Rain On Me
Chapter One
Written by Shay



"We have to tell Antonio the truth," Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald hissed lowly to the nervous looking blonde standing before him.

Sheridan, the said blonde, stared at him with a helpless look on her face, her eyes pleading with him to understand. "I can't, Luis. Not tonight. I can't."

Luis' brown eyes narrowed as an exasperated sigh escaped his being. He gave a quick glance over her shoulder to where his older brother was standing, painfully oblivious, talking to their mother, Pilar. Reverting his gaze back to Sheridan, he shook his head in resignation. "This has to end, Sheridan. Tonight. I'm sorry, but six months is far too long to keep living this lie. He deserves to know the truth."

"But he's so excited," she protested weakly, glancing down at her barely pregnant state.

"Dammit, Sheridan," Luis exploded. "I can't go on like this! I can't grin and bear it every time I see you together. I can't even sleep anymore because all I can think of is you alone with him at the cottage."

"I know," Sheridan sighed, biting her lower lip. "But what if the shock kills him? I can't live with that guilt!"

"That argument is old and you know it," Luis rebuked, raking a hand through his dark hair. "He's fine! He's been fine but you keep putting off telling him. Or we get interrupted when we try! I'm beginning to think you want to stay married to him."

Sheridan's jaw dropped and her blue eyes filled with tears as the statement hung heavy in the air between them. Blinking back the droplets that threatened to fall, her face hardened.

"You don't honestly believe that, do you?" She demanded. "I love you! Only you. But I care for Antonio, too. He saved my life, I don't want to hurt him!"

Luis shook his head again, not bothering to try and mask the hurt etched on his handsome face. " You keep saying you don't want to hurt him, but what about me? How about how much this is hurting me? I have to stand here and watch the woman I love run around with my brother. I can't sit back and take it anymore, Sheridan. As much as I love you, there's got to be some kind of end to this. So," he paused, exhaling loudly. "Either we tell him now or I walk away for good."


******


Sheridan stared at Luis, disbelief apparent on her lovely features. He hadn't just said what she thought he said, had he? It seemed impossible. After all they'd been through, he wouldn't just walk way, would he?

But there he was, standing before her, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans, his green shirt untucked, the top two buttons undone, revealing only a portion of the muscular chest she knew lay underneath. His mouth was set at a firm line, his jaw tense. His beautiful eyes were full of pain and begging her not to make him leave. His gaze was expectant, however, as he awaited her answer.

With her forehead creased, she tore her gaze from Luis and sighed as it came to rest on Antonio, her husband. Theresa had arrived at the park now, Little Ethan in tow, and she watched as the siblings happily interacted, with Antonio bouncing his nephew up and down, causing the child to laugh wildly. As if sensing her, he glanced up and shot her a dazzling smile before turning back to his sister.

Torn, she closed her eyes to collect herself. Could she really go through with telling Antonio the truth and breaking his heart? He didn't deserve that. He hadn't done anything wrong, only fell in love with the wrong woman. Could she actually stand there and watch as his whole world crumbled?

But what was the alternative? Lose Luis? Would she survive losing him again? Would she be able to live a full and happy life without him by her side? And the baby. What about the baby? Though there was just the slightest chance it could be Antonio's, her heart told her it belonged to Luis.

Today was supposed to be a carefree day. The Lopez-Fitzgerald clan all together, enjoying the early spring day with a family picnic in the park. Maybe, if she could get Luis to wait until tomorrow, things would be okay. Deciding that would be her course of action, she turned back to Luis, who was staring at her impatiently.

He raised an eyebrow as if to ask what her decision was and she took a deep breath.

Reaching out, she gently placed a hand on his now crossed arms, her expression set. "We'll tell him, Luis. But it can wait one more day, can't it? Today is supposed to be a happy day."

Luis' hand came up and latched onto hers and for a moment, her heart soared. Things would work out! But then his face darkened and he dropped her hand as if it burned him. "No, it can't wait, Sheridan. You've made your decision," he spat out forcefully, his words laced with hurt, betrayal and anger. "Go be with your husband," he finished, turning on his heel and walking away, leaving Sheridan staring after him, stunned and heartbroken.


******


Theresa, who had been watching the entire exchange out of the corner of her eye, felt her heart drop when she saw her brother disappear down the trail that led to the parking lot. Sheridan stood rooted in her spot, motionless ,her shoulders sagging and Theresa was sure there were tears involved.

Deciding it was her job to run damage control, she smiled at her younger brother, Miguel, who was standing beside her.

"What do you think happened?" Miguel asked, his gaze on Sheridan.

"I don't know," Theresa responded. "But I'm going to find out. Keep Antonio occupied for a little while, okay?"

"Sure," Miguel nodded, heading back to where his brother and mother sat, glancing back once as Theresa approached Sheridan.

"Sheridan?" Theresa said softly, coming up behind the older woman.

"He left," She replied tearfully, her voice hoarse. "He left and he's not coming back."

Theresa sighed and pulled her behind a wall of trees, out of view of her family. With concern, she handed her sister-in-law a tissue from her purse. "What happened?"

Sheridan wiped the tears away and met Theresa's worried gaze. "He wanted to tell him today and said if we didn't, that was it. I thought we could wait, until tomorrow," she paused, choking back a sob. "But he said we couldn't and left. I've lost him for good and it's all my fault!" She cried.

"You haven't lost him," Theresa objected. "Because true love always prevails. I'll talk to him," she offered.

"No," Sheridan shook her head. "Talking to him isn't going to help. The only way is to tell Antonio the truth. I just don't think I can hurt him like that."

With a sympathetic smile, Theresa pulled Sheridan into a hug, silently praying her brother would come to his senses.


******

With a heavy heart, Luis shifted the car into park and exited the vehicle. Normally he wouldn't go near a place like this, but what difference did it make now? He didn't have Sheridan. Without her life held no meaning. And in a lot of ways, this was worse then when he thought her to be dead. Now she was within his reach, but yet so far away. She married his brother, for God's sake! Determined to forget about her, at least for tonight, he headed inside the bar, taking a seat in the back.

After a few minutes a sweet voice interrupted his thoughts.

"What can I get you?" It asked.

Somewhat startled, his head shot up and locked with a pair of the most beautiful green eyes he'd ever seen.



******