Chapter 1:
Sheridan Crane stared blankly out the window in her apartment. Raindrops
slipped down the square panes and rain poured down from a dark sky. The
weather matched her mood perfectly.
Tears as clear and crystal as the rain slid down her cheeks. It had been a
month. A month since she had let her daughter go. Part of her died that day,
and nothing could heal her now, not even Luis' love, which never faltered. No
matter what, he was always there to lend a listening ear or a shoulder to cry
on. Sheridan was surprised she hadn't run out of tears yet. Every day it
seemed a fresh set found its way into her eyes. Every day she would relive
that terrible day over and over.
Danielle. Her poor little girl. She had let her go. Even though she knew it
was best, in her heart, Sheridan just couldn't, wouldn't give her up.
Luis interrupted her thoughts. Her turned her around to face him, and gently
wiped a tear from her face. "Sheridan," he said softly. "You can't keep doing
this to yourself. It's not right. I hate seeing you unhappy, I hate seeing
tears in those big, beautiful eyes of yours, I just hate the destruction you
are bringing upon yourself."
She smiled weakly. "What would I do if I ever lost you?" She pulled him into
a tight embrace, holding him close and burying her face in his shoulder.
"L-lose me? Where would you ever get the idea that you would lose me,
Sheridan?"
Sheridan's mind traveled back to a few years earlier. Luis had gone,
disappeared without a trace. He had returned, but she had never gotten an
explanation. Whenever she asked, he would change the subject. Could it have
something to do with Alistair killing Martin? It was a definite possibility,
she decided.
Sheridan finally responded to Luis' question. "I was thinking about when you
were gone."
Luis stiffened, so Sheridan didn't go any further into the subject.
Luis took Sheridan's hands and gently led her out of Danielle's bedroom. "You
won't ever lose me, but in the meantime, you need to move on with your life."
"I-I don't know if I can Luis. Everything reminds me of her. Her room, the
living room, even you." Sheridan smiled softly. "Remember how she used to
call you Daddy?"
Luis gave a smile himself. "Yeah. I do. I miss her, and I know you do too.
But Sheridan, you can't do this. You can't keep hiding in your apartment. Why
don't you move out, go somewhere else, try to start your life again?"
Sheridan shook her head firmly. "We've been through this Luis. I-I can't
leave. If I go, it's like leaving her behind. I can't do that. Please, don't
ask me to."
Luis sighed, frustrated beyond belief. He absolutely hated seeing Sheridan
hurt, especially when he couldn't help her. He had his own ulterior motives
though. He needed her. If he ever felt safe enough, he would tell her why he
had been gone for three years. Gone without any explanation. His expression
darkened at the very thought.
Sheridan watched him, saw his face take on anger. "Luis…Luis, what is it?"
"Nothing."
He was closing up on her again. "Luis, come on. Don't do this to me. Talk to
me. Please."
Her eyes pleaded with him, begging for an explanation, and he relented. But
only slightly.
"I'm upset, because you won't let me help you. I want you to be happy. I want
to see that bright smile on your beautiful face. I want you to get on with
your life."
Sheridan considered thoughtfully for a moment. She sighed. "I'll think about
finding a house. Okay?"
Luis swept her into a hug.
"I said I'd think about it," she said, but there was no force in her words.
She melted any time he made any sort of declaration of love for her.
Luis checked his watch. 9:30 p.m. Pilar would be wanting to know where Luis
was. Ever since he had returned, she had treated him like a child, always
having to know where he had been. He would just shake his head and bear it.
He knew how much his mother loved him. He looked at Sheridan. "Do you want me
to stay with you tonight?"
Sheridan looked pleadingly at him. "Would you please?"
He nodded. "Of course." He gave a soft kiss. "Let me call Mama first."
Sheridan smiled and nodded. Pilar loved Luis so much…she was the perfect
mother, thought Sheridan. Her made her long to have Danielle back again.
Sheridan shook her head. 'Stop it,' she silently chastised herself. 'You've
got the whole evening, and you'll be with Luis. No more negative thoughts.'
Luis returned from the kitchen. "Your phone line is dead. I'm going to go
down to the front desk and see what's going on. I'll be right back."
Sheridan watched worriedly as Luis retreated down the hall and into the
elevator. "You've got nothing to worry about Sheridan. Luis is fine. All he's
doing is checking out the phone lines." Then why did she feel this terrible
sense of dread washing over her?
To Be Continued...