face her right now, didn’t want to tell her that it was over because he had just seen the woman that haunted their lives. Not that it mattered; he had come here with the intent of asking her for an annulment. But it was too hard to do right now with the beautiful blue-eyed brunette living upstairs with his missing child. It was too hard to face the truth that Sheridan was still alive and hadn’t a clue whom he was. That for the past three years she had lived with another man, raised his son as someone else’s and been someone else’s wife.

“Luis?” she gently sat on the couch beside him, her weight making the cushion to his right sink. “How are you feeling now?” she asked, placing a tentative hand on his shoulder.

“How am I supposed to feel, Beth?” he grumbled, his head down and his eyes still closed. It was the only place he could see his Sheridan anymore because what he had left just wasn’t going to fill the gap. She just wasn’t the Sheridan he had hoped to find.

“Sorry,” she pulled her hand away. “I hadn’t meant for you to meet her first thing, Luis. I knew we had to talk and I…”

“Save it. How long has she lived up there?”

“A few years. Matt was relocated from someplace in Colorado and she was with him when he moved in,” Beth sipped a cup of coffee she had in her hand. She needed to calm her nerves; what she really needed was a good stiff drink.

“Is the boy his?”

“You saw Marin?” Beth’s eyes widened in surprise and she was sure Luis knew the answer to his question before he even asked it. Any doubt she had was washed away when he next spoke.

“Of course I saw him! I carried Sheridan upstairs to her bedroom! That’s my son damn it!” Luis got up and crossed the room, beginning to pace in the center of carpeted area. “She’s my wife! She’s the woman I married that everyone gave up on but me! All these years! All this time!”

“Luis…”

“She’s been gone for so long and here she is living with another man, raising my son as that man’s child…telling him that that no good slime ball that left her laying on the brick steps is his father! *I* am his father!!!”

“Luis please,” Beth begged.

“All this time,” he sank into a nearby armchair. “All this time I’ve loved her and she didn’t even know who I was.”

Beth neared him, kneeling before him. “Luis, forget about Sheridan…that’s not Sheridan. It’s McKenzie and McKenzie is married to Matthew who loves their son Martin…we’ve got three great kids and each other. Forget McKenzie…forget Sheridan, she’s gone.”

Luis looked into Beth’s eyes; the eyes of the woman that had been there when Sheridan “died,” that had held him when he cried and cared for him when he needed someone to be there. She had nursed his children when they were ill, taking them wherever they had to go and been the mother they had lost. But could he just forget Sheridan like she asked? Could he forget that McKenzie just had to be his missing wife, the woman that held his heart for life? He didn’t think so, but did he really have a choice?

It never did take her long to get dressed. Somehow she had learned to rush through the routine of makeup, hair and clothing for herself. She wasn’t sure how she had learned or if there was a reason behind it, but something always drove her to rush and she always managed to look perfect. That particular morning, however, McKenzie dressed slower than ever before, choosing her outfit as cautiously as possible. Why? She didn’t really know, but she didn’t stop her from being so fashion critical that morning. Finally dressed in jean shorts and a loose fitting t-shirt, her hair perfectly done and her makeup jus right, McKenzie found her beach bag and started to pack it for things to bring to the nearby park.

“Mommy, no fowget Mr. Bear’s suit for the spwinklews!” Martin called as he grabbed his favorite toy and put his baseball cap on, albeit backwards. He loved going to the park and playing in the water sprinklers or on the swings. It was his favorite place to go.

“I won’t forget it, Martin. Don’t forget to bring your new sunglasses or else the sun will hurt your eyes,” Mac reminded him, shoving another toy into the bag before adding the sandwiches she had made and the juice boxes. “Ready?”

“Weady, Mommy,” he replied, dragging his old bear behind him. McKenzie had to laugh. Everywhere they went, along came that stupid old bear that was missing an eye. His little brown fur was ratty and his ear was torn, but Martin loved him all the same. In fact, it was the only thing he ever seemed to play with sometimes and she wished she knew why. All the expensive toys from Matt and he always played with the ratty old bear.

“We dwivin?” he asked as the bear bumped down the stairs with every step that Martin took.

“No, Daddy took the car,” McKenzie replied, opening the front door and letting Marty exit first.

“Nuts,” he grumped.

“Martin!” she scolded.

“Sowwy,” he sighed.

Grinning, she patted his head. “It’s ok, just watch your tongue.”

Martin stuck his tongue out and tried to see it, crossing his eyes in the process. “I don’t tink I can, Mommy, will you watch it fow me?”

Nodding with a laugh, Sheridan took Martin’s hand and led him down the road towards the park for yet another day of adventure with her three-year-old son. Life was never dull with her little boy. Never ever dull…

He wouldn’t give up on Sheridan, not now, not ever. Luis loved her and nothing in the world could ever take her away again, especially not some piece of paper illegally marrying her to another man. She was his, now and forever. He punched the wall, groaning when his flesh felt the ache from such a stupid action and then returned his attention to the outdoors.

There she was…his Sheridan…or McKenzie. In either case, she was his.

He watched her leave from his place by the front door, his head leaning against the cool glass of the door. Diane had taken Beth into the city to shop as planned, leaving him a spare key in case he wanted to leave the house. Of course, he hadn’t planned on going anywhere with Sheridan so close to him. But Diane had given him directions to the nearest stores and to the beach, should he decide that those were places he wanted to go instead of staying in the air conditioned house all day. Diane and Bryan also had cable, one hundred and forty channels of movies, sports and boring daytime television and told him to make himself at home. Like he’d ever watch a soap opera or talk show! His life was too much like those daytime dramas right now anyway and one day he’d end up on those damn talk shows.

But when he saw her leaving, he knew he had to leave too. In fact, he needed to be as close to McKenzie as possible and that meant following her to wherever she was headed. If he couldn’t be with her, at her side every single moment, he could at least take comfort in the fact that she was closer than ever to him. Besides, it obviously couldn’t be *that* far away, she didn’t have a car; he had seen Matthew leave with it earlier.

Waiting until she was half a block away, Luis grabbed the spare set of keys, his wallet and some sunglasses and headed out after her. Being a detective had made him good at following leads and watching people without being spotted. Sometimes he was even too good for his job and he hoped this would be one of those times. He just needed to keep a close watch and be sure he wasn’t spotted; piece of cake. Smiling, he silently followed Mac and her son towards the playground three blocks away. Just the place he needed to be! A park full of children!

Well, if this is where she was going, then this is where he would stay. Sighing, he found a bench far enough away from her that he couldn’t hear what she was saying, but he could see everything she did. From this distance she could be his Sheridan, the woman he loved more than anything in the world. For just a moment, it seemed like everything was going to be all right.

Mac watched as Martin and Mr. Bear ran around the park from item to item, trying to decide what to go on. He was always so excited at the park, his blue eyes glowing merrily and his giggles filling the air. Martin was such a happy little boy, always laughing and smiling and playing games. He loved to sing, especially when the radio was on. Sometimes she wondered where he got it. Was she that happy at his age? She couldn’t remember much, but deep down inside she knew she had never been that happy as a child. But she also knew that she had become deliriously happy before she met Matt, though she didn’t know why. She wished she could remember what made her feel so at peace before being found in the Colorado woods. Hell, she wished she could remember anything.

Finally, Martin seemed ho have chosen an area to play in: the clubhouse, where the other children were having a tea party. She laughed and watched as Martin climbed inside the little house with Mr. Bear, greeting the children he knew. Oh well, at least he was getting along with them and the older boys weren’t around to tease him again. Why they always sought out her baby she’d never understand, but they were always taking his toys and calling him names.

Sighing, Mac looked around the park and saw a little blond girl run by, followed closely by a brunette boy. They weren’t running fast or very old; in fact they couldn’t have been more than two, if that. She was carrying a little ball, her wispy blond curls bouncing as she tried to get away from her sibling. He, on the other hand, looked about ready to cry from the effort of chasing his sister.

And the sight of them caused the headache to return; that throbbing that brought tears to her eyes.

McKenzie closed her eyes, massaging her temples. Not again! Not here! What the hell was going on? Why was she remembering so much in such a short amount of time? “Lord, help me,” she whispered, squeezing her eyes shut to fight the pain.

Another faceless memory! Why was this happening? No! She wouldn’t let it happen again. McKenzie tried to force her eyes open but the pounding worsened and she immediately shut them again. She’d have to face the memories…have to face the truth.

The scene was set in a similar park, though there were far more trees and less children around. She stood in the center of the park, trying to decide which way to run as three small children left the picnic area. Three children, one blond and two brunettes, scattered in different directions before chasing each other for the ball that one was holding. They weren’t too old, just began running perhaps, but they were having fun and that’s all that mattered. The trio laughed as they ran, their melodious giggles warming her heart…but who were they?

“Aren’t they wonderful, sweetheart? I’m sure they’ll get along famously when they’re older. He’s going to be the protector of his little sisters,” his arms slid around her waist as they watched the three little children run. She could hear them laughing, see their attempts to play with a ball…but no faces! Sparkling eyes, heart-warming giggles, but not the entire face!

“I love them so much, darling. Thank you for our babies,” she rocking in his arms, her hands placing his gently against the slight bump in her shirt. “All of our beautiful children.”

“And to think we have another one coming,” he laughed, gently kissing her cheek and rubbing her belly with his hand. He seemed so happy, his warm breath tickling her neck and making feel a peace she knew she would find no where else.

“Yes, another beautiful baby to add to our family,” she sighed contently, leaning back in his arms. She was surrounded by his cologne and closed her eyes to remember the scents and sounds around her. She wanted to remember this day until she died…

But she was only just remembering it now! Why didn’t she just open her damn eyes and take another look at their faces? Why couldn’t she remember him? Why didn’t they use names? Damn it…why?? The pounding her head continued to grow worse as the laughter from the children in her memories grew louder and louder. She sank to her knees from her place on the bench, praying this would end soon. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she heard the babies in her memory laughing.

“Stop! Stop! Please!” she sobbed. “No more! Please stop!”

And finally it did. For the first time her memories faded quickly, taking the pounding along with them and leaving her alone with her tears and the dull ache in her chest.

Had he been watching McKenzie, he would have noticed the distress she was in and therefore would have felt her pain. But he didn’t notice when she fell to her knees with tears rolling down her paling cheeks; he was too busy watching Martin try and grab his bear from the hands of some older boys that were taunting him with cruel names. They were about fifteen or sixteen and had a good foot and a half in height on poor Martin, who was trying his hardest to catch the toy they carelessly tossed around. He was starting to cry and Luis decided he couldn’t wait a moment longer to save his son.

Walking over, he caught the bear midair and glared at the group of boys. “Bored, boys? Have nothing better to do, perhaps?”

“Umm, no, sir…I mean yes sir!” one replied, panicking. This man was simply HUGE! Oh, they were in trouble now.

“Well, which was it?” Luis demanded.

“We were only playing, man, relax,” another stated.

Luis glared at him and he immediately backed off.

“Sorry,” the kid grumbled.

“Better be,” he added, trying to calm down. “Now, why don’t you go pick on someone your own size, ok? Leave the smaller kids alone.” He had to calm down before but it just wasn’t going to work! How dare these brats tease his son!

“Yes, sir,” the third responded, dragging his two friend’s away by their shirts’ sleeves. He sure as hell wasn’t going to mess with this man. It would be his biggest mistake ever!

Luis shook his head and knelt to Martin’s height. “Hey, sprout.”

“Hi, Mr. Wuis!” Marin laughed, excited that his new friend rescued his best friend.

“How’d you know my name?”

“Miss Diane told-ed me. She said you save-d my mommy and cawwied hew up tairs to bed.” He nodded as he spoke, a giant grin plastered on his face from the pride of knowing the answer.

“Oh,” Luis laughed. “Well that’s right, I’m Luis and I guess you’re Martin, McKenzie’s little boy.”

“Yup,” he grinned.

“I guess he belongs to you too?” Luis revealed the bear, handing it over to the child. The bear was very familiar to him and he couldn’t remember why. He would have to think about that later, right now he wanted to get to know his son.

“Yup,” he hugged his bear close. “T’ose boys always takes him away and cawwed me sissy.”

“Don’t worry, some day they won’t be able to take him away from you because you’ll be big and strong,” Luis ruffled his hair. “So what’s you’re bear’s name?”

“Mr. Beaw,” Martin grinned.

Why hadn’t he thought of that? Luis laughed. This kid was something else. “What do you say we go bring Mr. Bear over to your Mom so he doesn’t get hurt again by those boys?”

“No need, his mom is already here,” McKenzie’s voice stated softly. Luis looked up and his gaze met hers. Her eyes were so blue and she looked so beautiful, even with those awful tear tracks on her face. God how he missed her all these years!

“Hi. I don’t think we met properly this morning,” he stood up. “I’m Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald,” he extended his hand to her. He wanted to say he was Beth’s husband, he fully intended to, but his mouth wouldn’t say those words out loud. Not with Sheridan standing here.

“McKenzie Philips,” she took his hand, jumping from the lightning that shot through her at the contract. She pulled her hand away immediately. There was something terribly disappointing in the fact that Luis was married.

“Mrs. Philips…”

“Please, call me Mac or at least McKenzie. I think you earned that right after carrying me to bed this morning,” she looked down at Martin. ”Marty, why don’t you and Mr. Bear go drink the juice box I opened for you?”

“Otay, Mommy,” he grinned. “Tanks, Mr. Wuis,” Martin waved and ran off.

“Thank you for helping him with those boys. They tease him because he carries around that old bear. Not very friendly to the poor boy.”

“That’s a stupid reason to pick on a kid. Then again I don’t think there are any good reasons to do that,” Luis shook his head. “So, how old is little Martin?”

“Three,” her arms crossed her waist in a hug and she sighed. “He’s my special baby. My ray of sunshine…”

“Why’s that?” Luis asked, hoping he wasn’t probing. He wanted to keep her talking, keep her near him.

“Because he survived the plane crash and three days in the woods without food…of course he wasn’t born yet, but many doctors told me I was lucky there wasn’t any damage done to him. I guess the strain could have left him brain damaged…or worse…” she left the sentence hanging in the air.

Luis nodded, feeling tears come to his eyes as he tried to find some safe questions to ask. She went through so much without him. He couldn’t imagine how she felt knowing her child have died. How would he have handled the news that he lost his son, a son he never knew? “So, how long have you lived in New York?”

“Two and a half years,” she watched Martin from where they were standing, her mind still reeling over the memories she had again witnessed. More were starting to join the others as he spoke, his voice making her shiver. Why did this man make her see things that no one else could? Why was he making her remember things that even the best doctors had said she would never again remember? She couldn’t handle this again, not just yet. “I better get back to Martin…”

He nodded and watched as she made her way back to Martin, her body positively rigid. Well, at least they had made some progress; she had spoken to him without screaming and falling to the ground in an unconscious state. Sighing, he dug his hands into his pockets. “You can’t avoid me, Sheridan. We’re going to get through this if it takes the rest of our lives.”

Chapter Nine

Martin looked at the leaving ice cream truck longingly, Pop Goes the Weasel echoing as it distanced itself from the park. He wanted ice cream so very much right now, especially since all the other children in the park were eating ice cream cones and Popsicles. Stupid money! He couldn’t believe his Mommy would be silly enough to leave money at home! What good was it there?

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t think I would need my wallet for anything. You’ve never asked to get ice cream from the trucks before,” she cupped his little cheek, offering him an apologetic smile. She really did feel bad that she didn’t have money to buy him some ice cream.

He sighed. “I want ice ceam,” he pouted, his lower lip quivering and the tears starting to pool in his eyes. That was definitely a trait he received from his father’s side of the family because McKenzie knew she never used that look on anyone before.

“Martin, I said I was sorry. Next time the ice cream man comes I promise to buy you anything your heart desires…”

“Or you can allow me to treat you to ice cream from one of the shops nearby,” Luis offered, joining their conversation. He had been standing close enough to hear his son ask for ice cream and see McKenzie’s saddened face when she realized she hadn’t brought her wallet.

“Luis!” she jumped. “I didn’t know you were standing there.”

“Sorry, I just heard the little man here beg for ice cream and I’m a sucker for puppy dog eyes,” he grinned. “Let me treat you…Diane told me there was a great ice cream shop nearby.”

“I couldn’t allow you to…” she protested.

“Please? I’d really like to do this for both for you,” he threw in a similar pout to Martin’s.

McKenzie gasped. Dear Lord, why hadn’t she seen it before? Martin looked just like Luis! And that face! They could be twins right now! Shaking her head, McKenzie attempted to focus her attention on refusing his request, but she couldn’t. How could she deny this mysterious man such a request? Perhaps she would learn something about him. Besides, something inside her said to spend time with this man; that he would be someone she needed…or already was.

“All right, Luis, I’ll let you take us to the ice cream parlor, if you promise not to spoil Martin too much. He has a very bad habit of begging for more than he can possibly eat.”

“Mommy, I do not!” he huffed causing both adults to laugh.

Luis grinned. “Ok, I promise not to buy him anything more than one scoop of ice cream. Deal?” His fingers were crossed behind his back, which Martin immediately noticed and smiled.

“Deal,” McKenzie grinned, accepting his hand to help her off the ground. Again she felt a tingling sensation from his touch and her eyes immediately sought his. Why did he have this power over her? What was it about him that made her feel this way?

And the memories began…

She was skating around the icy pond, her balance slightly off as she moved. The music was lively as she skated and other skaters seemed to veer away, but she barely noticed. After all, she was busy focusing on her movements and not the people around her.

“Sheridan! Sheridan!”

Someone was calling her name, trying to get her attention. They sounded panicked. Who was calling her? Looking right and left she saw him skating towards her at an accelerated pace. Something was wrong! “Luis?”

He knocked her into a snowdrift, his hands keeping her from being injured in their fall. “I had to get you,” he replied breathlessly, reaching up and brushing some snow from her face.

Their eyes met and she smiled slightly at him, wondering what he needed her for.

“It’s thin ice.”

She was surprised. “Really?”

He nodded slightly. “Yea, the sign keeps getting knocked down but everyone in town knows that you can’t skate on that part of the pond. It doesn’t freeze like the rest. You could have fallen through.”

She was touched by his concern, her eyes glowing. He seemed so sincere. “You saved my life…again,” she replied softly.

“Well…” he blushed. She couldn’t believe she made him blush.

“You did! I’m beginning to think I can’t even get through my life without you,” their eyes met again and the gaze was filled with emotions that could only reflect how much love they really had for each other, even if they hadn’t admitted it yet.

He stood up slowly his gaze never breaking hers. “Are you all right?”

She nodded. “I think so.”

He reached out, offering his hand to her and she took it, their cold, bare, skin meeting and sending shocks through their body. Again their eyes met and their love was clearly displayed.

She pulled her hand away as soon as she was standing. He had called her Sheridan this morning, she was sure of it, and now she knew his name was definitely Luis. Was it possible that he was the man in her memories? No, it couldn’t be, he was married to Beth! There was no way he was the man she kept seeing, or perhaps he was but only because he had called her Sheridan…they could have been friends before she lost her memory, that’s all.

“Shall we?” he asked.

She nodded, packing their stuff quickly before taking Martin’s hand. He looked like her son and he was in her dreams and memories. Something just wasn’t right about all of this and until she knew what he wanted and what was going on, it was going to drive her insane.

The walk to the ice cream parlor was ten minutes of pure torture, Luis wanted to take her hand, hold it in his like he did when they walked along the pier in Harmony. He wanted to behave like a real family. McKenzie, on the other hand, was still dealing with the fact that her memories finally had some names: Luis and Sheridan. Her life couldn’t have been more complicated than it was right now. What were the chances that he was *her* Luis? And why did he call her Sheridan? Matthew said her driver’s license that he found on her in the woods said McKenzie…why would Matthew lie to her?

“Mommy, we hewe!” Martin giggled, clapping his hands happily. McKenzie barely noticed that they had stopped walking right in front of her favorite ice cream shop. The plate glass window had the name Egger’s printed in big white letters and inside were red faux leather cushioned seats and stools, very fifties in style.

Luis opened the door, allowing McKenzie and Martin to enter before he did. She simply moved towards the counter where they would order, her mind trying to digest all the information she had. Sighing, she took one more look around before trying to force the memories aside.

“How did you know this was my favorite place?” she asked, looking at him.

“I didn’t, but we have a place like it back in Harmony called McFarland’s. When Diane told me about this place I knew I had to come an compare it to my favorite shop…”

She nodded, remembering something about the ice cream shop in Harmony. McFarland’s sounded so familiar! Her eyes glazed over as she attempted to remember something about the place. “They have the best hot fudge sundays at McFarland’s, but you preferred the mint chocolate chip single scoop…”

“What?” he looked at her, his eyes wide. She didn’t just remember that about McFarland’s! She couldn’t have!

“Nothing,” she shook her head. She was talking nonsense now.

“No, say it again. I need to know if you said what I think you said,” he begged, watching Martin eye some candy on a shelf.

“You like mint chocolate chip ice cream with chocolate sprinkles; it’s what your father would buy you after baseball,” she explained. “Except when you hit a home run…then he got you a banana split. I always liked the sundays…with hot fudge.”

He was amazed! That was a conversation from their past, long ago when he was her bodyguard and they went out for ice cream with Hank. She had mentioned the sundays when she was trying to remember the name of the place she visited before leaving for Paris. Then he mentioned his first home run and how Martin had spent extra money to buy him a banana split. “Yes, mint chocolate chip is my favorite…all of that is true.”

She looked up at him. “Really?”

He nodded, but before he could answer some scrawny, freckle faced teen said, “I can help who’s next.”

“Yea, we’ll have a single scoop…” he looked at Martin.

“Chocolate!” he giggled.

“Chocolate ice cream, a cookie dough hot fudge sunday with colored sprinkles,” he winked at McKenzie, “and a mint chocolate chip single scoop with chocolate sprinkles.”

“Anything else?” the kid punched the prices into the register.

“Yea, that candy bar,” he pointed to the one that Martin had been eying.

“Ok, that’s twelve even.”

“For ice cream? Luis looked surprise, but only briefly, before removing the cash from his wallet.

“Have a seat and someone will bring it over,” the kid replied, moving to fill their order.

Luis shook his head and the trio headed for a booth by the window. McKenzie fiddled with her napkin. The silence was deafening and no one spoke until the same freckle faced boy brought over their treats and some glasses of water.

“Luis?” she interrupted, watching as Martin dug into his ice cream.

“Hmm?” he looked over at her and watched her play with the cherry on the top of the sunday.

“How did you know I liked cookie dough ice cream with colored sprinkles?” she glanced at him quickly before looking away. She couldn’t stand that look in his eyes; the one that said he knew so much about her when she knew noting about him.

“Sheridan once told me that colored sprinkles ruled…” he chuckled lightly, but she could hear the pain in his voice.

She nodded. “Was Sheridan related to you?”

“My wife,” he replied sadly.

“I thought…”

“I married Beth when Sheridan disappeared…they told me she died,” his sigh was full of mourning and McKenzie regretted asking.

“Did she?” she held her breath. She had to know.

“Do you believe she did?” he asked, looking into her eyes. Could McKenzie honestly believe that she wasn’t his wife? The memories she had could only be shared with the woman he lost three years ago.

She shrugged. “I don’t know what to believe, Luis, until two days ago I was McKenzie Philips, a house wife. Today I’m having memories that cause me headaches,” she sighed. “You called me Sheridan this morning…”

“I know,” he leaned back in his seat.

“Do you…do you have a picture of her?” she asked quietly.

“I always carry her picture. I refuse to leave home without it.”

“Can I see it?” her eyes met his, begging for him to share this with her.

He was reluctant to make such a move without talking to a doctor first. After all, he didn’t want to hurt her, but perhaps it would be good for her. Therapeutic, even. Slowly, he dug out his wallet and handed it to her. With shaking hand, she removed the leather from his hand and opened it, looking down at the plastic covered photo.

She gasped.

“Oh my God!”

There she was! The woman she looked like some three years ago staring back with a bright smile on her face. The short blond hair perfectly curled and the makeup evenly applied. On her lap sat three children, a blond and two brunettes! Two girls and a boy! Three tiny tots with similar smiles, one that looked like her, one that resembled Luis and the third that could be a perfect blend of both people. Behind her he stood, his smile so bright it was blinding. His eyes filled with pride and love as he looked down at them. Their family!

“No, no this can’t be!” she dropped the wallet to the table, covering her eyes. “No! No! No!”

She groaned, her hand coming up to touch her aching head. Boy was this scene familiar! What was it about that man that gave her such a headache? She couldn’t take much more of this; the throbbing was going to kill her! “Someone put me out of my misery please,” she whispered, trying to open her eyes.

Wait just one minute! She was horizontal! How the hell did she end up horizontal if she was just eating ice cream? Something definitely was wrong with this image! Jumping up, she looked around the room. Damn it! She was in bed again! She really had to stop this passing out stuff or else someone was going to take her to the hospital! Last thing she needed was another stay in an over priced hospital where nurses continuously told her how wonderful she was doing. Right, wonderful! That’s why she couldn’t remember thirty years of her life!

Well, at least the headache was gone. That had to be the first time that happened to her ever. Who would have thought sitting up so quickly could rid her of that throbbing pain?

Sighing, she pushed herself off the bed and crossed the room to her oak vanity, looking into the mirror and trying her hardest to remember what had happened at the ice cream parlor. One minute she was talking to Luis about his wife, the one he thought had died three years ago, and then she suddenly wakes up in bed. What could have possibly happened in the interim? Closing her eyes, she forced herself to think back to her conversation there at the shop. He had showed her something…what was it? Oh Yes! He showed her that picture! The one of the blond and the children! “I look just like her,” she whispered. “Just like his wife.”

But that couldn’t be true. She was McKenzie; she had always been McKenzie. Hadn’t she? Pushing some hair behind her ears, Mac sighed. Something told her she hadn’t always been McKenzie. In fact, she probably never was McKenzie and never would be.

“But then I need to know who I was before all of this happened,” she whispered to the mirror. “I have to find out where I really belong. I wish I knew.”

“So do I,” his voice came from the door and she spun to face him.

“Luis,” she smiled. “Seems you have an overwhelming effect on my body, Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald. I’ve never fainted so much in my entire…ok in the last three years.” She blushed.

He smiled slightly. “Yea, well, I wish I could say I’m flattered, but I’m worried about you Sher…”

“Go on, call me Sheridan. I might as well face it, Luis, I’m not McKenzie, am I?” she sighed, leaning back against her vanity. “I never was McKenzie. She’s someone that was made up and I’ll never know why. I’ll never even know who made her up or why Matthew seemed so insistent I was her.”

“You’re not McKenzie to me anyway,” he stepped closer. “To me you’ve always been Sheridan. My wife…the woman I love. The rest doesn’t matter to me. I know I love you, that’s what count.”

“Matt’s never said that to me,” tears sprung to her eyes.

“What?” Luis asked, his eyes filled with confusion.

“He’s never said he loved me,” her gaze met his. “Never said he cared at all that I was his wife,” she stepped closer. “Do you mean it?”

“Forever and always. I’ve loved you since the moment I first saw you…I was just a little too prejudiced to know it,” he chuckled. Man was that an understatement.

She shook her head and looked away, bringing her arms to cross her chest. “But I’m still McKenzie Philips…still married to Matthew…”

“Still raising my son as someone else’s,” he reminded gently.

“I’d deny he was yours but he looks too much like you. Luis, I know you say I’m your wife, but I don’t remember that…I might never remember you…or our life together.”

“I’d like to take that chance, McKenzie,” he replied honestly, nearing her.

“What about Beth?” she tried to catch his eyes, but as soon as she did she looked away.

“She’s the one that told me you were here. I owe her my thanks, but she knows that she’s never had my heart…you’ve had my heart.”

“Sheridan had it, Luis. I’m not going to be the Sheridan you remember. I might never be her,” she sighed. She might never remember those three beautiful babies in the photo. She might never remember the years that she lost. And what about poor Martin? How would he handle learning that Luis was his father now?

“Like I said, I’d like to take that risk,” he neared her. “I’ll take you any way I can get you, Mac. Memories or none.”

She shook her head and sat on the bed, sighing. What was going on here? She was talking to a man that mistook her for his wife…or maybe she was his wife. Right now, McKenzie wasn’t sure what she was anymore. She was surprised to feel him kneel at her feet, his hands on her kneecaps and his eyes looking into hers.

“For three years I looked for the woman that left me one day on a plane to California and never returned. You’re her, McKenzie, whether you remember it or not.”

She nodded, looking deep into his chocolate brown eyes. The love and dedication there warmed her heart and filled her soul with such joy and peace that she could never find words to describe it. “I remembered something this afternoon…my first full memory ever.”

“What was that?” he asked, his eyes lit with excitement.

“You saved my life once while we were ice skating. I was about to skate on some thin ice…”

He smiled. “I tackled you into the snow…”

She giggled. “Yea. I told you something that day; that I was starting to believe that I couldn’t live my life without you. When I remembered it today I knew I had meant it…I guess I still mean it.”

“Then you’ll do me one favor…” he tapped her knee.

“What’s that?” she tilted her head sideways in question.

“You’ll come back to Harmony with me. You’ll leave with me and never look back for Matthew. You’ll be my wife again.” He waited on baited breath for her answer.

McKenzie didn’t know what to say to that. How could she just pack up and leave Matthew? He was still a good man; he didn’t deserve this. But how could she say no? If Luis was right, she was his wife first and her marriage to Matthew was never legal to begin with.

Sighing, she cupped his cheek with her hand. “Why don’t you stay for dinner and bring Beth? We’ll talk a little while, see if I can keep myself from passing out and then I’ll let you know afterwards whether or not I’ll leave with you. Deal?”

“Deal,” he grinned. “I love you, just remember that,” he whispered. Getting up slightly, he leaned in and kissed her cheek so gently she barely felt his lips on her skin. With that, he stood and left the room.

“I love you too, Luis,” she sighed. “I don’t know why, but I do.” Bringing her hand to her cheek, she sighed and fell back against the mattress. Lord did she love him!

McKenzie listened to the amicable chatter of Matthew, Luis and Beth that was coming from the living room. She wanted to be in there, sitting with Luis and listening to him and his fond memories of Harmony. His voice was so soothing, his tone so light when he spoke to her. It was like she had been listening to him for her entire life. She could only imagine what his voice was like in the throes of passion or when whispering sweet nothings. Well, technically she knew, she just didn’t remember. But the funniest part was how she didn’t care to be with Matthew or even that he was in the other room. All that mattered was Luis being there…

Sighing, she stirred the tomato sauce before lifting the spoon to her lips for a taste. Perfect. Now if the water would only boil she could have the spaghetti finished in no time. Unfortunately, the water seemed to have other ideas and refused to boil. What was that saying “a watched pot never boiled”?

Oh well, she’d just have to wait.

Turning down the flame under the sauce, she turned to the sink to start washing some of the dishes left in there from earlier. It wasn’t a difficult feet. In fact, it wasn’t hard at all. But her mind kept wandering, sending memories of today in the bedroom through her mind, and she almost dropped a glass three times. Finally, she managed to finish the dishes, placing that pesky glass in the drain board, and prepared to start cooking, until she was surprised by some applause behind her.

She found herself clutching the cabinet, her knuckles turning white from the force she was applying, as her mind began to play a familiar scene in her head.

“Look Luis, I did it!” she giggled, excitedly showing him the washed and dried dishes that only needed to be put away. Her hair was a mess, her clothing was soaked, but she had finally finished washing the dishes. She was glowing from her successfully completed feat.

Luis gave her a standing ovation, throwing in a whistle or two before a contagious smile lit up his entire face. “Speech! Speech!” he winked, goading her on.

She laughed, taking the stance of an award winner, using a clean dish instead of a trophy. “First I would like to thank the soap, the sponge,” she feigned a sniffle and wiped away an invisible tear, “and of course the dishes; I couldn’t have done this without any of them. Oh, and I nearly forgot the wonderful towel, who was their in the wettest of times. Thank you! I love you all!”

He laughed, walking over to her and placing his arms around her as she placed the dish back on the counter. “I love you so much, Sher.”

“I love you too, Luis,” she leaned in and kissed him. “Just not as much as I love the towel.”

He chuckled lightly and kissed her neck. “But I can do things a towel can’t…”

Damn! How she wanted to remember those things! Sighing, she turned to see who was clapping, coming face to face with Luis and his gorgeous smile.

“I offered to get some drinks for everyone,” he explained. “No one wanted anything but myself, so I thought I’d see what was happening in here.”

She nodded mutely, turning to the stove where the water was now boiling. She added the spaghetti to the water and prayed it would cook quickly. Of course she hadn’t thought about going to Harmony, but if dinner went as planned she could see how close Beth and Luis were before she decided.

“Are you all right?” he asked. He was so close she could smell his cologne and feel his breath on her neck. She wanted him to kiss her so badly right now, especially with that warm, minty breath on her neck.

“Yes,” she squeaked, eliciting a chuckle from him.

“You act as if we’re two lovers having an affair,” he shook his head. “We’re married…”

“So you say,” she pointed out, returning to her sauce.

“We are. Beth will vouch for it. She was in the bridal party,” he moved away, opening the fridge but closing it again immediately.

“No way,” McKenzie was shocked. Beth? In her wedding? Why did that seem impossible?

He simply nodded. “Better get back before they think something is going on,” he grinned. “Don’t forget to think about returning to Harmony,” he added before leaving the room without a drink, not that she bothered to point that out.

Sighing, she pushed the spaghetti into the pot, making sure that it was completely soaked in the boiling water so that it would cook. “Something is going on,” she whispered. “Something very big…”

Dinner was over and Matthew had excused himself, saying he had to turn in early to get to work in the morning. McKenzie knew that was one the biggest lie he ever told; it was only seven thirty, but she didn’t say a word and watched him leave to go to bed. Martin had fallen asleep shortly after and Luis had tucked him in bed. She wanted to deny him the chance to, but the begging in his brown eyes was impossible to turn down. Not to mention that damn pouting face. No wonder she was so helpless when it came to Martin’s whims.

Now she stood alone with him on the brick walkway outside, looking at the small white stars in the sky. She loved the night air and the bright stars that glittered on the black velvet sky. It was amazing to know that billions of them were out there and that they were huge balls of fire…yet right now they were specks in a vast range of dark bluish-black. To know that millions of people looked up at the same stars, making the same wishes. Closing her eyes, she quickly made one wish she knew was unique to heavens

‘Please let me remember.’

“So, dinner was, interesting,” Luis chuckled, interrupting her as he remembering how Beth had pouted through the entire meal and Matthew had scowled. Oh yea, interesting. Too bad those two realized just what was at stake should McKenzie ever decide to leave Staten Island.

“Yea,” she sighed. “Interesting.” Right.

“Look, Sher…” he was going to try and ease her mind.

“Don’t say it, Luis. I know what you’re thinking. I promise to give you and answer and I will.” She looked over at him finding it hard to even speak when he looked so damn good in jeans and a t-shirt.

“You will?” he looked surprised.

“Yes.” Taking a deep breath she continued. “I was watching you with Beth and I can tell she has very deep feelings for you, but they aren’t the love I could see in your eyes when you spoke to me. I’m sure I’ll remember more things in time, slowly but surely; but if you’re not here, I know I’ll never remember. I want to remember, Luis. I desperately want to remember.”

“So?” he waited, his voice filled with anticipation. Was she going or staying?

“So,” she smiled, moving closer to him. “I’m going to ask Matthew to annul our marriage and I will return with you to Harmony, Luis. Your son and I will return to Harmony with you!”

He swept her into his arms, lifting her from the ground and spinning. He laughed, laughed so hard that tears came to his eyes. She was coming home! Sheridan was coming home. He had never been happier in his life.

Stopping the spin, he leaned in and kissed her for the first time. Not hard, not passionately, but a kiss. She didn’t pull away; instead, she continued kissing him with light, delicate strokes. This felt so right and the heat that flowed through her veins reminded her just how true this was…just how much she belonged in his arms.

From the doorway, Beth watched as two very happy people laughed and smiled and then KISSED in the front yard. She glowered, her body rigid with anger. McKenzie would not return home, now or ever. Tomorrow she would speak to Matt about proving his love to Mac and then she would show Luis that Matt and McKenzie were happy together and *belonged* together. She had worked too hard and been paid too much to keep them apart. Damn her for being here when she was supposed to be far away with Matthew and damn Luis for making her remember.

“Doesn’t matter, princess,” Beth grumbled. “You won’t be taking Luis away from me this time…”

Part Two