Unjust Suspicions
Chapter 11:
Sheridan was leaning over the railing, staring down at the shore below. It
was littered with huge rocks and the waves were crashing violently against
them. Sheridan could imagine falling through the air, down onto the rocks...
then the feelings would drain out of her body and her heart would be numb and
painfree...
Sheridan suddenly realized what she was doing and she gasped, pulling back
from the railing. "What are you thinking?" She whispered to herself. "Things
aren't that bad!" Her heart thudded in her chest, as though it were trying
to argue the statement.
She wrapped her arms around herself and walked slowly away from the
overlook... telling herself that it was just a momentary lapse in her sanity.
She would never have really done it, she told herself firmly. But there was a
niggling of doubt in the back of her mind... perhaps she would've. Given her
current state of mind anything was possible.
Right that moment she made a decision. She was never going to let anyone hurt
her again. When the pain bubbled up in her heart she forced herself to
squelch it. She didn't need Luis... she didn't need anybody. From now on she
was going to be just like her brother and father... cold and selfish. All
these years she'd tried to avoid being anything like her family and where had
it gotten her? She was alone and miserable. Julian seemed to be relatively
happy living his life day to day, not caring who he stepped on or who he
harmed. She could do that... live for herself and to hell with the world.
The
world had never been good to her, so why continue to try and do good for it?
It was a good plan... a plan that she would stick to... but beginning the
plan would have to wait, because Theresa was running across the park towards
her. Despite herself, her heart lurched and she wondered if Luis was worse.
"Sheridan! I'm glad I found you. Mama wants you to come back to the
hospital." "Why? Beth is there now." Sheridan replied.
Theresa looked
confused, "So what? Luis needs you Sheridan, not Beth." Sheridan was
surprised... Beth obviously hadn't told them about the baby... " Theresa, I
don't think..." Theresa interupted, "Please Sheridan! You're the one Luis
needs... Mama and I know that you're the one who can get him to wake up...
please?"
Sheridan tried to harden her heart, but the pleading in Theresa's eyes was
her undoing. She sighed. "Alright Theresa." She'd lived with the pain this
long, surely she could handle it just a little longer.
The next few days went by slowly for Sheridan. She spent practically every
moment at the hospital, either comforting Pilar or sitting beside Luis.
There had still been no signs of him coming out of the coma, and according to
Eve Russell every day that he remained unconscious lessened the chances that
he would be alright. Day after day Sheridan held his hand and talked to him.
She talked about the youth center and how the kids were calling and sending
him cards. Some of them had come to the hospital, and even though they hadn't
been allowed in the room they stood by the window and hoped for his recovery.
Sheridan relayed all their messages, hoping that he could hear her.
When she ran out of things to talk about she read things to him... the
newspaper, sports magazines, whatever was handy. Eve told them he could
probably hear them and it was good to keep talking to him. So Sheridan talked
and read until her voice was hoarse and then Pilar, Miguel or Theresa would
come in and do the same.
Theresa was reading him a romance novel. That made Sheridan smile every time
she saw it resting on the bedside table. She could just imagine what Luis
would think of being read such a thing. He was probably laughing inside the
whole time.
The days stretched into a week and in that time Sheridan only saw Beth once.
She couldn't help but wonder why Beth was staying away and why she hadn't
told Luis' family about the baby. If Sheridan were the one carrying Luis'
baby she would have been right at his side and shouting the news from the
rooftop of the hospital for all of Harmony to hear. But she wasn't carrying
his baby... she could only imagine why Beth wasn't there...
One day Sheridan was there, reading from a sports magazine... some
insufferable story about football, which was confusing the hell out of her.
But she read on, knowing how much he loved football and knowing he'd be
reading the article himself if he could.
The first time it happened Sheridan thought she imagined it... then she saw
it again. His hand moved! Her heart was doing little flip flops and she
dropped the magazine and leaned forward, "Luis?" She grasped his hand and
felt his fingers flutter in hers.
"Luis, can you hear me? Open your eyes
Luis..." His eyelids moved and she dropped his hand, flying to the door.
"Pilar! Theresa! Miguel! He's coming out of it!" The family crowded into the
room, followed closely by Eve and Sheridan stood back by the door.
It was over... Luis was awake and she just knew he would be alright. Now she
could leave... leave and start her new life. Her life that revolved around
herself... where she needed nobody and expected nothing. She turned and
walked away, moving slowly down the hallway.
She didn't look back, because
she knew that if she did she'd never have the strength to start walking
again. Hopefully she would never have to see Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald again. She
knew that was unlikely in a town the size of Harmony, so she would leave.
This time she wouldn't go to Paris though... she would go someplace new...
where nobody knew her and nobody would bother her. The more she thought about
it the more she liked the idea. She would cut ties with her family and leave.
She had her huge trust fund from her mother and she could live in anonymity
anywhere in the world. She made up her mind right then... she would do it.
She would just disappear and nobody would find her... not her family, not the
over-persistant Hank Bennett and certainly not Luis. She laughed, a harsh
barking noise, as if he would even look for her. No, he would settle into his
life with Beth... they would have their baby and a few more too probably.
They would be happy in their life... the life that should have been hers.
Sheridan would settle into her own life... in some big city where she would
go unnoticed. She would be just another face in the crowd and nobody would
care about her and she would care about nobody. It was as easy as that. She
went to her cottage and began to make plans. The arrangements were easier to
accomplish than she'd expected... she would be able to leave that very
night...
Luis was groggy, but awake. His family was gathered around him, overjoyed and
all talking at once. He was glad to see them, but his gaze moved unsteadily
around the room, looking for someone else. Where was she? He knew he'd heard
her voice. "Sheridan?" He sounded strange, all garbled and confused, even to
his own ears. "Where's Sheridan?" Pilar looked around, surprised she
wasn't there. "I think she stepped out into the hall... I will find her
Luis." Pilar went to the hall and the waiting area but couldn't find her
anywhere. She went back to Luis.
"Where is she Mama? Where's Sheridan?" "I don't know Luis, but she will be
back. She's been here everyday since you've been hurt." Pilar explained.
"Yeah Luis," Theresa added, "She never left you... she's been sitting here
reading and talking to you the whole time. She'll be right back... I know
it." Luis gave a weak smile. He couldn't wait to see her... she must have
forgiven him for whatever he did to her. When she got back everything would
be perfect.
A woman got on a plane at the Harmony airport and settled into her seat. Her
ticket told the world that her name was Angela Baker... at that moment
Sheridan Crane ceased to exist and Angela hoped it would stay that way.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 12:
Luis had been awake for a full day and he was beginning to feel like his old
self. He scowled at Theresa when she walked into his room. "Where is she?
Did you find her?" He was, of course, talking about Sheridan. He couldn't
understand it... she had apparently sat by his side for a week, and now that
he was awake she was gone?
"No Luis, I didn't find her. I've been calling her cottage and cell phone all
morning. I called the mansion too, but nobody knows where she is." Theresa
sat gently on the edge of the bed and tried to smile cheerfully. "She'll be
here Luis... she wouldn't just disappear." "Well, it seems like she has...
why can't anybody find her?" Luis was frustrated... and worried. What if they
had missed some of those drug cartel guys and they had come after her again?
What if she had an accident and she was lying somewhere hurt?
Luis struggled to sit up and swung his legs off the bed. The pain in his
chest made him groan, but he continued trying to get out of bed. "Luis!"
Theresa said, "What are you doing?" "I gotta find her..." Luis grunted.
"You can't get out of bed yet... Luis, you're gonna rip your stitches or
something!" Luis didn't care... but his body was weak and he fell back
onto the bed.
"Fine Theresa... but you go to Sam... I want her found today! Go now."
"Alright Luis, I'll go talk to him. I'm sure she's fine though..." Theresa
picked up her purse and kissed his cheek. "I'll be back later." Luis
watched Theresa leave and leaned back against the pillows. He cursed his
injury and lay there thinking one horrible thought after another.
He envisioned Sheridan in a multitude of situations, each one worse than the
one before it, and here he was, laid up in bed helpless to protect her. He
knew there was something wrong... it wasn't like her to disappear without
telling anyone. Especially Ethan. Luis reached for the phone...
Ethan came into the hospital room and hesitated at the door. His past
encounters with Luis had been, for the most part, unpleasant and he wasn't
too hopeful about this one being any different. Luis looked up from the
magazine he was looking at and flung it to the side. "Did you find her?" he
asked anxiously.
"No," Ethan said, coming closer to the bed. Luis indicated the chair and
Ethan sat down. "But after you called I went to the cottage and I did find a
note though..." "A note?" Luis sat up straighter. "What kind of note?"
Ethan didn't answer, just handed Luis a folded sheet of paper.
Luis held it, feeling a connection to her. It was her personal stationery...
pale lilac and scented with her perfume. He unfolded it and read the words
it contained...
Dear Ethan
I am leaving Harmony for good. Too much has happened here
and I need to get some distance. Don't bother looking for me
because you won't find me. I've closed out my bank accounts
and assumed a new identity. I will find a way to let you know
I'm alright from time to time. Give everyone my love and try to
understand that this is for the best. Always know how much I love
you and you will always be in my heart.
Sheridan.
Luis let the paper fall silently through his fingers onto the bed. He felt
pain worse than any that had resulted from his shooting. He thought his chest
was going to split right open. He looked over at Ethan... "It's because of me
that she left isn't it?" Ethan had no knowledge of what had transpired
between them, and Gwen hadn't mentioned Beth or the baby to him. So Ethan
simply shrugged. "I don't know Luis... she's been here every day sitting with
you... I thought you two had patched everything up?"
Luis sighed. "We did... but then something else happened." Ethan wasn't
surprised... their relationship always worked the same way. "What happened?"
Luis shook his head. "Damned if I know. Near as I can tell she was mad
because I was late for our date."
Ethan frowned. "That doesn't sound like Sheridan at all. She doesn't get
upset over things like that." "That's what I thought," Luis agreed. "Do
you think she means it? That she really intends to stay away forever?"
"It sounds like it Luis," Ethan replied. "You have to find her... surely
you know where she went? At least some ideas? Right?"
Ethan nodded. "Yes, there are some places I can look, but if she's changed
her name it won't be easy." Luis swore and scowled. "Damn it! If I wasn't
stuck in this bed..." "You'll be out soon enough," Ethan said. "Meanwhile
I'll get busy doing what I can. With any luck I'll have found her by
tomorrow."
Luis nodded... there wasn't much else he could do. "Yeah, thanks Ethan. Let
me know what you find out."
"I will." Ethan shook his hand and left. Luis tried to think positive
thoughts, but it was hard. Sheridan was gone... out there somewhere... alone.
The number of places she could be was mind boggling. She could literally be
anywhere in the world... using any name... it would be like finding a needle
in a haystack. Scratch that... it would be like finding one grain of sand on
the bottom of the ocean.
Hopelessness and helplessness washed over Luis like a wave. They were quickly
followed by emptiness and despair. What was he going to do without her? He
loved her and he knew that there was no other woman in the world for him.
Without her he would be alone for the rest of his life.
Angela Baker let herself into the hotel room she'd just acquired and dropped
her suitcase on the floor. She flung her body down on the bed and sighed
deeply. The flight had been long and the cab ride to the hotel was a series
of stops and starts in one block intervals. Leave it to her to arrive in
Seattle during rush hour.
As she lay there she asked herself for the millionth time if she was doing
the right thing. She weighed the options she'd had once again.
Stay in Harmony where she was unloved and watch Luis begin his life with Beth
while she remained alone. She would sit around the mansion while Julian and
her father reminded her of what a failure she was. Perhaps she would go on a
few dates... men from the country club eager to pad their already impressive
holdings with a chip of the Crane empire. Men who would look at her and see
only doller signs and perhaps a good time.
Certainly they wouldn't see
someone to love, to build a relationship with. No, Sheridan Crane wasn't that
kind of girl. She was someone to be used and thrown away, like a tissue.
Then there was option number two... leave Harmony, but allow her family to
know where she was. Retaining her name and therefore encouraging a different
lot of men from a different country club. They would all have the same goals
though... acquire the Crane holdings and power through her. On top of this,
father and Julian would continue to harass her over every little thing she
did, accusing her of sullying the family name and continuing to tell her how
hopeless and worthless she was.
No, this was the only feasible option. She might be alone, but she wouldn't
be lonely. She would make friends... ones that were interested in her and not
her bank account or her name. She would build a life independent from the
Cranes and she might even be happy eventually.
She knew she would never marry though. She wouldn't, couldn't marry for
anything but true love and she knew she would never find that again. She
would always love Luis no matter how long she lived. She would never forget
what they could've had. She would survive though. She would manage to build a
new life and get through the days one at a time until thoughts of Harmony and
Luis no longer brought forth the pain she felt now.
"Lord, give me the strength to do it... I really don't know how I'll manage."
She whispered as a tear dripped down her cheek. It was soon followed by many
more and Angela Baker fell asleep, the first night of her new life, crying
and wishing she had jumped off the overlook railing that night last week.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 13:
Luis was released from the hospital three days after Sheridan disappeared,
and not a moment too soon as far as he was concerned. Despite the fact that
Eve had made him promise to get plenty of rest he planned to begin his search
for Sheridan immediately. "Stop at the station before we go home," he said
on the way from the hospital. Theresa glanced over from her place behind the
wheel of his jeep. "You told Dr. Russell you were going to take it easy Luis.
I'm taking you home."
Luis scowled. "I'll just get back in the jeep and come myself then. Theresa,
I have to find her. I can't just sit around on my hands here." Theresa
sighed. "Alright Luis, but just for a few minutes. Promise?" Luis nodded.
"Yeah, I just want to talk to Sam and the guys... see if there are any
leads."
Theresa nodded and Luis relaxed in the seat. The thought of Sheridan alone...
somewhere... well it tore him up inside. Especially knowing that it was
somehow his fault. He wondered why she had spent all the time at his bedside.
Did she still love him or had she been there simply for Pilar's sake? He
needed some answers, that was for sure. There was no way he could get on with
his life until he found her and knew for sure whether there was a chance for
them to be together.
If she truly didn't love him then he would come home and find a way to deal
with it. But if she still loved him... even just a little... he would bring
her home and make sure that they worked things out. But first he had to find
her.
He walked into the station, Theresa hovering with concern nearby, and his
colleagues gathered around him welcoming him back. He managed to joke around
with them a few minutes, but then he excused himself and headed for Sam's
desk. Sam was on the phone and he smiled and held up a finger to Luis,
indicating that he was almost done. Luis sank into a chair and drummed his
fingers impatiently on the corner of Sam's desk.
Sam sighed indulgently as he hung up the phone. "Aren't you supposed to be in
bed somewhere?" Luis shrugged, forgetting about his injury until the
action caused a ripple of pain. "I can't Sam, I have to find her." Sam
nodded, "I know. I'm trying Luis, but there just aren't any leads. It's like
she just dropped off the face of the earth. With the kind of money Sheridan
has it's possible to just disappear without a trace and never be found."
Luis stood and planted his hands on Sam's desk, scowling down at his boss
and friend. "Well I won't accept that Sam! I won't rest until I find her!"
Sam looked at the determination on the man's face and nodded. "I know... and
I'll continue to do what ever I can. Ethan has already made it official by
declaring her a missing person." Luis looked confused. "How can it be
official? She isn't missing if she left a note."
Sam smiled a little."That note seemed a little suspicious to me and Ethan."
Luis smiled back, knowing that Sam was simply overlooking the fact that the
note was obviously written by Sheridan. There was no foul play involved in
Sheridan's disappearance and they both knew it. "Thanks Sam... I appreciate
the help. So... what have you done so far?"
Sam pulled out the file he'd started on Sheridan and tossed it on the desk.
"We've done a search on her name... looking for reservations, tickets, credit
card usage.... nothing. We've also done the same thing with various
combinations of her name, her mother's maiden name, her middle name....
nothing. We've distributed her picture."
Luis frowned. "Well, she didn't just walk out of Harmony. Her car is still
here. That means she had to either rent a car or leave on the bus, train or
plane. All we have to do is find out what name she used to do it."
"Is that all?" Sam asked with discouragement, thinking about the fact that
there was a 48 hour window of time in which she could've left. That, coupled
with the amount of cars rented, and buses, trains and planes out of
Harmony... it was an immense task.
Luis sighed. I know it's a big job, but I've got plenty of time. It's not
like I'll be coming to work anytime soon." At least a month according to
Eve. "If you can get me the passenger lists I'll borrow Theresa's laptop and
work at it at home." Sam nodded, "Yeah, I'll get them to you by tonight
Luis. But right now you'd better let Theresa take you home... you look like
hell."
Luis offered him a small grin. "It's great to see you too Sam. But you're
right... I don't know how I look, but I feel like hell." He offered Sam his
hand and Sam promised to get the lists to him as soon as possible. Luis went
to Theresa, who was gazing out the window as though she were on another
planet. He peered over her shoulder at the street, to see what had captured
her attention. There was nothing out there... a few people he didn't know,
and, just coming out of the shop across the street, Ethan Crane. Luis figured
Theresa must just be daydreaming because there was certainly nothing outside
the window to warrant her rapt attention. "Theresa? Are you ready to go
home?" "Huh? Oh, Luis. Yeah, I'm ready." She followed him out to the jeep,
hoping he hadn't seen her staring at Ethan.
Once in the jeep she glanced at him, "So, is there any news about Sheridan?"
"No. But at least there's something I can work on. Sam's going to bring me
the passenger lists out of Harmony. If I can use your laptop I can start
tracing them, one by one." Theresa looked at him sympathetically. "That
sounds like a long, slow job Luis, but of course you can use my computer.
It's yours as long as you need it." "Thanks Theresa. This has to work..."
his voice drifted off as his thoughts turned to Sheridan. They drove by the
pool hall and he remembered the night they'd gone there.
He'd meant the
visit to be a test of sorts... certain that she'd fail... amazed when she
didn't. She'd fit in with his friends better than he'd ever imagined,
charming them all with her gentle wit and kind heart. Not to mention her
proficiency at darts. He smiled now, as he remembered the way she'd blushed
when everyone had cheered after she'd beaten Mac. He sighed out loud, causing
Theresa to glance over. She didn't say anything, just smiled sadly at him. He
remembered the last time he was in the pool hall. It was a couple nights
before his accident... the night before the date he'd planned with Sheridan.
Mac had asked him when he was bringing his beautiful lady back for a rematch.
Luis had grinned and promised they'd come soon, not knowing Sheridan was
going to blow up at him yet again. Now he wondered if he'd ever get the
chance to bring her back to the pool hall... or anywhere else for that matter.
The next day Luis shoved Theresa's laptop away from him and ran his hands
through his hair in frustration. He'd been working away at this for 7 hours
straight and he was barely making any headway. He'd never realized how time
consuming it was to track people down. It was going to take him days to get
through the lists... maybe weeks. And even then there was no guarantee that
he'd get a lead. Sam had been right... with the kind of money Sheridan had
the possibilities were endless. She could have an identity created for her...
one that would appear on paper trails wherever he looked, proving that she'd
existed for 26 years. All he could do was hope that she'd made a mistake that
he could catch.
She'd done a good job. Almost a week of plugging away at the computer and
he'd found nothing. As the last name on the list scrolled over his screen and
he stared at the photo of the woman he'd never seen before he cursed and
pounded the table. A week wasted and he was no closer to finding her than he
had been lying in the damn hospital bed. He had to get out of the house... he
wasn't giving up, but he needed some time to think and figure out what to do
next.
A half hour later he walked into the Book Cafe. There was no sign of Beth,
but Chad was working behind the counter. Luis ordered a coffee and tried not
to notice the way Chad looked at him. It was the same look everybody gave him
these days... a mixture of compassion and pity. It seemed like the whole town
knew that he was losing his mind and he hated it.
He took the coffee and moved to a table in the corner. He glanced around the
room and he saw Gwen. He looked into her face, expecting 'the look' , but
instead he found resentment and anger. As he stared at her she stood and
approached his table, sitting across from him, without waiting for an
invitation. "I hope you're happy with yourself Luis!" Bitterness dripped off
her tongue.
"What?" "Ethan is miserable, Pilar is miserable, I'm miserable and it's
all your fault. You drove Sheridan away!" Luis sighed. "If I drove her
away I don't know how. I can't believe she left just because I was late for
our date." Gwen looked at him, her eyes sliding over him the way one
would look at something disgusting on the bottom of their shoe. "You don't
know that Sheridan knows do you?" Gwen shook her head. "You didn't even have
the decency to tell her about the baby!"
"The baby?" Luis scrambled to make sense of the conversation. "You mean
Beth's baby? I tried to talk to her about it, but she didn't want to listen."
"Of course she didn't! She already knew about it Luis!" "Okay, but
I don't know why she got so upset." The look Gwen gave him would've
frozen hell. "You think she'd get a laugh out of hearing about your baby?"
"My baby? What are you talking about?" "Quit playing games Luis. She saw
you here making out with Beth. It's obvious you're the baby's father."
"Making out with Beth? What are you talking about?"
"She saw you Luis...
right here. You carried Beth to the couch and started making out with her."
Suddenly Luis knew what Gwen was referring to. "The day of our date... I
wasn't making out with Beth. She passed out and I carried her to the couch to
lay her down. The morning sickness was making her dizzy." "Big deal! So
you weren't making out with her then, but it's obvious you were making out
in the recent past." "It is? But we haven't..." "The baby Luis! Or
are you going to claim an immaculate conception?" "I'm not the baby's
father... Hank is." Luis watched as the statement sunk into Gwen's mind.
"Hank is the father?" Luis looked at Gwen earnestly, "I haven't slept
with Beth for more than three years... long before I even met Sheridan. Since
I met her... I haven't wanted anybody else Gwen. Do you know where she is?"
Gwen shook her head. Once again it seemed that a misunderstanding had ruined
Sheridan and Luis' relationship and she felt terrible. If she'd known where
Sheridan was she would've told Luis in a minute. She had no doubt that he was
telling her the truth. The look in his eyes said it all.
He loved Sheridan
more than anything in the world. "If I knew I would tell you, but I don't."
She reached over and placed her hand on his. "I'm sorry Luis... so sorry."
Luis was sorry too. Sorry that he hadn't seen the pain in Sheridan's eyes
that day and known there was more to it than upset over a late date. He
should have pressured her to talk to him... there was so much he could've
done... and now it might be too late.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 14:
The days drifted into weeks and the weeks into months and gradually everybody
gave up the search for Sheridan. Everybody, that is, except Luis. Not a day
went by that he didn't spend hours on the computer and telephone, trying
every possible thing he could think of to find her. He was a man obsessed and
people were really starting to worry about him. His job, his home life, his
health... they were all suffering because of his urgent need to find her.
He wasn't sleeping much and he was only eating when someone reminded him and
put food in front of him. He looked pale and his face was starting to get
thin. Everytime he walked into a room now people stopped talking and stared.
He was miserable and it showed.
Sheridan had promised in her note that she would let Ethan know she was
alright, and from time to time the Harmony Herald printed a personal ad from
her. The ads were mailed into the paper, along with payment, from post
offices all over the United States and as of yet they'd been untraceable.
The ads were very simple... saying only that Sheridan was well, and nobody
should worry. Well, everyone did worry, but they all resigned themselves to
the fact that she might never be found. Luis scanned the paper daily and
collected the ads in a little stack on his dresser.
Luis looked through the morning paper... pretending for Mama and Theresa's
sake to be reading it. In reality he was just making an effort to appear
normal, when he really wanted to flip directly to the personal section. It
was time for another ad any day now. Then Mama went off to work and Theresa
left the room to phone Whitney and he turned to the ad section. There it was,
at the bottom of the second column...
Dear Ethan,
I am well and, as usual I miss you terribly. Give
my love to those who care...
Sheridan
As usual there were no hints or clues to her whereabouts and Luis had long
since given up harassing the people at the Herald for information. They had
promised that if any of the ads ever came from the same place twice they
would contact Luis. Not that it would matter... Luis knew that Sheridan would
never be foolish enough to send the ad from anyplace she actually was.
Luis sighed and went to find the laptop. He brought it into the kitchen and
plugged it into the phone jack, going online. Every day he did this... and he
pulled up the list of papers he'd sent his ad to. Chicago... he hadn't sent
one there yet. He sent the ad and his credit card number to the Chicago
Tribune and signed off. He closed the laptop and leaned back in his chair.
It had to work... one day she would see his ad. He just hoped that she would
respond to it instead of crumpling it up into a ball and setting fire to it.
Thousands of miles away, just outside of Seattle, in the town of Port
Orchard, Angela Baker was starting her day. She'd intended to stay in the
city, but now after living in the small town for a couple months she was so
glad she'd changed her mind. She climbed out of bed and gathered up the
little cat that was winding its way around her legs. "Good morning Snowy."
She nuzzled the white cats fur. The name wasn't very imaginative, but as a
child she'd always wanted a white cat to name Snowball. Now she had one.
She set the cat on the floor and wandered through her rambling house to the
kitchen where her coffee was already waiting in the machine. She poured her
coffee and stepped out onto the patio to drink it. Snowy followed her out and
skittered down the steps to chase a butterfly in the garden. Angela smiled as
she watched her pet's antics.
She used the time on the patio to reflect on her life. She had this lovely
house and garden, her pet, many new friends and a job she enjoyed in the
towns library. She was happy... wasn't she? Most times she would answer yes,
if asked that question, but in the morning on her patio and late at night in
bed the answers would be different.
She missed Harmony. She hadn't lived there all that long, but it was home to
her and she missed it. She missed Ethan, Pilar, Gwen, Ivy... and even Julian
a little. But most of all she missed Luis. She missed him day and night, and
even here, so far away, everything reminded her of him. She no longer ate ice
cream or listened to tango music. She couldn't pass a pool hall or a pub
without thinking of him. The very mention of the cities of Boston, Paris and
Santa Fe brought tears to her eyes.
To the town of Port Orchard she was Angela Baker...a happy, friendly,
slightly secretive woman that everybody liked. Inside she was still Sheridan
Crane... sad, lonely and afraid that she'd never be normal. She'd been sure
that once she was somewhere where nobody knew her she would be happy. What a
joke! Granted, she wasn't quite as miserable as she'd been in Harmony, but it
wasn't much better.
A soft thud from the front of the house stirred her from her reflections and
she drained her coffee mug and went back in the house. The thud, she knew
from experience, was the Seattle Times hitting the front door as the
papergirl flung it onto the porch. Angela read the paper cover to cover every
morning before she went in to the library. It was a habit she'd gotten into
while working at the Youth Center with Luis. He always read the Harmony
Herald in its entirety each day and she'd often sat in the office with him
reading the sections as he finished them.
This morning Angela wondered what Luis was doing. Of course it was late
morning in Harmony, so he would be long done with the paper. He was probably
at the station, joking with the other officers and scarfing down coffee and
donuts. One thing was for sure... he wasn't thinking about her. She had no
doubt that Sheridan Crane was pretty much a distant memory in Harmony.
Probably the only person who even thought of her at all was Ethan.
Luis was probably living with Beth by now. Beth would be about five or six
months pregnant, and getting big. Getting big with Luis' baby.... Angela
mentally berated herself and wiped a lone tear from her eye. "Stop it! You've
got to get over him! He belongs to Beth now... actually he always did."
She thought about the woman she worked with at the library, Kelly. Kelly had
a brother that she wanted Angela to meet. Up until now she'd managed to
convince Kelly that she wasn't interested in dating, but perhaps it was time.
She knew she'd never forget Luis or stop loving him, but maybe this man could
help ease her pain a little.
Three days later Angela sat across the table from Chris Rathborne. He was
good looking, and well dressed. He was witty and charming and polite. He was
attentive to her and he didn't spend the evening talking about himself. All
of these traits combined to make him the perfect date. So why was she
miserable? She smiled at his jokes and listened as he told her about his job
and family, but inside she was counting the seconds until she could feasibly
ask him to take her home.
Angela felt bad, because Chris really was a great guy and she should've been
having a wonderful time with him. She just couldn't stop comparing the man to
Luis in her mind. The guy didn't even have a chance... he couldn't live up to
Luis in any way. The only thing he might have beaten Luis in was loyalty, but
she wouldn't know him long enough to find out about that. Ten minutes into
the date she decided it was their first and last date.
Chris was simply too nice a guy for her to string along while she pretended
that she was ever going to get over Luis. Angela would not be dating anybody
again. She would spend her days at the library, smiling at the patrons and
reading to pre-schoolers and she'd spend her evenings and nights at home,
reading with her cat.
It wasn't a bad life...
To Be Continued...
Chapter 15:
Angela got up late on Sunday morning. She hadn't slept well at all and she
was still tired. There had been a thunder storm during the night and they
always unnerved her a little. Snowy trailed her to the kitchen, making it
very plain how she felt about a late breakfast. "Snowy... I hear you
sweetie... hang on." She fed the cat and poured her coffee before going to
get the paper. The Sunday paper was extra thick and she decided to make
breakfast halfway through reading it.
She made herself scrambled eggs and bacon. She'd become quite a good cook,
out of necessity, but she still liked scrambled eggs... at one time that had
been all she'd known how to cook. She smiled wistfully as she stirred them,
remembering the day Luis had informed her that scrambling eggs wasn't
cooking... that it was an accident. A tear gathered in the corner of her eye
at the thought of Luis and she wiped it away angrily... forcing herself to
think about Beth and the baby... hardening her heart just a little. She got
her breakfast cooked and went back to the paper. The classifieds were next...
she didn't read all the ads of course... she wasn't in the market for a new
house or car after all, but she did read the personals. She found them
amusing.
She chuckled now, as she read an ad from a man looking for a lady... his only
requisite was that she be willing to bait his hooks on fishing trips. Angela
had a suspicion that there was a sexual metaphor in there somewhere, but she
wasn't that familiar with the fishing terms he used so she wasn't sure.
She read on to the next ad and her breath caught in her throat. Her arm froze
halfway to her mouth with a fork full of eggs. She dropped the fork, sending
it clattering to the floor, the eggs landing on Snowy's head. The cat gave
her an indignant look and wandered away in a huff, but Angela didn't notice.
The ad she was looking at held all her attention. She drew a shaky breath and
read it again:
Desperately seeking Sheridan:
If you see this ad please come home.
I know we've had some misunderstandings
but I love you and we can work it out.
Love Luis.
Angela read the ad a third time, although this time the words were blurred by
the tears flowing from her eyes, down her face. At first her heart soared
with hope... he loved her and they could work things out! She desperately
wanted to believe that, but her head suddenly gave her heart a good whack and
she came to her senses. What was she thinking? This ad didn't change
anything.
So Luis claimed to love her... it was nice, but it didn't change the fact
that he'd been cheating on her with Beth and that they'd created a baby
together. Luis was and always would be a user and there was no way she would
end up being used again. She was no longer Sheridan Crane, the woman who
simply rolled over and accepted the fact that she was born to be used. No...
she was Angela Baker now... and Angela Baker was used by no one!
She folded up the paper and tossed it into the trash can, wiping the tears
from her eyes. She was halfway to her bedroom, intending to dress, when she
stopped. Shaking her head, she went back to the trash can and pulled out the
paper. She tore out the ad from Luis and returned the rest of the paper to
the trash. Okay, so Sheridan Crane wasn't entirely gone... the part that
still loved Luis remained and that little part couldn't allow this minute
link to him be thrown away.
Angela went to her bedroom and sank onto the bed. she reached over and opened
the drawer of her bedside table. There, inside, was her little shrine to
Luis. The compact he'd given her rested on top of several other things she'd
saved. There were a couple newspaper clippings she'd hoarded, from the
various times he'd saved her life back in Harmony. There was a dried rose
that he'd given her in Paris. To this meagre little pile she added the
clipping from today's paper and closed the drawer slowly.
Lying back on the bed she wondered if she would ever be able to bring herself
to throw away the things in the drawer. She smiled sadly. She would never
throw away the compact. Even though it now resided in the drawer, never to be
used again, it remained her most prized possession. She remembered the day
he'd given it to her like it was yesterday. He'd seemed so nervous... so
afraid she wouldn't like it because it wasn't an antique like the one he'd
broken. Little did he know that she'd have loved it and treasured it even if
it had been made from plastic. No gift she'd ever been given had been chosen
with such thought or given with such sincerity and she would never again
receive one that would mean as much to her.
"Oh Luis..." she whispered to herself, "Why couldn't you have been the man I
thought you were? Why? We could've had everything together..."
Luis spent sunday afternoon mowing the lawn and then helping Theresa weed the
flower beds. He knelt on the ground beside his sister, pulling out weeds
without even seeing them. "Uhh... Luis?" Theresa murmured. "Huh? What?"
Theresa pointed to the petunia that now rested on the weed pile. "We're
supposed to pull up the weeds... not the flowers." "Oh... yeah." Luis
looked a bit sheepish as he replanted the flower and proceeded with the
weeding.
Theresa watched her brother with concern. "Luis... you need to snap out of
this. Sheridan isn't coming back. It's time you faced facts and got on with
your life." "I can't Theresa... I can't just let it go. I love her and
she's the only woman I'll ever love."
"There will be other women Luis... really there will. Sheridan... well, she
isn't the woman you thought she was or she wouldn't have disappeared like
that." Luis looked at Theresa and frowned. "It's not like that Theresa.
I've never told you, but I found out why she really left. It was a stupid
misunderstanding... one that really hurt her." He went on to explain about
what he'd learned from Gwen and about Beth's baby and how all of it had led
to Sheridan's disappearance.
"So," he said after he was through, "It's not
Sheridan's fault really. Who could blame her for running after what she
thought?" "Well, she could've hung around to find out the truth." Theresa
said disdainfully. "Yeah... well it doesn't matter... I'll never give up on
finding her... never." Luis stood and wiped off his jeans. "Listen
Theresa... I don't feel like weeding right now. Leave it and I'll finish it
later, okay?"
"Okay Luis. Where are you going?" "Just for a walk... I won't be long."
Luis wandered away, headed in the direction of the park. Theresa watched him
until he was out of sight and then she went into the house. She changed from
her gardening clothes and grabbed her purse and the keys to Luis' jeep. She
had to speak to Ethan. She had an idea that she didn't think anyone had
thought of yet.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 16:
Theresa parked Luis' jeep outside the Crane mansion and went in search of
Ethan. She had an idea and she knew that Ethan would be the best person to
help her, having known Sheridan so well when they were young. She found Ethan
in the living room poring over some papers, and she burst into the room.
"Ethan! There you are! I need your help with something." Ethan glanced up
from the papers and frowned. "I'm kind of busy Theresa... can it wait?"
"I guess it can... but it's about Sheridan." Ethan perked up, his interest
in the papers forgotten. "Have you heard from her? Is she back?" he asked
eagerly.
"No, we haven't heard from her. Only the ads in the paper, the same as
everyone else. Luis saves them all in a little pile on his desk..." Theresa's
voice trailed off sadly. "But I thought of something that may help. I hope
it will give us a hint or something." Theresa plopped down beside Ethan on
the sofa, and grinned with excitement. "I was thinking about how Sheridan
just started a new life, changing her name and all. Well, I thought about
what name I would choose to use and I figured I would use a name that I liked
when I was a little girl. Whitney and I used to play pretend and I always
pretended my name was Aurora... anyway, that's the name I would pick. I had
this thought... what if Sheridan did the same thing?"
Ethan's eyes widened and he smiled broadly. "We used to play pretend games
like that too. There was a name that Sheridan liked... it was from a book she
used to read over and over. I can't remember the name she used though..." his
voice trailed off as he furrowed his brow in concentration. "I can't think
of it. You know what though? A lot of Sheridan's books and toys are in the
room she had as a child... maybe I can find the book!"
He jumped up from the sofa and grabbed Theresa's hand, towing her along.
"Come on! Let's go check it out!" He hauled her upstairs to the third floor
where he and Sheridan and his sisters had their rooms as children. They were
always on the third floor where they wouldn't disturb the adults. He led
Theresa into a room that was any little girl's dream. It was pale pink, with
white carpets and drapes and a lacy white comforter on a canopy bed. Toys and
dolls were everywhere, and Theresa gaped in awe. "What a wonderful room..."
"Yeah, i guess so..." Ethan wasn't that enamoured with the frills and lace.
"Here's her bookshelves over here..." He began to flip through the books...
avoiding the ones that seemed to be seldom read and pulling out the worn ones
to inspect further. "Wait! Here's the one she loved!" He held the tattered
book aloft and smiled broadly.
Ethan opened the cover and scanned the first page. "Angela! That was it...
Angela." "Great!" Theresa enthused. "What about a last name?" Ethan read
further. "Baker, Angela Baker. Could it really be that easy?" Theresa
frowned. "Maybe not... but lets go talk to Sam and see if he can check that
name against the names on all those lists he got for Luis before."
"You mean the ones from the bus station and airport?" Ethan was excited. He'd
been so worried about Sheridan and at loose ends for anything to do about it.
This was something to hope for at least. "Yes, let's go to the station
right now!" "What about Luis? You can use the phone and call him if you
want." Theresa shook her head. "No... I want to talk to Sam first. I don't
want to get Luis all worked up over nothing."
"...so Chief Bennett... can you help us?" Theresa eyed Sam anxiously after
explaining what they wanted. Sam nodded, "Yeah, it shouldn't be a problem to
run the name through the list. You two have a seat and I'll go get the lists.
I'm sure Luis has them in his desk." Sam went off to find them and Theresa
and Ethan sat on the two chairs in front of Sam's desk. They looked at one
another and smiled nervously. Theresa wanted so much to find something... any
clue that would give Luis some hope. She was afraid he was going to run
himself right into the ground with the search otherwise.
Sam returned with the huge piles of papers and handed a stack to Ethan and
one to Theresa. He settled into his chair with his own stack and sighed.
"There are so many names here... I guess we look for any name with either
Angela or Baker in it." Ethan nodded and began to look through the papers
from the train station as Sam began with the bus station. Theresa had the
ones from the airport and she eagerly began to scan them. Inside she was
praying that the name would be on the list... or at least part of it.
About an hour into the job Theresa let out a squeal. Then, as both men turned
and looked at her she said, "It's here... Angela Baker... right here on this
list." She smiled her thousand watt grin and laughed out loud. "We did it!"
Sam frowned, "Don't get too excited Theresa... it could be a coincedence."
Theresa shook her head. "No, Chief Bennett... it's not a coincidence... it's
fate! Luis and Sheridan belong together and fate is making it happen." She
gazed over at Ethan with that dreamy look she often had, but he was too busy
looking at the list with Angela Bakers name on it. "She went to New York. My
Aunt Sheridan is in New York..."
"What? You know where she is?" Luis had entered the station without anyone
noticing and he overheard Ethan's statement. Theresa jumped up and threw her
arms around her brother. "We haven't found her Luis, but we have a lead... we
may have the name she's using." Theresa explained what they'd discovered to
Luis, who could barely keep still enough to listen.
"I'm going to New York..." he said, interrupting them. "I have to go... I
have to find her!" "Hang on Luis," Sam said. "Let's make sure she's still
there. Let me check the flights out of JFK on the day she arrived." He
made a call and waited while the operator put him through to the correct
place. After speaking a few moments he hung up, dialed again and spoke to
someone else.
"Okay," he said, hanging up the phone and turning to the three anxious faces
before him. "Angela Baker took the next flight out of JFK to Seattle
Washington. Apparently she didn't fly out of there anytime in the week that
followed. That gives us a pretty good chance that she's still in the Seattle
area."
Luis nodded, a huge grin on his face. "Okay... now we track down the Angela
Bakers in Washington." He moved to his desk and his computer and ran a
search on the name Angela Baker in Washington state. He was a little put off
when the data base emitted 127 names, but at this point he was willing to do
anything.
He printed out all the profiles and began to sort through them. He eliminated
any that were under 20 and over 40 years of age. There was no way Sheridan
would be able to convince people she was in either of those age groups. That
left 76 Angela Bakers. Luis wondered why Sheridan's favourite character
couldn't have had a more unique name. Then he eliminated all the profiles
that weren't Caucasian and all the profiles with children and spouses.
Sighing softly he held in his hands a stack of 39 profiles. It wasn't going
to be easy, but he would eliminate them one by one. He moved back to the
computer and began searching work records for the names. Slowly he dwindled
the list down to 11. These 11 either started working in Washington since
Sheridan's disappearance, or else they didn't work at all. He pored over
their profiles, but there was nothing in them that could help him eliminate
any more.
He stacked the papers neatly on his desk and leaned back in his chair.
Theresa and Ethan had left hours ago, as had Sam and Luis was beat. He picked
up the phone and made a plane reservation to Seattle. Then he went home to
rest for a few hours. If he was going to find Sheridan tomorrow than he
needed a little sleep. For the first time in months Luis had real hope again.
By this time tomorrow he might have Sheridan in his arms where she belonged.
Angela Baker lay in bed, not sleeping, but thinking. It was still early, but
she was spending more time in bed lately. She never seemed to want to do
anything anymore. Kelly, from work, had tried to talk her into seeing a movie
tonight, but she had begged off, claiming to be too tired. In fact she wasn't
tired at all. She spent almost every evening lying in bed, missing her home
and the people she cared about. She lay there imagining Luis with his baby...
surely it would be born by now. She envisioned a boy... with Luis' colouring
and dark hair and eyes. A beautiful little child that he would love and raise
with Beth.
She rolled over and hugged Snowy to her gently. Beth had Luis' baby and she
had a cat... it hardly seemed fair. Not that she didn't love her precious
ball of fur, but it wasn't the same of course.
She knew she had to get out of this slump she was in. She was on the fast
track to depression... sometimes it seemed she was already there. She kept
telling herself that Luis wasn't worth it... that no man was worth ruining
her life over, but her heart just wouldn't listen.
Lately she was beginning to think that she should have just ended it all that
day so many months ago on the overlook in the park in Harmony. It would've
been easier that way.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 17:
Luis got back in his rented car and sighed, laying his head down on the
steering wheel as he fought to keep himself together. He'd just visited
Angela Baker number seven and once again he'd been disappointed. He was
starting to think that the Angela Baker on the airplane was simply a
coincidence and that Sheridan was off in Europe somewhere, laying on a
beach
sunning herself, while she had a good laugh knowing that everyone was
searching for her.
Still, Luis wasn't one to give up without trying every avenue and he
had four
Angela Bakers to go. The next on the list was a woman in Port Orchard.
She
was 26 and she had begun a job in the town library shortly after
Sheridan had
disappeared. She sounded promising, but then so had the other seven
that had
been total wastes of Luis' time.
He started the car and headed off toward Port Orchard, after consulting
his
map. As he drove the radio station faded out and he hit the knob to
scan for
a new station. It picked up one that was very clear and just starting a
new
set of music. It was a country station, but Luis didn't care. Any kind
of
music was fine as long as nothing resembled tango music. Hearing it
practically split his heart in two. Now the DJ was announcing the next
song,
the recent single, "I'll be" by Reba McEntire. The words seemed to
flow
right into Luis' soul....
When darkness falls upon your heart and soul
I'll be the light that shines for you
When you forget how beautiful you are
I'll be there to remind you
When you can't find your way
I'll find my way to you
When troubles come around
I will come to you
I'll be your shoulder
When you need someone to lean on
Be your shelter
When you need someone to see you through
I'll be there to carry you
I'll be there
I'll be the rock that will be strong for you
The one that will hold on to you
When you feel that rain falling down
When there's nobody else around
I'll be
Luis listened carefully to the words, feeling that the song was written
for
him. If he could sing a song for Sheridan he would want to tell her all
the
same things...
And when you're there with no one there to hold
I'll be the arms that reach for you
And when you feel your faith is running low
I'll be there to believe in you
When all you find are lies
I'll be the truth you need
When you need someone to run to
You can run to me
I'll be your shoulder
When you need someone to lean on
Be your shelter
When you need someone to see you through
I'll be there to carry you
I'll be there
I'll be the rock that will be strong for you
The one that will hold on to you
When you feel that rain falling down
When there's nobody else around
I'll be
I'll be the sun
When your heart's filled with rain
I'll be the one
To chase the rain away
I'll be your shoulder
When you need someone to lean on
Be your shelter
When you need someone to see you through
I'll be there to carry you
I'll be there
I'll be the rock that will be strong for you
The one that will hold on to you
When you feel that rain falling down
When there's nobody else around
I'll be
Angela wiped the tear from her eye as the last part of the chorus faded
away.
That song always made her weep. It spoke of things she'd thought she'd
found
in Luis. Things that she dreamed of. He had seemed to be her rock, her
shelter, her guiding light... she'd wanted him to be those things. The
song
spoke of devotion the likes of which she'd never experienced and
probably
never would.
Not only did the words remind her of Luis, but they reminded her that
her
future was destined to be void of the kind of love they spoke of. She
knew
she should turn the radio off when the song came on but she seemed to
be
powerless to do it. Not only could she not bring herself to turn it
off, she
found herself drawn closer to the radio... to be certain that she heard
every
word.
Luis was blinking hard to keep the tears he felt burning behind his own
eyes
from trickling out. He was amazed at the feelings a song could invoke
in him.
He turned the station, tuning into some loud music... the kind that
barely
seemed to have lyrics and tried to force the song from his mind. It
wasn't
easy, but by concentrating on the road and the banging coming from the
speakers he managed to stop feeling, for just a little while.
The car ate up the miles between him and Port Orchard and soon he found
himself in the middle of the small, yet bustling town. The Washington
map he
carried didn't have street maps of the smaller towns and he stopped at
a
diner on the main street. He was hungry anyway and he would ask for
directions while he was there. In no time he would be at the home of
Angela
Baker number eight. He wasn't feeling nearly as optimistic as he'd been
before arriving in Washington, but he still held a glimmer of hope and
he
would continue to hold it until he'd checked out every Angela Baker in
the
United States if he had to.
He would never give up.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 18:
Luis sat in a booth in the Double D Diner, in the little town of Port
Orchard. He offered the waitress something resembling a smile when she came
to take his order. He ordered a burger, fries and a large Coke and the he
smiled again and asked if she knew an Angela Baker. The waitress was only a
young girl and she scrunched her face up, trying to remember. "Oh yeah,
there's a lady named Baker that works at the library... I don't know where
she lives though." The girl gave Luis a beaming smile and went off to get
his food.
Luis sighed and stared out the window at the people passing on the street. He
wondered if one of the women could be Angela Baker. A woman in the booth
behind his stood and went to the jukebox in the corner. She deposited her
money and the song choice began. It was the same Reba McEntire song he'd
heard in the car and once again he felt his heart aching. He forced himself
not to listen and continued to watch out the window, dreaming about the day
he finally found Sheridan... he knew it would happen eventually... he just
didn't know when.
Angela glanced at her watch with irritation. The woman that was supposed to
take her place at the checkout desk at the library was late again. Angela
was more irritated because this was her half day... she should be on her way
home by now. She leaned back in her chair and gazed around the main section
of the library. There were only a few patrons there, some Angela knew and
some she did not.
The gentleman in the corner reading the paper came in every day and sometimes
he brought Angela a flower from his garden. He wasn't hitting on her or
anything... he was about 80 years old and said she reminded him of his
granddaughter.
The door opened and a woman named Marjorie came in with her two daughters.
She waved and smiled at Angela before heading to the stairs that led to the
children's section. Angela smiled and waved back, sighing at the sight of
the woman's precious little girls. Finally Barbara arrived, full of apologies
that Angela didn't really believe and she was able to go home. She walked
down the street toward the parking area at the end of the block. She
hesitated in front of the Double D, debating on whether to get lunch before
heading home. She was about to go in when she remembered she had dry cleaning
to pick up so she continued down the block, rooting through her purse to see
if she had enough cash to get her clothes.
Luis stood at the counter, waiting for the waitress to come and take his
money. She appeared and Luis asked for directions to the library. It made
sense that Angela Baker would be at work at one o'clock in the afternoon so
he would try there first. He stepped out of the diner and headed toward the
library down the street. Just as he entered the library Angela emerged from
the dry cleaners with her clothes and headed back to the Double D.
Luis stepped up to the desk at the library and smiled at the middle aged
woman seated there. "Hello. Is Angela Baker here?" Barbara squinted her
eyes and frowned. "Who's asking?" "I'm Officer Lopez-Fitzgerald." Luis
pulled out his badge. Barbara took it from him, pulling it close to her nose
to inspect it. "She isn't here. She's gone for the day. She in trouble or
something?"
Luis smiled to put the woman at ease. "No, she isn't in trouble. She's an old
friend I went to school with." That seemed to satisfy the woman because she
nodded and looked a little more friendly. "Do you know where Third street
is?" Barbara nodded and gave him the directions actually smiling at him
once. Luis thanked her and left, heading back to his car. He'd left it in the
parking lot at the end of the block.
It was parked next to the same red Cherokee that had been there when he'd
arrived. He glanced at it appreciatively. He'd always wanted a new red
Cherokee... someday maybe. He got in his rental car and headed for Third
street, hoping for better luck this time.
Angela had settled into a booth... the same one Luis had been occupying a few
minutes ago. She'd been staring at the menu, not even noticing the dark,
handsome man from her past as he walked right by the window. Now she ate her
salad and gazed out the window, deep in thought. For some reason Luis was on
her mind even more than usual today. Everything she saw or heard reminded her
of him and she was getting more dejected by the minute. She hurried to finish
her salad, wanting to be home... at least at home she didn't have to pretend
to be happy or normal.
Luis pulled the car to a stop in front of the charming, yet modest ranch
style house. It was a far cry from the Crane estate, that was for sure.
Lining the walk were rows of happy faced pansies and the porch was surrounded
by mounds of coral impatiens. Luis knew what they were... Mama planted them
and Sheridan had admired them once, claiming to hate the pretentious lilies
and orchids and other expensive hothouse flowers that Julian and Ivy were
partial to.
Seeing those impatiens there made Luis strangely hopeful. Never mind the fact
that every second house on the street had mounds of impatiens in their
gardens. He raised a trembling hand to the door and knocked. No answer... he
knocked again, harder. Nothing. He dropped to the step and sat to wait. He'd
spent months searching for Sheridan... another couple hours wouldn't kill
him. He sat there, looking around the neighbourhood. Across the street a
young mother was sitting on the grass with a young boy. They were playing
with little cars, while a baby lay in a carrier beside them. Luis could
squint his eyes and make the woman turn into Sheridan. He did that for a
several minutes, imagining the family he longed for.
Then, as he was shaking his head to bring himself back to reality a red
Cherokee pulled into the driveway and stopped.
Angela didn't notice the car or the man until she'd already turned off the
engine and was about to get out of the jeep. Then she saw him and her breath
caught as she whispered "Luis..." Her first instinct was to start the
vehicle and leave, never looking back, but she couldn't do it. She couldn't
leave without Snowy.
She took a moment to compose herself, watching as Luis stood, waiting.
Luis couldn't see inside the jeep, the windows were tinted. He prepared
himself for the probable sight... a perfect stranger. He wondered why the
occupant wasn't getting out. Perhaps Angela Baker was afraid to get out of
the jeep while a strange man waited on her porch.
Then the jeep door opened and then it was Luis' turn to stop breathing.
Sheridan... it was really Sheridan... He broke into a smile, but was frozen
in place on the walkway. "Sheridan..." he gasped happily. But she wasn't
smiling... she frowned sadly. " What are you doing here? I don't want to see
you." she said coldly, avoiding the front door and going around the house.
By the time Luis regained use of his legs and rounded the house the high gate
was closed again, firmly locked with Sheridan on the other side. Luis felt
like crying...
Sheridan was crying. She hurried inside the house, gathering Snowy in her
arms and sobbing into her fur. "Oh, God, what am I going to do?" It had been
all she could do to stop herself from running right to Luis, burying herself
in his arms and never letting go. Only repeating Beth's name silently to
herself made it possible for her to walk past him to the gate.
Now he was pounding on the front door and calling her name. She wanted to
open it, but knew she couldn't. "Please," she whispered into the cats neck,
"please just go away Luis... I can't go through this again..."
The pounding stopped after a few moments and Sheridan went to peek out the
curtains. He was sitting in his car and she sighed. It was hopeless... she
knew he was too stubborn to leave. He would sit there and wait until she
emerged. Well, she was stubborn too and she was much better prepared for a
stand-off. She had food, water and a bathroom. She'd wait until he left and
she would take Snowy and they wound disappear again. It was that simple.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 19:
Sheridan looked out the window every few minutes, hoping that he would be
gone, but Luis was very persistent. This time, as she watched, he emerged
from the car and went across the street. He knocked on Carly Wilkins door and
she saw the young mother open it and speak to Luis. He reached into his
pocket and pulled out something to show Carly. His badge, Sheridan assumed.
Carly tossed her hair back and laughed at something Luis was saying. Sheridan
watched with her mouth hanging open as Luis was admitted into the house and
he disappeared. Moments later he emerged, still smiling and joking with
Carly. He left her on the porch and returned to the car.
Sheridan was amazed. He had conned that woman into letting a stranger into
her house, no doubt to use the bathroom. She scowled and dropped the curtain
in disgust, going to make herself something to eat.
Luis sat in his car, grinning a little. He saw Sheridan in the window from
time to time and he knew she'd been watching when he'd went to the
neighbours. He'd explained to Carly, who had a huge romantic streak, what he
was doing and the woman had been eager to help. She'd let him use her
bathroom and her phone and told him he was welcome to them both as long as he
needed.
He hoped Sheridan would realize that he wasn't going to give up and give him
a chance to explain things. She'd looked furious when he'd returned to his
car and he had no doubt that she would phone Carly Wilkins and try and
dissuade her from helping him again.
He glanced up, seeing the pizza delivery truck pull up near his car. He
jumped out and approached the boy, explaining that he'd been the one to order
the pizza, not the resident of the house. The boy didn't care as long as
somebody paid for it and Luis took the pizzas and went to sit on Sheridan's
porch.
He felt her eyes on him and turned to look at her peering through the window
in the door. He indicated the pizza he'd ordered just the way she liked it.
She moved back and the door started to open, causing Luis' heart to flutter
hopefully.
"If you don't get off my porch in ten seconds I will call the police!" She
said firmly, and closed and locked the door again. Luis sighed. She wasn't
ready yet. He gathered up his pizza and went to sit on the hood of his car to
eat.
Sheridan watched through the window, wondering what the neighbours must think
about this strange man eating pizza in front of her house. They already
thought Angela Baker was secretive, now they would think she was odd too.
Sheridan's heart ached to see Luis out there...so close and yet untouchable.
Oh, she could touch him if she wanted to... she had no doubt he'd love it if
she ran out there and threw herself at him. But to do that would be resigning
herself to another six months of pain when he eventually left or betrayed her
again.
She wondered where Beth and their baby was... surely it was born, or soon
would be. What was Luis doing here, instead of being with his family? She
sighed and took a bite of her sandwich. That pizza had smelled good when
she'd opened the door to yell at him. She thought about ordering some
herself, but she wouldn't give Luis the satisfaction of knowing that she
wanted some.
Luis sighed and tried to get comfortable in the seat of his car. He'd put the
seat back and was trying to get a bit of sleep. He wondered if she would try
and escape. He knew he would wake if she tried to start her jeep, but what if
she snuck out and disappeared on foot. He couldn't sleep... he was too
worried. If she got away this time she would be gone forever, because she
would make sure she was never found again.
He flung open the door of the car and went up to the house and pounded on
the door as hard as he could. He was going to make her talk to him, even if
he got himself arrested again in the process.
Sheridan was laying in her bed, Snowy snuggled contentedly at her side.
Sheridan was anything but content, her mind full of Luis and Beth and babies
and the past, all of it jumbling together in a mess. She knew Luis would
never be out of her head, but she had to find a way to lose him again. She
could live with him in her head, but not in her life. She couldn't deal with
him being around, reminding her of what could never be.
A pounding from the front hall startled Sheridan and sent Snowy flying under
the bed. Sheridan had no doubt as to who it was and she considered calling
the police. Her hand hovered over the phone and then she sighed. She couldn't
do it. She slipped on her robe and went to the door, flipping on the porch
light, revealing Luis. He looked tired and rumpled from being in the car so
long. For the first time she noticed how thin he looked, and generally worn.
She wondered if he'd been sick.
"Sheridan, please let me in... we need to talk." "Go away Luis... I told
you, there's nothing to talk about." "Sheridan, if you just let me in and
hear me out I promise, I'll leave after if you want me to."
Sheridan thought about it for a moment, wondering if she could believe him.
"No, just leave Luis." She said wearily, tears threatening to fall from her
eyes. "I know you think I betrayed you, but I didn't. The baby isn't mine
Sheridan..."
swung the door open and faced Luis. "What did you say?" "I said the baby
isn't mine." "Well, that doesn't really make a difference to me... you
still slept with Beth." Sheridan said sadly.
"I haven't been with Beth in over three years... almost four." Sheridan
snapped, tears dripping silently down her face as she screamed, "Stop it!
Just stop lying Luis! I know you are still together... I saw you with her!"
"No, you saw me helping her. I talked to Gwen Sheridan... she told me
everything."
Sheridan silently cursed Gwen for breaking confidence. "She had no right to
tell you anything." "I know, but I'm glad she did. Now I can explain. Beth
was sick Sheridan, she almost passed out in the Book Cafe that day. I carried
her to the couch and that was it. She told me about the baby... it's Hanks
baby Sheridan, not mine. I haven't been with Beth since long before I met
you... I haven't been with anybody. I haven't wanted to be with anybody
else..." Luis watched Sheridan, unable to gauge her expression.
Would she believe him? And even if she did, did she care enough about him for
it to matter? Would she want to have a life with him, or would she stay here
and continue to live as Angela Baker? Luis was terrified that he'd made the
trip in vain, that he'd been searching for her all this time, only to
discover that she hadn't left because she thought he'd hurt her... rather
she'd left because there was nothing in Harmony to keep her there. He was
holding his breath as she stood there, her face like a mask, unreadable.
Sheridan tried to take in the information he gave her, wanting desperately to
believe him... she just didn't know what to do...
To Be Continued...
Chapter 20:
They stood there, Luis still on the porch and Sheridan blocking the doorway.
Sheridan was trying to make sense of what Luis had just told her. "Hank's
baby..." she whispered. "Yes, it's Hank's baby... not mine. I know I
shouldn't have gotten involved maybe, but Beth is an old friend and I do care
about her. I couldn't just abandon her..."
Sheridan's gaze drifted over Luis' shoulder and across the street, where she
saw Carly Wilkins peering out her window at them. Sheridan moved back from
the doorway and silently let Luis in. She went into the living room and sat
on the sofa. Luis followed her and hesitated, before sitting cautiously on
the other end of the couch. He saw Sheridan stiffen and he was sure she would
move to the chair across the room, but after a moment she relaxed again.
"Sheridan, please say something..." Luis said after they had sat there in
silence a while. Sheridan raised her eyes and met Luis' gaze. She really
didn't know what to do... or what to say. She had been hurt so many times and
now he wanted her to just believe him, based on nothing but blind faith. What
if he was lying? What if she allowed herself to accept what he was saying and
it was another elaborate lie? She would be forced to tear herself from the
man she loved once again and she really didn't know if she could do that and
survive.
Time... that was it... she needed time. "Luis," she said finally, "I need to
think... I need some time to sort this out..." The last thing Luis wanted
to do was leave, but he knew that if he pressured her now he would lose her
for sure. "Alright Sheridan, I can give you time. I've spent months
searching for you... another day won't kill me."
He stood and went to the door, Sheridan drifting after him, looking a little
lost. He opened the door and went onto the porch, turning to face her. "You
have to believe me Sheridan... it's the truth. If you don't believe me call
someone in Harmony... everybody knows about Hank now."
"Alright Luis, we'll talk tomorrow..." Sheridan began to close the door
slowly and the last thing she heard before the face of the man she loved
disappeared was "I love you Sheridan..." Tears streamed down her face and
she wanted to throw the door back open and leap into his arms. Instead she
forced herself to go to her bedroom and she sank onto the bed.
She opened the drawer to her night stand and peered inside at her little Luis
shrine. With a trembling hand she reached inside and pulled the items out.
She read the ad from the paper... the one asking her to come home. She
wondered know if she should have done just that. The dried rose felt so
brittle and delicate in her hand, as though a small puff of air could blow it
to pieces. Sheridan's heart felt about as strong as the rose looked. She drew
it to her nose, amazed that there was still a scent to it after all this
time.
She unfolded one of the newspaper clippings, the one the Harmony Herald had
picked up off the wire service after he'd saved her life in Paris. The photo
was a couple years old, one taken at some police function and it showed Luis
posing for the camera. He was wearing his dress uniform and he beamed at the
photographer, showing his perfect smile. He was the most attractive man she'd
ever seen and Sheridan ached to reach through the picture and touch him.
She put the items back into the drawer, except for the one she hadn't yet
inspected. She slid the drawer closed and lay back on the bed, holding the
silver compact close to her heart as tears continued to stream down her
cheeks. She wanted so much to believe him... more than anything in the world
she wanted to believe that he truly loved her. In the morning she would do as
he suggested and call Harmony.
Luis sat in the rental car once again, staring at Sheridan's house. He saw
her shadow moving through the house, ending in her bedroom and he wondered
what she was doing. He knew that it was going to be hard for her to accept
what he'd told her as truth. After all, if he was the baby's father, but
still wanted Sheridan, if he wasn't a stand-up kind of guy, he would probably
lie and tell her the same things he just had.
He pulled down the visor and turned on the dome light. Clipped to the visor
was a picture of Sheridan... the one Ethan had given the police when they
were searching for her. It was a beautiful picture... nothing compared to the
real thing of course, but achingly beautiful. Luis gazed at the photo... at
the bright blue eyes gazing back at him. He really didn't know what he would
do if she sent him away. Living without her all these months had practically
killed him and he didn't think he could deal with it again.
He looked back over at the house. The light was still on in her bedroom and
he wondered if she was still awake. Was she agonizing over this situation
they were in too? Luis sighed as he started the car and pulled slowly away
from the curb...
She was... perhaps even more than he was. She had decided to phone Harmony in
the morning and see what she could find out from Ethan or Gwen. She had to
know for sure about Beth's baby. But now as she continued to lay in bed,
still clutching the compact, she was doubting the wisdom of that move. If
what Luis was saying was true and she doubted him enough to call and check up
on him what kind of base did that create for a relationship? If she couldn't
trust him enough on his own word than she should just send him packing and be
done with it.
The question was, did she trust him? She thought back and every time she
thought he had been dishonest with her it had turned out to be wrong. Major
case in point... the Luis impostor. Now that was a disaster for sure. The
whole thing could've been avoided if she'd only had faith enough to talk to
him about it instead of closing down and refusing to see any side but her own.
A coldness rushed over Sheridan, causing her to shiver as she realized
something. Every misunderstanding they had, well, most of them anyway, was
her fault. It was not Luis who was untrustworthy... is was she who was
untrusting. Never once did Luis do anything to deserve her mistrust, yet she
was quick to accuse him every time.
Sheridan shook her head in confusion. How could he love her? She wasn't
worthy of his love. She was a horrible person, who wouldn't know the truth if
it bit her. She saw Luis, the look on his face earlier as she'd stepped out
of her jeep and he'd realized it was her. Pure, unadulterated joy and relief.
He loved her... he loved her enough to search for her all over the country
for months. He'd placed ads in papers all over the country too she suspected.
She thought about how thin and pale he looked and guilt coursed through her
as she knew her suspicions and mistrust had made him that way. She had made
him miserable and all he had ever done was treat her with more kindness and
respect and honesty than all the men in her life put together. And somehow...
by some miracle, he still loved her and wanted her in his life.
Sheridan jumped off the bed threw on some clothes. She practically ran down
the hall in her eagerness to see him again. She flung open the front door and
was halfway across the lawn to his car before she skidded to a halt and fresh
tears streamed down her face... the car was gone. Luis was gone...
To Be Continued...
Chapter 21:
Sheridan was stunned. The curb was empty... Luis had left her. She sank to
the ground, silently cursing herself for sending him away so she could think.
If only she had followed her heart and fallen into his arms when he'd
explained...
As she sat there it started to rain, but Sheridan didn't move. She stayed on
the ground, rain mingling with the tears and berated herself for all her
stupidity. She realized how asinine and childish she had been to run away and
change her name. Trying to be somebody else hadn't worked anyway and she'd
only hurt people in the process. Ethan... Gwen... Pilar... they had all
probably suffered from her thoughtless act, but none more than Luis. He
really loved her and she'd disappeared from his life without even a goodbye.
Most people would've just maintained their stubbornness and pride and
forgotten about her, but not Luis. He loved her enough to swallow his pride
and focus his stubbornness on tracking her down, no matter what people
thought.
She didn't deserve him or his love and now she had lost it for good. He'd
explained and she still pushed him away. There was only so much a man could
take and apparently Luis felt that he had taken enough from her. She could
follow him back to Harmony... but no... if he didn't want her anymore there
was no way she would force herself on him.
Luis drove slowly through the streets of Port Orchard back to Sheridan's
house. He felt much better now that he'd had a shower and changed clothes.
If... no, when Sheridan decided to let him back in her life he didn't want to
be wearing two day old clothes and the odor of road dust. He glanced at the
seat beside him. From the light from the street lamps he could just make out
the shape of the single yellow rose laying there. He remembered the red rose
he'd bought for her in Paris. At the time she had hated him about the
impostor misunderstanding and he was sure that she'd thrown it away as soon
as she'd disappeared on him that night. Still, he recalled the quick smile of
pleasure when he'd given it to her before she remembered she was angry with
him.
His Sheridan loved simple things and one perfect rose would mean more to her
than a bouquet of two dozen... that's just the way she was. Luis smiled
wistfully. His Sheridan... if only she would truly be his. His to love
forever... his to treasure and hold in his arms every night. His to shower
with kisses and little gifts like the rose that would make her smile in that
way that he adored. His to spend the next fifty years with, making babies and
building a life together. If only...
He slowed and pulled to a stop across the road from her house and shut the
car off. He wouldn't bother her again until morning like she had requested.
He would lay the seat back and try to sleep a little... hopefully the rain on
the roof would lull him to sleep. He glanced at Sheridan's house... it looked
just as it had when he'd left an hour ago. Except... was that?... yes, there
was something moving on the front lawn.
Luis got out of the car and as he approached he saw that it was a person...
it was Sheridan. She was curled up, rocking slowly back and forth and he
could hear her crying. "Sheridan?" She startled and her eyes widened as
rain and maybe tears streamed down her face. She didn't say anything, just
stared at him with surprise in her eyes. "Sheridan, why are you out here in
the rain... what happened?" Luis was concerned.
"You came back..." Sheridan whispered, not answering his question. She
couldn't believe it... he had come back. "Of course I came back... come on
Angel, let's get you inside before you catch pneumonia." He helped her up and
urged her toward the house.
Luis couldn't figure out why she was out in the pouring rain, on the ground
crying , no less. Once inside he sent her to put on dry things and she
returned moments later, shivering and still in shock, dressed in a terry
robe. "Why were you out in the rain Sheridan?" He handed her a mug of tea
that he'd made while she was changing.
Sheridan took the mug, sipping a little before setting it down on the table.
"I was looking for you..." she whispered. "But you were gone..." tears
streamed down her face again.
Luis' heart was aching to see her so upset. "I didn't leave you Sheridan... I
went to shower and change. You said you didn't want to see me until morning."
She nodded. "I know... I wanted to think, but once I started thinking a lot
of things became clear to me. This whole mess was my fault Luis... all of it."
"Shhh.... it's ok. You made a mistake, that's all. Everybody makes mistakes
Sheridan." She was already shaking her head. "No... it wasn't a mistake...
it was a conscious choice to not believe you.
I mistrusted you and you are
probably the only person in the whole world that I can really trust." She
dropped her gaze to the floor. "All the things you''ve done for me...
protecting me and caring about me... and how do I repay you? By disappearing
and doing my best to destroy everything."
Luis took her chin in his hand and forced her to look up at him. "Sheridan, I
never asked to be repaid... all the things I did I did out of love... all I
ever wanted was your love in return. Did you call Harmony? You know that Hank
is the baby's father, right?"
Sheridan shook her head. "No, I didn't have to call Harmony. I got all the
answers I needed from you Luis." "But Sheridan, I'm telling the truth. All
you have to do is call..." "Stop!" Sheridan cut him off. "I don't need to
call. I believe you. I believe everything. That's what I was coming to tell
you when I found that you were gone..."
"You believe me?" "Oh Luis, I'm so sorry... I've been a fool and I'm
sorry. How can you forgive me for not trusting you?" "There's nothing to
forgive... I understand that you've never had anyone you could trust in your
life before Sheridan. But that's different now... you can trust me Sheridan.
You can trust me!" He gazed earnestly into her eyes, which pooled up with
fresh tears as he did.
Sheridan felt like her heart was going to explode. It was going to be
alright... he forgave her... he really did. "I know I can trust you Luis...
I know that now and I promise that I will never forget it again as long as I
live."
Luis stepped closer and she fell into his arms. He tightened them around her
and held her close, relishing the feel of her body pressed against his and
inhaling the soft scent that was a mixture of her and her perfume. "I love
you Sheridan..." he whispered into her hair. She raised her head from his
chest and met his eyes with her sparkling blue ones. "And I love you Luis...
more than I ever thought it was possible to love someone."
Luis lowered his head and drew her into a soft kiss. She met it with the same
love and gentleness as he gave and let out a little sigh in the back of her
throat. Luis deepened the kiss, wrapping his arms around her as though he
never intended to let go. She melted into his embrace, feeling her body go
boneless as emotions blossomed and grew between them.
"Make love to me Luis... please..." She moaned quietly when he broke the kiss
and began planting kisses down her neck. He leaned back and met her eyes.
"Are you sure? We can wait..." "No," she whispered, "I don't want to
wait... it seems like I've been waiting all my life for this moment..."
"Me too..." he whispered gruffly, and he picked her up, carrying her down the
hallway to the bedroom. He kissed her softly, as he lowered her onto the bed
and covered her body with his. Something white hissed at him and streaked off
the bed. Sheridan giggled and murmured "Snowy...", then her eyes met his,
seeing the desire there and the giggle disappeared as she reached up to him.
Wrapping her arms around his neck she pulled him to her, initiating a kiss
that made them both wild with hunger for more.
Luis undid her robe, slowly peeling it from her, trailing kisses down her
body as he revealed it inch by inch. Sheridan moaned in ecstasy and tried
frantically to rid him of his clothes. Finally they were both naked and they
began to make love, staring deep into each others eyes as they experienced
feelings and emotions that neither one had ever felt before. Feelings and
emotions that reached all the way to their souls.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 22:
Sheridan lay nestled in Luis' arms, half asleep, in a languorous state. She
had never been so blissfully happy as she was that very moment. She lifted
her gaze to meet Luis' and he smiled at her. She snuggled closer to him as
he ran his fingers softly up and down her arm. "Oh, Luis..." she sighed.
"I know Angel..." he whispered back, "it was more than I ever imagined..."
Sheridan nodded in agreement, and abruptly her bliss faded away..."And I
almost ruined it..." "Sheridan, you didn't. We're together now and that's
all that matters."
Sheridan shook her head sadly and pulled away from Luis. She sat up, pulling
the sheet around her and sighed. "My God Luis... I left you in a hospital
bed and created a new identity... how can you forgive me for that?"
Luis sat up too, choosing his words carefully. "You didn't just leave me... I
know that you were there for hours and days on end, waiting for me to wake
up. Theresa told me how you read sports magazines and newspapers and held my
hand. She even told me that you were protesting on my behalf about the
romance novel she was reading me... and I do appreciate that, believe me..."
He was hoping that would draw a smile from her, but she just gazed at him
bleakly.
"Sheridan, I understand why you left... I truly do and all that matters is
that I found you." Luis urged her to lay back down with him but she resisted.
" No Luis. I didn't trust you... after all the times you proved to me how
trustworthy you were I still jumped to conclusions and refused to listen to
you. That has to hurt you... and I know from experience that hurt like that
doesn't just disappear over night."
"It hasn't been overnight Sheridan... I have been looking for you for
months. Hell, I practically devoted my life to finding you Sheridan. That
should prove that I love you and forgive you." He paused, before adding,
"Unless... unless the baby mix-up was just an excuse... that you really just
wanted to get away from me and Harmony and everything else in your life. Is
that it Sheridan?"
Luis looked intently at Sheridan, and the look of raw pain in his eyes was
her undoing. "Oh Luis...no! It was never like that. I love you Luis... more
than anything. And tonight I discovered something after you left... it wasn't
even about the baby... not really. It was about me... my insecurities.
Unconsciously I was looking for you to hurt me and I blew the whole scene at
the Book Cafe out of proportion in my mind." She searched his eyes earnestly,
looking for understanding. He was listening, but she knew that he didn't
understand the depths of her insecurities.
He didn't live the life she had.
"Luis, you don't really know what it was like for me growing up. My mother
died when I was so young... and my father never had much time for me. The
rare occasions I did see him it was only for him to either criticize me or
brush me aside. All I ever wanted was his approval... and to this day I never
got it. Instead I got rejected, time and time again."
Luis nodded. "I understand what kind of man he is Sheridan... look what he
did with the impostor mess." Sheridan smiled weakly. "That was just the
icing on the cake Luis."
She sighed. "I ached to hear anything positive from him... especially for him
to tell me that he loved me... or even cared a little. Instead he
continuously told me that I wasn't worthy of the Crane name and that I was
essentially unlovable. Julian took great pleasure from re-enforcing those
ideas whenever he had the chance... more so the older he got."
Luis nodded a little. He knew what a bastard Julian was too. "As I grew
older the people I met were mostly like my father... wealthy, arrogant and
cold. The men I dated were only out to use me... the word love became
something I associated with the ultimate scam... marrying into the Crane
money." Her eyes moved up to meet Luis', filled with anguish and pain,
"Nobody has ever truly loved me Luis..."
Luis pulled her into his arms and her tears wouldn't be contained any longer.
"I love you Sheridan... I love you more than anything in the world. I don't
want your family's money, their power, their name... all I want is you! I
want you in my arms every night for the rest of my life. I want to watch our
babies growing inside you. I want you to love me as much as I love you.
That's all I want Sheridan..."
"Luis," Sheridan sobbed, "That's all I want too... all those things..."
Luis kissed tears from her face and continued to hold her. "We will have all
those things Sheridan... I promise..." He whispered softly.
Sheridan believed him... she knew in her heart that he loved her and he would
never hurt her. He wasn't like the others... nothing like them. Luis had more
love, kindness and morals in his little finger than all the men she'd dated
combined. She had waited all her life for her soul mate and here he was...
loving her as much as she loved him. Her tears dried and she felt her mood
elevating again. Luis cuddled her close and they went to snuggle down into
the pillows again when Luis winced.
"What the..." he reached under his back and pulled up the compact he'd given
her. "You still have it?" He asked in wonder. "Of course," she smiled
sweetly. "It's my most prized possession... the man I love gave it to me..."
She reached over to the bedside table, sliding the drawer open, "That's not
the only thing I kept..." She pulled out the dried rose and showed it to him,
feeling suddenly shy.
"Oh, man..." Luis said, remembering the rose he'd brought her tonight. "I'll
be right back..." He pulled on his jeans and left the room. Sheridan was
confused. Did her keeping the rose freak him out? Did it make her look crazy?
But Luis was back in moments, his hand behind his back. "I brought something
to give you tomorrow, but I guess now is as good a time as any..." he
extended his hand, revealing the perfect yellow rose and Sheridan's breath
caught in her throat.
"Oh, Luis..." she whispered, trying not to cry yet again. The simple gesture
meant so much to her... if he'd held out a bouquet of flowers it wouldn't
have been half as touching to her. A bouquet was meant to impress... this
single blossom was meant to reveal his deepest feelings and Sheridan was
beside herself. "Luis, I'll save it, always..." She took the flower,
stroking it against her cheek, inhaling it's heady fragrance.
Luis smiled, realizing he'd been right to buy the single rose. He climbed
back onto the bed, wrapping his arms around her. She leaned back onto his
chest and they sat there, silent for the longest time, savouring the easy,
serene moment.
Finally Luis broke the silence. "Are you going to go back to Harmony? Or has
your new life been more satisfying?"
Sheridan thought briefly about the last months... spent virtually alone,
pretending to be someone she wasn't. "No," she said slowly, "Angela Baker's
life wasn't very satisfying. It was rather lonely. Although I must admit, I
did enjoy the freedom of my own home." She glanced over her shoulder,
meeting Luis' eyes. "Do you think I should go back?"
Luis laughed. "Well, it's either that or else see if Port Orchard needs a
new cop..." He stopped chuckling and turned her to face him. "Sheridan, I'm
not going to lose you again. If you want to stay here, then so be it, but
I'll be here with you."
Sheridan beamed at him, her heart in her throat. He was willing to leave
Harmony and his family for her. No one had ever sacrificed anything for her
before. "No, Luis. I don't want to stay here. Harmony is my home... I just
never realized it before. Let's go back Luis... soon."
"Very soon." He agreed. Snowy chose that moment to leap onto the bed. She
took one haughty look at Luis, hissed at him and retreated to the far corner
of the mattress. "I suppose you'll want to bring THAT with you...?" He
asked, in a teasing tone.
Sheridan grinned and put her elbow softly into his ribs. "Yes, I'll be
bringing Snowy. Will that be a problem officer?" Luis returned the grin.
"No Ma'am... you can bring any little thing your heart desires..."
To Be Continued...
Chapter 23:
Sheridan stood in the middle of the living room, looking at the place that
she'd lived for the last few months. The furniture was still there, but the
room had an aseptic feel to it now. She had gathered up the photographs of
Ethan, her books and the other few personal items she'd had and packed them
all into boxes.
Other than the last two days with Luis there were no real memories in this
house though, and Sheridan wasn't all that upset about leaving. They were
going to drive back to Harmony and her Jeep was already loaded with her
boxes, ready to go in the morning.
She moved to the window, looking out at the neighbourhood. That was one thing
she was going to miss. Even though she had only made casual acquaintances
with the neighbours she liked the feeling of community living there had
provided. The cottage on the Crane estate had only served to make her more
lonely and cut off from the town. She vowed right then that she would be
buying a house in Harmony as soon as possible... perhaps in the nice area
near the Russells and Bennetts...
Luis awoke to find himself alone in the bed. The sheets next to him were
cold, and he knew she'd been gone for a while. He slipped into his boxers and
went in search of her. He encountered Snowy in the hallway and received what
could only be described as a cat glare. He returned the look, wondering
briefly what Sheridan saw in the creature, and moved on.
He saw her in the living room. The light from the hallway illuminated her
and Luis could tell she was deep in thought. He moved behind her, slipping
his arms around her, and nuzzling her neck. "Hello Angel." He whispered.
Sheridan didn't even startle when he touched her... although she hadn't heard
him coming she'd felt his presence. She leaned into his embrace, tilting her
head as he nuzzled her. "Hello Love," she replied softly.
"Are you alright?" He asked, resting his head against hers and staring out
the window with her. "I'm fine. I was just thinking about Harmony. I'm not
going back to the cottage... I want a real home."
Luis nodded. "I think that's a good idea." He was about to invite her to stay
with them, but she continued. "The first thing I'm going to do is buy a
house. Not a house like this, but a nice older house... like the Bennetts
have. It's so beautiful and homey..."
"Yeah, a great place for a family..." Luis could already picture their kids,
smaller versions of themselves, running through a house like that. Sheridan
smiled. "Yes, a family..." She turned in his arms and smiled tentatively.
"...our family?" She whispered. "Would it bother you to live in a house that
I bought Luis?"
Luis thought about it carefully, knowing she deserved a true answer, not the
quick 'no' that she hoped for. There was a time when he wouldn't have
hesitated to deliver a resounding 'yes'. Now he thought about how he'd
missed her, how much he loved her and he realized that where they would live
wasn't important. "No Sheridan, it wouldn't bother me. As long as it's a
real home... and not some sterile place like the mansion. All I want is to be
with you."
"Oh Luis... I would never want a place like that either. My whole life I've
hated that house... longed for a place that felt like home." She slid her
arms up around his neck and kissed him softly. Then she pulled away and
whispered, "I love you Luis... more than anything."
"I love you too Angel." He returned the kiss and then sighed. "We need some
sleep..." He was thinking about the long drive they had ahead of them.
Sheridan smiled. "Well, I was thinking about going back to bed, but sleeping
wasn't exactly what I had in mind..." She smiled seductively and Luis was
done for.
He scooped her up into his arms and carried her to bed, lowering her gently
to the sheets and they made love long into the night.
The next morning they awoke early, feeling remarkably well rested considering
how few hours of sleep they'd had. Sheridan was up first, showered and
dressed before Luis was fully awake. She returned to sit on the edge of the
bed. "Good morning Love." "Good morning Angel." He smiled and pulled her
down for a kiss.
"I ordered in breakfast." She told him. "It should be here by the time you're
ready." Luis gave her a mock scowl. "You didn't wait for me... we could've
showered together... you know, conserved water." Sheridan laughed, a
light, joyous sound that warmed Luis' heart. "If we showered together it
would NOT conserve water... we would be in there until it ran cold!"
Luis looked at her, trying not to grin. "What's your point?" Sheridan
giggled and fell on him, digging her fingers into his sides, until he thought
he would die laughing. They lay there in each others arms, never remembering
a time when either of them had been happier. Finally Sheridan groaned and got
up. "We can't lay here all day... get up and get into that shower!" She
ordered with a grin. "Today is the start of my... our new life and I want it
to begin."
Luis couldn't argue with that and he headed for the shower, taking great
pleasure in the way her eyes raked over his naked body as he passed her.
Sheridan closed her eyes against temptation and went to finish preparing to
leave.
An hour later Sheridan handed the keys to the house to Carly Wilkins, with
instructions to give them to the real estate salesclerk who would stop by
later. Luis was putting the cat carrier with a very annoyed Snowy, into the
back seat of the jeep. As Sheridan approached the cat reached through the
bars and raked her claws across Luis' arm. "Can't we just mail her to
Harmony?" He scowled at Sheridan, who simply grinned and gave him a quick
kiss. "Once you two become acquainted you'll love each other."
She tossed the Jeep keys to Luis. "You can drive." She told him, slipping
into the passenger seat. Luis grinned. "Ah, concerned for the safety of us
and the other drivers this morning?" he asked as he got into the Jeep.
Sheridan reached over and cuffed him. "Watch it buster!" Luis started the
engine and backed out of the driveway, letting the jeep idle by the curb a
minute. "Got everything?" He asked, giving her a minute to think.
She didn't need a minute. "I have everything I need... right here." She lay
her hand on his arm and smiled. "All I'll ever need."
Luis smiled back, and pulled away from the curb. Sheridan watched the house
slip by, feeling only the tiniest twinge of loss, waved to Carly and said
goodbye to Angela Baker forever.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 24:
Sheridan stared out the window at the mountains... they were everywhere and
she loved it. They had just passed through northern Idaho and moved into
Montana. She glanced over at Luis, who was still driving and smiled. He
looked happy... at least as happy as Sheridan felt.
The radio was on, not loud, but enough to keep the silence in the jeep at
bay. Not that it was an uncomfortable silence... because it wasn't. Luis
caught her watching him and reached over to take her hand. "You ok?" he asked
with a smile.
"Better than ok. I have never been so happy Luis. I've never been so sure
that I was doing the right thing." She was telling the truth. Returning to
Harmony with Luis had been her only true option... at least the only one that
wouldn't have left her miserable.
Luis glanced at her again. "So, you really don't mind leaving? It didn't seem
like you had that bad a life there in Port Orchard." It was bugging him that
she'd been so quick to agree to return to Harmony. "It looked like a good
setup there."
Sheridan sighed. "Yes, Luis... it was a good setup. I had a good job, a
beautiful house and I was starting to cultivate some friends. Angela Baker's
life was far from horrible. But it wasn't MY life. I hated trying to be
someone I wasn't. And trying to be friends with people when you are living a
lie just doesn't work."
She stared out the window as she continued. "I missed my life Luis... I know
a lot of it was pretty horrible, but there are good things about being
Sheridan Crane. There's Ethan and Gwen... and now I missed their wedding..."
"No you didn't... the wedding was postponed." Luis told her. "Postponed?
Why?" "I don't know..." Luis shrugged. He didn't really know much about
Ethan, but Theresa did. He had a feeling his sister knew a lot more than she
let on, but she wasn't talking.
"Oh... well, anyway, there's them, and Pilar. I missed Pilar so much... she
really is like a mother to me Luis. The only one I've had anyway. I barely
remember my real mother. And I was starting to make friends in Harmony... "
She trailed off... looking over at him again. "But Luis... even when Angela
Baker smiled... when she looked happy and normal... she wasn't. Because
inside her was this huge hole where her heart was supposed to be. And I
couldn't fill that hole, because I left my heart in Harmony with you Luis.
You are my heart... " She looked away again, a bit embarrassed at telling him
that.
Luis smiled, his own heart feeling like it would burst. "Sheridan, you are my
heart too. I never wouldn've stopped looking for you... you know that don't
you? I wouldn't have quit...even if you had run from me the other day."
Sheridan nodded. "I know Luis. I am so very sorry I put you through that...
the wondering and searching..." she glanced sadly down at her hands.
"Sheridan..." Luis took her hand again. "Sheridan, don't... don't keep
torturing yourself over this. I don't blame you... I mean, I wish we'd been
able to talk about it, but I really do understand."
She looked over at him... drinking in the sight of his handsome profile...
and wondered what she'd done to deserve a man as wonderful as Luis. It seemed
like it was too good to be true and she had a fleeting thought that it was a
colossal joke. Just when she was the most secure and happy her life had a way
of turning sour on her. She wondered if she was allowing herself to dream of
a life with Luis, only to have the rug pulled out from under her.
Luis could almost feel her negative thoughts and when he saw a pull off up
ahead her eased the jeep off the highway and turned off the engine. There
were some picnic table set to one side of the pulloff and he got out of the
jeep, opening her door and waiting for her to get out. He took her hand
firmly in his and towed her to an empty table.
"What's wrong Angel?" Sheridan looked down, picking at the wood of the
table with her index finger. "Nothing Luis." She looked back up and gave
him a thousand watt smile.
"Bull." Luis replied bluntly. "I want to know what you're thinking about."
Sheridan sighed. "Alright Luis, but you aren't going to like it. I was
thinking that this was too good to be true. In my experience, I don't get to
be happy. As soon as I am, something always happens to make me even more
miserable than I was before."
She bit her lip and willed herself not to cry, but she could feel the tears
gathering in her eyes and wondered how long she'd be able to hold them back.
Luis made it even harder... he was looking at her like she was the most
valuable, precious thing in the world. That made her even sadder... knowing
that he loved her so much, because he would be hurt too when it all fell
apart.
"Sheridan... I want you to listen to me... alright?" She nodded a little.
"I love you Sheridan Crane. I love you and I plan on spending the rest of my
life with you. I know it won't be easy... the least of which we'll have to
deal with is our family problems... but we will deal with them. I know you're
thinking about the past again... but it's different this time Angel. We will
fight the obstacles together... and together we can overcome them all." He
reached over and stroked her cheek. "You aren't alone anymore Angel..."
Sheridan didn't say anything... she simply moved closer to him, wrapping her
arms around him and letting him hold her tightly. Finally she whispered, "I
love you Luis."
I love you too Angel... more than you could ever guess..." She looked up
at him and smiled. "I think I have a pretty good idea... as much as I love
you."
Sheridan hated when she got this way... it seemed like she was always falling
apart and Luis had to put the pieces back together. She'd crash and burn ,
and he would save her... it was a pattern she wanted to break, but her doubts
and scars wouldn't seem to let her. She just hoped someday she could return
the favor to Luis if he ever needed it.
"Should we get moving?" Luis asked softly. "We need to get through the
mountains before we can stop for the night." Sheridan looked up at him and
nodded and Luis could still see the worry in her eyes. He leaned down and
kissed her tenderly, with all the love and promise he could put into it.
"We're going to be ok Sheridan." he said firmly and he saw the fear in her
eyes dissipate a little.
When Sheridan looked into his eyes she could almost believe it. "I know
Luis." she whispered. She kissed him and they held each other tightly as
their tongues mated together. Sheridan moaned and then Luis pulled back.
"Angel... we can't start this... I don't think I'll be able to stop. Let's
get moving... we'll find a place to stay the night..."
Sheridan sighed, knowing he was right, but wanting his touch right then.
"Alright." They went back to the jeep and continued through the mountains.
Sheridan still had a few doubts about the outcome of their relationship, but
she shoved them firmly to the back of her mind and tried to focus on now.
She was in her jeep, on a beautiful day, driving through the mountains of
Montana with the man of her dreams. Life couldn't get any better than that
and she knew it. What worried her was actually returning to Harmony. God only
knew what would be awaiting them there.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 25:
The days went by too fast for either of them as they passed through state
after state. They took their time, stopping occasionally at points of
interest along the way and spending their nights loving and learning about
each other. Finally they were in New Hampshire and Sheridan's apprehension
grew.
Harmony had never been good for their relationship and she had a sinking
feeling that nothing would be different this time. The only difference was
that now they both knew exactly how the other felt. Mostly Sheridan was
worried about her family. She had no illusions about the way they would react
but she was willing to face their anger for a life with Luis.
She thanked God she'd had the good sense to invest her inheritance from her
mother into things that Alistair couldn't touch because she knew she would
be cut off from the family funds almost immediately. She almost smiled at the
thought of Julian. If he ever disgraced the family he'd be living in his car
in the park, because he had wasted every penny he'd ever truly owned.
Luis was driving along, the radio playing a song that he liked and he glanced
over at Sheridan. She was the most wonderful thing to ever happen in his
life and he intended to hold onto her, no matter what. He would stand up to
the Cranes without hesitation, and he knew he would probably have to.
As they got closer to home he could feel her nervousness increase and he felt
helpless to ease it, because he knew as well as she did that their future was
going to be far from smooth sailing.
Sheridan looked over at him and smiled. She took his hand where it rested on
his leg and held it in hers. She saw the sign ahead, announcing that they
were about to cross the border into Maine and her hand tightened. In a few
hours they would be home in Harmony. Their road trip was almost over and
suddenly Sheridan wished they could just turn around and keep driving for
ever.
Although she'd been gone almost nine months nothing appeared to have changed
in Harmony, but the weather. It was fall and the area was beautiful, full of
color and the air was cool and fresh. They drove slowly through town, Luis
silent, allowing her to take everything in. They had already decided that
they would go to his house first. Nobody knew they were coming. Sheridan felt
him watching her and she smiled at him, looking more confident and relaxed
than she felt.
Luis pulled into the driveway and they got out of the jeep, walking hand and
hand up to the door, which Luis opened and they stepped inside. "Mama?
Theresa? Miguel? Anybody here?"
They were all there and there was a terrible commotion as they gathered
around Luis and Sheridan, smothering them both in hugs and kisses. Pilar,
Theresa and Sheridan were all in tears and Pilar was berating Luis happily
for not warning her. Theresa called Ethan and told him only to come over,
because it was very important. When he arrived a few moments later the whole
scene was repeated again. Finally everybody calmed down and settled in the
living room while Luis and Sheridan explained all that had transpired and
their plans for the future.
It wasn't until later, after Ethan had left and Miguel and Theresa were out
that Pilar came to Luis and Sheridan. "I have some bad news..." she said.
"What is it Mama?" "It's Hank. He is dead Luis..."
Luis felt like he'd just been kicked in the gut. He couldn't breathe and he
sank into a chair. Sheridan sat on the arm of the chair, sliding her arm
around him. "What happened Pilar?" she whispered.
"Hank was involved with some terrible people... he was in a lot of debt. They
killed him a week ago tomorrow.I'm sorry Luis." Pilar hugged her son and left
them alone.
"Oh, Luis..." Sheridan bent to hug him too and he pulled her into his lap,
holding her tightly. He shook his head. "I can't believe Hank would get
involved in something like that..." he whispered. "Poor Beth..." He had told
Sheridan that Hank and Beth had been starting to come together... for the
sake of the baby probably, but he'd been with her, helping her.
"She must be devastated." Sheridan's heart ached for the woman, who only a
week ago had been her greatest enemy. They stayed that way for almost two
hours... Luis holding her and Sheridan letting him borrow her strength.
Finally Luis stood, with her still in his arms and started toward his bedroom.
"Uh, Luis... I don't think this is such a good idea. Your family..." Sheridan
just didn't feel right about it. "I just need to hold you... we'll even
leave the door open if you want..."
Sheridan nodded and kissed him softly. A few moments later Luis was in his
boxers and Sheridan was wearing a huge T-shirt of Luis'. They were snuggled
together in his bed, the door open so there would be no question about the
innocence of the sleeping arrangement. Sheridan smiled up at Luis. "This is
how I want to fall asleep every night for the rest of my life..." she
whispered.
Luis tightened his hold on her and whispered back, "Good, me too. I love you
so much Angel." "I love you too Luis."
Luis couldn't seem to stop thinking about Hank and Sheridan knew it. "I am so
sorry Luis... I know how special he was to you." Luis nodded. "He was my
best friend as long as I can remember. Man, we did everything together...
what am I gonna do without him Sheridan?"
Sheridan looked up into his pain filled eyes and wished she had the perfect
answer, but she didn't. "You're going to keep him alive in your heart... and
when his baby gets older you're going to tell him or her all the stories
about him. And we're going to stand by Beth and help her out... I think he
would've wanted that."
Luis knew her feelings for Beth weren't exactly the best and he loved her all
the more for wanting to help the other woman. "You are the most wonderful
woman in the world, you know that?" "If I am, it's because I have the most
wonderful man in the world in my life."she replied, kissing him gently.
She snuggled closer and he cuddled her to him and they drifted off to sleep.
"Mama..." Theresa whispered. "Come here..." Pilar joined her daughter in
the doorway of Luis' room and saw what Theresa was so excited about. "Aren't
they just the cutest thing Mama?" Theresa sighed.
Although she didn't exactly like the idea of them sharing a bed, even
innocently like this, she had to admit they were adorable. They were wrapped
in each others arms, identical smiles of pure bliss on their faces. They were
so much in love, there was no denying that. "Come Theresita, before we wake
them." She herded Theresa into the kitchen.
Luis had heard them outside the door, and pretended to still be asleep. After
they left he shifted a little so he could gaze down at his love. She was the
most exquisite creature he'd ever laid eyes on, and he swore she was even
more beautiful every day. He bent down and kissed her cheek, then her jaw,
and finally her lips.
Sheridan moaned softly and started to stir. She opened her eyes and smiled
at him. "Good morning Love..." "Good morning Angel." he replied. He
chuckled. "We had an audience... when I woke up Mama and Theresa were
watching us."
Sheridan blushed. "Oh no. What did they say?" she was almost mortified.
"They thought we were cute." he told her with a grin. "Come on... as much as
I'd love to spend the day here with you I can smell Mama's pancakes..." he
was gone before she could protest, inside his bathroom.
She flopped back against the pillows and sighed happily. If only everyday
could be this easy.
Miguel was out with Charity so it was just the four of them around the
breakfast table. Sheridan had been afraid it would be awkward, but they
treated her as if she ate breakfast there every day. Luis was putting away
pancakes like he hadn't eaten in days and she promised herself she would
learn to make them for him.
As they sat there, discussing plans for the day, the phone rang. Theresa
answered it and returned a moment later with a smile. "That was Chad... Beth
just went into labor... the baby is finally coming! She's was asking for you
Luis..."
Luis glanced over at Sheridan, but saw no traces of jealousy, only sympathy
and concern. "Come on Angel... let's go welcome this kid into the world." he
held out his hand, wondering if she would want to come, but she didn't
hesitate to take his hand.
Sheridan wasn't jealous, at least not much. When he immediately assumed she
was going with him the last trace of jealousy trickled away and she was more
than happy to take his hand. They went hand in hand to the jeep and once at
the hospital he took her hand again as they walked inside.
Luis saw Chad in the waiting room and the younger man hurried over, not
looking very happy. "Something's wrong... They don't think Beth's gonna make
it man."
To Be Continued...
Chapter 26:
"What do you mean she isn't going to make it?" Luis practically yelled in
Chad's face. "I don't know man," Chad answered, stepping back. "The doc
just came out and asked if there was anybody I should call... but I'd already
called you. Is there anybody else?"
Luis shook his head numbly. There was nobody else. Beth was all alone in the
world. Sheridan led him to the sofa in the waiting area and sat down with
him. She couldn't believe this horrible situation. First Hank and now he was
going to lose Beth too.
"Why?" Luis had tears in his eyes and Sheridan's heart ached for him. "I
don't know Luis. Nobody knows why these things happen." She wrapped her arms
around him and moved closer. Luis held onto her tightly and Sheridan could
feel his hot tears on her neck.
"Hey, this is her doc..." Chad said, jumping up from his chair. Luis and
Sheridan did too and the three crowded around the doctor. "I'm sorry, we
weren't able to save Miss Wallace." Luis shuddered and Sheridan was crying
too now. Chad turned away, looking sadly at the floor. The doctor continued,
"The good news is we saved the baby... it's a healthy little girl."
The doctor left them alone and Luis and Sheridan held each other close, while
Chad stared blankly out the window. "At least the baby is alright..."
Sheridan whispered. Luis took a deep breath... "Yeah, that's a miracle I
guess."
After a while Sheridan said, "Luis, let's go see the baby..." Luis followed
her to the nursery and they stood together, peering through the window at the
tiny girl. The name tag said only 'Baby Girl Wallace'. "She's beautiful..."
Sheridan said.
"Yeah," Luis agreed. He looked at the baby... all that was left of his two
best friends. "She's perfect..." He couldn't bear to look at her any longer
and moved down the hall. Everything was just too fresh right now... finding
out about Hank last night, losing Beth today. It was just too much.
Sheridan went back to see the baby later that day, and again several times
the next day. Luis couldn't bring himself to go back to the hospital.
Sheridan was allowed in to see the baby... she even held her and fed her.
Sheridan held the precious bundle in her arms and her heart ached, because
she knew that in a couple days the baby would be released to social services
and sent to a foster home. She had already become so attached to her that she
couldn't bear the thought.
She sat in the nursery rocking chair, holding the baby and rocking, while she
softly sang a lullaby she could still recall her mother singing to her. Eve
Russell walked by the window and saw Sheridan there, and she was concerned.
Sheridan was bonding with that baby and she was going to be hurt when it was
sent away. Eve knew what it felt like to have a child ripped from her heart
and she didn't wish pain like that on Sheridan or anybody else.
Sheridan was in the Lopez-Fitzgerald kitchen, doing her best to make dinner,
when Luis came in from work. He came to her and kissed her softly, before
peering into the pot on the stove. He didn't recognize the food cooking in
there, but he smiled encouragingly before going to sit at the table. "Where
is everybody?"
Sheridan went back to the salad she was making. "Miguel is at the Bennett's,
Theresa will be home shortly and Pilar is lying down." Luis nodded. "I've
been thinking I might as well move Miguel's stuff right over to the
Bennett's... the kid never comes home anyway."
Sheridan smiled. Then she said, "I was at the hospital today..."
"Sheridan, please... I don't want to hear about it." "But Luis... they're
going to put her into a foster home..."
"Sheridan... she isn't your baby! There's nothing you can do. She'll get a
good home." "Luis! How can you be so cold? She is Hank and Beth's baby..."
"Right. It's just too painful... please Sheridan, just let it go." Luis
stood, pushing his chair back hard into the counter and went out into the
back yard.
Sheridan sighed. Luis was in so much pain and she didn't know what to do to
help him. He was right about one thing though... it wasn't her baby and there
was nothing she could do.
Sheridan continued to spend a lot of time with the baby. She had taken to
calling her Jennifer, a name she'd always liked and now a few of the nurses
called her Jennifer too. Sheridan spend hours talking to Jennifer and rocking
her. "Sheridan?" Sheridan looked over at the nurse, Victoria, "Yes?"
"Tomorrow Sheridan... they're coming to get Jennifer tomorrow."
Sheridan felt her heart clench and her stomach went sour. Tomorrow... it was
too soon. She looked down at Jennifer, sound asleep in her arms and a tear
slowly rolled down her face. It was soon followed by others and Victoria came
and put a hand on Sheridan's shoulder. "We're all going to miss her... but we
knew it was going to happen..."
"I know..." Sheridan whispered. "I know, but I never thought... oh God..."
She wanted to just jump up and run from the hospital with Jennifer. She
wanted to spirit her away and keep her forever. Somehow, aside from Luis,
this tiny person had become the most important thing in her life.
And now, like most of the things in her life that she'd cared about, she was
going to lose her.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 27:
Sheridan sat in the rocker holding Jennifer the next day. The nurses on duty
watched sadly as she cuddled the baby, whispering things to her. Victoria
said softly to the other nurse on duty, "It's going to break her heart..."
Sheridan was trying not to think about the inevitable. Any minute now the
woman from social services would arrive and that knowledge loomed in her
mind, no matter how hard she tried to avoid thinking about it. She looked
down at the baby and her heart clenched. What a way for the child's life to
start... no father, no mother and now she would be sent to a foster home.
Life just wasn't fair.
Eve was watching through the glass again and she frowned. This wasn't going
to go well and she knew it. She pulled her cell phone from the pocket of her
white coat and dialed the Lopez-Fitzgerald house. Luis picked up and Eve
identified herself.
"Eve, is something wrong?" Luis was instantly alarmed. Eve sighed. "Not yet,
but I'm afraid something will be. Social services are coming to get Jennifer
today. Sheridan has been here all morning... she's going to be heartbroken
Luis."
"There's nothing I can do about it Eve... it's not our baby." "I know that
Luis, but that doesn't matter to Sheridan. She loves that baby already and
it's going to be terrible for her when she's taken away. I think you should
come down here."
"I don't think that's necessary Eve... Sheridan will be fine." Luis couldn't
bear the thought of seeing the baby again. "Luis, I'm serious... I think
you should come over here." Eve heard her name on the loud speaker, calling
her to the ER. "I have to go. Please Luis, she's going to need you."
Luis hung up the phone, knowing he had to go. As hard as it would be he had
to be there for Sheridan. He loved her too much to let her go through this
alone. He knew Eve was right... Sheridan was going to fall apart when they
took Jennifer away.
Sheridan knew as soon as she heard the door open behind her that the time had
come. Her arms involuntarily tightened around Jennifer and she glanced at the
woman beside her. The thought of handing Jennifer over was almost paralyzing.
The woman smiled softly in understanding. "I'll give you a few minutes to say
goodbye."
Sheridan nodded mutely and waited while the woman and the two nurses left her
in privacy. She looked down at the baby and tears dripped silently down her
cheeks as she spoke, "Oh Jennifer... I wish that things were different. If
only there were some way that I could keep you I would. I already love you so
much, even though I don't have a right to."
"I wish Luis would've come with me. He should've gotten to know you, even if
it was only for a little while. Your parents were his best friends you know.
They were special, wonderful people and you would've had a great life with
them."
Tears dripped down her face and her voice was cracking. "But you're going to
have a wonderful life anyway. You're going to have a family that wants you
more than anything. A family that loves you. That's important you know. I
know because I didn't have one, but I'm so glad that you will..."
Luis stood outside the nursery, looking through the window at Sheridan and
the baby. His heart was aching for Sheridan as he watched her cry. He'd known
she was getting attached to the baby, but he'd had no idea how much until
just this moment. He was a bit surprised... he thought seeing the baby again
would hurt, but it didn't. In fact, he was a bit regretful that he hadn't
taken the opportunity to see her before. She was the last link to his best
friends...
The woman from social services approached Sheridan and said, "It's time..."
Sheridan held the baby close and her lower lip trembled as she whispered, "I
love you Jennifer... I'll never forget you..." She pressed a kiss onto the
baby's downy head and allowed the woman to take Jennifer from her arms. She
watched as they left the room and then she slid out of the chair onto the
floor, sobbing as though her heart was breaking.
Luis was in the room in a flash, dropping beside her and taking her into his
arms. She clung to him, burying her face in his chest and crying her heart
out. "Oh God, Luis... it hurts..."
"I know Angel... I know it does. It'll be ok...we'll get through this." Luis
stroked her hair and rubbed her back with soothing circles as he whispered
his love to her.
"I'll never forget her..." Sheridan whispered through her tears. "She'll
always be in my heart... I know it's strange, but I just thought we were
supposed to be together."
"She's going to be ok Angel... she'll have a great home with people that will
love her." Luis felt helpless to ease her pain. He held her and comforted
her, but he knew there was really nothing he could do. Only time could heal
the pain in her heart now.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 28:
The next few days were very hard. Luis tried his best to ease Sheridan's
pain, but nothing he did could make her stop missing Jennifer. All her plans
to find a house and start her new life were put on hold. She spent the days
at the Lopez-Fitzgerald house, doing mindless chores for Pilar and cooking.
She was a terrible cook, but nobody had the heart to refuse her efforts.
The nights were the worst. She lay in Luis' arms, sometimes crying, other
times just lying there unable to sleep. Even she didn't understand how she
could've become so attached to Jennifer after only five days. She knew it was
crazy and she wished she could get over it, but she couldn't seem to pull
herself out of her mood.
Three days after Jennifer had been gone Luis was sitting in the living room,
trying to watch the ball game, but unable to concentrate. He'd just been in
the bedroom where Sheridan was. She had been asleep but Luis knew she'd been
crying by the tear stains on her cheeks. He'd never felt so helpless in his
life as he did these days around her.
A knock on the door jarred him out of his reverie and he went to answer it.
It was man he didn't know... dressed in a suit and carrying a briefcase. He
introduced himself as Dirk Andrews and he was a lawyer. Beth's lawyer, to be
precise.
Luis invited him inside and he settled his briefcase on the coffee table and
opened it, withdrawing a stack of papers.
"I am representing Beth Wallace's estate, of which you are the sole
recipient." "Me?" Luis was surprised. "Yes Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald, you. That
consists of her business, not including the actual building, which is of
course a holding of Crane Industries. Also her personal effects, her bank
account and one other thing..."
The lawyer rooted through the briefcase and withdrew another document,
presenting it to Luis. "She left you as guardian of her then unborn child."
Luis took the paper, staring at it but not seeing it. The baby... she'd left
him Jennifer. "Of course you are not obligated to accept the guardianship...
you may refuse and turn her over to the state. She'll be given a good home."
Luis couldn't think. Was he ready to be a father? He'd always planned on
sticking by Beth and being a part of the baby's life, but to actually be her
parent... that was a big commitment. But this was Hank and Beth's baby. Beth
had entrusted him with her most precious possession and he couldn't refuse in
the face of such blind faith.
"Of course I accept... Beth wanted me to have her baby, so of course I'll
take her." Luis heard himself saying. The lawyer smiled and continued to tell
him the legal aspects while Luis slowly adjusted to the fact that he was
about to become a father. Not in the way he'd always expected, but he felt a
budding excitement just the same.
Just as he was closing the door behind the lawyer Sheridan appeared in the
foyer. "Who was that?" She asked, peering at the man's retreating back
through the curtain.
"That was Beth's lawyer. She left me the business and the rest of her
assets." Luis didn't mention the baby. God forbid, if something didn't work
out and he didn't get custody she would be devastated all over again.
Sheridan nodded. "The Book Cafe... what are you going to do with it?"
Luis shrugged, moving to the sofa, drawing her with him and settling her in
his arms. "I don't know. I was thinking maybe you'd want to do something
with it. What do you think?" Sheridan thought about it for a minute and
gave him a weak smile. "If you want me to I will." "Sweetheart, I don't
want you to do anything you don't want to. If you don't want to do it I'll
let Chad manage the place. I'm sure he could handle it."
Sheridan considered it again, more seriously. "Maybe I'd like to do it. It
would be nice... meeting people... and all the kids are always hanging out
there." She smiled a genuine smile now. "I think it would be good for me.
Take my mind off... well, other things."
Luis cuddled her close and kissed her softly. "I think it would do you good
too."
Sheridan knew Luis was keeping something from her. He was acting strange and
when she asked him why he was evasive. She wasn't worried really... he wasn't
acting 'bad' strange. She was intensely curious though.
She tried to ignore it and the hole in her heart, and focus on the Book Cafe.
She'd been going over the receipts and ledgers Beth had kept and the business
seemed sound. She was slowly getting a grasp on the day to day running of the
place too, thanks greatly to Chad. He had his hand right on the pulse of
everything and was eager to help her out.
One evening a couple days after they'd taken over the Cafe she returned home
to see Luis and Miguel unloading some boxes from Luis' Jeep. Curious, she
headed to the garage, where they were putting the cartons. Luis met her
halfway across the driveway and embraced her, kissing her softly.
"What's that?" She tried to peer over his shoulder. "Never mind." He said
firmly, with a huge grin. "I want you to forget about it and stay out of the
garage...ok?" "But..."
"No buts. Please Sheridan? You'll ruin my surprise."
"Alright Luis. I promise." She cast another glance over her shoulder as Luis
led her to the house. Miguel stood by the Jeep with a huge smile on his face.
Sheridan could hardly stand it. Before it had been just Luis hiding
something. Now, at dinner, Pilar, Miguel and Theresa sat there, looking like
they were about to burst with excitement and it was driving Sheridan crazy.
"Alright! I want to know what's going on!" She demanded.
The three of them all looked at Luis who tried to look innocent. "What do you
mean?" "You guys have a secret and I want in on it too." Sheridan said
firmly. "Sorry Angel. You'll find out soon enough." Luis said, turning his
interest to his dinner.
"When is soon enough?" "Oh, probably tomorrow." Luis said benignly.
Sheridan sighed. She knew she wasn't going to get anywhere so she gave up.
She could wait until tomorrow she supposed.
Sheridan didn't sleep well that night, getting up several times to sip water
and pace the dark living room. Theresa had found her there when she got up
for a drink about 2am and they had sat on the sofa together for a while.
Sheridan liked to talk to Theresa. The girl always seemed glad to listen and
she had a refreshing outlook on the world.
Theresa seemed to understand about her feelings for Jennifer. She was the
only person who didn't keep telling Sheridan to put it behind her and move
on. The day after Jennifer had been taken away she had told Sheridan that if
it was meant to be then Jennifer would come back to her.
Now, in the dark living room Theresa was even more encouraging to Sheridan.
"I sense that fate wants you to be with Jennifer Sheridan. You've had so many
bad things happen in your life I just know things are going to turn around
for you."
"Things have already turned around for me Theresa. I have Luis, and all of
you, in my life now. I need to forget about having Jennifer in my life and
focus on the plans Luis and I were making before. I'm going to tell Luis it's
time we start looking at houses."
Theresa just smiled. "I just know good things are going to happen for you
guys. I just know it!"
Now it was late morning and Sheridan began to stir in bed. She could hear
Jennifer crying... it was the same dream she'd had every night. Jennifer was
crying for her and she couldn't find the baby. Sheridan ran frantically up
and down a maze of hallways, trying to follow the baby's wails, but never
getting any closer. She rounded a corner, finding herself on the edge of a
great, black hole.
Her arms flailed wildly, trying to catch her balance, but
failing and then she was falling... falling down into the darkness, still
hearing Jennifer crying for her...
Sheridan woke up with a gasp, sucking air desperately, as her heart pounded.
She could still hear Jennifer and she choked back a sob. "My God," she
whispered to the empty room, "I'm losing my mind..."
To Be Continued...
Chapter 29:
Sheridan lay in bed, the sounds of Jennifer's crying still echoing in her
head. Why wouldn't it stop? She was losing her mind, that was the only
explanation. It seemed to be getting louder and she closed her eyes and
covered her ears, and willed herself to stop hearing it. "Sheridan..." She
heard Luis' voice and looked up. He was standing there, looking concerned.
The crying had stopped and she looked at him, her lip trembling. "What's
wrong Angel?"
"Jennifer... I heard her crying Luis... not in my dream, but when I was
awake. I'm going crazy...I know it..." Luis smiled. "You aren't going crazy
Angel. Mama..." he called into the hall.
Pilar came into the room, holding a bundle in her arms. Sheridan gasped, "Oh
God, it can't be..." Pilar put Jennifer into Sheridan's arms and left the
three of them alone. Sheridan looked down at the baby. Tears streamed down
her face and she hugged the baby to her. "Oh... I never thought I'd see her
again..." She whispered.
Suddenly a thought occured to her. "Why?" She asked Luis, her voice suddenly
sad. "Why would you bring her to me, just to make me give her up again? Oh
Luis, I can't go through it again."
Luis sat on the edge of the bed and smiled. "You don't have to give her up.
She's ours Sheridan... ours to keep." Sheridan's face was blank as she took
the information in... then a smile broke and she laughed as fresh tears
poured from her eyes. "But how? When? Oh Luis..."
Luis laughed. He'd never felt as good as he did this minute. He'd just given
the woman he loved what she wanted most in the world. "Beth appointed me
guardian. She's legally mine. And she'll be yours as soon as we get the
adoption finalized."
Sheridan couldn't speak, she was so happy. She looked down at the baby. The
baby of her heart, if not her body and then she looked up at the man she
loved. The man who was her heart.
There was no possible way that there was a human being in the world happier
than she was at this minute. A few short weeks ago she'd been alone,
thousands of miles away, with nothing, and now she had everything she'd ever
hoped . No matter what life threw at them now, or what her family threw at
them, together they would triumph.
The darkness that was her old life was in the past, where she planned to
leave it and the future ahead looked bright. With Luis and Jennifer in her
life, how could it be any less.
THE END
