The Truth, And Nothing But The Truth - Part 6

Note: Several chapters may be Rated R!!

Chapter 30

After much discussion, Luis and Sheridan made the decision to let Luke and Lily be in the wedding. Kay and Evan wanted to get married as soon as possible, and had set the wedding date for the end of May. They didn�t know if the children really understood what all of this meant, but they were excited nonetheless. Sheridan had picked up a bride�s magazine at the grocery store so that she could show the twins the flower girls and ring bearers to give them an idea of how they would dress for the occasion. The members of the bridal party were meeting today for their fittings, but the females were going to one location and the males to another. Jordan had suggested that they make this a girls� day out and finish off the fitting with brunch, and everyone agreed. Luis told them that since his two favorite ladies were deserting him that he would probably have to take Luke to McDonald�s for lunch, which pleased the little boy immensely.

Lily still had nightmares, but the little girl was handling it amazingly. In fact, every time it happened Sheridan was in worse shape than her daughter and she cried over the fact that her baby was suffering. Evan had insisted that Lily and the two other little girls that were also abused see a child physiologist paid for out of his own pocket. Lily loved Doctor Maggie although Luis and Sheridan suspected that the lollipops the nurse passed out had something to do with her affection. Today, Lily�s nightmares were the last thing on her mind because Sheridan had told her that she was going to be getting a pretty dress, and matching shoes for Uncle Evan�s wedding. By the time they arrived at the bridal shop, the little imp could hardly contain herself. As mother of the bride, Grace was there, as well as Simone, Jordan, Jessica and of course Kay. Sheridan had given Lily the little speech on the way over to not touch anything in the store unless she was given permission. As usual, the little girl commanded the room the second she walked in and everyone rushed up to fuss over her.

�Oh Lily, you are not going to believe the pretty dress I picked out for you,� Kay said, squatting down to give her a kiss.

�Me see now,� Lily said, clapping her hands excitedly making everybody laugh.

�My daughter the fashion model,� Sheridan giggled.

Just then, an attractive lady approached wearing a welcoming smile. �Hello, I�m Shelia, your bridal consultant. Well Kay, do I take it that all of the ladies in the wedding party have arrived?�

�Yes Shelia, we�re all here,� Kay said, introducing everyone. �And this cute little girl is Lily, my flower girl.�

�Hi Miss Lady,� Lily greeted Shelia.

�Sweetie, her name is Shelia,� Sheridan told her daughter, trying to hide her smile.

�You are just adorable,� Shelia gushed. �I can�t wait to see you in your flower girl dress, so I better let my assistants bring them out so you ladies can try them on. We should have plenty of time to make any alterations that are needed.�

As if on cue, one of the assistants wheeled out a garment cart with all the dresses for everyone to admire. The bridesmaid gowns were a beautiful shade of lavender and cut with simple elegance. There was a collective gasp as she unzipped the opaque garment bag to reveal Kay�s wedding gown. Like the other dresses it was simple, but the fabric was breathtaking, and shimmered with the color of opals when hit by the sunlight. Lily�s dress was shown last, and she squealed with delight as she broke away from Sheridan to feel her pretty new frock. The little garment was white with a big lavender sash, but the crowning glory for Lily was the satin lavender shoes. She plopped right down on the floor and began to remove her little tennis shoes.

�Lily, why don�t you come with mommy to the fitting room so we can try on our dresses?� Sheridan said, trying to pull her daughter off of the floor.

�Mama, put shoes,� Lily requested, lifting her foot into the air.

�We�ll put your shoes on as soon as we get into our dresses,� Sheridan told her. �Now, why don�t you pick your pretty shoes up and bring them into the fitting room?�

Everybody laughed as Lily gathered her shoes and excitedly followed behind Sheridan. �Why don�t you all go find a fitting room and I�ll bring your dresses to you,� Shelia suggested.

As soon as they had their dresses on all the ladies emerged from the fitting rooms to look in the three-way mirrors. They all looked beautiful, especially Kay, and Grace, dressed in a gown that was a darker shade than the bridesmaids, she could feel the tears welling up in her eyes at the sight of her daughter. �If I�m this way now, I don�t know how I�m going to be at the wedding,� Grace told Sheridan, who was standing beside her.

�I�ll probably be a blubbering idiot the day that Lily gets married,� Sheridan said. �Kay looks so beautiful and she is going to knock Evan�s socks off when he sees her walking down the aisle.�

�Kay is lucky to have found Evan. He�s a good man Sheridan,� Grace said, watching Lily spinning in front of the mirror in her pretty dress. �Lily looks like a little watch charm. How has she been doing Sheridan?�

�She still has nightmares occasionally, but I have to say my sweet girl is a brave little trooper........... Oh no,� Sheridan groaned. �I better get over there. Shelia is trying to pin the hem of Lily�s dress and she won�t stand still.�

�She is so excited,� Grace laughed. �I guess I�ll go check on my little girl too.� She walked up to stand in front of Kay and smiled fondly. �I know this sounds cliche, but it seems like yesterday that I held you in my arms, and now look at you. You�re a young woman, ready to begin another phase of your life............�

�Mom, are you crying?� Kay asked, surprised and touched by her mother�s tears.

�Oh my God, she is crying,� Jessica said, surprised.

�Will you two stop,� Grace said, wiping her tears away. �Can�t a mother be a little emotional when her daughter is getting married?�

�You two don�t know just how lucky you are,� Jordan said, her eyes filled with sadness, but she quickly recovered and smiled. �I don�t know about all of you, but I�m starving.�

�Me too,� Simone said. �I cannot wait to dig into brunch. Where are we going anyway?�

�I thought it would be fun to go to the country club, and it will be my treat,� Jordan offered, and when everyone protested, she insisted that it was the least she could do for being included in the wedding festivities.

�No mama,� Lily cried from across the room.

�Sweetie, you have to take off your dress so that Shelia can hem the bottom. Besides, we�re going out to lunch, and you can�t wear your pretty dress there,� Sheridan said, trying to reason with her.

�Me see daddy,� Lily sobbed, tears streaming down her face.

�Lily, you will get to show daddy when we pick up the dress next week����

�Sheridan, why is Lily so upset?� Jordan asked, walking up beside them.

�She�s afraid that we�re trying to give her dress back,� Sheridan explained.

�Oh, poor baby. Maybe if she sees all the big girls give their dresses back she�ll understand better,� Jordan whispered.

�Maybe, but I think I have an idea,� she said, squatting down in front of her daughter. �Will you stand in front of the big mirror so mommy can show you something?� When Lily complied, Sheridan went on. �Do you see how long your dress is? If we don�t let Shelia take the hem up people won�t be able to see your pretty lavender shoes when you�re walking down the aisle. That wouldn�t be a good thing would it?�

Lily looked in the mirror, and pulled up her dress so that she could see for herself that her shoes were hidden. �No mama.�

�So, can we give your dress back to Shelia so she can fix it for you, and then we�ll come back in a few days and pick it up again? Mommy already paid for it, so the pretty dress is yours to keep after that.�

�Kay mama,� Lily agreed.

�That�s my girl,� Sheridan said, hugging her daughter. �I bet we can take your new shoes home today though, and I�ll let you try them on for daddy and Luke, but you have to promise to keep them in the box until we get home.�

Lily�s face lit up over that announcement. �Me new shoe,� Lily said, excitedly.

�Yes you do, but let�s get your clothes changed so we can all go to eat now. Everybody is really hungry, but mommy did want to tell you that you look so pretty in your beautiful dress.�

�We go mama,� Lily said, taking Sheridan�s hand, as they headed toward the dressing room.

�She is so adorable,� Jordan sighed.

�She certainly is,� Grace agreed.

********************

Evan had asked Ethan to be his best man, hoping it would go a long way in mending their relationship, and to his surprise his nephew had accepted. The rest of the male side of the bridal party was made up with Chad, Luis, Noah, and of course Luke. The guys had finished with their fittings quickly to their relief, when Ethan came up with a suggestion for a guys� day out. �Why don�t we all go to the club and hit the course?�

�Are you saying you want to go golfing?� Evan asked, surprised. �Today?�

�Yeah, why not?� Ethan asked, smiling. �You play don�t you Evan?�

�Sure, I was a caddy when I was thirteen and they used to let us play after all the paying members went home for the day, but it�s been a while,� he admitted.

�I don�t know about this,� Chad said, hesitantly. �You remember what happened the last time you dragged me out on a golf course don�t you? Well, if you don�t, let me remind you. Not only did my ball end up in the lake, but so did my driver.�

�Okay, so you put a little too much power into your swing,� Ethan admitted. �You just need to learn to refine your technique. You could get really good at the game if you would just practice.�

�Ethan, brothers that grow up in East LA don�t usually get a lot of opportunities to be good golfers. We excel in basketball and stick ball, and we�re not bad runners either,� Chad informed him.

�Oh come on buddy. I see a Tiger Harris in the making,� Luis teased.

�Okay, since you�re the comedian around here, what about you Luis? Are you going to golf?� Chad challenged wearing a smirk on his face.

�I admit that I�m new to the game, but I�m pretty good considering the short time I�ve been playing. Besides, I�ve been dying to try out the new clubs that Sheridan got me for my birthday. They�re sitting in the back of my SUV right now.�

�What about you Noah, do you play?� Evan asked, not wanting to leave his future brother-in-law out of the fun.

�I�ve played a little golf in my day,� Noah modestly admitted.

�A little golf,� Luis laughed. �If memory serves me, Noah was not only the star football and basketball player in high school, but he was also on the golf team.�

�Well Luis, somebody had to take over the head jock position after you graduated,� Noah teased.

�That�s a strange combination of sports,� Chad said, looking confused. �Football and basketball are so physical so why did you choose golf?�

�What can I say?� Noah said, shrugging his shoulders. �I knew I wanted to be a doctor some day and I had to have an excuse to take Wednesday�s off.�

�So, it sounds like a plan to me,� Ethan said, happily. �Let�s go.�

�Wait a minute,� Luis said, stopping them in their tracks. �I can�t take Luke out on the golf course.�

�Why not?� Evan asked. �I think he�ll have a blast.�

�Because, that�s a long way to walk for a little boy, and what if he gets whacked by a ball? Sheridan will kill me and I would never forgive myself.�

�Me go daddy,� Luke pleaded, jumping up and down excitedly.

�We�ll take the golf carts so he doesn�t have to walk, and we�ll only play nine holes,� Ethan suggested, making a good argument. �Plus, there shouldn�t be that many people on the course today.�

�Yeah, and I�ll watch him every second when it�s your turn Luis,� Evan offered.

�Luke�s our main man,� Chad said, turning the little boy�s cap around so that the bill was facing the back. �We�re not going to let anything happen to him Luis. High five me buddy,� Chad said, holding out his hand to Luke.

�Five,� Luke giggled, smacking Chad�s hand.

�Okay, okay,� Luis conceded. �But if he starts getting bored or cranky, then there�s a good chance that I�ll have to leave right in the middle of the game.�

�Not a problem,� Ethan said, and the others agreed.

�I�ll meet you guys over there,� Luis told them. �I�m going to stop by and get Luke a Happy Meal.�

�Go now daddy,� Luke said, pulling Luis� hand.

�I sure hope that I can convince Kay to have kids right away,� Evan said, watching Luis hoist Luke up on his shoulders as they walked toward the car.

�Now that�s a scary thought,� Noah said, pretending to shiver. �My sister with a baby. That picture is just not registering in my head.�

********************

The dining room at the country club offered a panoramic view of the golf course with a back drop of the ocean and the ladies were fortunate enough to have a table right by the window. Brunch turned out to be an enjoyable event as they discussed plans for the wedding while Lily kept them all entertained as she hammed it up for her audience. Sheridan was shocked when her little performer started to sing a song. It was apparently about a doggy, but the rest of the words were a little difficult to understand, so Sheridan translated for them. �I think she�s singing about her doggy sleeping by her bed every night. Ace is her protector against the MONSTERS,� Sheridan told them, spelling out the word monsters.

�That is so cute,� Jessica sighed.

�That is so great that Ace makes her feel safe,� Jordan commented. �Animals can be amazing companions and there�s been so many cases where they�ve saved people�s lives.�

�Ace has always been very protective of the children ever since they were tiny babies. He�s even warned us of impending disaster when Luke and Lily have been in precarious situations.�

�He certainly saved the day when you and Luis were lost in those mountains and those creepy guys were after you,� Kay said. �I�ll never forget the way he jumped off of that big rock and held that guy at bay with his teeth on his neck. Of course, I had to observe all of this from behind some bushes since Evan threatened to tie me up if I didn�t stay out of the middle of things.�

�Thank God that he did,� Grace shivered at the memory. �Your dad still has the gray hairs from that whole nightmare.�

�Really Kay, it is so like you to cause all the drama. Dad specifically told you to stay at the command center, but you just had to sneak off when nobody was looking.�

�You know Jess, I have plenty of friends that could easily fit into your bridesmaid dress,� Kay reminded her.

�Don�t forget the reason she had to stay at the command center was because she had hurt her ankle chasing after Evan during a storm, and had to spend the night in a cave,� Simone added with a mischievous grin.

�Aren�t you supposed to be on my side Simone?� Kay asked with a raised brow.

�Okay girls, I don�t think that Sheridan and Jordan want to listen to the three of you go at each other,� Grace chastised.

�I can�t believe I was away in Europe thinking I was leading this exciting life when the whole time all the excitement was back here in Harmony. Sheridan what�s this about you and Luis being lost in the mountains and creepy guys?� Jordan asked.

�It�s a long story. Why don�t I fill you in on the details later,� Sheridan told her niece.

�Mama, more ballberries,� Lily requested.

�Sweetie, you�ve already had so many strawberries that your going to turn into one,� Sheridan said, looking at Lily�s red-stained mouth and fingers.

�Ballberries?� Lily requested, blinking her eyes in a flirty manner.

�You know that only works on daddy,� Sheridan laughed. �But, mommy will let you have one more strawberry, but that is it.�

�Tank you mama,� Lily said, sweetly.

�You are so welcome sweetie,� Sheridan said, leaning down to kiss her daughter�s cheek, and that�s when she saw them through the window. At first she thought it was a figment of her imagination, but she blinked and realized they were very real. �Oh my God, I just saw Chad driving a golf cart, and Luis was sitting on the passenger side with Luke in his lap.�

�Look, the rest of the guys are there too,� Jordan said. �It looks like they�re getting ready to play that hole right there.�

�I didn�t even know that Evan played golf,� Kay said, amazed.

�I don�t believe this. Luke has a little club and he�s hitting the ball, and all the guys are clapping for him. He looks so excited to be with his daddy, but what could Luis be thinking?� Sheridan asked, not sure if she was angry or touched by the scene before her. Everybody at the table smiled when they saw Luis swing Luke into the air after the little boy hit his golf shot. �I think it�s time to find out just what�s going on here,� Sheridan said, getting her cell phone and watched as Luis fished around for his phone. �Luis, hi.�

�Hi babe, what�s going on?� Luis asked warmly. �Are you having a nice brunch?�

�Oh we�re having a wonderful time, but the strangest thing just happened.�

�What? Is Lily okay,� Luis worried.

�Well, other than the fact that she�s OD�d on strawberries, she�s just fine,� she assured him. �But, here we all are eating when I just happened to look out of the window and see you riding by in a golf cart holding our son. Do you care to explain what�s going on?�

�You�re at the country club?� Luis asked, surprised and a little nervous at the same time.

�Yes, and if you look toward the window, you can see me waving at you,� she said with an edgy laugh, as she saw him look her way.

�Now Sheridan before you go and get all mad we�re just golfing. Luke is having the best time too. I bought him the cutest set of golf clubs in the pro shop that look real, but they�re really plastic. I swear if he keeps this up he�s going to be the next Tiger Woods.............�

�Luis, you�re babbling,� Sheridan cut him off. �Could you put Luke on for me?� She watched Luis put the phone to his ear.

�Hi sweet pea, are you having fun?� Sheridan asked her little boy.

�Mama, me goss,� Luke told her excitedly.

�I know, mommy can see you from the window. Are you getting tired, because if you are mommy can come out and get you?�

�No, me goss daddy,� Luke protested.

�Okay you can stay with daddy, and mommy will see you at home later. Mommy loves you.�

�Me wuv mommy............... Me wuv daddy................. Me wuv Leelee............�

�That is so sweet,� Sheridan told him fondly. �Will you put daddy on the phone?�

�So, did Luke convince you that he was having fun?� Luis asked, hopefully.

�Yes he did, but please be careful with him Luis. It makes me nervous that he�s out there with all those balls speeding by.�

�Don�t worry, I�m not going to let anything happen to him, and besides we only have a few more holes to pay. We�ll see you at home later. Love you.........�

�I love you too, but if anything happens to our son don�t bother to come home,� Sheridan teased.

******************

Antonio lay in bed and listened to Maria�s even breathing as she slept. His mind was racing with thoughts of the man that had been following them since they had arrived in Malta. There had always been that fear that the syndicate he had been foolish enough to get involved with would come after him. Even though the case had been dropped because of a botched arrest, he was still a threat to those thugs, and he had a really bad feeling that they had caught up with him. There was always the possibility that the guy was working for Luis, but he immediately ruled that out. It wasn�t his brother�s style to hire an investigator, and he couldn�t imagine Luis would waste the money on him. Could it be the Cranes� that had sent this guy after him? Julian was in prison, but he wouldn�t put it past Ivy to take him out of the picture permanently. Suddenly, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, and he slipped out of bed and moved toward the window. Pulling back the curtain just enough to let a sliver of moonlight in, he looked down to the street. The man was there, and it filled him with rage to be stalked like an animal. It was time to take action, but this time he would become the hunter. As he grabbed his pants he heard Maria stir.

�Tony, what are you doing?� Maria asked with a husky voice.

�I need to get some air,� he said in a low voice. �Go back to sleep.�

�I will not go back to sleep until you tell me where you are going,� she demanded.

�Maria don�t start with me now. I�m having trouble sleeping and I just want to go out for some air. It�s as simple as that.�

�I do not believe you Tony. You have been acting strangely ever since I told you about Jordan Crane�s phone call. You drag me out of Greece at the crack of dawn, and now that we are in Malta you are always looking over your shoulder like a fugitive......... Oh God, you are running from the police aren�t you?�

�No Maria, I�m not wanted by the law. At least I don�t think I am, but there has been somebody following us ever since we got to Malta, and he�s outside right now.�

�Then why are you going to go out there?� she asked in disbelief. �The man could be a murderer.�

�If he wanted to murder me, he would have done it by now. No, there�s another reason he is following me and I intend to find out.�

�How?� she asked, nervously.

�I plan on beating him at his own game,� he said, slipping her shirt on.

�No Tony, you cannot,� she cried, hopping out of bed naked and flinging herself into his arms.

�Maria, everything is going to be fine,� he said, holding her close. �I�m just going to ask the man some questions.�

�I am so afraid,� she mumbled against his neck.

�Hey, I�m a big boy,� he said, giving her a light kiss on the lips. �Lock the door behind me, and don�t open it for anybody but me.�

�Tony please do not do this,� she begged.

�If I don�t come back in an hour call the police,� he said, closing the door behind him.

The suite of rooms they had rented was in one of the older sections of Malta, but very plush and expensive. Antonio decided that he would walk right out the front door and give the man a chance to follow him, and his plan worked like a charm. As he made his way down the street, he could hear footsteps behind him even over the sound of the waves crashing against the rocky shore. He chanced a look behind him, and even though there was nobody there, he felt the stalker�s presence. It was time to make his move, so he found a spot to hide and waited. It wasn�t long before his prey came upon him, and as soon as the man walked by his hiding place, he dived out behind and put the stalker in a choke hold. Antonio was taller, and outweighed the man by fifty pounds, so there wasn�t much of a struggle. �Who are you?�

�I am just a tourist out for a breath of fresh air senior,� the man choked out.

�You�re a damn liar. Everywhere I look you�re right behind me. Somebody hired you to follow me and I want to know who it is.�

�I do not know what you are talking about,� he responded shakily.

�Are you working for the Cranes?�

�No senior, I do not know these Cranes.�

�The French syndicate sent you then...........�

�I am Spanish, and just a tourist...............�

Antonio picked the man up and dangled him over the side of the rocky cliff. �Now, tell me who sent you or I will drop you over the side. If you�re lucky enough to miss the rocks, the tide will carry his worthless body out to sea............�

�I will tell you,� the man screamed. �Please let me down.�

�Okay,� Antonio said, lifting the man back to solid ground, his arm still at his throat.

�It was your abuelo senior,� he said, gasping for air. �He sent me to find you.�

�My abuelo,� Antonio said, confused at first until the word finally translated in his brain. �Now I know you�re lying. Both of my grandfathers are dead. Now tell me the truth, or I swear I�ll throw you over the side...........�

�I swear on my mother�s grave, your abuelo, Don Miguel hired me, and I promise you he is very much alive.�

�How did you know my grandfather�s name was Miguel? Are you trying to pull some kind of a con on me?�

�No senior, your abuelo called me from America where he was visiting your family and hired me to find you.�

For some strange reason Antonio had a gut feeling that the man was telling the truth, but it sure as hell didn�t make any sense. �What�s your name?�

�Alonzo, senior,� the man told her, his face still blanketed with fear.

�Okay Alonzo,� Antonio said, taking his arm from around the investigator�s neck, to place it around his shoulders. �We�re going to go back to my hotel room and have a little talk, and you�re going to tell me everything you know about my abuelo.�

�Si senior, I will tell you everything you want to know but I think I need a drink to steady my nerves.�

�Alonzo, you can have the whole damn bottle, just as long as you tell me what I want to know.�

******************

Martin and Pilar took their three youngest children to the airport to send them off for their trip to Spain. Because of tightened security, they weren�t allowed to walk to the gate, so they all said goodbye at check in. A teary-eyed Pilar was hugging Paloma, when she saw him over her mother�s shoulder. Their eyes met, and he smiled that gorgeous grin that made her melt, but she rebelled against the feeling, knowing he was probably leaving to go back to boarding school. Maybe if she pretended she hadn�t seen him, he would just go away, but it was too late because he was walking toward them. �Oh geez,� Paloma said, pulling out of her mother�s arms.

�What is wrong mija?� Pilar asked with a worried frown.

�Nothing mama...........�

�Paloma, I can�t believe I ran into you today,� JJ said, stepping up in front of her. �I guess you�re leaving for Spain today.�

�Paloma, why don�t you introduce us to your friend,� Martin said, sizing up the younger man.

�Oh, I�m sorry,� she apologized, and proceeded to introduce JJ to her family.

�So, you are Gwen�s younger brother. I have not seen you since you were a baby,� Pilar said, grabbing his hand in a motherly fashion.

�That�s because my family keeps me locked away in the attic Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald,� JJ teased.

�He is joking Martin,� Pilar explained when she saw the odd look on her husband�s face. �JJ goes to boarding school in Europe.

�Oh,� Martin said, smiling. �You had me worried there for a minute.�

�I didn�t even know that Gwen had a younger brother,� Theresa said, checking out her old rival�s sibling. �You two don�t look anything alike.�

�As far as I know we have the same mother and father,� JJ said, with a charming smile.

�Miguel, JJ is a senior too,� Paloma said, trying to change the subject.

�Oh cool,� Miguel smiled. �Do you play any sports JJ?�

�Yeah, I was on the soccer team and I�ve done some rowing too,� JJ told him.

�Are you on your way back to school?� Pilar asked.

�No, I just dropped my mother off. She rented a chartered plane to go off on one of her shopping trips,� JJ explained.

�So, when are you going back?� Paloma asked, bluntly.

�Actually, I�m not going back to boarding school. I decided to finish out my senior year at Harmony High,� JJ said, staring at Paloma�s face to see her reaction. She looked shocked at first, but he caught a smile before she quickly covered.

�Well, I guess we�ll be seeing you around then,� was all she said.

�You�re going to miss your flight if you don�t get moving,� Martin reminded his children.

Everybody said quick goodbyes, and took their places at the security check. Paloma couldn�t resist, turning to see if he was still standing there. She saw her parents first, waving, and then she spotted him watching her.

�Bye Paloma,� he mouthed.

�Bye,� she mouthed back, quickly turning away so he wouldn�t see the stupid smile that was planted on her face.

*******************

The twins were fast asleep, and Luis and Sheridan decided to take advantage of the quiet for a romantic dinner together. After their meal, Luis started a fire, since the early spring evenings were still cool. Cuddling in front of the flames, they shared stories about their separate time with the children that day, laughing about Lily and her strawberries and Luke�s first attempt at golfing. �You should have seen Luke today with those golf clubs. I swear the kid has talent,� Luis said, proudly.

�Honey, don�t you think you�re exaggerating a little bit? He�s only two and a half and I think that�s it�s too soon to measure his athletic abilities,� Sheridan laughed.

�That�s not true Sheridan,� Luis said, defensively. �Tiger Woods started golfing when he was Luke�s age, and look at where he is now.�

�Okay Luis, whatever you say,� she chuckled.

�Don�t believe me, but mark my words Sheridan, Luke has jock written all over him. So tell me, did Peanut look cute in her flower girl dress?�

�Oh Luis, she was adorable, but it became quite a challenge to get her to take it off. Poor baby thought the wedding advisor was going to keep her dress.�

�Well, I can�t wait to see both of my girls all dressed up,� Luis said, kissing her forehead.

�You know Luis, as much as I love talking about our children, I think it�s time to concentrate on a little romance between you and me,� she purred, running her hand over his chest to unhook the top button of his shirt.

�You just said the magic words,� he said with a raspy voice. �I think I need to kiss you Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald.�

�I�m all yours Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald,� she murmured, pulling his head down to meet his lips in a fiery kiss.

The heat they felt had nothing to do with the fire that was blazing before them. They kissed passionately, as they removed each other�s clothes. The need to feel their naked bodies touching was ever present in their minds. Buttons flew across the room, and delicate fabric was torn away in their quest to bare their heated flesh. �You�re beautiful,� he whispered as his hot gaze raked over her body.

�Touch me Luis........... Touch me everywhere,� she groaned.

Luis readily honored her request with first his hands, and then his lips, only to be followed by the scorching trail of his tongue. He was a hungry lover and she gladly offered everything for him to feast upon. She almost cried when he kissed her rounded belly with a cherished reverence. �You are so beautiful,� he said, running his hand over the mound where their baby grew inside of her.

�I really believe that when you say it,� she said, stroking his face tenderly.

�Never doubt it Sheridan. To me you are the most beautiful woman in the world,� he said, leaning down to kiss her gently.

She ran her hands over his body, feeling the hard planes of his back, but that wasn�t enough. He was so arroused. and she needed to feel his pulshing flesh. It made her feel wanton and enpowered when she heard his groan with pleasure, but Luis wasn�t giving over the control that easily. He rolled her on her side and slid into her heated flesh in one powerful stroke. She quickly caught his rythum, reveling in the feel of their intimate connection. �Oh Luis, take me to heaven,� she pleaded.

�Anything for you babe............ Anything...........�

 

Chapter 31

Sheridan smiled as she sketched Luke and Lily playing with their toys in the sunroom. It still amazed her that she and Luis had created these perfect little people from their love, and now there was another angel on the way. If only she could protect them from all the evil in the world, but she learned from Lily�s experience that sometimes that was impossible. The irrational, but protective side of her wanted to lock her children away from the rest of the world to shield them from all the ugliness that could touch their lives, but one couldn�t thrive living in a vacuum. There were too many of life�s lessons that needed to be learned in order to function as a well-adjusted human being, and it was her job as a parent to make sure that happened. All she could do was give her babies all the love in the world, and do her best to protect them............. It was then that the idea formed in her head that maybe there was something more that she could do, even if it was in just a small way. Why not write a series of books that not only entertained, but taught children how to deal with things that frightened and confused them? She decided that monsters would be the subject of her first book, since it not only had touched her daughter�s life, but was also a cause of fear for many children. The little hero and heroine of her story could be modeled after Luke and Lily, and of course their faithful sidekick, the pet dog would be included in their adventures. She could use Luis� idea of the dog eating the bad dreams, but she also wanted to add a twist and show the monsters as being afraid of the children. If she involved the twins in the development of the book, she felt that it could be therapeutic for Lily too. Now that she made up her mind, she called her little imps over to solicit their opinions.

�Luke and Lily, could you come here please?� she called. �Mommy needs your help with something.�

Curious as to why their mommy would need their help, the twins eagerly joined Sheridan and sat on either side of her in the oversized chair where she was sitting with her sketchpad. �Mama draw me?� Lily asked.

Sheridan couldn�t help but smile at her daughter�s love for attention. �Yes Lily, mommy drew you, but I also drew Luke and Ace too,� she said, showing them both the sketch she had been working on.

�Ace laugh mama,� Luke giggled, when he saw the big grin on the dog�s face.

�That�s because Ace is so happy to be with you and Lily,� Sheridan told him fondly. �Do you remember when mommy wrote the book about Miss Molly?�

�Miss Molly go home,� Lily said.

�Yes she did go home at the end, after all of her big adventures,� Sheridan agreed.

�Miss Molly go bye bye with aminals,� Luke said, excitedly.

�Yes, she had a lot of furry friends she met along the way,� Sheridan said, unable to hide her smile over Luke�s pronunciation of the word animals. �Anyway, the reason that mommy brought up Miss Molly is because I want to write another book, but this time it�s going to be about a little boy and girl and their dog. I thought that I would use this picture in my book. I know that these children look just like you but we need to give them different names so mommy thought it would be fun if you helped me pick out some names for them and the dog. So Lukiepoo, what do you think we should call the little boy?�

�Bobby,� Luke squealed, thinking of his little friend from daycare.

�I think Bobby is a perfect name,� Sheridan said, approvingly. �What do you think Lily, do you like the name of Bobby for the little boy?�

�Yes mama,� Lily agreed.

�Good, now it�s your turn. What to you think we should name the little girl?�

�Bannabelle,� Lily responded without hesitation.

�I love that name, and you know what? We could even call her Belle for short,� Sheridan suggested. �I think that Bobby and Belle has a nice ring to it.�

�Me like too mama,� Lily told her, happily.

�Well, now that we have that settled, we have to come up with the name for their doggy................�

�Fed,� Luke announced.

�Oh, you mean like Fred your fish?� Sheridan asked, smiling.

�Yes mama, Fed,� Luke confirmed.

�Doggy big Fed,� Lily giggled.

�You know Lily, I think you may have stumbled on the perfect name for the dog,� Sheridan laughed. �Big Fred makes him sound fierce and lovable at the same time, but I think we may need to continue with our book later, because daddy should be home soon, and then we�re going to go out shopping for new beds for the two of you.�

�Me get big bed,� Luke said, excitedly.

�You are sweetie, and so is Lily,� Sheridan told him just as the phone began to ring. �Oh, that might be daddy right now,� she said grabbing the cell. �Hello.�

�Sheridan hello, it�s Father Anthony,� the kindly priest said at the other end of the line.

�Father Anthony, this is a pleasant surprise,� Sheridan said, hoping that he had some good news.

�I�m hoping that after everything your family has been through lately that I can bring some cheery news. How is your little girl doing anyway? I�ve been praying for her and for you and Luis as well.�

�She really is doing a lot better Father, and I�m home now every day with the children so I think that has made a big difference,� Sheridan told him. �Your prayers are being heard and very much appreciated.�

�It�s the least that I can do Sheridan. Nothing is more disturbing in this world than innocent children being terrorized. But, I think there is one child that we can do something good for. I found a family in Boston that wants to adopt Dario.�

�Oh my God, are you serious?� Sheridan asked, thrilled by the news. �Tell me more about them.�

�Well, the father is Spanish and the mother is an American. They have a fifteen year old daughter that they adopted when she was a baby, and they are very anxious to find her a younger brother,� Father Anthony explained.

�This news really is wonderful Father, but have they checked the family out? I mean, I�m sure that you did, but today you can never be too sure. Maybe I should be more trusting, but after what we just went through............�

�I do understand your hesitation Sheridan, but I promise that we always do a very thorough job of checking out prospective parents. I couldn�t sleep at night if I had any doubts about these families we are placing the children with,� Father Anthony assured her.

�I�m so sorry Father, of course you know what you�re doing. I swear I wasn�t trying to be judgmental,� she said, feeling foolish.

�Don�t apologize Sheridan,� Father Anthony told her. �It�s good to see that you are so concerned for Dario�s welfare.�

�Well, he really made an impression on both Luis and myself when we met him. There is something special about Dario that just makes you want to root for him, and I�m so excited that he�s going to be so close. Do you think his adoptive parents will let us visit with him?�

�I would have to check with them, but I just can�t imagine that they would object. The Rivera�s are very generous and kind people.�

�Luis is going to be so pleased to hear this news. So, when is all of this going to take place?� she asked.

�Well, if everything goes as planned, Dario should be living in his new home by the beginning of the summer. I�m afraid that I must go because I have a wedding to perform in about thirty minutes, but I did want to share the news with you as soon as I heard.�

�Thank you so much Father Anthony for everything you have done. I just thank God every day that I was fortunate enough to meet you that day in New York,� Sheridan said, sincerely.

�God has a way of steering people in the right direction just when they need it the most. It also doesn�t hurt that you made the decision to stop being a victim.�

�Yes, I know that now,� Sheridan said, thoughtfully. �Goodbye Father.�

After she hung up the phone, Sheridan hugged and kissed her children. Whenever she spoke to Father Anthony, she couldn�t help but remember one of the darkest times in her life, but her sweet babies were living proof that there was a light at the end of the tunnel. There would always be a hole in her heart from losing her and Luis� first child, but it gave her comfort knowing he was up there now living with the angels. It had never been confirmed that the child was a boy, but she had known it with every fiber of her being, and tears filled her eyes thinking about what he would be like today had he lived.

�Mama no cry,� Luke said, gently.

�Mama be sad?� Lily asked, with so much concern in her little voice.

Sheridan smiled, and wiped her tears away. �How can mommy be sad when she had the most special children in the world. Mommy loves you both so much and I just can�t tell you how much joy you bring to my life.�

�Mama wuv baby too,� Luke said, putting his little hand on her belly.

�Yes Luke, mommy loves the baby too,� she said, leaning over to kiss his forehead.

Nobody had realized that Luis had come in just in time to hear the last exchange between Sheridan and the twins and it filled his heart with love. He was concerned, however that Sheridan seemed to be upset about something �What, no greeting from my family?� he announced in a teasing voice.

�Daddy,� the twins shouted, running to greet him.

�Luis, I didn�t hear you come in,� Sheridan said, rising from the chair to go and greet him too.

Luis took turns swinging the children up into his arms as they giggled with laughter. When he finally put them down, he hugged Sheridan close to plant a kiss on her cheek. �What is it babe? You looked so sad,� he said, stroking her face.

�I was just thinking about our little baby in heaven,� she whispered so that the children wouldn�t hear.

�I think about him too,� Luis said, surprising her with his words.

�I�ve always thought our baby was a boy, but I had no idea you felt the same way............�

�Daddy, see Big Fed,� Lily said, pulling on Luis� leg.

�Who is Big Fed Peanut?� Luis asked, curiously.

�Big Fed doggy,� she told him.

�Maybe I should explain,� Sheridan laughed. �Luke and Lily have been helping me with my book and we named the characters today. Do you remember what we decided to call the little boy and girl?� she asked the children.

�Bobby,� Luke said, proudly.

�Bannabelle Belle,� Lily said, pointing to her likeness on the sketch.

�Actually, we decided to call the little girl Annabelle, and Belle for short,� Sheridan chuckled. �And the dog is Big Fred.�

�Wow, you were all pretty busy while I was gone, and you did a great job picking out the names,� Luis said, making a big deal for the twins.

�You are not going to believe the other news I received today.� Sheridan said, smiling with anticipation over Luis� reaction.

�So, don�t keep me in suspense. What�s you news?� Luis asked, curiously.

�Father Anthony called earlier and said that he found a couple that wanted to adopt Dario,� Sheridan told him excitedly.

�Are you kidding?� Luis asked, happily. �That�s wonderful news. Who are these people and where do they live?�

�They live in Boston, and she is American, and he�s Spanish, which is good, so that Dario can keep in touch with his heritage. Apparently, they have a fifteen-year-old daughter that they adopted as a baby. Father Anthony thinks that Dario could be living with his new family as soon as summer.�

�Well, we did have a good day,� Luis announced. �The munchkins worked hard on the book and Dario will finally get to come to the United States, but we still have to go and buy you some beds.�

�That�s right,� Sheridan said, smiling. �But, you know it�s raining outside so you better run and get your raincoats. They�re hanging on those hooks in the front closet that daddy put up so that you can reach them.�

�Are you okay now?� Luis asked, his eyes filled with concern.

�You�re so sweet to ask when I know that you�re probably bursting at the seams over the news about Dario.�

�I am excited about Dario, but nobody comes before you and the twins. I just want to make sure that you�re okay now.�

�I�m fine Luis. I just have these moments sometimes when I think about our baby that I lost, but I also know that I�m the luckiest person in the world.........�

�Go now daddy,� the twins said, looking so cute standing there in their little yellow raincoats.

*****************

Ivy fumed as she listened to Ethan and Jordan talk about the wedding between Kay Bennett and that bastard of Alistair�s. She felt like she was losing her grasp on her son, and it frightened her to death. She had sacrificed everything to make sure that Ethan would have it all and now that was falling apart. Well, it was not going to happen because she refused to let it. �Will you two just stop it,� she shouted.

Ethan caught Jordan�s gaze before he looked to Ivy. �Mother, what�s wrong with you?�

�I�ll tell you what�s wrong. I can�t believe that you agreed to be in that interloper�s wedding after he destroyed your life,� Ivy snapped.

�Mother, you are overreacting about this,� Ethan said, trying to calm her. �Even didn�t destroy my life.�

�Just when I thought it was safe to come over for dinner,� Jordan said, rolling her eyes. �You should have warned me that you were in such a snit mother and I would have bowed out on your invitation.�

�Don�t you dare use that tone with me Jordan, especially since this is all your fault,� Ivy said, shooting daggers at her daughter.

�My fault?� Jordan asked, shocked. �Oh yes mother, I�m the one that talked grandfather into marrying Crystal Harris, and adopting Evan. I also talked him into cutting Ethan out while he was at it...............�

�Jordan, don�t,� Ethan warned. �Mother, you�re talking crazy. You know this couldn�t possibly be Jordan�s fault.�

�Ethan, you know that everything was going as planned until Jordan had to go running to Sheridan. Ever since she started working for Crane Industries, I�ve noticed a change in you. You�re becoming too accepting,� Ivy said, with a far away look in her eyes.

�Mother, I�ve grown accepting because I�m sick of fighting something that isn�t going to change. I still have my issues with Evan, but he�s been great about letting me help run the company, and let�s face it, he didn�t have to. Sometimes I have to wonder if the dream of me running Crane Industries is more your dream than it is mine.�

�Don�t say that Ethan. This has been your dream, and it is your right too,� Ivy argued.

�Mother, why is this so important to you? I have more money than most people see in a lifetime, and my life hasn�t really changed, so if I�m happy then that�s all that should matter,� Ethan said, trying to reason with his distraught mother.

�You don�t understand,� Ivy cried. �I put up with Julian Crane for twenty-seven years just so that you would have the Crane Empire some day. All the other women, and the intimidation were for you Ethan. Nothing else mattered............. I did everything for you...............�

Her mother�s words were like a knife in her heart, and Jordan couldn�t help but lash out. �So, what were the rest of your children mother, more sacrifices for the cause?�

�Jordan, I didn�t mean...............�

�You never do mother,� Jordan said, rising from the table. �If you�ll excuse me, I have lost my appetite.�

�Your sister is just being over sensitive,� Ivy said, contritely.

�No mother, I don�t think she was,� Ethan said with sudden realization. �Something just occurred to me that I was too blind to see before. All these years my brother and sisters have complained because they felt like you just wanted them out of the way. I told them that they were being ridiculous, but it all makes so much sense now.�

�That�s simply not true Ethan,� Ivy defended herself. �I love all of my children.�

�As much as me mother?�

�What.............?�

�Do you love my sisters and brother as much as me?� Ethan demanded.

�Well Ethan, it�s complicated,� Ivy hedged. �You were my first born, so I will always have a special place in my heart for you.�

�I can understand that to an extent, but the difference in the way you treat me from my other siblings is so blatant. You claim to hate father so much, but you have four children by him. Why am I the golden child?� Ethan asked, suspiciously.

Ethan�s questioning was becoming very unsettling, and she struggled with an explanation. �You�re not only my first born, but you remind of my father, and you know how special he was to me,� she lied. �You were a baby when he died, and I dealt with my grief by showering my attention on you. It�s as simple as that Ethan.�

Ethan was satisfied with her explanation for the most part, but there was something that was still nagging at him. He didn�t want to even entertain the fact that his grandfather could have been correct about his mother, but what if it were true? �Mother, do you swear to me that Julian Crane is my father?�

�Of course darling,� Ivy said, indignantly. �I would never lie to you about a thing like that.............. I swear.�

********************

Don Miguel was ecstatic to have his grandchildren here in his home and he wanted to show them the time of their lives. He was especially pleased that Miguel had taken such an interest in the olive groves and vineyards. While he took his grandson on a tour, one of his men drove Theresa and Paloma into Valencia to do some shopping and see the sights with strict instructions to watch over them. He had given them both a substantial amount of money for spending, and Paloma had been very reluctant to accept it at first, but he refused to take no for an answer. As they drove into town, Paloma stared out the window and admired the scenery, hoping to avoid conversation with Theresa. She felt like they were as different as night and day, and she just didn�t have anything of interest to talk to her sister about.

�Can you believe that abuelo gave us so much money to spend?� Theresa asked excitedly.

�You know Theresa, I just can�t believe you sometimes. Here we are in this beautiful country, surrounded by our family history and all you can think about is how much money abuelo gave to you,� Paloma said, shaking her head in exasperation.

�It�s not like abuelo doesn�t have the money to give,� Theresa reminded her. �You make me sound like I�m so selfish.�

�Look Theresa, why don�t we just forget about it and enjoy our time here,� Paloma suggested, not wanting to get into a confrontation with her sister, even though she knew that it was bound to happen sooner or later.

�So Paloma, how to you know Gwen�s brother?� Theresa asked, trying to make conversation.

�I met him at the Book Cafe one day. Why do you ask?�

�I guess I was just curious. He did seem to be interested in you though,� Theresa said, smiling. �I saw the way he was looking at you.�

�Theresa, you are a helpless romantic,� Jordan mumbled under her breath.

�Don�t you mean a hopeless romantic?� Theresa giggled.

�Oh, is that how the expression goes?� Paloma said, deciding that she would try to play nice, even though she had meant exactly what she had said.

�Look, there�s the city up ahead. I didn�t see much of it last night when we got in because it was so dark.�

�Yeah, and the first thing I�m going to buy is a bikini. Hopefully I can find one that covers my scar,� Paloma fretted.

�Don�t worry, there�s lots of different styles to choose from. I�ll help you Paloma,� Theresa offered.

�Thank you Theresa,� she said, feeling bad. �I guess you would know best since fashion is your thing. I want to make sure I have a killer tan when I go back to school.�

�If JJ hasn�t noticed you already, I�m sure he will when he sees you looking all tan and gorgeous,� Theresa teased.

�Excuse me, but I don�t think I mentioned JJ in this conversation,� Paloma said, feeling her face redden with embarrassment.

�You could do worse Paloma, even if he is Gwen�s brother. I mean he�s rich and educated at the best schools in Europe, and I�m sure he has a big fat trust fund.�

�Woah, back up here Theresa. What do you mean even if he is Gwen�s brother?�

�It�s just that I�ve always thought that Gwen was a snob, that�s all,� Theresa said, defensively.

�I don�t know Gwen all that well, but she doesn�t come off as a snob to me, and she is Sheridan�s friend, so she can�t be that bad. In fact, you�re the only person I�ve ever known that doesn�t seem to like her,� Paloma said, suspiciously. �What�s the real deal Theresa?�

�Okay, if you must know, I was in love with Ethan���..�

�You what?� Paloma gasped. �When was this?�

�I loved Ethan ever since I was a little girl, and then I met Gaston and I discovered that what I felt for Ethan was just a childhood fantasy.�

�Did Gwen know you loved Ethan?� Paloma asked.

�Not at first, but she eventually found out,� Theresa admitted.

�I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when that happened,� Paloma laughed. �I can�t believe that you would go after a guy that was committed to somebody else.�

�Ethan was only with Gwen because their parents forced them into a relationship for business reasons.�

�Well Theresa, you can rationalize it as much as you want, but you don�t stay with somebody for as many years as they�ve been together for just business reasons. I may be a dumb teenager but even I know that.�

�Well, none of that matters, because I�m with Gaston now, and as soon as I move to Paris I won�t have to bother with people like Gwen,� Theresa said, defiantly.

�Gaston must be a masochist,� Paloma uttered under her breath. She stole a quick glance at her sister to see if she had heard, and was relieved to see that she hadn�t. She again vowed that she would try to be nice today.

�Senoritas�, we are here,� the driver announced. �If you wait, I will open the
door for you.�

The shopping trip did turn out to be somewhat pleasant for Paloma, and since they both were starving they decided to get a bite to eat at a sidewalk caf�. They chatted away, unaware that someone was watching them from across the street. Had Theresa and Paloma known that their long lost brother was so close they would have been in for the shock of their lives. Even with a second glance they probably wouldn�t have recognized him because of the dark glasses he was wearing, but that was the way he wanted it for now.

*******************

Luis and Sheridan had actually managed to buy Luke and Lily a new bed, although it had been ciaos getting to that point. Luke wanted a racecar bed and Lily wanted a canopy bed, and it had been almost impossible to explain to them that they couldn�t have beds like that in the same room. Of course, Sheridan had suggested that maybe it was time for them to get their own rooms, and then they could have the beds they wanted, but had been hesitant to suggest it in the past because of Lily�s nightmares. The twins shocked their parents when they both agreed that it was time for them to have separate bedrooms, so they made their purchases and arranged for them to be delivered two weeks from Saturday. Now, they were really going to be in a crunch to get some things moved around so that the twins could move out of the nursery. The theme of Luke�s room was going to be Trains, Planes, and Cars, and Lily wanted a fairy princess room. Luis whispered to Sheridan they he wouldn�t have expected anything different from the daughter of Sheridan Crane, and she responded by elbowing him in the ribs.

Now they were home and the twins were in bed, Sheridan plopped down on the sofa, exhausted from her day of shopping. �Oh my God Luis, I don�t think I�ve ever felt so tired in my life.�

�It doesn�t surprise me, after running around after the munchkins. Hell, they even tired me out. I could rub your feet,� he offered.

�Oh, you wonderful man,� she sighed. �I would love you forever if you did that.�

�You won�t love me forever anyway?� he teased, sitting down at the end of the sofa to begin his massage.

�You know I will, it�s just that I�ll love you even more for���.. Oh God, that feels so good.�

�You know Sheridan there are other things I�d rather be doing when you make a comment like that,� Luis chuckled.

�I promise I�ll make it up to you, but your kids just wore me out today, and this little one here has been doing summersaults for the last hour.�

�That is so cute,� Luis smiled. �Can I feel?�

�Well he or she has stopped for the time being, but you just keep working on my feet and I�ll let you know when the baby decides to play again.�

�You know Sheridan, I still can�t believe the munchkins want sepearate rooms. Do you really think that Lily will be okay in a room by herself?� Luis worried.

�We�ll just have to wait and see, but I think that as long as Ace is with her she�ll be fine. We had to put them in their own rooms sooner or later. Did you see Lily�s face light up when she saw that canapy bed with all the handpainted flowers on the headboard?�

�No, I was too busy keeping Luke from jumping on all of the beds. I�m just glad we fixed up that bonus room, but it looks like I�ll be painting this weekend.�

�Oh, what fun,� Sheridan said, excitedly. �I want to help too Luis. I�ll go to the home improvement store tomorrow and pick up some of those paint charts.�

�I don�t know honey, do you think it�s a good idea for you to be inhailing paint fumes when your pregnant?� Luis asked, concern on his face.

�I should be fine as long as the room is well venalated, and I�ll only help for a couple of hours.�

�Sheridan, I think you painted once in your whole life and that�s when we first moved in here. If I remember correctly, you had more paint on you than on the wall,� Luis laughed.

�Okay buster, you just wait and see,� she said with a pouty lip. �I�ve been watching Trading Spaces and I�ll prove to you that I can so something as simple as paint a wall.�

�I just love it when you get that Lily lip,� Luis chuckled as he leaned over and planted a sweet kiss on her mouth.

�Why do you always do that to me?� she asked, running her hands over his back.

�What did I do?� he asked, confused.

�Every time I�m exhausted, and just want to go to bed, you always have this way of changing my mind.............�

�Are you saying I�m going to get lucky?�

�Yeah, but you have to work for it. Carry me upstairs and I�ll let you take my clothes off.�

 

Chapter 32

Sheridan should have known better than to think she was actually going to help Luis paint with the twins around. It took all of her energy just to keep them out of the room and occupied with other projects. She had finally gotten them down for a nap and decided to go and check on Luis� progress. When she stepped into the doorway of the bedroom, his back was toward her so she took the opportunity to admire the way his faded jeans hugged his tight behind. The sleeveless white T-Shirt was an added bonus since it displayed the ripple of his back and arm muscles as he rolled the paint on the wall. There was something incredibly sexy about a man doing manual labor, especially her man. Her hormones must have been in overdrive today because she suddenly wanted to go in there and rip his clothes off. An idea popped into her head, and she hurried off to put her plan into motion. When she got to their bedroom she stripped off all of her clothes and slipped into one of Luis� old football jerseys and made her way back to Luke�s new bedroom. �I finally managed to get the children down for their nap,� she announced behind him. �I�m all ready to help you paint now.�

Luis turned with a huge smile on his face that quickly disappeared when he saw how she was dressed. A flash of smothering passion entered his dark eyes, but when he spoke, there was nothing in his tone to indicate that he was the least bit rattled by her appearance. �Actually honey, I think I have everything under control. Since the munchkins are sleeping, maybe you should take advantage of the quiet and get some rest too.�

She couldn�t believe that she was standing there wearing nothing but his shirt and he was acting so casual. �I don�t want to take a nap,� she said, stubbornly. �I�m here to paint so give me one of those roller things.�

�Okay, if you insist, I�ll let you roll while I do the cutting around the molding,� Luis said, trying to hide a smile.

�Luis, why are you cutting away the molding?� she asked, a bit perturbed. �It adds a great architectural element that goes along with the rest of our house. People add molding, not take it away.�

�Sheridan, I have no intention of removing the molding,� Luis said, laughing. �Cutting is just another term for painting. I know it doesn�t make sense, but it�s just an expression.�

�Oh, sorry,� she said, feeling foolish.

�Why don�t you come here and I�ll re-educate you on applying paint to the roller,� he urged with a smile.

�I can�t imagine that it�s all that difficult,� she said, walking toward him slowly. The heated look in his eyes as he stared at her long legs at least convinced her that he wasn�t completely oblivious to her exposed body.

�Okay, now you need to make sure that the roller is saturated, but there shouldn�t be any excess paint dripping off the sides. Let me demonstrate,� he said, dipping the roller into the paint and dragging it up and down the incline of the pan. He then proceeded to show her how to apply the color to the walls. �Just make sure you press kind of hard to get good coverage. You don�t want any white spots to show through.�

�It looks simple enough to me,� she said with all the confidence in the world, as she grabbed the roller from him.

Luis couldn�t help but smile over her attitude. He knew she had come there with every intention of seducing him, and now she was angry because he hadn�t taken the bait. If only she knew that the second he had turned around and saw her standing there that nothing was going to stop him from taking what she offered, but he was having too much fun teasing her. It was becoming more difficult however to keep the game going and if she would have looked down, it would have been evident to her had she seen the way he was filling out the front of his jeans. In fact, it was for that very reason that he had decided to stand behind her, but that turned out to be a fatal error on his part. When she bent over to apply paint to the roller and he caught a glimpse of her rounded bottom peeking out from under the shirt, he almost lost it right then. He took some deep breaths to gain control as he watched her clumsy attempt to roll the paint on the walls. �That�s a good start, but I think you should let me show you the proper technique,� he said in a raspy voice as he stepped up behind her and put his hand over hers where it rested on the handle of the brush.

The feel of his blatant arousal pressing against her backside was pleasantly shocking and her weak attempt at protest was completely lost. �I guess if you insist,� was all she could manage.

�Now, can you feel the rhythm of my long, even strokes?� he asked silkily as he guided her through the motions. �See the way I fill up every little crevice with my roller?�

�Yes, that feels just right, but I think eventually I want to go faster and harder,� she responded as all kinds of wicked thoughts filled her head.

Their game had taken a dangerous turn and he loved every moment of it. �Why don�t I take my hands away so you can try it on your own? I promise I�ll stay here right behind you in case you should need additional instruction.�

�Oh yes, I think you should stay really close just in case I should have some questions,� she responded, smiling with satisfaction.

Luis took his hands away and brought them to his side while keeping his pulsing need pressed firmly against her soft body. Her strokes were shaky as she rubbed up and down his arousal as she attempted to paint. The foreplay was over as far as he was concerned and he intended on taking everything she offered. He slipped his hands under her shirt to cup her rounded belly gently and then moved up to touch her breasts. As his fingers played across her swollen nipples, any semblance of tenderness flew right out the window, and his strokes became more intense. She groaned out loud and dropped the brush sending drops of paint flying everywhere. �Are we finished?� he asked, huskily.

�What do you mean?� she asked weakly.

�Are we finished with this sexual game of cat and mouse................?�

�I have no idea what you�re talking about,� she said, trying to sound indignant, but knew full well that she had failed miserably when she heard the breathy whisper of her own voice.

�I think you know exactly what I�m talking about sweetheart,� he chuckled softly, as he touched the soft folds between her legs making her moan with pleasure. �You have to know me after all this time and there was no way I wouldn�t succumb when you walked in here practically naked..............�

�I was not naked,� she protested, still a little angry that he had made her work so hard for this wonderful feeling. His demanding fingers were doing the most incredible things to her right now.

�Let�s not argue over technicalities,� he said, finally turning her around so that they were facing each other. He leaned down and kissed her so completely that she would have crumpled to the ground had he not been holding her up. �I think I�m more than ready for you to have your way with me.�

�Oh, you are such a rat,� she complained with a little smile as he carried her over to the window seat and sat down with her planted firmly on his lap.

�I think you better help me out here before I rip right through the material of my jeans,� he said, struggling with the zipper on his pants.

�You are pretty big right now,� she giggled, as she pushed his hands away to free him from the confines of his jeans and boxers. �Now that is a beautiful sight..........�

�Speaking of beautiful sights,� he rasped as he stripped the shirt off of her body.

She wanted him naked too, but couldn�t wait for the time it would take for him to disrobe. With his urging she straddled him and slid onto his heated arousal until she they were deeply connected. �Oh God Luis, that feels so unbelievably good.�

�I know baby,� he agreed, wholeheartedly. �Do you remember what I taught you earlier?�

�Yes,� she whispered. �Long, even strokes...........� It was so incredibly exciting to be naked with the bright sunlight pouring into the room and him being completely dressed except for that one special part of him that was buried so deep inside of her right now. She felt wanton and sexy when she saw the smoldering fire in his dark eyes knowing that they were both so into being together this way.

Not being one to give up control for long, Luis put his hands on her bottom and increased the pace. �You said that you wanted it faster and harder so I intend to grant your every wish,� he said, pulling her into a passionate kiss that mimicked the exact motion of fiery dance elsewhere.

It was the ultimate gratification when they both reached their climax at the same exact moment and the sounds of their satisfaction filled the empty room with Sheridan�s scream being the louder of the two. Once they were able to speak again, Luis leaned back exhausted. �You are one incredible woman Sheridan, but you sure wore me out. How am I supposed to paint now?�

�You just relax for a few minutes and I�m sure you�ll get a second wind,� she chuckled.

�Sure that�s easy for you to say when I�m the one doing all of the hard labor,� he teased.

�You know Luis, I feel a little sinful that we had hot sex in our little boy�s room,� Sheridan said, biting on her bottom lip thoughtfully.

�I don�t think Luke will ever know the difference and besides we have to take advantage of these opportunities now while the twins are still behind bars. Once they get their big beds they�ll be free to roam at will,� Luis reminded her.

�Mama, daddy come,� a little voice sounded from down the hall.

�Oh no, that�s Lily,� Sheridan said, hopping up and slipping her shirt on. �I hope she didn�t have another bad nightmare.�

�Me too, she�s been doing so well lately,� Luis said, following Sheridan as he made himself decent again.

�Lily, mommy and daddy are here�, Sheridan told her little girl in a comforting voice when they arrived in her room.

�Did you have another bad dream Peanut?� Luis asked.

�No daddy, mama have bad dream,� Lily said, concerned etched on her sweet face.

�Oh no sweetie, why would you think that mommy had a bad dream?� Sheridan asked her daughter confused.

�Mama cry loud,� Lily told her.

�Oh,� was all Sheridan could manage to say when she realized that Lily had just heard them making love. �I....................� She looked at Luis helplessly, not sure how to respond. As usual, he saved the day.

�Peanut, mommy wasn�t crying. Daddy was tickling her and she was laughing so hard that it sounded like crying,� Luis explained, hoping that his little girl bought it.

�Tickle, tickle,� Luke giggled from across the room.

�Oh really Sport,� Luis laughed, getting his son in a hold, he began to tickle the little boy mercilessly. Soon Luke was screaming out with laughter.

�Tickle me too daddy,� Lily begged.

�It�s Peanut�s turn,� Luis said, picking her up his little girl, he began to tickle her too, but it shocked him when Lily let out a noise that sounded strangely familiar. She was actually imitating Sheridan�s scream of pleasure from earlier. He couldn�t help but laugh though when he saw his wife�s mouth drop open in shock.

********************

Every time Jordan thought about her mother�s words the other night at dinner, she was filled with a combination of rage and sadness. This run in the park had been the very thing she needed to release some of the tension that had been building for days now. She had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn�t noticed that Noah was no longer beside her. Taking a quick look behind her, she discovered he was running several yards behind her. Stopping her gate, she ran in place and turned around to call out to him. �What�s the matter Bennett, are you having trouble keeping up with me today?�

�Not at all,� he called out coming up beside her. �I happen to like to pace myself.�

�We�ve ran together in the past and you didn�t feel the need to pace yourself............. Wait a minute, you were checking out my butt weren�t you?� she asked suspiciously.

�Okay, so you busted me,� he said, sheepishly. �But it is all your fault when you wear those tight running pants.�

She looked down at the Lycra clinging to her legs and had to admit they did show off just about everything she was born with. �I guess I should be happy you�re still looking.�

�Hey, I�m becoming an expert on anatomy and yours is pretty amazing,� he said, flashing her a devilish smile.

She just wanted to kiss him, but decided to save her ardor until a more private setting. �Come on, I�ll race you to the statue,� she challenged.

Noah beat her of course, just because of the simple fact that his legs were longer, but she certainly gave him a run for his money. After stretching, they sat down on the bench that surrounded the statue and they shared a bottle of water. �So, are you going to tell me what�s bothering you?� a perceptive Noah asked.

�Don�t you just love how high maintenance I am?� she asked with a hollow laugh. �How did you know something was bothering me? I really did try to hide it............�

�You don�t ever have to hide it from me if you�re upset about something,� Noah assured her. �Did your mother upset you again?�

�Yes, what else is new?� she complained. �You should have heard her the other night at dinner going on and on about how everything in her life has been done for Ethan. She didn�t even pretend to care about her other children.�

�I just don�t get it,� Noah said, amazed that any parent could act that way. �Maybe your mother just doesn�t know how to show her love Jordan. Regardless, I hate to see her lack of affection affect you this way. It�s her problem, and you are a wonderful person in spite of her shortcomings.�

�That�s sweet of you to say Noah, but it�s not my mother�s attitude toward me that is really bothering me this time. I guess I�m getting used to it by now, but there�s something else that is giving me a really bad feeling.�

�What is it Jordan?� Noah asked.

�I�m starting to think that my grandfather was right about daddy not being Ethan�s father. Mother�s favoritism is just so blatant, and she has never made any bones about how much she hates my father.�

�That�s a pretty serious accusation Jordan. Are you going to say anything about your suspicions to Ethan?�

�How can I without any proof? I�m not going to shatter Ethan�s heart without knowing for sure............. Oh let�s change the subject from this depressing stuff. I was wondering since you�re on spring break right now if you would be able to get away for a few days?�

�I�m working at the hospital most of the week, but I think I can manage to take a couple of days off for a long weekend. Why, what do you have in mind?� he asked, curiously.

�I was thinking we go to South Beach. It should be hopping this time of year, and I did just buy some new bikinis,� she said, trying to tempt him.

�That does sound great, but I really can�t afford a trip like that right now Jordan. The plane tickets alone would cost a fortune at the last minute like this,� he pointed out trying to be the voice of reason.

�We don�t have to worry about plane tickets because I can have my father�s pilot fly us down there in the Crane jet. Daddy said I could use it any time that I wanted.�

�We still have the cost of the hotel room, and I�m sure they�ll be at a premium this time of year, and that�s if we can even get one.�

�Not a problem, the Cranes have a beach house down there. My grandfather bought it years ago for some place to stay when he went on his deep sea fishing excursions.�

�You�re making this impossible for me to turn this trip down;� Noah laughed, but then grew serious. �Jordan, I just don�t feel right about freeloading off of your family.�

�Noah I respect that and I know that you�re not that kind of a person, but the house is just sitting empty and jet is not going to many places lately,� Jordan reasoned.

�Call it stupid pride, but I want to be the one to take you on trips and buy you things,� Noah said, stubbornly.

�Noah, some day you will be able to do that for me, but it�s a little archaic to believe that the man should always do the providing. Look at your own mother as a good example. She runs a Bed & Breakfast, and a gift shop to contribute to the household. In fact a lot of families are two income families.�

�Okay, you made your point,� he conceded. �I�ll go, but I�m paying for the food and entertainment.�

�Noah, you need that money for school,� she protested.

�I have some cash I put away in my emergency fund, and besides, I got some scholarship money for keeping my grades high.�

�I don�t want to see you spend your hard-earned money Noah............�

�Jordan,� he said, pulling her onto his lap. �Stop arguing with me and give me a kiss.�

�That was quite yummy,� she murmured against his lips. �I have to help Luis out with a special surprise for Sheridan on Thursday afternoon, so we can leave that evening if that�s okay with you.�

********************

Sheridan was a bit suspicious about Luis� reasons for wanting to take the children to the office with him today. He had given her some big story about how he wanted to give her a day to herself to do whatever she wanted, and she had to admit the idea did sound kind of nice. She watched Luke and Lily as they ate their breakfast, chatting excitedly about going with their daddy and she didn�t know if she should feel happy or sad about that. It did warm her heart though that they loved Luis so much. �So, what are you going to do at daddy�s office today?� she asked the twins.

�Me play puter,� Luke told her proudly.

�Oh, is that what daddy told you?� she smiled, giving Luis a look with her eyes like he had lost his mind.

�It�s never too early for them to learn, and both Luke and Peanut have a real aptitude for the computer,� Luis said, defending his decision.

�Okay, but just remember that it�s not cheap to replace and we do need it for our business,� she reminded him.

�Will wonders never cease,� Luis laughed. �Who would have ever thought that you would be the practical one here?�

�I�ve learned a lot about watching my spending habits over the last several years, but I probably should warn you about something in advance. I plan on setting up a trust fund just like I did for Luke and Lily for this new baby,� she said, holding her breath waiting for the explosion. She hadn�t meant to blurt it out this way, but now she was glad that it was over with.

�I guess I expected as much, and I do appreciate you telling me in advance this time. You�re a chicken though for telling me in front of Luke and Lily,� he said with a teasing smile.

�It wasn�t like I planned it this way,� Sheridan said, trying not to sound defensive in from of the children. �It just kind of slipped out.�

�Daddy, we go now?� Lily said, impatiently.

�Okay Peanut, you�re right, it is time that we got moving,� Luis said, smiling at his daughter.

�Let mommy clean off your face and hands before you go,� Sheridan said, suddenly feeling a little lump in her throat that her babies were leaving for the day. She had gotten so use to spending her days with them.

�Really, you don�t want to look like little rag-a-muffins when daddy�s clients come into the office do you?� Luis teased.

�Okay, hurry and get your little backpacks. Mommy packed some snacks and juice for you,� Sheridan to them sounding like a true mother.

�Tanks mama,� Luis said with his sweet little voice.

�Tanks mama, me too,� Lily mimicked.

�You are so welcome, and so sweet,� she said, feeling her eyes tear up.

Sheridan walked them to the door and kissed her family goodbye. �Have a nice day,� Luis told her.

�You too, and good luck,� she smiled. �Luke and Lily, you be good for daddy, and make sure you let him know when you have to go to the potty.�

The twins waved bye to her, and as they drove into town, Luis explained about Mother�s Day. �It�s a special day for mommy, and we�re going to get presents for her, but you can�t tell her about them until the big day. Do you think you can keep a secret?�

�Shhhh,� Lily sounded, holding her finger to her lips, causing Luis to chuckle as he viewed her in the rear view mirror.

�Okay then, first we�re going to stop at the jewelry story and pick up the present that daddy is going to give to mommy, and then we�re going to meet Jordan at the office. She�s going to help you make a special scrapbook for mommy,� Luis explained.

As they were walking into the jewelry store, Luis cautioned the twins that they were not allowed to touch anything. Most of the precious gems were located in the case, but he was still weary about some of the expensive collectible china pieces that was on display. To his pleasant surprise, they behaved like little angels and were a definite hit with all of the clerks in the story. The necklace that Luis had chosen was a sterling silver necklace with two little diamond barrels representing each of the children, and he even ordered an addition stone to be added when the new baby arrived. Now that that was accomplished, it was on to the next project.

When they arrived at L&L Investigations, Jordan was just pulling into the parking lot. As soon as Luis got them out of the car, the twins ran up and greeted her with enthusiasm. �Hi you little cutie pies. Did you daddy tell you that we�re going to make a scrapbook for your mommy? I brought lots of photos of the two of you and I thought we would paste them into the book and you could make some drawings around the pictures. I also brought glitter markers in every color of the rainbow.�

�Glitter markers?� Luis said with a look of dread.

�Don�t worry, they�re washable,� Jordan assured him.

Always ready to do projects, the twins excitedly pulled Jordan along, anxious to start their special surprise for their mommy. The little imps worked hard on their project, and toward the end of the afternoon, they had finally completed their work of art. Luis thought it was the most precious thing he�s ever seen and he knew that Sheridan would love it. Jordan had helped Luke and Lily write their names on the cover, and they had even left a blank spot for the baby when he or she arrived. The little artists� even insisting on helping with the wrapping, and Jordan directed them where to place the tape on the open seams of the floral paper. Now if only Luis could keep them quiet until Mother�s Day.

********************

Don Miguel�s dining room table looked large enough to fit twenty people comfortably, and Paloma felt so insignificant just sitting around it, even if the meal was quite formal. She was trying to take her mind to a different place as an escape from Theresa�s constant chatter. Immediately, she thought about the tall man in the park that she had encountered the other day. After their lunch, the girls had decided to go across the street to the square where there was outside vendors and entertainment. They were standing in line to get some ice cream, when Theresa had discovered that she left one of her packages back at the restaurant. Paloma had agreed to keep their place in line while her sister went back to retrieve it, and by the time she got to the front to order, her scatter brained sibling was still not back. Paloma went ahead and ordered for the both of them, and when she turned to move out of the way, she had a collision with a man�s chest, spilling the frozen confection down the front of his shirt. Mortified, she had apologized profusely in Spanish, and was surprised when the man answered her back in English. He really had been a good sport about the whole thing, and even though she couldn�t see his eyes behind the dark glasses, his white smile convinced her that he was not just being polite. She knew she had never met the man before, but there was something strangely familiar about him that she couldn�t put her finger on. She was hoping that maybe Theresa would know, but as she spotted her sister moving toward her through the crowd, the man had mysteriously disappeared. Her mind switched in mid gear to JJ, but she didn�t have time to ponder that situation, because her grandfather was calling her.

�Paloma, is your food not to your liking?� he asked.

�Oh no, abuelo, everything is delicious. I guess my mind started to wander there for a minute. Please everyone, go with what your were talking about.�

�I just can�t believe how cool this place is abuelo,� Miguel said, excitedly. �I wish that Charity could see it here. I know she would love it.�

�Then you must bring her the next time you come for a visit,� Don Miguel offered.

�Are you serious abuelo?� Miguel asked, happily. �Charity will go crazy when I tell her the news.

�I was think that when I move to Paris, it won�t be difficult at all to get here abuelo. I have a feeling that you�ll be seeing a lot of my face in the future,� she promised with a smile.

�That would please me greatly Terasita. You must come as often as you like,� he invited. �Paloma, you have not said much. Are you enjoying your visit?� Don Miguel asked.

�Oh yes abuelo, very much. This is a beautiful country, and I can�t wait until we go to the beach house. Sheridan said it was wonderful,� Paloma said, finally smiling.

�I can�t believe you�re excited about going to a beach house when we live by the ocean every day of our lives,� Theresa said almost mockingly. �Personally, I�m about ready to die from excitement at the thought of meeting the King and Queen on Friday.�

�Well Theresa, you�re forgetting that some of us didn�t grow up living by the ocean. But then it was me that forgot that the only thing you seem to think about is yourself,� she stated, regretting her words the second they left her mouth.

Big tears started to form in Theresa�s eyes that made Paloma feel terrible. �Now the truth comes out. I finally know what you think of me,� she cried, running out of the room.

�Wow Paloma, that was a little harsh don�t you think?� Miguel said still shocked by his sister�s statement.

�I didn�t mean it to, and I feel really bad. I�m going to go apologize to Theresa,� she said, starting to rise.

�Wait,� Don Miguel said, holding his hand up. �I think your sister needs some time to calm down, so I think that perhaps we should take this time to have a little talk.�

�I�m going to leave the two of you alone and go call Charity,� Miguel said, making his escape quickly.

�Abuelo, I�m really sorry,� Paloma said, dreading the upcoming lecture she was sure was coming.

�You do not need to apologize to me Paloma, but I do think that it is time for you to air some of these things that I know are bothering you.�

�I don�t know what you mean abuelo?�

�You are so different from Terasita. She wears her heart on her sleeve and you can tell what she is thinking just by the look on her face, but not with you. I see a very intelligent young woman who is so full of love, but she is afraid to let anyone break through the wall she has built around her heart because she does not want to get hurt. Am I correct in my observation?�

�Abuelo, I don�t know where all this is coming from. I simply got irritated with Theresa�s comment, and I�m sorry about it now���..�

�But I think that this has been a long time in coming. I can see it more than your immediate family because I have been able to look in from the outside. Come and walk with me in the courtyard,� he urged.

�If you�re trying to make me feel worse abuelo���..�

�That is not my intention at all. I am concerned for you Paloma,� Don Miguel said, gently.

�Concerned for me? But why?� Paloma asked, confused.

�Because I can see that you are still so full of resentment because you feel like your family abandoned you.�

�How did you know abuelo? I really tried to hide my feelings, but if still hurts so much that they sent me to Tia Maria�s. I know that they didn�t have money after papa disappeared, but I wouldn�t have cared if they fed me peanut butter sandwiches to survive. I just wanted to be with my family, and now I�ve missed out on all of those years that I can never get back,� she said, feeling the dreaded tears coming on.

�I am so sorry,� he said, with regret in his eyes. �I feel like this is partially my fault. I should have insisted that your mama accepted help from me but I was too stubborn. And, now because of our pride you have suffered.�

�You didn�t know at the time that mama and Luis would send me away, and besides I had a really good life at Tia Maria�s, but it just wasn�t the same as being with my family. They all seem so close, and I feel like an outsider, and to be honest, maybe I resent Theresa the most. She�s the daughter that got to stay home, and I know that things were rough for them, but she had Luis and Miguel to spoil and tease her. All the things that brothers do for little sisters, and I will never have those memories.�

�You have memories from recently, and I thought that you had grown closer to Luis after the accident?�

�I have, and that is special to me, but I just want to feel like I�m a part of my family,� she sobbed, the dam finally breaking. All of the years of loneliness and feelings of desertion came pouring out all at once she cried like a baby all over Don Miguel�s expensive jacket. Her tears subsided after a good old fashioned weeping, and Don Miguel offered her his linen handkerchief. �I�m sorry����

�You needed that for a long time I suspect. Paloma, do you love your family?�

�Of course I do,� she answered.

�Then you must learn to forgive them,� he told her wisely. �I know better than anyone that all of the resentment and pride that you hold in your heart will only hurt you in the end. I do not want to see you suffer any longer,� Don Miguel said, emotionally.

�Thank you abuelo,� she said, hugging her grandfather. �I�m really going to try, and the first thing I�m going to do is talk with Theresa. Maybe in spite of the fact that we�re as different as night and day we might be able to forge some kind of friendship.�

�That is the spirit,� he said, smiling. �I know that you have lost many years that you cannot get back, but think of all of the happiness you have to gain if you only open your heart. I saw the deep love that your family has for you when we all thought you might be taken from us after that accident, and I can assure you they were devastated.�

�Thank you so much abuelo,� she said, kissing his weathered cheek. �I think I�m going to go and find Theresa and see if maybe we can work on that sister thing.�

�I think that is a very wise idea,� he said, patting her on the back with a smile of relief.

********************

Since it was Mother�s Day, Luis had insisted that Sheridan sleep in and he would get the children up and fed, and even bring her breakfast in bed. She was hardly going to pass up a chance like that and took full advantage of his generous offer. She had just dozed off when she felt something brush against her cheek. Her eyes flew open to see Luke and Lily standing there with big grins on their faces, and they each held a rose in their hand.

�Happy mama�s day,� they both chanted sweetly.

�Oh my goodness,� she said, sitting up in bed. �You are so sweet.�

�Happy Mother�s Day Sheridan,� Luis said, standing behind them with a tray filled with something that really smelled delicious. He also had a rose, but his was in a vase.

�I think you might make mommy cry some happy tears,� she told them, kissing their little cheeks. �Thank you all so much for this wonderful surprise.�

�Well, you just sit back and enjoy your breakfast, and we�ll bring you the rest of your surprises,� Luis said, leaning down to kiss her lips.

�More surprises? You did too much,� she protested.

�We just wanted to show you how much we appreciate everything that you do for us. Right munchkins?�

�Yes daddy.�

�Okay, I�m going to put mommy�s tray down, so why don�t you let her put her roses in with daddy�s and then we�ll get the rest of her presents?�

�Kay daddy,� they said, handing their roses to Sheridan, and running out of the room excitedly.

�I�ll be right back;� Luis told her following the twins.

Several minutes later, as Sheridan was enjoying her French toast covered in buttery syrup, she looked up to see the twins struggling with a rather large box that they were holding with both of their hands on either side. They were taking small steps and walking sideways into the room. �What do you have there?� she asked, shocked that Luis would let them carry such a heavy load. �Does daddy know you have that?�

�Daddy does know,� Luis announced from the doorway. �I tried to tell them that I would help, but they insisted, and it really was important to them.�

�We have pressie mama,� Lily told her happily.

�Big pressie,� Luke added.

When they finally made it within reach, Sheridan took the present from them and lifted it to the bed. �Climb up here with mommy so I can open your present. Oh it looks so pretty. Did you wrap it too?�

�Yes mama, Jordee too,� Lily told her, proudly.

�Oh, now I think I know why you went to the office with daddy the other day. This is just so wonderful,� Sheridan said, staring down at the present. She put her tray aside, anxious to see what was inside. �Can I open it now?�

�Now mama, now,� Luke said, excitedly.

Sheridan tore the paper away and took the lid off of the box to find the scrapbook made of heavy parchment paper. On the front was the uneven lettering spelling Luke and Lily with an & sign at the end. �Oh, how beautiful, and what is this empty space for?�

�Baby,� Lily told her.

�That is so sweet of you to include your new brother or sister. I can�t wait to see what�s inside.� As Sheridan turned the pages and saw all of their photos and sweet artwork, she started to cry it was just so precious to her. �I think that this is one of the best presents that I�ve ever received. Come here and give mommy a hug.�

The twins came into her arms and Sheridan showered them with kisses. They were so proud and excited that their mother like their present they were beside themselves with happiness. Luis knew that the touching scene before him was one he would always remember, and decided that his gift would be a little bit of a let down, but it didn�t bother him in the least. �Well munchkins, I think that all of your hard work paid off. Mommy sure does love your gift.�

�Was this your idea?� she asked, love shining on her face.

�Yes, but Jordan did the planning and the twins did all the work. I�m so glad that you like it,� he said, smiling.

�I love it,� she assure him. �It really is so special.�

�Daddy has pressie too,� Luke announced.

�Oh really, and when am I going to get this present,� Sheridan teased.

�Here you go,� he said, handing her the box wrapped in gold paper. �It�s a little something to show my appreciation and love.�

�Oh Luis, it�s beautiful,� Sheridan gasped, when she opened the box.

�See each on of those little diamond things represents each of the children, and I even got an extra one to add when the baby gets here,� Luis told her.

�I just love it, and I love my scrapbook too. I don�t know what I did to deserve such a special family,� she said, wiping her tears of joy away.

�What are you talking about?� Luis said, sitting down on the bed with family. �You are always there for us and we love you very much. Right munchkins?�

�Right daddy,� the twins shouted happily.

 

Chapter 33

Don Miguel and Paloma had just entered the house from the courtyard when Rosa approached to announce that Luis was on the phone. Since she wasn�t in a big hurry to confront Theresa until her thoughts were together, Paloma asked to speak to her brother. Besides, she missed the twins and was especially interested in hearing about how Lily was doing. Don Miguel graciously allowed her to speak to her brother first so she took the phone. �Luis, I know you were calling to speak to abuelo, but I wanted to check on Luke and Lily. Is Lily still having her nightmares?� she managed, without taking a breath.

�Slow down Paloma,� Luis laughed. �Both of the munchkins are fine and Lily is doing great, but what about all of you? Are you having a good time in Spain?�

�We are having the best time Luis and I just can�t believe how beautiful this place is. The pictures that you and Sheridan took didn�t prepare me for just how large this place is.�

�That�s great to hear, but speaking of the munchkins, they just heard me say your name and now they want to talk to you,� Luis told her.

�Oh, put them on,� Paloma said, happily. �I would love to talk to them.�

�Hi Poma,� they both shouted excitedly into the receiver.

�Hi you little squirts. I really miss you.�

�Come home Poma,� Lily requested in her sweet little voice.

�Oh, you are so sweet, but I still have to stay for one more week, and then I promise I�ll be home,� she told the little girl.

�Poma, me goss with daddy,� Luke told her proudly.

�You did? That is so cool,� Paloma said, having no idea what he was talking about.

�I took Luke golfing with me,� Luis translated.

�Oh,� Paloma laughed. �I bet that was the cutest thing.�

�It was, and I can already tell that my boy has athletic ability,� Luis said, proudly.

�Oh brother,� Paloma said, rolling her eyes with a smile. �How are Sheridan and the baby doing?�

�They�re doing great too. We had an ultrasound done the other day and our precious souvenir is growing like a weed.�

�Souvenir?� she asked, confused, but then it dawned on her. �Oh, never mind I got it. I guess you and Sheridan really had a good time in Spain.�

�Yeah, and just make sure that you and Theresa don�t come home with a precious souvenir or things could get really ugly around here,� Luis warned.

�Oh please, even if we wanted to, which by the way we don�t, abuelo won�t let us go out alone without one of his men to watch over us.�

�That�s good,� Luis said, relieved. �Why don�t you say bye to the munchkins so that I can talk to abuelo? Oh, and Paloma, tell Miguel and Theresa hi for us.�

�I will,� she promised. �Bye squirts. Be good and I love you.�

�Bye bye Poma. Me wuv you too,� Lily said, sweetly.

�Me wuv you bigger,� Luke giggled.

�Geez, you two really know how to get to a person,� Paloma said, fondly. �I�m giving the phone to abuelo now.� She then mouthed to her grandfather that she was going to go upstairs and talk with Theresa, and Don Miguel nodded with approval.

�Luis, it is good to hear your voice,� Don Miguel said, after taking the phone. �I hope all is well with you and the family.�

�We�re great abuelo. I was just calling to see if everyone was having a good time...........�

�We are all having a wonderful visit, but I sense that you have something else on your mind Luis,� the wise old man predicted.

�I�m beginning to think that you read my mind abuelo,� Luis said, amazed that his grandfather was right once again. �We went over to mama and papa�s house for Mother�s Day and mama started talking about missing Antonio again. I know that I said I had too much going on with my own family to worry about finding a brother that obviously didn�t want to come home, but it just broke my heart to hear mama talking about seeing Antonio again. Have you heard anything new about him?�

�I am afraid that I do not have good news where your brother is concerned,� Don Miguel said with regret. �As I told you before, my investigator located Antonio in Malta, but he contacted me last week to tell me that you brother and his lady friend have slipped away and he has no idea where they have gone off too.�

�Damn,� Luis said, frustrated. �I just don�t get it abuelo. What could be so bad that he feels the need to keep sneaking off like that?�

�Perhaps it was not intentional and my man just missed them,� Don Miguel suggested.

�No, I just have this gut feeling that either he�s on to us or he�s running from the law. I�ll tell you one thing though, if he is just running because he doesn�t want his family to find him then I have lost any respect I ever had for him. Why would a man abandon his family and then go to such great lengths to make sure we didn�t find him? We never did anything but love him and he treats us like garbage,� Luis spat out, filled with anger over this latest development.

�I know you have every reason to feel bitter Luis, but perhaps you should wait to hear the whole story before you pass judgment,� Don Miguel suggested. �You had every reason to hate me too for some of the very reasons you are stating about Antonio and you found it in your heart to forgive me.�

�It�s not the same thing abuelo.� Luis argued. �I mean, sure you made some mistakes and so did mama, but at least you tried to do the right thing on occasion. You were man enough to admit that you regretted what had happened and you certainly weren�t a coward like Antonio is. He�s just bad news as far as I�m concerned.�

�Luis, I beg you to not shut the door on your brother until you know his reasons for leaving. How do you know that he is not doing this to protect all of you? Besides, your mama and papa deserve to see their son again no matter what he has done, so we must not give up our quest to find him.�

�All right abuelo, I�ll help you continue the search, but I swear to God if he brings shame to our family I don�t know how I�ll be able to handle that.�

�You will handle it like you do everything else,� Don Miguel told him. �Like the true gentleman I know you to be.�

Paloma took some deep breaths to calm her anxiety over what she knew could be a turning point in her relationship with her sister. She knew that if she went in there and apologized to Theresa that she would have to admit what had driven her to be so rude to her sibling since her return home. All of the years that she had spent away from home had caused a protective shield to grow around her heart and now suddenly she was going to have to be vulnerable. As difficult as that was, she was ready to open up and let love in, but it was still very frightening for her. She knocked softly on the door to Theresa�s room and waited for a response. Before long the door opened and there stood Theresa with a weary look on her face. �Can I come in?� Paloma asked.

�Okay,� Theresa said, stepping aside to let her sister in.

�I guess I�ll just get right to the point before I lose my nerve,� Paloma started. �I�m really sorry for what I said downstairs. You didn�t deserve that.�

�Actually Paloma, I�ve been thinking and it�s really me that owes you an apology. It really wasn�t very sensitive of me to treat you like you were stupid for wanting to go to the beach,� Theresa said, shocking Paloma.

�But I was so rude Theresa...........�

�And so was I, so why don�t be just forget about it,� Theresa said, flashing her sister a smile.

�Look Theresa as much as I would like to pretend that nothing happened, I think that there are some things that need to be brought out in the open. This isn�t easy for me, but a really wise person told me that I need to get some things off of my chest so that I can move on,� Paloma said, surprised by her own words.

�Maybe we should both sit down,� Theresa said, pointing to the seating area in her room.

�I know that I�ve been distant to you since I came back home to live, but to be honest with you Theresa, I resented you,� Paloma began.

�You resented me?� Theresa asked, surprised.

�Yes, I did because you were the daughter that got to stay home, and I was sent away to live with Aunt Maria. It was so confusing to me when I was really young, and then when I was old enough to understand that mama sent me away because money was tight I tried to be content, but it still hurt.�

�Oh Paloma, I never realized that you felt like we deserted you,� Theresa said, her eyes filling up with tears. �I�m just so sorry.�

�It�s not your fault Theresa. I realize that now, but you need to understand how I was feeling about you. When I came home I saw how close you were to Luis and Miguel, and how protective they were of you and it really hurt me, because I wanted that too. I know that my family loves me, but I still felt like an outsider.�

�Oh Paloma, I hate it that you feel that way because we all love you so much. There were so many times that mama and Luis would try to think of ways to bring you back home, but the money was really tight. It broke all of our hearts that you weren�t home with us, especially mama�s.�

�I guess it doesn�t matter what I felt like any longer because it�s time I got over it and learned to appreciate what I have right now,� Paloma stated emphatically.

�It does matter how you feel Paloma. Did you know that I was envious of you?� Theresa asked.

�Me? But why?�

�Because you were living in Tia Maria�s beautiful house surrounded by nice things, and I had to wear Jordan Crane�s hand-me-down clothes,� Theresa sighed.

�Wow, I guess the grass is always greener on the other side,� Paloma said, surprised by her sister�s confession. �As nice as Tia Maria is, I would have traded places with you any day of the week just to be with my family.�

�I�m sorry that things had to be the way they were Paloma, but we are so happy to have you home with us again. Now that papa is back too, all we need is for Antonio to show up and our family can all be together again. Nothing would make mama happier.�

�It�s funny but I never knew our big brother,� Paloma said, regretfully. �I was just a baby when he left. What was he like Theresa?�

�Well, I was pretty young myself when Antonio left, but I do remember him to be the type of person that liked to have fun. Luis was more serious, but our older brother had this way of bringing out his playful side. I think that when Antonio left it was the hardest on Luis because he couldn�t understand why he would leave us, especially since it was only a few months after papa disappeared. Even as young as I was, I could see that Luis was never the same after that happened.�

�I guess Luis had to grow up pretty fast after that,� Paloma realized. �I feel so terrible for him all of a sudden. I guess we all had to make sacrifices in this family.�

�You�re right we all did, but you know what? Things are going to be good for the Lopez-Fitzgerald�s from now on. I�m convinced of it,� Theresa smiled.

�Well, I guess I�ll go to bed now,� Paloma said, rising and walking toward the door. �I�m glad that we had this talk Theresa.�

�Me too,� Theresa said, hugging her sister.

�Do you think that maybe you can help me do my hair when we go to meet the King and Queen?� Paloma asked, hopefully. �You�re so good at that kind of stuff..........�

�Of course I will,� Theresa promised. �We�re going to be the belles of the ball.�

********************

Sheridan had decided to team up with Eve to throw a wedding shower for Kay, and since their house was bigger than the Russell�s was, the event was being held there. Luis thought she was taking on too much and now she was starting to wonder if he was right about that. She had been so busy getting Luke and Lily�s new bedrooms decorated and with her work on the book, there was not much time for anything else. Eve had wanted to do this since Kay had practically grown up in their house and Sheridan thought it was appropriate since the bride-to-be was going to be her new sister-in-law. As soon as she got through with this shower, she swore to herself that she was taking a couple of days to relax, but there was no rest for the weary right now. She was getting some of her serving pieces out of the china cabinet when Lily came running into the dining room wearing her pink dress. �I hope you�re not getting your pretty dress dirty,� Sheridan said, giving her daughter a quick inspection. �You promised mommy that you would sit and watch television if I let you get dressed early.�

�Mama, I be good,� Lily told her.

�Okay sweetie, but mommy would feel so much better if you would go in there and sit still.�

�Do you need some help before we take off?� Luis offered, walking into the room.

�I think that I have everything under control. Eve had an emergency, but she just called to say she was on her way,� Sheridan told him. �I appreciate the offer though.�

�Well, look at you Peanut,� Luis said, checking out his little girl. �You look so pretty, but just make sure that you keep your dress down.�

�Daddy silly,� Lily giggled.

�Sorry Peanut, but daddy is being very serious about this. A little lady does not spin around and show her panties to everybody............�

�Luis, I think you�re overreacting again,� Sheridan said, giving him a look to let it go. �So tell me, what are you and Luke going to do today?�

�We�re going to go over to the restaurant to help papa out. The grand opening is next weekend so he is making sure the last minute construction details are completed,� Luis told her. �Hey Sport, why don�t you bring along your little tool kit?�

�I don�t know about that Luis,� Sheridan worried. �What if he pounds on something and ruins it?�

�Sheridan, I don�t think there is a chance of that since his tools are plastic,� Luis laughed.

�Me got tools,� Luke announced, running in the room with little toolbox. �Me help pawpaw.�

�That�s so nice of you sweetie. I�m sure that pawpaw will really appreciate that,� Sheridan told him with a smile.

�Are you all excited about going to the party for Kay, Peanut?� Luis asked his little girl.

�Me eat cake daddy,� Lily said, excitedly.

�Me go party too mama?� Luke asked.

�The party is just for girls Lukie poo, but I promise that I�ll save a big piece of cake for you,� Sheridan told him.

�You can go with daddy to the bachelor party Luke,� Luis said, winking. �That�s for all the boys and girls aren�t allowed.

Sheridan missed Luis� wink and his words shocked her. �You are not taking my baby to a bachelor party! I can�t even believe you would say that.�

�Me not baby,� Luke told her adamantly.

�I know sweetie, even though you�re a big boy, you�ll always be my baby,� Sheridan said, kissing his forehead. �It�s kind of a mommy thing. Now Luis, do we understand each other?�

�Sheridan, I was teasing. �I can�t believe you didn�t know that.�

�Sheridan, it�s Eve,� she called out from the living room. �Do you think Luis could help me bring in some of these trays?�

�Of course Eve, we�ll be there in a minute,� Sheridan called back.

After Luis helped Eve bring in some trays of finger sandwiches and fruit, he kissed Sheridan goodbye and went on to the restaurant. They had just completed setting up the serving table when the guests began to arrive. When the invitations went out everyone was assigned a different room in the house to bring a gift for and Sheridan had the bedroom. She was giving the happy couple some sinfully expensive beautiful silk sheets and a pair of white silk pajamas from Lily. When it came time to open the presents, everyone raved over the sheets, especially Kay.

�Open my pressie now Kay,� Lily requested, and everyone laughed.

�Okay cutie pie, can you bring it to me?� Kay asked, smiling.

�Happy Birsday,� Lily said, handing her the gift.

�It�s not my birthday, but thank you anyway;� Kay laughed, as she tore the paper away. �Oh Lily, these are so beautiful. Thank you.�

�Actually, I thought that you could wear the top and Evan could wear the bottoms,� Sheridan whispered in Kay�s ear.

�Oh, now that�s sexy,� Kay said, picturing the scene in her head.

�Sexy,� Lily giggled, spinning around with her dress in the air.

�Sorry Sheridan,� Kay winced.

�I�m hope you�re sorry enough to explain it to Luis when she pulls that in front of him,� Sheridan groaned.

********************

Antonio was still in shock over not only finding out that his grandfather was alive, but he was also an aristocrat loaded to the gills. Even when the investigator had told him about Don Miguel it had not really registered until he arrived in Spain and had a chance to ask around and actually saw the family estate. His mother had grown up with a life of privilege and she had never let on to them, but why? The mystery was driving him crazy, and he meant to get to the bottom of it. From the minute he arrived in Spain, he had been watching the estate like a hawk and when he saw the black limo pull out between the gates; he had followed it into town. When the passengers emerged, his heart stopped when he saw his sisters and brother. Even though he hadn�t seen them since they had grown up, he would know them anywhere, especially Theresa. She didn�t look much different from the little girl with the big brown eyes, he remembered so well. Miguel was barely out of diapers when he had left home but there was no denying that it was his little brother. Paloma probably shocked him the most because it was hard for him to picture that tiny baby all grown into a beautiful young woman. When he had collided with her in the park a couple of days ago it was like seeing his mother�s face with the exception of her green eyes. In a moment of insanity, he had been so close to telling his little sister who he was, when he spotted Theresa making her way through the crowd all sense of reason returned...........

�Tony, you are brooding again,� Maria said, joining him on the balcony of their hotel.

�I�m not brooding Maria,� he said, taking a sip of his drink. �I just have a lot on my mind.�

�I just do not understand why you are keeping yourself hidden from your family. This should be the perfect opportunity for you to reunite with them.�

�What you don�t understand Maria is that it�s not that simple. I�ve been gone for years and I just can�t walk back into their lives like nothing has happened.�

�They might already know that you are here,� Maria suggested.

�How could they know?� Antonio scoffed. �After I pumped all the information out of my grandfather�s investigator he was so drunk that he couldn�t even remember his own name. Lucky for us he passed out so we could slip out of town before he knew what hit him.�

�I would not be so confident about that Tony. From what I understand, Don Miguel is a very shrewd man. Just because you outsmarted one of his investigators does not mean that there was not another one hot on your trail.�

�Believe me Maria, if my grandfather knew I was here right under his nose, I�m sure he would have confronted me by now. He went to too much trouble finding me,� Antonio reasoned.

�What did you do that was so bad that you cannot face your family?� Maria asked, curiously.

�Forget it Maria,� Antonio said, dismissing her. �You already know too much as it is.�

�We are in a relationship Tony and you should be able to tell me anything. I do not appreciate you treating me like I am just some acquaintance in your life. You do not seem to mind spending my money,� she reminded him.

�Okay Maria, you made your point. I was forced to leave my family to protect them and also to protect myself from going to prison. There, are you happy now?�

�Oh God, so you did break the law.............�

�No I didn�t, but somebody could have easily made it look like I did. He had a lot of power so I had no doubt that he would succeed in putting me away for a long time,� Antonio said, feeling the rage fill him at the thought of Julian Crane. At Ivy too for that matter.

�Even after all of these years this man would still threaten you?�

�Believe it or not the bastard is in prison himself right now,� Antonio laughed with a bitter edge.

�Then there should be no reason that you cannot go home to your family now,� Maria said, smiling.

�No, they�ll want to know why I left and I just don�t think I can face that right now,� Antonio said, his voice sounding almost sad.

�I am not trying to push you, but maybe you should reconsider. I saw how happy you were when you met your little sister.�

�Yes,� he said, smiling. �My little baby sister is all grown up, and you should see her Maria, she�s such a beauty and so is Theresa. My little brother, Miguel is a man now, and I missed seeing them grow up.�

�What was it like seeing your grandfather?� Maria asked.

�It was almost surreal,� Antonio mused. �What�s really strange is that he looks like this elderly version of Luis...........�

�Then you need to go home Tony,� she urged. �Your family might just surprise you and forgive you on sight.�

�I don�t know Maria,� he said, running his fingers through his hair impatiently. �I just don�t know............�

********************

Sheridan was lying in bed sketching pages for the book when Luis walked into the bedroom from the bathroom; naked as the day he was born. �Sheridan, do you know where my toothbrush is?�

�It should be right there hanging next to mine. Are you sure you didn�t put it some place else,� she said, trying not to stare at his distracting body.

�It was there this morning, but I swear it must have gotten up and walked away,� Luis said, bringing his hands up in frustration.

�Just get a new one out from under the sink. I usually keep a supply of them stocked there,� Sheridan suggested.

�I know, but it bugs me that it would just be gone,� Luis complained, turning to walk back into the bathroom, giving his wife a view of his backside this time.

�Meeee puppy name be Rags,� Sheridan heard a little voice singing from the nursery.

�Oh no, that�s Luke,� she said, sliding out of bed and into her robe. �He should have been asleep an hour ago. �Luis, I�m going to check on Luke,� she called out.

�Hi mama,� the little boy greeted her.

�Why are you still awake young man?� Sheridan whispered. �You�re lucky that you didn�t wake up your sister.�

�Me pound nails for pawpaw mama,� he announced, proudly.

�I know and that was very nice of you to help pawpaw, but you need to go to sleep. It�s way past your bedtime.�

�Me not sleepy,� Luke argued.

Suddenly Sheridan looked down and saw Luis� tooth brush lying on the floor. She bent down and picked it up and made a face when she saw it was covered with slobber. �What are you doing with daddy�s tooth brush?�

�Me brush doggie�s toofers,� Luke told her.

�Luke, you should not stick your hand in Ace�s mouth. I know he�s a nice doggy but he could have accidentally bit you. Promise mommy that you will never do that again.�

�Kay mama,� Luke agreed.

�Okay sweetie, now I want you to lay down and close your eyes, and mommy will rub your back until you fall asleep, but you have to give me a kiss first.�

Luke reached his little head up and kissed Sheridan�s cheek, and then lay down as he was instructed. She rubbed his back and hummed softly and thankfully the little boy fell asleep. When she went back into the bedroom, she was dangling the toothbrush by the end so that she didn�t have to touch the brush part. �I found your tooth brush,� she announced to Luis, who was already in bed under the covers.

�Gross, why is there slobber on the end of it?� Luis asked, making a face.

�Your little boy decided to brush Ace�s teeth with it,� Sheridan explained. �I told him to never do that again, because Ace could accidentally bite him. I can�t believe how wired that child is tonight. Did you give him a bunch of sugar this afternoon?� she asked, suspiciously.

�Well, he did kind of find the big bag of after dinner mints at the restaurant,� Luis admitted, sheepishly.

�Oh no Luis...........�

�I couldn�t help it Sheridan, he started to gobble them down like it was his last meal before I could stop him.� he said, defensively.

�No wonder he�s on a sugar high. He also had a piece of cake when he got home.�

�I guess we�re getting to the point where we have to lock everything up we don�t want the kids to get their hands on,� Luis said, unable to keep from smiling. �That little rascal thought he could brush Ace�s teeth?�

�Apparently so,� Sheridan said, slipping off her robe. She crawled into bed and snuggled up against Luis.

�Do you think this little one will be as precocious as the twins are?� Luis asked, rubbing her rounded tummy.

�With us as parents, I�m sure of it,� Sheridan laughed.

�I was really tempted the other day at the doctor�s office to ask the sex of the baby, but I controlled myself at the last minute,� Luis admitted.

�You never really said if you wanted a boy or a girl. Tell me Luis?� she asked.

�Oh, I don�t know. Can we have one of each again?� Luis asked, giving her a quick kiss on the lips.

�Sorry honey, but not this time around. Besides, I don�t know if I could survive having fours little ones under five running around the house, but you still didn�t tell me if you want a boy or a girl.�

�To tell you the truth Sheridan, I really don�t care if it�s a boy or a girl. I love them both, and I know I�ll fall in love with this baby the second I see him or her. What about you?�

�I feel the same way that you do,� Sheridan said, thoughtfully. �I�ve always thought that children were the most precious gift that could be bestowed upon a couple, but when I look at our children, I don�t even have the words to describe the love I feel for them.�

�I know what you mean, but I feel the same way about you too Sheridan,� Luis said, running his finger down the line of her cheek. �I love you more every day.�

Maybe it was her raging hormones again, but his words made her cry. �Oh Luis, I would have never thought that my life could be so sweet............... So perfect. I don�t ever want to think about my life without you in it. I love you with all my heart and soul.�

�Come here sweetheart and let me kiss your tears away,� he whispered, lowering his mouth to do just that.

 

Chapter 34

The Lopez-Fitzgerald siblings arrived home from Spain, bursting with excitement over their trip, and they also had a very special surprise with them that pleased their mother immensely. Don Miguel had not planned to come back to Harmony so soon, but he didn�t want to miss the grand opening of his daughter�s restaurant. The original idea had been for Pilar to do the cooking, but Martin didn�t want his wife to be overwhelmed with work, so he hired a chef. Marco would prepare most of the dishes, but Pilar refused to let anyone cook her special recipes except for herself. Pilar�s was booked solid for its opening night, and everybody in town including people from the A list were coming. It didn�t hurt when word spread that Don Miguel was in town especially for the occasion, since all of the country club set was very curious about the Spanish aristocrat.

Luis and Sheridan would be going of course, and they even decided to bring Luke and Lily, but insisted that they take extra long naps that afternoon. Sheridan helped Lily into her little blue dress and buttoned the back for her. The top of the dress was smocked across the bodice and there was a sash around the waist. �You look so pretty in your blue dress Lily,� Sheridan told her little girl looking at the finished product.

�Mama pretty too,� Lily told her sweetly.

�I think I better give you a kiss for saying that,� Sheridan said, squatting down and kissing her daughter�s cheek. �Let�s go find daddy and Luke and make sure they�re ready to go.�

�Mama, me take Banabelle too?� Lily asked with a hopeful glint in her big blue eyes.

�Okay, but just remember that you have to keep up with her,� Sheridan reminded her. �I think that Annabelle even has a pretty blue dress you could put her in to match the one that you have on.�

�Kay mama,� Lily said, excitedly.

�Well Sport, I think our girls look like they�re ready,� Luis said, standing at the door with Luke. The little boy looked adorable with his vest and bowtie.

�Come Leelee.,� Luke said, taking Lily�s hand.

�Me get Banabelle dress,� she snapped, shaking his hand loose.

�Peanut, you don�t have to get sassy with your brother,� Luis corrected. �He was just trying to be nice to you.�

�Mama,� Lily whined, running to her mother.

�I�m sorry Lily, but daddy�s right. Now, I�ll get Annabelle changed and I want you to go tell Luke that you�re sorry.�

With a pouty lip, Lily approached her brother slowly. �Me sorry Lukie,� she said, softly.

�Kay Leelee,� Luke said, sweetly giving his sister a hug.

�So sweet,� Sheridan commented to Luis.

�Yeah, it sure is,� Luis agreed, checking out her appearance. She wore a classic little black dress with her long pearls. This time she had them wrapped several times around her neck and had them draping to the front.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Sheridan was shocked at how beautiful the place had turned out. When she had last seen it the interior construction had just started and it was difficult to visualize what the place would look like in the end. She felt as if she were back in Spain upon entering. The place had an Old World elegance, but still had an air of casualness that was very inviting. There were terracotta tiles on the floor and large palm plants and the cuisine catered to the Mediterranean region of Spain, Pilar�s birthplace. Luis and Sheridan shared a table with Don Miguel, and the rest of the family. Even Charity and Gaston were there to make it a real celebration for the Lopez-Fitzgerald�s. Luke and Lily of course demanded all of the attention at the table. Martin was busy being the gracious host greeting all of the guests and Pilar ran back and forth in a frazzled state between the dining room and the kitchen making sure that everything was cooked to perfection.

�I can�t believe how packed this place is,� Luis said, looking around the restaurant.

�It pleases me to see such a large crowd tonight,� Don Miguel agreed. �Your mama must be so pleased.�

�From the looks of Pilar, I think she�s too busy to be pleased right now,� Sheridan smiled.

�Maybe I should see if she needs any help,� Paloma said, standing to go offer her assistance.

�No Poma. Come back,� Lily called out to her aunt.

�It�s okay Lily, I�ll be right back,� Paloma told her feeling good by her words.

�Maybe I should offer to help too,� Theresa said.

�No Theresa, Gaston has come all this way, and you should stay with him,� Paloma insisted.

Just then Martin approached. �How is everyone doing?� he asked, smiling.

�Hi pawpaw,� Luke said, waving.

�Pawpaw, more juice peas,� Lily requested sweetly, while batting her eyes.

�You have no idea how much that frightens daddy when you do that Peanut,� Luis said with a worried frown while everyone else laughed.

�Don�t worry everybody, when Lily and Luke are teenagers I�m going to keep my husband locked in a room,� Sheridan told them, smiling. �I�ll throw him a bone every now and then.�

�No mama, daddy hasa go work,� Luke objected.

�I know sweet pea, mommy was just teasing,� Sheridan assured her son.

�Martin, I am happy to see that you have such a good turnout, but I am a little concerned about Pilar. She rushed by here earlier and I could tell that she was very stressed,� Don Miguel said.

�Don�t worry Don Miguel, Pilar is just a little anxious about opening night, but I promise everything is under control. I think I managed to calm her down.�

�Are you sure papa, because I was going to go offer her my help?� Paloma told her father.

�Yes, I�m sure Paloma, but hold that thought because I think this would be the perfect place for you and Miguel to work this summer,� Martin said with a wink.

�You�re kidding right papa?� Miguel laughed.

�No I�m not,� Martin laughed back, hitting his son on the back.

�But papa...............�

�I would let it go Miguel if I were you,� Luis advised.

�Oh look, Evan and Kay, and Chad and Whitney are with them,� Sheridan said, waving.

�It looks like Noah and Jordan are right behind them,� Theresa noted. �I can�t wait to introduce you Gaston. Whitney is my best friend and I grew up with Noah and Kay. Papa can you seat them all at this table beside us?�

�Hey, I�m the owner,� Martin reminded her smiling. �I can do anything I want.�

�Me go potty,� Lily shouted, trying to be heard above the noise. Some of the patrons sitting nearby laughed at the little girl�s announcement.

�Gee Peanut I don�t think you said it loud enough. They couldn�t hear you in California,� Luis snickered.

�I�ll take her,� Paloma volunteered. �Come on squirt let�s go to the Ladies� Room.� Paloma was impressed all over again as she made her way through the restaurant. She felt as though she were still in Spain and the musician playing the Spanish guitar added the perfect ambiance to the setting. Lily was so tiny that Paloma had to hold on to her as she sat on the commode. �Are you finished?�

�Me be done Poma,� Lily assured her.

�Okay squirt, let�s go wash your hands,� Paloma instructed.

The restrooms were right off the lobby in the main entrance and just as Paloma and Lily walked out they were confronted by a group of people coming into the restaurant. The party consisted of Ivy, Ethan and Gwen. Also with them was the rest of the Hotchkiss family including JJ of all people. She was certainly not pleased that her heart started to beat faster at the sight of him, especially when he flashed his charming smile right in her direction. Not wanting to be rude, she had no other choice but to approach them.

�Well, there�s Paloma and Lily,� Ivy gushed.

�Hello everyone,� Paloma greeted them.

�Hi Eten,� Lily waved to her cousin.

�Hi Sweet Cheeks,� Ethan said, giving her a kiss on the forehead. �I can�t believe it but you get prettier every day.�

�You are adorable and what I can�t believe is how much you look like your mommy,� Gwen added. �So Paloma, how was your trip? You look fabulous.�

�She certainly does,� JJ said, staring at her warmly, causing his mother to give him a strange look.

�Thank you, and I had a wonderful time,� Paloma told them. �I really didn�t want to come home.�

�Oh, where did you go?� Rebecca asked.

�I was in Spain visiting my grandfather,� Paloma responded.

�What was it like meeting the King and Queen?� Gwen asked, curiously.

�You met King Carlos?� Ivy asked, impressed.

�Yes, my grandfather took us to a reception for them. I was a little intimidated at first but they were both very nice people,� Paloma said, starting to feel uncomfortable with all the attention she was suddenly getting, especially from JJ who wouldn�t take his eyes off of her.

�I understand Don Miguel is here tonight,� Rebecca said, looking past her head.

�Yes, he hadn�t planned to come for the opening, but he wanted to surprise mama,� Paloma explained.

�Poma, we go now,� Lily insisted, pulling on her aunt�s hand.

�Now Lily, you need to learn some patience dear,� Ivy told the little girl in a condescending voice. �It�s not nice to whine that way.�

�Mother,� Ethan protested.

Paloma was furious, and even though she had always been taught to respect her elders, this was one time she was going to make an exception. Her words froze in her mouth however when Lily looked straight at Ivy and said,� You mean.� Everybody was further shocked when the little girl stuck out her tongue with an insolent jut to her chin. Lily may have been young, but she still remembered that Ivy had yelled at her that day at the mansion.

�Out of the mouths of babes,� Rebecca chuckled, and then whispered in Ivy�s ear. �It looks like even the little girl knows a bitch when she sees one.�

�Well if that�s the case, then I�m sure you�ll be next on her list,� Ivy whispered back, still smarting from Lily�s words.

Pilar approached right then and Paloma could have kissed her mother for the timely interruption. Thankfully, she greeted everyone giving Paloma the perfect opportunity for an escape. She picked Lily up in her arms and almost made it when somebody tapped her on the shoulder. When she turned around it was him, JJ. �Is there something the matter?� she asked, unable to think of anything else to say to him.

�No, everything is fine,� he assured her. �I just didn�t get a chance to speak to you back there.�

�What did you want to speak to me about?�

�Hi,� Lily said, waving to JJ.

�Hi, you little cutie,� JJ said, touching the little girl�s nose. �You�re pretty good at sticking out youy tongue. The look on Ivy Crane�s face was priceless.�

�Maybe you shouldn�t encourage her,� Paloma suggested, trying to hide her smile. �So, you were going to tell me what you wanted to speak to me about..........�

�Actually, I was going to ask you a favor............�

�A favor?� she asked, curiously.

�Yeah, well you know that we start school on Monday, and since I�m new I was wondering if you would show me the ropes?� he requested with a charming smile.

�I guess I could do that,� she told him, secretly cursing herself for agreeing to his request. She had no idea what she could have possibly been thinking.

�Great, then I�ll meet you in front of school on Monday. I guess I�ll get back to the satanic socialites. Bye cutie,� JJ said, pulling gently on one of Lily�s curls.

�Bye bye,� Lily giggled, clearly impressed by JJ.

When they finally arrived back at the table everyone was chatting about Kay and Evan�s wedding that was only a week away. Lily decided that she wanted to sit on Don Miguel�s lap and of course the old man was putty in her hands. As loathed as she was to do it, Paloma felt that she should tell Luis and Sheridan about the little incident between Lily and Ivy. �Look you guys I don�t want you to make a big deal out of this but there is something that I should tell you. We ran into Ivy, Ethan, Gwen and the Hoschkiss� coming into the restaurant and of course I didn�t want to be rude so I stopped to say hello. Anyway Lily was getting impatient to come back to the table, and Ivy basically told her to quit whining. Lily told her she was mean, and stuck her tongue out at her..............�

�Oh no,� Sheridan groaned.

�Look, I don�t want Peanut mouthing off to adults, but come on Sheridan. Ivy has this habit of picking on our little girl,� Luis reasoned.

�I agree that Ivy probably deserved it, but I don�t want Lily to get in the habit of being disrespectful. Although I would love to give that witch a piece of my mind,� Sheridan stated defiantly. �But, in spite of that fact we have to talk to her Luis.�

�Mama, me want some ice keem,� Luke said, flashing his mother a sweet smile.

�And you�re worried about Lily being a flirt,� Sheridan said to Luis, smiling. �Of course sweetie. I�m sure that abuela has some ice cream back there in the kitchen.�

Luis motioned for the waiter and put in an order for some ice cream for Luke. �You know, the kids aren�t going to last much longer, and I think we should think about going home,� Luis whispered in Sheridan�s ear. �We could put the munchkins to bed and share some quality time together.�

�Is that quality time going to be spent beneath the sheets?� she purred into his ear.

�What did you expect when you wore those pearls tonight? They have a very special meaning for me, not to mention they remind me of some very steamy nights............�

�I think we need to put this conversation on hold for later. There are just too many people present and I�m already feeling things that should not be felt in public,� Sheridan protested.

�At least you get to hide your feelings...............�

********************

Antonio knew that his brother and sisters had gone back home because he had followed the limo that took them to the airport. He hadn�t stuck around or even gotten out of the car for that matter, but it left him feeling lonely now that they had gone. Maria had convinced him that it was time to go and introduce himself to his grandfather, and he had to admit that he was extremely curious about the man that he thought was dead. He had flatly refused at first, but decided that if Don Miguel started raking him over the coals he would just use a counter attack about the man�s absence for all of these years. When he pulled in through the open iron gates he was astounded by the beauty and vastness of Don Miguel�s property. It was so hard to believe that his mother had grown up in this place. There were workers busy in the olive groves, and the huge two-story stucco mansion stuck out against the blue sky like a fortress. He almost turned around, suddenly feeling really nervous about the upcoming meeting with his grandfather, but there was this need to find out about his wealthy side of his family, even though he would never admit it to anyone. He parked the rental car in front of the house and stared at the huge carved doors that led into the house. It was time to get this thing over with and he hadn�t gotten this far in life being shy. A petite pretty lady answered the door, and asked him in Spanish is she could help him.

�I am here to see Don Miguel Lopez,� Antonio told her in Spanish. �You can tell him that his grandson, Antonio would like to meet him.�

A look of shock blanketed her face, but she quickly composed herself. �I am Rosa,� she said in English. �Please wait here Senior.�

It didn�t take long for Rosa to return, and a man accompanied her. Where in the hell was his grandfather. �What�s going on here?� Antonio asked suspiciously. �Where is Don Miguel?�

�Senior, my name is Salvador and I work for Don Miguel, and this is my wife Rosa. She has told me that you claim to be Don Miguel�s grandson?�

�I don�t claim anything,� Antonio said, feeling his temper rise. �I am his grandson and I want you to tell him that I�m here.�

�I do not mean to sound suspicious Senior, but I was not aware that you knew that Don Miguel was your grandfather. He has been looking for you for so long and it was very surprising that you would just show up here this way.�

�Look Salvador, would you please just stop with the Spanish Inquisition and get Don Miguel for me,� Antonio demanded.

�Don Miguel is not here, and he will not be back for another week,� Salvador told him.

�Where is he?� Antonio asked, surprised that his grandfather had gone away without him knowing it.

�I am not at liberty to say Senior, but if you come back next week I am sure that Don Miguel would see you.�

Antonio was furious that this man was treating him like he was some con man. �No thank you,� Antonio said, turning to leave. �You can tell my grandfather that he missed his chance, and you can also tell him to keep his goons away from me.� With that, he stormed out of the house and slammed the door.

�I do not like him,� Rosa said with a worried frown. �He is nothing like Don Miguel�s other grandchildren.�

�This is true Rosa, but Don Miguel is not going to be happy that we let him get away. Maybe I should go after him to convince him to come back when Don Miguel is here?�

�No Salvador,� Rosa said, fearfully. �You heard what he said about Don Miguel keeping away from him. I do not want him to hurt you.�

�Rosa, I think that he likes to talk like he is bad, but I do not believe that he would hurt me. He must be staying in Valencia so I will start with the hotels there.�

�Please be careful Salvador,� Rosa begged.

�You worry too much Rosa,� Salvador smiled. �Antonio came from good people. He cannot be that bad.�

Antonio was furious that he had been so stupid to even go there. Now his grandfather would know he was on to his existence, not to mention that he was aware that Don Miguel had people following him. All he had wanted was to meet the man that was his grandfather and if he was honest the dollar signs were an incentive too. Now he was going to have to leave town and he was not looking forward to Maria�s reaction. He could just imagine the Greek swear words she was going to scream at him. Damn, he must have been crazy to think he could connect with Don Miguel and now he had a feeling that he was going to live to regret his foolish action today.

********************

Luis kissed Sheridan�s neck as he pulled the zipper down on the back of her dress. He pulled it down over her shoulders and down her arms, until it fell to the floor to land in a puddle around her feet. Her slip followed and as she stood in front of the mirror wearing nothing but her underware, Luis began to run his hands over her body. Of course the pearls were still wrapped around her neck, since he refused to let her take them off. As excited as he was making her, she couldn�t help but be a little self- conscience about her rounded belly. It really was kind of ridiculous that it would bother her since Luis appeared to be quite turned on by her burgeoning condition. �Honey, do you think we could turn the lights down low? Don�t you think it would be more romantic?�

�I�m already feeling pretty romantic as it is,� he said stripping her bra away. �Besides, I can�t see you as well when the lights are low.�

�Yeah, but I can see me and I would feel a lot better if the lights were turned down a little,� she said, hoping that he would just not debate the issue.

�Sheridan, I think that we�ve been married long enough that you shouldn�t be embarrassed in front of me any longer,� Luis said in a teasing voice.

�I know that Luis, but it�s a woman�s prerogative to be a little sensitive about her body when she�s pregnant. Not to mention hormones that are all over the place.�

Luis knew better than to argue with her when she was in one of these moods, so he decided to comply with her request. He turned the lights down low and came back to stand in front of her this time. �I think you�ve never looked more beautiful,� he assured her dropping to his knees and kissing her belly.

�Luis, I think we should go over to that bed right now, because you make my knees so weak that I don�t think I can stand up any longer,� she said, so incredibly touched by his words.

He pulled her panties off and stood up to kiss her. It was sweet and passionate at the same time. His lips never left hers as he picked her up and carried her over to the bed, laying her gently on the mattress. She watched him strip his clothes away and admired the way his gorgeous hard body looked in the shadows of the dim light. What really amazed her was that he was looking at her in a way that did make her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. It inspired her to be sexy and she began to move the pearls over her body in a sensuous motion. Even the low light couldn�t hide the dark raging lust that filled his eyes, and before she knew what had happened he was beside her on the bed kissing her senseless. They rolled around with unbridled passion, the only thing separating their naked bodies were the pearls that rolled against their heated flesh. Suddenly, he was filling her completely, connecting them in the most intimate way.

Afterward, they lay nestled in each other�s arms and Luis kissed her forehead. �Will you make me a promise?� he asked softly.

�I would promise you anything right now,� she told him loving.

�I want you to never forget that to me you are the most beautiful woman in the world, especially now.�

�I believe you Luis, and I promise that I�ll never forget it.............�

********************

The big day had finally arrived for Kay and Evan�s wedding. All the ladies in the bridal party had decided to meet at the church and get into their dresses there, but the Bennett house was still in a flurry of activity. All of the woman in the family were trying to get their things together while the men lounged around in their tuxedos oblivious to the chaos surrounding them . Kay was so nervous that her hands were shaking, and Grace had to take over packing the small bag she was taking to hold her makeup and other essentials. �Oh God, my hair just looks terrible,� Kay said, her voice shaky and stressed.

�Kay, the hairdresser is meeting us at the church. Your hair will be fine,� Grace said calmly, trying to reassure her daughter.

�I know, but with my luck it would just look terrible when the hairdresser gets through with it,� Kay worried.

�I think you need to take some deep breaths and try to relax or you�re going to make herself sick,� Grace advised.

�I�m trying mom but the closer this wedding draws near the more nervous I get.�

�Are you having second thoughts about marrying Evan?� Grace asked, trying to get a feeling for what was causing Kay�s stress.

�Oh no mom,� Kay said, looking at her mother like she had lost her mind. �I love Evan more than anything, it�s the wedding that I�m so scarred about. We should have just eloped and I wouldn�t be having to worry about any of this right now.�

�Yes, and you would never have these special memories either,� Grace reminded her. �Why is the ceremony upsetting you so much? Everything is taken care of and all you have to do is show up and say �I Do�.

�I could always trip when I�m walking down the aisle��..�

�You�re dad will be right beside you to catch you if that happens��..�

�What happens if Evan freaks out and isn�t standing there waiting at the end of the aisle for me?� Kay said, wringing her hands.

�Then your dad will hunt him down,� Sam supplied from the door of the bedroom.

�Daddy you wouldn�t,� Kay groaned.

�I would if he brakes your heart,� Sam threatened.

�I think you both need to stop right now since you talking about something that hasn�t even happened nor probably won�t either. Evan loves you so much. I can see it in his eyes every time he looks at you. Now Kay, I was going to wait to give this to you when we arrived at the church, but I guess now is as good of time as any.�

�Wait for me mom,� Jessica announced walking into the room with Noah behind her.

�Good, now that the whole family is here, I�m even more convinced that this is the time to give you something old,� she said handing Kay a white box with a ribbon tied around it.

�Oh, what is it?� Kay asked, touched.

�Why don�t you open it and see,� Grace suggested, smiling.

Kay slipped the ribbon off and opened the box to find a delicate linen handkerchief with Irish lace around the border. �It�s so beautiful,� she gasped.

�I carried that on my wedding day, and it has special meaning to me because I managed to save it from getting burned in the fire. I knew that it must have been very old because they no longer make lace like that. You can tuck it in the back of your bouquet in case you shed some tears at the ceremony,� Grace explained.

�Thank you mom,� Kay said, teary-eyed. �This is so special.�

�Now it�s time for something new,� Sam said, handing her another box.

�I can�t believe this,� Kay said, shocked by all of this attention. She opened the gold box to find a simple strand of pearls that would be perfect with her wedding dress. �Oh my God, these are beautiful, but they must have been so expensive. You really shouldn�t have.�

�I can�t take the credit. You mother found them at a very reasonable price, and I just paid the bill. Besides, it�s not everyday that my oldest daughter gets married,� Sam said, giving her a hug.

�It�s my turn,� Jessica squealed. �I have something blue.�

�The garter,� Kay giggled when she saw what Jessica was dangling in her hand. �Thank you sis.�

�I guess I�m the last one here,� Noah said, smiling. �I�ve been elected to give you something borrowed.� He dug around in his pocket and pulled out an old coin.

�It�s your lucky coin Noah,� Kay said, surprised, because she knew that her brother never parted with that coin. �I can�t believe you�re going to let me use this.�

�You have no idea how many sporting events that coin has been too. It�s been in my basketball shoes, and my football cleats, and some other unmentionable places that I�d rather not mention����

�I�m not sure I want to touch it,� Kay said, making a face, but then laughed. �Good, then you won�t mind if I wear it in my shoe today.�

�No problem, I�ll just have to pressure wash it when you finished,� Noah teased.

�Thank you all so much for everything,� Kay said, wiping a tear away.

�Group hug,� Noah joked.

�I think we better get to the church so that you are ready in time to walk down the aisle,� Grace announced.

�Where�s Charity?� Kay asked, worried. �She does remember that she is singing today doesn�t she?�

�Yes, she is over at Miguel�s house,� Jessica informed her. �They are going to go to the church together.�

�That�s probably for the best. I don�t need to hear any of her depressing premonitions on today of all days,� Kay noted.

********************

The Lopez-Fitzgerald�s were also in a rush to get everything together and make it to the church on time. Sheridan had to give the twins baths, and then took her own shower with explicit instructions to Luis to keep the children out of anything that could get them dirty. She was putting their wedding clothes into a garment bag to transport them to the church when Lily got it in her head that she wanted to put her dress on right this second.

�Mama, me want dress now,� Lily demanded. �Put shoe on too.�

�Lily, mommy doesn�t want you to get your dress all dirty and wrinkled before you get to the church. Besides, you�ll mess up the big bow and the flowers on the back of your dress when you ride in your booster seat.�

�No mama,� Lily cried. �Me be careful.�

�Lily, please don�t argue with me. I told you that we have to wait until we get to the church and then you can get dressed up and the lady is going to fix your hair so that you look really pretty. Why don�t you practice walking down the aisle with Luke while mommy gets our things together?�

�Mama�����

�Peanut, listen to your mother,� Luis told her in a voice that begged for no argument.

�Kay daddy,� she agreed, and ran off to practice her steps with Luke.

�I wish I got that kind of reaction from her,� Sheridan said, feeling a bit frazzled.

�It�s all in the tone of the voice,� Luis said, smiling. �Do you need some help there?�

�No, I think I have everything under control, but I�m starting to worry about the twins Luis. What if they decide at the last minute that they don�t want to go through with this, or they misbehave when they�re going done the aisle���.?�

�Sheridan, they�ll be fine,� Luis assured her. �They�ve practiced so many times they have the walk down, and since when have you ever known them to be shy in front of a bunch of people?�

�There�s always a first time for everything and knowing my luck it will be right in the middle of Evan and Kay�s wedding,� she worried.

�Honey, you worry too much���..�

�Mama, daddy, me found canny,� Luke informed them running into the room. There were chunks of hard candy stuck to his hair and his face was all red and sticky.

When Luis saw the look of horror on Sheridan�s face, he acted immediately. �I�ll get him cleaned up before you�re finished packing that bag,� Luis said, scooping up the little imp.

�You better be able to get that red stain off of his face or you�re going to have to explain to Kay why you ruined her wedding because you weren�t watching the children.�

�Yes dear,� Luis said, sheepishly as he carried Luke out of the room.

********************

Ethan and Jordan were almost ready to leave for the church and pick up Gwen on the way when Jordan remembered that she forget to get the earrings she was going to wear to the wedding. Ivy was in New York, but had promised her that she could wear her Grandmother Katherine�s pearl and diamond earrings today. She had always loved their simple elegance when she was a child and was thrilled that she could use them.

�Are you ready to go Jordan?� Ethan asked.

�Yes, but I just have to run upstairs to mother�s room so that I can borrow some earrings from her.� When she saw the impatient look on Ethan�s face, she assured him that it would be just a minute.

Ivy had told her that she would move the earrings to the small jewelry safe that was hidden behind an oil painting hanging over her writing desk. Jordan mastered the combination and found the small velvet case where her grandmother�s earrings were kept. She checked to make sure they were there and closed the safe securely. Turning around in a rush, she banged into the desk and the wooden box where Ivy kept some of her personal papers fell off the desk and went crashing to the floor. The lock must have broken in the fall and all the contents of the box scattered everywhere. �Damn, look at this mess,� she swore.

�Jordan, are you coming?� Ethan yelled from the other side of the door.

�Look Ethan, I have a real mess here. Why don�t you go on without me and I�ll drive myself to the church,� she called back.

�Are you okay?� he asked, peeking inside the door.

�Yes, I�m fine. Just go ahead,� she said, waving him along.

�Okay, I�ll see you there,� Ethan told her, shutting the door, his footsteps sounding down the hallway.

As Jordan was gathering the papers together she found some photographs that made her do a double take. Unable to believe what she was seeing she gazed at the pictures in shock. Her mother and Chief Bennett? They looked like they were about her age in these pictures, and they also looked like they were lovers from the way they were hanging all over each other. �What is going on here?� she said out loud. If her mother and Chief Bennett were an item at one time, why is it that nobody ever talked about it? The mystery was very puzzling to her and she decided that when her mother got back into town she would ask her about it. She couldn�t think about it now though because she had to get moving. Looking around to make sure that she hadn�t missed anything she spotted an envelope that had slid half-way under the bed. She picked it up and was ready to put it back into the box when she saw the name written on the front, Sam Bennett. It was a violation of privacy, but there was some strange force inside of her that made her take the letter out of the envelope, and she began to read. �Oh my God, no,� she groaned throwing the letter down on the floor. �Poor Ethan...............�

 

Chapter 35

Jordan was just sick inside over what she had just read. Her grandfather must have discovered this very thing, and that is why he had cut Ethan out of everything. She put the letter inside the envelope and shoved it back into the box, hoping that if she put it away this nightmare would not be real. �Oh God Ethan, this is going to kill you when you find out the truth............. When you find out what a deceitful bitch our mother is...........� Maybe this was just some cruel joke and her mother would be able to explain it all away, but then she remembered the pictures. She studied them again and there was no question that her mother and Chief Bennett had been involved at one time. Being a photojournalist made her adept at reading people�s faces and the two staring back at her were definitely in love. She wanted to forget that she ever saw the letter, but she knew that was impossible. As soon as her mother got back from New York she had to confront her about this. If it really was true that Sam Bennett was Ethan�s father they both deserved to know the truth. Her mother was not going to get away with this terrible deception any longer.

The room seemed so deadly quiet, the only sound was the ticking of the clock on the bedside table. Her eyes strayed toward it and she noted the time. �Oh no, the wedding,� she groaned. If she didn�t hurry she was going to be late, and the last thing she wanted was to do anything to ruin Kay and Evan�s day. It was going to be difficult enough to see Ethan and Sam Bennett now that she knew the truth about them. It wasn�t just them though because this would have major ramifications for the rest of the family too, and she especially felt sorry for Noah�s mother............ It hit her then like a punch in the stomach and her body began to shake with the realization. She shared a brother with the man she was crazy in love with. This would change everything between them. Even though they weren�t technically related by blood there was still something just not right about their situation now. How was she ever going to get through this day with Noah pretending that nothing was wrong? He could read her like a book and she knew that he wouldn�t let it go until she told him what was bothering her. But, this day was probably the most important day that Kay and Evan would ever have and she wasn�t going to do anything that could put a damper on it, even if she had to put on the biggest performance of her life. She just prayed to God that she would have the strength to get through this day.

********************

The room set aside for the females in the bridal party was filled with a flurry of activity. All the ladies were busy applying makeup and getting their hair styled, but there was one lone little boy. Sheridan didn�t have a lot of confidence that Luis would be able to get Luke dressed properly and keep him clean until the wedding started. Even though the men were all wearing black tuxedos, the ring bearer would be all in white. Luke looked adorable in his little Eton double-breasted jacket with the short pants. Grace made the comment that he looked like a little Kennedy, or a prince, and Sheridan had laughed and said that it was more like the Prince of Trouble. Lily couldn�t stop preening in front of the mirror because the hairdresser had pulled her springy curls back with a satin lavender ribbon tied in a bow that matched the sash on her dress, as well as her shoes. The little white dress was tea length and showed off Lily�s prized satin shoes to perfection.

�Oh Sheridan, they both look so adorable,� Kay said, gazing at the twins looking in the mirror.

�Well, I know I�m their mother, but I have to admit that my babies do look sweet. Now, if I can just keep them clean until the ceremony. I remembered that there was a television and VCR in here so I brought some of their favorite videos to keep them occupied.�

�I�m sure they�ll be fine,� Kay assured her. �You haven�t heard from Jordan have you? I�m kind of surprised that she�s not here yet.�

�No, and to tell you the truth, I�m a little concerned,� Sheridan said with a worried frown. �It�s not like her to be late. I tried to call her cell but she didn�t pick up.�

�Kay, it�s time to put your dress on,� Grace said, moving toward them.

�I�m going to find Ethan,� Sheridan told Kay. �Maybe he has some idea about what�s keeping Jordan. Besides, I have to have a little talk with my brother.�

�Will you tell him that I love him?� Kay asked, sheepishly.

�I think I can do that,� Sheridan said, winking.

�Mama, me see daddy,� Luke said, tugging on Sheridan�s hand.

�Of course you can sweetie,� Sheridan told him. �Mommy wants you and Lily to come with her to go find Ethan, and then we can see daddy.�

�Daddy be cited see me,� Lily said, checking herself out in the mirror for a final inspection.

�I�m so glad that my daughter isn�t vain,� Sheridan chuckled �Come Luke and Lily, give me your hands so we can go find daddy.�

As they were going down the hall toward the room where the men were getting ready, Jordan came running in from the opposite direction holding a garment bag. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw them so that she didn�t run into the twins. �Oh darn,� she said, putting her hand on her heart, gasping for breath.

�Jordan, where have you been?� Sheridan asked, relieved to see her niece. �We�ve been worried about you.�

�Sorry I�m late. I had an accident at home and it took me a while to clean up the mess,� Jordan explained.

�Hi Jordee,� the twins said in unison.

�Oh my goodness,� Jordan said, finally smiling. �You two look so precious that you could stand on the top of the wedding cake.�

�Me shoes get dirty,� Lily said, shaking her head no.

�Yeah, mama get mad,� Luke added.

�I guess that wasn�t such a great idea after all,� Jordan said, suddenly getting a distracted look on her face.

Sheridan sensed that something wasn�t quite right with Jordan, but decided that this wasn�t the time to address the issue. �You know my children,� she smiled. �They take everything literally.�

�I should run and get dressed, but you two really are cutie pies,� Jordan told the twins. �You look beautiful too Sheridan.�

�Thank you Jordan. Well, I guess we should go find daddy so he can see you all dressed up in your wedding clothes,� Sheridan told the twins.

When they located the room set aside for the guys to congregate before the ceremony, Sheridan couldn�t help but think about Jordan�s strange demeanor. Something was definitely wrong and she had every intention of finding out what it was that was bothering her niece. She knocked on the door, and smiled when she saw that it was Evan who answered it. �Well little brother, you look incredibly handsome and strangely calm,� Sheridan greeted him.

�And you look great as usual, but I don�t recognize these two little angels standing beside you. What did you do with Luke and Lily?� Evan teased, pretending to look beyond Sheridan for the little scamps.

�No Effin, me here,� Luke said, jumping up and down.

�Evan knows that�s it�s you,� Sheridan told the children. �He was just joking with you.�

�Your mommy�s right,� Evan confirmed. �You both look pretty cute.�

�Is it okay if we come in for a minute?� Sheridan asked. �The children wanted to show their daddy how special they look.�

�Sure come in,� Evan invited, stepping aside. �I think that everybody is decent.�

The sight of a room filled with masculine beauty, especially her husband, assaulted Sheridan as she stepped inside the door. There was nothing like a man in formalwear to brighten a red-blooded female�s day. �Wow, you all look amazing,� she told them looking straight at Luis.

As usual, his heart beat faster when she walked into the room. He couldn�t get over the way the lavender dress made her big blue eyes look almost violet. �Wow yourself,� he said, moving toward her with an intimate gaze that made her blush.

�Daddy, daddy,� the twins squealed, vying for Luis� attention.

�Look at my little munchkins all dressed up in white no less,� Luis said, looking at Sheridan with a raised brow. �You two look pretty cute.�

�See me,� Lily said, strutting and spinning around in front of all of the guys.

�You look just like Tinker Bell, Peanut,� Luis teased her. �All you need is a magic wand.�

�No daddy, me princess,� Lily corrected him.

�Luis, I feel sorry for you when she gets to be a teenager,� Noah told him in a low voice.

�I try not to think about it Noah,� Luis admitted. �Hey Sport, be careful.�

Luke was trying to climb up Ethan�s leg, and his cousin picked him up and turned the little boy upside down making his giggle. When Sheridan saw how red his face was she protested. �Ethan, all the blood is rushing to his head. I don�t want him rough housing with his wedding clothes on,� Sheridan chastised.

�Sorry Sheridan,� Ethan said, putting Luke back down on his feet. �The little guy is a ball full of energy.�

�So Luke have you been playing any golf lately?� Noah asked, trying to calm the little boy down.

�Daddy goss, me goss,� Luke told him excitedly.

�Way to go champ,� Chad said holding out his hand for a high five.

�Five,� Luke shouted, slapping his little hand onto Chad�s.

�What�s the deal with the disco suit Luke?� Chad asked the little boy, laughing. �All we need to do is get you a black shirt and then you�ll look just like John Travolta.�

�Excuse me Chad, but that is an Eton suit, and very appropriate for the occasion,� Sheridan said, defensively. �My little boy would be very proper for any wedding showcased in Town & Country.�

�Calm down Sheridan, I was just teasing,� Chad said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door and it turned out to be the photographer. He wanted to get some pictures of the groom and his groomsmen before the wedding. Sheridan said she would get the children and get out of their way, but the photographer insisted that they stay so that he could get some shots of Evan handing the ring to the ring bearer. Luis volunteered to go and get Luke�s ring pillow. It was merely a prop and would just have false gold rings sewn onto it, but the little boy took his job very seriously. Sheridan used this opportunity to speak to her brother before his big moment. �I just want you to know that I am so happy for you Evan,� she said, giving him a hug. �You deserve all the happiness in the world.�

�I don�t know if I deserve it, but I sure am happy,� he smiled.

�You�ve lost so much Evan. First your mother was killed because of my carelessness, and then your grandmother died...............�

�Sheridan, it wasn�t your fault that my mother was killed and I don�t blame you. Besides, I don�t want to talk about unpleasant things on my big day...........�

�I�m so sorry Evan. It was not my intention to upset you, but I just wanted you to know that I�m so happy that I discovered that you�re my brother. In the few years I�ve known you there has never been a time when you weren�t there for me and my family. I could never say that about Julian,� she said, sadly. �I love you Evan, and I hope your life will be filled with so much joy.�

�I love you too sis, and you know that goes both ways. You�ve been there for me too and I can�t imagine my life without you and the little squirts in it. You�re all my family now,� Evan said, feeling really emotional right now.

�Well, before we start crying all over each other, I think I better deliver a message to you,� Sheridan said, wiping a tear away. �Kay wanted me to tell you that she loves you very much.�

�At least I know that she�s not having second thoughts,� Evan said, clearly touched by the message.

�No chance of that,� Sheridan smiled.

�Would you mind taking a message back to her?� Evan asked, looking for a piece of paper and a pen.

�Of course not............... Luke, Lily, please don�t climb on that table,� she said, rushing toward them. �Mommy wants you to settle down or we�re going to have a time out before the wedding even starts.�

�Mama, you pretty,� Lily said in her most charming voice.

Sheridan sighed with frustration over her daughter�s little ploy, and it didn�t help matters when she heard the guys chuckling. �Lily, mommy loves you very much, and that is sweet of you to say, but it doesn�t get you out of trouble. It is not good to climb on the table because first of all you could hurt yourself, and another thing you could tear your pretty dress. You don�t want to do that do you?�

Lily�s eyes got big just at the thought of her dress being ruined. �Kay mama, me not climb no more.�

�Good girl, and now Luke the same thing goes for you too. Mommy does not want you climbing in your good clothes either.�

�Sorrwee mama,� Luke told her sweetly.

�Okay, here�s the pillow,� Luis announced from the doorway. �Also Sheridan, the girls are looking for you.�

�I guess I�ll take Lily back down there, but would you bring Luke when the photographer is finished with him?�

�Sure I will,� Luis told her. �Okay Peanut, you be good and daddy thinks you look so pretty today.�

�Tank you daddy,� Lily said, flashing her father an impish grin.

�Make daddy proud,� he said, giving her a kiss.

�Here you go Sheridan,� Evan said, handing his sister a piece of folded paper.

�I�ll make sure that Kay gets it,� Sheridan told him. �I�ll see you in a little bit.�

********************

Jordan sat there with a smile pasted on her face, but inside she felt like she was ready to explode. Watching Kay and her mother going through all the special pre-wedding motions made her feel just awful. If her mother�s letter was the truth their whole world could come crashing down on them. And Noah, her sweet wonderful Noah. How could things ever be the same between them again? She watched as the photographer set the shot up for a picture of Kay with Lily. It was a good choice, and would make a precious picture. The bride was standing by a large window leaning over the flower girl to smell the flowers in the little basket the little girl held up to her and the light was coming in at just the right angle................

�Jordan we�re getting ready to go to the back of the church now,� Sheridan said, sitting down beside her.

�Kay looks so beautiful doesn�t she?� Jordan said, a stoic look on her face.

�Jordan, are you okay?� Sheridan asked, concerned about her niece.

She smiled suddenly, but it didn�t reach her eyes. �Yes, I�m fine. Just a bit of a headache but I�ll be fine soon as soon as the aspirin kick in.�

�Jordan, just remember that if you want to talk about anything................�

�No really Sheridan, there�s nothing that I want to talk about,� Jordan assured her. �Now, let�s get to the back of the church. I don�t want to be late for that too.�

Grace kissed Kay on the cheek and left so that she could be seated at the front of the church, and suddenly Sheridan remembered the note that Evan had given to her to deliver. �Kay, I almost forgot to give you this,� she said, handing her the message. �When I got back here you were busy getting dressed. It�s from Evan.�

�You gave him my message didn�t you?� Kay asked, staring at the note.

�Yes I did, and he was very happy,� Sheridan said, smiling.

Kay opened the note and smiled when she read the message. �Oh Sheridan, listen to this.�

�Wait Kay, you don�t have to tell me,� Sheridan stopped her.

�No, I want to know just how sweet your brother is. Listen to this........ Kay, Just think in an hour we�re going to be husband and wife, and I can hardly wait. Love always, Evan,� she read. �Isn�t he just the most wonderful guy?�

�Kay, we have to go now,� Jessica pleaded.

Simone did the maid-of-honor duty and held the train of Kay�s dress up as the walked to the back of the church. Sheridan and Jordan followed behind each other holding the twins� hands. Lily was so excited about her little basket filled with flowers and ribbons streaming from the handle that she could hardly contain herself. Jordan wasn�t prepared when she saw Chief Bennett standing in the vestibule and she had to restrain herself rushing up and asking him if the whole sordid thing was true. She didn�t of course and she silently prayed that she would be able to get through this day without imploding. Sheridan gave the twins one final pep talk.

�Now just remember how we did it last night during the rehearsal. Mommy is going to walk down first, and daddy will already be standing at the end of the aisle. Abuela is going to stay with you until it�s time for you to walk down the aisle,� Sheridan told the children. �Oh look, here�s abuela now.

�Hi buela,� Luke said, waving.

�See buela,� Lily said, lifting her basket. �Me have fowers.�

�I can see that,� Pilar said, smiling. �You look so pretty and Luke I think you are as handsome as your papa.�

�I have to get in line now,� Sheridan said, giving the twins a kiss on the cheeks. �Mommy loves you.�

As the bridesmaids started moving down the aisle, Sam and Kay shared a special moment. �I can believe my little girl is getting married,� Sam told her on the verge of tears.

�Please don�t cry daddy or I�ll lose it right here,� Kay told him.

�I�m sorry sweetie, but I look at Lily over there and I can�t help but remember when you were that age. It seems just like it was just yesterday,� Sam mused.

�Daddy even if I�m married I am always going to be your little girl,� Kay said, kissing her father�s cheek.

Everybody in the church broke out into a smile when the twins started to walk down the aisle. Lily was smiling at the crowd and even stopped and posed when somebody snapped a picture. Luke on the other hand was so intent on his job that he was holding his little pillow like it had an egg on it. Sheridan and Luis were both on pins and needles, but they couldn�t help but be proud of their little munchkins. Lily did wave at Paloma, but she was very discrete about the whole thing and it was actually a very cute gesture. As they reached the steps to the altar, they split off and Luke went to stand in front of Luis and Lily joined Sheridan.

Evan stood mesmerized as Sam walked Kay down the aisle. He had never seen her look more beautiful and he couldn�t wait to make her his wife. �You take my breath away,� he whispered as he took her hand into his.

�Just promise me you�ll start breathing again,� she whispered back. �I want to keep you around for awhile.�

********************

The reception was being held at the country club even though Sam and Grace weren�t members. Evan was officially a Crane now and he was welcomed with open arms. Since he was now running Crane Industries, the guest list was filled with not only friends and family, but with business associates as well. On the way there, Luis and Sheridan showered their children with praise for doing such a good job at the wedding. �Daddy was so proud of you two today,� he told the twins.

�You were pretty amazing,� Sheridan added. �Mommy was proud of you too.�

�Me have pretty fowers and pretty dress,� Lily said, excitedly.

�Daddy, me not like Fater Lonnie,� Luke announced.

�Luke, why don�t you like Father Lonnigan?� Luis asked, shocked. �He�s a very nice man and he�s a priest. Priest are special holy men.�

�Him got carry eyes,� Luke told him.
�Oh sweetie, Father Lonnigan is blind,� Sheridan explained. �It�s like when you close your eyes and everything is all dark, well that�s how it is for Father Lonnigan all the time.�

�But why?� Lily asked.

�Peanut, the best way to explain it is that Father Lonnigan has a booboo in his eyes, so that�s why he can�t see,� Luis told her.

�Fater Lonnie has booboo eyes,� Luke giggled.

�Luke, that is not funny,� Sheridan corrected him. �It is very sad and mommy does not want to hear you make fun of other people�s misfortune.�

�Kay mama,� Luke said, softly.

�Oh good, we�re here,� Luis announced, relieved.

When they came into the country club the place was filled with people already. They spotted Martin, Pilar and the rest of the family and went over to join them. Luis offered to go and get the twins something to eat, and Paloma was scooping Lily onto her lap when she saw him walk in the door. Why did it seem like every time she turned around JJ Hotchkiss was there. �Sheridan,� she whispered to her sister-in-law. �What are they doing here?�

�They were probabaly invited because the Hotchkiss family has always had business dealings with the Cranes, and Ethan is going to marry Gwen,� Sheridan explained. �Why honey, do you have a problem with that?�

�No, it�s just that I wasn�t expecting to see JJ here,� Paloma told her.

�I thought that you two were becoming friends. Your mother told me that you were helping him to get acclimated to school.�

�Well we are, but there�s something about him that just makes me nervous,� Paloma admitted.

�It it the kind of nervous like when you don�t trust somebody or the kind of nervous when he makes your heart beat a little faster?� Sheridan smiled, knowlingly.

�Okay, it�s the second one, but promise me you won�t tell anybody,� Paloma pleaded.

�My lips are sealed,� Sheridan promised. �He just spotted you, and he looks very pleased to see you.�

Luis walked up just them with plates of food for the twins. �Paloma, would you mind keeping your eye on the munchkins while I dance with my wife?�

�Sure Luis, you two go ahead,� Paloma said, waving them on.

�Finally, some time alone with my wife,� Luis said once they were on the dance floor.

�This is nice,� she agreed. �You know, I�ve been checking you out all day. You really do look hot. I just might have to seduce you later.�

�And, I just might let you,� he said, brushing his lips across her cheek. �The munchkins can�t last much longer. They�ve been going strong all day.�

�So has this little munchkin in my tummy. He or she has been kicking up a storm today,� Sheridan chuckled.

Luis laid his hand on her belly and felt a little kick. �Oh Sheridan, this is so cute,� he said, amazed.

�Honey this isn�t the first time you�ve felt this. Don�t you remember how much the twins kicked?�

�Yes, but this is a whole new baby.................�

�What�s going on?� Sheridan suddenly asked in a worried voice.

�What do you mean?�

�Everybody at our table looks a little frazzled and the twins are missing......... Oh God Luis, we have to see what�s going on.�

When they arrived at the table, Paloma was already offering her apologies. �I�m so sorry, they were both under the table trying to tickle everyone, and the next thing I knew they were missing. I swear it was like they disappeared in a minute,� Paloma said, clearly upset.

�Calm down Paloma, they couldn�t have gotten far,� Luis reasoned. �Let�s all just spread out and look for them.�

�I�m coming with you Luis,� Sheridan said, grabbing his arm. �This place is so crowded. What if they get out the door?�

�Sheridan I�m sure they�re fine.,� he said, looking around "What the hell...........?�

Sheridan turned just in time to see the wedding cake sliding off the back of the table to go crashing to the floor. They both ran to investigate and the sight that met their eyes shocked them speechless. Luke and Lily were sitting there on the floor covered in cake and frosting both munching away without a care in the world.

�Hi mama, hi daddy, we eat cake,� Lily told them with a big grin.

�Cake be so yummy,� Luke added, licking a big glob of frosting off of her finger.

 

Chapter 36

A small crowd had gathered but Luis and Sheridan were not even aware of their presence because they were so focused on their children. The white linen tablecloth was half draped on the floor and it was obvious that the little imps had pulled on it to get to the cake. A mortified Sheridan was the first one to find her voice. �Oh God, what have you done?� she groaned.

It must have finally occurred to the twins that they were in big trouble, because their cheeky grins disappeared and they suddenly looked guilty. �We has assident,� Luke said, sheepishly.

�Did you pull on the tablecloth?� Luis asked, trying to control his seething anger.

�Yes daddy,� Lily said quietly.

�We be too widdle,� Luke added.

�Well, if you pulled on the tablecloth, then it wasn�t an accident and now you�ve ruined Evan and Kay�s cake,� Luis said, clearly infuriated. �Both of you get up, now.�

The twins tried to stand up but they were slipping and sliding all over the place. They were covered with cake and frosting from head to toe. Sheridan and Luis had to help them up trying desperately to keep themselves from getting dirty as well. After the initial shock wore off the people in the crowd had to contain their laughter since they didn�t want to reinforce the twins� behavior. Finally, Luis and Martin each picked up a child by the waist, holding them straight out in front and carried them toward the restrooms with Pilar following close behind. Sheridan instructed Miguel to go out to the car and get the suitcase, so that she could change Luke and Lily into the clothes they had worn to the church. Thankfully some of the staff at the club stepped up and began cleaning up the mess.

Sheridan approached Kay and Evan on the verge of tears. �I am so sorry about this....... Oh God, I don�t even know what to say..........�

�Sheridan, please don�t worry about it,� Evan said, trying to comfort her. �It was an accident.�

�No, it wasn�t, and that�s what makes this worse,� she said, getting more angry just thinking about it. �They deliberately pulled on the table cloth so that they could get at the cake, and now they have ruined your wedding. Please tell me what I can do to make this up to you?�

�Sheridan, I promise you that there is nothing that could spoil our happiness today,� Kay assured her. �There is a large sheet cake that they were going to bring out later to feed the guests anyway, so it�s not like we won�t have any.�

�Still, what about the ritual where you cut the cake and feed each other? Those are special memories that you�ll never have now.�

�So, we�ll use the sheet cake,� Evan reminded her. �Come on, nobody was hurt, and it will be a great story to tell our kids about some day.�

�You mean you still want to have children after today?� Sheridan asked with a raised brow.

�I can�t believe you would say that,� Evan said, surprised. �I know Luke and Lily are precious to you, and I also know that you love them very much.�

�Of course I do,� Sheridan stated, emphatically. �I�m just very angry with their actions today, but I have a feeling that Luis is ready to blow a gasket.�

�Maybe you better go calm him down,� Evan teased.

�Don�t laugh, that�s probably exactly what I better do, and I really do need to help Pilar get the twins cleaned up.............�

�Go ahead Sheridan, Kay and I were just going to dance, and please don�t stress out about this.�

�I�ll try not to,� Sheridan told them just before she made her way to the Ladies� Room. When she arrived in the lobby, Luis was pacing outside of the door, and Martin was trying to calm him down. When he spotted her, he walked toward her.

�Did you talk to Evan and Kay?� he asked. �God, they must be furious.�

�Believe it or not, they don�t seem to be at all concerned about what happened. I think that we�re more upset about it than anyone else is.�

�But the munchkins destroyed their wedding cake,� Luis said, astounded. �I can�t believe that they aren�t upset about this.�

�Apparently they have an extra sheet cake that they were going to use for the guests anyway. To tell you the truth those two are so happy that I don�t think anything could put a damper on their day,� Sheridan told him.

�I still can�t believe that they would pull a stunt like this Sheridan,� Luis said, feeling his temper flair.

�Luis, I�m angry too, but I think we need to control it when we�re speaking to the children. We both need to be calm when we address this with them, or we�ll just end up scaring them if we act like brutes.�

�I agree with Sheridan,� Martin said. �It would be different if it was a malicious act, but you have to know that they never would destroy the cake on purpose.�

�I know that papa, but they need to learn that they can�t just go around taking things without asking first and they also need to learn that they have to be responsible for their actions. This wasn�t just some harmless little toy they broke.�

�We know that Luis, and we will deal with it accordingly, but I just want you to try to calm down,� Sheridan said, pleadingly.

�I will,� he promised.

�Good, now I better get in there and help Pilar,� Sheridan told him.

�Paloma and Theresa are in there helping mama now, but I don�t think it�s going to well because I heard the munchkins crying earlier.�

�Oh no,� Sheridan groaned, hurrying through the door to see to her children. Luke and Lily were stripped down to their undergarments while Pilar and Paloma were busy trying to scrub the sticky cake from their bodies. Theresa was in the process of putting their soiled wedding garments into a garbage bag. �I�m so sorry it took me so long to get here but I wanted to stop and apologize to Kay and Evan.�

�Mama,� Lily cried. �Teetee frow my dress away.�

�Theresa is not throwing your dress away Lily. It�s covered with cake and putting it in the plastic bag is the best way to get it home,� Sheridan explained.

�Mama wash and it be all clean then,� Lily said, hopefully.

�I�m afraid not Lily. That is not the kind of dress that you can put in the washing machine. I�m going to have to take it to the cleaners and you better be prepared for the possibility that it just might not come clean.�

�Daddy be mad cause we breakted the cake,� Luke told her.

�Daddy and mommy are both angry because you misbehaved and ruined Kay and Evan�s wedding cake,� Sheridan told him.

�I�m so sorry Sheridan, this is all my fault,� Paloma apologized.

�No it was not your fault Paloma. Luke and Lily know that they are supposed to ask if they want something.�

�No mama, Poma said she be bad,� Luke said, defensively.

�You do not want to argue with mommy right now young man,� Sheridan scolded.

�I think that we have them as clean as we can for now,� Paloma said. �They really do need to have their hair scrubbed though.�

�That�s okay Paloma, they�re going straight to the bathtub as soon as we get home,� Sheridan told her.

�Do you want me to take this out to the car Sheridan?� Theresa asked, referring to the garbage bag with the twins� soiled clothing.

�No, thank you Theresa. I�ll take it out with the suitcase. Sheridan got the twins� clothes out and instructed them to come over so she could dress them.

�I never noticed that Luke had this birth mark on his back before,� Paloma said to Sheridan.

�Oh yeah, that�s Luke�s little strawberry,� Sheridan smiled. �It�s strange because it seems to get darker as he grows. The doctor said it was fine though.�

�Let me see that,� Pilar said, checking out Luke�s back. �I cannot believe this.�

�What�s the matter Pilar?� Sheridan asked, worriedly.

�I just remembered something that I had not thought about for years. Martin has a birthmark just like the one on Luke�s back. In the same place too. He told me once that his mother said it was the mark of the Fitzgerald�s.�

�The mark of the Fitzgerald�s?� Sheridan laughed. �Luis doesn�t have one like that.�

�This is because according to Martin, it skips a generation. Martin said his father did not have the mark, but his grandfather did. He did not take much stock in the story and believed that it was just a coincidence, but now that I see that Luke has the same birthmark, I am starting to wonder.�

�Maybe it�s one of those old Irish wives tales,� Paloma suggested.

�I do not know, but you have to admit that it is very strange,� Pilar said, staring at Luke�s back.

�Wow, does that mean if I have a son, he�ll have the Fitzgerald mark?� Theresa asked, excitedly.

�No Theresa, that just means he�ll have a birthmark,� Paloma chuckled.

�Mama, we go back now?� Lily asked, hopefully.

�I don�t know about that,� Sheridan told her. �It all depends on whether daddy wants to stay or not, and he�s not in the best mood right now.�

When the twins were dressed they went out into the lobby and ran up and hugged Luis� legs. �Daddy, daddy, we wuv you,� Lily said in her sweetest voice.

�We wuv you dis much,� Luke said, holding his hands apart to demonstrate.

Luis was still angry, but he just had to put it aside when he saw his little munchkins being so sweet. �What�s this all about?� he asked, squatting down in front of them.

�I think they are trying to tell you that they want to go back to the wedding reception,� Sheridan said with a smile.

�Okay, we�ll go back for a little while, but you both need to tell Evan and Kay that you are sorry, and when we get home we�re all going to have a long talk about what you did. We�ll also discuss what your punishment is going to be.�

�Kay daddy,� they both responded a little gingerly.

*******************

Jordan was doing her best to try and act normal, but the stress was really getting to her. She pasted on her smile at just the right moments and made all the proper responses, but it was all just a performance. Her eyes kept straying to Ethan and then to Sam Bennett, trying to figure out if there was some kind of resemblance. Maybe if she could convince herself that they looked nothing alike, this whole nightmare would go away. The sound of Whitney�s voice finally brought her out of her contemplation.

�Oh look, Sheridan and Luis are back and the twins are with them,� Whitney said, pointing their way.

�Wow, I didn�t think we would see the little squirts until they were about five,� Chad laughed. �Luis looked like he was ready to chew nails when he carried them out of here earlier.�

�What do you mean by that Chad?� Jessica asked, worriedly. �He wouldn�t hurt them would he?�

�No way, those kids are his pride and joy. I just meant that they would be in Time Out for that long.�

�I felt really bad for Sheridan,� Jordan said, finally joining the conversation. �She looked like she was dying from humiliation.�

�I�m just glad that Kay and Evan were such good sports about the whole thing,� Noah said, grabbing Jordan�s hand under the table. It was such a sweet gesture, and only served to make her feel worse.

�I had to keep from busting a gut when I saw those little buggers sitting there covered in cake,� Reese laughed.

�You know I was just thinking that since we�re all dressed up we should all go out later and listen to some music,� Chad suggested.

�That�s not fair,� Jessica protested. �We�re not old enough to get into a club. I know, maybe we can just sneak in with the crowd.�

�No you�re not,� Noah said, adamantly. �You�re too young, and you�re also the Chief of Police�s daughter and you need to set a good example.�

Noah would have to bring up his father just when she was trying desperately to put the whole sordid subject to the back of her mind. �Excuse me, I need to go to the Ladies� Room,� Jordan said, pulling her hand away from his.

�I have to visit the little boy�s room. Why don�t I walk with you?� Noah offered.

What could she say? �Okay, that would be nice.�

When they got out into the lobby, Noah pulled her into a little nook where a phone was located and it created just the right amount of privacy. �I�ve been dying to kiss you all day,� he said, leaning toward her.

As soon as his lips touched hers, Jordan forgot all about her angst of the day and melted against him. She could have stayed this way forever, but the cold hard reality invaded her mind, and she pushed him away. �I�m sorry Noah, but I can�t do this. It�s all just too much,� she said, running toward the door.

�Jordan, come back here,� he called out to her, but she was turning around. He was just in the process of following her out when his father approached him.

�Hey son, you better get in there. Your sister is ready to throw the bouquet,� Sam said, waving for him to come on.

�I�m sorry dad, but something�s wrong with Jordan. She just ran out of here like the place was on fire. I have to go find her,� Noah worried. �She�s in no condition to drive right now.�

�You better go after her then,� Sam said, equally concerned now.

When Noah went out the door, the valet had just delivered Jordan�s car to her and she sped away before he could get her attention. �Here, can you get mine for me?� he asked, handing the valet his ticket. His mind was filled with fear just thinking about her driving in this state. If he remembered correctly she had nursed a glass of wine, but that was about the extent of her drinking. Finally, his car arrived and he took off in the direction Jordan had taken. He knew that he was driving too fast, but he had to catch up to her before she did something stupid. There up ahead he saw some tail lights, and it looked like the outline of her Jag. As he drew closer he recognized her license number, and what happened next chilled him to the bone. Her car swerved, lost control and ran off the road hitting a tree. He pulled over and stopped along the side of the road where her car had crashed, and jumped out running toward her.

Jordan felt disoriented for a moment and the only thing she could focus on was the terrible smell coming from the now deflated airbag. It scared her because it was smoking and she thought the car was going to catch on fire. She tried to open the door but it wouldn�t budge, and she started to panic thinking she was going to burn alive. Suddenly, she heard the knocking on the driver�s side window, and there he was, her Knight in Shining Armor. �Noah help,� she screamed. �The door won�t open.�

�Let me try it from this side,� he shouted back. �Can you at least open the window? Maybe I can pull you out that way.�

Jordan pressed the button for the power window, but nothing happened. �No, it won�t work either. I have to get out of here there�s smoke coming out of the airbag.�

�That�s normal Jordan, you�re not going to burn up. I�m going to go to the passenger side and try to open that door. Do you think you can crawl over there?�

�I think so, but there�s a lot of broken glass over there,� she shouted.

�Damn,� he swore as he struggled to get the second door open, but finally it gave way. He took his jacket off and used it to scoop the glass off of the passenger seat, and helped her out. Unfortunately, she cut her arm on a shred that was embedded in the backrest. �Oh no, you�re bleeding,� he said, worriedly.

�I�m fine..........�

�No you�re not,� he said, getting out his handkerchief to try and stop the flow of blood. �This cut looks deep, and it looks like you have burns on your arms from the airbag.�

�Look Noah, will you just take me home now?� she said, swaying against him.

�No, you�re going to the hospital, and don�t argue with me Jordan. At the very least they need to treat your arms,� he said, pulling out his cell phone to call 911. �As soon as the police get here we can go to the ER.�

�Is there someplace we can sit down?� she said, rubbing her head.

Noah looked around and found a fallen log, and helped her over to it, and sat down beside her. �My God Jordan, you scared the hell out of me. I don�t know what I would have done if you ............�

�Don�t say it Noah,� she said, stopping his words. �I�m fine.�

His initial fear subsided to be replaced by anger. �What the hell were you thinking driving like that? My God, you were swerving all over the road.�

�A deer ran across the road, and I was trying to avoid hitting it,� she snapped. �I really don�t need any of your lectures right now.�

�Okay fine, but tell me why you ran out of the wedding reception, and why did you say you can�t do this?� he asked, suddenly feeling scared that she wanted to break off with him.

�Did I say that?� she asked, playing dumb.

�Yes, you did, and it just came out of nowhere. Jordan, are your feelings changing for me?�

�Yes, but now in the way you think,� she said, shakily.

�What is that supposed to mean?�

�Please Noah, don�t ask me now. I know you�re confused, but I just can�t talk about it,� she said, starting to cry.

Thankfully the police arrived right then to squash any further conversation, but Jordan felt so empty inside. She still loved Noah so much and she wanted nothing more than to tell him everything, but she just couldn�t until she spoke to her mother first. God how did her whole life turn into such a disaster in the matter of one day?�

Chapter 37

Sheridan and Luis rounded up their little cake terminators and headed for home. It must be quite exhausting to ruin a wedding cake because the little scamps were fast asleep before they even pulled out of the parking lot. Lily had even charmed her daddy into dancing with her, so Sheridan just had to dance with her little boy. The drive home was quiet, until finally Luis spoke. �They�re probably pretending to be asleep to avoid the punishment they�re going to get.�

�I don�t think they�re that manipulative Luis. They had a very big day without naps either,� Sheridan reminded him. �I�m surprised they lasted this long.�

�You know Sheridan, I realize they are young and sweet, but we can�t let this go.�

�I do know that, but just try to remember that they weren�t being malicious and everything turned out okay in the end.�

�Don�t go soft on me Sheridan. Part of being loving parents is to teach our children that bad behavior is not acceptable.�

�I guess when I feel myself getting weak; I�ll just have to remember how horrified I felt when I saw them sitting there covered in that cake,� Sheridan resolved.

�That�s my girl,� Luis said, grabbing her hand. �If it�s any consolation to you, it breaks my heart to punish them too, but we have to do what�s right. We can�t let them turn into little brats that just do whatever they feel like.�

When they arrived home the decision was made that the twins� baths would have to wait until morning since they didn�t want to wake the children. Luke and Lily were so dead to the world that it was easy to change them into their pajamas without them even stirring. Sheridan was exhausted herself from the long day and wanted nothing more than to lie down and put her swollen feet up. �I can�t believe how tired I am. Our little pea in the pod has been very restless too,� she said, rubbing her belly.

�Then you need to let me take care of you and Little Pea,� he chuckled. �Stand right there and I�ll handle everything.�

�Everything? Do you promise?� Sheridan giggled.

Luis diligently removed her clothing and carried her to the bed. She almost died from pleasure when he began to rub the sore muscles all over her body. �How does that feel?� he asked, huskily.

�Just wonderful, but there is one thing that would make it even more perfect.�

�Oh, and what is that?�

�I think that if you were naked I would feel like I died and went to heaven,� she sighed.

�Well, you do know that I can�t rub your body and take my clothes off at the same time. Are you going to be okay if I take my hands away for a few minutes?�

�I think I can make the sacrifice,� she chuckled.

Luis wasted no time and stripped his clothes away. It wasn�t long before he had his hands all over her again, but this time his hot, hard body was against her too. Even though she was in a complete state of relaxation as he kneaded the tension out of her muscles, there was an intimate part of her that was throbbing with a raging heat. She wanted the taste of his lips and her arms moved up to pull him toward her. No words were spoken, no direction given as their mouths touched in sweet rapture. All the stress of the day was forgotten as they connected in the most sensual way. Luis almost stopped because he could feel the baby begin to kick, but Sheridan assured him that the little one was fine. Just the same he did gentle his pace, but the strokes were slow and very sensuous and the gratification was so intense that they both groaned out loud with pleasure.

�That was the perfect thing to get rid of my stress,� Sheridan mumbled as she nuzzled against his chest.

�I know, but I think our little baby is upset now,� Luis said, worriedly.

�Luis, the baby is just fine,� she chuckled softly.

�That�s a relief because I need my Sheridan fix as often as possible.�

********************

Jordan�s arm required some stitches for the cut and she was also given some salve to put on the burns from the airbags. As Noah drove her home it finally hit him just how close he came to losing her tonight. She was so silent since they left the hospital that he worried she was in shock, but little did he know that there was something much deeper bothering her. When they arrived at the cottage, Jordan told him that she could make it inside by herself, but he was having none of that. �Really Noah, I�ll be fine,� she protested.

�Jordan, why won�t you let me help you?� Noah asked, confused. �You�re acting like I�m just some acquaintance.�

�I�m sorry Noah, it�s just that it has been such a long day, and I think I�m still a little shaken from the accident.�

�All the more reason for me to take care of you,� Noah reasoned. �I don�t want to leave you alone.�

�To be honest with you Noah I would rather be alone right now,� she said, softly, but then she saw the hurt look on his face and it only made her feel worse. �I�m so sorry, but you have to know that this has nothing to do with the way I feel about you.�

�Then what is it? Tell me,� he pleaded.

�I�m sorry Noah, but I just can�t talk about it right now,� she said, contritely.

�Damn it Jordan don�t shut me out,� he said with pure frustration. �We have come so far and I thought you trusted me.�

Jordan looked at his handsome face so precious to her, and the tears started to flow. She sat down on the sofa too shaky to stand. �Oh God Noah, if you only knew you would run out that door and never look back. I seem to bring nothing but trouble to you,� she sobbed.

�No, no, stop it Jordan,� he said, taking her into his arms. �I love you and there is nothing that would make me walk away. You have to know by now that I will be here for you no matter what.�

It occurred to her just then how much he looked like his father and she thought about Ethan. He didn�t look very much like Sam Bennett except for the blue eyes and that didn�t mean much. She shook her head, trying to clear it from these ridiculous thoughts. Here was the man she loved and he was being so sweet to her. When the whole sordid truth came out she just might lose him forever, and she just had to be with him one last time. �Noah please, will you make love to me?�

�Jordan there is nothing I want more, but I�m concerned about your state of mind, and you just had an accident. If there are any aftereffects.............�

�Noah, please don�t be the doctor with me tonight,� she said, stroking his face with her fingers. �You have no idea how much I need you.�

He picked her up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom, putting her gently on the bed. He had every intention of getting to the bottom of her distress, but right now his need to connect with her was consuming him. His lips touched hers for a long searching kiss and she clung to him like a lifeline. They made love and she cried afterward until she fell into an exhausted sleep. As he lay there with her in his arms, he couldn�t help but feel this overwhelming fear that he was losing her, and he was desperate to make sure that never happened.

********************

Don Miguel was livid when he returned to Spain and found out that his elusive grandson has shown up at his home while he was gone. It wasn�t just the fact that he had been searching for Antonio for so long and missed him, but to hear that he had treated his staff with such little respect was quite upsetting to him. How dare he come here and act like a pompous idiot after everything he had put his family through? Salvador had just given him an account of everything that had happened. �So, tell me once again what my grandson said when you found him at his hotel?� Don Miguel asked in Spanish.

�He told me to tell you that you could call off your search because he was going back to Greece. He also said that if you wanted to see him so badly then you could find him there,� Salvatore reported nervously, knowing that Don Miguel would not take kindly to his grandson�s insulting attitude.

�Who does he think he is to so flippant with me?� Don Miguel said, angrily.

�I told him that you would not be pleased by his message, but..............� Salvador hesitated.

�What else did he say Salvador?� Don Miguel demanded.

�He said that you were not in a position to be angry over anything since you had much to answer for,� Salvador said, wincing just waiting for the explosion.

�I cannot believe this,� Don Miguel said almost sadly, surprising Salvador with his reaction. �I have so cherished getting to know my grandchildren and finding out just how special they all are, but Antonio is such a disappointment to me. Even though he has done some terrible things, I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. I felt that perhaps circumstances beyond his control had led him down the wrong path, but now I am not so sure about that.�

�He was very different from his siblings,� Salvador noted. �I sensed that he was carrying a lot of anger inside of him.�

�I sense that you are right about that Salvador, but what could have happened to make him so angry?� Don Miguel asked thoughtfully.

�I do not know Don Miguel. Are you going to go to Greece to see your grandson?�

�I have not decided Salvador. Part of me just wants to wash my hands of him, but when I think about how much his mama and papa miss him, and he too has much to answer for.�

********************

Luis chuckled in his sleep thinking at first he was dreaming that somebody was tickling his feet, but when his eyes slowly opened, he knew it was real. He was confused at first, since Sheridan was fast asleep beside him, but he lifted his head and saw just the evidence he needed. If one little curly blond mop and the top of a dark head weren�t enough to give them away, the whispers were. He sat up suddenly, surprising them and the twins let out a little squeal. �Shhh,� Luis said, holding his finger to his lips, checking to see if Sheridan had awakened. �Mommy�s sleeping.�

The twins scampered up to his side on the bed and Lily whispered in his ear. �Daddy get up and play.�

�Come on,� he whispered back, sliding out of bed quietly. Ever since they had moved the children into their big beds they had gotten into the habit of dressing after amorous nights in bed, and Luis thankfully had his boxers on. He herded Luke and Lily out of the room and straight to the bathroom. �We�ll play after you get your baths.�

�Me be clean daddy,� Luke argued.

�I don�t think so,� Luis said, inspecting his son. �There are chunks of cake crusted in your hair. �So, let�s just hurry and get this out of the way so mommy doesn�t have to worry about it when she wakes up.�

�Why mama be seeping now?� Lily asked.

�Because mommy is carrying our little baby and it makes her very tired, so we have to let her get her rest when we can,� Luis explained.

�Oh, baby be seepy too?� Lily asked.

Luis turned the bath water on and checked the temperature. �Yes Peanut, the baby sleeps a lot, but sometimes it kicks too.�

�Baby hurt mama,� Luke said, clearly upset.

�Well Sport it doesn�t really hurt mommy and it�s a good thing that the baby kicks because that means it�s growing to be big and strong,� Luis explained gently. �Now, let�s get you two scrubbed up, and then we can go downstairs and get some breakfast.�

Sheridan rolled over and felt for Luis, but her hand found nothing but the pillow he had slept on. She sat up and looked at the time and was quite shocked to discover that she had slept so late. It was not like her to sleep so deeply that she wasn�t aware of Luis leaving the bed. Apparently the activities of yesterday and last night must had been exhausting to her, so she decided that maybe it was time to slow down a little bit. But the first order of the day was to locate the rest of her family. As she was getting out of bed the baby gave her a solid kick and she smiled and rubbed her tummy. �You are getting so feisty little one, but you just keep kicking away because mommy loves to feel you moving around in there.�

Sheridan located her family in the kitchen busy getting breakfast ready. �It looks like you�ve all been busy this morning,� she greeting them with a smile. �Can mommy have a kiss?� she asked the twins.

The twins ran up and hugged their mommy as she leaned down and kissed their little cheeks. �Mama, daddy make fapjacks,� Luke told her, excitedly.

�Well, that�s good news because I am starving this morning,� Sheridan said, smiling. �It looks like daddy also gave you both baths too.�

�We be all clean,� Lily told her.

�I know your hair smells just like baby shampoo,� Sheridan said, sniffing her head. �Daddy is pretty special.� She moved up behind Luis where he was standing at the stove and put her hands around his waist. �Thank you for giving the children baths and for cooking breakfast.�

Luis turned around and gave her a quick kiss without missing a beat. �You seemed exhausted and I thought that you deserved to get some rest.�

�You were right,� she said, hugging him tight. �I guess I�m getting tired more these days.�

�Go sit your beautiful self down and I�ll bring you something to eat,� Luis told her.

After filling their tummies Luke and Lily were ready to get busy with their play when Luis announced that they were all going to have to have a talk first. �Now I hope you both know that mommy and daddy love you very much, but I�m afraid that we�re going to have to punish you for what you did to the wedding cake yesterday.�

�But daddy, we has assident,� Luke said in their defense.

�We be so sorry,� Lily added to their cause.

�You both pulled on the tablecloth which made the cake fall so that wasn�t an accident,� Sheridan explained.

�That�s right and you can�t just take things without asking. Yesterday was a very special day for Evan and Kay and it was not very nice to ruin their wedding cake that way,� Luis told them firmly. �You really embarrassed mommy and daddy too; not to mention made yourselves look bad when we know you�re really not.�

�But Effin say we not bad,� Luke reminded his father.

�We didn�t say that you and Lily were bad Luke, but what you did was very wrong and you need to understand that,� Sheridan said, feeling a bit frustrated over the twins lack of understanding.

�Okay, let me put it in simple terms for you,� Luis said. �From now on whenever you want something you either ask mommy or daddy, and if we�re not there then you need to ask an adult. Do you understand?�

�Yes daddy,� they both confirmed.

�That�s good, so now I need to tell you your punishment. You will not be permitted to watch any television for one week, and that includes videos too. No Blues Clues, or Sesame Street or Thomas the Train...............�

�We see Rugrats?� Luke asked, hopefully.

�No Luke, when daddy said no television that means you will not be able to watch any of your shows,� Sheridan clarified for him.

Luis got a calendar and outlined the days with a colored marker. �Okay this is how many days in a week. Every time another one passes we will put an X to show you how many days you have left. I also want you to start picking up your toys when you�re finished playing with them. You�re old enough now to clean up your messes, and if I see that you�re not, then mommy and daddy are going to have to add more days onto your punishment,� Luis told them.

�No daddy, mama clean up toys,� Luke said in a serious voice, like he needed to explain the way things were.

�Yes Sport, in the past mommy and daddy have both cleaned up your toys, but you�re old enough now where you can do it yourself.�

�Why don�t you go to the sunroom and play for a little bit, and after mommy gets dressed we�ll all work on a project?� Sheridan said, cleaning off their faces and hands.

�Me hate punishing,� Lily said with a pouty lip.

�Thank�s good that you do, because maybe the next time you think about misbehaving you�ll remember that you will be punished and you might just stop and think about it;� Luis told the unhappy twosome.

�You don�t think we were too hard on them do you?� Sheridan asked after the twins had left the room.

�Not at all,� Luis said, holding firm. �Nothing that we did is going to kill them and just maybe they�ll understand that there are consequences when they behave badly.�

�I know, but restricting them from television for a whole week might just be more of a punishment for me. It�s not that I want our children to sit in front of the TV all day, but it does give me a little bit of a break once in a while, but since it is something they love to do I guess it will leave a more lasting impression.�

�It�s only a week Sheridan, and they�re just going to have to learn how to amuse themselves, and I�ll take over with them when I come home from work to take some of the responsibility off of you.�

�You do that anyway, but a week for children that age will seem like an eternity,� Sheridan worried.

�Do I need to remind you about how you felt when you saw the munchkins sitting there covered in cake?� Luis said, smiling.

Just then the phone rang and Sheridan answered it. �Hello, Lopez-Fitzgerald�s.�

�Hello Sheridan, this is Father Anthony,� the kindly priest greeted her.

�Father Anthony, this is a pleasant surprise. I hope you�re calling with good news about Dario,� she said, giving Luis a hopeful look.

�As a matter of fact I am calling about Dario, and I think you are going to like the news. Everything is in place and as soon as we can arrange the logistics, Dario can come to the United States to be with his new family.�

�Oh Father, that is wonderful news,� Sheridan said, happily. �Will you please let us know if there is anything we can do to help out?�

�I certainly will,� Father Anthony assured her.

�Does Dario know yet?� she asked.

�Yes he does. I actually got to speak with the boy over the phone yesterday and he is just ecstatic about the news,� the priest told her.

�That is so great. Maybe we�ll give Dario a call to see for ourselves. You will keep us posted though won�t you? We would love to go and visit him after he gets settled with his new family.�

�Of course I will,� Father Anthony promised.

�Oh Luis, can you believe that this is finally happening?� Sheridan said excitedly, after hanging up the phone.

�No, I can�t,� Luis said, happily. �I would have loved to see the look on Dario�s face when he heard the news. Did Father Anthony give you a date?�

�He said that he was in the process of making the arrangements, but I got the feeling that it would be very soon.�

********************

When Noah awakened the next morning Jordan was gone. He hopped out of bed and found her sitting on the sofa sipping a cup of coffee. It broke his heart to see her look so sad and lonely. �How are you feeling this morning?�

�Oh Noah, I didn�t hear you come in,� she said with a start. �What did you say?�

�I asked how you were feeling this morning?�

�I�m a little sore but I�ll survive,� was all she offered.

�To tell you the truth Jordan, I�m more concerned about your state of mind. Why won�t you tell me what is bothering you? Usually when you get upset like this it�s because of something your mother did. Is that the case this time too?�

�Of course it�s about my mother,� she said with a hollow laugh. �But this time it is so much worse Noah. This is something that could tear all of our lives apart.�

�You can�t just make a statement like that and not tell me what�s going on. Tell me Jordan.�

Jordan made the decision that there was no reason that she couldn�t at least tell him part of the story. At least the part that she knew to be true. �Noah, did you know that my mother and your father were involved at one time?�

�Involved?� he asked, shocked. �What the hell do you mean by that?�

�They were apparently involved romantically, but it was a long time ago before they were married. I accidentally found some pictures of them together in my mother�s room yesterday.�

�Are you sure about this?� Noah asked, stunned by the news.

�Oh believe me Noah, I�m positive. They looked exactly the same only younger. In fact I would guess that they were just about our age in those pictures, and they looked very cozy if you know what I mean.�

�I just don�t get it. If they were involved before they were married then why the big secret? I�m sure my mother and your father would understand that they had a life before they met them.�

�I don�t know Noah, but if I were you I would encourage your father to tell you mother all about it before she finds out some other way,� Jordan advised.

�I will admit that this news surprises the hell out of me, but there has to be more to this Jordan, or else you wouldn�t be so upset.�

�There is more, but I can�t tell you about it until I speak with my mother, because I have to know the truth first. Please don�t look at me that way Noah, because I do trust you more than anyone, but this is just too big, and I have to be sure.�

�Oh my God,� Noah said, with sudden realization.

�What?�

�All that talk before about your grandfather disinheriting Ethan because he found out that he wasn�t Julian�s son. Could it be that it is true and that my dad is really Ethan�s father? Please tell me that isn�t the case Jordan?� he pleaded.

�I�m so sorry Noah,� was all she had to say.

Chapter 38

Sheridan was showing Luke and Lily how to color in their new Sesame Street coloring books when thoughts of Jordan entered her mind. Her niece had definitely not been acting herself at the wedding yesterday and she was really worried about her. Maybe she would give her a call later just to see if Jordan would open up about what was bothering her. �Oh Lily, your picture is so pretty,� she told her excited daughter. �I think that Big Bird looks much better in pink.�

�Big Bird has fetters mama,� the little girl said, pointing to the tail.

�I can see that sweetie. Are you going to make his feathers a different color?�

Lily looked down at her assortment of crayons thoughtfully, and finally made her decision. �Me make fetters green.�

�I think that�s an excellent choice,� Sheridan said, smiling. �How are you doing over there Lukie Poo?�

�Me do Cookie Moster,� Luke, grinning sweetly. �He eat cookies and cookies and cookies.�

�It sounds like Cookie Monster is more of a piggy then Miss Piggy;� Sheridan teased, making the twins giggle.

�Daddy, daddy, lookie at me picture,� Lily squealed when she saw Luis come in the room.

Luis inspected his daughter�s picture with all the scribbles outside the lines and thought it was just precious. �Wow Peanut, I think you just might be an artist some day. Now, let me check out your picture Sport. That looks like Cookie Monster.�

�He be nice moster daddy,� Luke told him with the most serious face.

�That�s good to know because now daddy doesn�t have to worry,� Luis teased. �You did a super job Sport.�

�Tank you daddy,� Luke said, proudly.

�Listen munchkins, I need to borrow mommy for a minute.� he told the twins.

�Kay daddy,� the twins responded absently, intent on their drawing.

�Is something wrong Luis?� Sheridan asked as soon as they stepped out of the sunroom.

�Now I don�t want you to worry, but I just got off the phone with Sam, and............�

�Oh God, are Evan and Kay all right?� she asked, concern in her eyes.

�They are fine,� Luis assured her. �Sam said they got on a plane this morning for a honeymoon in Maui, but Jordan had an accident last night.�

�Please tell me she�s okay,� Sheridan said with a look of horror.

�Yes, she has a few cuts and burns but she�s home. Apparently she left the wedding upset and Noah took off after her. He was following behind her when she had the accident, so that was probably a good thing because she was trapped in the car.�

�Poor Jordan,� Sheridan said worriedly. �I could tell that something was really bothering her yesterday, but I decided that it wasn�t the time to press her. Now I wish I had encouraged her to open up........... Oh no, she wasn�t drinking was she?�

�I don�t think so. Sam said that a deer ran out in front of her and she swerved to avoid it and lost control. The good thing is her airbag came out so it really could have been much worse.�

�Luis, I know I told the children that I would do projects with them, but I really think I should go and see Jordan, so would you mind..........?�

�Go ahead, and see Jordan,� he said, giving her a hug.

�I feel guilty for deserting Luke and Lily though,� she said, thoughtfully. �Maybe I should wait until they go down for their naps.�

�Sheridan, you log enough time with the munchkins, so please don�t worry about it,� Luis assured her. �I�ll take over with the twins and you go check on your niece.�

�Thank you honey,� she said, giving him a quick kiss. �I just know I�ll feel much better once I can check on Jordan.�

********************

Noah remembered a time during a high school football game when someone on the opposing team had hit him hard in the stomach with their helmet The stunning blow had taken his breath away and that is exactly the way he felt right now. He looked over to Jordan, hoping that he had misread the situation, but she looked so forlorn and he knew if was true. Even knowing that it was still too much to comprehend, he had to have more facts. �Jordan, how do you know this for sure? Noah asked. �Just because you saw some pictures doesn�t necessarily prove that my dad is Ethan�s father.�

�It wasn�t just the pictures Noah,� Jordan said, softly. �There was also a letter that my mother wrote to your father that she never mailed.�

�What did the letter say?� Noah asked, even though he already knew the answer.

�She told Chief Bennett that he was Ethan�s real father. It was pretty straightforward and there was no room for doubt as to what she was trying to say. The only thing I can hope for is that my mother was so delusional and unhappy that she was just wishing that it were true. Maybe that�s why she never mailed the letter,� Jordan said, suddenly feeling a little more optimistic that this may very well be the case.

�I want to believe that too Jordan, but why would your mother keep something that explosive around if it were just some fantasy on her part?�

�I don�t know Noah, but I gave up a long time ago trying to figure out what makes my mother tick. If this were true it would explain so many things. She always did favor Ethan over me and my siblings, and there are so many times that I�ve heard her say that she made too many sacrifices so that my brother could inherited the Crane Empire. I just don�t know what to think,� she said, frustration in her voice.

�Why doesn�t anybody know about their past relationship?� Noah asked, confused. �This is a small town and I would think an affair between your mother and my father would have been a real scandal since us Bennett�s aren�t exactly in the same social set.�

�Do you think your father knows that Ethan is his son?� Jordan asked.

�No way,� Noah said, adamantly. �He would never deny his own child and let another man think he was the father. My dad is going to freak when he finds this out, and so is my mom.�

�You can�t tell him Noah. At least not yet. I need to talk to my mother first to find out is this is true. Besides if it�s not, why should we tear everyone�s lives apart if we don�t have to?� Jordan reasoned.

�It will kill me, but I won�t say anything Jordan, but I have to at least warn my dad to tell my mom about his past with Ivy. I just can�t believe that Ethan could really be my brother,� he said, picking up a picture of Jordan and Ethan from the table beside the sofa.

�Yes, and he�s my brother too,� Jordan said, her voice filled with anxiety.

He had been so overwhelmed about the possibility that his own dad could actually be Ethan�s biological father that it hadn�t even occurred to him that he and Jordan shared a brother. It was obvious to him that just the thought of it really bothered her. �I know what you�re thinking and you have to know that even if this is true it�s not going to change anything between us.�

�How can it not Noah? This is going to cause major ramifications for both of our families, especially poor Ethan, and we are going to be right in the middle of the whole sordid thing. God, it�s like we�re related,� she shivered.

�No Jordan,� he said, taking her hands. �Even if we do share a brother, there is no blood connection between us. Look, I know this is going to cause a huge strain for all of us, but it is not going to change the way we feel about each other. I know that we can get through this.�

�I pray you�re right Noah, because I don�t know if I could handle losing you because of something we had no control over,� she said, sadly.

********************

Don Miguel was in his study going over some last minute details before leaving on his trip to Greece when he suffered a sudden attack of indigestion. This wasn�t the first time it had happened that day and he decided that it was time to swear off the spicy food. Hopefully this thing would pass by the time he arrived in Greece because he wanted to be at his best when he confronted his scoundrel of a grandson. He had originally made the decision not to go and to wash his hands of Antonio, but his daughter�s sad face kept creeping into his mind. He owed Pilar so much and even if he had to hog tie Antonio and deliver him by force, he would bring her son back to her. He could be very ruthless when the situation called for it and it also didn�t hurt that he had plenty of power and money to back him up as well. Beads of perspiration broke out on his forehead, and he was dabbing them away with a white linen handkerchief when his trusted right-hand man knocked on the door. �Oh Salvador, are all the arrangements made?�

�Yes Don Miguel, your bags are packed and the car is waiting outside to take you to the airport. I chartered a Lear Jet so that you did not have to take a commercial flight,� Salvador told him, concerned when he noticed the unusual white pallor of his employer�s face.

�As usual I can always trust you to take care of all the details. As soon as I get back from my trip we are going to discuss increasing your salary Salvador,� Don Miguel said, rising from his chair only to feel a wave of dizziness assault him. He grabbed onto the front of the desk to steady himself.

�Don Miguel, are you all right?� Salvador asked worriedly as he rushed to the old man�s side.

�I think that I have eaten something that was much too spicy for me. Perhaps if I rest over there on the sofa for a minute I am sure it will pass.�

�Let me help you,� Salvador offered, holding onto Don Miguel�s arm.

�Thank you Salvador,� Don Miguel said, trying to catch his breath. �Suddenly I feel as weak as a child...........uhh..........,� was all he could manage to grunt out as a searing pain in his chest made him stumble forward. If it had not been for Salvador holding him up he would have fallen to the floor.

Don Miguel was a big man, but Salvador managed to get him to the sofa while at the same time screaming out for somebody to help. Some of the staff, including his wife ran into the study, and were shocked to see the scene in front of them. �Do not just stand there,� he shouted. �Get the doctor!�

Pablo, the estate landscaper had been in the kitchen enjoying a glass of lemonade after a hot day in the gardens when he heard the commotion, and ran to investigate. �I will call the ambulance,� he offered.

Rosa starred down in horror at the unconscious man with his hands on his chest and made the sign of the cross, praying that he would be all right. �What has happened to him Salvador?�

�I fear it is his heart Rosa,� Salvador told her, filled with a terrible fear. �As soon as the ambulance arrives, I think that I should call his family.�

�I just hope that they can get here in time,� Rosa said, shaking her head sadly with tears in her eyes.

********************

As Sheridan approached the cottage she spotted Jordan and Noah standing at the doorway locked in an embrace. Not wanting to interrupt their goodbye, she stood back and waited for them to finish, and was pleased to see her niece up and around. She hadn�t meant to eavesdrop but their voices carried, and what she heard rocked her to the core.

�Noah, I just don�t know if anything is ever going to be the same again,� Jordan cried against his shoulder.

�Listen to me Jordan,� he said, lifting her face toward him. �Even if it turns out to be true that my dad is Ethan�s biological father, I promise that I will not let it tear us apart. We have gone through too much to be together.�

Jordan must have spotted Sheridan right then, because she moved away from Noah and stared at her horrified aunt with a look of dread. �Aunt Sheridan, did you hear..............?�

�I�m afraid that I did,� was all that Sheridan could manage to get out.

Noah was almost relieved that Sheridan had overheard them, because he knew how much Jordan looked up to her aunt. He hoped that she could offer the kind of comfort and good advise that only a family member could. �I�ll just leave the two of you alone so that you can talk.� In the mean time he had his own family business to attend to and decided to go see his father at the police station. �I�ll call you later,� he told Jordan, giving her a quick kiss before he left.

�I guess you better come in and hear the whole sordid story,� Jordan said, giving Sheridan a dismal look.

�Yeah, I guess I better come in and sit before I fall down,� Sheridan said, feeling dazed, and then she remembered Jordan�s accident. �Look at your arms. Are you okay?�

�Just a cut and some burns from the airbags, but I�ll be fine,� Jordan assured her. �Can I get you anything?�

�No Jordan, I just want you to tell me about Sam Bennett being Ethan�s father. How do you know this?�

Jordan told her all about going to get her Grandmother�s earrings and how she accidentally knocked Ivy�s box on the floor. By the time she got to the letter, Sheridan was feeling sick to her stomach over Ivy�s treachery. �That�s why I was late for the wedding yesterday. I was in shock and just thinking about facing Ethan and Sam Bennett was just too much. I almost didn�t show up because I thought that I would ruin the wedding by just blurting everything out,� Jordan said, wiping her tears away.

�Oh sweetie,� Sheridan said, hugging her niece. �It must have been a terrible weight to bare, but I�m glad that you told Noah.�

�I didn�t exactly tell him. It was more like he guessed,� Jordan told her. �I didn�t want anyone to know until I could talk to mother.�

�When is Ivy getting back from New York?� Sheridan asked, itching to get her hands on her sister-in-law.

�Tomorrow, and I�m not looking forward to the encounter. She is going to be furious that I invaded her privacy,� Jordan said with anxiety.

�Your mother is in no position to be furious about anything after what she�s done,� Sheridan said, infuriated. �Do you want me to be there with you?�

�As much as I would love the moral support, I think I need to do this on my own. I do know that it needs to be done as soon as possible because Ethan needs to be told the truth,� Jordan said, adamantly.

�Poor Ethan,� Sheridan sighed. �Sam and Grace too. God there are so many people whose lives is going to be affected by this. Even though I�ve been prepared for this ever since my father left Crane Industries to Evan, I had this secret hope that Ivy wasn�t lying.�

�I know Sheridan; I can�t stop thinking about Ethan and how much this is going to devastate him.�

�To find out that his whole life was nothing but a lie will definitely turn his whole world upside down,� Sheridan agreed. �I�m just so heartsick about this.�

�Tell me about it,� Jordan said. �This is bad on so many levels. Ethan is not really your nephew and Noah and I share a brother, and my brother is going to lose the life that he has always known.�

�That�s why this has to be handled with as much discretion as possible. We can�t let any word of this leak out to the press or it will be so much worse,� Sheridan predicted.

********************

Noah went home to take a quick shower before heading to the police station to speak to his dad, hoping that he didn�t fun into his mother but luck was not on his said. �Mom, I thought that you were going to be at the gift shop today.�

�I�m on my way over there now,� Grace said, smiling. �Jessica is watching the place until I get there. How�s Jordan?�

�She�s have a few injuries, but I think she�ll be fine. Have you heard from the honeymooners?� Noah asked, trying to change the uncomfortable subject.

�Actually, they called us this morning from Los Angeles. They spent the night there last night and they�ll be boarding a plane for Hawaii later today.�

�I�m sure they�ll have a great time,� Noah said, hopefully knowing that once they arrived home the nightmare would hit them too.

�So, where are you running off to?� Grace asked. �I thought that you didn�t have to work until the second shift at the hospital.�

�I am working the second shift, but I have some errands to run first, so I guess I better get a move on so I can get finished before work,� Noah said, heading for the door.

�Noah wait,� Grace said, stopping him in his tracks. �Is everything okay with you?�

�Sure mom, why do you ask?�

�No reason in particular, but I�m sensing that something is bothering you. Are you sure that Jordan is okay?

�You worry too much,� Noah said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. �I got to go.�

Noah felt guilty for lying to his mother, but he couldn�t exactly tell her that his life actually sucked right now, and if was quite possible that her husband had a son by another woman. Yesterday, he was at his sister�s wedding thinking that everything was right in the world and now things were such a disaster. His only hope was that Ivy�s letter had been wishful thinking and Julian Crane really was Ethan�s son. Regardless, he had to be sure that his dad told his mom about his past relationship about Ivy before all this madness came out. He pulled into the parking lot of the police station and pulled into one of the empty visitor�s spots. When he went inside some of the uniforms greeted him. �Is my dad here?�

�Yeah, he�s in his office,� one of the officers told him. �Why don�t you go on back?�

�Thanks Vince,� Noah said, knocking on the door to his father�s office.

�Noah, this is a nice surprise,� Sam said, rising from his chair when he saw his son. �How is Jordan doing this morning?�

Noah thought he was going to scream if anybody else asked him that question, but he supposed he should be grateful that his parents liked his girlfriend enough to be concerned. �She�s doing well this morning.�

�That�s good to hear. Have a seat son,� Sam said, pointing to the chair in front of his desk. �Are you sure that Jordan is okay? You look like you have something heavy of your mind.�

�Actually dad this is pretty serious, and I don�t know any better way to say this then to get straight to the point.�

�Okay,� Sam said, taking a sip of his coffee like is was some form of fortification for him.

�Dad, did you have a relationship with Ivy Crane at one time?� Noah asked, studying his father�s face for his reaction.

Sam was rendered speechless for a minute by his son�s question and it took him a second to respond. �Where did you hear that?�

�Jordan accidentally found some pictures of you and Ivy where you were younger, and from what she said, you two were obviously involved.�

�Wow, you certainly don�t beat around the bush do you?� Sam said, getting up to pour himself some more fortification. �Look son, it is true that me and Ivy were involved at one time, but that was over long before I met your mother.�

�Okay, but why all the secrecy?� Noah asked, skeptically. �I would bet by your reaction that mom doesn�t know about this.�

�Ivy and I kept our relationship a secret because she was the daughter of the governor and I was the son of the Chief of Police, and it would have never been acceptable to her family. Apparently her father did find out about us though and let�s just say he manipulated the situation to his benefit. He was bound and determined to break us apart because he had a bigger fish in mind for his daughter. Ivy married Julian and the rest is history. It�s just better if it remains buried in the past.�

�Okay, that�s all understandable why you wouldn�t want the whole town to know, but why not tell mom?�

�I tried to tell her a hundred times, but the more time that passed, the harder it got. Besides, it�s in my past and your mother is the only woman in my life now,� Sam said, defensively.

�Dad, it would be one thing if mom didn�t know of Ivy existence, but they have served on committees together and I know if I was in her position I would feel like a fool.�

�The last thing I want to do is hurt your mother. You have to know that Noah.�

�I do believe you dad, but you may not have a choice now. You have to tell mom about Ivy Crane before somebody else does.�

�I know you�re right son, but you have no idea how much I�m dreading this. I just hope that your mother will understand.�

�You don�t have the time to sit on this dad,� Noah warned. �Please tell mom as soon as possible.�

�Noah, is there something else that you�re not telling me?� Sam asked, curious about the urgency in his son�s voice.

�I just don�t want mom to find out about this from somebody else, and I don�t think you do either,� Noah said, knowingly.

********************

The closer she got to home, the more upset Sheridan became. Her and Ethan had always been so close growing up and to think that he was not really related to her at all was quite a blow. She was so angry with Ivy right now that she couldn�t see straight. All these years she had deceived everyone and now the secret was going to tear so many lives apart. When their house came into view, a certain peace settled over her. Luis and their children would always be a calming force in her life and she thanked God that she had them. She knew that as soon as she talked to her husband that everything would be better.

When she walked into the door, the twins ran up to her excitedly with their drawings in hand. �Wow, you two sure have been busy while I was gone. I can�t believe you colored so many pictures.�

�Dis for mama,� Lily said, handing her the picture of Big Bird from earlier.

�Oh thank you sweetie,� Sheridan said, hugging her daughter. �I�m going to put this in a frame and save it forever.

�Me has one too mama,� Luke said, giving her his special picture.

�This is so wonderful,� Sheridan said, giving him a kiss too.

�Hey munchkins, why don�t you go into the sunroom and get the rest of your pictures to show mommy,� Luis� voice sounded from across the room.

�Kay daddy,� they squealed running out of the room.

�You have no idea how happy I am to see you,� Sheridan said, coming into his arms.

�Sheridan, I have some bad news,� Luis said with a solemn face.

�What is it Luis?� she said, stepping back to look into his face.

�Abuelo had a heart attack,� he told her in a ragged voice.

�Oh my God,� she said in disbelief. �Is he...............?

�Yes, he�s alive and they have him stabilized for now, but they think he will need surgery.�

�I just can�t believe this Luis. Don Miguel was always so vibrant.�

�He can�t die Sheridan,� Luis said, with tears in his eyes. �Not now when he is finally in our lives.�

�Luis, your grandfather is a strong man, and a very determined man. I can�t image him giving up,� Sheridan said, trying to give him some hope, while trying to convince herself at the same time. She didn�t know if she could take another blow today.

�Mama is just frantic,� he told her.

�I�m sure she is. I think we should go over there to be with her right now,� Sheridan suggested.

�Mama is flying to Spain tonight, and I�m going to go with her. Papa wanted to go, but she insisted that he stay here and run the restaurant.�

�Of course you should go,� Sheridan said, encouragingly. �Your mother needs your support right now.�

�I don�t want to leave you and the kids right now, but I also feel like I should be there for mama and abuelo,� Luis said, his voice racked with angst. �If you need me to stay............�

�No Luis, you have to go,� she told him in a voice that begged for no argument. �I don�t think you would forgive yourself if something happened and your weren�t there.�

�Daddy go bye bye?� Luke asked, looking up at them with his big brown eyes so like his father�s.

�We go too daddy?� Lily asked, sweetly.

�Well, daddy would like to take you, but I really need for you to stay here and take care of mommy for me. You see she can�t travel right now because of the baby and you wouldn�t want her to stay here all by herself would you?�

�No daddy,� they both said.

�You make daddy so proud sometimes,� he said, hugging them both.

�I�ll go upstairs and pack for you,� Sheridan offered.

�Wait Sheridan,� he said, taking her arm. �You looked upset when you came in here. Is something else wrong?�

Sheridan knew that if he had any inkling that she was upset about Ethan, he would just worry about her, and she knew that if was difficult enough for him right now. �The only thing that I�m concerned about right now is Don Miguel, and I will feel better just knowing you�re there for him.�

�I love you so much,� he said, pulling her into his arms.

�I love you too,� she said, holding on to him for dear life, but then she let go. �I better go upstairs and pack for you before I start crying like a blubbering idiot.�

�I can do that Sheridan,� he protested.

�I don�t think so,� she smiled. �I know how you pack.�

�Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Paloma offered to come and stay with you while I was gone.�

�I can�t let her do that Luis...........�

�Please don�t argue about it Sheridan. I would feel so much better knowing that she is here to help you with the kids.�

�Poma�s coming,� the twins squealed excitedly.

�There, now look at those sweet little faces and tell them that Paloma�s not coming,� Luis challenged, smiling for the first time since she arrived home.

 

Chapter 39

Luis just stood there with bag in hand and a lump in his throat staring into Sheridan�s big blue eyes. They had always been able to say so much without uttering a single word, and right now was no exception. He was worried sick about his grandfather but the thought of leaving Sheridan and the twins was tearing him up inside. His gaze finally broke from his wife�s and he lowered his eyes to his children standing on either side of her. He supposed it was time to give them the little talk he had been avoiding. �Would you two come here so daddy can talk to you?� Luis asked, smiling. The twins approached, and Luis put his bag down and squatted down to their level.

�Me not want daddy go bye bye,� Lily said with a pouty lip.

�You know Peanut, you�re going to break daddy�s heart when you talk like that,� Luis said teasingly, even though he felt like he was going to cry.

�Why you go bye bye daddy?� Luke asked.

�Well Sport, daddy buelo is feeling kind of sick so I�m going to go to Spain to visit with him,� Luis explained.

�Daddy buelo have tummy ache?� Lily asked, concern on her little face.

�Well Peanut, that�s close, but his ache is up a little higher in his chest,� Luis said, showing her the spot where his heart was.

�Oh no,� Lily said, her little face blanketed with worry. �Me be sad bout daddy buelo.�

�That�s sweet Peanut, but I don�t think that daddy buelo would want you to be sad,� Luis told her gently.

�Me and Leelee give daddy beulo pitures we make,� Luke said, his big brown eyes round with excitement.

�I think that is a wonderful idea,� Sheridan told her little boy affectionately. �Why don�t you and Lily come over here and pick out the pictures you want to send along with daddy?�

�Come Leelee,� Luke said, taking his sister�s hand.

�Wow, they�re growing up before our very eyes,� Luis shook his head in amazement.

�Yes they are, and I don�t know whether to be sad or happy about it. I�m afraid I�m going to blink my eyes and they�ll be going off to college,� Sheridan said, gazing at her children fondly.

�I think you might be getting a little ahead of yourself,� Luis teased, pulling her into his arms. �God Sheridan I hate this but, I have to go to be there for mama, and I need to remind abuelo that he has everything to live for.�

�Luis, you don�t have to convince me,� Sheridan assured him. �Your place is with Don Miguel right now, and we will all be just fine. Of course, we�ll miss you like crazy.�

�Here daddy,� Lily said, bouncing up to hand him one of her prized drawings.

Luis looked down at the picture of Miss Piggy dressed in a tutu and ballerina slippers and smiled. The colorful scribbles weren�t even close to being within the lines, but his little girl�s effort was evident. �This is great Peanut,� Luis praised. �I�m sure that this will put a smile on daddy buelo�s face. Let�s see what you have Sport.�

�Me have Bert and Ernie,� Luke said, proudly.

�Hey, what happened to Cookie Monster?� Luis asked, teasingly.

�Dat�s for mama,� Luke told him emphatically.

�I know buddy, daddy was just joking with you,� Luis said, grinning. �You really did a good job with this picture and I�m sure that when daddy buelo sees this he is going to feel so much better.�

�You know daddy has to go soon, so why don�t you let me help you put your name on your pictures so that daddy buelo can tell who colored them, but we have to hurry,� Sheridan suggested.

�Kay mama,� the twins said, excitedly.

When Luke and Lily delivered their signed pictures back to Luis, he found a secure place for them in his leather bag. �Well, daddy has to go, but I want you two to be good for mommy. Mommy is carrying our little baby and she needs to get all the rest she can, so I want you to make sure you pick up your toys when you�re finished with them.�

�No daddy, Poma pick up toys,� Lily told him saucily with her hands on her hips.

�Sorry Peanut, but it is not Paloma�s job to pick up your toys and I better not hear that you asked her to do it for you. Now, do you understand?�

�Yes daddy,� Lily said, sticking her bottom lip out in her usual pout when not getting her way.

�That goes for you too Sport,� Luis warned.

�Me not be bad daddy,� Luke said, defensively. �Leelee always be trouble.�

Luis and Sheridan had to bite their lips to keep from laughing at Luke�s comment, but one of them had to address it, and this time it was his mother. �Lukie, it�s not very nice to talk about your sister that way. Now, I want you both to go and give daddy a kiss goodbye because he has to leave now.�

The twins ran up and hugged and kissed their daddy, and Luis hung on so tightly they both squealed. �Daddy�s going to miss you so much. I love you.�

�Bye bye daddy,� Lily said, waving. �Be good for buela.�

�Out of the mouths of babes,� Sheridan laughed.

�Bye bye daddy,� Luke waved too. �Me wuv you.�

Luis hugged and kissed the twins again and then turned to Sheridan. �Well, I guess this is it,� he said, pulling her into his arms. �I think I need one of your sweet kisses to get me through this.� As Luis brought his lips to hers, the baby kicked so hard, he could feel it against his stomach. �Wow, your little brother or sister just kicked daddy.�

�Baby say bye bye too daddy,� Lily giggled.

As Luis droved away, he could barely stand to look at his family standing on the porch waving at him. It was even harder than he thought it would be to leave them, but in the end he couldn�t resist turning to look one last time and the separation anxiety was almost painful.

Sheridan too felt lost as she watched Luis drive away. She prayed that his trip would be safe and that Don Miguel would recover because she knew that it would kill Luis if something happened to his grandfather. �Bye Luis, come back soon,� she said out loud.

�Bye bye Wees,� Luke echoed.

�That�s daddy to you,� Sheridan chuckled.

********************

Grace was surprised and excited about Sam�s suggestion that they take a picnic and a bottle of wine to the beach that evening. They hadn�t done anything like this in years and it brought back some fond memories. Back before Noah was born they didn�t have a lot of money for fancy restaurants since they were saving for a down payment on their house so they had gone to the beach much like they were doing this evening. She watched as Sam spread the blanket down in almost the same place as all those years ago. �This was a perfect suggestion,� she said, plopping down on the blanket.

�To be honest with you I had ulterior motives for choosing to come here,� Sam admitted. �I wanted us to have some privacy away from the kids and noisy restaurants so that we could talk about something.�

�You sound very serious all of a sudden,� Grace teased. �Should I be worried?�

�Why don�t we eat something and have a glass of wine, and then we can talk?� Sam suggested.

They shared a comfortable repast and chatted about their day, and one would never know that Sam�s insides were twisted into knots. If only he had told Grace about Ivy years ago, it wouldn�t seem like such a big deal, but telling her now was only going to look like he had something to hide in her mind. He was just getting up the courage to broach the subject when she did it for him.

�I can sense that something is weighing heavily on you Sam, so maybe it�s time that you told me,� Grace said, knowingly.

�You�re right Grace about me feeling burdened and it�s long past the time to tell you,� Sam admitted. �But, before I begin, I want you to know how much I love you and that I would never hurt you purposely.�

�I know that Sam, but come on, it can�t be all that bad,� Grace said, hopefully, with a silent prayer that she was right in her estimation. �So, what happened, did you rob a bank or something?� she teased.

�No Grace, this is about a relationship I had with a woman before we even met,� Sam said quickly, but he was stunned when Grace began to laugh.

�I�m sorry Sam, I don�t mean to make light here, but surely you must know that I�m not so naive as to think that I�m the first woman in your life. Come on, you�re a very handsome guy and I�m sure all the Harmony ladies were dying to get a date with you,� Grace said, feeling a sense of relief.

�I don�t think you�re going to find it so amusing when I tell you who it is Grace, but I swear to you it was over long before we even met,� Sam said, almost pleadingly.

�You mean I know this person?� Grace asked, suddenly feeling like someone had knocked the wind out of her sails.

�Yes, I�m afraid you do............�

�Who is it Sam?� she asked, fearing the answer.

�Ivy Crane,� he shot out before he lost his nerve.

�Ivy?� Grace was astounded by the announcement, and it took her a few minutes to process what Sam just told her. All the times they had spent with Ivy flashed through her mind and it all made sense now. The coveting way the woman had always looked at Sam, the kiss between them under the mistletoe at the Crane mansion, and the feeling that Ivy was looking at her with a sense of entitlement filled her with fury. �How could you do this to me Sam?�

�I know you�re hurt, but I swear that it was over before I met you.............�

�Yeah, that�s what you said before Sam, but it�s obvious to me now that it isn�t over for Ivy. When I think of all the times she invited us to her home, and stupid me thought that she was trying to be kind and bridge the gap between the Cranes and people of Harmony. Oh God, she must think I�m nothing but a silly fool and the sad thing about it is she�s right, and you just stood by and let her treat me like an idiot...........�

�That�s not true Grace,� Sam said, defensively. �I would never let Ivy treat you with anything but respect. I think you�re reading more into this than you need to..........�

�Oh really Sam? Can you honestly sit there and tell me that Ivy has made no gestures at all to let you know that she wouldn�t mind renewing your relationship?�

�Okay, I�ll admit that she has hinted about it on several occasions, but I told her that in no uncertain terms was I interested in her because I love you. I also told her that I was committed to our marriage and any feelings I had for her were dead and buried a long time ago.�

�If that�s true Sam, then why not tell me about this before now? It�s almost like you feel guilty because you still have feelings for her.............�

�No Grace, that is simply not true. Ivy is nothing like she used to be, and I could never have feelings for a woman that would treat her own daughter the way that she has treated Jordan. She�s been living with the Cranes for so long that she is exactly like them now. The only feeling I have for Ivy Crane right now is loathing,� Sam said, adamantly. �I swear to you Grace that the only reason I didn�t tell you about Ivy was because I didn�t want to hurt you, and that is the only reason.�

�Oh God, I just thought of something,� Grace said with sudden realization. �The whole town is probably getting a good laugh out of this one. I can just hear them now. Poor silly Grace, if she only knew about her husband and Ivy Crane, she wouldn�t be so kind to the lady.�

�That is not the way it is Grace,� Sam said in an unwavering voice. �The whole town does not know about this because Ivy and I kept our relationship a secret. She was the governor�s daughter and there is no way her family would have approved of our involvement. I was just the lowly police chief�s son and not fit to even wipe her shoes in their opinion, and as it turned out Ivy�s father did find out about us and he didn�t rest until he broke us apart. He made us both believe that the other didn�t care by pulling some pretty dirty manipulations. To make a long story short, Ivy ended up marrying Julian just like her father wanted her to.�

�I�m sorry Sam,� Grace said, feeling momentary sympathy for the couple. �That must have been heartbreaking for both of you.�

�Look, I admit that it was rough on me at the time, but I�m glad that it happened because if it hadn�t I would have never met the true love of my life, and that is you Grace,� he said, stroking her face lovingly. �And, as far as Ivy�s concerned, don�t waste too much of your pity on her because she made her choice a long time ago, and now she had to live with it.�

Grace pulled away from his touch, not wanting to let tender feelings replace the betrayal she felt right now. �There is something I don�t understand Sam. Why are you telling me this now after all of this time?�

�I wish that I could tell you that I came to the realization that it was time to tell you all on my own, but I�m afraid that it was our son that urged me to finally come forward with the truth.............�

�Are you telling me that Noah knows about you and Ivy?� Grace asked, shocked. �How can that be Sam?�

�Apparently Jordan accidentally found some old photos of Ivy and me and told Noah about it. They only just found out yesterday, so please don�t think this has been some conspiracy Grace.�

�This is like a bad dream,� Grace said, rising from the blanket to walk toward the water.

Sam followed her and stood behind her back. �Grace I can�t tell you how sorry I am about this, but please tell me you don�t hate me. I don�t think I could handle it if you did.�

�I don�t hate you Sam,� Grace said, turning toward him. �I could never hate you, but I can�t help but feel betrayed on some level, and just the fact that Ivy kept those pictures convinces me more than ever that she wants you back. I�m not sure that I can just forget about this so quickly.�

�I don�t blame you for feeling betrayed Grace, but I�m hoping that you can find it in your heart to forgive me for keeping my relationship about Ivy from you,� he said, taking her hands. �At least the secret is out now and there is nothing more that can come between us.�

�I hope you�re right Sam,� Grace said, feeling a sudden shiver. She didn�t say it out loud, but she had a terrible feeling that their problems were just beginning.

********************

The trip to Spain had been long and filled with worry, but it certainly was good to see Salvador waiting to pick them up at the airport. Pilar started to cry when she saw him and they hugged in greeting. Even though Salvador�s father had worked for her own they were always good friends growing up with their combined love for horses and Pilar knew how much her old amigo admired Don Miguel. �Salvador, it has been too long,� Pilar said in Spanish. �How is papa?�

�He is holding his own, but I wish that you could have come back to your home under different circumstances,� Salvador said, sadly. When he finally noticed Luis, he changed to English. �Senior Luis, it is good to see you again. I know that Don Miguel will be especially pleased to see you.�

�I hope so Salvador,� Luis said, smiling.

�Let us not stand here. I will take you to the hacienda to rest and freshen up,� Salvador offered.

�Actually Salvador, we got some rest on the flight over here. I would prefer that you take me directly to the hospital so that I can see papa,� Pilar told him. �I am sure that Luis would like you to take him back to papa�s house after you drop me off.�

�No mama, I want to go with you to the hospital,� Luis insisted. �I�m just as worried about abuelo as you are and I�m anxious to see him.�

�Thank you mijo,� Pilar said gratefully, taking her son�s hand.

When Salvador dropped them off at the hospital they hurried up to the intensive care unit and inquired about Don Miguel�s condition. Luckily Doctor Valez was there and took them to a private waiting room where they could talk. �Your father is in serious condition right now Senora Lopez-Fitzgerald, but I think that there is a good chance that we can pull him through this crisis.�

�Thank God,� Pilar said, relieved. �You must do whatever is necessary doctor.�

�What exactly is the prognosis Doctor Valez?� Luis asked.

�We have found some blockage in three of his arteries and he will require a triple by-pass,� the doctor explained.

�Isn�t that a serious operation?� Luis asked, concerned.

�Any time you perform an invasive procedure and put a patient under anesthetic it can be serious Senior Lopez-Fitzgerald, but these kinds of operations are very commonplace now. I have done up to four of these very procedures in a week before.�

�Papa is not a young man any longer,� Pilar worried. �Is he strong enough to go through such a serious operation?�

�I wish I had the constitution of Don Miguel Senora Lopez-Fitzgerald,� the doctor smiled. �I can assure you that he is in excellent shape for his age. It is good that you arrived when you did because now that we have your father stabilized we have scheduled the surgery for first thing in the morning. I am sure that it will do much for his spirits to know that you are here.�

�Can we see him now Doctor Valez?� Pilar asked, hopefully.

�Si, but please keep your visit short, and try not to get him over-excited. Don Miguel is still very weak from his heart attack.�

When they entered Don Miguel�s room his eyes were closed so they approached his bed quietly. Pilar�s eyes filled with tears when she saw her father lying there so pale, like a former shell of himself. She sat down in a chair beside his bed and took his hand in hers. �Oh papa,� she said, kissing his hand. �I am here now and I promise that everything is going to be okay.�

Luis too was shaken by his grandfather�s appearance. Don Miguel had always been larger than life and to see him this way was very frightening to him. In spite of the doctor�s confidence he was still very worried. �Abuelo, it�s Luis. I wanted you to know that I am here for you,� he whispered, leaning down to kiss his grandfather�s forehead. �You just get some rest now.�

�Pilar?� Don Miguel asked in a raspy voice. �Is it really you mija?�

�Yes Papa, it is really me. I came the second I heard,� she told him tearfully.

�This means so much to me, but you should not have left your family,� he scolded gently.

�Papa, Martin is running the restaurant, and all of the children are old enough to take care of themselves. My place is here with you and I am not leaving until you are better,� she promised.

�I hate that you are seeing me this way.............. So weak like a baby,� he said, becoming agitated.

�Abuelo, please don�t get upset,� Luis pleaded.

Don Miguel turned toward the sound of Luis� voice. �You are here too Luis?� the old man said, clearly touched. �Come over here so that I can see your face.�

Luis did as he asked, and took Don Miguel�s hand. �You really gave us a scare abuelo.�

�It takes a lot more than a few blocked arteries to get a stubborn old fool like me down,� Don Miguel said with a weak attempt at a smile. �I should have known that you would be the one to bring your mama here.�

�I wouldn�t be anywhere else abuelo,� Luis assured him.

�I just feel so bad that you had to leave Sheridan and the little ones. You also have that new baby coming soon,� Don Miguel worried.

�Abuelo, the baby isn�t due for weeks yet, and I promise that Sheridan and the twins are going to be fine. I asked Paloma to stay with them while I was gone.�

�Oh Paloma is a wise choice. She is always so good with the children...........� Don Miguel had to stop because he started to cough.

�Here papa, try to drink some water,� Pilar urged, holding the glass to his lips. �You have overdone it.�

�I agree mama,� Luis said. �We should probably go and let abuelo get some rest. The doctor said we should only have short visits.�

�Nonsense,� Don Miguel grumbled.

�Luis is right papa,� Pilar agreed. �We do not want our visit to make you worse. Why don�t you lay back and try to relax, and Luis and I will go find some coffee. We will be right outside if you need us.�

�No, you both look exhausted,� Don Miguel protested. �I want you to go back to the hacienda and get some sleep.�

�There is plenty of time for that later papa. I am going to go and call Martin and Maria and I will be back after you have had your rest.�

�But, I need to speak to Luis............�

�No Don Miguel, you need your rest right now,� Doctor Valez announced, entering the room.

�I am glad that you are here doctor. Maybe you can get papa to listen to reason,� Pilar said, smiling.

�I know that you are used to ordering people around, but I am in charge here Don Miguel, and I order you to get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow.�

�Says the man who is probably charging me an arm and a leg,� Don Miguel grumbled.

�We�re going now papa,� Pilar said, leaning down to kiss his cheek. �I promise we�ll be back later.�

�Mija,� he said, grabbing her hand with tears in his eyes. �I am so happy that you are here, and you too Luis.�

�You get some rest,� Luis said, squeezing his grandfather�s hand.

Once they were in the hallway and out of earshot from Don Miguel, Pilar started to cry. �He looks so weak Luis. How will he have the strength to make it through the surgery?�

�I admit that his appearance upset me at first mama, but abuelo still seems pretty feisty in spite of it. The doctor said that he performs these by-pass surgeries all the time,� Luis said, trying to comfort her.

�I know that mijo, but I have never seen papa vulnerable. I just do not know what I will do if he ............... It is just that I finally have my father back after all this years, and I could not bear to lose him now.............�

�Everything is going to be okay mama,� Luis said, hugging her comfortingly. �Abuelo�s right, you do look exhausted. Why don�t you go back to the house and get some rest and I�ll stay here?�

�No, I am staying,� Pilar said, stubbornly. �I�m going to go call your papa, and I suggest that you call Sheridan. I am sure that she is very anxious to hear from you.�

�Yeah, I�m anxious to speak to her too,� Luis admitted. I also can�t wait to talk to my little munchkins too.�

********************

When Paloma awakened the next morning, she went downstairs in search of Sheridan and the twins. She found them all still in their pajamas having cereal at the kitchen table. �Good morning. Do I actually smell coffee?� Paloma asked, sniffing the air.

�Yes you do,� Sheridan informed her. �I know how much you enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning so I made some for you. It�s driving me crazy tough because I would kill for a cup, but I don�t want to send my little one into a caffeine frenzy.�

�You are a saint Sheridan, and you two are little squirts,� Paloma said, teasing the twins.

�Poma so silly,� Lily giggled.

�Poma come outside play now,� Luke begged.

�Luke you can�t go outside in your pajamas, and besides you need to give Aunt Paloma a chance to eat breakfast first,� Sheridan told him, putting a glass of milk down in front of him.

�Why don�t you finish your cereal, and I�ll take you and Lily out so you can swim in your little pool?� Paloma suggested.

�Kay Poma,� Luke said, excitedly.

�Mama, me wear my new kini,� Lily announced happily.

�I have a better idea. Why don�t we take Aunt Paloma to the spring and you can show her how well you�re doing with your swimming lessons. You should see them, they�re like little fish,� Sheridan laughed.

�Oh yes mama,� Luke said, bursting with excitement. �Me fwim so far.�

�Well, you still have to wear your water wings and stay in the shallow end, but you do need to practice treading water.�

�Wow, I didn�t realize that they taught kids to swim this young,� Paloma said, surprised.

�Are you kidding? They teach them as early as a few months now, some even earlier,� Sheridan told her.

�I suppose it�s a good thing that they know how to swim while they�re so little,� Paloma said, trying to talk about the twin�s chatter. She figured that this was the perfect opportunity to ask about if Sheridan had any news. �Sheridan, have you heard from Luis yet?�

�No, but I�m expecting him to call at any time. I hope that everything is okay?�

�I know, I could hardly sleep last night worrying about abuelo. It would just break my heart if something happened to him,� Paloma said in a low voice.

�I�m worried too Paloma, but Don Miguel is strong and a very determined man. I have a feeling that he�s going to pull out of this,� Sheridan said, trying to comfort her worried sister-in-law.

As if on command, the phone rang and Sheridan rushed to answer it. The sound of the voice at the other end warmed her instantly. �Luis, I�m so happy to hear from you. Did your trip go well?�

�Yes, we got here a couple of hours ago and Salvador brought us straight to the hospital. I didn�t want to call until I had some concrete news on abuelo.�

�So, how his he?� Sheridan asked.

�Mama and I got a chance to talk with the doctor and he said that abuelo has blockage in three arteries, so he�s going to have by-pass surgery first thing tomorrow morning.�

�Well, even though his condition is serious, I think that those operations are pretty common,� Sheridan said, feeling a bit of relief.

�That�s what the doctor said, but if you saw abuelo right now Sheridan, you wouldn�t even recognize him. It scared me when I walked into his room and saw how pale and weak he is.�

�We just have to pray for the best honey, but you said that you went straight to the hospital from the airport. I think you and Pilar both need to get much-needed rest or you won�t be any good to your grandfather if you make yourselves sick.�

�Yeah, hopefully I can get mama out of her later on. How is everything at home?�

�Everything is fine. We�re all sitting down here having breakfast, and we were just planning our day. Your sister and I are going to take the twins to the spring for some swimming.�

�That sounds like fun,� Luis said, enviously. �I miss you all so much already.�

�We miss you too,� she said, lowering her voice. �It sure was lonely in our bed last night without you there to hold on to.�

�You have no idea how much I want to be there. It�s killing me to be away from you and the kids.�

�Well, as soon as Don Miguel�s out of the woods, you can come back to us,� Sheridan said with all the confidence in the world.

�How are the munchkins?� he asked. �They aren�t driving Paloma crazy yet are they?�

�Actually they�ve been very good, but we�ll have to see how long that lasts,� Sheridan laughed.

�Can I talk to them?� Luis asked, feeling really emotional all of a sudden.

�You most certainly can,� she assured him. �Luke, Lily daddy is on the phone, and he wants to speak to you.� Sheridan put the phone on speaker so that both of the twins could talk together. �Just talk into the speaker and daddy will be able to hear you.�

�Hi daddy,� Lily said. �Peas come home.�

�Well Peanut, I can�t come home until I make sure that daddy beulo is better,� Luis told his little girl gently.

�Daddy, we go fwimming with Poma today,� Luke told him excitedly.

�Me wear me new kini too daddy,� Lily added.

�You have a bikina?� Luis asked, shocked. �Put mommy back on, and I love you. Be good.�

�Yes, Luis,� Sheridan said, picking up the receiver.

�What�s this about Peanut having a bikini?�

�It�s not really a bikini Luis,� Sheridan chuckled. �It�s a cute little two-piece with ruffles on the bottom.

�Okay, I almost had a heart attack there for a minute,� Luis said, relieved. �Listen honey, I need to go, but I promise I�ll call you later today.�

�I love you, and I want you to promise me that you�ll get some rest. Please give Don Miguel our love too.�

�I will,� Luis promised. �I love you Sheridan.�

After she hung up the phone, she couldn�t help but feel sad over the whole situation. Thoughts of Jordan entered her mind right then, and she wondered if her niece had the opportunity to confront her mother yet. God help them all when the truth came out because she had a feeling that nothing would ever be the same.

********************

As great as her shopping trip away had been Ivy was glad to be home. She was dying to find out about the Bennett wedding, and could just about bet that with Grace�s tacky taste the whole thing was a circus event. When she came through the front door, one of the maids took her bags, and even though it was late morning, she needed a drink. As she proceeded to Julian�s study, she was stunned to see Jordan sitting on the sofa looking like somebody had just killed her best friend. �What are you doing here, and for God�s sake what happened to your arms?� Ivy asked.

�I�m here because I need to speak with you mother and my arms are a little banged up because I was in a car accident,� Jordan said, already getting disgusted by her mother�s attitude.

�I certainly hope you weren�t drunk when you had the accident, because now that you father is in jail the judges are a lot harder to buy off.�

�I wasn�t drunk mother,� Jordan said, rolling her eyes over Ivy�s assumption. �I swerved to avoid hitting a deer and lost control of my car. Chief Bennett said they probably wouldn�t even charge me with anything.�

�Well, if Sa�, I mean Chief Bennett said there wouldn�t be a problem, then I can trust that we won�t have any charges come out of the woodwork later on,� Ivy said with confidence. �So, you simply must tell me about the Bennett wedding. I can just imagine that Grace had paper streamers and balloons,� she laughed.

�Sorry to burst your bubble mother, but the wedding was done with a lot of class and was very beautiful,� Jordan said, smugly. �In fact, I don�t think there was a balloon in the whole place.�

Ivy looked properly chastised and changed the subject. �So, what is it that you wanted to speak with me about?�

�I think that we should go to daddy�s study to talk,� Jordan suggested. �We wouldn�t want the staff to overhear us.�

�You sound so ominous,� Ivy said, beginning to worry. What if she springs the news that she�s engaged to Noah Bennett? If that were the case, she would have to think of a way to nip that in the bud.

When they arrived in the study, Ivy helped herself to a drink, and sat down behind Julian�s desk. �Well, I�m ready Jordan,� Ivy said, impatiently.

As nervous as Jordan was about the heated encounter she was sure would come, she made the decision to just come out with it. �Remember when you told me that I could borrow grandmother Katherine�s pearl earnings for the wedding?�

�Of course I do,� Ivy said, confused. �I hope they worked out.�

�Yes, they were perfect mother,� she said, biting her lip. �Anyway, whey I was closing the safe, I accidentally knocked your carved wooden box off of your dressing table and it fell on the floor and broke apart............�

�You what?� Ivy asked, turning pale. �Did you see what was inside?�

�I couldn�t help it mother,� Jordan said, defensively. �Everything was scattered all over the floor and I saw the pictures of you and Sam Bennett and I also saw the letter..........�

�How dare you invade my privacy,� Ivy shouted. �You had no right!�

�I know that I had no right mother, but the fact remains I did and I finally know the truth. Grandfather Alistair was right all along about Ethan and you just continued to lie about it,� she accused.

Ivy was caught completely off balance and she had to scramble for an explanation. She decided to tell the truth about her involvement with Sam, and appeal to Jordan�s sense of romance. �It�s true that Sam and I were in love back then. We wanted to get married, but my father and Alistair had other plans for me. Somehow my father found out about our relationship and he manipulated the situation so that we both thought that the other had moved on. You see, he offered Sam a summer job on one of his fishing boats to get him away from me, and all the letters we wrote to each other were intercepted.�

�I�m sorry for you mother, but how does Ethan�s paternity fit into this story?� Jordan asked, refusing to be distracted from the original subject.

�When I first married your father I was foolish enough to think that he really loved me, but I overheard him and Alistair talking on our wedding night and that pretty much shattered all of my illusions,� Ivy said, bitterly.

�What did you hear mother?� Jordan asked, curiously.

�They were discussing what a great match Julian had made when he married me, the former governor�s daughter. Alistair was fussing at him to forget about some nightclub singer that he was having an affair with. You can imagine how hurt I was and I ran out of the house and straight to Sam.�

�So you spent the night in Sam�s loving arms,� Jordan said, knowingly. �How is it that you ended up coming back to daddy?�

�I didn�t know what else to do, so I left Sam there sleeping and came back to the mansion. I knew that there would be a major scandal if I stayed with Sam and I just couldn�t humiliate my family that way..............�

�I�m sure the incentive of the Crane fortune helped change your mind as well,� Jordan said with a cynical tone.

�Don�t act so smug Jordan. The Cranes owed me, and I had every intention of collecting.�

�So you decided to pass Ethan off as a Crane as part of the payment? You lied for all of these years and denied Ethan the knowledge of his real father. My God mother, do you have any idea how many lives this could shatter?�

�That is exactly why you can�t tell anybody about this Jordan. If your father finds out about this he will divorce me, and I would die if Ethan grew to hate me,� Ivy said, trying to gain some sympathy from her daughter.

�I�m sorry mother, but I just can�t do that. Ethan deserves to know the truth and if you don�t tell him about this, I will,� Jordan said, adamantly.

Ivy took some deep breaths to control her rage, and decided that the only thing she could do to stop Jordan was to lie. �You can�t say anything because even though I thought that Sam was Ethan�s father at first, I later discovered that he was truly Julian�s son.�

�I want nothing more than to believe you mother, but I find it really difficult after what I read in that letter. Why would you keep something like that if you discovered that Ethan was a Crane?�

�I don�t know why I kept the letter,� Ivy said, pouring on the tears. �Maybe it was wishful thinking or maybe I just wanted to remember a happy time in my past. You have no idea how miserable my life has been living with your father for all of these years.�

�I�ve heard the story before mother, and I would almost feel sorry for you, but I�m just so sick of your sob story. You�ve had more money than you can ever spend at your fingertips and you act like you�ve been forced to live like a street person, so I�m still not buying your story. Ethan is definitely your chosen child and there has to be a reason for that. Your blatant neglect of the rest of your children is so obvious, and it all makes so much sense now,� Jordan said in a furious voice.

�Don�t you speak to me that way young lady,� Ivy shrilled. �I am still your mother and I demand respect from you. You are going to forget all about what you read. Do you understand me?�

�You have to gain respect mother, and you are the last person that deserves any. God, you make me sick,� Jordan hissed.

Ivy was so furious that she reacted violently and smacked Jordan across the face with a force that made her daughter stumble. �Don�t you ever speak to me in that tone again..........�

�What the hell is going on in here?� Ethan demanded, entering the room with quick strides. �I could hear the two of you yelling when I walked in the front door. My God mother, how could you hit Jordan like that?�

�Why don�t you tell him mother,� Jordan said, rubbing her cheek. �It�s time for the lies to stop.�

�What is she talking about mother?� Ethan asked, staring at his mother with disgust after what he had witnessed.

�You better tell him mother, or I will..............�

 

Chapter 40

Ethan was appalled when he saw the red welt on the side of Jordan�s face. Never would he have believed his mother could be filled with such violence, especially against her own daughter. Something was really wrong here, and he had every intention of getting to the bottom of it, but first he had a few choice words for Ivy. �Have you gone completely crazy mother? I saw the way you hit Jordan and I couldn�t believe my eyes. My God mother, I never knew you were so abusive.�

�Well, of course I�m not, but your sister was out of control Ethan,� Ivy stammered. �I didn�t know what else to do.�

�It looked more like you were the one out of control mother,� Ethan said, turning to his sister. �Are you okay Jordan?�

�I�ll let you know when the throbbing goes away,� Jordan said, moving her jaw to make sure it was still intact.

�We better get some ice on that,� Ethan suggested. �It will keep the swelling down. I�m going to go find an ice pack, and when I get back we�re all going to discuss this important thing you�re supposed to tell me, and please stay in your corners until I get back.�

As soon as Ethan was gone, Ivy started her mantra. �Look Jordan, I am so sorry about the slap. I swear, I didn�t mean to hit you that hard, but I�m just so upset that Ethan can be hurt by all of this when it�s just not necessary,� Ivy said in her most apologetic voice.

�Don�t waste your breath mother, because I have no intention of letting this go. Ethan deserves to know the truth, and so does Sam Bennett,� Jordan said, feeling the anger rise over Ivy�s ploy. The woman actually had the nerve to minimize the pain she had caused to her, only to emphasize how much she didn�t want Ethan hurt. It was just another stab in her heart.

�I promise you Jordan that if you persist in this, I will cut you off,� Ivy swore, all pretences gone now.

�Oh really mother, and how do you purpose to do that?� Jordan laughed. �I have a trust fund that you can�t touch, and it�s not your money to cut off. Even if you could get away with this, I�m sure you wouldn�t like it if I visited daddy in prison and told him all about your sordid past.�

�My God Jordan, why would you want to destroy your brother�s life just so you can get back at me?� Ivy asked, feeling desperate now.

�The last thing I want to do is destroy Ethan�s life, but he deserves to know that Sam Bennett could very well be his father, and...............�

�What did you just say.............?� Ethan asked with a horrified look, as he walked through the door.

�Oh Ethan, I�m so sorry,� Jordan said, feeling terrible. �I never meant for you to hear the truth this way.�

�Is she right mother?� Ethan demanded. �Is Sam Bennett my father?�

�Your sister is just jumping to conclusions, without knowing all of the facts,� Ivy said, scrambling for an answer.

�Stop it mother,� Jordan ordered. �Ethan why don�t I tell you what I discovered and I�ll let you draw your own conclusions.�

�I�m waiting,� Ethan said, feeling as though he had been hit by a freight train.

Jordan told him about how she accidentally stumbled upon the pictures and the letter when she had gone to get her grandmother�s earrings the morning of the wedding. �You have no idea how much I struggled with this Ethan. Part of me wanted to forget that I ever found that letter, but I knew that you would never want me to keep the truth from you.�

Ethan sat down on the leather sofa and rubbed his temples, trying to process everything that Jordan had just told him. Oddly, he wasn�t all that shocked by the news, since deep down inside he had always known that his grandfather would have never cut him off unless he had some solid evidence about his paternity. The real blow however, was the fact that his mother had lied to him for all of these years, and continued to do so even after Alistair had disowned him. Finally, Ethan looked straight at Ivy with a look of disgust on his face. �So mother, was your sleazy little affair with Sam Bennett worth it?�

�No Ethan, it was not a sleazy affair,� Ivy protested. �Sam and I were in love and this all happened before I married Julian. We were torn apart by your grandfather�s manipulations because he wanted me to marry a Crane, and I found out on my wedding night that Julian only married me because of a business deal. I was so crushed that I ran out of the house and straight to Sam.�

�Oh that gives me great comfort mother to know that I was conceived on your honeymoon, only you weren�t sharing that night with the man you married. If the Cranes were so terrible, then why did you come back? Oh wait, don�t answer that, because I think I just figured it all out. You and Sam Bennett probably planned this whole thing to get back at the Cranes didn�t you? You both must have had a good laugh all of these years knowing you were pulling this over on Julian and Alistair..........�

�Stop it Ethan!� Ivy demanded. �It was not like that at all, and Sam knows nothing about this. I came back because I didn�t have any other choice, and as I was trying to explain to your sister, I did think that you were Sam�s son at first, but I found out later that you were indeed fathered by Julian, and that is why I never said anything about this before.�

�Oh really mother, and how exactly did you know that I was Julian�s son? Did you have a paternity test done?�

Ivy had no other choice but to continue the lie. �No Ethan, but a woman just knows these things, so would you please just trust me and let this drop,� she pleaded. �Why stir up trouble when this could affect your whole life? Besides if this would get out to the media, we would never live down the scandal.�

�Everything I�ve always believed in is in question here mother,� Ethan spat out. �Do you really expect me to just let this drop, and go merrily on my way? Sorry, but I can�t do that because I don�t trust you, and I�m not going to rest until I know the truth.�

�I told you the truth,� Ivy argued.

�Good, then you won�t have a problem if we have a DNA test done,� Ethan said, with almost a clinical detachment that shocked both Ivy and Jordan.

�Ethan, you can�t do that,� Ivy protested. �Sam knows nothing about this, and he would have to be told if you have a DNA test done.�

�Well mother, it�s about time he was told that he might have a son he didn�t know about, don�t you think?�

�I�m begging you Ethan, please don�t do this,� Ivy pleaded. �Why can�t you just believe me and let this go?�

�My mind is made up,� Ethan said in a tone that begged for no argument. �Sam will have to be told as soon as possible so they we can put this behind us.� With that Ethan left the room, slamming the door behind him.

The ladies just stared in shocked silence at the closed door. Jordan had expected anger from Ethan, but she had also thought that he would be suffering from a loss of the life he had always known. Little did she know that at this very minute Ethan was in his room shaking with the reality of the situation. The possibility that Sam Bennett could be his father was overwhelming to him. It occurred to him suddenly that he could actually have some half siblings, but the one thing that was the biggest blow to him was the deception. The one person that he had always depended on and shared a special bond with had let him down, and he would never feel the same way about his mother again.

********************

Sheridan and her sister-in-law were in the in the process of packing a picnic to take to the spring when the phone rang. It turned out to be a young gentleman asking to speak to Paloma and she took the phone almost sheepishly. She spoke for a few minutes in a low voice and hung up. �That sounded a lot like JJ,� Sheridan said with a twinkle in her eyes.

�Actually, it was,� Paloma said, red-faced. �We were supposed to meet at the beach today, but when all this happened with abuelo, I completely forgot about it. I told him we would have to re-schedule for another time.�

�Oh sweetie, don�t do that,� Sheridan told her. �Paloma, you don�t have to be tied to this place twenty-four seven. This is your school break and you should be enjoying yourself.�

�I am enjoying myself Sheridan and you know how much I love being with the twins. There will be plenty of time for that other stuff later.�

�Still, you�ve been home from quite some time, and you really haven�t had much of a social life. I think it�s wonderful that you�re dating now, and JJ really is a hottie,� Sheridan laughed.

�Oh, we�re not dating,� Paloma said, adamantly. �We�re just good friends, that�s all.�

�Of course you are,� Sheridan said, knowing. �I just thought of a great idea. Why don�t you invite your friend to join us?�

�I don�t know Sheridan,� Paloma said, hesitantly. �I really shouldn�t be distracted so I can help you keep your eye on Luke and Lily.�

�What are you, seventeen going on fifty?� Sheridan asked, shaking her head. �Paloma, you�re so busy trying to prove that you�ve become responsible that you�ve forgotten how to be a teenager.�

�I�m just trying to prove to you and Luis that I can be trusted after I almost killed your children,� Paloma said, defensively.

�Paloma, you would not be here right now if Luis and I didn�t trust you, and another thing young lady. Don�t you ever say that you almost killed our children, because that is simply not true. If anything, you saved them at risk to your own life and as far as we�re concerned you�re our hero.�

�Really Sheridan?� Paloma asked, happily.

�Yes really,� Sheridan said with conviction. �Now, I want you to stop all this depressing talk and call JJ back and invite him to join us.�

�He probably won�t want to come,� Paloma argued.

�Paloma, I�ve seen the way he looks at you. Trust me, he�ll come,� Sheridan chuckled.

�Mama, we go fwimming now?� Luke asked, bouncing into the room wearing his little blue swimming trunks.

�In a little while Lukie. Mommy is trying to pack some lunch for us to take along with us. Where is your sister?�

�Leelee make stinky potty,� Luke told her, making a face.

�Oh dear, I better go check on her,� Sheridan said.

Just then, Lily came running into the kitchen clad in nothing but her bathing suit top, carrying a role of toilet paper. �Mama, me need big help,� Lily announced in a frustrated voice.

�Sweetie, you should have called out for mommy to come and help you,� Sheridan told her.

�Me call and call mama,� Lily said, her bottom lip jutting out.

�Oh Lily, mommy is so sorry,� Sheridan said, feeling terrible. �Come on, let�s get you cleaned up.�

Paloma watched as Sheridan took Lily�s hand and led her out of the room. Her niece reminded her of the little girl in the Coppertone ad with her little white bottom and brown back. �Well JJ, are you sure you�re ready for this adventure today?� she laughed into the phone.

With all the gear they had to drag along as well as the twins, they decided not to make the trek through the woods on foot. There was an old dirt road that ran the east boundary of the property that also led back to the spring, so they opted to take JJ�s jeep, and Luke couldn�t have been more excited. Since the top was down, he insisted on standing on the back seat so that he could hang onto the roll bar, but Sheridan nipped that in the bud and told him that if he didn�t sit down and let her strap him in, they weren�t going at all. Lily, always the consummate flirt, had to model her little pink two-piece bathing suit with the matching sandals and sunglasses for JJ.

�I have a feeling that little cutie already drives her daddy crazy,� JJ snickered in a low voice.

�You have no idea,� Sheridan chuckled. �You would think that she was thirteen instead of three by the way that she acts.�

�I can�t believe how much she looks like you Sheridan,� JJ observed.

�I just hope she doesn�t inherit all of my habits too, or poor Luis will be completely gray by the time he�s forty.�

�I find that hard to believe Sheridan,� Paloma said, surprised. �You always struck me as being this very sweet and proper person.�

�Oh, I don�t know about that,� JJ teased. �I might have been a young dorky kid back then, but I can remember some stories about Sheridan and my sister..........�

�Okay JJ, you can stop right there,� Sheridan warned with a smile.

�JJ tell story bout mama,� Lily requested, batting her blue eyes.

�Well Lily, I would but I don�t really remember any of them,� JJ wisely answered.

�Hey, are we going to go swimming or sit around here and talk all day?� Paloma said, trying to get the show on the road, and save Sheridan at the same time.

�Go fwimming,� Luke said, excitedly, clapping his hands.

Sheridan smiled as she watched Paloma and JJ playing with the children in the water. They both had a twin hoisted on their shoulders and Luke and Lily were squealing with delight. Her gaze moved to the flat rocks on the other side of the spring and her mind was suddenly filled with the night she had made love with Luis there. She could almost feel the power of his wet body moving against her own. They were getting ready to leave when the storm broke out and what had happened after that was like two forces of nature coming together. She missed Luis so much and he had only been gone for two days now. Pregnant or not, when he arrived home she was going to take him straight to bed.........

�Mama see me,� Luke called out to her.

JJ was spinning Luke around in circles in the water and the little boy was giggling loudly. �I see you Luke,� she called back. �Are you having fun?�

�Yes mama,� Luke squealed.

Ace had joined them and he approached the shoreline and began to bark. �My God, it looks like a wolf,� JJ said, staring at the dog in fear, stopping dead in his tracks.

�Dat no wofee,� Lily corrected him. �Dat my doggy.�

Sheridan and Paloma broke out in laughter over JJ�s reaction to the dog. �Boy, you sure have been living in the city for far too long,� the green-eyed beauty said, flashing him a brilliant smile.

If he hadn�t been in love before, he certainly was now, and Paloma treated him like he was nothing but a brother. �We�ve never had dogs around the house because my father�s allergic to them, but you have to admit that he�s bigger than most dogs and he does look like a wolf,� JJ defended himself.

�Okay, I�ll cut you some slack on that one,� Paloma laughed. �Ace really is a sweet dog though and he wouldn�t hurt a fly.�

�Unless someone were to come after the children, or Luis or me,� Sheridan told him. �Ace doesn�t know you and when he saw you swinging Luke around it might have looked threatening to him at first.�

�Is he going to attack me?� JJ asked, shakily.

�No, he can see that Luke is fine now,� Sheridan told him. �I think you�re safe.�

Lily ran out of the water and went up and hugged Ace�s neck. �Ace be nice. He eat monters.�

�Ace seep by Leelee�s bed all night long,� Luke explained to JJ in his most serious voice.

�Lily has bad dreams about monsters,� Paloma whispered in JJ� ear, which thrilled him to death to have her so close.

�I have food and drinks up here,� Sheridan announced. �Why don�t we break for lunch?�

�Yes mama, me be so hungee,� Luke said, rubbing his tummy.

�Well sweetie, you better come here and get something to eat,� Sheridan chuckled.

�Mama, me want juice box,� Lily requested, while dancing around.

�Here you go Lily,� Sheridan said, handing her daughter the drink. �Do you want a sandwich, or how about some fruit?�

�Ballberries,� Lily requested.

�Mommy had a feeling that you would want some strawberries,� Sheridan said, extracting a baggie filled with the cleaned berries to put some on a plate for Lily. �You two big kids can help yourself.�

After lunch, Sheridan insisted that the twins stay out of the water for a while, so they amused themselves by inspecting a turtle nest they found by the water. Paloma and JJ were lying on the beach sunning themselves, while Sheridan watched the twins. She decided to walk over to check on Luke and Lily to make sure they weren�t disturbing the baby turtles. �I hope you�re not touching those babies,� she told them as she approached.

�Mama, can we take baby turtles home?� Luke asked, hopefully.

�I�m afraid not Luke. The babies need to stay in their nest until they are big enough to go out on their own. If you take them away, their mommy can�t feed them.� Sheridan had no idea if that was the case, but she figured they must be like any other baby being nurtured by its mother until it was ready to go out in the world.

�Mama, me hold the baby turtle,� Lily said.

�I don�t think the turtle�s mommy would like that very much. Maybe we should leave them alone so that they can take a nap. Come over here and sit by mommy for a while and then I�ll let you go back into the water,� she said, taking their hands to lead them to the blanket. Once the got back to the blanket, Sheridan noticed that Luke was acting a bit sheepish, and he had his hand pulled into a fist like he had something trapped in there. �Luke, what do you have in your hand? I hope you didn�t take one of those babies. Show mommy right now.�

�Kay mama,� Luke said, opening his hand, to expose a little brownish-green creature.

Sheridan leaned down to get a closer look and saw that it was a little frog, and it sent a tiny shiver up her spine since she had an aversion to the little things. �Put that thing down Luke,� she said, making a face. Her voice must have scared the creature because it hopped up, landed right against her chest and down the top of her bathing suit. �Oh my God,� she screamed, jumping up�

�Sheridan, what wrong?� Paloma shouted, worriedly.

�A disgusting little frog just hopped down my top,� she shrieked, pulling her top outward so it would fall. The only problem was that her belly was so big that her efforts were in vain.

�I think you�re just going to have to reach in there and pull it out,� JJ suggested with a chuckle. �I would do it for you, but I know Luis would kick my posterior.�

�Here Sheridan, use this,� Paloma said, handing her a paper napkin.

Sheridan turned around so that JJ couldn�t see her digging around inside her top and finally located the frog. She flung it so that it landed in the water with a little plop. �I don�t know what�s worse, a fish or that creepy thing,� she grumbled.

�What fish?� Paloma asked, confused.

�It�s a long story Paloma. Maybe I�ll tell you about it some time,� Sheridan said, trying to catch her breath after the ordeal.

�Mama be so funny,� Lily said, giggling.

�Me tell daddy how mama frew the frog way far away,� Luke added with a little snicker of his own.

********************

Luis and Pilar had been allowed another visit with Don Miguel before heading to the hacienda for the evening. The old aristocrat seemed to be in better spirits and he actually cried when Luis presented him with the pictures the twins had colored. He had insisted that the nurse hang them on the wall so that he could see the pictures easily. Both mother and son were exhausted between the time change, lack of sleep, and the stress of Don Miguel�s condition. The only thing they wanted to do was fall into bed so that they would be rested for the grueling day that lay ahead of them. As Salvador drove through the large iron gate at the entrance of the property, the setting sun was a fiery orange ball that sent prisms of light over the rolling landscape. Pilar took it all in with the excitement of a child on Christmas morning.

�Oh mijo, it has not changed a bit,� she said, excitedly. �I cannot tell you how many times I rode my horse across these hills with papa. He would take me with him as he visited the olive groves during the harvest. I just hope that papa will be home to see it again.�

�I�m sure he will mama,� Luis assured her. �Abuelo is too stubborn not to make it.�

�There is a small chapel on the grounds with the family cemetery next to it. I want to get up extra early so I can pray for papa and visit mama�s grave.�

�Would you mind some company?� Luis asked, taking his mother�s hand.

�I would love that mijo,� Pilar said, smiling. �You are such a good son, and I hope you know how much I have always treasured you for that.�

Luis was touched by his mother�s warm words, but as usual, he tried to minimize all of his contributions. �We�re all family mama and I just did what any of us would have done.�

�You need to learn how to accept a compliment,� Pilar gently scolded him.

Just then they pulled up in front of the house, and Salvador hopped out of the car to come and open the door for Pilar. �Let me help you out Senora Lopez-Fitzgerald.�

�Why are you being so formal Salvador. You and I played together as children and I do not want you to stand on formality with me, so you must call me Pilar just like you used to.�

�Well Pilar, can I at least open the door for you?� Salvador asked, smiling. �Rosa has unpacked all of your things, so that you do not have to worry about that right now. Senor Luis, we have put you in the same room you stayed in the last time you were here with your gracious wife, and you Pilar are of course in your old room.�

Just then the large wooden door opened and an excited Rosa came out to greet Pilar warmly. �We have all been waiting for this day for so long now,� she said, her eyes moist with tears. �I just wish that Don Miguel could be here on your first day back.�

�I do too Rosa,� Pilar said, hugging her old friend. Pilar looked around the familiar surroundings and noted that nothing had really changed since she left over thirty years ago. The draperies looks new and some of the furniture was re-upholstered, but for the most part the timeless pieces her mother had been so fond of were still present. It was almost a surreal experience being back home again, since she never thought she would set foot in this house again. �I cannot believe it, nothing has changed,� she said, looking around.

�You should know that Don Miguel is not one for change, but you must come now. I have prepared all of your favorite dishes in honor of your homecoming,� Rosa told her beaming.

�That was very kind of you Rosa, but if you do not mind I think I would like to take my meal in my room. I do not know if I even have the strength to lift a fork right now.�

�You go upstairs and get into bed and I will bring a tray up for you,� Rosa offered.

�No Rosa, I can take it myself,� Pilar argued. �I do not feel comfortable having people wait on me.�

�Oh no, Don Miguel would have my job if he knew I was letting you carry your own tray,� Rosa protested.

�I am not some fail waif Rosa, and if you must know I have been working as a housekeeper for most of the time that I have been away,� Pilar told the shocked housekeeper.

�You know mama, maybe just this time you could let somebody take care you,� Luis suggested. �I know that I�m going to take Rosa up on her offer right after I take a nice, long, hot shower.�

�You do that Senor Luis,� Rosa said, fussing over him. �I have already laid towels out in the bathroom adjoining your bedroom.�

�Thank you Rosa. Come on mama, I�ll escort you upstairs,� Luis said, offering her his arm.

�He is such a good son,� Rosa told Salvador as she watched them go up the stairs.

When Pilar arrived at the room she occupied as a girl, she couldn�t help but get a little weepy when she saw the place with all of her personal items still sitting there right where she had left them. �This is almost too much,� Pilar said, picking up a photo from her dresser of herself and her siblings. �I think I was only five in this picture.�

�Yeah, I saw those when Sheridan and I were here. At the time I could not even picture you staying in a room like this, let alone a huge mansion, but now that you�re here mama, you really fit somehow.�

�I have so many treasures to unearth that I do not know if I will be able to sleep now,� she smiled. �I just know that there are some beautiful things that I can pass down to Terisita and Paloma.�

�Mama, please don�t worry about that right now and try to get some rest,� Luis said, kissing her cheek. �It�s a big day tomorrow.�

�I know mijo,� Pilar agreed. �I think I will take a nice bath, and then I will call your father.�

�Good night mama. I�ll see you first thing in the morning.�

�Good night mijo. Give my love to Sheridan and the babies.�

�I will,� he said, closing the door behind him.

Pilar was further surprised to see the photo of Martin that she had brought with her on the bedside table. Rosa must have put it there when she unpacked for her earlier. It seemed so strange to her now to have people waiting on her, when for years she had been the one doing the serving. It seemed like a million years ago that she was the pampered daughter of the great aristocrat, Don Miguel, but that life came flooding back to her the longer she was in the house. If she were really honest with herself, as nice as that life had been, she wouldn�t trade it for all the riches in the world for what she had this very moment with Martin and her children. And now that her papa was also back in her life, she was a perfectly content person. She just prayed that after tomorrow he would still be with her, but she could not think about that right now, because she had to have faith. As much as she wanted to explore her old room the weariness was overwhelming and the only thing she wanted to do right now was soak in the tub. After that she would call Martin and get some much needed rest.

Luis found his room easily, and when he opened the door all the memories came flooding back to him of the time he had spent here with Sheridan. They had argued about his grandfather, but they eventually made peace and the most incredible love as well. Was it possible that even after all this time he could still smell her scent? It was probably all in his mind, but he chose to believe in anyway since if made him feel closer to her. He headed to the bathroom, stripped off his clothes, and got into the shower. The hot water felt so good running down his body and it really helped to relax the tension in his muscles. Twenty minutes later he got out and wrapped the towel around his waist. Rosa had unpacked his bags so he looked in the tall dresser for a pair of boxers to put on, and that�s when he found them, Sheridan�s panties. All of her initimate apparal was filed away in his brain, and the little lacy scrap of fabric was very familiar to him. He would give anything right now to have her standing there modeling them for him, but since he couldn�t have his wish he decided to call her. Expecting her to answer the phone, he was a little disappointed to hear Paloma�s voice. �Hey sis, how�s it going?�

�Luis, it�s so good to hear from you. Where are you calling from?�

�I�m at abuelo�s house right now getting ready to turn in and I thought I would call to talk to Sheridan and the kids first.�

�Actually, she�s putting the little squirts down for their nap. They had a very big day swimming and chasing baby turtles around,� Paloma laughed. �Oh, and don�t tell Sheridan that I told you this but Luke found a little frog and it jumped down Sheridan�s top.�

�Lucky frog,� Luis laughed.

�Sounds like somebody is missing his wife.�

�Yeah, I miss her like crazy and the little munchkins too. Are they being good?�

�They really are, I promise,� Paloma assured him. �Is mama there with you?�

�No, she�s in her room right now. We�re both pretty tired from the trip and sitting in the hospital most of the day,� Luis told her.

�How is abuelo Luis. I�ve been so worried about him.�

�He�s doing amazing considering what he�s been through. Surgery is always risky, but I think he�s going to come out of it with flying colors.�

�I hope your right Luis, because I don�t think I could handle it if something happend to abuelo.�

�We talked about you, you know.�

�You and abuelo talked about me?� Paloma said, surprised. �What about?�

�I told him that you were staying with Sheridan and the kids and he told me that was a wise choice to have you there?�

�Are you serious?� Paloma asked, so touched by his words.

�I swear he did, and I have to agree with him.�

�Oh Luis, you have no idea how much that means to me that you would trust me like this,� Paloma said.

�I would have never asked you to stay there with my family if I didn�t turst you little sister.�

�Thank you so much Luis, and here�s Sheridan,� she said, handing the phone to her sister-in-law.

�Hi baby,� Luis greeted her with his low sexy tone.

�Hi yourself,� she said, warmed to her core by his voice. �You�re in a mood.�

�I couldn�t help it. I got out of the shower and was looking for a pair of boxers and guess what I found?

�I have no idea,� Sheridan said, curiously. �What did you find?�

�A pair of your lacy panties, and since I can�t have you here with me, I�m going to sleep with them right next to me tonight.�

�Oh God, I can�t wait until you get home,� she groaned into the phone.

 

Chapter 41

Sheridan noticed that Paloma and JJ were looking at her with knowing smiles on their faces, so she decided to move this conversation to another room where she could be more private. �Hold on a second Luis........ Paloma, I�m going to take this call upstairs,� she called out, before making her way to the bedroom. �Now, what were we talking about...........?�

�We were discussing your little white lace panties,� Luis said, rubbing the fabric against his cheek.

�I can�t believe there was actually a time when I fit into those,� Sheridan grumbled.

�As soon as you deliver our baby munchkin, you�ll be able to fit into them again,� Luis said, confidently. �Besides, you�ll be just as beautiful to me then as you are to me now.�

�You always know just the right thing to say to me, but I think you should know that I�ve expanded since you�ve been gone. I swear it happened overnight.�

�I bet you look adorable,� Luis said, wishing more than ever that he could be there with her right now. �You�re not going to be too uncomfortable for........... Well you know............�

�Judging by how I felt earlier today, I don�t think so,� Sheridan laughed. �Trust me, where there�s a will there�s a way.�

�How did you feel?� Luis asked in a sultry voice.

�When we were at the spring today, I looked at that rock and all those memories of that night we spent there making love came rushing back to me. I�m still trying to recover,� she sighed.

�Sheridan, I�m not so sure that was the best thing to tell me about when I�m naked,� Luis groaned. �Without being restricted, Little Luis is like all out there.�

�You�re naked?� Sheridan asked in a shaky voice. �That�s a fine thing to tell a woman when her hormones are in sexual overdrive.�

�Oh damn, I have to get under the covers. Somebody is knocking on the door,� Luis told her frantically.

�Wait a minute. Who�s knocking on your door?� Sheridan demanded.

�Relax, it�s just Rosa bringing me a dinner tray,� Luis responded with a chuckle. �Come in Rosa.�

�It is not Rosa Senor,� the raven-haired beauty said, entering the room. �I am Rosa�s daughter, Lourdes.�

�Oh yeah, I remember you Lourdes,� Luis acknowledged. �You can put the tray over there on the table.�

�Lourdes!� Sheridan spat out in a fit of jealous indignation when she remembered Rosa�s daughter, and the way she had looked at Luis. �You better be pulling those covers up to your armpits.�

Lourdes put the tray down on the table, and cast Luis a sultry look, taking in the form of his body under the covers. He wasn�t the least bit taken in by her blatant appraisal, and in fact could think of nothing more than getting her out of the room. �Gracias,� he said, motioning for her to leave. She didn�t look at all happy, but turned and made her way out the door swinging her hips the whole time.

�Luis, what�s going on there?� Sheridan insisted.

He couldn�t resist and decided to yank her chain. �Nothing............... Whoa, wait a minute Lourdes. Why are you pulling my sheet down.............?�

�I swear to God Luis, you better be teasing me, or pregnant or not, I�ll be on the first plane over there so that I can tear out every hair on that little hussy�s head.�

�Settle down slugger,� he laughed. �I was just messing with you. Lourdes already left.�

�You should know better than to mess with a woman that is pregnant and feeling really self-conscious about herself right now,� she chastised him.

�I�m so sorry sweetie,� Luis apologized, feeling terrible. �I didn�t mean to make you feel bad. I guess after all of the stress over the last couple of days I just needed a little levity, but I shouldn�t have done it at your expense. Will you forgive me?�

�Of course I will,� she told him. �I guess I�m a little over-sensitive right now, but you�ve been through a difficult time so it�s understandable that you want to blow off a little steam. It�s not your fault that I don�t feel very desirable right now.�

�Sheridan just so you know, I haven�t desired any woman but you ever since you crashed into my police cruiser and I looked into your big blue eyes spitting daggers at me. There will never be anyone for me but you,� he said, sincerely.

�I feel the same way about you Luis,� she said, touched by his words. �So, now that we have my maintenance out of the way, tell me how Don Miguel is doing?�

�Actually, he was in much better spirits when we visited him the second time. I gave him the munchkins� pictures and he cried. It almost brought tears to my eyes too.�

�Oh, that�s so sweet. I can�t wait to tell Luke and Lily how much their great-grandfather liked their artwork. How are you and Pilar holding up?�

�We�re both worried and extremely exhausted, but the worst thing is, I miss you and the twins so much I�m starting to go through withdrawals.�

�Believe me, we all miss you too,� Sheridan assured him. �Earlier when I was putting the twins down for their nap, Lily told me that she wanted her daddy to come home.�

�God Sheridan, that breaks my heart. Will you kiss them both for me and make sure they know it�s from me.�

�I will,� she promised. �You know, you really should eat something before it gets cold, and I can tell from your voice that you�re ready to fall asleep any second.�

�Yeah, I guess I better get some sleep. I have to get up at the crack of dawn tomorrow. I�ll call you first thing in the morning your time. Abuelo should be in recovery by then and we�ll know more about his condition.�

�Okay, but you know that you can call me in the middle of the night if you really need to talk to me,� she said, being loathed to bring up the subject of Don Miguel not making it through the operation, but wanting to stress the point that she would be there for him should the worst happen.

�I know that Sheridan,� Luis said, praying that there wouldn�t be any reason to do that. �I love you and make sure you tell my babies that I love them too.�

�That goes without saying, and we all love you too. I�ll be praying for your grandfather, but I have a feeling that everything is going to be just fine.�

�I hope you�re right Sheridan,� Luis said, trying to assure himself that she was. �Well, goodbye............�

�Goodbye, and make sure that you put some boxers on and lock your door. I don�t want that little viper, Lourdes to come sneaking into your room in the middle of the night.� The last thing she heard before hanging up the phone was the sound of Luis� laughter.

********************

Antonio couldn�t believe that his grandfather had ignored his challenge and simply disregarded the fact that he had shown up at his house. After all, the man had been hell bent on finding him and now he just decides to drop the whole thing? It just didn�t make any sense to him, and he was furious with Don Miguel for treating him like he had no significance. On the other hand, maybe he had underestimated the old man�s temper, because if he was honest with himself, he was pretty arrogant with the servants. But still, he would have thought that his grandfather would have come to Greece to at least confront him. He was pouring himself a drink when Maria came through the front door. �Where have you been?� he asked with a sour tone.

�I told you earlier that I was having dinner with baba tonight. Maybe if you would listen to me once in a while..............�

�Look Maria, I�m sorry,� Antonio said, running his hand through his hair impatiently. �Why in the hell haven�t I heard anything from my grandfather yet? The bastard is probably making me sweat first.�

�For your information, I found out some bad news about your grandfather from my baba tonight,� Maria said, shaking her head in disgust.

�What bad news?� Antonio asked, finally giving her his full attention.

�Well, you know that baba has had business dealings with Don Miguel in the past, and apparently he called and said that he was coming to Greece for a private matter and thought they could have a meeting. It turns out that he did not show up for the meeting because he suffered from a heart attack..........�

�A heart attack,� Antonio said, shocked. �Is he dead?�

�No, he is not dead, but he is in the hospital waiting to have surgery, and I think you should call to see how he is doing.�

�What is the name of the hospital?� Antonio asked.

�I do not know, but there can not be that many hospitals in Valencia,� Maria said, handing him the phone.

�Wait, you didn�t tell your father about who I really am did you?� Antonio asked, suspiciously.

�You make me sick,� Maria screamed. �How dare you accuse me of betraying you. Your grandfather is sick and the only thing that you can worry about is hiding behind your cloak of secrecy.�

�You�re over-reacting Maria,� Antonio said, trying to calm the hot-tempered beauty down. �I trust you okay, and I�m going to find the hospital where my abuelo is.�

�Sometimes I wonder why I continue to put up with you,� she said storming out of the room and slamming the door behind her.

After several phone calls, Antonio located the hospital where Don Miguel was admitted. Thankfully, his Spanish was good and he was able to be transferred to the floor where his grandfather�s room was. Finally, after several rings a female answered the phone. �Cardiac Care Unit,� she said in Spanish.

�Yes, I am trying to find out the condition of Don Miguel Lopez.�

�I am sorry, but I cannot give out that information about the patients unless you are a family member,� she told him.

�Are you the same grandson that was here today visiting Don Miguel?� the nurse asked.

�No, that must have been my brother,� Antonio said, shaken by the news. �I�m Don Miguel�s other grandson. Do you know if it was my brother Luis?�

The nurse found it very suspicious that this man claiming to be Don Miguel�s grandson did not even know that his own brother was here, and suspected that he was a member of the press. �If it is true that you are Don Miguel�s grandson, then perhaps you should call his daughter to find out information.�

�Mama�s there?� he questioned, but he didn�t receive an answer because the person on the other end had already hung up the phone. If his mother were there with Luis, could he risk going to Spain to check out the situation? Of course it could be Miguel, but he doubted it. Luis would be the good son and escort mama to Spain, he was sure of it. He knew he shouldn�t resent his brother but he did. He was forced to leave home, while Luis stayed there and played hero, and he even ended up with the beautiful wife and kids. Some day they would meet again, and when they did all hell was going to break loose between them. Now, he just needed to decide if it would be now or later.

*******************

When Sheridan came downstairs, she found Paloma alone watching television. �Hey, where did JJ go?�

�He had to leave. They had some big family dinner tonight for his mother�s birthday,� Paloma told her.

�Oh, that�s too bad. I was going to ask him to have dinner with us tonight, but I do have to say that I�m surprised that he didn�t invite you to come along,� Sheridan said, smiling when she saw Paloma�s face get red.

�Actually he did, but I told him that I needed to stay here and help you with Luke and Lily,� Paloma said, sheepishly.

�Oh come on, you didn�t use that excuse again,� Sheridan said, getting frustrated. �Sweetie, you do not have to be here twenty-four hours a day.......... Look Paloma, I promise you that I�m not picking on you but I just don�t want to see you miss out on what could be a special friendship for you. I know that JJ is smitten with you, and I think you like him too.�

�Okay, I admit that I like him, but I don�t want to encourage a relationship with him,� Paloma said, stubbornly.

�But why not?� Sheridan asked, confused. �He�s a nice guy and he�s not bad in the looks department either. Not to mention the guy has a good future ahead of him.�

�I went through kind of a rebellious stage, and I�m not completely innocent, but I am still a virgin,� Paloma said, embarrassed. �I�m sure that JJ is used to being with girls that are.........., well you know? Besides, he�s probably going off to some prestigious college in the fall and I just don�t feel like being his summer fling. People have this habit of leaving me,� she said, immediately regretting her words.

�Paloma, that�s simply not true,� Sheridan said, sitting down beside her sister-in-law to put her arm around her.

�I�m sorry, I didn�t mean to say that,� Paloma said, laughing it off. �I guess I still have some of those old repressed feelings.�

�I know it�s not easy to get over that feeling of abandonment, but you have to know how much we all love you. Especially those two little sweet peas asleep upstairs.�

�I know that, and I love all of you too, and those little squirts upstairs are pretty special to me,� Paloma admitted with a smile.

�Good, but I really think that you should give JJ a chance. He just might end up surprising you, but I�m not going to force you to do something that you don�t feel comfortable with.�

�Thanks for understanding Sheridan. I would feel kind of funny being there with JJ�s family. Gwen is really sweet and Ethan will be there, but I�m not ready for his parents just yet.�

�Oh my God, Ethan,� Sheridan gasped, finally remembering that Jordan was planning on telling him about what she had discovered in Ivy�s room.

�What is it Sheridan?� Paloma asked, concerned when she saw the look on Sheridan�s face. �Is something wrong with Ethan?�

�He�s fine physically, but he has some things to get through right now. Would you mind watching the twins while I go and see Jordan?�

�Of course not,� Paloma agreed.

�Thank you,� Sheridan said, gratefully. �I�ll try not to be long, but the twins will probably wake up before I get back, so if you wouldn�t mind they like to have a little snack when they get up, and you�ll have to go upstairs and open the gate at the top of the steps. I always put it up when they�re sleeping in case they get up and start wandering around. We can�t risk them falling down the steps.�

�No problem, but are you sure you�re okay? Paloma worried.

�I�m fine really,� Sheridan assured her. �There is just a Crane family matter that I remembered I needed to attend to.�

�Look Sheridan, don�t you worry about us. You take all the time you need,� Paloma told her sensing that something big was going on.�

�Thanks Paloma, you�re the best, but are you sure you don�t want to go with JJ tonight, because I can always go to see Jordan later...........�

�Go,� Paloma said, pushing her out the door.

Sheridan approached the cottage and it looked like nobody was home, so she decided to knock on the door. After what seemed like forever, Jordan finally called out. �Who�s there?�

�It�s Sheridan,� she called back, worriedly. �Are you okay in there?�

�Sheridan, I�m so glad that it�s you,� she said, opening the door. �I was worried that it might be Noah.�

�Why don�t you want to see Noah��..?� she said, and then stopped when she saw Jordan�s face. �What happened to your face?�

�Mother wasn�t pleased when I gave her an ultimatum,� Jordan said with a sarcastic smile.

Sheridan looked at her niece with her bandaged arms and swollen face and her temper soared. �I don�t believe that bitch had the audacity to hit you. My God, what did she use, your face is already black and blue.�

�Mother is petite, but she hits like a man. I think she may have had a little fist in there too.�

�You should press changes against her for assault and battery,� Sheridan said, her voice shaking with anger. �Have you been keeping ice on it?�

�Yeah, twenty minutes on and twenty minutes off,� Jordan told her.

�I take it that you told Ivy everything?�

�Oh yeah, and as you can see by my face she was not at all happy. Especially when I told her that she was going to tell Ethan the truth or I would.�

�How did she explain herself?�

�She didn�t deny that she and Sam Bennett were lovers at one time, but she said that she only wrote that letter because she thought that Ethan was Chief Bennett�s son at first. She also said that she never mailed it because she found out later that Ethan was really daddy's son."

�How? Did she have blood tests done?� Sheridan said, hopefully.

�No, that�s just it. She said that a woman just knows these things, and she demanded that I forget all about the letter or that I would ruin Ethan�s life for nothing.�

�Do you believe her?� Sheridan asked skeptically.

�I want to Sheridan, but with mother�s track record I just can�t find it in my heart to do that.�

�So, I take it you�re going to go through with your plan to tell Ethan,� Sheridan said, knowingly.

�I already did,� Jordan said, shocking her aunt.

�He knows! Oh God, how is he taking it?�

�I didn�t mean to tell him the way that I did but he walked in right after mother hit me and it was obvious that something big was going on. I demanded that mother tell him the truth, but she wouldn�t so I told Ethan everything that I had discovered.�

�I suppose that Ivy just denied it that same way that she did with you,� Sheridan said, shaking her head.

�Of course she did, but Ethan was not buying any of it. He wants a DNA test run so that he can know for sure who his real father is.�

�You know honey, don�t look so upset,� Sheridan said, when she noticed the distressed look on Jordan�s face. �You did the right thing.�

�I�m not so sure that I did Sheridan,� she worried. �Who am I to make the decision on whether or not Ethan should be told that his whole life just might possibly be a lie. You should have seen the look on his face. I wanted to take back my words the second I said them.�

�I know that you feel responsible, but you�re not, and you did do the right thing,� Sheridan assured her. �I would have done the same thing if I were in your shoes. I do feel bad that Ethan is so devastated though.�

�That�s the scary thing about it Sheridan, he didn�t look devastated at all. Maybe it�s a result of shock, but the look on his face was so cold that I hardly recognized him for a minute. His reaction was almost a clinical anger���.., almost detached, if that makes any sense. I would feel a lot better if he would have gone ballistic, but he didn�t.�

�That doesn�t sound like Ethan at all, but then he has never had to face this reality before. Well, except when Ethan was disinherited and Evan was given the command of Crane Industries, but I really think that he truly believed Ivy then. He lost a lot today Jordan,� Sheridan said, wisely. �Not only his sense of who he is, but also the relationship with your mother. I don�t know if he will ever be able to get past this with her.�

�God Sheridan, what did we do to deserve this dysfunctional family from hell?� Jordan asked, wearily.

�We didn�t do anything, and believe me it took me a lot of years to come to that conclusion. It�s not our problem Jordan that our parents are the way they are.�

�How do you do it?�

�Excuse me?� Sheridan asked, confused.

�How are you able to live this wonderful happy life after all the hell you had to go through. You�ve had more baggage to deal with than most people would ever see in their lifetimes.�

�It wasn�t easy, but I had therapy and the love of a wonderful man that never stopped believing in me. But you know something, all of that was wonderful but the real healing came when I learned to accept things for what they were, and love myself in spite of it. You cannot blame yourself for the fact that your parents are incapable of loving you the way that you deserved to be loved. It is their problem and also their loss.�

�Thank God you at least had Grandmother Katherine for a while. Everybody says she was such a wonderful person. I wish I could have known her.�

�You would have loved her,� Sheridan said, smiling when she thought about her mother.

�I�m sure I would have,� Jordan agreed. �Of course anything has to be better than being mothered by Broom Hilda.�

Sheridan tried not to smile over Jordan�s reference to her mother. �So, where is Ethan right now?�

�I�m not sure, but I�m really worried about him Sheridan,� Jordan fretted.

�There�s a birthday celebration for Gwen�s mother tonight. Maybe he decided to go,� Sheridan said, hopefully.

�I don�t know. He didn�t look like he was in any mood to go partying tonight. I�m just afraid that he�s going to go over to the Bennett�s and break the news to them.�

�But Jordan, Sam does need to know the truth,� Sheridan reminded her.

�I know, but I feel like I�ve started something that�s going to destroy everybody�s lives. Maybe I should have just listened to mother and forgot what I saw.�

�Jordan we�ve been through this already, and I�m not going to let you beat yourself up about this. There is no way that you could live with this secret without going crazy, and you know in your heart that Ethan would never want you to keep the truth from him.�

�You�re right as usual. I almost had a nervous breakdown holding this all in during the wedding,� Jordan said, taking a sip of her tea. �Ouch.�

�What�s wrong?� Sheridan asked, inspecting Jordan�s cheek.

�I think my tooth cut the inside of my mouth when my mother hit me,� she said, rubbing her cheek.

�Maybe we should take you to the hospital and get that x-rayed,� Sheridan suggested.

�No, the hospital is the last place I want to go,� Jordan protested. �If Noah sees me like this he�ll go berserk, and he has enough on his plate right now. I�ll keep icing it down and I�m sure it will be fine in a couple of days.�

�Look, I don�t want you going around your mother for now,� Sheridan warned. �She�s desperate right now and I don�t trust her.�

�Surely you�re not implying that she would murder me,� Jordan joked.

�Of course not, but your mother could do something devious to you. Just remember she had lessons from the best.�

�Don�t worry Sheridan, I�ll protect Jordan from mother,� Ethan�s voice sounded from the doorway.

�Ethan, I didn�t hear you come in,� Sheridan said, surprised to see him.

�I guess you heard the whole sordid story,� Ethan said, bitterly.

�Yes, I know everything,� Sheridan said, moving toward him, tentatively.

�It�s hard to believe isn�t it?� Ethan said with a hollow laugh. �All these years we were so close. Hell, you were more like my sister, than my aunt, and now we find out that there�s a good possibility that we�re not related at all.�

�Ethan, no matter what we discover with the DNA test, you will always be my nephew, and I will always love you,� Sheridan said, hugging him close.

�Thank you Sheridan,� Ethan said, his voice filled with emotion.

�It�s not just me you know. Jordan and Gwen love you too, and we will all be here to help you through this.�

�That means so much to me Sheridan,� Ethan said, sincerely, turning to his sister. �Jordan, I meant what I said earlier. I�m not going to let mother hurt you any more.�

The stress of the day finally caught up to Jordan, and she started to cry. �I can�t believe you would say that after what I did to you. I�m surprised you don�t hate me.�

�Jordan, I could never hate you, and the reason I came over here was to make sure that you were okay, and to thank you.�

�Thank me?� Jordan said, wiping her tears away.

�Yes, thank you,� Ethan confirmed with a smile. �It took a lot of guts to stand up to mother the way you did. You fought for my right to the truth and I will never forget that.�

�Oh Ethan,� Jordan said, running into her brother�s arms. �You have no idea how glad I am to hear that.�

�Things are going to be rough for a while, but I have a feeling we�re all going to get though this, together,� Ethan said, pulling Sheridan into their family hug.

********************

Paloma was looking at a magazine and daydreaming about JJ when she heard little footsteps from above her. The little squirts must be awake and on the move, so she threw the magazine down on the coffee table and started out to collect the little imps.

�Mama, come get us,� Luke called out.

�Come mama, Banabelle fall down,� Lily whimpered.

�Your mommy had to go out for a little while, so you�re stuck with me,� Paloma said, making her way up the steps. �Now, what�s this problem with Annabelle?�

�Banabelle fall down and stuck her head,� Lily explained.

�Well, I think we better go rescue her,� Paloma said, taking Lily�s hand. �Come on Luke, I think we�re going to need your help.�

When Paloma arrived in Lily�s room she had to contain her laughter when she saw the fate of poor Annabelle. The doll had slipped between the mattress and headboard headfirst and all you could see were the legs sticking straight up in the air. �Banabelle�s in trouble,� Luke announced, making Paloma almost lose it.

�Poma, save Banabelle,� Lily pleaded.

�I think I can save her Lily,� Paloma assured her niece. It turned out to be a simple task since all she had to do was pull the mattress out a little. She grabbed the doll and delivered her to the excited little girl.

�Me so happy Poma,� Lily told her.

�Well, I�m glad that you�re happy. I think we need to have a snack after all of that hard work. What would you like to have?� she asked the twins.

�Peepee butter cackers,� Luke suggested.

�Does that sound good to you too Lily?�

�Yes, juice too,� Lily added.

Once they were downstairs, the twins tried to pull one over on their aunt. �Poma, you make snack, we watch Clues Clues,� Luke informed her.

�Oh, I don�t think so squirt,� Paloma said, shaking her head at the little stinker�s audacity. �You know that you�re still restricted from watching television.�

�But daddy be far, far away at daddy buelo�s,� Lily argued.

�Mama say we can,� Luke fibbed.

�That�s funny because your mommy told me just today that you still have a few more days left of your punishment and that you were not allowed to watch the T.V.� Paloma said, trying her best to hide her smile.

�Peas Poma,� Lily said, hugging her leg.

�I�m sorry Lily, but I can�t go against your mommy and daddy�s wishes, so we�re going to have to figure out something else to do.�

�Kay Poma,� Lily said, finally resigning herself to the inevitable with a pouty lip.

�Don�t look so sad,� she said, feeling like an ogre. �What else sounds like fun?�

�Painting,� Luke said, excitedly.

�Yeah, painting,� Lily echoed.

�You just had to give them a choice,� Paloma muttered under her breath. �I guess painting it is.�

********************

Luis and Pilar arrived at the hospital very early the next morning, and got the chance to speak to Don Miguel before they took him down for surgery. Father and daughter shared an emotional moment, and just as they were about to wheel the aristocrat out of the room, he asked to speak with Luis privately. �Abuelo, maybe this can wait until after you come out of surgery.�

�No Luis, I must talk to you now,� Don Miguel insisted.

�Can you give us a minute?� Luis asked the surgical assistant that was waiting to take Don Miguel to the operating room.

�Si, but only a minute?� he said, leaving the room.

�What did you want to talk with me about abuelo?� Luis asked, taking his grandfather�s hand.

�Antonio was here,� he told Luis.

�Here in this hospital?� Luis said, clearly upset about the news.

�No, no, he came to my home when I was in Harmony. Salvador will fill you in on the details, but he left me a message that he was in Greece. I was leaving for Athens to see him when I fell ill.�

�But how did Antonio even know about you?� Luis asked, shocked by the news.

�I do not know, but I wanted you do know where he is, just in case...............�

�Don�t say that abuelo. You are going to get through this. I have a gut feeling and my gut feelings are never wrong,� Luis smiled.

�I pray to God that I do Luis, but just in case something should happen, I need for you to make me a promise,� the old man pleaded.

�I will promise anything,� Luis swore.

�If I do not make it through this operation, I want you to promise me that you will make sure that the hacienda and all of my holdings remain with the family........... That they will always remain with the family...........�

�Of course abuelo, but please you can�t talk like this.�

�One must always be prepared Luis, and I need to know that when they put me under that you will carry out my wishes. Everything that I have worked for is your legacy and you must guard it for the rest of the family and for your children.�

�Don�t worry abuelo, you have my word,� Luis assured him. �Some day Luke and Lily will be bringing their children here, and they�ll tell them all about the stories of their great-great-grandfather............�

�We must go now Senor,� the surgical assistant said, entering the room.

�Okay, we�ll see you later,� Luis said, kissing his grandfather�s forehead.

�You make me so proud Luis,� Don Miguel said, as they wheeled him out of the door.

Pilar kissed her father before they took him down the hall and through the double doors. There was something so final about the way he disappeared behind those green doors, and she grabbed Luis for support. �Oh mijo, what if I never see papa alive again.�

�Ever since I was a little boy you have always told us to have faith, and that God never gives us more than we can handle,� Luis reminded her. �It�s time that you took your own advice mama.�

�You are right mijo,� she agreed. �I must have faith.�

�Why don�t you go and sit in the waiting room and I�ll get us some coffee. I have a feeling it�s going to be a long day.� As Luis was walking down the hall, he saw that one of the nurses was getting off duty, and he smiled in greeting since he recoginized her from the day before.

�Senor Lopez-Fitzgerald, can I speak with you for a moment?� she asked.

�Is there word on my grandfather already?� Luis asked, confused.

�No Senor, I wanted to tell you about a strange phone call I received last night. This man called and said that he was Don Miguel�s grandson.�

�What did he want?� Luis asked, getting a strong feeling that it was Antonio.

�He was inquiring about Don Miguel�s condition, but I told him nothing because I thought it strange that he would not call you or your mother for this information. I feared that he was from the press.�

�Gracias, you did the right thing,� Luis assured her. �Would you do me a favor though and not tell my mother about the call?�

�Si Senor,� she said, hurrying down the hall.

Luis decided that he was going to have a talk with Salvador to find out what his brother was up too. He didn�t like keeping this from his mother, but he also didn�t want to upset her right now when she was so worried about her father.

Hours later they were still waiting, and Pilar was becoming extremely worried. �Why haven�t we heard anything mijo? It has been hours.�

�I know mama, but the doctor said that the by-pass proceedure took a long time,� he said, trying to re-assure his mother. He wasn�t about to admit to her that he was starting to become concerned too.

�Still, I am going to ask the nurse if she has heard something,� Pilar told him, starting to rise, but she stopped when the doctor entered the room, and they were both relieved to see that he was smiling.

�The surgery went very smoothly and I expect Don Miguel to make a full recovery,� he announced.

�Thank God,� Pilar said, tears filling her eyes.

�That is good news doctor,� Luis said, smiling with relief. �When can we see him?�

�He will be in recovery for a while, but somebody will come to get you once he is moved to his room. I would suggest that you both go and eat a nice meal and relax.�

�Gracias doctor, gracias,� Pilar said, joy written all over her face.

�You know mama, I think we should take the doctor�s advice and get something to eat,� Luis suggested. �Suddenly, I feel so hungry I could eat a horse.�

Chapter 42

Two days after his surgery, Don Miguel was beginning to act like his old self again. His color was back and he was even getting up for short walks. To everyone�s surprise his doctor said that there was a very strong chance that he would be going home by the end of the week. Maria and Vincente were due to arrive the next day so Pilar and Luis decided to leave the day after. There was one thing however that Luis intended to do before he boarded the plane, and that was to contact Antonio and issue his brother a warning. When Salvador had filled him in on the details of his brother�s visit, Luis has become livid. How dare Antonio come here with his arrogance and treat their grandfather�s beloved staff that way, not to mention issuing demands, especially after his track record. With the information that Salvador had provided for him and some files he found in Don Miguel�s study, he was able to get the phone number to the place where his brother was staying. His mother had turned in for the evening, so he decided that now was as good as time as any. He dialed the number with shaky hands and hoped that his brother would answer since he didn�t know any Greek. Lucky for him a familiar male voice picked up. �Antonio,� was all he managed to get out.

�Luis, is that you?� Antonio asked, astounded to hear his brother�s voice.

�Yeah, it�s amazing that we even recognize each other�s voices after all of these years,� Luis said, trying to control his temper.

�How did you get this number?� Antonio demanded.

�It wasn�t difficult since you left such a strong calling card when you were in Spain the last time.�

�Why are you calling here Luis?�

�What, no warm greeting for your brother?� Luis asked, sarcastically.

�Since I know you�re not calling to re-connect let�s not bother with the brotherly love. Why don�t you just get to the point Luis?�

�As you probably already know, mama and I are here in Spain to see abuelo through his surgery............. Oh, and by the way he�s doing great just in case you might give a damn.............�

�I see you haven�t changed a bit. You�re still judgmental, but considering that I just found out recently that our grandfather is alive, I think you can cut me some slack on this one.�

�We all just found out about abuelo not all that long ago. Mama had her reasons for keeping the truth from us for all of those years, but that is beside the point right now. I want to know what the hell you�re up to?�

�I�m not up to anything, but it�s so like you to accuse me of something,� Antonio said through clenched teeth.

�Save the indignation brother because I know all the sordid details of your past, so you�ll have to understand why I would think the worst of you. I know all about your little visit here and also about the way you treated abuelo�s staff. What happened, did you find out that you had a well-connected grandfather so you decided he would be your next easy mark?� he asked, his voice dripping with rage.

�Well, excuse me for wanting to meet the grandfather that I never knew existed. My God, I was shocked when I found out about his existence, and I just wanted to get to know him. Why does there always have to be some hidden agenda with you where I�m concerned?�

�Because Antonio, I only have the past to judge you by. How do you expect me to believe that you want to get all warm and fuzzy with abuelo when you�ve ignored your own family for all of these years? You don�t give a damn about us, but then, we�re not rich aristocrats are we?�

�Oh, so that�s the real issue here isn�t it? This isn�t about abuelo at all. You�re still so pissed off at me for leaving the way I did. Well, let me explain something to you little brother. Things are not always black and white the way that you want to believe, and I didn�t leave because I didn�t want the responsibility of the family. I was forced to leave,� Antonio said angrily, regretting the words as soon as he said them. He had no intention of revealing even that much to his brother.

�You know something Antonio, I was a cop and it has been my experience that nobody can force you do anything unless they have something on you, so don�t expect me to throw you a pity party. I really don�t give a damn why you left any longer, but it�s your behavior after you left that makes me sick to my stomach. All those years you were gone, and not once did you think to call mama to let her know you were alive and well. Hell, you could have even sent a post card, but you choose to let her think the worst when she was already devastated about papa disappearing. You knew she was in agony about papa and you just added to that, and there is no excuse for that.�

�Look, I didn�t mean to hurt mama, but I just thought that the family was better off without me..............�

�That�s crap and you know it! That�s just another convenient excuse because we both know that the family was not better without out you......... On second thought, maybe we were, because we did survive even through the bad times, and we were even able to bring papa home again. Did you even know that Antonio?�

�Of course I knew,� Antonio said, starting to loose his patience. �I have kept tabs on the family Luis, and I do love you all in spite of what you want to believe.�

�Well, remind me to give you a medal,� Luis said in voice dripping with sarcasm.

�God, you always were a sanctimonious jerk,� Antonio spat out, furiously. �I think that deep down inside you�re glad that I left so that you could play the hero. It feeds your ego to play the good son that saved the day............�

�You bastard! Luis choked out incredulously. �What did you expect me to do? Run off and pull con jobs, living high off the hog while the family starved in the gutter? It has nothing to do with an ego trip and everything to do with responsibility. Of course you don�t know the meaning of the word. I just thank God that mama and papa don�t know what you�ve become.�

�Oh, now I am shocked,� Antonio said with a sardonic tone to his voice. �I would have thought it would give you pleasure to tell mama and papa about my past to make yourself look better.�

�You should feel damn lucky we�re not having this conversation in person or you would be lying on your back with my fist down your throat,� Luis shouted, finally losing any composure he was holding on to.

�Look Luis, I�m growing bored with this conversation, so why don�t you just tell me why you called me?� Antonio said with an arrogant tone.

Luis refused to take the bait and again gained some semblance of control. �I refuse to let you take advantage of our grandfather, so don�t even think about coming here to pull one of your scams to get money from him.�

�I see, so you don�t think that I deserve my equal share in the family fortune?�

�Personally, I don�t think you deserve squat, but if abuelo decides to leave you something in his will that�s his decision. Don�t think that for one minute that I�ll going to stand by and watch you scam him, because I will come after you. Do I make myself clear Antonio?�

�Perfectly.........�

�Good, I�m glad we understand each other,� Luis said, satisfied.

�Yeah, I understand,� Antonio acknowledged. �Oh and Luis............ Go to hell.�

Luis didn�t get the chance to respond because his brother had hung up on him and the only sound he heard was the dial tone buzzing in his ear. He felt worn and shaken from the whole encounter, and it almost seemed surreal that after all of these years the first words he shared with his brother were spoken with so much anger. A part of him was sad, but the resentment and sense of abandonment was even stronger and it had been building for a long time. �So, why don�t I feel better?� Luis sighed out loud. Suddenly, the shrill ringing of the phone brought him out of his musing. He hoped it wasn�t Antonio, because he just wasn�t in the mood for anymore battles tonight. �Hola,� he said in Spanish.

�Hi daddy,� a sweet voice greeted him.

Suddenly his whole world lit up when he heard his little girl�s voice. �Gee, I wonder who this could be,� he teased.

�Daddy,� she giggled. �It be me, Peanut.�

�I knew that it was you Peanut, and daddy is so happy to hear your voice, but where�s mommy?�

�Mama and Lukie be right here daddy,� Lily informed him.

�Daddy sure wishes he was there with all of you,� Luis said, suddenly feeling so lost without his family.

�Me miss you daddy,� Lily whimpered. �Me might has to cry.�

�Oh don�t do that Peanut, or daddy will be so sad,� Luis said, feeling his eyes starting to water. �Why don�t you put your brother on, and Peaunt, I love you.�

�Me wuv you too daddy............. Here Lukie. Daddy talk to you now,� Lily said, handing her brother the phone.

�Hey Sport, how�s my big guy?�

�Me been so good daddy,� Luke told him proudly.

�Daddy is so happy to hear that because you�re the man around the house while I�m away. I�m counting on you to take good care of mommy, and Lily and even Aunt Paloma.�

�Oh, Poma be with that boy,� Luke said in a low voice, like he was revealing some big secret to his father.

�There�s a boy with Paloma?� Luis asked, confused. �What�s his name?�

�Mama, who that boy be with Poma?� Luke asked Sheridan.

Sheridan had put the speakerphone on by that time, so Luis could hear her answer. �Sweetie, his name is JJ. Don�t you remember when he went swimming with us the other day?�

�Me member now,� Luke said, grinning. �JJ be fun.�

�JJ say me be pretty like mama,� Lily told her father.

�It sounds like JJ is a smart guy, because you are pretty,� Luis laughed.

�And mama too,� Lily insisted.

�Definitely mama,� Luis agreed. �Did I ever tell you that the first time I ever saw mommy she yelled at me.............�

�Luis, you might want to stop right there,� Sheridan warned.

�You didn�t let me finish. What I was going to say is that mommy yelled at me, but she was so beautiful that I didn�t even notice she was being all sassy with me.�

�Did I tell you that you have to go to time out when you get home?� Sheridan said, trying to hide her smile from the children, but letting go when they both started to giggle.

�Daddy you come home today?� Luke asked hopefully.

�Not today Sport, but guess what? Daddy and abuela are coming home tomorrow, and when I get there we are going to have a nice family party.�

�Yey,� Luke said, clapping his hands excitedly. �Daddy come morrow, mama.�

�I heard Luke,� Sheridan said, happily. �Oh Luis, are you sure that Don Miguel is well enough for you to leave so soon?�

�I swear he�s doing great,� Luis assured her. �In fact, the doctor said that he could probably come home by the end of the week. Tia Maria should be getting here first thing in the morning to take over and we leave tomorrow night.�

�That is wonderful news all away around, and I am so relieved that Don Miguel is doing so well,� Sheridan told him, feeling on top of the world. �We all miss you so much.�

�You can�t possibly miss me as much as I miss all of you. Especially after what just happened to me,� Luis said, suddenly remembering the conversation with his brother.

�Why, what happened?� Sheridan inquired, suddenly concerned.

�I can�t really get into the details, but I just had a long and rather heated exchange with my brother,� Luis told her.

�Antonio?� Sheridan asked, shocked. �But how..........?�

�It�s complicated, and I promise to give you all of the details when I get home, but I will tell you this. It was not pretty,� Luis sighed.

�Oh great, now I�m going to be thinking about this all night,� Sheridan complained.

�The only thing I want you to think about is being in my arms soon,� Luis told her in a voice that sent shivers down her spine.

�Believe me, that�s been on my mind from the second you left,� Sheridan assured him.

�Oh well, I should probably go. I thought I would take a swim before I hit the bed. Maybe it will help to work off some of this aggression.�

�Okay, I guess we�ll let you go,� Sheridan sighed, hating to break the connection with him.

�You have no idea how happy I am that you called. Talking to all of you was just what I needed tonight,� Luis told her.

�Well we�re glad that we could brighten your day. Okay Luke and Lily, tell daddy bye now.�

�Bye bye daddy,� they said, waving like he could actually see them.

�Goodbye,� he said with a hint of regret in his voice. �I love you all and I�ll see you soon.�

�We love you too,� Sheridan told him.

�Daddy bring me pressie?� Lily asked, hopefully.

�You know Peanut; it�s times like this where I really see the Crane side of the family in you,� Luis said, laughing.

�Your time out just got extended,� Sheridan informed him.

********************

Evan and Kay were due to arrive home this evening from their honeymoon, so Grace decided to welcome them home with a family dinner. There were still wedding gifts to open so she decided to make one of her favorite Tomato Soup cakes to have with coffee during the festivities. The newlyweds� flight was late getting in so they came just as dinner was ready. They were both tan, fit and deliriously happy.

�The two of you look like movie stars,� Grace said, giving them both a hug.

�How was the trip?� Sam asked, giving his daughter a kiss on the cheek, and then turned to shake Evan�s hand.

�We had the most wonderful time,� Kay said with stars in her eyes. �We could have stayed there forever��. Of course we would miss all of you,� she amended.

�So what did you guys do on your trip?� Jessica asked, sheepishly.

�We did a lot of body surfing,� Evan said, innocently. �You wouldn�t believe the giant waves out there.�

�Yeah, I bet you did do a lot of body surfing,� Noah laughed.

�I meant the kind in the water,� Evan said, red-faced.

�Okay, I think we should change the subject now,� Grace suggested.

�So Kay, do you feel different now that you�re a married lady?� Charity asked.

�Actually I do,� she said, smiling at Evan. �I�ve never been this happy before.�

�You�re so sweet,� he said, kissing her on the cheek.

�I can see you�re both still at that vomit inducing stage,� Noah teased.

�I wouldn�t be so quick to point the finger at us big brother. If I�m not mistaken, you�re pretty head-over-heels for Jordan Crane,� Kay reminded him.

�Now, I�m going to suggest that we change the subject,� Noah said, shooting Kay a threatening look.

�Oh, he can dish it out, but he can�t take it,� Kay laughed.

�I think we should all sit down to dinner before it gets cold,� Grace said, rounding up the family.

They had just finished their meal and were getting ready to move into the living room to open wedding gifts when they heard the doorbell ring. �I�ll get it,� Sam offered. He was surprised to see Ethan standing on the other side. �Ethan, this is a surprise. What can I do for you?�

�I�m sorry to just drop by without calling, but I really need to speak to you,� Ethan said, nervously.

�Well Ethan, if this is police business, you can go to the station����

�No Chief Bennett, it�s not police business. In fact it�s a private matter. I really need to speak to you.�

�Who�s here Sam?� Grace said, stepping up beside her husband. �Oh Ethan, how nice to see you. You�re just in time for coffee and cake. Evan and Kay just got home from their honeymoon.�

�No thank you Grace,� Ethan said, graciously. �Maybe it would be better if I came back since you�re in the middle of a family celebration?�

�You really should join us Ethan since you are Evan�s uncle, so you�re like part of the family,� Grace insisted.

Sam sensed that there was something really bothering Ethan, and felt that if must be important for him to come over here. �Ethan, you said this was private. We could go to the kitchen to talk��..�

�No really Chief Bennet���..�

�Dear God, I�m too late,� Ivy said, coming up to the porch breathing raggedly as she barged through the still open door.

�Mother, what are you doing here?� Ethan demanded.

�I�m here to stop you from making the biggest mistake of your life. Sam, Ethan just doesn�t understand. I tried to tell him that����

�Mother, please stop,� Ethan ordered. �I haven�t had a chance to speak with Chief Bennett yet. Come on,� he said, grabbing his mother�s arm. �We�re intruding mother. Let�s get out of here.�

�No, wait a minute,� Sam stopped them. �Something is going on here and I want to hear what it is.�

�Maybe you should take Ivy and Ethan to the kitchen for some privacy,� Grace suggested.

�That�s sounds like a good idea Grace, but I want you there too,� Sam said, sensing this had something to do with his past relationship with Ivy, and he didn�t want Grace to feel left out. Ethan must have found out about it and felt the need to confront him.

�I really don�t think that Grace should be there Sam,� Ivy protested. �This is highly sensitive.�

�Does this have something to do with you and me Ivy?� Sam asked.

�Why yes, but����

�Then Grace should be there too,� Sam informed Ivy in voice that left no room for argument.

�I�m afraid we�re going to have to put off the gift opening for a little longer,� Sam said, making his excuses to the rest of the family. �Hopefully, this won�t take too long.�

�What is going on?� Kay asked, after her father left the room.

�I have no idea, but it sure is strange,� Jessica commented. �Why would Ethan Crane come over her to talk to dad?�

�What�s even stranger to me is why is Ivy tagging along with him,� Evan said, curious about the whole exchange he had just witnessed.

�I�m getting a really bad feeling about all of this,� Charity said, shivering. �Whatever is going on in there it is going to change all of our lives.�

As usual, Kay ignored her cousin�s premonition. �You�re dating Jordan; do you have any idea what this is about Noah?� she asked her brother.

�I don�t really know,� Noah lied. He didn�t like being untruthful, but this was just too big to reveal everything before his parent�s knew the truth. There was no doubt in his mind that Ethan was going to spill the beans about the whole paternity thing, and he was dreading the backlash that was sure to come. Seeing Ivy had made his blood boil when he thought about what she had done to Jordan. When he had gone over to the cottage that night and saw the terrible brushing on her face, he had wanted to personally go up to the main house and strangle the woman. The bitch was viscous and he would never understand how she could continuously abuse her daughter. Of all people for his father to have been involved with, and to possibly share a child together with, Ivy Crane was the worst possible woman imaginable. How he wished that Julian was really Ethan�s father so they could get Ivy Crane out of their lives. He hated to think what this news was going to do to his family, especially his mother, but there was one thing he was sure about. His cousin Charity was right on with her prediction.

�Okay, I want somebody to tell me what�s gong on here?� Sam demanded, crossing his arms in front of his chest in a no nonsense manner.

�Look Chief Bennett, I think this can wait until another time,� Ethan said, not wanting to spoil Kay and Evan�s homecoming with such shocking revelations.

�I couldn�t agree more,� Ivy said, making a face as she looked around Grace�s kitchen.

�You know Ivy, maybe Ethan would feel more comfortable to speak if you would just leave,� Grace suggested, wanting to smack the witch.

�Ethan is my son Grace, and how dare you imply that he would feel uncomfortable around me,� Ivy snorted.

�Look, I want everybody to just calm down,� Sam commanded. �Now, tell me what is this private matter you wanted to talk to be about Ethan?�

�I don�t know how to sugar coat this so I�ll just come out with it,� Ethan said, feeling the perspiration break out on his forehead. �My sister, Jordan found a letter written by my mother and addressed to you that said you were my father.�

�Oh God,� Grace said, stiffening with dread.

�No,� Sam denied. �I�m sorry Ethan, but that�s impossible. If your mother wrote that letter than she�s lying.�

�I was not lying Sam,� Ivy protested. �At least I thought it was the truth when I wrote the letter, but I found out later that Julian was Ethan�s father so that�s why I never mailed it,� she lied.

�If what Ivy says is true, then why are you telling me this Ethan?� Sam asked impatiently.

�Because don�t you find it odd that my mother would hang onto that letter for all of these years? And, coupled with the fact that my grandfather disowned me because he believed I wasn�t a true Crane has me questioning what my mother is saying.�

�We shouldn�t even be discussing this,� Ivy said, angrily. �I�m telling the truth.�

�My God, I don�t believe this is happening,� Sam said, running his hand through his hair. �Even if you believed that Ethan was my son for one minute, you should have told me Ivy.�

�Why dredge up something that would only upset everybody?� Ivy said, defending herself.

�You know that you will never rest until you know for sure Sam,� Grace advised, wisely. �Have Eve do a DNA test and then we can put this to rest. Now, if you�ll excuse me, I need some air,� she said, going through the back door.

�Sam, I can assure you that a DNA test is not necessary,� Ivy pleaded, as a last ditch effort.

�Mother, this is not up to you,� Ethan said, trying to silence her.

�Grace is right,� Sam said with a weary look in his eyes. �We have to get the DNA test so we�ll know for sure.�

�Thank you Chief Bennett,� Ethan said, gratefully. �That�s what I wanted all along.�

�Ethan,� Sam said, putting a hand on his shoulder. �This has been a shock for me, and I need to give it some time to sink in, but if you are my son you�ll be welcomed into this family with open arms.�

�I appreciate that Chief Bennett, but I can�t even think about that now,� Ethan told him, solemnly.

As Ivy witnessed the emotional exchange between Sam and Ethan, she wanted to shout it out that they really were father and son, but she couldn�t take that chance. If Julian got wind of this he would divorce her and she would lose everything. She refused to let that happen, and she also refused to let Ethan lose the Crane fortune. She was concerned about the DNA test, but since Eve would be in charge, she felt sure that all the information she had on the good doctor would ensure that the test would come out in her favor. �Have the test if you must,� she told them. �But you are going to find out that I am telling the truth.�

�We�ll see Ivy,� Sam said, giving a look of disgust. �I need to check on Grace. I�m sure that this has been a huge shock for her.� When he went out in the back yard, he found his wife sitting on the picnic table staring up at the stars. �Grace, I�m so sorry about this, but I swear to you that I had no idea that Ethan could be my son.�

�I believe you Sam, but the fact remains that he could be, and it will change everything that I ever believed in,� Grace said, sadly.

�Look Grace, Ivy said that I�m not Ethan�s father, and she feels pretty confident about it. If she didn�t she wouldn�t agree to the DNA test,� Sam reasoned, hoping silently that he was right.

�You know what really bothers me about this Sam, is that I was under the impression that you and Ivy�s relationship was over long before she married Julian.�

�It was Grace, but there was just one time that Ivy came to me, and she was so upset...........�

�You know Sam; I don�t really want to talk about this right now. Our daughter just got back from her honeymoon and I am not going to ruin her homecoming with the facts of your sordid past,� Grace said, adamantly.

�Grace, we have to tell the kids something. They�re going to wonder why Ethan and Ivy was here tonight,� Sam reminded her.

�I don�t care Sam,� Grace said, slipping off the table. �We are going to go in there now and watch our daughter and son-in-law open the rest of their gifts, and I am not going to discuss this any more tonight.�

�You can�t just keep this inside,� Sam pleaded. �We have to talk about this.�

�Not now Sam,� Grace said, angrily. �Now, are you coming? The coffee should be ready now.�

********************

As Luis drove down the tree lined lane leading to his home, he cold hardly contain his excitement. He had already dropped Pilar off, and came directly here, anticipating the reunion he would share with his family. He also had a surprise, but hoped that he had done the right thing by keeping this a secret from Sheridan. Springing an unexpected houseguest on a pregnant woman with two rambunctious toddlers may have not been the wisest move on his part. But then, Sheridan was a pretty exceptional warm person, so he had to believe that everything would be all right. �There�s our house up ahead,� Luis told his passenger.

�Amazing,� was the only response.

�I think you must have used that word a hundred times since we got off the plane,� Luis laughed.

�I am so sorry. I did not mean to get on your nerves���

�You aren�t getting on my nerves at all,� Luis assured him. �I�m just happy that you are having a good time so far.�

�Oh si, the best time of my life.�

Luis saw her walk through the front door and he was blown away by the effect she had on him with just the sight of her. Beside her were the little munchkins making him laugh out loud with the joy of their existence. When he came to a stop right in front of the house, they all ran to the car to greet him. Luis knew that his family was still unaware of his passenger because of the tinted windows of the SUV. �Stay right here so that I can announce you,� Luis told his guest as he hopped out of the car to scoop his children in an embrace. �Daddy is so happy to see you,� he gushed, placing kisses all over their sweet faces. He then stood up to focus on the love of his life. �You sure are a sight for sore eyes,� he said, beckoning her with his arms spread apart.

�Welcome home Luis,� she returned, running right into the retreat of his open embrace.

�God, I have fantasized about this moment since I left,� he whispered, kissing her forehead.

�Daddy, daddy, spin me around,� Lily shouted.

�Can you wait for just a few minutes Peanut? Daddy has a surprise visitor, and I don�t want him to boil up in the hot car.�

�A surprise visitor?� Sheridan asked, thoughtfully. �Who could it be?�

Luis stepped over to the car and opened the passenger side door. To say that Sheridan was shocked was an understatement. �I can�t believe this. Is that really you Dario?�

�Si, Senora Sheridan, it is me,� he said with a happy grin. �I am in America.�

�This is a wonderful surprise, but how did you ever manage this Luis?� she questioned, still trying to recover.

�Well, when you told me that Dario�s adoptive parents were flying over to Spain to pick him up in a couple of weeks, I started thinking about that on the flight over. It just seemed like it would save them a lot of expense if I just brought Dario back with me since I was in Spain anyway. Padre Mario drove him to Valencia the morning we were suppose to leave and here we are. I called Father Anthony while I was there and he arranged the whole thing. Besides, this way he can visit with us for a few weeks, and then we can take him to Boston to meet his new family.�

�I hope that this is not a problem for you Senora Sheridan?� Dario asked, worriedly.

�Of course it�s not a problem. I can�t tell you how happy I am to see you Dario,� Sheridan said, giving the boy a welcoming hug. �I want you to make yourself at home while you�re here.�

�Gracias Senora Sheridan,� Dario said, smiling with relief.

�You have to do me a favor though,� Sheridan requested.

�Anything Senora Sheridan.�

�Please call me Sheridan. We�re not very formal here at Casa Lopez-Fitzgerald,� she chuckled.

�Daddy, who be this boy?� Luke asked, staring at Dario with a puzzled look.

�He be our new brother Lukie,� Lily informed him.

�No Lily, he is not your brother,� Luis laughed.

�Luke and Lily, come here and meet Dario,� Sheridan said, motioning to the children.

�Dario�s going to be staying with us for a couple of weeks,� Luis explained.

�Hi Daro,� the twins greeted him sweetly.

�Where did you get him daddy?� Lily asked, curiously.

�Well Peanut, Dario lived in Spain where daddy buelo lives, and he is here because he is going to live here now.�

�Daro, come play with me,� Luke said, taking the older boy�s hand.

�Sweetie, Dario has just had a very long plane ride and I�m sure he would like to rest for a while,� Sheridan told her little boy.

�No Senora��, I mean Sheridan,� Dario protested. �I would very much like to play with Luke. I am too excited to rest right now.�

�Okay, if you insist, but please don�t feel bad about telling him that you need to stop because you are tired,� Sheridan told him.

�We play ball,� Luke said, running to retrieve his toy by the side of the house.

�Me play too,� Lily chimed in, not wanting to be left out of the fun.

�Sheridan, are you sure this is okay?� Luis asked, with pleading eyes. �I�m really sorry to just dump this on you without warning. If it�s too much for you he can stay with mama. She and Dario really bonded on the trip over here, and she already invited him to stay.�

�Luis, it�s fine, really,� she assured him. �I think it was a wonderful idea that you had to bring Dario home with you, and seeing how happy he is right now makes it all worth it.�

Just then Paloma came out of the front door to greet her brother with a big hug. �It�s good to have you home Luis.�

�It�s good to be home sis, but where have you been?�

�I thought I would give you a few minutes alone with your family before I came out here. Where are the little squirts?�

�Out there playing ball,� Luis said, pointing in the direction of the children.

If Paloma was surprised to see a strange boy in the yard playing with the twins, her face didn�t show it. �Gee Luis, how nice of you to bring the little squirts a real live toy to play with,� she said with the driest of tones. �You really do need to quit spoiling them so much.�

Chapter 43

The group on the porch couldn�t help but laugh out loud over Paloma�s comment about Dario. �For your information little sister, that�s Dario, the boy that Sheridan and I met when we were in Spain,� Luis explained, still chuckling.

�Of course I knew that, because I just got off the phone with mama and she told me all about you bringing him back with you. She really seems quite taken by him, but Luis why is the poor kid dressed in clothes that look like he�s going to a disco?�

�Aren�t you a little young to even know about discos?� Luis laughed.

�For your information, I watched Saturday Night Fever just the other day, and I could swear that the shirt that Dario has on is a dead ringer to the one that John Travolta wore in the scene when he�s walking down the street, holding the paint can.�

�Dario was raised most of his life in the orphanage, and the money is very tight, so I�m sure they have to depend on donations of clothing for the children,� Sheridan told her, suddenly feeling depressed when she thought about the poor children at the monastery.

Watching Dario made Paloma feel guilty that she had ever complained about growing up without the family around. At least she had lived in a beautiful house surrounded by nice things and an aunt that loved her. �We have to do something about this Sheridan. We can�t let Dario go to meet his new family looking like a reject from the seventies.�

�You�re absolutely right Paloma. I�ll take Dario shopping tomorrow and get his some new clothes,� Sheridan told her.

�A, no offense Sheridan, because I think you are pure class, but do you really know what a twelve-year-old kid would wear?�

�Well, I do have a little boy, and Luis� clothes always look great, so I�m not completely out of the loop,� Sheridan said in her defense, even thought she couldn�t help but smile at her sister-in-law�s refreshing directness.

�If you really think about it Sheridan, Luke still wears shirts with animals on them and Luis looks like he just stepped out of GQ magazine. I really don�t think either one is quite the look we�re going for,� Paloma reasoned.

�Okay, we see your point Paloma, so who do you think should take Dario shopping?� Luis asked his sister with a raised brow.

�Well, me of course, and I�ll take JJ with me,� Paloma said amazed that Luis even needed to ask.

�You sure are getting chummy with JJ all of a sudden. What�s the story here sis?� Luis asked that drilling fatherly tone.

�If it�s any of your business, JJ and I are just friends,� Paloma informed him. �Really Luis, I get enough of the third degree from papa, so I really don�t need it from you too.�

�Okay, I�ll back off, but I can�t help but want what�s best for you, and I�m always going to feel protective of you because that�s what big brothers do.�

�You�re the best Luis� Paloma said, hugging her brother. �Now, can I have your credit card?�

�Excuse me?� Luis said, backing away from his sister to stare at her in confusion.

�I need some way to pay for Dario�s clothes. My allowance is just not going to get it,� Paloma explained.

�She has a point Luis,� Sheridan laughed.

�All right, but that doesn�t mean that you can buy yourself a whole new wardrobe too,� Luis said, hesitantly giving her the card. �Oh, I guess you can buy yourself one outfit since your were good enough to stay with my family while I was gone.�

�It�s okay Luis, I don�t need anything,� Paloma informed him.

�My ball Lukie,� Lily shouted.

�Give it back Leelee,� Luke countered.

When they looked out to the yard to where the children were playing, there was Luke and Lily wrestling around for the ball, and poor Dario was standing there completely at a loss as to what to do about the little scamps. �Looks like I better break this up,� Luis said, moving toward them.

�Oh great,� Sheridan said, rolling her eyes. �Nice first impression my children are giving to our houseguest.�

�Hey, hey,� Luis said, clapping his hands. �Break it up!�

Both twins stopped and looked at their father. �Daddy, Lukie be mean,� Lily said, running toward Luis to take his hand.

Luis wasn�t buying her attempt to get into his good graces, since he knew his daughter gave as good as she got. �Sorry Peanut, but you looked like you were just as guilty as Luke.�

�Leelee has to get all tention,� Luke complained.

�Okay, I want both of you to come here and listen to me,� Luis commanded. �You really should learn to get along because you�re brother and sister and you love each other. You�re also making Dario feel uncomfortable and he just got here. Now, I want you to tell each other that you�re sorry, and then you need to tell Dario that you�re sorry too.�

�Me tell Daro sorry, but Lukie be a pain to me,� Lily said, sticking her little chin up in the air.

�No daddy, Leelee be a pain,� Luke protested.

�Where do they hear this stuff Sheridan?� Luis said, throwing up his arms with exasperation.

�I�ll handle it Luis,� Sheridan told him in a low voice. �You shouldn�t have to be the bad guy five minutes after you get home. Luke, Lily come with mommy.�

�But mama, we has to play ball,� Luke told her, confused.

�I think your game is over because we have to go into the house and have a time out. You are going to sit in one corner and Lily will sit in the opposite corner. You are not showing respect to anybody here and that kind of behavior is not acceptable.�

�No mama,� Lily said, starting to cry. �Me not go to time out. Lukie be bad.�

�Don�t make it worse Lily,� Sheridan said, grabbing her daughter�s hand. �I just want you to sit in time out for a while and think about what daddy told you. Come on Luke, you come with mommy too.�

�Sorry about that Dario,� Luis told the boy after Sheridan had left with the twins. �The children get a little excited when there is a new visitor around.�

�That is okay Senor Luis. I am used to small children,� Dario smiled. �I think perhaps they are trying to show off for their papa.�

�I think they are trying to show off for you,� Luis said, laughing. �Come on, I want you to meet my sister.�

�Your sister looks so much like Senora Pilar,� Dario said, staring at Paloma, who was sitting on the porch step.

�You know you�re right,� Luis agreed. �I never noticed it before but she does favor mama.�

�Okay Luis, quit talking about me like I�m not even here,� Paloma teased. �Dario, it is so nice to meet you. My name is Paloma, the youngest member of the Lopez-Fitzgerald family.�

�Hello Paloma,� Dario said, instantly warming to the friendly beauty. �I am very pleased to meet you too. Your mama talked about you on the plane ride here. She also talked about Miguel and Theresa too.�

�I hope that mama didn�t bore you,� Paloma laughed.

�Not at all,� Dario assured her. �I loved hearing all about your family.�

�You know Dario, you are a really nice and polite guy which is a very good trait, but I think you need to let me teach you how to loosen up a little bit. You already have the looks going for you, and I would bet that in a couple of years you�re going to have to beat the girls off with a stick,� Paloma told him.

�Oh no Senorita Paloma, I would never beat a girl with a stick,� Dario said, appalled.

�I didn�t mean that literally Dario. It�s just an expression and what I was really trying to say is that you are going to have lots of girls that will be interested in you,� Paloma explained. �Does that make sense?�

�I think so Senorita Paloma,� Dario said, still looking confused.

�Wow, you�re so innocent,� Paloma said, amazed. �Will you do me a favor though? Call me Paloma. That whole senorita thing makes me feel old.�

�Si Paloma,� Dario said, grinning.

�Why don�t we get the bags out of the car and I�ll show where you�re going to sleep,� Luis suggested. �That way you can get settled before dinner.�

When they went into the house both twins were sitting in their respective corners on their little wooden chairs being as quiet as church mice. The only sound in the room was the ticking noise of the timer counting down the minutes left on time out. Sheridan came out of the kitchen and offered to show Dario his room, but before he left, Paloma presented the offer to take him shopping the next day. �Come on Dario, we�ll have fun,� she urged.

�I do not have any money Paloma, but I would like to go along. I have never been shopping before.�

�You�ve never been shopping before?� Paloma asked, amazed. �This is going to be so much fun then, and by the way we�re going to buy you some new clothes. Don�t worry about the money because Luis is buying.�

�Oh no, I cannot let you pay for my clothes Senor Luis,� Dario protested.

�I�ll tell you what Dario. Some day when you become successful, you can pay me back,� Luis told him. �It means a lot to me to do this for you.�

�Gracias,� Dario said, clearly touched. �It will take a long time, but I promise I will pay you back every dollar.�

�I�m not worried about it Dario,� Luis said, patting him on the back.

Just then the timer went off and like little robots, the twins hopped up from their seats and came running over to their daddy. �We be sorry daddy,� Luke said.

�We be sorry to Daro too,� Lily said in her sweetest voice.

�That�s really nice of you, but I think you need to tell each other that you are sorry too,� Sheridan advised.

�Me sorry Lukie,� Lily said, hugging her brother.

�Me sorry too Leelee,� Luke said, kissing his sister on the cheek.

�Now that�s more like it,� Luis said, smiling. �Well Dario, let me show you the room where you going to be sleeping.�

�It�s all cleaned up and I even put fresh sheets on the bed,� Paloma told them.

�Thank you Paloma,� Sheridan said, gratefully. �You�re going to stay for dinner aren�t you?�

�I appreciate the offer Sheridan, but I really would like to go home and see mama,� Paloma told her. �As a matter of fact, I�m out of here. Come here and give me a kiss goodbye you little squirts.�

�Bye bye Poma,� the twins squealed. �Come back soon.�

�You better believe I will,� Paloma said, hugging and kissing the children.

�Thank you sis,� Luis said, taking his turn to hug Paloma. �I can�t tell you how much I appreciate you being here for my family.�

�It was my pleasure,� she said, kissing him on the cheek.

Later, after Paloma left, Dario was helping the twins build a tower with their blocks, when Sheridan called Luis in the kitchen. �Can you help me out with dinner?� she called out to him.

�Of course,� he said, moving toward the kitchen. He was more than pleasantly surprised when Sheridan pulled him into the hottest kiss the second he got through the door. �Now that�s the welcome I�ve been waiting for,� he growled.

�Me too,� Sheridan said, running her hands over his back. �I�ve been dying to get you alone, and I finally have the chance.�

�I thought you needed help with dinner?� he asked, smiling.

�I lied,� she mumbled against his lips, following her words with another kiss. �I already made a salad and the pizza is being delivered. I figured that after the long trip you would want to go to bed early tonight.�

�So you ordered a pizza, and you made me think that you were in here slaving away?� Luis chuckled.

�We both know that you didn�t marry me for my culinary skills,� Sheridan said, rubbing her fingers across his most sensitive area.

�You definitely excel in other areas,� Luis moaned, hardening instantly at her touch. �I think I need another kiss from you.� He lowered his head and brought his lips to hers in a deep sensuous kiss that made her toes curl. They were both so lost in each other that they almost didn�t hear the tiny voice at first.

�Mama, I be so hungy,� Luke said, pulling on Sheridan�s pant leg.

�Mama and daddy be playing kissy Lukie,� Lily giggled.

Luis and Sheridan disengaged and looked down at their children, both breathing a sigh of relief to see that Dario was no where in sight. �We should be eating in just a little bit sweetie. We�re having pizza tonight, and the man should be bringing it any time now.�

�Leelee we be having zippa,� Luke said, excitedly.

�We want zippa now mama,� Lily squealed, jumping up and down.

As if on cue, the sound of the doorbell alerted them that the deliveryman was here with the pizza. �I think that must be our pizza,� Sheridan told the twins. �Honey will you pay the man, and I�ll get Dario.�

It didn�t take long to get all of the children to bed after dinner. Dario was exhausted from the long flight and time change, while the twins has missed their nap. They were both out before the bedtime story was halfway finished. Luis had always loved the special time he spent with the children at the end of the day, but tonight was especially good since he had been separated from them. Once they were in their own bedroom, Sheridan noticed how weary Luis looked. She came up behind him where he was sitting on the bed and began to rub his shoulders. �I had big plans for you tonight, but you look so tired. Maybe we should put things on hold until tomorrow night?�

�I don�t think so,� he protested. �I�ve been fantasizing about being with you since I left for Spain. All I need is a shower and I promise I�ll get a second wind.�

�Do you mind if the baby and me join you?� Sheridan asked, hopefully.

�I would love it if you and the baby joined me. How is our little souvenir anyway?� Luis asked, feeling her tummy.

�Growing like a weed and very active. Especially in the middle of the night,� she said, smiling fondly.

�Just think Sheridan, in a few more weeks the baby will be here,� Luis said, excitedly. �I can hardly wait.�

�Me either. I am really ready to see this little one�s sweet face.�

�Sheridan, I know that you must be uncomfortable right now. Do you really thing that you can make love?�

�Oh you better believe I can make love,� Sheridan said, pulling his arm. �Come on to the shower and I�ll soap you up,� she giggled.

�Little Luis likes the sound of that;� he laughed, following behind her.

Their shower was extremely hot and steamy and it had nothing to do with the hot water. They toweled each other dry and moved to the bed fueled with a raging fever. A gruff cry tore from him, and she was in his arms, and meeting his mouth in a wild, reckless kiss. His hands were on her, is lips raked her body, burning it with wet fire. Her breasts were so sensitive and a hunger ripped through her as he teased her nipples. Her senses were heightened as he skimmed her belly, delved between her thighs, licked, teased and tortured. She was trembled, and writhed, wanting him like never before. �Oh Luis, I can�t take any more........ Please,� she begged.

He paused suddenly, rising up to study her body. �The baby moved.�

�I know, but it�s okay Luis,� she said, impatiently.

�I don�t think the baby wants me touching you,� he hesitated.

�I swear it�s okay Luis. If you don�t do something fast, I swear I�ll scream, and then you going to have to explain to the children why their mommy is so upset.�

He smiled at her then, lowering himself to kiss her tenderly. �Still, I think I should be gentle.........�

He flipped her on her side, and stroked his fingers down her back. His kisses had turned liquid running down the curving line of her spine. The pressure of his body was pressed behind her, his erection full and ready as he filled her completely, and she cried out so glad just to feel him within her.

He was gentle, yet she felt his strength and power, and the passion that could so ignite her flame. She craved ever inch of him, the anticipation of each stroke growing stronger by the minute. He swept her away higher and higher until she thought she could take no more of this sweet ecstasy. Suddenly she exploded with a searing fire that traveled through her body sating her with a contentment that was too good to be true. He soon followed, choking out words of love as he showered her with his passion, and still his arms remained wrapped tightly around her as he fought to gain some semblance of control. She was perfect in every way, and he couldn�t believe just how much he loved her.

He turned her to face him and kissed her gently. �Don�t ever go away from me again Luis. I can�t take being separated from you.�

�Never again sweetheart,� he whispered, as he stroked his fingers through her soft curls.

�Oh no, I can�t believe I didn�t ask you about your brother,� she said, sitting up suddenly. �What happened Luis?�

�Antonio is the last thing I want to talk about right now,� he said, pulling her back down beside him.

�But I can tell how much it bothered you and I want you to share all of your feelings with me.�

�Okay, I�ll tell you, but I don�t think my brother will be sharing family moments with us anytime soon.� He then proceeded to tell her about their heated conversation and all of the accusations they had tossed to each other. �It was terrible Sheridan. He actually had the audacity to tell me that I was glad that he went away so that I could play the hero.�

�How dare he say that to you?� Sheridan said, furiously. �You gave up the opportunity to go to college and sacrificed everything to take care of your family while he lived the good life.�

�I don�t know Sheridan. Maybe he�s right...�

�Hell no, he�s not right, and don�t you ever say that again. He thinks that if he can make you look bad, then he can feel better about his own bad behavior. I refuse to let you buy into his twisted plow.�

As serious as the situation was, Luis couldn�t help but chuckle. She was so beautiful when she was all mad and avenging his honor. �I don�t me to laugh sweetie, but I can I ever lose with you on my side. You are such a breath of fresh air.�

�Well, nobody talks to my man that way,� she said, defiantly. �Even if it is your own brother.�

�I could never lose with you on my side,� he said, pulling her into a kiss.

�I guess now is a good time to tell you my news.........�

�What news?�

�Sam Bennett may be Ethan�s father.�

�Excuse me, did you just say that Sam could be Ethan�s father?� Luis asked, astounded.

�Unfortunately, that�s exactly what I said...........�

 

Part 6, Chapter 44

Luis was still in shock over the bombshell that Sheridan has just dropped on him. Sam Bennett was Ethan�s father? If this was the case then his old friend and mentor must have had a relationship with Ivy Crane at one time, and that fact seemed inconceivable to him. �How did this all come out?� he asked.

�On the day of Evan and Kay�s wedding, Jordan went to Ivy�s room to borrow some pearl earrings that belonged to my mother. She had Ivy�s permission to wear them, but apparently she accidentally knocked over some box that Ivy kept locked and it broke open. There were pictures of Sam and Ivy together when they were younger, but the most damning bit of evidence was a letter that Ivy had written to Sam telling him that he was Ethan�s biological father. It was never mailed though.�

�Well that explains Jordan�s weird behavior at the wedding. She must have been devastated carrying something that big around. I take it she finally spilled the beans.�

�Yeah, if you remember that was the night she wrecked her car. I don�t think she really told anyone, but somehow Noah guessed he truth, and then the next day when I went over to check on her after you told me about the accident I overheard her and Noah talking and that�s when I found out. It�s not like I didn�t know it could be a possibility since father disowned Ethan, but to hear it confirmed was pretty devastating for me too.�

�Do you mean to tell me that you knew about this before I went to Spain?� he asked, rising up to look at her face. �Sheridan you should have told me so that I could comfort you.�

�How could I Luis? You were upset about Don Miguel and getting ready to leave the country. I didn�t want to burden you with any more and I knew that you would be worried about me.�

�You are an amazing woman,� Luis said, pulling her close. �Sheridan, I really appreciate what you tried to do, but you have to know that I always want to be there for you.�

�I do know that Luis because you have always been there for me in the past, and I know if our positions were reversed that you would do the same thing for me. Besides, you�re here now and that is all that matters.�

�I plan on staying right here for the duration too,� Luis assured her. �So, has anybody told Sam and Grace about his new found son?�

�Ethan went over there the other night to break the news to Sam and Grace. He didn�t want to at first because it was Evan and Kay�s first night back from their honeymoon, but Sam insisted. From what I understand Sam was understandably shocked, but he agreed to take a DNA test,� Sheridan explained.

�Why is there some question about Sam being Ethan�s father?� Luis asked.

�Ivy is still denying everything. She claims that back when she wrote the letter she thought that Sam fathered Ethan, but she later found out that Julian was the biological father so she never mailed the letter.�

�It�s probably a good idea that they are doing a DNA test since Ivy isn�t the most trustworthy person around,� Luis mused. �I do feel bad for everyone involved though. Talk about turning people�s lives upside down.�

�I know what you mean,� Sheridan agreed. �For Ethan to find out that his whole life could be a lie and poor Sam discovering that he could have a son that that he never got to see grow up. This must be killing Grace, because I know how I would feel if I found out that you had a child out there some place. It�s not that I would resent the child, but it�s the fact that you would always have this connection with the mother............�

�Sheridan, you are never going to have to even imagine it,� Luis said, silencing her with a kiss. �Now, do you think our little baby would mind if I paid another visit?�

�And I thought you were exhausted from your trip,� Sheridan chuckled. �I happen to know for a fact that our baby�s mother wouldn�t mind, and I would suspect that the little one doesn�t have any objections either.�

That was all the opening that Luis needed when he began to make love to Sheridan in the most creative way. Not wanting to harm her or the baby, he pulled her onto his lap with her back facing his chest while the whole time caressing her breasts and belly with tender loving. He reinforced that with words of adoration, swearing that she was the most precious woman in the world to him. When they finally reached their climax, Luis fell into an exhausted sleep with her cradled against his body, but Sheridan remained restless. She slipped out of bed and found a nightgown to put on, and was just ready to check on the children when she heard the door creak open.

�Mama, me seep with you?� a little voice sounded in the night.

She would know his voice anywhere and she approached her little boy quietly. �Luke, what are you doing up so late?� she whispered. �Daddy is sleeping and we don�t want to wake him.�

�I want to seep in your bed mama,� Luke whispered back.

�But why sweetie?� Sheridan said, pulling him out of the room. �Did you have a bad dream?�

�No mama, me has assident,� Luke said, his big brown eyes filled with worry.

�Oh come on, it can�t be all that bad,� Sheridan said in a comforting voice. �What kind of an accident did you have?�

�Me peepee in bed,� Luke cried, tears running down his chubby cheeks.

�Please don�t cry baby,� Sheridan said, kissing his tears away. �Everybody has accidents. Come on, we�ll go clean you up and change your pajamas, and then you can sleep with mommy and daddy.� Thank God, she had had the foresight to put the plastic liners under the twins� sheets.

Sheridan just stripped Luke�s sheets away and threw them in the hamper and opened a window to air out the room. �I be sorry mama,� Luke said, sweetly.

�There is nothing for you to be sorry about Lukie. �Now, what pajamas do you want to wear?�

�Rugrats jammies,� Luke told her.

�I think I just washed those today, but first we have to clean you off before you put your fresh pajamas on.�

�Kay mama,� Luke agreed. �I be stinky.�

�Yeah, you�re my sweet, precious, stinky little boy, and mommy loves you,� Sheridan laughed.

As they walked back to her room, Sheridan warned Luke to be very quiet so that he didn�t wake up his daddy. It was then that she remembered that Luis was naked, so she rolled to the middle of the bed and cuddled Luke on the other side of her. She thought they were home free when the baby began to kick and Luke stared to giggle like a little hyena. �Shhhh Luke, you�ll wake daddy.�

�Daddy is already awake,� Luis grumbled. �What�s going on?�

�Baby kick me daddy,� Luke said, starting to giggle again.

Her little boy�s laughter was infectious and Sheridan started to chuckle too. �Sorry Luis, but our little baby is going crazy in here.�

Luis put his arm around Sheridan and felt her tummy just as the baby let out a big jab. �Wow, I guess our little one is protesting from earlier, but that doesn�t explain why Sport is in our bed.�

�He had a little accident, but everything is fine, and I told him that he could sleep with us for tonight,� Sheridan told him, not wanting to make a big deal out of things.

�Oh I see,� Luis said, catching on, reaching down on the floor for his boxers. �I guess that would be okay for the night, but maybe it would be a better idea if you slept between mommy and daddy so you don�t fall out of the bed.�

�A Luis, do you think that�s such a good idea?� Sheridan whispered.

�Don�t worry, I have a handle on it,� he told her as he pulled his boxers on. �Now Sport, I want you to be very careful when you climb over mommy so that you don�t hurt her belly where the baby is growing.�

Luke made the transition without a hitch and settled between his parents. �Night daddy, night mama,� he told them with a big yawn.

�Goodnight Sport,� Luis said, fondly. �Mommy and daddy love you.� But the little boy didn�t hear a word because he was already fast asleep, and his parents were not long to follow.

********************

The next morning was a somber time at the Bennett household. Sam had called the family together to tell them the news about Ethan. Noah and Charity were strangely resigned to the idea, and Jessica seemed confused about the whole thing, but it was Kay that reacted with total disbelief. Evan tried to calm her down, but she wasn�t listening. �I just can�t believe that you would ever have anything to do with that woman daddy.�

�Kay, Ivy was a lot different back then,� Sam said in his defense. �She has been corrupted by living with the Cranes for so many years.�

�I�m sorry, but I�m not buying it. Sheridan and Jordan are Cranes and they are good people. She has done some terrible things to her own daughter, and I�m not even going to go into the way she has treated Evan,� Kay said, defiantly.

�Kay is right about Ivy,� Noah spoke up. �I could strangle the woman with my bare hands for what she�s done to Jordan.�

�I am not disputing anything you are saying, but I swear that Ivy was not like she is now when we were involved,� Sam said, frustrated. �None of that changes the fact that Ethan could be my son, and your step brother and we all have to find a way to deal with this.�

�Mom, you�ve been so quiet about this, and I know this must be breaking your heart. What do you have to say about this?� Kay asked.

�Well Kay, of course it was a shock to me, but I think you need to remember that your father has been dealt a blow with this news too. I�m sure that it�s very difficult for him to accept that he may have a son that he never knew about for all of these years, and we all need to support him.�

�Thank you Grace,� Sam said, surprised at her words. Until now, she had not been able to talk about the subject. �I think another thing that�s important to remember here is that we cannot hold this against Ethan.�

�So we�re all just supposed to accept Ethan as our brother?� Kay said, shaking her head in astonishment. �He treated my husband like trash when he first took over at Crane Industries, and if you remember Noah, he wasn�t very nice to you either when you started to date Jordan.�

�Kay, that is all in the past,� Evan reminded her. �Ethan was best man at our wedding.�

�I know Evan, and I wasn�t especially happy about that, but I agreed because I knew it was important to you.�

�I just thought of something,� Jessica said, suddenly. �Ethan has gone from being your nephew to being your brother-in-law Evan.�

�Wow, you�re right Jess,� Evan said, surprised at the realization. �I didn�t even think about that, I�ve been so busy trying to process all of this. Kay probably doesn�t want to hear this, but I do feel bad for Ethan. This can�t be easy for him either.�

�I�m not completely insensitive Evan, but it�s not that easy for me to just accept this like nothing has happened,� Kay said.

�Kay, I know this has been a shock to you and I don�t expect you to accept this overnight, but if you would just try to meet me half way on this, it would mean a lot to me,� Sam pleaded.

�I�m sorry daddy,� Kay said, feeling bad. �I really would love to just say that I�m thrilled that Ethan could be my brother, but I just don�t think it�s going to happen over night. I can�t promise anything, but I will at least try.�

�That�s all that I can ask for sweetheart,� Sam said, giving his daughter a hug. �Jessica, you really haven�t said much. Do you have anything that you want to get off your chest about this news?�

�I don�t know dad,� Jessica said, hesitantly. �I�m not sure how I feel right now, but it does upset me that our family seemed to be so happy, and now mom is just standing there looking like she is going to cry any minute, and Kay is all angry, and Noah doesn�t say anything at all. The little kid in me just wants everything to go back the way it used to be.�

�Charity, you haven�t said a word so far,� Grace pointed out. �Do you want to share your feelings with us?�

�I think that this is a family issue Aunt Grace,� Charity said, quietly.

�But Charity, you�re part of this family now, so we want to hear what you have to say,� Grace assured her.

�I�m sorry, but I just have this strong feeling that something is not right about this whole thing, but I don�t know why that is,� Charity admitted.

�Are you having some kind of premonition?� Sam asked, curiously.

�No Uncle Sam, I�m not having a premonition. It�s just a feeling,� Charity told him.

�Could you be a little more specific Charity?� Kay asked, impatiently.

��I�m sorry Kay, but I just don�t know,� Charity said, clearly upset.

�Look, I think that maybe it�s too soon to sort out all of our feelings about this right now. Maybe we should give this time to sink in so that everybody can have a clear head when we discuss this again,� Grace suggested.

�I think that your mother is right,� Sam agreed. �We�re going to have a DNA test to confirm paternity, and in the meantime it might do us all some good to step back from this and gather our thoughts.�

�Come on Kay,� Evan said, putting his arm around her. �I�ll take you home on my way to the office.�

�I�ll go open the gift shop for you mom,� Jessica offered.

�Thank you sweetie,� Grace said, hugging her.

�I�ll just go help Jessica,� Charity said, following her cousin out the door.

Noah was getting up to leave too when Sam stopped him. �Wait Noah.�

�What is it dad?�

�You knew about this before Ethan told us the news didn�t you?� Sam asked.

�Yes I did,� Noah admitted. �I found out about it the night of Jordan�s accident.�

�That�s why you came to me and suggested that I tell your mother about my past relationship with Ivy,� Sam said with sudden realization.

�I�m sorry mom and dad, but I just didn�t know what to do. It�s not like I wanted to keep the truth from you, but I promised Jordan I wouldn�t say anything. She needed to be given the opportunity to confront Ivy first. At that point we didn�t know if it was some sick joke or a scam, and we didn�t want to start something that could have turned out to be nothing..............�

�It�s okay Noah,� Grace assured him with a smile. �You were put in an impossible situation, and I have to wonder what this is doing to your relationship with Jordan?�

�She�s pretty upset about it,� Noah admitted. �She feels terrible that her mother could bring all this heartache to our family, and to be honest she�s pretty freaked out that we could actually share a brother.�

�Oh dear, I didn�t even think about that,� Grace said. �Even if Ethan turns out to be your half brother, there are no blood ties between you and Jordan. Surely she knows that.�

�I�ve told her that mom, but she is still pushing me away, and nothing I say seems to do any good,� Noah explained, running his fingers through his hair impatiently.

�Maybe Jordan just needs some time to absorb all of this too,� Grace said, taking her son�s hand in a comforting gesture. �I�m sure that once she�s had an opportunity to think about it, she�ll come around.�

�I don�t know mom. I think that she feels responsible for finding the letter in the first place.�

�Well, you just need to convince her that this is not her fault,� Grace said, adamantly.

�That�s going to be more difficult than you think, because right now she doesn�t even want to see me.�

�I�m so sorry son,� Sam said, hating to see his family�s lives being turned upside down over this whole mess.

�Don�t be sorry dad. This is not your fault,� Noah assured his father. �The only one to blame here is Ivy Crane, because she lied for all of these years and now people�s lives are shattered because of it............ Look, I need to get to the hospital,� he said, rising to leave.

�Oh God Grace, I find out that I could have another son and in the process my other children�s lives are being ruined. Damn Ivy,� he shouted.

�Yeah, good old Ivy,� Grace said, sarcastically. �She�s like a one woman wrecking crew.�

�Grace, you�ve been so wonderful through all of this and I know that it hasn�t been easy for you.�

�You�re right Sam, this hasn�t been easy for me. I stand here and see my children�s lives being torn apart, knowing that that smug bitch is responsible and I just want to scream. Please know that I do not hold this against Ethan, and if he does turn out to be your son, I will accept him............�

�I hear a but in there.�

�There is one thing that I don�t know if I can ever accept and that is knowing that you will always be tied to that woman. She will always be in our lives and that is a bitter pill to swallow because I don�t like her, and I certainly don�t trust her.�

�Grace, I can understand why you would feel that way, but Ivy does not have to be in our lives. It�s not like Ethan is young and we have to share custody on alternate weekends.......... Wait a minute, I just thought of something you just said about not trusting Ivy.�

�What is it Sam?� Grace asked, curiously.

�I need to call Eve to ask if she can send the DNA tests off to some place secret that Ivy doesn�t know about.�

�I don�t follow,� Grace said, confused.

�Don�t you see Grace. If the DNA test is done here at Harmony Hospital, Ivy will be able to have them altered. Julian would never keep Ivy around if it turns out that I really am Ethan�s father. He would throw her out without a dime.�

�I never thought of that Sam. Ivy�s desperate right now, and with her influence and money, she could easily pay someone off to lie about the results of the test. You would never be sure if you were really Ethan�s father.�

�Well, she�s not going to get away with it because I will be damned if she gets to come out smelling like a rose after she has caused all of this grief with my family. I swear to God Grace, we will get the truth,� Sam promised.

*******************

The Lopez-Fitzgerald�s slept late the next day after their eventful night of making love and a visit from a wayward little boy. They were all sleeping so peacefully when a little alarm clock named Lily awakened them. �Why Lukie be here?� Lily asked, tugging on Luis� hand.

He opened his eyes slowly, trying to adjust to the early morning sunlight filling the room. �Come on Peanut,� he said, reaching down to pick up his daughter to lift her into the bed with them. �You�re kind of sassy this morning young lady. What�s your problem?�

�Hi LeeLee, I seep with mama and daddy,� Luke told his sister, excitedly.

�What be the big ideo Lukie? Lily asked, feeling the green-eyed monster. �Me be all by myself.�

�Peanut, Luke had a little problem so he slept in our bed last night. Now, you know there are plenty of times when you�ve had a little problem and came in here too. Mommy and daddy never turn you away do they?�

�No daddy,� Lily said, contritely.

�What time is it anyway?� Sheridan said, rubbing the from her eyes.

�It�s nine thirty,� Luis told her.

�Nine thirty?� she said, shocked. �Are you sure?�

�I�m positive,� he chuckled.

�We have to get up. Poor Dario will think we�re lazy American slugs.�

�Daro not there mama,� Lily told her.

�What do you mean Lily?�

�He no be in the bed. I saw it,� she explained.

�Oh no Luis, he�s probably been sitting around for hours waiting for us to get up. I�m sure he�s used to early hours living in the orphanage.�

�I wouldn�t worry about it Sheridan,� Luis said, calming her. �I�m sure he�s found all kinds of things to amuse himself.�

�I know Luis, but he�s probably starving,� Sheridan said, rising out of bed to slip her robe on.

�Me be so hungy too mama,� Lily told her.

�I�m sure you are sweetie. Mommy and daddy don�t usually sleep this late. Let�s go get you and Luke something to eat.�

�Sheridan, I�m going to take a quick shower, and I�ll be right down,� Luis told her.

When she and the twins arrived in the kitchen they were surprised to find Dario making breakfast. �Dario, you didn�t have to do this,� Sheridan said, looking around at the plate of fruit and the cereal cooking on the stove. There was even fresh coffee in the coffeemaker.

�It was no problem Sheridan. I used to help Sister Carmen cook for the children every morning at the orphanage.�

�This is all so sweet of you, but I don�t want you to have to wait on us while you are here. You�re supposed to be relaxing and having a good time,� she protested.

�But you were kind enough to let me stay here, and Senor Luis is lending me money to buy clothes, this is the least that I can do.�

Sheridan realized that this was important to the boy so she didn�t protest further, but she wanted to assure him that they appreciated all of his efforts. �We are so sorry for sleeping in late, but we were up with Luke last night. It sure is a wonderful thing to see breakfast already prepared though,� Sheridan said, gracing Dario with her beautiful smile.

�Everything is ready now,� Dario announced. �Is Senor Luis coming to breakfast?�

�He should be here any minute. He wanted to take a quick shower, but I can assure you that he is going to be very grateful for that coffee. I can�t wait until I can drink it again,� Sheridan said, rubbing her belly.

�We have new baby Daro,� Luke told their guest.

�I can see that Luke,� Dario said, looking embarrassed about the delicate subject.

�Mama have our baby in dis many weeks,� Lily said, showing Dario three fingers.

�Oh, you must be so excited,� Dario said, smiling uncomfortably.

�Wow, I can�t believe you made breakfast already,� Luis said, walking into the room, smelling like soap from his shower.

�I didn�t,� Sheridan told him. �Dario was kind enough to have it all prepared when we came down earlier.�

�Thanks Dario. I need some of that coffee in the worst way,� Luis said, walking toward the coffeemaker.

�I guess we should all sit down to eat,� Sheridan suggested.

They were discussing how nice it would be for Dario to meet the rest of the family when something occurred to Sheridan. �I have a great idea. Why don�t we have a big family barbecue this weekend. There are so many reasons to celebrate right now. We can welcome Kay and Evan back from their honeymoon, and also it won�t be long until Theresa leaves to go to school in Paris. Don Miguel is on the road to recovery and I think we can show Dario a good old fashioned American family cookout.�

�It does sound like fun, but isn�t that a lot of work for you right now Sheridan?� Luis said, looking down at her pregnant form.

�It�s not going to be that much trouble for me at all since you�re doing the cooking,� Sheridan chuckled. �I was thinking that your famous ribs would be great, and I�ll have the rest catered.�

�Don�t do that Sheridan. I�m sure that mama and some of the other ladies would bring a dish to contribute to the meal.�

�I have never been to a cookout before,� Dario said, excitedly.

�Then it�s settled,� Sheridan smiled. �I�ll call everyone today and invite them for this weekend.�

�Okay, you�re the boss,� Luis laughed. �I just hope that you�re not taking on too much.�

�Daddy can we play goss today?� Luke asked.

�Well Sport, I would love to, but I really do need to go to the office since I�ve been gone for so long. Chad has been working all by himself and I�m sure he needs some help.�

�Kay daddy,� Luke said, clearly disappointed.

�I�ll tell you what. As soon as daddy gets home from work tonight we will go out in the yard and shoot some balls, okay?� Luis told him, feeling terrible that he had to let his son down.

�Tank you daddy,� Luke said, excitedly. �Daro can play with me.�

�Well sweetie, Dario is going to go shopping today with Aunt Paloma,� Sheridan reminded him.

�Me want to go shopping with Poma,� Lily said.

�Me go shopping with Poma too,� Luke echoed.

�I don�t think that�s such a good idea,� Luis told them. �Aunt Paloma is going to be busy trying to find clothes for Dario and it�s going to be hard for her to watch you.�

�I�ll tell you what,� Sheridan suggested. �We can all take Dario over to abuelo�s so that Aunt Paloma doesn�t have to drive out here and pick him up and then we can all visit with abuelo and pawpaw. I�m sure that they would love to see you, and then when they have to leave to open up the restaurant mommy will take you to the beach.�

�Me can wear my pink kini,� Lily said, clapping her hands happily.

�What did she say?� Luis asked, choking on his coffee.

�Luis are you okay?� Sheridan said, beating on his back.

�Yes, but only if you tell me that my little daughter isn�t running around in bikinis,� Luis said, trying to catch his breath.

�Luis it�s a two piece bathing suit,� Sheridan said, laughing. �Lily just likes to call it her bikini. You really do need to chill out.�

Let me explain something to you Dario. Women will make your hair turn gray before your time if you don�t keep your guard up,� Luis teased.

�But why Senor Luis?� Dario asked, confused.

�Cause daddy just be so silly Daro,� Lily explained, making her parent�s break out into laughter.

***************

A family barbecue was just the thing that everyone needed to set their troubles aside and have a relaxing time. The Lopez-Fitgerald�s home was filled with good food and antimated conversation. Chad and Whitney arrived with Evan and Kay, and poor Chad was ribbed unmercifully about when he was going to make an honest woman out of Whitney. Sheridan was so thrilled when Ethan showed up with Gwen and Jordan, and of course Luis� parents were there with all of his siblings. Poor Paloma was pounced on by the twins as soon as she walked in the door.

The ribs were simmering on the grill, and Luis had put up a volley ball net in the back yard and all of the guys were involved in a lively competition. That was until Sheridan caught Luke running back and forth between the net trying to get the ball. �Luis, don�t let him do that. He�s going to get hit by the ball,� she called out.

�Come on Sport,� Luis said, picking up his son. �Mommy will have my hide if anything happens to you.�

�Hey Luis, I�m ready for a break,� Evan said. �Why don�t you let me take over. Come on Luke, I�ll throw the ball to you and you can try and hit it with your bat.�

�Kay Effin,� Luke said, more than happy to go with his uncle.

Sheridan was happy to see that Miguel had taken Dario under his wing and was teaching him how to play volley ball. �He is such a sweet boy,� Pilar said, coming up beside her daughter-in-law.

�He really is,� Sheridan agreed. �I can�t believe how the two of you have bonded. You must have really gotten to know each other on the flight over here.�

�I cannot explain it Sheridan but I felt so close to him the minute I met him,� Pilar said, watching Dario with Miguel.

�That�s the same thing that Luis said when he met him,� Sheridan said, surprised. �It seems so strange that you all feel such a connection to Dario.�

�He reminds me so much of my sons when they were that age. Well except for the blue eyes,� Pilar smiled.

�You know Pilar, if you don�t mind I really need to sit down. For some reason my back is killing me today.� She didn�t reveal the part about having sporadic contractions all day but she had dismissed them as Braxton Hicks.

�Come inside,� Pilar said, fussing over her. �You are doing too much. I want you to sit down and we can get everything ready.�

�Sheridan, are you okay?� Jordan asked, when she saw how uncomfortable her aunt looked.

�Just a little back ache, but you�re the one I�m concerned about Jordan. Why didn�t you bring Noah with you today?�

�We�re kind of taking a break right now, but can we please not talk about it?�

�Okay, I won�t press you, but please don�t let this whole thing with Ethan and Sam come between the two of you. You have found something special and I don�t want to see the sins of your mother ruin that for you.�

�Sheridan, I�m really am not ready for this...........�

�I promise I�ll back off if you promise to think about what I said.�

�I promise,� Jordan smiled.

�Mama, me be all dirty,� Lily announced, running into the house.

�What happened to you?� Sheridan asked when she saw that Lily�s clothes were covered in mud.

�I turned on the water to waus my hands and me fall down,� Lily whined.

�Okay little girl, let�s get you cleaned up and changed,� Sheridan said, taking her hand, but suddenly a shooting pain made her double over.

�Sheridan what�s wrong?� Theresa said, rushing to her side.

�Just a little pain. I guess I�m having Braxton Hicks contractions,� Sheridan said, feeling the persperation bead out on her forehead.

�Mama be hurt,� Lily said, her little face blanketed with worry.

�I�m fine sweetie,� Sheridan said, touched by her daughter�s concern.

�Why don�t I take Lily upstairs and get her cleaned up and changed,� Theresa offered.

�Thank you Theresa,� Sheridan said, gratefully.

�Mama you rest,� Lily instructed. �Me go with Teetee.

�Sheridan are you sure you are not in labor?� Pilar asked, worridly.

�It�s too soon Pilar. The baby isn�t due for several weeks............Oh God,� she groaned, feeling another pain ripping through her abdomon.

�I�m hardly the expert on giving birth, but Pilar might be right Sheridan,� Jordan said. �Those pains seem pretty strong to be Braxton Hicks.�

�Maybe if I lay down for a while?� Sheridan said, starting to rise, but another pain gripped her again. �You could be right. I think this little baby is trying to be born,� she said, gasping for breath.

�I will get Luis,� Pilar said, rushing out the door.

�Sheridan, mama just said you were in labor,� Luis said, coming through the door with Martin following close behind.

�I think I just might be............ Oh God, here comes another one, but Luis it�s too soon,� she moaned clutching her tummy.

�Papa, I think you might have to take us to the hospital, because I�m too damn nervous to drive right now,� Luis said, shakily.

�Pilar, why don�t you go get some of Sheridan�s things together,� Martin said, taking charge of the situation.

Luis had managed to move to Sheridan�s side in spite of his dazed condition. �It�s going to be okay sweetie.�

�Oh Luis, I think we better hurry........... My water just broke.�

Part 6, Chapter 45

In spite of all of her pain and the urgency to get to the hospital, Sheridan refused to leave before she could talk to her children. She couldn�t just take off without telling them what was happening; besides, their sweet kisses would see her through the extreme discomfort of labor. Now, she just had to give the best performance of her life because she couldn�t let the twins see how much she was hurting. �Luis please, I need to see my babies,� she pleaded.

�Sheridan, we have to get you to the hospital. I�ll talk to them later and explain everything.�

�No, I want to see them now,� she said, stubbornly.

�Okay, I should know better than to argue with you,� Luis said, frustrated. �Especially when you�re in labor, but please Sheridan can we make this quick? I don�t think you want deliver this baby here on the kitchen floor with a house filled with people.�

�I will get the children,� Jordan offered.

Thankfully, Sheridan had a contraction right before Luke and Lily arrived, so she knew she had a little time to speak with them before another assailed her. Both children came scampering into the room, and Sheridan smiled and motioned for them to come to her. �Come here quickly and see mommy. I don�t have much time because I have to go to the hospital.�

�No mama,� Lily cried. �Me not want you to be sick.�

�Oh no sweetie, mommy�s not sick. Our little baby decided to be born early and that is why mommy had a tummy ache earlier,� Sheridan explained.

�Our baby make mama�s tummy hurt?� Luke asked, with a confused look on his little face.

�Only because the baby is moving around a lot trying to get ready to be born, but I promise that it only hurts mommy for a short time, but it�s a good kind of hurt,� she lied, knowing that soon she would be ready to scream her bloody head off. �The same thing happened to mommy when you and Lily were born.�

�Kay mama,� Luke smiled, feeling assured by her words. �Will our baby come now?�

�It just might, if your mommy doesn�t get to the hospital Sport,� Luis told his little boy.

�Okay Luis, I got your point,� Sheridan acknowledged. �Come here and give mommy a big kiss.� Both the twins planted sweet kisses on her cheeks, and she hugged them close. �Promise mommy that you will be good, and as soon as I can, I will call you from the hospital.�

�Me go to the hospitable with you too mama,� Lily pleaded.

�I�m sorry Peanut, but they don�t let little children in where the babies are being born, but I bet we�ll be able to go in there later after the baby is here,� Luis promised.

Another contraction was coming and Sheridan signaled Luis that it was time to go. She insisted that everyone stay there and continue with the barbeque so that things would be as normal as possible for the twins. She pointed out that there was no sense for people to sit it a waiting room for what could be hours when they could come as soon as the baby arrived. Evan promised Sheridan that he and Kay would stay with the twins, so that Pilar and Martin could take them to the hospital, and Chad said that he would keep the party going. As they approached the car, Dario ran up to them with a worried look.

�What is happening Senor Luis?� he asked, seeing the look of pain etched on Sheridan�s face.

�I�m so sorry Dario, in all the confusion we forgot to tell you what is going on. It looks like the baby decided to come early so we�re taking Sheridan to the hospital. The rest of the family is staying here, so do you think you will be okay?�

�Oh si Senor Luis,� Dario assured him. �Miguel is teaching me to play volleyball, but I hope that Sheridan will be okay.� The boy cringed when he saw her sitting in the back seat of the car clutching her belly in pain.

�She will be Dario, but we need to go or Sheridan will have the baby in the car,� Luis said, jumping in the back seat beside his wife.

�We will call you as soon as we have some news Dario,� Pilar told him, smiling fondly.

�He�s a special boy,� Martin commented, as he started the car and pulled down the driveway.

�He really is, but papa could you speed it up?� Luis said, feeling his nerves stretched to the limit. It seemed that no matter how hard they tried to get out of here, there always seemed to be another delay. �Hang in there sweetie. It won�t be long now.�

�That�s the problem Luis,� she grimaced. �This little one is very impatient just like its daddy, and I think things are going to happen soon.�

�Can you go any faster papa?� Luis asked, frantically.

�I�m going as fast as I can without getting us killed Luis,� Martin reasoned.

�Mijo, I have given birth five times, and I can assure you that Sheridan still has a while, so there is no reason to drive unsafely.�

�I hope you�re right Pilar, because I feel like this baby is going to drop out of me at any minute,� Sheridan groaned.

�We�ll be there soon,� Martin predicted. �Wow, this is so special for me to actually be around for the birth of my grandchild since I missed the twins� birth.�

�It�s pretty special for us that you�re here with us too papa,� Luis said, suddenly realizing what this moment must be like for his father after missing out on so much of their lives.

�Look, the hospital is just up ahead,� Pilar announced.

�Thank God,� Sheridan said, trying to catch her breath. �Let�s just hope that this time Luis doesn�t forget about me.�

�Why would he forget about you Sheridan?� Martin asked, curiously.

�When the twins were coming, Luis pulled into the hospital parking lot, parked the car and ran inside, leaving me sitting in the front seat. I guess he finally remembered me because he came back outside after I managed to get myself out of the car..........�

�Sheridan, I don�t think that is really something I want you to share with my parents,� Luis said, embarrassed.

�Do not worry Sheridan, Martin and I will make sure that you get inside,� Pilar assured her with a little smile.

When they arrived at the hospital, Martin pulled up in front of the emergency room entrance to let them out. Luis helped Sheridan out of the car just as another pain came upon her. �Let me carry you inside..............�

�No Luis,� she said, holding onto him for support. �I�ll be able to walk in a few minutes.�

�Sheridan this is no time to be stubborn. Now quit arguing with me and let me carry you,� Luis demanded.

Pilar had gone inside and found somebody that could bring a wheelchair for Sheridan, while Martin was parking the car, and she was shocked when she saw Luis issuing orders to Sheridan. �Mijo, I cannot believe you are arguing with your wife at a time like this,� Pilar scolded.

Luis watched as the nurse�s aid helped Sheridan into the wheelchair. �Look mama, Sheridan and I always argue when we�re stressing out about something.�

�Sheridan has a good excuse because she is in labor, but you should know better,� she told him sternly as they followed Sheridan and the aid into the hospital.

Here he was ready to bring another child into the world and his mother was making him feel like the twins when they misbehaved. �Look mama, Sheridan knows I get that way when I�m worried, and so do you. I just love her so much and I don�t want anything to happen to her.�

�I know mijo, we�re all a little on edge right now,� Pilar said, patting his hand with hers in a motherly gesture.

�Luis, did you forget about me again?� Sheridan called out to him.

�Oh God, I�m sorry sweetie,� Luis said, fussing over her. �Let�s get you checked in.�

The OB/GYN resident examined Sheridan and confirmed that she was definitely in labor. �Let�s get you into a labor room and I�ll call your doctor.�

�The baby wasn�t due for a couple of weeks yet. Do you think it�s too soon?� Sheridan worried.

�Not at all,� the doctor said with a comforting smile. �The baby�s lungs are fully developed and the heartbeat is strong.�

�So, how long is it going to be before the baby comes?� Luis asked.

�Well Sheridan is dilated six centimeters and about eighty percent effaced so it shouldn�t be that long, but everybody is different,� the doctor explained.

�Let�s just hope it�s soon, right sweetie?� Luis said, kissing her hand.

�Right,� she screeched, feeling a hard contraction coming on.

Three hours later baby girl Lopez-Fitzgerald entered the world with a roar. For such a tiny little thing, she certainly had a set of lungs on her. It was obvious at first sight that she took after her daddy with her curly dark hair and olive skin. Luis and Sheridan cried as they inspected every one of her little fingers and toes to discover that their little girl was perfect in every way. �She�s so beautiful, just like her mother,� Luis said, kissing Sheridan on the cheek.

�I don�t know about that Luis. She looks just like you as far as I can see, but she certainly is beautiful. Lily and Luke are going to be so excited when they see their little sister.�

�Sorry to interrupt your family bonding moment, but I need to know if you have a name that we can put on the birth certificate?� the doctor asked in a teasing voice.

�Yes we do,� Sheridan told her, beaming. �Since our little girl is a treasure from our trip to Spain, we decided to give her a fitting Spanish name. We decided on Sofia........... Sofia Lopez-Fitzgerald.�

�That�s a beautiful name, but did you choose a middle name?�

�Oh no Sheridan, we didn�t even discuss a middle name,� Luis said.

�Well, I think that since we gave Luke and Lily middle names after your father and my mother that maybe it�s Pilar�s turn,� Sheridan suggested.

�Sofia Pilar................ I like that and mama�s going to be thrilled.�

�I can�t wait to see her face when we tell her the news,� Sheridan said, smiling.

�Now that you brought up mama, I think I better go out there and tell the troops that we have a little girl,� Luis said.

�The troops?� Sheridan asked, confused. �Just how many people are out there anyway?�

�Oh, just about everybody that was at our house this afternoon relocated here to the hospital,� Luis told her.

�I hope that somebody stayed behind to watch our other children,� Sheridan worried.

�Evan and Kay are there with Dario and everything is fine,� Luis assured her.

�I should have known my little brother would keep his promise,� Sheridan smiled.

�Okay, let me go out there and make the announcement,� Luis said, rising from the bed.

�Don�t tell them what we decided to name her just yet. I want to see Pilar�s face.�

�I promise I won�t say a word,� Luis said, crossing his heart playfully. �Okay, bye Sofie, daddy will be back in just a few minutes.�

�Oh, so you�re already calling her Sofie?� Sheridan smiled.

�Yeah, but it�s not because I don�t love Sofia. I just think it�s kind of proper for a tiny little baby.�

�Actually, I like Sofie,� Sheridan said, kissing her little baby on her curly topped head. �Besides you know that�s what Luke and Lily are going to call her by that name.�

�I better go,� Luis said, turning to leave. �Oh and Sheridan. Thank you for my little girl.�

�I think your daddy is already in love,� Sheridan told her daughter gently. �Your mommy certainly is.�

When Luis walked into the waiting room everyone looked up with anticipation written all over their faces. �Well everyone, we have a beautiful little girl,� he announced beaming.

�Congratulations son,� Martin said, giving his son a hug. �That�s wonderful news.�

�Oh mijo, that is wonderful news,� Pilar said with tears in her eyes. �I can�t wait to meet our new little granddaughter.�

�I just can�t wait to see the little squirt,� Paloma said, clearly excited.

Everyone else echoed Pilar�s sentiments, and demanded to know when they could meet the new addition to the family. �Just give us a little more time, so that they can get the baby cleaned up and you can all come in shifts. Mama and papa first,� Luis said, turning to leave. �Oh, I almost forgot, she has dark hair just like mine,� Luis said, proudly.

A little later, as Martin and Pilar entered the room, they were greeted by the sight of their granddaughter bundled in Sheridan�s arms. Her dark curls stood out against the pink blanket and it was the sweetest moment. �Come here and meet your new little granddaughter,� Sheridan told them.

�She is so precious,� Pilar said, gushing. �She might have Luis� coloring, but I think she looks a lot like Sheridan.�

�I agree Pilar, and I swear she�s just as pretty as her mother and sister,� Martin said, beaming at the tiny baby.

�Would you like to hold her Pilar?� Sheridan offered.

�Are you serious?� Pilar asked, holding her hand over her heart.

�Of course I am,� Sheridan said, handing her little bundle to her mother-in-law. �I think we should tell your parents what we have decided to name her.�

�Her name is Sofia Pilar,� Luis told them, watching his mother�s face in anticipation.

�I am so touched,� Pilar said with watery eyes. �And Sofia is a beautiful name.�

�It really does fit her,� Martin agreed. �You have made up proud with this adorable little girl.�

Suddenly, the nurse peaked her head in the door. �I�m sorry to interrupt, but there are a lot of people out here chomping at the bit to see the little one.�

�Oh well, I guess we better start herding them in before the hospital kicks us out for causing a disturbance,� Luis suggested.

********************

Eve had just enough time the next morning to drop by to see Sheridan and the baby before everyone arrived to hear the results of the DNA test. She promised the new mother that she would tell her the news later. She had received word last night that the DNA test results were completed and were being shipped to her overnight. After Sam�s request that the test be done somewhere other than Harmony Hospital, Eve has sent the blood samples to a friend from medical school that worked in the state forensics lab at the capital to perform. Since he owed her a favor, he had readily agreed to help her out and ran the DNA samples on his own time. She had already had a visit from Ivy several days ago demanding to know why the test was not being performed right there in the local hospital. It didn�t take long for Eve to come to the conclusion that Ivy had already been on the prowl to try and bribe the lab technician to fix the test results. There had been a terrible argument between them, and Ivy had promised that Eve would make the test come out in her favor or she would destroy the good doctor�s life. She had called all of the pertinent people to the hospital to tell them that the test results were on the way, and Sam, Grace, Ivy and Ethan were now in the waiting room wearing a hole in the carpet.

Eve made the decision that she was not going to give into Ivy�s blackmail this time, no matter what the bitch threatened to do. After all, didn�t Ivy have just as much to lose if she exposed her past with Julian? Suddenly there was a knock on her office door that startled her from her musings. It was a nurse with the envelope containing the paternity results. She thanked the woman and went to sit down at her desk, and just stared down at the package, loathed to open it. There wasn�t much time to contemplate the situation when Ivy came bursting into her office unannounced. �How dare you come in here without an invitation. I told you to wait out there and I would call you when the results were here.�

�Oh please Eve,� Ivy laughed. �I dare anything I want. Now, you and I need to have a little talk before you call the other�s in here.�

�There is nothing for us to discuss, now get out,� Eve ordered.

�Are those the test results there in front of you?� Ivy asked, spotting the envelope.

�Yes, and you are not going to see them until all the others are present,� Eve said, holding the package close to her chest in a protective manner.

�Why do we have to go through this same song and dance every time Eve? We both know that you don�t have a choice but to do as I demand, or your perfect life will go up in smoke.�

�That�s where you are wrong Ivy, because I do have a choice and I am not going to lie for you any longer. Sam and Ethan deserve to know that they are father and son, and you are not going to get away with this lie any longer,� Eve said, adamantly. �How did you get in here anyway without Sam suspecting something?�

�Simple, I�m on the hospital board, and I just told them that I had to check on some board business, now quit stalling Eve,� Ivy said, getting a white envelope from her purse. �Need I remind you that I still have these lurid pictures of you and Julian making love, and also the copy of you posing for your mug shot. Make no mistake Eve, I will show these to TC and the whole town of Harmony if you do not tell Sam, Ethan and Suzy Homemaker that Julian is Ethan�s biological father.�

�Why do you care anyway?� Eve asked, confused. �You claim that Sam is the love of your life. Why wouldn�t you want him to know that he fathered Ethan?�

�I would love to shout it from the rooftops, but I would lose everything if Julian found out the truth. Not to mention my son would never be reinstated to his rightful place as the head of Crane Industries. I have worked too long, and put up with too much���.�

�Save it Ivy,� Eve said, silencing her. �I have heard your hard luck story too many times before, and guess what? I still don�t feel any pity for you.�

�It�s immaterial to me how you feel about me Eve, but you are going to lie, or I will destroy you,� Ivy said, dangling the pictures in front of her.

It made Eve sick to see those pictures and if they made her feel that way, she couldn�t even imagine how TC would react. God, as much as she hated this constant lying, she didn�t have a choice but to do what Ivy wanted. �My God Ivy, how can you even look at yourself in the mirror every night?� She ripped the flap of the envelope open and pulled the test results from inside.

�Good, so whatever you have to do to change those results so we can put this to rest once and for all. You are going to change them aren�t you?� Ivy asked, when she saw Eve�s head shoot up with a look of astonishment.

Eve couldn�t believe her eyes. She had to read the report a second time just to make sure that she hadn�t been mistaken, but she had not. Suddenly, it was like a dam bursting, and she started to laugh hysterically.

�Have you totally lost your mind Eve?� Ivy asked, staring at the woman holding her stomach with uncontrolled laughter. �Would you stop that cackling and assure me that you are going to lie about those results?�

�Oh this is rich,� Eve said, trying to control herself. �I don�t have to lie Ivy��..�

�Yes you will if you don�t want your life destroyed,� Ivy demanded.

�No, no, what I meant is that I don�t have to lie, because according to these test results, Julian is Ethan�s biological father.�

�What?� Ivy asked, a look of horror on her face. �No, that can�t be. There has to be some mistake����

�There is no mistake Ivy. The man that did the test is very proficient in his field, and works for the crime forensics lab, and has done many of these tests. Face it, Julian is Ethan�s father,� Eve said, smugly.

�You probably had him fix the results just so you could get to me, well I don�t believe it. Sam is Ethan�s father,� Ivy shouted in a frazzled voice.

�You are crazy,� Eve said, shaking her head in disbelief. �Here you are threatening me to lie and say that Julian has been proved to be Ethan�s father, and when you get what you want you don�t want to believe it.�

�Because, all these years, the only thing that has kept me from going insane was knowing that I still had a part of Sam, with Ethan, and I will not accept it to be any other way.�

�Well Ivy, I�m afraid you�re going to have to,� Eve told her. �I don�t understand how you could be sure anyway. I thought that you left for your honeymoon with Julian the very next day after you had been with Sam?�

�I did, but I was able to keep Julian away from me for at least the first week, and then when I didn�t start my period, I knew I was pregnant with Sam�s child,� Ivy said, confidently.

�That doesn�t prove a thing Ivy. You were under a lot of stress then and missed your period because of that. If you were with Julian in a matter of weeks after Sam then it makes sense that he is Ethan�s father.�

�I won�t accept it! I want another DNA test ran,� Ivy demanded.

�Be my guest Ivy, and in fact while you�re at it have several more done, but it�s not going to change the fact that Ethan is Julian�s son. Besides, how are you going to explain to Sam and Ethan that you don�t accept the test results that Julian is Ethan�s father, since that is what you have been claiming all along?�

�I�ll have them run for my own satisfaction,� Ivy said, defiantly.

�You go right ahead Ivy, but I have every confidence now that the results will be the same. Maybe it�s time to face the fact that you have been living an illusion for all of these years because you were so hell bent on getting back at the Cranes for secretly hording the fact that Ethan was Sam�s son. The problem is, you were wrong, and now you have caused turmoil and pain for all of these people involved because of it.�

�You bitch, you are just loving the fact that I am in pain right now,� Ivy cried, still not believing this was happening.

�If you were a better person, I would almost feel sorry for you Ivy, but you know what they always say. You reap what you sow, and I find it totally justified that your whole plan backfired on you,� Eve said, picking up the phone. �Yes, Sandra, send in Ethan Crane and the Bennetts. Tell them that the test results are here.�

They all filed into Eve�s office fully expecting to have the news confirmed that Sam was Ethan�s father, but when Eve announced the opposite, the smiles of relief were apparent for all of them but Ivy. She still looked as if her dog had just died, and Eve loved every minute. For once things turned out the way they should be.

�Oh God Dr. Russell, can we really be sure?� Ethan asked, hopefully.

�I�m very confident that these are correct Ethan. They were done at the state forensic lab,� Eve explained.

�Then you don�t have to explain any more to me,� Ethan said, happily. �No offense Sam...........�

�None taken Ethan,� Sam said, putting his hand on Ethan�s shoulder. �I do want you to know that if things turned out the other way, I would have gladly accepted you into my family.�

�Thank you Sam,� Ethan said, touched.

�This is wonderful news,� Grace said, happy as a lark. Now they could get Ivy out of their lives once and for all, but she noticed something strange. Ivy didn�t seem at all pleased by the news.

�Well mother, I guess that I owe you an apology for doubting your word. I�m also sorry about upsetting your lives Sam and Grace,� Ethan told them, humbly.

�It�s okay Ethan,� Sam assured him. �I completely understand why you needed to confirm your paternity.

�All�s well that ends well,� Grace smiled. �Sam, I think that you and I should go and visit Sheridan. I�m dying to see that precious little girl.�

�Sounds like a good idea to me Grace,� Sam agreed.

�I actually saw Sofia last night and she is an adorable little baby,� Ethan announced. �As a matter of fact, I think I�ll go along with you. I want to tell Sheridan the news, and after that I�m going to call Jordan.�

As they were leaving, Grace hung behind so that she could have a word with Ivy. �Why are you standing there gawking at me Grace?� Ivy asked snidely.

�I just find it strange that you seem so glum over the news Ivy. Could it be that you were secretly hoping that Sam was Ethan�s father? On second thought don�t answer, because I really don�t care how you feel about this. I�m just so happy that now you can finally be out of our lives forever.�

�You just keep telling yourself that Grace, and maybe you�ll even believe it after a while,� Ivy said with a smug smile. �You know deep down inside that I will never be out of Sam�s life because I was his first love, and I will always be in his heart.�

�Oh please,� Grace said, laughing. �A lot has changed over the years Ivy, and I know with every fiber of my being that Sam could never have feelings for a miserable bitch like you.�

�Grace are you coming?� Sam called out.

�Yes Sam, I�m finished here,� Grace said, joining her husband.

�Well Ivy, it just doesn�t seem to be your day,� Eve said, laughing out loud.

********************

Luke and Lily could hardly contain themselves over the news of their little sister�s arrival, and they were now on their way to the hospital to meet Sofie. They were also filled with so many questions, and Luis patiently answered every one of them.

�Daddy, I forgot, what be our baby�s name?� Luke asked.

�Her name is Sofie,� Luis told his son.

�Daddy, will Soapie talk to me?� Lily asked next.

�Sofie is only one day old Peanut, and it takes a long time for a baby to learn to talk, but she will make little noises to communicate.�

�Me want mama to come home with our baby,� Lily pouted.

�Mommy and Sofie are coming home tomorrow, so it won�t be too much longer, but I want both of you to promise me to try and be good. Mommy will be sore and very tired, and she doesn�t need to hear the two of you fighting,� Luis warned. �Daddy certainly doesn�t want to hear about that either.�

�Kay daddy, we be special good,� Luke told him with his little gamine grin.

�That�s what I like to hear Sport,� Luis said, touched by his little boy�s words. �Now, do you remember what I told you about the hospital?�

�We be bary, bary quiet,� Lily said, holding her finger to her lips.

�That is bary, bary good Peanut,� Luis chuckled. �Looks like we�re here.�

�Me want to see mama,� Lily said, excitedly.

�Mommy wants to see you too. She really misses you and Luke, but I just want to tell you again that there are sick people in the hospital and the last thing they need to hear are screaming children, so please behave. The first time you misbehave, I�ll have to take you home.�

�Me and Lukie know daddy,� Lily said, impatiently.

Luis was happy to see that the twins had taken his warning seriously, because they were being perfect quiet little angels as they sought out Sheridan�s room. They were all surprised to find the room filled with visitors. Jordan, Chad and Evan were there, and bouquets of flowers were all around the room.� �Wow, this place didn�t look like this when I left this morning,� Luis said, looking around the room.

�Hi mama,� the twins said, running to their mother�s bedside.

�Come here and give me a big kiss and hug,� Sheridan said, gathering them into her arms. �I missed my little sweet peas.�

�Mama, we want to see Soapie,� Lily told her.

�Yeah mama, where�s our baby?� Luke asked, looking around.

�Well, the nurse took the baby to the nursery so that they could check her over and give her a bath, but your little sister should be back soon,� Sheridan explained to them.

�I think that this is our signal to leave,� Evan said, walking up to give Sheridan a kiss on the cheek. �You did good sis. Sofia is a beautiful little girl.�

�Thank you again for staying with Luke and Lily last night. Did you thank Uncle Evan?� Sheridan asked the twins.

�Tank you Effin,� they told him politely.

�You�re welcome little squirts,� Evan smiled. �We had a good time didn�t we.�

�Yeah mama we play horsey with Effin,� Luke told her.

�You did. Well it does sound like you had a good time.�

�I�m out of here too,� Chad announced. �Congradulations again. You sure have a precious little girl there, and Luis don�t worry about coming into the office.�

�Thanks buddy,� Luis said, gratefully. �I feel so bad that that you�re picking up all the slack lately.�

�Don�t worry about it,� Chad assured him. �We�re family, and family does that for each other.�

�Thank you Chad,� Sheridan said, kissing his cheek.

It was Jordan�s turn to approach. �Well this day just couldn�t get much better. We have our sweet little Sofie, and the news about Ethan.......... I haven�t felt this good in days.�

�I know Jordan,� Sheridan agreed. �I couldn�t be more pleased about the news that Ethan really is a Crane. I know he�s happy as a lark, and of coarse my little girl is the icing on the cake.�

�She really is adorable Sheridan, and so are the two of you,� she told the twins. �I swear the three of you are the best looking kids in Harmony.�

�You can take our pitures Jordee,� Lily said, flipping her curly locks with her fingers, and everyone laughed.

�Will you do me a favor Jordan?� Sheridan said, in a low voice.

�Of course,� Jordan said. �You just name it.�

�Call Noah............�

�I don�t know Sheridan. He probably thinks I�m the biggest loser by now. Let�s face it, I�ve brought him nothing but trouble, and I�m sure he�s better off without me.�

�He stopped in here earlier, and I can assure you that he doesn�t feel like he�s better off without you. He really misses you Jordan, so call him.�

�I�ll think about it,� Jordan said, getting up to leave. �I�m out of here. I think you need some private family time.�

After everyone left, Sheridan insisted that they all say a quiet prayer for the little baby they had lost. The twins didn�t really understand, but they made a good effort to keep up with the prayer. The nurse came in then, holding Sofie in her arms, and Luke and Lily just stared at their little sister in awe, as she was placed in Sheridan�s arms. �Well here she is. Meet your new little sister, Sofie.�

�Oh mama, Soapie be so widdle,� Lily said in amazement.

�Can Soapie play with us mama?� Luke asked.

�Not just yet sweetie. She is too little yet,� Sheridan told him.

�So munchkins, what do you think about your little sister?� Luis asked.

�She be so cute daddy,� Lily said, touching Sofie�s hand lightly.

�What do you have to say Sport?�

�Soapie be better than Clues Clues,� Luke announced, excitedly, making his parents break out in laughter.

Part 6, Chapter 46

Sheridan lay in bed with Sofie in her arms and Luke and Lily by her side. The twins were enchanted with their little sister as they stared in awe at her tiny fingers and toes. Luis felt a giant lump in his throat as he observed the sight before him and his heart swelled with love. Everything he had always dreamed about was right here before him, and he would carry this picture with him the rest of his life. Suddenly, Sheridan looked up and their eyes connected. �Hey daddy, why don�t you come and join us?� Sheridan invited, gracing him with her brilliant smile.

�I�m on my way,� Luis said moving toward his family. He sat down on the bed, and Sheridan handed their baby girl to him. �Hey Sofie girl. You�re just as pretty as your mommy and your sister.�

�Me pretty too daddy,� Luke said, making his daddy winch at his words.

Sheridan decided that she better take over. �Well sweetie, boys are not pretty, they�re handsome,� Sheridan told him. �You and daddy are very handsome.�

�Can you two believe that your fingers used to be this tiny?� Luis asked the twins.

�No daddy,� the twins said, fasinated.

�When we get home, daddy will show you some pictures we took right after you came home from the hospital,� Luis promised.

�This is so wonderful being here with just my little family,� Sheridan sighed. �I�m really touched that everybody wanted to come and see Sofie, but it was starting to look like Grand Central Station in here.�

�It is really special that just the five of us can spend this time together,� Luis agreed.

�Can you believe there are five of us now?� Sheridan said, happily.

�I was just thinking earlier that this is all I ever dreamed about,� Luis said, looking into her eyes. �We couldn�t ask for more.�

�Except for our little baby in heaven,� Sheridan said, her eyes suddenly filled with sadness.

�I know, but he�s in good hands, and that�s what we need to hang onto.�

�You�re right,� Sheridan said, changing the subject to a more pleasant subject. �So, are you excited for your little sister to come home?� she asked the twins.

�Yes mama,� Lily said, excitedly. �Can Soapie seep with me when she come home?�

�Well Lily, Sofie won�t be able to sleep with you for a couple of years yet. She is too small and she could fall out of your big bed,� Sheridan explained. �I think that is very sweet of you to want your little sister to sleep with you though.�

�Where will Soapie seep mama?� Luke asked, curiously.

�She�ll sleep in the nursery where you and Lily used to sleep before you got your big beds, but she�ll have to stay in mommy and daddy�s room in her bassinette for a little while.�

�But why mama?� Luke asked, confused.

�Because Luke little babies have to eat often and Sofie will wake up a lot during the night, so it�s better to have her close by.�

�Me can give Soapie some of my ronnies and cheese,� Luke offered.

�That�s really nice of you Sport, but Sofie doesn�t have any teeth yet so that only thing that she can eat right now is milk,� Luis chuckled.

�Oh no Luis, I just thought of something,� Sheridan said with a worried frown. �We have completely deserted Dario. Where is he anyway?�

�Don�t worry Sheridan, Dario is fine,� Luis promised. �He�s been at mama�s all day with Paloma and Miguel and having a blast.�

�That�s a relief, but I�m sure he must feel uncomfortable being bounced around this way.�

�I really don�t think so Sheridan,� Luis said, thoughtfully. �He really seems to have formed a bond with mama and papa, and Miguel is his new favorite buddy. In fact he should be here in a little while. Paloma, Theresa and Miguel are going to bring him along to visit Sofie.�

As if on cue someone knocked on the door and Theresa peeked her head in the door. �Are you up for some visitors?�

�Of course we are,� Sheridan greeted her sister-in-law with a smile. �Come in.�

�Hi Teetee,� the twins called out to her. �And Poma, and Guel, and Daro.�

�I think you just about covered everyone,� Luis laughed.

�Poma, we got a new baby,� Lily told her aunt.

�I know Squirt,� Paloma laughed. �I think I need to look at this little baby Squirt.�

�What an adorable little baby,� Theresa gushed. �She definitely has that Lopez-Fitzgerald dark hair but those curls had to come from Sheridan because all of us have straight hair.�

�It looks like she has her Uncle Miguel�s dimples,� Paloma pointed out.

�She sure is a cutie pie,� Miguel said, flattered that his niece would inherit something of his own.

�Dario, why don�t you come closer so that you can see the baby?� Sheridan suggested, trying to pull him into the conversation.

Dario stepped forward shyly to observe the newest Lopez-Fitzgerald. His face broke out into a smile whey he laid eyes on the little bundle. �She looks like the little cherubs in the paintings on the cathedral ceiling at the monastery.�

�I like that,� Luis said, kissing his baby daughter on the forehead. �She does look like a little cherub.�

�Mama, what�s a cherup?� Luke asked, curiously.

�It�s like a little baby angel. Do you remember when I showed you those pictures of angels and Jesus?�

�But where are Soapie�s wings?� Lily asked, inspecting her little sister.

�Sofie doesn�t have wings Lily,� Sheridan told her. �Dario was just saying that she looked like the little angels in the pictures.�

�I can�t believe I�m leaving soon and I won�t get to see her grow up,� Theresa said, getting all emotional.

�Theresa, it�s not like you are leaving forever,� Sheridan said. �Besides the flight to Paris is not all that long and you can come home for a visit.�

�I guess you�re right Sheridan, but I am starting to feel homesick already.�

�Good, then don�t go,� Luis urged her. �I�m sure they have design schools in Boston you can go to.�

�But Luis, this is the opportunity of a life time, and I do want to be near Gaston,� Theresa argued.

�You know Theresa, your family will always be here for you, and this is a chance that may never be offered to you again�, Sheridan reminded her. �Unless you really don�t want to leave.............�

�I haven�t changed my mind about going,� Theresa said, adamantly. �But I am going to miss my family.�

�Take it from me Theresa, you will survive the separation,� Paloma told her sister without her usual sarcastic tone.

�I do know that Paloma,� Theresa said with a new understanding of her sister.

�Why don�t you tell Sheridan about our surprise?� Miguel suggested feeling uncomfortable with his sister�s subject matter after the incident in Spain.

�Oh let me tell,� Paloma volunteered. �Theresa, Miguel and I are going to help papa at the restaurant so that mama can spend the week with you.�

�I can�t let you do that,� Sheridan protested. �You�ll all be starting fall quarter soon. Especially you Miguel, it�s your first year in college, and Theresa don�t you want to be free to spend some time with your friends before you leave?�

�It�s not like we�re all going to have to be there at the same time,� Paloma argued. �Besides, do you really think that we will be able to keep mama away?�

�And I will be leaving soon to go to my adoptive family and see my new school,� Dario added. �So you do not have to worry about me being a burden.�

�Dario, you are not a burden,� Sheridan said, horrified that he would have that impression. �We all care about you very much and we are going to miss you terribly.�

Everyone joined in to reinforce what Sheridan said, and it was obvious that Dario was thrilled by their words. �I will miss all of you very much too.�

�Daro can stay with us ever and ever,� Luke announced with a cheeky grin.

�We wish he could Sport, but he has to go to his new family soon,� Luis told his little boy.

�Kay daddy,� Luke said with a pouty lip. �Bye bye Daro.�

�I will not be going for a few days Luke,� Dario smiled.

�Sheridan, do you think I can hold the baby Squirt for a minute?� Paloma asked. �I promise I�ll wash my hands.�

�Oh, me too,� Theresa pleaded.

�As long as none of you have colds, I don�t see any problem with that,� Sheridan told them.

They all had a wonderful visit, until the nurse came in and fussed at them about having too many visitors. Sheridan tearfully kissed the twins goodbye, and Luis promised to be back later after he had taken their children home.

*****************

Ivy had never been an excessive drinker, but tonight she planed on getting rip roaring drunk. After the blow she received earlier today, being inebriated was the only way she could deal with the shocking truth. All these years the only thing that had kept her sane was the fact that she still had a part of Sam�s love with Ethan, and now Eve Russell had shot that all to hell in one afternoon. All the years of putting up with Julian and the rest of the Cranes had been all for nothing. She pored herself a stiff drink, and gulped it down, feeling the burning liquid warm her body as it made its way through her extremities. The glass was filled again, and she held it up in a toast. �Here�s to you Ivy, and your miserable life.�

The amber liquid slid down much easier this time, and began to have an effect on her. How had things come to this? All these years it had given her a certain satisfaction to know she was pulling a fast one on Julian and every one else, but now they all knew her secret and it infuriated her to think of the way they had all treated her, especially Grace Bennett. How she would love to ring that righteous bitch�s neck............. How dare that woman talk to her like she was something that was stuck on the bottom of her shoe. There had to be a way to make her pay for the humiliation she had caused, and she promised that one day she would see that it happened. They all thought that they knew her so well............

Suddenly another part of her past entered her mind, and just thinking about it made her reach for the bottle again. She had promised herself a long time ago that she would never think about what happened back then, because if she did she might just fall apart. The one thing she could feel assured about was the fact that this was one secret that nobody would ever find out, because she had been very careful about leaving any evidence around. She shook her head, trying to get the thoughts out of her mind.

�Mother, are you okay?� Jordan asked from the doorway.

�What do you want?� Ivy asked, taking another drink.

�Why is it so dark in here?� Jordan asked, reaching for the light.

�Leave the light off,� Ivy demanded, slurring her words.

�Oh my God, you�re drunk,� Jordan said, shocked since she had never seen her mother that way before.

�Yep, and I�m going to get a lot drunker before the night is over. Now, will you please leave me alone.�

�Why are you acting this way? I thought you would be thrilled that the results of the test proved that you were right all along..........�

�If you would have listened to me and kept your mouth shut that whole fiasco today wouldn�t have been necessary, but you just couldn�t leave it alone.�

�Look, that�s why I came tonight. I wanted to apologize for all of the trouble I caused, but I can assure you that I thought I was doing the right thing,� Jordan said, sincerely.

�Well guess what Jordan?� Ivy said, raising her glass to her daughter. �I don�t accept your apology. In fact I want you to leave now so I don�t have to see your face and then I don�t have to think about how you ruined my life.�

Her mother�s words felt like a knife in her heart, but a part of her was furious too. �I should have known better than to try and reach out to you. You are a vicious, miserable person, and I hope you�re happy rotting away all by yourself,� Jordan said, leaving the room and slamming the door behind her.

Ivy couldn�t stop the tears from falling. Her daughter�s words really hit home, and she realized that she really was alone. A little voice told her that she should have accepted Jordan�s olive branch, but she quickly pushed the thought out of her mind. After all it was her daughter�s fault that she had lost the last link to the only man she had ever loved. God, she needed another drink to numb the pain that was weighing her down like a block of cement. Tomorrow she would think of a way to survive this, just like she had survived everything else for all of these years.

*******************

Noah knocked on the door one more time, but there was still no answer. Jordan�s car was here, so she was either avoiding him again, or she was out for a walk or something. Maybe it was better that she wasn�t here, because he had no idea what he was even going to say to her. In fact, he was probably the biggest kind of fool for thinking anything would really change in spite of the fact they had the proof now that they didn�t share a brother. He was almost to his car when he saw her approach and his gaze locked with hers. �Jordan,� was all he said.

�Noah, what are you doing here?�

�To be honest with you, I don�t really know,� he admitted. �Maybe I should leave...........�

�No, please don�t leave,� she begged. �I think that we have a lot to talk about.�

�You look upset Jordan,� Noah noted.

�I was under the illusion that I could reach out to my mother, but once again she proved that she wants nothing to do with me.�

�Why do you keep putting yourself through that Jordan?� Noah asked, disgusted. �She doesn�t deserve your consideration.�

�Nobody is more aware than I am that my mother can be a first class bitch, but she is still my mother and I thought that I owed her an apology,� she argued in her own defense. �In fact I owe you and your family an apology too.�

�No you don�t Jordan. You stumbled on your mother�s letter by accident, and if you remember I encouraged you to come forward so that we could all find out the truth. There was no other choice in the matter.�

�Not according to my mother,� Jordan told him. �She said that I ruined her life. Who knows, maybe she�s right.�

�Stop it Jordan,� Noah said, furious. �I�m not going to sit here and listen to you second guess yourself, and I�m certainly not going to let you believe a damn word your mother says. I know that she is your flesh and blood, but she�s been terrible to you. It�s nothing short of abuse Jordan.�

�Come on Noah, abuse is a little strong don�t you think?� she said, shocked.

�Just because you mother doesn�t beat you to a pulp every night does not mean she hasn�t abused you Jordan. You are a beautiful, talented person with a good heart, and one of the things I love about you is the way that you fight for other people. But you never fight for yourself because you mother has made you feel like your not good enough.�

�I think you�re exaggerating Noah,� Jordan protested, knowing full well that he was right, but she didn�t want to face the truth.

�You know what you problem is? You don�t like yourself. Every time there is a road block put in our way, you push me away because you think it�s all your fault and that your saving me from the plague of Jordan Crane.�

�My Aunt Sheridan said the same thing, but I just don�t want you to be hurt Noah,� she cried.

�I know that Jordan, but I�m a grown man and capable of making my own decisions. You have to have faith that I will be there for you no matter what happens, with the exception of one thing.�

�What is that?� she asked, shakily.

�I will not stand by and watch you self-destruct, and cave into your mother�s abuse. We are never going to make it if you can�t learn to like and respect yourself.�

�Is that some kind of an ultimatum?� Jordan asked, feeling resentful. �Either I get some therapy or you�ll just wash your hands of me?�

�It�s not like that Jordan. I just can�t stand to see what your mother�s abuse is doing to you.............�

�Then, maybe it would be better if you left,� Jordan said, stubbornly. �I wouldn�t want you to be dragged down by my pathetic life.�

�You just don�t get it,� Noah said, exasperated. �Why don�t you call me when you�re ready to talk sensibly about this.� With that he slid into the driver�s seat and drove away, leaving Jordan standing there crying like a baby.

********************

Luke and Lily stood on the porch with their grandmother, with Dario watching the car drive up with their new little sister inside. They were so excited that they were jumping up and down in anticipation, waving toward the car. Luis parked and went opened the car door to help Sheridan out. They lifted the baby up, car seat and all and carried her into the house shielding her eyes from the bright son. When they came through the door, the most precious sight greeted their eyes. A big sign was hung on the wall that said �Welcome home Soapie� written in the most shaky penmanship ever known to man. It was obvious that the twins were guided through the art project, and it was almost illegible with some of the letters facing the opposite way, but it was definitely a sweet gesture done with love. �Oh my goodness, look at the sign,� Sheridan announced.

�Wow munchkins, that has to be the best looking sign in the world. We need to take a picture so that we can show Sofie some day,� Luis told them.

�Daro help us daddy,� Luke told him proudly.

�Well, he certainly was a good teacher,� Sheridan said, smiling at her children, while winking at Dario.

�Buela bake big cake,� Lily squealed, clapping her hands.

�Well, this is going to be a real celebration,� Sheridan said, trying to be enthusiastic for the twins� sake, even though she was exhausted. �Thank you so much for the wonderful sign, and Dario thank you for helping the children.�

�It was fun Sheridan,� Dario told her. �Luke and Lily love their art, just like I do.�

�That�s right, you used to send me the best paintings,� Luis remembered.

�Mama, can Soapie draw her name?� Luke asked.

�Sweetie, Sofie is too small to even hold a pencil just yet, but I bet she would love it if you signed her name for her,� Sheridan suggested.

�Kay mama,� Luke said, running to locate his marker box.

�I�ll go upstairs and bring down the small crib,� Luis offered.

�Thank�s honey,� Sheridan said, gratefully. �I really do need to sit down and relax for a while.�

�Why don�t you go upstairs and get some rest?� Pilar suggested. �Tonight will be a long night. I am cooking dinner now, and I will wake you when it is ready.�

�That does sound wonderful Pilar, but it�s my first day home and I don�t want to desert Luke and Lily right away, but I promise I�ll get some rest later.�

�Okay, well I am going to go peal some potatoes. You call if you need anything,� Pilar told her.

�I will help you Senora Pilar. I have pealed lots of potatoes in the orphanage.

�Me want to pee tatoes,� Lily offered excitedly.

�I�m sorry Lily, but mommy does not want you to use sharp objects. You are going to have to wait a few years before you can do that, but maybe there is something else you can do to help abuela?�

�Come Lily, abuela will show you how to fold the napkins,� Pilar said, taking Lily�s hand.

�Kay buela, me help you,� Lily said, excitedly.

�Well, here�s the bed for our little Sofie,� Luis announced, coming down the stairs.

�I think our little Sofie needs her diaper changed,� Sheridan said, wrinkling her nose.

�I�ll change her,� Luis offered, holding his arms out.

�You are a good husband,� Sheridan laughed.

�Can me watch?� Luis asked.

�You bet sport, let the master show you how to change a diaper.� Luis spread a blanket out on the sofa, and lay Sofie on top of it. When he removed her little diaper, and Luke smelled the oder, he plugged his nose.

�Daddy, Soapie be so little to be so stinky,� Luke said, making a face.

�You had some pretty stinky diapers when you were Sofie�s age,� Luis told the little boy.

�No daddy, that was LeeLee,� Luke giggled.

�My little boy thinks he�s a jokester,� Sheridan laughed. �Here Luke, will you give daddy the wipes?�

�Kay mama,� Luke said, excited to be helping. �Here daddy, clean Soapie�s stinky now.�

Just then the phone rang, and Sheridan offered to get it since Luis has his hands full. �Hello.�

�Sheridan, it�s Father Anthony,� the familiar voice sounded. �How are you?�

�Father, it�s so nice to hear your voice. You are not going to believe this but I had my baby.�

�Oh Sheridan that is wonderful news, but I thought that you were not scheduled to deliver for several weeks.�

�Well our precious little girl isn�t too good at keeping with schedules,� Sheridan laughed.

�So you had another little girl? You all must be thrilled. What is her name?�

�Sofia Pilar,� Sheridan told him proudly. �And we are all ecstatic over the birth of our little angel. So Father, have you called for a particular reason? Please don�t tell me that Dario�s adoptive parent�s want him to come early?�

�Well actually Sheridan, I did call about Dario, but I�m afraid that I have some very bad news. I just hate to damper the special time for you right now..........�

�What is it Father?�

�Dario�s adoptive father was arrested yesterday for embezzlement. He�s not a bad person, but he apparently made some bad investments and took some money from the company. He swears that he was planning to pay it back, but the owner was furious and plans to make sure he is prosecuted.�

�Oh no father, that is terrible news. His family must be devastated, but what does this news mean for Dario?� she asked with a bad feeling.

�I spoke with his wife earlier, and she said that they are going to have to mortgage their house just to pay for the legal fees, and she doesn�t possibly see how they can adopt Dario now.�

�Oh God, how am I going to tell that sweet boy that he isn�t going to be adopted after all. This is going to break his heart Father,� Sheridan worried.

�I know that Sheridan, and I promise that I am working on finding another adoptive family, but it may take some time,� Father Anthony said with regret.

�But where is he going to stay in the mean time? We can�t just ship him back to Spain.�

�There are temporary homes where we can place him so that he doesn�t have to go back to Spain� he explained. �I�m so sorry Sheridan........... I feel just terrible about this too, but I have faith that this will all work out.�

�Well you can�t put him in a temporary home. He can stay with us until you find some new adoptive parents for him.�

�Sheridan, are you sure about this? Perhaps you should discuss it with Luis first.�

�I don�t need to because I know that he will feel the same way,� Sheridan said, confidently. �Dario has become very special to us.�

�Bless you Sheridan,� Father Antonio said with relief. �For legal purposes we will have to get you setup as foster parents, but I don�t think that will be a problem.�

�Thank you father. I just don�t know how I�m going to tell Dario this news........�

�I will be happy to do that for you Sheridan,� Father Anthony offered. �I will drive to Harmony so I can do it in person.�

�That won�t be necessary Father, but I do appreciate the offer. Luis and I will break the news to him.�

They covered the last minute details, and Sheridan hung up and watch Luis and Luke with Sofie. They were all so happy and that poor little boy in the kitchen was getting ready to get his heart broken. Luis looked up just then and noticed the look on her face. �Sheridan what is it?� he asked, worriedly.

�Oh Luis, I have the worst news about Dario.............�

Part 6, Chapter 47

It worried Luis when he saw the look on Sheridan�s face. She had just been through childbirth and didn�t need to be upset this way. �What�s this news about Dario?� Luis asked in a low voice.

Sheridan nodded at Luke, signaling to Luis that she didn�t want their little boy to overhear what she had to say. �Hey Sweet Pea, will you please go and tell abuela that I need to talk with her?� she asked her little boy.

�Kay mama,� Luke said, scampering off to do her bidding.

�Sheridan, what did Father Anthony say about Dario?� Luis asked rocking Sofie in his arms.

�The adoptive parents are backing out of the adoption,� she said in a muffled voice so that she wouldn�t be overheard.

�But I don�t understand,� Luis said, confused. �I thought these people were so excited to adopt Dario.�

�Mijo what are you saying?� Pilar asked, walking up in front of them.

�Where are the children Pilar?� Sheridan asked.

�They are on the back porch with Dario. I thought we could have corn on the cob tonight and they are shucking the corn. Now, what is this about Dario?�

�Father Anthony just called and said that Dario�s adoptive father was arrested for embezzlement. Apparently, he made some bad investments and decided to borrow the money from his company, but the owner didn�t appreciate that very much. They are not only in bad financial straits, but they will have to mortgage their home just to pay the legal fees. There is a strong possibility that he could even go to prison.�

�This is terrible,� Pilar said, feeling heartsick for Dario. �That sweet boy was so excited to be here in American. What is to happen to him now Sheridan?�

�Well, Father Anthony is working on finding a new family to adopt him, but it could take some time. In the meantime he will have to live with a temporary family,� Sheridan explained.

�I hope you told him that Dario can stay here?� Luis said.

�I am so glad to hear you say that Luis, because that is exactly what I told Father Anthony. I�m sorry I didn�t discuss it with you first, but I had a strong feeling that you will agree. Of course Father Anthony will have to officially make us foster parents, but he doesn�t think that will be a problem.�

�Sheridan, I think that you are taking on too much,� Pilar worried. �You have two toddlers and a new baby and to take in another child at this time can be very overwhelming.�

�Oh God, I didn�t even consider that,� Luis said, running his hands through his hair. �Mama�s right Sheridan, this is way to much for you to have to take on. I will help you out as much as possible, but I still have to go to work.�

�I appreciate what you are both saying, but Dario is not any trouble at all,� Sheridan argued. �In fact he has been extremely helpful with the twins and a help to me.�

�Sheridan, I know that Dario is a great kid, but we also have to think about his well-being too. He is going to be devastated when he hears this news and he�s going to need all the love and attention we can give him. But, you have to remember that Luke and Lily are going to go through a huge adjustment with a new baby in the house, and they need to be made to feel that they are still an important part of this family. I don�t think that I have to remind you how much attention goes into caring for Sofie.�

�I think that you are both forgetting that I have a lot of love to go around, and I will not let Dario go to live with some strangers. That would be much worse for him,� Sheridan said adamantly.

�Sweetie, nobody is disputing your capacity for love, and I don�t want Dario to have to go and live with strangers either, but there has to be some way we can make this work. I�m just afraid that you would be spreading yourself way too thin, and something�s going to give sooner or later.�

�I know a solution,� Pilar spoke, excitedly. �Dario can come and live with us. Martin and I have grown so attached to him, and he has such a good relationship with Miguel and Paloma. Of course I would have to speak with the rest of the family, but I am sure they will be thrilled.�

�I�m just afraid that Dario will think that we rejected him,� Sheridan worried.

�I really think that this could work out Sheridan,� Luis said, getting as excited as Pilar. �It would make sense for Dario to live with mama because we need to enroll him in school and he would be within walking distance. He could always come and stay with us for the weekend if he wanted to.�

�Maybe you�re right,� she said, feeling better about the situation. �He could have the best of both worlds. I�ll talk to Father Anthony to see if we can work this out.�

�I think it would probably be a good idea not to say anything to Dario until we work out all of the details though,� Luis suggested.

�Mama, see my pretty hair,� Lily said, running into the room with a fist full of the yellow silk from the corn.

�That is very pretty Lily,� Sheridan said, making a big deal. �You must have worked very hard to get that.�

�Hey Peanut, daddy used to collect that stuff too when abuela would make us take the husk off the corn,� Luis told his daughter.

�Me have more than Lukie too. So soft............�, she said, rubbing the silky strands against her cheek.

�This is the kind of life I always wanted for my children,� Sheridan said, touched by the simple pleasure her daughter was having over corn silk. �I had no idea that you even had to peel corn when I was growing up.�

�Actually Sheridan, you don�t peel corn,� Luis laughed. �It�s called shucking.�

�Oh well, you knew what I was talking about,� she snapped, feeling embarrassed.

�Mama, mama,� Luke called out running into the room. �Me brought dis for you,� he said, handing her a wilted flower.

�Oh Luke, that is so sweet,� Sheridan said, smelling the bloom. �Come here so I can give you a thank you kiss.�

�Mama, me want kissy too,� Lily said with a pouty lip.

�Of course you can have a kiss Lily. Mommy has plenty of kisses for my babies,� she said, smothering Lily�s cheeks with kisses.

Just then, Sofie started to fuss, signaling that it was time for her feeding. �Well, she has a clean diaper so it can�t be that,� Luis said, rubbing his tiny girl�s back.

�She needs to be fed. I better take her into the sunroom so I don�t embarrass Dario,� she said, picking Sofie up in her arms.

�Don�t get up Sheridan,� Luis stopped her. �I know how uncomfortable it is for you to walk right now. Just put a blanket up and he�ll never see a thing.�

�I�m sorry Luis, but I used to see these women that would just rip out their breast no matter where they were, and they weren�t the least bit discreet about it. I swore to myself that I would never do that.�

�Come on Sheridan, it�s not like your standing in downtown Harmony putting on a show,� Luis laughed. �We�re in the privacy of our home.�

�I know that, but Dario is so shy. You remember how embarrassed he got when I was in labor don�t you?� Sheridan reminded him.

�Okay, you do what makes you feel comfortable,� Luis conceded.

�Senora Pilar, I put a pan of water on the stove for the corn,� Dario announced, coming in from the kitchen.

�You are a saint Dario,� Pilar said, putting her arm around him in a motherly fashion.

�Buela, me be sait too,� Luke giggled.

�No, you and Lily are my angels,� Pilar said, kissing her little grandson. �We should be ready to eat as soon as Sheridan is finished feeding Sofia.�

�Good buela, cause me be starving,� Lily said, rubbing her tummy.

********************

Evan surprised Kay with dinner out at Pilar�s that evening. Paloma showed them to a table that had a romantic view of the ocean and it was just the thing they needed after the stress of the last few days. Evan noticed that Kay seemed to be a million miles away. �Earth to Kay,� he said, waving his hand in front of her.

�What?� she said, startled from her musing.

�I was trying to get your attention. What are you so intense about,� Evan asked.

�I was just thinking about Ivy Crane yesterday after the test results came in about Ethan. When they all walked out of Dr. Russell�s office everyone seemed to be so relieved except for Ivy.�

�Maybe if was because it wasn�t a big surprise to her since she has been claiming all along that Julian was Ethan�s father,� Evan reasoned.

�No, it wasn�t like that Evan. She almost looked sad and upset, and we all know what a gloating bitch she can be. If she was so sure of the results of that test why wasn�t she all smug and her usual arrogant self?�

�I don�t know Kay,� Evan said, shrugging his shoulders. �I make it a practice to never try and figure out what makes a woman tick. Besides, everyone got the results they wanted. Why continue to beat this dead horse?�

�Because I don�t trust that woman, and it still makes me sick to think that my own dad did the nasty with her,� Kay said, making a face.

�Kay, your dad and Ivy were together way before he married your mom. People do have pasts,� he reminded her.

�True, but if it was any other person besides Ivy Crane, I wouldn�t have such a problem with it, but���.�

�Come on sweetie. This is supposed to be our romantic evening together. Can we please stop talking about Ivy Crane?� he pleaded.

�Okay, I�ll stop,� she said, gracing him with a smile. �So, what do you want to talk about?�

�Well, are you looking forward to classes starting next week?�

�Actually Evan there is something I wanted to talk to you about concerning going back to college,� she said, hesitantly.

�Kay what is it? You know that you can talk about anything to me,� he said, encouragingly.

�Well, I�m not sure that I want to go back to school next week,� she said, letting out the breath she was holding.

�Okay, if you feel like sitting out a quarter, that�s fine with me����

�That�s not what I�m saying exactly. To be honest with you Evan, I don�t want to go back at all.�

�But I thought that it was important to you to get your college education so that you could have a career? It doesn�t matter to me, but I want you to feel fulfilled.�

�That�s just it Evan. College does not make me feel fulfilled at all. I mean, I don�t even know what I�m doing there since I haven�t even declared a major.�

�Lots of people don�t declare a major until their second year and sometimes after. People are always changing their minds, so don�t feel so pressured,� he said, trying to comfort her.

�Actually Evan, I didn�t want to bring this up tonight, but to be honest, I don�t think I want to go back at all, ever,� she said, rushing the words in a single breath.

�If that�s what you want Kay, I�m certainly not going to force you. I make plenty of money if you want to stay at home, but I do think that your parents are going to be upset with your decision.�

�No Evan, I don�t want to stay home, but I don�t see anything offered at a regular college that interests me. I did have something in mind though,� she said, chewing on her bottom lip, nervously.

�So tell me, what is it that you want to do,� Evan urged her with an encouraging smile. �I�ll support you whatever you choose to do.�

�I�m so glad to hear you say that,� she said, leaning over to give him a kiss. �Because I�ve decided that I want to go to the police academy.�

�The what?!� Evan choked, barely able to get the words out. �You can�t be serious���

�I�m very serious,� Kay said, starting to realize that Evan was not pleased at all by her announcement. �Why are you freaking out this way?�

�Oh gee, maybe because my wife wants to get a job that�s going to get her killed is why,� he said in a low, deadly voice.

�I�ve given this a lot of thought Evan. It�s not like I woke up this morning and decided I was going to pick a career that would piss you off. I come from a long line of police officers, so it shouldn�t be so shocking that I want to follow in that path too.�

�But a cop? That�s just crazy Kay. I would never get a moment of rest knowing you were out there putting your life on the line every day. And besides, have you spoken to your dad about this, because I have a feeling that he wouldn�t be any more thrilled about this than I am.�

�Well no, but I think that daddy would support me,� Kay said, stubbornly.

�Look Kay, you don�t have to work at all. I make more money than we could ever spend. Why don�t you take up an art class, or pottery��..?

�Excuse me Evan, but I�m not going to be the little woman, twitting around the house in my apron all day. I would like a chance at a career for myself too. Let�s just change the subject because I can see that you are not in the mood to discuss this right now.�

�You�re right about that, I�m not���� he didn�t finish because the waiter arrived just then to take their orders.

Evan decided that he was going to put their earlier conversation on hold and salvage the rest of the evening. �I�m sorry about earlier,� Evan apologized. �By the way, you look beautiful tonight.�

She couldn�t resist, and melted. �Thanks, you look pretty handsome yourself,� she smiled, brightly, thinking to herself that there was no way she was going to forget about her goal to become a cop. �Oh look, there�s Jordan sitting at the bar, and she�s all along.�

�Maybe she�s meeting somebody,� Evan suggested.

�I don�t think so,� Kay said, staring across the room at her friend. �Her body language is telling me that she is alone and feeling really depressed right now.�

�So, now you�ve added mind reading to your list of accomplishments?� Evan chuckled.

�I just know I�m right about this Evan, and I bet you a hundred dollars that my brother has something to do with her mood. Earlier today when I went by my parents� house, I ran into Noah and asked him if he had made any progress with Jordan. He told me to mind my own damn business.�

�You know Kay, I don�t think that you should get involved with your brother�s love life,� Evan warned. �You might be the one to get blamed if something goes wrong.�

�I�m not getting involved Evan, but I feel sorry for her sitting there all by herself. I know this was supposed to be a romantic evening, but I would feel better if I at least offered the invitation.�

�You know I can never resist you,� Evan said, kissing her hand. �Okay, go ahead and invite her.�

�Be right back,� she said, hopping up from her chair. When she reached the bar, she patted Jordan on the arm. �Jordan, hello.�

�Oh, hello Kay,� Jordan said, turning to face her. �Are you with Evan?�

Kay could tell by the way that Jordan was suddenly studying the room that she was almost hoping that Noah was with them. �Yes, Evan is giving me a break from cooking tonight��.., or maybe I should say giving himself a break from my cooking,� she giggled. �Why don�t you come and join us?�

�I appreciate the offer Kay, but I really don�t want to intrude. I�m sure that you and Evan don�t have many opportunities to get out for a night on the town,� Jordan declined.

�Trust me Jordan, we really would love for you to join us. Evan is your uncle you know, and he always told me that you would like to get to know you better.�

�Well, I guess I could join you for a while, but only on one condition.�

�Name it.�

�That we don�t discuss your brother.�

�What brother?� Kay smiled.

�Jordan, it�s good to see you,� Evan said, rising up to assist the ladies with their chairs.

�Isn�t he sweet?� Kay said, kissing her husband on the cheek.

�I see the honeymoon isn�t over yet,� Jordan said, finally cracking a smile.

�You wouldn�t say that if you could have heard us earlier,� Evan mumbled.

�You agreed that we would drop that subject for now,� Kay said, shooting Evan a look. �So Jordan, what are you up to tonight?�

�Just out for a drink. I was starting to get cabin fever sitting around that cottage all day............. Look, I wanted to apologize to both of you for causing such an upheaval with this whole Ethan paternity thing. I really thought I was doing the right thing........�

�You did do the right thing,� Evan assured her. �It would have driven you crazy to sit on something like that.�

�Evan�s right Jordan,� Kay agreed. �It was important to get to the truth, and now we all now for sure. You have to admit you feel better now.�

�Yes, I do feel relieved, but I also feel bad that everyone had to be hurt by this,� Jordan said, regretfully. �Okay, I�ll shut up now,� she laughed.

�So Jordan, have you gotten any good photography jobs lately?� Evan asked.

�Actually, I do have a great offer from National Geographic magazine to go to Africa. They are doing a spread on the wildlife of the Amazon.�

�Wow, that is a great offer,� Evan said. �I�m impressed.�

�I am so envious of you,� Kay sighed.

�Well don�t be too envious, because the job is more of an apprenticeship, and I�m sure I�ll spend most of the time being a gopher for the photo journalist, but I think there will be some opportunities for me to take some shots.�

�So, are you going to take the job?� Kay asked excitedly.

�I think I am, but I could be gone for four months..........�

�Then you can�t possibly take it,� Kay said, surprising them both with her sudden adamant opposition.

�Kay, what�s your problem?� Evan asked. �Five minutes ago you were all for Jordan taking this assignment.�

�If you go away for four months what�s going to happen to you and Noah?�

�Kay, that�s not any of our business,� Evan said, shocked by her blunt question.

�It�s okay Evan,� Jordan assured him. �Actually Kay, Noah and I are not really seeing each other any longer, so I don�t think he�ll mind if I leave. There�s nothing left to hold me here in Harmony.�

�How can you say that?� Kay asked. �You have made some great friends, and your family is here, but most importantly Noah is here and he loves you. You love him too don�t you?�

�Sometimes love just isn�t enough,� Jordan said, sadly. �I know you mean well Kay, but your brother and I are at an impasse and maybe it would be for the best if I left for a while.�

�But if you love each other then you should be able to work it out,� Kay argued. �Believe me, Evan and I had our problems, but we worked through them and we are so happy right now.�

�Kay, I know you mean well, but we need to back off and let Jordan work out her own life,� Evan implored her.

�You did promise that we wouldn�t discuss your brother,� Jordan reminded her.

�Okay, I�ll back off, but I think it�s just sad that two people that love each other can�t be together............�

********************

Paloma was standing at the hostess station when JJ came into the main lobby looking like he had lost his best friend. �JJ, what�s wrong?� she asked, concerned.

�I really need to talk to you Paloma. Do you think you can take a break now?� he asked, hopefully.

�Actually, I could use a break, but let me ask papa. Why don�t you sit down over there,� she said, pointing to the bench in the lobby.

When she arrived back, JJ urged her to go outside so that they could have some privacy. �I just had a huge fight with my father. God Paloma, he is so mad at me I wouldn�t be surprised if he disowned me.�

�It can�t be that bad JJ. What did you do that could possibly make him that angry?�

�Okay, he probably won�t disown me, but I have never seen him this angry before.�

�Are you going to tell me what you did to make him so mad?� Paloma asked. �Maybe now is not the best time to be fighting with your father since you�re getting ready to leave for England.�

�That�s just it Paloma, I�m not going to be going to Oxford because I never sent the final application. �

�Oh my God, why would you do that? I thought it was your father�s dream for you to go to Oxford,� Paloma said, shocked.

�That�s just it Paloma, it�s my father�s dream, but not mine. I just never had the nerve to tell him that I didn�t want to go there.�

�You are planning on going to college aren�t you?� she asked hopefully, knowing that JJ was a very bright guy.

�Yes, but I was thinking Harvard. It�s not that far from here and I think I can get accepted for winter quarter.�

�I feel terrible that you had an argument with you father, but I�m kind of glad that you aren�t going to Oxford now.�

�Are you saying that you would miss me?� JJ asked, hopefully. He had really been taking it slow with her and he had noticed that she was actually starting to look at him as more than a friend.

�Yes, I think that I would,� she said, shyly. �Would you miss me?�

�You have no idea Paloma. In fact if was because of you that I finally make the decision about going to Oxford.�

�I�m flattered, but I certainly hope you didn�t tell you father that,� Paloma said, excited by his words.

�I�ve never met anyone like you before Paloma. I�ve lived kind of the fast life of a spoiled rich kid, and I always had my share of girls, but the minute I laid eyes on you that day in the Book Cafe, I knew you were special. I can�t stop thinking about you.�

Paloma was completely taken aback by his words. She had no idea that he had felt that way about her since she had always thought of herself as so unsofisticated compared to all the other girls that JJ had known. �I think you�re special too JJ,� she said, quietly.

�Paloma,� he said, simply, leaning down to kiss her for the first time. It was gentle and sweet at first, but when he felt her respond, he deepened the kiss to a more demanding pace. �You�re so beautiful.........�

�So are you,� she sighed, leaning in against him since it was impossible for her to stand any longer.

********************

Pilar offered to put the children to bed, but Luis wasn�t about to relinquish that privilege to anyone when he was home. Bed time had always been his special time with the twins, especially since they considered their daddy the best storyteller in he world. �If you do not need my help with the children, do you mind if I go into town and check on the restaurant?� Pilar asked.

�Not at all Pilar,� Sheridan assured her. �Please do not feel like you have to be here twenty-four hours a day. Luis has everything under control right now so go and see your husband.�

�I really do need to speak with Martin about that important issue,� Pilar said, referring to Dario.

�That is a really good idea Pilar, because we probably should take care of that soon.�

�Come Luke and Lily and give abuela a kiss goodnight,� Pilar called to the twins.

�Bye bye buela,� Luke said, hugging her.

�You come back soon buela?� Lily asked. �Me want you to stay.�

�I am only going to check on your pawpaw and then I will be back to spend the night,� she explained.

�Okay munchkins, your bath is ready,� Luis announced. �Come on, let�s get cracking.�

�Coming daddy,� the twins said, scampering up the steps.

�Don�t run,� Sheridan called after them. �Dario, there are some good programs on television tonight if you want to watch.�

�No thank you Sheridan,� he said, politely. �I am very tired, so I think I will read for a while and then go to bed.�

�Okay sweetie, but do you think you will be comfortable in Luke�s room? I�m sorry you have to sleep on the trundle bed, but we�re temporarily short of sleeping space.�

�I do not mind at all Sheridan,� Dario assure her. �Luke is fun.�

�Is everything okay with you Dario?� Sheridan asked, noticing that the boy seemed a little sad. �You can tell me anything you know.�

�It is just that I am worried about my new family. I have not heard from them and I have to start school next week. Did they call you Sheridan?�

�No they didn�t,� Sheridan said feeling guilty. �I�m sure that we will hear something soon though, and I�m sure that everything will be fine.�

�Yes, I know you are right,� Dario said, smiling. �Goodnight Sheridan.�

�Goodnight,� she responded. �Pleasant dreams.�

�Oh Sofie, mommy sure hopes that Dario will be okay when we tell him the news,� she said, softly kissing her little girl�s downy head.

Later as she lay in bed beside Luis, she couldn�t get her last conversation with Dario out of her head. �Luis, I�m really worried about Dario.�

�I am too sweetie, but I think that after the initial shock wears off he will be okay. He seems like a pretty resilient kid to me, and I think that he will be excited that he gets to stay with the Lopez-Fitzgerald�s.�

�Maybe,� she said, thoughtfully. �You should have heard him earlier. He was all upset because he hadn�t heard from his new family because school was starting next week.�

�What did you tell him?� Luis asked, raising up on an elbow to stare at her face.

�I was very evasive, and basically told him that everything would be fine. I felt terrible lying to him that way. He�s just so trusting.�

�What else could you say? Besides, everything will be okay so you didn�t lie,� he said, kissing her softly.

�I really needed that,� she said, cuddling against him. �I know we can�t do anything for a while, but just being close to you is so satisfying to me.�

�Me too,� he said, stroking her cheek. �I love you Sheridan, and you have given me the most beautiful children a man could ask for.�

�I think you had a lot to do with that too,� she chuckled.

As if on cue, Sofie let out a little wail. �Daddy�s coming,� Luis said, hopping out of bed to get his daughter out of the crib. �What do you think Sheridan? Feed or change?�

�Use the process of illimiation, and check her diaper,� Sheridan chuckled.

Part 6, Chapter 48

It had been a long night for Luis and Sheridan, and both of them were exhausted when they awakened the next morning. Little Sofie decided that she liked being held by her mommy and daddy and fussed until she was safely ensconced in their arms. Sheridan had just finished feeding her little one when they heard the door creak open and a golden, curly topped head peeked inside. �Mama, can me and Lukie see Soapie?� Lily asked with a twinkle in her big blue eyes.

�Of course you can,� Sheridan smiled. �But it will cost both of you one big kiss for mommy and daddy.�

�Me kiss Soapie too,� Luke said, scampering into the room behind his sister.

�I think that would be really nice Sport, but just make sure you�re very gentle while Sofie is so tiny,� Luis told him.

�Me kiss daddy first,� Lily said with a flirtatious grin. �Then, me kiss mama and Soapie.�

�Well hop up here Peanut,� Luis said, lifting his daughter to the bed.

�Daddy, will Soapie be Peanut now?� Lily asked.

�No way,� Luis assured her. �You will always be my little Peanut.�

�Me be Sport,� Luke announced with a gamine grin.

�That�s right, you�re my main man,� Luis said, giving his son the high five.

�Sofie was a little fussy last night. Did she keep you awake?� Sheridan asked the twins.

�No mama, me seep like a log,� Luke told her.

Sheridan and Luis couldn�t help but laugh at Luke�s words. �Where did you ever hear that expression?� Sheridan asked.

�Big Bird told us mama;� Lily answered for her brother.

�Oh, was Big Bird sleeping like a log?� Sheridan asked, smiling.

�No Kermit be seeping like a log and Big Bird tell us,� Luke explained.

�Well, it�s a good thing that Kermit isn�t sleeping in this bed, because we�re running out of room,� Luis teased. �If we have another baby we just might be in trouble.�

�Mama have another baby for us?� Lily asked, patting Sheridan�s tummy.

�Sweetie, it�s going to be a long time before we have another baby,� Sheridan told her. �We have to wait for Sofie to grow up some more.�

Suddenly there was a light knock on the door. �Yes,� Luis called out.

�Mijo, I�m sorry to disturb you but I cannot find the children,� Pilar answered, sounding a little rattled. �Please tell me that they are in there with you?�

�Yes mama, they�re in here,� Luis told her. �You may as well come in too.�

Pilar couldn�t help but smile when she opened the door and saw all five of them cuddled together in bed. �Well, good morning. How are my precious grandchildren this morning?�

�We be good buela,� Luke told her with a cheeky grin.

�Yeah buela, but Soapie be seeping again,� Lily added.

�That is because little babies sleep a lot. Now, you come with abuela so that we can get you dressed for the day. Your pawpaw is coming over later.�

�Papa�s coming over?� Luis asked, surprised.

�Yes, we decided that it would be more supportive to Dario if he where here when we told him the news.�

�You�re probably right Pilar. Poor Dario,� Sheridan said with a worried frown.

�Mama, why Daro be poor?� Lily asked.

�Well sweetie...............� Sheridan said, hesitating trying to think up a reason that would make sense to a three-year-old.

�Dario is poor because he got up early today and now he is feeding your dog,� Pilar said, saving the day. �Why don�t we get the two of you dressed so that we can help him?�

�Kay buela,� the twins agreed, happily hopping down from the bed.

�Thank you Pilar,� Sheridan said, gratefully.

�Do you want me to take Sofia too?� she asked.

�No, we�ll just put her in the crib while we dress. She was up a good share of the night and I think she�ll sleep for a while,� Sheridan said.

�Yeah mama, Sofie�s sleeping like a log,� Luis laughed.

�You know Luis, I forgot for a moment there that we had to tell Dario about his adoptive parents today,� Sheridan said after Pilar left with the children. �He is such a sweet boy and he doesn�t deserve this.�

�I know it�s going to be tough on him honey, but I have a feeling that this is all a blessing in disguise.�

�I hope you are right Luis,� Sheridan said, kissing her baby daughter�s curly head.

********************

Since Jordan made the decision to accept the assignment in South America, she scheduled an appointment with Dr. Russell for a checkup. It was important to make sure that she was in good health and there were the shots she would need to protect her from any hazards in the jungle. She was waiting in the examination room in the standard white gown when the first wave of dizziness hit her. Life had been so stressful for her lately that she had barely eaten and made a mental note to make sure that she ate something when her appointment was finished. Thankfully, by the time that Eve arrived, the spell had passed.

�Well Jordan, my nurse tells me you�re taking off for an assignment along the Amazon. How exciting,� Eve said, checking Jordan�s chart.

�Yes it really is pretty exciting even though the conditions are going to be less than perfect. I�m really looking forward to getting some great photo opportunities.�

�Before I met T.C, I had considered going to South American to give medical assistance to the poor, but there were so many terrible things happening to the missionaries going down there that I�m afraid that I lost my nerve. Of course things have really improved down there. I hope I didn�t frighten you.�

�No, I did my research and it looks like my worst enemies are the snakes and the bugs,� Jordan said with a little smile.

�I�m sure that Noah is going to miss you while your gone,� Eve said as she did the customary check of Jordan�s lymph nodes.

�To be honest, I don�t think that Noah even knows I�m going. We really aren�t seeing each other any longer,� Jordan admitted.

�I�m sorry to hear that,� Eve said, wisely dropping the subject.

�Well, this assignment couldn�t have come at a better time. You have no idea how badly I need to get away from this place.�

�You know Jordan, it�s certainly not my place to judge your motivation, but I know that when I was thinking about going to South America all those years ago, it was because I was carrying a lot of pain that I thought I could escape from. Are you sure that you really want to do this?�

�Look Dr. Russell, I really do appreciate what you�re trying to do, but this is nothing but a great career opportunity for me,� Jordan said, adamantly.

�Okay, I believe you;� Eve smiled knowingly over her patient�s protest. �Your blood pressure looks good and all of your vitals are normal. I think we can give you the necessary shots you need now.�

Suddenly Jordan felt another wave of dizziness, and put her hands to her temples. �Wow, I guess I was more hungry than I thought I was. I got a little dizzy there for a minute.�

Eve put her hand to Jordan�s forehead. �You feel cold and clammy too. Is this the first time this has happened?� Eve asked, concerned.

�It�s happened a couple of times before, but I haven�t been eating very well lately,� Jordan admitted.

�I�m going to run a blood test just to make sure that you don�t have something else going on,� Eve said, handing her a piece of paper. �Take those orders down to the lab so they can draw some blood and then I want to see you back in my office when you�re finished.�

�Look Dr. Russell I really don�t see why this is necessary,� Jordan protested. �I just missed a couple of meals. If you give me my shots, I promise I�ll go have a huge cheeseburger and fries when I leave here.�

�I�m not going to give you any shots until I can confirm that there is nothing else the matter with you. There is no way that I could in good conscience send you off to the jungle not knowing if you were sick Jordan.�

�But, I don�t have days to wait around for test results to come back before you can give me the shots I need,� Jordan argued.

�Don�t worry about that. I�ll have the lab rush your results and we�ll know today if there is something else going on, but that is never going to happen if you don�t get down there to have your blood drawn.�

�Okay, I�ll go, even though I think it�s a waste of time,� Jordan conceded.

�Good, and after you�re finished at the lab I want you to go and get something to eat while we�re waiting,� Eve advised. �It should take a couple of hours to get the results back.�

Three hours later, Jordan was once again sitting in Eve�s office waiting for the nurse to bring the tests results. The woman was taking forever and Jordan grew more concerned by the second. In the past she had experienced a problem with anemia and if that was the case in this situation, Dr. Russell just may not give her the shots she needed for her assignment. When the envelope was finally delivered, Jordan watched the doctor�s stoic expression as she read the contents hoping that she would see some clue that everything was fine, but Eve was giving nothing away. �You look so serious Dr. Russell. Please don�t tell me that I only have six months to live,� Jordan joked.

Eve looked up and gave Jordan a small smile. �Actually, you appear to be in good health..............�

�See, what did I tell you,� Jordan said, standing. �Now, if you�ll just give me those shots I�ll be on my way. I really do need to go home and pack.........�

�Not so fast Jordan,� Eve said, motioning for her to sit down. �There is something that I haven�t told you yet, and I guess I better just come out with it. You�re pregnant Jordan, and you can�t even think about going to the Amazon right now.�

Jordan just sat there in shock trying to absorb everything that Dr. Russell had just told her and she found it impossible to accept. �That�s impossible because we were always so careful about using protection. This has to be some mistake,� she stated, suddenly feeling better, but then she remembered. The night of the wedding when she was such a mess and she had reached out to Noah, and using protection had been the last thing on her mind........... �Oh God!�

�I know this is a shock to you Jordan, but it�s not the end of the world. I�m sure that once you tell Noah that the two of you can work this out. There are so many options for women now............�

�Please Dr. Russell, you can�t tell Noah about this just yet?� Jordan begged.

�I would never breech our doctor/patient confidentiality, but I would strongly advise that you discuss this with him so that you can make some decisions.�

�You don�t understand Dr. Russell. Noah is so noble and I know that he would insist that we get married, and I will not trap him this way. He doesn�t have the time or the money for a family right now, and I just know he would end up resenting me.�

�Jordan, I�ve known Noah Bennett since he was a baby and I just can�t imagine that happening. He�s so obviously in love with you and I suspect that you feel that same way. People have started out with much less going for them.�

�Yes, but having a baby together does not instantly solve all of your problems. I want to get married because it�s something that we both want, not something that we�re forced to do. I will not live that horrid existence that my parent�s did.�

�I know this has been a huge shock for you so you should give yourself some time to absorb everything. Why don�t you go home and take a long relaxing bath and I�m sure that you will be able to put everything into perspective. I also want you to make an appointment with your gynecologist as soon as possible,� Eve advised.

�Maybe you�re right,� Jordan said, rubbing the tension from her head. �Oh no, I just thought of something. Noah is an intern here and I�m sure he has access to my records. I don�t want him to find out about this through the hospital grapevine.�

�Jordan, I can assure you that Noah has no reason to pull up your records. He is doing his ER rotation right now, and besides just because somebody is on staff here does not give them access to every patient�s records.�

�Still, you don�t know that the lab technician won�t blab something,� Jordan worried.

�He wouldn�t do that because he would lose his job,� Eve assured her.

�You don�t know what�s it like being a Crane Dr. Russell. People have this habit of getting dollar signs in their eyes when they have any information on us that would cause a scandal. Your lab technician might just think it�s worth losing his job when the tabloids pay him a sizable amount of money to spill the fact that I�m pregnant.�

�I�ve always known him to be very professional, but if it will make you feel better I�ll have a talk with him and remind him of the consequences should he tell anyone. He could not only lose his job but face criminal charges.�

�Thank you Dr. Russell,� Jordan said, breathing a sigh of relief. �I just can�t afford to let this get out before I decide what I�m going to do.�

�I certainly can�t tell you what to do, but please make sure that you give all of your options some serious consideration before you jump into anything. You also need to remember that Noah is as much a part of this as you are.�

�I know that Dr. Russell. Whatever I decide to do it has to be what is best for both Noah and myself.�

********************

Luis managed to get the twins down for their naps so it was the perfect time for them to all sit down and tell Dario the news. Martin was holding his new granddaughter as the family settled into the living room all dreading what was about to happen. When Dario saw them all gathered together this way, his face just fell. It was obvious that he suspected that all was not well. �Why do you all look so sad?� he asked, looking around the room.

�Well Dario, I�m afraid that we have something to tell you,� Luis said, sitting down next to the boy. �Your adoptive family has fallen on bad times unexpectedly and they have lost all of their money. As much as they want to adopt you, they don�t think that if would be fair to bring you into their home under these circumstances. In fact things are so bad that they may even lose their home,� he said, putting his arm around the boy. �I am really sorry about this because I know that this is something that you have always dreamed of.�

�You do not have to be sorry Luis,� Dario said in a shaky voice. �This is not your fault, but how will I get back to Spain? I do not have any money.�

�Dario, you do not have to go back to Spain,� Luis assured him. �You are an American citizen and right now Father Anthony is working on finding another family to adopt you.�

�Luis is right Dario, and in the mean time you can live with all of us for as long as it takes,� Sheridan told him with a comforting smile.

�If it is okay with you we thought that you could stay with us in town during the week when you are in school and on the weekends you can stay with Luis and Sheridan,� Pilar told him fondly.

�If you want Dario, I can take you into town today so that we can enroll you in school. We don�t have much time since it starts next week,� Martin told him.

�You have all been so kind to me and that is why I cannot accept your offer. I do not want to be a burden to you any longer,� Dario insisted.

�No, that is simply not true,� Sheridan protested. �You have not been a burden to us at all and in fact you have been nothing but helpful. But it goes so much further than that Dario. We have all come to care so much for you and we would miss you terribly if you weren�t in our lives.�

�Sheridan is right Dario. When Father Anthony told us the news there was not one minute of hesitation for us. We all want you to stay with us,� Pilar assured him.

�You are not just saying this to spare my feelings?� Dario asked, hesitantly.

�I promise you that we are not, and Miguel, Paloma and Terasita are so excited about you coming to live with us,� Pilar said, unable to resist pulling him into a hug.

�I actually believe you Senora Paloma,� Dario said, hugging her back.

�Good, then I think we have this settled now,� Luis said, smiling.

�But, what is going to happen if Father Anthony does not find anybody that wants to adopt me? I cannot stay here forever,� Dario worried.

�It does not matter, because we want you here for as long as it takes,� Pilar assured him, and everyone else reinforced that for him.

�Why don�t you change your clothes and I�ll take you to sign up for school,� Martin suggested with a smile.

�Okay Senor Martin,� Dario said, excitedly. �I will go change my clothes so that I can be presentable.�

�I�m certainly glad that is over with,� Sheridan said, breathing a sigh of relief after Dario left. �I think that he took it pretty well considering, but my heart just broke for him when he thought we were just being nice with our offer. There was such sadness in his eyes.�

�I know sweetie, I felt the same way,� Luis told her. �Now, I think it�s up to all of us to make sure that he always knows that he�s wanted.

�Well, I guess I�m going to have to surrender this little angel back to you,� Martin said, handing Sofie back to Sheridan. �I really hate to give her up.�

�Do not worry Martin, I think that there will be plenty of opportunities for you to hold our sweet grandbaby,� Pilar said, smiling happily. �We have so much to be thankful for and if only our oldest son would come home then our lives would be perfect.�

Thankfully her back was to Luis or she would have seen the look of fury on his face at the mention of Antonio, but Sheridan caught every nuance of it.

********************

After Jordan left the hospital, she just drove around trying to grasp the fact that she was really pregnant. There was a part of her that was so happy to have a child of Noah�s growing inside of her, but then the true reality of the situation would hit her and send her crashing back into despair. It was obvious that she couldn�t take the assignment in South America right now, but what she was going to do about her baby was something that was very unclear. Having an abortion was not even a consideration but could she have a child and raise it as a single mother? She was going to go crazy if she didn�t talk to somebody about this, but whom could she trust? Ethan came to mind, but she knew that he would get all protective and macho and want to go and confront Noah so telling his was out of the question. Sheridan�s face popped into her mind and she felt a sense of comfort suddenly. Her aunt was one person that she could trust with her life, but was now the time to lay this on her shoulders? She had two active toddlers and a newborn baby and Jordan hated to bother her right now. But, she did have a gift for Sofia in her car so maybe if she just went out there she could feel out the situation and see if it was the time to speak with her aunt.

When she knocked on the door later, Pilar greeted her with a smile. �Jordan, it is so good to see you. Please come in.�

�Thank you Pilar, it�s good to see you too. The place looks so quiet,� Jordan said, looking around. �Where is everyone?�

�Luis went into the office for a few hours, the twins are napping, and Sheridan is feeding Sofia, but I am sure that she will be thrilled to see you,� Pilar told her.

�Well, if she is feeding Sofie then I don�t want to disturb her right now. Maybe I should just give this to you and please tell Sheridan that I will come back later,� Jordan said, handing Pilar the gift.

�Actually, I�m finished feeding Sofie and you are not going anywhere,� Sheridan said, walking into the room holding her daughter close to her.

The site of them shook Jordan to the core. Until this moment, she had not really pictured herself holding her baby that way and now the thought hit her like a ton of bricks. �I just brought a gift by for Sofie,� was all she could say.

Sheridan sensed that something was really bothering her niece and she vowed that before Jordan left, she was going to get to the bottom of it. �You already bought Sofie a gift. I hope you�re not going to spoil my children,� Sheridan teased.

�I know, but I saw this precious little outfit and I just couldn�t resist,� Jordan admitted.

�I am going to go finish my pies before the twins wake up so I will leave you two alone to visit,� Pilar said, heading for the kitchen. �Can I get you something to drink, or eat?�

�No, I�m fine Pilar, but thank you for asking,� Jordan told her.

�Now, come in and sit down so we can chat. It�s been a while since we spent any time alone together,� Sheridan offered.

�Well, I guess I could stay for a minute. I�m sure you don�t get many of these quiet moments and you probably cherish these moments............�

�What�s wrong sweetie?� Sheridan asked. �You just look so lost sitting there.�

�Everything is fine, really,� Jordan said, losing her nerve.

�You forgot that I happen to be able to read you like a book and your face is telling me that you are really troubled right now.�

�I�m okay Sheridan,� Jordan insisted, unable to take her eyes off of Sofie.

�Do you want to hold her?� Sheridan asked.

�I don�t know. Maybe I shouldn�t,� Jordan declined.

�You would really be doing me a favor if you would. I need to get a diaper for Sofie,� Sheridan said, handing the baby to her.

Jordan took the baby in her arms and she fell in love the second Sofie opened her eyes. �You are so beautiful,� Jordan said, cuddling the baby close to her body and she knew in that second that she was going to keep her baby. The decision was emotional for her and tears started to form in her eyes.

�Jordan, you�re crying,� Sheridan said, surprising Jordan with her presence. �Are you going to tell me why you are so upset?�

�I�m pregnant Sheridan, and I had no idea what I was going to do until just now when I had Sofie in my arms,� Jordan admitted, letting the tears flow freely now.

Part 6, Chapter 49

Sheridan�s heart broke for Jordan at that moment. Having a baby was one of the most wonderful events in a woman�s life and it should be a happy time. Her niece had been though so much since returning to Harmony with the blindness and all the problems with her mother. She had fallen in love, but that didn�t seem to be working out for her either. �Are you sure about this sweetie?� Sheridan asked.

�Yes, Doctor Russell took a blood test, so I don�t think there is much of a chance that she made a mistake,� Jordan said, sounding so dejected.

�How did Noah take the news?� Sheridan asked.

�He doesn�t know yet,� Jordan admitted. �I just found out myself earlier today, and to be honest I haven�t decided yet about telling Noah.�

�Jordan, I know that this must be so overwhelming to you right now, but you have to tell Noah. He has a right to know that he is going to be a father.�

�I know that you�re right Sheridan, and I want to tell him, but this is the last thing he needs in his life right now.�

�Are you afraid that he is going to reject you, because I just don�t think he would do that. I admit that I don�t know Noah well, but he has always appeared to be a good guy.�

�That�s the problem Sheridan. Noah is a good guy and I know that he is going to want to get married to give our baby a family. He has no money and he�s doing his internship right now, and after that it will be his residency. How can he possible have the time or money for a family right now?� Jordan reminded her aunt. �Maybe it would be better if I just went to Europe and raised my baby there.�

�I know that these are not the best of circumstances but you have that little baby to consider. Not many people know this but when Luis and I were first married, I found out that I was pregnant, and I was just ecstatic. Luis was out of town at the time I found out and I had all of these special plans to tell him the news when he arrived home. But my father was determined to break us apart and he called me to the house and informed me that he would destroy Luis and his family if I didn�t leave him,� Sheridan said, feeling shaken just remembering that time.

�Oh God, I never knew about that,� Jordan said, shocked. �What happened?�

�I left Luis a letter telling him that I wanted a divorce, but I really didn�t mean any of it. I was trying to protect him, and the terrible stress of the situation caused me to miscarry. Luis never knew that I was pregnant or that I lost our baby for a whole year. To make a long story short, I don�t think I will ever lose the guilt of denying him the knowledge of our baby and it was one of the worst times of my life. I never needed him more. Don�t let Noah miss out on this pregnancy because you can never get this time back again.�

�Grandfather was such a bastard,� Jordan said, horrified. �I�m so sorry that all that happened to you Sheridan. I can�t even begin to imagine how painful that time must have been for you,� she said, stroking Sofie�s soft cheek.

�It was very painful, but will you please think about what I said?� Sheridan asked, hopefully.

�Yes, I promise I will Sheridan,� Jordan said, looking down to see that Sofie was sleeping again. �She is so precious and tiny. How am I ever going to know what to do when my baby is born? The whole thing scares me to death.�

�Believe me, I felt the same way, and I was having twins,� Sheridan admitted. �I�m not going to lie to you, it�s tough, You�re sitting there holding this innocent little baby, thinking the whole time that you are completely responsible for your child�s welfare. But, there is also this instant love that is so pure and unconditional, and it gives you the strength to handle all the obstacles.�

Unconditional love was something that Jordan had never had in her life, but had always longed for. �Thank you for telling me that Sheridan,� she said, finally smiling.

Suddenly the phone rang and Pilar called out that she would answer it. Ten minutes later, she came in from the kitchen. �Sheridan, there is someone that wishes to speak with you,� she announced, smiling.

�Who is it Pilar?� Sheridan asked, curiously.

�Pick up the phone and see for yourself,� she urged.

�Okay,� Sheridan said, reaching for the phone. �Hello.�

�Sheridan, I understand that you have made me a proud great grandpapa once again,� a familiar voice spoke.

�Don Miguel, it is go good to hear your voice,� Sheridan said, excitedly. �How are you doing?�

�I am growing as strong as an ox,� he bragged. �As soon as my physician allows, I am flying over there to see little Sofia, and of course Luke and Lily.�

�We would all love to see you, but please don�t push yourself. You are much too important to us,� Sheridan told him fondly.

�That is just the kind of thing that makes my heart grow stronger,� Don Miguel said, touched. �So tell me, how are Luke and Lily?�

�They are growing like weeds and getting smarter every day,� Sheridan boasted. �You won�t believe it when you see them.�

�I cannot wait,� Don Miguel said. �Now I want you to tell me about Sofia.�

�She is a beauty Don Miguel. Luis says she�s our little Spanish Rose, and she looks so much like her daddy.�

�You must send me pictures of all of the children.�

�I promise we will,� Sheridan assured him. �As a matter of fact, why don�t we email you the pictures so that you can get them faster?�

�I have no idea how to use the email, but I am sure that Salvador can help me,� Don Miguel chuckled.

�Well just in case, I�ll send some pictures in the mail as well,� Sheridan promised. �I�m so sorry that Luis isn�t here to speak with you. He went into the office for a few hours today, but I know he�s going to be upset that he missed you.�

�I am sorry that I missed him too, but I will call him later. He is my grandson so I am partial, but you have a good man Sheridan. I am so proud of him,� Don Miguel said with emotion.

�You mean so much to him too Don Miguel............. Oh my goodness, it looks like our little angels are up from their naps,� Sheridan told him when she saw her children coming down the steps with Pilar. �Would you like to say hello?�

�I would love to say hello,� Don Miguel told her.

�Luke, Lily, your great grandfather is on the phone and would like to speak to you,� Sheridan called out to the twins. �Come quickly, I�ll put on the speaker phone.�

�Hi daddy buelo,� the twins greeted Don Miguel in their sweet little voices.

Sheridan finally remembered Jordan. �I�m so sorry,� she told her niece in a low voice.

�It�s okay,� Jordan smiled. �I am so enjoying holding this sweetheart. It is so amazing how long her eyelashes are. They almost go half-way down her cheeks when she has her eyes closed.

�She certainly seems to be at peace in your arms,� Sheridan said, smiling. �Babies have a very keen sense about people you know. She obviously feels safe.�

�Do you really think so?� Jordan asked, hopefully.

�I�m sure of it because I know that you have so much love to give,� Sheridan assured her.

�Suddenly, I feel so much calmer. Thank you Sheridan. I guess I made the right decision to come to you,� Jordan told her.

�I just want you to know that I will always be here for you,� Sheridan told her smiling. �Us Crane women need to stick together.�

�Bye bye daddy buelo,� the twins shouted into the phone.

�I�m better go say my goodbyes to Don Miguel,� Sheridan said, leaning down to kiss her baby.

After Don Miguel hung up the twins ran over to Jordan. �Hi Jordee,� Luke said, flashing her a sweet smile.

�Hi cutie,� Jordan returned. �I sure would love to have a kiss on the cheek from you.�

�Big kissy,� Luke said, planting a wet one on Jordan�s cheek.

�Jordee, we have new baby,� Lily told her excitedly. �She be so pretty.�

�I know,� Jordan agreed. �I think she is just about as pretty as you are Lily.�

�Sept Soapie has black hair and me have white hair,� Lily told her in her most serious voice.

Jordan couldn�t help but laugh. �You two are such a joy to be around.�

Just then Martin arrived back with Dario. �Well, look who is here. Did you get all signed up for school?� Sheridan asked.

�Si Sheridan, and Senor Martin took me to the store to buy me all of my school supplies,� Dario told her happily.

�Me want to see Daro,� Luke said, spying the colored pencils and notepads.

�Oh, we can draw picters,� Lily said, her eyes lighting up.

�I don�t think so,� Sheridan told them. �Those are supplies that Dario needs for his classes, and I do not want you to get into them. Besides, you have plenty of markers and paper of your own if you want to draw pictures.�

�But mama, ours be old,� Lily argued.

�They are not Lily. Daddy just bought you some new markers the other day. Don�t you remember the ones with the sparkles in them?�

�No mama, me and Leelee frow dem down the gate,� Luke announced.

�What does he mean when he says the gate Sheridan?� Martin asked, having a strong feeling he knew what Luke was talking about.

�Oh no,� Sheridan moaned, pointing toward the furnace vent.

�I better see if I can get them out,� Martin offered. �I don�t think you want those in there when you turn the heat on.�

�Luke and Lily, why would you throw your markers down the furnace vent?� Sheridan asked, clearly upset.

�Me don�t know mama,� Lily said, sheepishly.

�It be fun mama,� Luke giggled.

�It�s not funny young man,� Sheridan scolded. �Wait until I tell your daddy what you did.�

�No mama, don�t tell daddy?� Lily pleaded.

�Sorry Lily, but you know that I tell daddy everything. Why don�t you and Luke go play with your toys in the sun room?� Sheridan told them.

�Kay mama,� Lily said, scampering off after her brother.

�Sheridan, are you really going to punish them for that?� Jordan asked.

�I doubt they�ll get punished, but I�m sure that Luis will have a few choice words for them,� Sheridan chuckled.

********************

Whitney�s temporary position working for Luis and Chad had turned into a permanent one. She enjoyed the versatility, knowing that she could schedule her training around work hours. The sound of the front door opening so she quickly ended her phone conversation with Theresa. She certainly wasn�t expecting the beautiful woman that was standing in front of her, and she was dying of curiosity about her identity. �Hello, can I help you?� Whitney greeted her.

�I hope that you can,� she smiled. �I would like to see Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald.�

�Did you have an appointment?� Whitney asked, scanning the book.

�I am afraid that I do not have an appointment. This visit is a bit spur of the moment, but it is very important that I speak with him.�

�He�s in a meeting with his associate, but I�ll see if he can take a minute to see you,� Whitney offered. �Can I tell him your name?�

�Maria Panusis,� she answered.

Luis and Chad were in the conference room going over some notes on one of their current cases, when Whitney interrupted. �I�m sorry to barge in this way, but there is a lady here to see you Luis and she said it�s pretty important.�

�Did I have an appointment that I didn�t know about?� Luis asked, confused.

�No, she just dropped by. Do you want me to tell her to come back later?� Whitney asked.

�No, I�ll see her. We�re rapping up here,� Luis said, gathering his papers. �Oh Whitney, did she tell you her name?�

�Yes, it�s Maria Pan�,� Whitney hesitated. �I know it sounded Greek��.�

�Panusis!?� Luis asked, shocked.

�That was it,� Whitney confirmed.

�Isn�t she the woman your brother�s been living with?� Chad asked.

�It sure is, unless there are two of them walking around. Damn, I wonder what she wants with me?�

�Why don�t you stay here so you can have some privacy with her,� Chad suggested.

�Thanks Chad,� Luis said, gratefully.

Even though Maria was a stunning beauty, Luis was not envious of his brother because in his heart Sheridan was the most beautiful woman in the world. But, he had to admit one would definitely notice her when she walked into the room. �Ms. Panusis, please have a seat,� Luis invited.

�I can tell by the look on your face that you must know who I am,� Maria said, taking a chair across from Luis.

�Yes, I know who you are, but I have to admit I�m very curious as to why you would want to see me. Is my brother such a coward that he would send his lady friend to speak for him?�

�Tony does not know that I am here and he must never find out,� Maria said, fearfully. �I came here to attend the showing of the fall collection in New York, so I thought I would make a stop here in Harmony to talk with you about your brother.�

�Why are you so afraid of my brother finding out that you were here?� Luis asked, noting how nervous Maria appeared. �Does my brother abuse you?�

�No, he does not abuse me, but he will get very angry if he thinks I am interfering with his family business,� Maria told him.

�I�m not trying to be rude Ms. Panusis���.�

�No, please call me Maria,� she insisted.

�Okay, Maria. As I was saying, I�m not trying to be rude, but why don�t you just tell me why you are here?�

�I have a business deal of sorts for you,� Maria said, extracting an envelope from her purse.

�Are you saying that you want to hire my investigative firm?� Luis asked, surprised.

�If you want to put it that way, then yes,� Maria told him. �Now, let me tell you what I would like for you to do. Tony is a very stubborn man and I know that he wants to be reunited with his family, but he is afraid about how he will be accepted after all of these years. I really think that if you would fly over to Greece to meet with him and extend the olive branch, I am sure that he would come home with your blessing.�

�Look Maria, I can appreciate what you are trying to do for Antonio, but I�m afraid that I cannot accept your offer.�

�But, you must. I truly believe that you are the only one that can make Tony come to his senses. Besides, you are the reason he as been acting like a such a jackass,� Maria accused.

�Why me?� Luis asked, shaking his head in amazement.

�Because, ever since your phone call, Tony has been unbearable to live with. I know that he did not always do right by you and your family, but can you not at least try to make amends with him?�

�My brother deserted us when we needed him the most, and I could almost forgive him for that, but you know what is worse? He went for years and never once bothered to call to let us know he was okay. Not one word. Our mother would cry at night because she didn�t know if her first-born son was dead or alive. Now, you tell me how I�m supposed to just bop over to Greece and tell Antonio it�s okay for him to come home now? All is forgiven��.. I just won�t do it, because first of all my family needs me right now. We have a new baby in the house and three-year-old twins and I am not going to leave them right now to fly half-way around the world to nurse my brother�s self-inflicted wounds. He�s a grown man and it�s time that he came home and faced the music all on his own.�

�I can see that I have come in vain, and I am sorry that I bothered you,� Maria said, getting up to leave.

�Maria, wait,� Luis said, stopping her. �I think I owe you an apology. You were trying to do a good thing and I kind of came down hard on you. The truth is, I don�t think my brother deserves somebody like you. I just hope that he treats you the way you deserve to be treated.�

�To be honest with you, he does not. In fact, he can be a real bastard, but I think that deep down inside he is a good man, and I kind of feel sorry for him,� Maria admitted. �Are you sure you will not reconsider? There is a lot of money in this envelope.�

�I�m sorry Maria, but I couldn�t go if I wanted to. I just got back from Spain not all that long ago and it about killed me to be away from my family. My baby daughter is only a week old and my wife is still recovering from child birth.�

�I can see that I am not going to change your mind. You are as stubborn as your brother is.�

�I admit that I can be stubborn, but me not going to Greece has nothing to do with that. I put my life on hold for a long time because of my brother, and I will not leave my family because of him. If he�s feeling bad about his life then he has nobody to blame but himself.�

�I am sorry that I asked this of you,� Maria said, regretfully. �I do not know why Tony left you and your family, but I can see that it has affected you deeply.�

�Yes, he did hurt me, but I don�t wish him any ill will,� Luis admitted.

�I will be leaving now,� Maria said, standing. �My pilot is waiting for me at the airport. It was nice to meet you Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald.�

�It was nice to meet you too,� Luis said, smiling. �Do me a favor Maria. Don�t let my brother take advantage of you. You are much too good for that.�

Maria laughed. �Oh, do not worry about me. I have put down bigger men than your brother, and if I do not do the job, my father certainly will.�

********************

Sheridan asked Jordan to join them for dinner, but her niece declined, saying that she wanted to go home and put her thoughts together. She couldn�t really blame Jordan, since the house had become like Grand Central Station. Paloma stopped by because she needed her fix of the little squirts, and as she so fondly put it the baby squirt. As much as Sheridan loved Luis family and appreciated all of their support, she would be happy when things were back to normal in their household.

After Paloma played with the twins for a while and held baby Sofia, she sought out Dario. �Hey, I heard that papa took you to enroll in school today. You must be so excited.�

�I am excited��.� Dario said, hesitating.

�I hear a but in there. Is there something that�s bothering you about starting school next week Dario?�

�Will you promise not to say anything to Senor Martin and Senora Pilar if I tell you?�

�My lips are sealed,� Paloma said, making the motion of zipping her lips.

�I am excited, but I am also very scared. What if I do not fit in and all of the other people my age make fun of me?�

�Well, I can certainly understand your fear, since I felt that very same way not too long ago,� Paloma told him.

�Why were you frightened to go to school? Your family has been here for many years and everyone must know you,� Dario said with a puzzled look.

�Actually Dario, I only came to live with my family about a year and a half ago. Before that I lived in New Mexico with my Tia Maria,� Paloma explained.

�But I do not understand Paloma. Why did you not live with your family?�

�It�s a long story, but when I was a baby my family was very poor and couldn�t afford to take care of me, so they sent me to Tia Maria�s. When I finally came home again I didn�t know anybody, except my family of course because I was so young when I left. So, it was like being a stranger when I went to school for the first time. I felt really out of place, and I was convinced that nobody would like me.�

�What did you do to make people like you?� Dario asked.

�I kind of started to hang around people that weren�t the best influence, but I think I mostly did it because I was trying to rebel. I made some bad mistakes though that could have had disastrous results, but thank God I learned my lesson.�

�I cannot imagine that you would ever do anything bad Paloma,� Dario said, surprised.

�Well, like I said earlier, I was trying to rebel, but that phase didn�t last long, and things are really good right now. I guess what I�m trying to say is that you are nothing like me Dario, but I do relate to how you feel right now. I can be sure about one thing though. The girls are going to love you.�

�What do you mean?� Dario asked, looking clearly uncomfortable.

�Because you are from an exotic country, and you are very handsome. Trust me you are going to be the talk of middle school. Now, the boys are probably going to be a different story. They might not be as accepting as the girls are but give them time. Just try and be yourself, and go out for a sport. That�s the best way to meet people.�

�I am not sure if I feel better or worst,� Dario said, nervously.

�Don�t worry, if all else fails, I have your back,� Paloma assured him, smiling. �If anybody gives you any trouble, they�ll have to come through me, or JJ should they be bigger than I am.�

�You are so nice Paloma,� Dario said, giving her a spontanious hug.

�Yeah, well don�t spread it around. I wouldn�t want you to ruin my reputation,� Paloma laughed.

********************

Luis slipped into bed, and Sheridan handed Sofie to him. �I think she knows me Sheridan. She is staring right at me.�

�Sweetie, that might be because you happen to be the one holding her,� Sheridan chuckled.

�Okay, make fun, but she knows that I�m her daddy. Don�t you Sofie?� Luis said, kissing his daughter on the forehead. �Are you daddy�s little pixie?�

�So, you mentioned earlier that you had something to tell me. Spill the beans, because I�m dying of curosity,� Sheridan urged.

�You are never going to believe who showed up at the office today?� Luis teased.

�Do I know this person?�

�You know of her.........�

�Her? You better tell me now Luis,� Sheridan demanded.

�Maria Panusis.............�

�Oh my God,� Sheridan gasped. �The same Maria Panusis that is involved with your brother?�

�The very same,� Luis confirmed.

�What did she want with you?�

�She basically wanted me to fly to Greece and tell my brother that it was okay for him to come home. Apparently he wants to reunite with his family, but he�s afraid that he won�t be welcomed.�

�Are you serious? Did Antonio send her?� Sheridan asked.

�She said that he had no idea that she was here, and made me promise that I wouldn�t tell.�

�So, did you agree to go?� Sheridan asked, dreading the thought that he might be leaving again.

�I told her no, because I wasn�t about to leave my family right now, and it was time that my brother grow up and face his family like a man.�

�How did she respond?� Sheridan asked, breathing a sigh of relief. She hated to be so selfish, but she needed her husband home with her and their children,

�I think she understood after I explained my reasons for not going.�

�So, tell me what did this Maria look like?�

�She was really beautiful. Antonio�s lucky to have her,� Luis said, smiling slyly.

�I guess you really checked her out then,� Sheridan said, her voice laced with jealously. She wasn�t feeling very confident right now after just giving birth.

�For about two seconds and then I remembered that I was married to the most beautiful woman in the world.�

�Well, I wouldn�t go that far...........�

�To me you are,� he said, leaning down to kiss her.

�I love you Luis,� she said softly, warmed by his words.

�I love you too. Now tell me your news.�

�Oh right, but you have to swear to me that you will not breathe a word of this to anyone?�

�You should know by now that you can trust me.�

�I do know that,� Sheridan told him. �Jordan came to see me today. She�s pregnant.�

�You always did have to one up me,� Luis said, blown away by her news.

Part 6, Chapter 50

Things were getting back to normal at the Lopez-Fitzgerald�s household. Their newest little family member was starting to settle in and was awakening less during the night. Pilar had gone home with Dario, and by all reports, he was doing well in school. Amazingly, Sheridan was finding her footing and learning to care for their three children while Luis was working. Some days managing was a real struggle, and she would be so exhausted by the time her husband arrived home. But the second Luis walked in the door, he would take control of the situation and all would be right again. The special moments of family life were the ones that stood out the most, and Sheridan had never been more content. They were all sitting down to breakfast, when she broached the subject of Halloween.

�You know, it won�t be long until Halloween is here and I think we should discuss what we�re going to dress up as for the Youth Center party,� she announced.

�What do you mean we�re?� Luis asked with trepidation. �Shouldn�t this just be about the munchkins?�

�You know that Halloween has always been a family event, and we did miss it last year because we were in Spain,� Sheridan reminded him. �I was talking to Paloma and we decided to make this a extended family theme this year, and guess what honey? You inspired it.�

�Me? Oh no, this is getting more frightening by the moment. Tell me what this theme is?�

�Well, Paloma bought up the fact that Dario has never celebrated Halloween so we just had to include him, and we thought of the cutest idea. We are going to do The Wizard of Oz. Luke and Lily will be adorable as the munchkins, and Paloma is going to be Dorothy. Dario the scare crow, and Miguel said he would be the tin man........�

�And you and me............?� Luis asked, dreading the answer.

�Well, I�m going to be Linda, the good witch, and you the cowardly lion, which is really ironic because you are anything but cowardly..............�

�Whoa,� Luis said, interrupting. �The cowardly lion? You have got to be kidding me.�

�Oh come on honey,� Sheridan urged sweetly. �I think you will make a great cowardly lion. What do you think Luke and Lily?�

�Will daddy has wickers?� Lily asked in her most serious voice.

�Yes he will sweetie, but only the pretend kind,� Sheridan explained to her daughter.

�Me think daddy should be wion,� Lily giggled.

Luke joined into the fun and began to giggle also. �Daddy have big pawpaws.�

�Oh great. I�m already humiliated and I haven�t even worn the costume yet,� Luis grumbled.

�You�re such a good sport,� Sheridan said, kissing him on the cheek. �Now, hold your daughter so I can get something I�ve been dying to show you.�

�Hey Sofie, what�s your mommy up to now?� Luis said, smiling at his little daughter�s face.

�Daddy, Soapie not talk yet,� Lily told him with a saucy tone.

�Are you sure about that Peanut, because Sofie told me that her big sister is kind of bossy,� Luis teased.

�Leelee be bossy all the day daddy,� Luke giggled.

�Okay, what�s going on here?� Sheridan asked, catching the tail end of Luke�s comment.

�Lukie be mean mama,� Lily cried, running to Sheridan to hug her leg.

�Luis, how did this happen? I leave for ten minutes and come back to find my babies fighting.�

�I wouldn�t say they were fighting,� Luis said in his defense. �Peanut was just getting a little sensitive when we were teasing her.�

�Well, I think you hurt her feelings,� Sheridan said, squatting down to comfort her daughter. �It�s okay sweetie, they didn�t mean it.�

�I�m sorry Peanut,� Luis apologized. �Daddy was just kidding around with you, but I didn�t mean to hurt your feelings.�

�Me sorry too Leelee,� Luke said, going up to kiss his sister on the cheek.

�That is sweet,� Sheridan told him. �Are you all better now Lily?�

�Yes mama,� Lily said, smiling. �Me all better.�

�Now, come here so mommy can show you pictures of the munchkins,� Sheridan told the twins. �I printed these off of the computer so that Luke and Lily could see some of the characters of The Wizard of Oz. She had pictures of Dorothy and her three colorful traveling companions, but she especially wanted them to see the munchkins. �See, aren�t they cute?�

�We be munchees,� Luke announced, excitedly.

�Mama, can me be girl munchee?� Lily asked.

�You certainly can, and you and Luke are going to be so precious� Sheridan told her, smiling.

�Mama, what Teetee be?� Lily asked.

�Well Lily, Aunt Theresa is not going to be here for Halloween because she is going to Paris, but she�ll be home for Christmas.�

�So what�s in the shopping bag?� Luis asked.

�It�s Sofie�s costume. We can�t leave her out you know,� she said, pulling the fluffy little garment out of the bag. �Tell me how adorable this doggy outfit is? Sofie is going to be Toto.�

�That is so cute,� Luis beamed. �My kids are going to steal the show on Halloween. Too bad their dad is going to look like moron. I think that mommy needs to go to timeout for dreaming up this idea.�

�No daddy,� Luke protested. �Mama not be bad.�

�I know Sport, but mommy sure is fun when she�s being bad,� Luis smiled, winking at Sheridan.

�Yeah, and don�t forget that mommy can�t be bad for at least three weeks yet,� she smiled, feeling the heat just thinking about making love with Luis once again.

********************

Jordan had finally gotten the courage to call Noah after much soul searching. He was coming over that evening, and she was seriously considering just canceling the whole thing. As she paced the floor of the cottage a sudden thought occurred to her. What if Noah questioned the fact that he was the father of the baby? Hadn�t the same thing happened to a few of her friends that had found themselves in this situation? The first thing their partner�s had asked was if they were the father of the baby. She couldn�t bare it if Noah asked her that question. She was just on the verge of calling Sheridan for some last minute reinforcement when she heard the knock. By the time she made it to the door she was shaking with fear. She opened it and there he was standing there looking so handsome, if not a bit perplexed. �Noah, thank you for coming. I know how busy you must be right now,� she greeted him in a calm voice. It shocked her since inside she felt like there was a band marching inside of her stomach.

�Jordan,� he smiled. �Can I come in?�

�Oh yes, of course,� she said, stepping to the side to let him through the door.

�I have to admit that I�ll a little surprised and curious about why you wanted to see me tonight,� Noah started, not wanting to waste time on small talk.

�This is probably the most difficult thing I ever had to do, so please bare with me Noah,� she said, grabbing onto the table for support.

�Jordan, are you okay?� Noah asked, walking toward her. �You look pale��..�

�I�m okay Noah, but maybe I should sit down,� she said, doing just that.

�So, why did you want to talk to me?� Noah asked, still concerned about her health.

�We���.,� she hesitated. �I mean that I just found out that I�m going to have a baby����

Noah didn�t know if he had heard her correctly at first, but her words slowly sang in and began to fill him with shock. But, underneath that shock was a happiness just waiting to take its hold of him. �Jordan, are you sure about this? Did you see a doctor?�

�Yes to both of your questions, but before you say anything else, I want you to know that I will not let this affect your dream to become a doctor. I have plenty of money of my own to support our child, and I do not expect anything from you Noah. You can of course come to see the baby any time that you want to, but other than that this should not change the course of your life.�

�Are you finished planning our future now?� Noah asked while she was taking a breath.

�Yes, I suppose I am,� she replied, sheepishly.

�Jordan,� he said, taking her hands. �I will admit that I�m totally blown away by this because I always thought we were so careful, but then I remembered that night of Kay�s wedding, and I know then is when this happened. You are not going to go through this on your own. I know that you are financially able to take care of our baby on your own, but babies need so much more than that.�

It thrilled her to hear him say �our� baby, but isn�t this the speech that she knew he would make? She had a strong suspicion about were this conversation was heading, and she knew that she had to stick to her guns on this one. She was convinced that it was the right thing for all of them. �Noah, I know what you are saying, and I promise that you will always be a part of our child�s life���

�I�m not talking about just being a part of the child�s life Jordan. I want to be the baby�s father in every sense of the word. I know that this is not the best of circumstances, but will you marry me Jordan Crane?� he asked, dropping to one knee.

He looked so adorable staring at her with that hopeful look on his face that she almost lost her initial resolve. �Noah, that is so sweet of you to ask, but I don�t think that marriage is the wisest thing for us right now.�

�Jordan, it�s the only thing to do, unless your feelings for me have changed? You do still love me don�t you? I mean, I know that we�ve been having some difficulties lately, but I never for one minute thought that it was the end between us. I just figured that if I gave you some time to think.�

�My feelings have not changed about you Noah,� she admitted. �I still love you as much as I ever did, but we have to be realistic here. You have years yet before you will be a doctor and almost all of your time will be dedicated to that goal.�

I�m not saying that this is going to be easy Jordan, but I think that we can make it if we just work together on this,� he told her. �I can get a part-time job that pays more money, and if I have to I�ll postpone school until the baby is a little older.�

�You can say that now Noah because reality hasn�t registered just yet, but some day you are going to resent me and our baby,� Jordan insisted. �I just can�t let you do that.�

�Where do you come up with this stuff?� Noah asked, impatiently. �Why would I ever resent you or our baby?�

�Because you think about all the long hours and studying, and there will be times when you just want to come home and fall into bed. What�s going to happen when the baby cries and keeps you awake all night. Say you do decide to postpone medical school, and time goes on and you never go back.�

�It just amazes me how you think of all these scenarios and every single one of them is something dismal. What about all of the pleasure and love we�ll experience, ���. the joy of being parents and watching our child grow?�

�We can still have those things without being married,� Jordan reminded him bluntly.

�You drive me crazy, do you know that?� he said, throwing his hands up in frustration. �This kind of thinking is the very reason that we have been apart all of these weeks. When are you going to start looking at the glass as half full instead of half empty?�

�Sorry Noah, but I�m a realist. You don�t grow up in my family without always looking for the other shoe to drop. Besides, I don�t know why you�re so upset. Any other guy would be grateful that I am handing them this perfect situation.�

�The perfect situation?� he said with a hollow laugh. �Funny, but I don�t feel like I�m being handed the perfect situation. I feel like I�m being totally left out on all of the decisions concerning our child, and you know what else Jordan? This should be a time when we are closer than ever, and the only thing I feel right now is that I�ve lost you forever.�

�Oh Noah, that�s simply not true,� she said, wrapping her arms around him. �I do love you more than I can say, but I think for now that it�s best that things remain the way that they are.�

�I�m sorry Jordan, but I�m just not make up that way. I�m not one of your jet set friends that fathers a child and then goes on his merry way. My baby should have a mother and a father that live together, married as a family. Now please, I love you and I want you to be my wife.�

�I love you too Noah, but I just can�t,� Jordan said with tears streaming down her face. �I just couldn�t bare if you grew to hate me, and I know that if we get married now that is what will happen.�

�Then you don�t know me very well at all do you Jordan,� Noah said, moving toward the door, and slamming it shut behind him.

She wanted to tell him to come back, but it was probably best that he cool off and think about things, and she was convinced that he would come to realize that what she said made sense.

********************

Dario was going to spend the weekend with Luis and Sheridan, so Paloma was giving him a ride out to their house. They were chatting about the upcoming football game when a dog ran out onto the roadway. Not wanting to kill the poor creature, Paloma slammed on her breaks, managing to avoid the frightened animal as it scurried off the road. �That was a close one,� she said, glancing over at Dario. That was when she noticed that her attempt to save the dog had caused Dario to spill the contents of the soda he was drinking all over his shirt. �Oh Dario, I am so sorry. Look at your shirt?�

�It is okay Paloma,� Dario said, being his usual agreeable self. �I brought some extra shirts with me.�

�Still, I hope it doesn�t stain,� Paloma worried. �Maybe Sheridan has some spot remover or something.�

�She probably does with Luke and Lily around,� Dario laughed.

�Yep, the little squirts are probably experts at getting their clothes grubby,� Paloma chuckled.

�What does grubby mean?� Dario asked, curiously.

�It�s just another expression for dirty. I just think it fits the twins so much better. Well here we are. You�re probably dying to get out of that sticky, wet shirt.�

�It is a little sticky,� Dario said, pulling the shirt away from his body.

The second they walked in the door, Sheridan spotted Dario�s shirt and told him to remove it so that she could throw it into the washer. �How did that happen to you anyway?�

�It was my fault Sheridan. I tried to play the Good Samaritan by trying to save a dog, but unfortunately Dario suffered for it.�

�Well, I hope the dog survived,� Sheridan said.

�That is the good news Sheridan,� Dario told her. �The dog ran off into the woods.�

�Here,� Sheridan said, handing Dario some baby wipes. �Use these to get the sticky stuff off of your chest.�

�Do you think you can get the spot out Sheridan?� Dario asked, hopefully.

�I doubt it sweetie, but I�m sure that Luis can,� she chuckled. �Let me throw your shirt in the washer before the stain sets in.�

After Sheridan left, Paloma happened to glance over at Dario. His back was to her, and that is when she spotted it. Could it actually be? Maybe her eyes were deceiving her since she had only seen it once before on Luke, but she had an idea. �Luke come here,� she called out to her nephew who was playing in the sunroom with Lily.

�Hi Poma,� Luke squeeled. �Me not see you.�

�That�s because you are to busy playing and I think your ears stop working when that happens,� she teased.

�Me want to come too,� Lily pouted.

�Oh you can Lily, but I just want to have a look at Luke�s back.� Sure enough when Paloma lifted his shirt there it was. The Fitzgerald birthmark and it was identical to the one that Dario had on his back, and what was really weird about it, the mark was in the same exact place on both boys. �Sheridan, I think you better come here.�

�What�s wrong Paloma,� Sheridan said, rushing into the room. �Are the children okay?�

�They�re fine, but I can�t say the same about myself. Come here and look at this,� she said, motioning for Sheridan to come closer.

Sheridan couldn�t believe her eyes either, and gasped out loud. �Oh my God,� was all she could say.

�Is there something wrong?� Dario asked, troubled.

Sheridan collected herself. �No sweetie, nothing is wrong. Did you always have that birthmark on your back?�

�I do not know,� Dario said, turning his head back to see for himself. �I have never seen my back before.�

�Okay well, why don�t we get you a shirt to put on? Luis is out back with his new toy blowing the leaves into piles and the twins are dying to get outside and jump in the mounds. Would you mind taking them out?�

�Not at all,� Dario smiled. �That sounds like it might be fun.�

�Come Daro,� Lily said, taking his hand. �Me and you go jump.�

�Me too,� Luke said, trailing behind them.

�Wait you two,� Sheridan called after the twins. �I want you to put your sweatshirts on because there is a little bit of a chill in the air. Besides, you don�t want the leaves to scratch your arms.�

�Kay mama,� the twins said, running to the coat closet where their little sweatshirts were hanging on a low hook.

Once they were gone, Paloma could no longer contain herself. �Sheridan, tell me that is not the weirdest thing you�ve ever seen?�

�Okay, I admit that it�s pretty strange, but we need to be practical here. Maybe it�s just some strange coincidence or something,� Sheridan said, trying to convince herself more than Paloma.

�Well, that�s a pretty freaky coincidence that Dario would have the Fitzgerald mark. You saw it too Sheridan and it looked exactly like Luke�s birthmark and it was in the very same spot.�

�I admit that I�m a little weirded out about it, but even you mother said that it was a Fitzgerald wives tale.�

�Yes, but then she said that she thought that there was some truth to it since papa and Luke have the same birthmark in the very same spot, and now we discover that Dario has one too.�

�Are you implying that Dario could be related?� Sheridan asked, surprised.

�Well, it wouldn�t be so off the wall. Mama said she felt a connection to Dario the minute she met him and Luis said the very same thing. You have to admit Sheridan; there is a family resemblance,� Paloma reminded her.

�Okay, let�s say for arguments sake that Dario is related. How could that be? Luis told me that your father has a brother so maybe that could be the connection,� Sheridan said, happily.

�Yeah, but the only problem with that is my Uncle Patrick never had any children and papa didn�t have any other siblings,� Paloma told her.

�Are you sure about that?� Sheridan asked.

�Well, I never even met my uncle but mama told me about him, and she distinctly said that he never had any children,� Paloma confirmed.

�I don�t even believe we�re discussing this,� Sheridan laughed. �This whole thing has got to be some strange coincidence.�

�What�s a strange coincidence?� Luis asked, coming in from the kitchen, a large glass of water in his hand.

�Luis, where are the children?�

�They�re still outside messing up all of the piles I worked so hard to make,� Luis laughed.

�Maybe it wasn�t such a good idea to leave them out there when you aren�t there,� Sheridan worried.

�Sheridan, Dario is with them and Ace is keeping them herded around the leaf piles. They�ll be fine.�

�Well, I guess they�ll be okay,� she conceded. �Dario has always been trustworthy, and we know that Ace watches them like a mother hen.�

�Speaking of Dario, you are never going to believe what Sheridan and I discovered,� Paloma said, excitedly.

�Maybe you better tell me before you wet your pants little sister,� Luis laughed.

Paloma stuck her tongue out at her brother in retaliation. �You�re not going to be so funny when I tell you that Dario has the exact birthmark that papa and Luke have.�

�Are you serious?� Luis asked, looking at Sheridan for confirmation.

�Yes Luis, she is very serious,� Sheridan assured him. �We even compared it with the mark that Luke has and they are identical.�

�Wait a minute. You two can�t possible think that there is more to this than a coincidence do you? That whole story that mama used to tell is just some old Irish folk lure.�

�How can you say that Luis when the proof is right before our eyes,� Paloma argued. �Sheridan and I believe that Dario has to be related to us.�

�Now Paloma, I never said that I believed that Dario was related to the Fitzgerald�s. I just commented that it was pretty freaky.�

�I don�t care what you two say, I think that there has to be some family connection,� Paloma said stubbornly. �In fact, he could even be your son Luis. I heard you were quite the player in your day.�

�Oh God Luis, could this be possible?� Sheridan asked, fearfully.

�Of course it�s possible. In fact, I probably have kids running around all over the world,� he laughed.

�Luis,� Sheridan said, shocked.

�Calm down Sheridan,� Luis said, surprised that she taken him seriously. �I promise I was just teasing.�

Sheridan laughed then, but silently wondered if Luis� joke just might not be too far from the truth.

 

Part 6, Chapter 51

All discussion about the Fitzgerald birthmark stopped as soon as Dario came into the house with the twins. Luis quickly forgot about the conversation, Paloma couldn�t wait to tell her mother what she had discovered, and Sheridan couldn�t shake the bad feeling that their lives would never be the same. Luke and Lily and all of their sweetness did bring a smile to her face though, as they told her all about how much fun they had jumping the piles of leaves that daddy made.

�Hey munchkins, you have leaves stuck all over the back of your sweat shirts,� Luis announced.

�Let mommy pick those off before they get all over the house,� Sheridan said, turning them around so she could accomplish the task.

Just then, Sofie started to cry, and Paloma volunteered to see to her. �Oh, let me get baby squirt,� she said, going over to the bassinet to pick up the tiny girl. �I hope you�re not hungry because Aunt Paloma won�t be able to feed you, but I can change your stinky diaper.�

�And she does have some stinky diapers,� Luis laughed. �You wouldn�t believe such a little girl could produce that odor.�

�Oh come on Luis, it�s not that bad,� Sheridan said, rolling her eyes at him.

�Sheridan, it is okay if I get something to drink?� Dario asked, politely.

�Of course you can sweetie,� she told him. �Please help yourself to whatever you want.�

�I�ll go with you Dario,� Luis offered. �I could use something to drink too.�

Sheridan watched them walk out of the room, Luis� hand on Dario�s shoulder, and it struck her just how much they resembled each other. Not that she hadn�t noticed it before, but she had attributed it to the fact that they both had Spanish blood running through their veins. Now their similarities seemed to hit a little closer to home.

�Mama, can me get sometin to drink too?� Lily asked, sweetly.

�Yeah mama, me be so firsty,� Luke said, rubbing his belly.

�Are you thirsty or hungry?� Sheridan laughed. �Why don�t the two of you go into the kitchen and tell daddy to get you a snack and some juice?�

�Kay mama,� the twins said, scampering off to the kitchen.

�Well, it looks like Sofie does need a diaper change, but it�s only wet,� Paloma said.

�I can change her Paloma,� Sheridan offered.

�No, really I want to do it. I need the practice,� Paloma said, removing Sofie�s diaper.

�What do you mean you need the practice?� Sheridan asked with trepidation. �Please don�t tell me you are pre............�

�Oh God no,� Paloma protested the second she realized where her sister-in-law was heading. �I am definitely not pregnant, and have no plans to be for a long, long time, so you can get that look of horror off of your face. Besides, you have to do the deed in order to get in the family way. I just wanted to practice for the times when I get to baby sit for Sofie and the little squirts.�

�Then by all means, practice away,� Sheridan said, breathing a sigh of relief. It was bad enough that she had to worry about Jordan, she didn�t want to have to think about Paloma in that same situation.

�Mama, daddy give me cookies,� Lily announced, carrying a bowl with miniature chocolate chip cookies. There were crumbs and chocolate smeared all over her face and hands.

�Oh Lily, you need to go back into the kitchen and eat those,� Sheridan said, directing her daughter back to where she came from only to see her husband and Dario deep in conversation. �Luis, why are you letting Lily come into the living room with her face and hands all dirty?�

�Sorry Sheridan, I didn�t even notice that Peanut was missing,� Luis said, sheepishly.

�What if she had gone outside? Would you have noticed that?� Sheridan asked in a stilted tone which was not missed by Luis.

�Sheridan, I would have seen her go outside.............. Oh no Sport, don�t feed cookies to Ace..........�

�But daddy, Ace be hungee,� Luke said, innocence written all over his sweet face.

�Then you need to feed him a doggy biscuit,� Luis said, getting up to retrieve the treats. �Cookies are not good for dogs.�

�Why don�t you let mommy clean off your face and hands and we can go into the sun room and draw pictures?� Sheridan told the twins. �Mommy will help you color in your new Elmo coloring book.�

�Kay mama,� Lily said, excitedly. �Me wuv Elmo.�

�Mama, can me colwer Tommy Train?� Luke asked, hopping down from his chair at the table.

�You certainly can.� Sheridan said, flashing her little boy a big smile. �Mommy forgot that you got a new Thomas the Train coloring book.

After they left, Luis had the distinct feeling that he had just been dismissed by Sheridan. He didn�t know what was bothering her all of a sudden, but he had every intention of finding out.

�Is something wrong Luis?� Dario asked, sensing the sudden tension.

�No Dario,� Luis said giving his a reassuring smile. �Everything is fine. Now, finish telling me about your classes.�

********************

Sam and Grace were having a cup of coffee after dinner and talking about their days when Noah came through the back door. He dropped his backpack on the floor and took a seat across from his parents. �I�m glad that both of you are here. I really need to talk to you.�

�Why don�t you let me warm up some dinner for you first,� Grace offered. �You must be starved.�

�Thanks mom, I am pretty hungry. The only thing I�ve had today was about ten cups of coffee,� Noah confessed.

�You know that you need to take some time to eat,� Grace scolded.

�Yeah, that coffee will tear your stomach up,� Sam warned. �So son, you look pretty serious. What did you want to talk with us about?�

Noah was dreading this moment, but he knew that his parent�s needed to be told about the baby. �I don�t really know how to sugar coat this so I�ll just come out with it. Jordan and I are going to have a baby.�

Grace dropped the glass she was holding and it shattered into tiny pieces on the floor. �Oh no,� Grace wailed, bending down to pick up the glass.

�Don�t do that Grace, you�ll cut yourself,� Sam told her. �Let me get the broom.�

�I�m sorry mom. I shouldn�t have just blurted it out like that,� Noah said, feeling terrible.

�I�m just so clumsy lately,� Grace said, nervously.

�How did this happen?� Sam asked, furiously.

�Well dad, I don�t think I have to explain it to you..........�

�I know how it happened, but what I want to know is how could you be so careless? You of all people should know that you don�t go around having unprotected sex. My God Noah, I thought that you were smarter than that.�

�Sam, please calm down,� Grace pleaded. �It is not going to help the situation if you loose your temper.�

�It�s okay mom, I can understand why dad is so angry, but I swear to you both that Jordan and I were always very careful, but then there was that night that she found that letter that her mother had written to you. We were both very upset and we reached out............. Well, let�s just say that the last thing we were thinking about was protection.�

�Please no more details,� Grace said, embarrassed. �Has Jordan seen a doctor to confirm her pregnancy?�

�Yes, she didn�t even know and when she went to get her shots for her trip to South America Dr. Russell ran some blood tests when Jordan got dizzy.�

�How is Jordan doing? Is she and the baby doing okay?� Grace asked.

�As far as I know everything is going well,� Noah confirmed. �She�s only early in her first trimester.�

�What about medical school?� Sam asked, brushing his hair back, impatiently. �How are you planning on supporting a wife and a child? Things are tight now, and you�re living at home.�

�Why can�t Jordan move in with us?� Grace suggested. Noah can continue with his schooling, and I can help Jordan out when the baby come.�

�I think you�ve both forgotten that Jordan has a huge trust fund so she isn�t going to need our help with the baby,� Noah said, bitterly.

�Surely you�re not trying to tell me that the two of you are going to live off of Crane money are you?� Sam asked with a look of disgust on his face.

�Sam, that is none of our business,� Grace said, trying to calm her husband. �I think we need to concentrate on planning the wedding.�

�There is not going to be a wedding,� Noah told them softly.

�Did you say there wasn�t going to be a wedding?� Grace asked, confused.

�Son, I know that I came down on you pretty hard earlier, but we can work all the stuff out about your schooling,� Sam reasoned. �You have a responsibility to marry her.�

�I asked Jordan to marry me, but she refused,� Noah told them.

�But why?� Grace asked. �I thought the two of your were in love. This doesn�t make any sense.�

�We do love each other, but Jordan feels that if she marries me because of the baby that I will end up resenting her after a while. Plus, my chosen profession does not allow a lot of time for a wife and a baby.............�

�Oh my God,� Kay�s voice sounded from the doorway. �Is Jordan pregnant?�

�Kay, where did you come from?� Grace asked, surprised to see her daughter.

�Evan is working late and I was kind of lonely so I thought I would come over and visit, but never mind about that. Did I just hear you talking about Jordan being pregnant?�

�Yes, Jordan is pregnant, but keep your big mouth shut about it,� Noah demanded.

�Did I also hear that she is not going to marry you?� Kay asked, grabbing an apple from the bowl of fruit on the counter.

�You know I�m really tired of the twenty questions,� Noah complained. �I asked Jordan to marry me, and she refused even though she claims that she still loves me. I tried to reason with her but she isn�t going to bend. Now, since you�re all so free with the advice then you can figure out a way to convince Jordan to be my wife.�

********************

Paloma had just enough time to shower and get dressed before JJ picked her up for their date that evening. She hadn�t intended to stay at Luis and Sheridan�s for so long, but she was having such a good time with the baby. When she answered the door, JJ�s look of approval made her feel warm all over. �You look gorgeous,� he said, smiling.

�Yeah, these jeans are the latest thing in evening wear,� she joked, still a little shy about all of his praise.

�I guess we better get going, or we�ll miss the start of the movie,� JJ suggested.

�I was thinking JJ. Would you mind if we went to the late show, and stopped to get something to eat first?�

�I am so glad you said that because I am starving. Where do you want to eat?�

�I was thinking that we would go to my parent�s restaurant. Do you mind?�

�Of course not,� JJ assured her. �Your mother is an awesome cook?�

�Well, I kind of have an ulterior motive for going there,� she confessed. �I really need to talk to mama about something.�

�I don�t have a problem with that, but it�s going to cost you,� he said with a devilish smile.

�Okay, but we�ll have to stop at the automatic teller on the way because I don�t have much cash on me,� she teased.

�Cute Paloma,� he chuckled. �All I want is a simple kiss for payment.�

�I think I can manage that,� she said, moving toward him.

�That�s good, because I�ve been thinking about kissing you all day long,� he said, lowering his head to touch his lips to hers. �You taste so sweet.�

�It�s the peppermint Certs,� she murmured against his lips.

Fifteen minutes later, the were on their way to Pilar�s and arrived shortly thereafter. When they walked through the door, Martin was standing in the front greeting the patrons while keeping the staff moving. �Paloma, what are you doing here? I thought you two were going to see a movie.�

�We�re hungry, so we decided to go to the late showing. Where�s mama?� she said, looking around the restaurant.

�The chef has the flu so she�s cooking tonight,� Martin told her. �We�re pretty busy so I�m going to have to put you in the bar area if you don�t mind.�

�That�s fine papa. Listen JJ, why don�t you go and sit down and order me a soda while I talk to mama.�

�Okay,� he agreed. �Do you want an appetizer too?�

�Sure, that sounds great. Why don�t you choose,� she suggested before making her way to the kitchen. She spotted her mother standing at the large stainless steel stove stirring something in a big pot. �Mama.�

�Mija, what are you doing here? Are the babies okay?� she asked, worriedly.

�Everybody is fine, but there is something I have to tell you, and you are never going to believe this,� Paloma said, excitedly.

�I thought that you had a date with JJ,� Pilar said, confused.

�We decided to get something to eat first. He�s out in the front, but mama I have to tell you what I discovered today.�

�Paloma, please get to the point. I am very busy here..........�

�Okay, well I was taking Dario out to Luis and Sheridan�s earlier and he spilled his soda on his shirt because I stopped so I wouldn�t hit this dog that ran out in the middle of the road. Anyway, when we got there he took his shirt off so that Sheridan could wash it and I saw the mark mama,� she said with a rush of words.

�Slow down mija. What do you mean you saw the mark?�

�Mama, Dario has the Fitzgerald birthmark. We had Luke stand right next to him and they were identical and in the very same spot. Isn�t that freaky?�

Pilar just stood there with a look of shock on her face, unable to speak at first. �Are you sure about this mija?�

�I�m positive mama, and Sheridan saw it too,� Paloma confirmed for her.

�I just knew that Dario was connected to us in some way. This was weighing on me so much and I prayed to God that he would send me a sign, and this is it Paloma.�

�Now mama, don�t get all religious freaky on me,� Paloma said, making a face.

�You could use some more religion in your life mija,� Pilar scolded. �I can not wait to tell you papa about this. I was not going to tell you this just yet, but your papa and I have been talking about adopting Dario. We did want to discuss it with you children first. What do you think about that Paloma?�

�But mama, how can Dario be connected to us? Wouldn�t that mean that Luis or Antonio was his father?�

�That is impossible Paloma,� Pilar protested. �My sons would never father a child and just forget he existed.�

�They would if they didn�t know about him,� Paloma reasoned.

�Hey, what�s going on in here?� Martin asked, coming into the kitchen.

�We have people out there asking for their food, and you young lady should not let your young man sit out there by himself,� Martin said, pointing to Paloma.

�I�m sorry papa, but I had something important to speak to mama about,� Paloma told him.

�Martin, Paloma just told me that Dario has the Fitzgerald birthmark?� Pilar said, excitedly. �I knew my feeling was right.�

�Wait a minute,� Martin said, skeptically. �Are you sure about this Paloma?�

�I swear it�s true papa. We put Luke next to him and they have identical birthmarks, just like the one on your back.�

�I admit this is strange, but I don�t think we should make assumptions just yet,� Martin argued. �We need to investigate this some more before I�ll be convinced.�

�Well, I do not need any more proof,� Pilar told him, adamantly.

�I guess I better get back to JJ. Oh, by the way, I think it�s awesome that you want to adopt Dario,� Paloma said, turning to walk out the door to the dining room.

�Oh Martin,� Pilar said, hugging her husband. �I think we have just been given a wonderful gift from God.�

*******************

Luis and Sheridan had a time getting the twins� their bath that evening. The little imps were more in the mood to play in the water, splashing each other and their parents then they were in getting clean. Finally, Luis put his foot down and told them that if they didn�t get out of he tub he was not going to read them a bedtime story that night. That seemed to have just the effect, because they both let Sheridan scrub them down with baby body scrup. Once they were toweled off and put into their pajamas they went quietly to their rooms and waited for Luis. Since the twins had their own separate rooms now, Luis and Sheridan normally took turns with bedtime stories, each taking one of the children and then switching the next night. But, since Sheridan was still feeling a little under the weather from delivering Sofie, Luis was taking over full duty for now, but she did settle for a kiss from each of them.

When Luis came downstairs after getting the children down and found Sheridan sitting on the sofa with Sofie in her arms. She was watching an old movie on the television." I finally got the munchkins to sleep.�

�Thank God, the little stinkers were so wired up tonight,� Sheridan said, gratefully. �I didn�t think they were ever going to get out of the tub.�

�Knowing them they would have sat in there until the water was ice cold,� Luis chuckled. �Did Dario go to bed already?�

�No, he�s in the other room on the computer,� Sheridan told him. �Before coming here, he never used one before. That orphanage is pretty strapped for money, and a computer is the last thing that they can afford. I think that we should donate a couple to them so that the children can be prepared for the real world.�

�That�s a really good idea Sheridan,� Luis said excitedly. �Those poor kids are so sheltered.�

�I�ll look into it next week,� Sheridan offered. �I might even see if one of the charities I support can help us out.�

�Can I hold Sofie?� Luis asked.

�Of course,� she said, handing him he baby.

�She looks so sweet when she�s sleeping,� Luis said, looking down at his daughter affectionately. �I swear, she�s grown already.�

�She probably has with the way she eats,� Sheridan chuckled.

�It sounds like you�re in a better mood,� Luis said. �I�m glad to see that.�

�I did want to apologize to you for how I was acting earlier today,� Sheridan told him.

�You don�t need to apologize to me. I should have been better about watching Lily.�

�Well, I know it�s still early, but I�m exhausted,� Sheridan said, yawning. �I think I�m going to go upstairs and lay down.�

�I�ll come with you,� Luis said, hopping up with the baby. �Hey Dario, will you turn the lights out before you come upstairs?�

�Yes Luis,� he called back.

�Don�t stay up too late, and no porn sites,� Luis told him.

�I do not even know what a porn site is,� Dario said with a confused voice.

Once they got upstairs, Luis put Sofie in her bassinet, stripped down to his boxers and slipped into bed beside Sheridan. He pulled her into his embrace and kissed her cheek. �Are you going to tell me what was really bothering you today?�

�I know you think I�m crazy Luis, but I can�t stop thinking about Dario�s birthmark, and then I see the way you two are together����

�Sheridan, we are not any different then we�ve always been, and that whole birthmark thing has got to be a coincidence,� Luis said, trying to reason with her.

�I know that�s what you think, but I feel it Luis. Somehow Dario is related to your family.�

�But how?� Luis asked. �I might have some distant cousins out there on papa�s side, but don�t you think it�s a little too convenient that there would be one of my Irish cousins getting together with a Latino woman?�

�You�re right, it is too convenient, and that is what is bothering me,� Sheridan worried.

�I have a feeling that you are not saying everything����

�Okay Luis, if you must know, I have given this a lot of thought today, and can it be possible that either you or your brother fathered Dario?�

�Sheridan, that�s impossible,� he said, adamantly.

�Why is that impossible? We know by Dario�s birth certificate that he is twelve years old, so that would have meant he was conceived almost thirteen years ago. Where were you during that time Luis?�

�I was here in Harmony trying to keep my family together.�

�Were you seeing Beth at that time?� Sheridan questioned.

�I can�t be sure of the exact timing, but I had probably just broken up with her because it was right around the time Antonio took off. Come on Sheridan, if you�re implying that Beth had my child and didn�t tell me that�s totally ridiculous.�

�How can you be so sure Luis?� Sheridan asked, pointedly.

�Because, if Beth were pregnant with my child, I don�t think she would hesitate for a minute to let me know about it.�

�Maybe she felt she couldn�t tell you because you had just broken up with her to take care of your family. She might have felt that you would resent her and not need the extra burden.�

�Sheridan, I can�t believe that you have dreamed up this story, after seeing one little birthmark?� Luis said, in amazement. �Besides, even if Beth were pregnant, she would never have the money to go to Paris to have the baby.�

�Do you remember if you saw much of her after you broke up with her?� Sheridan asked, still not satisfied that she wasn�t on the right path.

Luis contemplated her question for a minute, when he suddenly got a spark of realization. �Now that I think about it, Beth did go away for several months, but she was supposed to be in Boston helping out her sick aunt.�

Sheridan�s heart sank. What if Beth just told Luis that story so that he wouldn�t catch on that she was pregnant? Maybe someone gave her the money to go to Paris so she could deliver her baby? �Luis, I have a feeling that I may just be right about this.�

�Sweetie, I think that you are going way overboard with this,� Luis said as gently as he could as not to upset her.

It was like she hadn�t even heard him, because she started in again. �You said that was right around the time before Antonio left. Was he seeing anyone seriously then?�

�No, he dated around, but there was nobody serious in his life right then. Sheridan, you need to stop obsessing about this,� he said, trying to keep the frustration from his voice.

�Okay, so he wasn�t seeing anybody seriously, but that doesn�t mean that he couldn�t have gotten some girl pregnant............�

It was time to put a stop to this and Luis could only think of one way. He didn�t let her finish, because he lowered his head and planted the most sensuous kiss on her lips that took her very breath away. She responded instantly, pulling his head closer. All of the pent up sexual tension from the last several weeks took hold, basking them in a wave of desire. �Oh God Luis, this feels so good, but we have to stop,� she protested weakly.

�But, I don�t think I can stop,� he whispered kissing her again.

�We have to,� she said, pushing him away. �The doctor hasn�t given me the okay yet.�

�Don�t worry, we won�t go against doctor�s orders,� he smiled devilishly. �There are so many other things we can do for pleasure.�

 

Part 6, Chapter 52

Once a contented Luis fell asleep, Sheridan slid out of bed and into her robe. They had moved Sofie to the nursery that very day and she was still nervous about her tiny baby being in there all alone. Before going to Sofie, she checked on Luke and Lily and made sure they were all tucked in for the night. They both had a habit of kicking their covers off and she always worried that they would get cold, especially since the nights were growing so chilly with the approach of winter just about the corner. She even had the last minute urge to peek into the guest room to make sure that Dario was okay, and found him sleeping soundly. He was such a sweet boy that one couldn�t help but be drawn to him. Even though she had grown to love him, the mystery of his paternity was weighing heavily on her since the discovery of the birthmark. Luis was right about one thing though, she needed to quit obsessing about it, or she would go crazy.

Her precious baby was wide awake when she finally made her way to the nursery. When Sofie saw her mommy, she made the sweetest little cooing noises, and Sheridan almost cried from the intensity of joy she felt watching her perfect little daughter. �How is my little sweetheart?� Sheridan asked softly, while lifting Sofie out of the crib. �Do you miss being with mommy and daddy during the night?� She sat down on the rocking chair and put her daughter to her breast, and began to hum a lullaby. Her mind drifted to her earlier encounter with Luis and the picture in her mind heated her blood. Never had she thought that such a gentle sensuous touch could send her over the edge without wanting more. Part of her satisfaction had come from Luis� reaction to her exploration of his hard hot body. His abstinence had made him like a time bomb, and it gave her great pleasure to relieve him from the built-up sexual tension. Even though they couldn�t make love in the traditional way, it had been a fulfilling encounter for both of them.

Sofie was fast asleep, and didn�t even awaken when Sheridan held the baby to her shoulder to pat on her back. After the baby was settled back in her crib, she leaned down to kiss her daughter on the forehead. �Goodnight my little angel. Mommy will be back later to check on you.� Luis was still dead to the world when she slipped in beside him, but he still pulled her close with a reflex that seemed so natural. Content to be in his arms, she nodded off and began to dream about sweet family moments that slowly turned into a nightmare that left her shaken to the core.

They were all playing in the yard, Luis raking the leaves into large piles, while the twins, giggling with delight, jumped in sending the colorful foliage everywhere. Dario tried his best to clean up the mess the little imps were making, but finally gave up and joined in the fun. Sofie was bundled up snugly resting in the pouch against Sheridan�s chest as she watched her family at play. The sun was bright, the light bouncing off the red and gold hues of the leaves, when suddenly the dark clouds descended, making the day gray and threatening. She called out, trying to get her family to go into the house, but if was as if nobody could hear her. There was a feeling of desperation that came over her as she tried to keep her family from harms way, and her cries became louder. And then she was there, appearing from nowhere, Beth wearing a look of smug satisfaction. �What are you doing here?� Sheridan asked in a desolate tone.

�I came for my son,� Beth answered, smiling evilly.

�No, go away,� Sheridan demanded. �I want you to leave my home.�

�Not without Dario.......... Come here Dario. It�s time to be with your real mother.�

�He is not your son. Just because you gave birth to him you have never been a mother to him,� Sheridan said, feeling the anger consume her.

�You just can�t stand the thought that it was me that gave Luis his first child. You may have gotten everything else, but you can never take that away from me,� Beth spat out. �Come Dario, come to mommy.�

�No, no, I won�t let you take him,� Sheridan said, pushing her away, but it all in vein because Dario was beside Beth now, taking her hand.

�I have been waiting for you for so long,� Dario said, smiling up at Beth.

�I�m sorry Sheridan,� Luis said, approaching them. �I need to go with Beth and Dario now. They deserved to have me in their life too.�

�No Luis, you can�t leave,� she cried, clinging to him. �What about our children? What about the love we share?�

�Now don�t be sad Sheridan,� Luis told her. �I promise I�ll be back to visit you and the children.�

She watched the three of them walk away, Dario in the middle holding hands with Luis and Beth and it broke her heart. �No Luis............. Please come back. Don�t leave us...............�

�Sheridan, wake up,� Luis said, shaking his wife gently.

Her eyes flew open, and she sat up with a start, gasping for air and looking around the room frantically. �Luis?�

�I�m right here,� he said, pulling her into his arms. �You need to calm down and take some deep breaths. It was just a bad dream.�

�It was so real Luis,� she cried. �It frightened me..........�

�I know, but you�re here with me and you need to try and relax,� he said, trying to comfort her. �Maybe it will help if you tell me about your dream.�

�We were all in the yard playing and Beth came. She said she wanted Dario because it was time for him to be with his real mother. I tried to stop her, but Dario wanted to leave with her and then...........�

�I heard you call out for me to come back. What was that all about?� Luis asked.

�You said that you had to leave to go be with Beth and Dario now. You left us Luis and I felt like my world was falling apart,� she said, wiping her tears away.

�Sheridan it was just a bad dream,� he said, kissing her cheek, her forehead. �I swear to you that I would never leave you. I would rather tear out my heart than to leave you and our children.�

�I know that Luis, but the dream seemed so real. I�m sorry. You must think I�m an idiot,� she said, granting him a small smile.

�You can�t help what you dream sweetie, but you have to stop worrying about this whole Dario thing or it�s going to drive you crazy. I am not his father Sheridan, and I�ll prove it to you. Do you remember when the twins where just babies and I had them with me at the Book Cafe? You were going to meet me, and when you got there you found Beth holding Luke?�

�Yes, I remember,� Sheridan acknowledged. �I couldn�t stand seeing her hold my little boy, but how does that prove that you aren�t Dario�s father.�

�Because, before you got there Beth was saying that Luke should have been our son. Hers and mine. Don�t you think that if she gave birth to Dario that she would have told me then?�

�You are right,� Sheridan said, with relief. �That bitch never made any secret that she wanted you. I�m sure that she would have used that ammunition a long time ago, but it still doesn�t explain Dario�s birthmark.�

�I can�t explain it, but why don�t we do what we do best and investigate the situation?� he suggested.

�Can we really do that Luis?� she asked, excitedly.

�Only if you promise me you�ll go back to sleep and stop thinking about this,� he said, giving her a quick kiss.

�Okay, I guess I am pretty exhausted, but I want to check on the children first,� she said, starting to get out of bed.

�Don�t need to, because I just checked on them and they are all fine,� he said, pulling her back down. Now, go to sleep and have dreams about what I�m going to do to you as soon as the doctor releases you.�

********************

Jordan�s stomach felt just like the time they had taken Buffy Winston�s family cabin cruiser out on the Long Island Sound during a storm. This morning sickness was going to be the death of her. The only saving grace that helped her get through these times was knowing that the agony was over just as quickly as it started. She was in the process of forcing down some tea and dry toast when her mother burst through the door of the cottage. Ivy had all but ignored her for weeks, and she picks now to show her face. �Don�t you believe in knocking mother?�

�Now Jordan, don�t you think it�s time for us to take off the gloves and make peace?�

�Look mother I would appreciate it if you would get to the point of this little importune visit,� Jordan said, taking a bite out of her dry toast.

�Well, I was thinking that we could hop of the Crane jet and fly to New York to do some shopping. Don�t you think that we are overdue for some mother daughter bonding?� Ivy asked with a hopeful smile.

�Who are you and what have you done with the real Ivy Crane?� Jordan asked, shocked by her mother�s sudden need for a connection between them.

�If you really need to know, I�m lonely,� Ivy pouted. �I�m tired of sitting around that mausoleum with nobody but the servants for company.�

�What about Ethan? He�s always been a comfort to you.�

�Your brother and I are not as close as we use to be,� Ivy said with an edge of bitterness in her voice. �He�s been working hard and spending all of his free time with Gwen.�

�The last time we saw each other you said that you didn�t want to see my face, and now all of a sudden you want to play mother to me for the first time in your life?� Jordan reminded Ivy.

�Look, I know I haven�t been the perfect mother, but can you give me a chance here........ Jordan, you look green.......�

Jordan didn�t wait to hear anymore of her mother�s chatter because if she didn�t leave now, she was going to lose all the contents of her stomach right then. She took off for the bathroom and made it to the commode just in time. She gasped for air and managed to pick herself off of the floor to splash some water on her face. �She�s right, I do look green,� she mumbled, looking into the mirror.

�Jordan, are you sick?� Ivy asked from behind her.

�I�ll be okay in a minute mother. Will you please wait in the living room?� she pleaded.

Ivy started to leave when the true state of her daughter�s illness hit her. �Oh dear God, you�re pregnant aren�t you?�

�Mother, I just can�t deal with this right now,� she said, patting the water off of her face.

�You�re not denying it so it must be true. How could you let this happen Jordan?� Ivy asked, her earlier jovial mood gone.

�I didn�t plan for this to happen mother, but it did and I�ve accepted the fact that I�m going to have a baby.�

�I suppose that Noah Bennett is the father?� Ivy asked, her tone dripping with fury.

�Yes mother, Noah is the father,� Jordan admitted.

�I can�t believe you�re going to stick me with Grace Bennett to plan a wedding with,� Ivy said, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

�Well mother, you don�t need to worry about it because there isn�t going to be a wedding,� Jordan informed her.

�What, no wedding?� Ivy asked, shocked. �Don�t tell me that Noah refused to marry you, because I have news for him. He�s going to face up to his responsibilities.�

�Mother, Noah does want to get married, but I told him no.�

�Have you lost your mind?� Ivy asked, incredulously. �Why would you do a thing like that?�

�Because I want to get married for all the right reasons, not because we�re forced into it because a baby is on the way.�

�But, I thought the two of you were in love. What difference does it make if it�s now or later?�

�It makes a difference to me mother,� Jordan said, adamantly. �Now, the subject is closed for discussion.�

�I think not. Do you really believe that I am going to let you run around town pregnant without being married? You are a Crane and you are expected to behave with decorum. We will be the gossip of the country club and I will never be able to show my face again,� Ivy complained.

�Please mother, you act like the Cranes are the pillars of the community. I would think that after daddy�s imprisonment that me having a baby would be nothing.�

�Please reconsider this Jordan. Why don�t you go to Europe and have the baby? You could stay in one the Crane estates over there and once the baby comes you could give it up for adoption.�

�How could you even ask that of me mother? I could never give my baby up,� Jordan said, stubbornly.

�Sometimes you have to look at what is best for the baby, and besides how will you ever make a good match saddled with another man�s child?�

�I don�t want another man. I love Noah, and some day we will hopefully be able to get married when the time is right for both of us.�

�Then just marry him now. He is certainly not my ideal choice for you, but it�s better than being an unwed mother.�

�Don�t� be ridiculous mother. Times have changed, and it�s not like it used to be when you were my age. Single women are having babies all the time and it is quite acceptable. Look at Princess Stephanie.�

�Princess Stephanie is a terrible embarrassment to her father. She�s the joke of Monaco for God�s sake.�

�Regardless mother, I really am not up to arguing about this with you right now. My mind is made up, and that�s final,� Jordan said, dismissing Ivy.

�This is not over young lady. I will not allow you to embarrass this family,� Ivy said, turning to leave in a huff, and slamming the cottage door on her way out.

�Oh God, morning sickness and mother at the same time is just too much for any human being to have to take,� Jordan mumbled, feeling another wave of nausea hit her.

********************

Martin and Pilar were having a family dinner tonight so that they could say goodbye to Theresa. She was leaving for Paris on the following day and would not return until the Christmas holiday. Sheridan dressed the twins in their new outfits from Kid Gap and Sofie in her little pink bib overhauls. �What do you think Luis? Don�t our children look adorable?� Sheridan said, proudly.

�They certainly do,� Luis agreed. �Peanut�s skirt looks a little short though.�

�Luis, that�s the way they wear them and she does have tights on,� Sheridan said, rolling her eyes.

�Hey Sport, you look pretty spiffy in the blue sweater,� Luis told his little boy.

�What be spiffy daddy?� Luke asked, confused.

�What that means sweetie is that you look very handsome just like daddy does.� Sheridan said, combing his hair. �There, now you look perfect. Come here Lily so that mommy can do your hair too.�

�Mama, can me have bets?� Lily asked, hopefully.

�You certainly can, and mommy bought you some pretty hair berets to match your new outfit.�

Luis picked Sofie up and checked out her soft knit overhauls. �I can�t believe how tiny these things are.�

�Well, they are a little big, but I�m sure she�ll fit into them soon. She�s growing like a little weed. Okay Lily, all finished. You look so pretty,� Sheridan said, kissing her daughter on the cheek.

�Okay family,� Luis said, clapping his hands. �Time to get your coats on so we can get to abuela�s house.�

As the twins scampered to get their coats, Sheridan suddenly remembered the present that she was going to give to Theresa. �Luis, would you mind going upstairs and getting that gift I left on the dresser in our room?�

�Sure, but who is the present for?� he asked, handing the baby to her.

�It�s a little going away gift for Theresa,� Sheridan told him.

�What did you get for her?� Luis asked.

�A leather satchel to carry her designs in. I hope she likes it.�

�I�m sure she will,� Luis said, putting his arms around her. �That was sweet of you to remember my sister like that. You�ve already done so much by letting her stay in your townhouse while she living in Paris.�

�When are you going to remember that it�s our townhouse now,� Sheridan reminded him. �You know that whole thing about what�s yours is mine..........?�

�I think we should probably drop this subject for now,� Luis cautioned.

�Mama, daddy, we has ta go,� Luke announced.

�Okay Sport,� Luis laughed.

Pilar had a wonderful dinner and everyone ate until they were stuffed, except for Lily. �Buela, me need some more,� she said, rubbing her tummy.

�Oh my goodness little girl. Mommy has never seen you eat so much,� Sheridan said, surprised. �You must really like abuela�s cooking.�

�Me want more too mama,� Luke begged.

�You would think that I starve them at home,� Sheridan joked. �Although they do eat like little birds most of the time, except for when Luis makes them pancakes.�

�Me wuv daddy�s cancakes,� Luke told them, grinning.

�Let abuela get you some more,� Pilar said, hopping up from her chair. �I don�t want my babies to starve.�

�Oh I don�t know mama, I�ve seen the squirts eat some massive amounts of macaroni and cheese,� Paloma teased, making the twins giggle.

�We got Teetee a pressie,� Lily announced.

�Lily, that was supposed to be a surprise,� Sheridan chastised.

�Oh, you got me a present?� Theresa asked, excitedly. �Tell me what it is.�

�Now which one of you is older?� Miguel asked, smiling. �Theresa or Lily.�

�Very funny Miguel,� Theresa said, making a face.

�So Theresa, are you excited about living in Paris?� Sheridan asked.

�I can hardly wait Sheridan,� Theresa said, excitedly. �Thank you again for letting me stay in the townhouse. I�m really anxious to start design school, and of course Gaston being there is an extra incentive. I will miss everyone here though.�

�I still can not believe you are leaving,� Pilar said, teary eyed. �It just breaks my heart to see one of my children leaving home.�

�I know this is hard Pilar, but it�s time to let go so that Theresa can follow her dreams,� Martin said, trying to be as comforting as possible.

�Don�t cry mama, I�ll be home for Christmas, and it�s not like I�m leaving Harmony forever,� Theresa reminded her.

�Teetee go bye bye?� Luke asked.

�Yes sweetie, I�m going to go to school in Paris, but I would love it if you and Lily would come over with your mommy and daddy and visit me.�

�Can Soapie come too Teetee?� Lily asked.

�Yes Lily, Sofie can come too,� Theresa laughed.

�Padre Marino told me one time that I was born in Paris,� Dario informed them. �I would like to go back there some day to see the place of my birth.�

�Oh, this is perfect mama,� Theresa squealed. �Since you and papa are adopting Dario, you can come to visit me and show him where he was born.�

�What did you say?� Dario asked, confused about Theresa�s statement about adoption. Sheridan and Luis were equally confused to be hearing this news as well.

�Theresa, you were not suppose to say anything about that until we had a chance to speak with Dario and the rest of the family,� Martin scolded.

�I�m sorry papa, but I thought that everyone knew,� Theresa said in her own defense.

�It does not matter now,� Pilar stated. �It is too late now for recriminations Martin.�

Luis and Sheridan�s shared a look of shock. �Is somebody going to explain what is going on here?� Luis asked.

�You go ahead Martin,� Pilar urged her husband.

�Well, Dario, I don�t know if this has been apparent to you, but since you have come to stay with us, we have grown to love you as if you were one of our own children. So, Pilar and I were talking about this last week, and we both agreed that since we thought of you like our own children, then why not make it official and adopt you legally. I guess the big question is, how do you feel about this? Would you like to stay with us and become part of our family?�

�You want to adopt me?� Dario asked unbeleivingly with tears in his eyes.

�Yes mijo,� Pilar confirmed, taking his hand. �Nothing would give us greater pleasure than to make you our son.�

�I love all you you too,� Dario said, wiping the tears away from his cheeks quickly like he was embarrassed to be seen crying. �I said a prayer that there would be a way that I could stay here and now my prayers are answered.�

�So, is that a yes?� Paloma asked, trying to add a little levity to the situation. �We�re not getting any younger around here.�

Paloma always had this way of making Dario laugh, and this time was no different. �Yes Paloma,� he giggled with happiness. His joy was contagious and everybody else joined in too. Even the twins, who had no idea what was going on.

Later, Luis and Sheridan hugged Theresa, and wished her all the luck in the world on her the newest phase in her life. They also hugged Dario, assuring him that they couldn�t be happier that he was going to officially become a part of their family now.

�Did you have any idea that your parent�s were considering adopting Dario?� Sheridan asked, once they were alone in the car.

�No, tonight was the first time I heard anything about it,� Luis assured her. �Are you happy about this Sherdian?�

�Of course I am. Why would you ask that Luis?�

�Well, the other day when I was in the kitchen with him when I let Lily come into the living room with cookies, I kind of had the feeling that you were a little resentful of him.�

�Oh no Luis,� Sheridan said, shocked that he would have even thought something like that about her. �I admit that I was a little upset with you that day because of all those crazy thoughts running through my head, but never once did I ever resent Dario. He is a wonderful boy, and I�m so happy that we have him in our lives.�

�I�m sorry Sheridan. I should have known that you would never feel that way,� Luis apologized.

�I�ll forgive you this time, but when we get home you�re going to give me one hell of a backrub to make up for it,� Sheridan told him, trying to keep a serious face.

Click here for Part 7!!!

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