Sheridan smiled as Luis slipped in behind her and cupped one hand over her belly.
"A penny for your thoughts." Luis's breath tickled her ear.
Sheridan clasped one hand over his, tears welling in the corners of her eyes as she watched Ethan and Theresa sway together on the dance floor—their eyes beaming at one another as they completed their first dance as husband and wife. "I'm . . . I'm just so happy for them."
"Yeah," Luis agreed, gently caressing her abdomen. "I have to say—I never thought this day would come."
"I just wish your father were here to see it." Sheridan hung her head. "Watching you walk Theresa up the aisle in his place . . . it was just so heartbreaking, Luis. I can't even imagine how atrocious it was for your mother."
"I know, Sher." Luis rubbed her back. "But that part is over now." Luis turned her around and lifted her chin. "So let's relax and enjoy the party. Steal a few moments of happiness while we can. We both know reality is going to come crashing down on us tomorrow, so let's just enjoy this moment. For Ethan and Theresa's sake."
Sheridan sniffled and wiped her tears. "You're right. I'm not being a very good date . . . or groomswoman for that matter."
"Hey." Luis cupped her face. "That's not what I was saying. Trust me—you're the best. And I'm sure if I could manage to pull Ethan away from my sister for a second or two, he'd tell you how happy it made him to have you stand beside him today. How much that meant to him." Luis sighed and shook his head. "I just want you to be happy, Sher. And it kills me that you're not. That all of your father's manipulations are still tainting your existence." Luis gently stroked her cheeks. "You deserve to be happy, Sheridan."
"I don't know about that," Sheridan said, tucking her head beneath his chin. "But you're right about tonight. We should be enjoying it—if for nothing other than Ethan and Theresa's sake." Sheridan tugged at his hand. "Come on . . . let's go dance."
Luis sighed, pulled her against his chest, and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Sheridan knew she was frustrating him, but this was still all her fault, right? If Martin hadn't saved her, he'd surely be here tonight.
The DJ's voice sounded over the loudspeaker: "I'd now like to invite the father of the bride out onto the dance floor to dance with his daughter."
"For heaven's sake," Luis muttered, his eyes flying to Theresa. "I've got to go to her, Sher."
Sheridan's eyes darted across the dance floor to where Ethan, Chad, and Whitney were comforting Theresa. How could the DJ have made such a mistake? How could this be happening? "You do, Luis," Sheridan nodded, ushering him out of her arms. "Go. I'll go find your mother."
"Thank you, Sheridan." Luis kissed her and then dashed across the dance floor.
Sheridan's eyes darted around the room, finally landing on Pilar, who was being comforted by Sam and Grace. Starting across the floor toward her mother-in-law, she halted in her tracks the second she heard Pilar's voice.
"Oh, I just wish Martin could be here, Grace," Pilar cried on Grace's shoulder. "I know that this is what he would have wanted—for our Theresa to go ahead and get married—but it's killing me that he's not here to see it. I'm so sick of being strong. I just want him to get through this." Pilar's voice quieted. "I want my husband back, Grace."
Tears sprang to Sheridan's eyes; her pulse began to race. She couldn't stand here and watch this anymore; she had to get out of here.
Her heart dropping to her stomach, Sheridan grabbed her coat from her chair, yanked it on, and rushed out into the night.
"I still can't believe you skipped out on Ethan's wedding tonight, Hank," Gwen said as they strolled across the wharf. "You didn't have to do that for me."
"I wanted to do it, Gwen." Hank squeezed her hand. "To tell you the truth, there's no place I'd rather be right now—even if Ethan is my recently discovered nephew. Given everything that's been going on with your mother for the past few months—how could I even think of being anywhere else?"
Gwen smiled sadly at him and rested her cheek on his shoulder. "It's like I have this huge black void inside of me—like part of me just can't breathe. For all of my life, my mother's been the one constant I can count on . . ."
"I know she has been, Gwen," Hank said. "Despite all of the crazy things she's done, I've never questioned that she loves you in her own Rebecca way."
"Then how do you explain this, Hank?" Gwen turned to him, tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. "Her disowning me and refusing to talk to me? The fact that she's refused to see me for the last three months?"
Hank shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. "I really can't answer that, Gwen. I know I could never leave you."
Gwen studied him for a second. "You wouldn't leave me, would you?"
"Not even if your mother tried to force me to." Hank smiled softly and linked his finger around hers. "Do you want me to pinky swear?"
Gwen chuckled as her eyes fell to their intertwined pinkies. "No one's asked me that since I was seven."
Hank grinned. "Yeah, well, sometimes, it's good to be a kid."
Gwen smiled softly at Hank and ran her hand through his hair. "It certainly is. I wish I could be one right now."
"Who says that you can't?" Hank paused for a moment and then grinned again. "Come on—follow me."
Gwen smiled and squeezed Hank's hand as they rounded the corner. "Where are you taking me?"
Hank nudged her nose. "You're just going to have to wait and see."
"You won't even give me a clue?" Gwen laughed, her voice trailing off. "Hank?" Gwen's voice filled with panic as she caught sight of the lone figure pacing at the edge of the docks. "Hank, is that Sheridan?"
Sheridan shivered and hugged her arms to her chest. How could that have just happened? Did the DJ mess up his playlists?
Whatever the cause, the Lopez-Fitzgerald family just had been reminded that Martin wasn't there with them—and in the cruelest possible of ways. Would their pain and suffering ever end?
All of this was her fault. All of it.
Luis just didn't see that yet.
"I'm so sorry you got stuck with me," Sheridan cried softly, gently caressing her tummy. "You deserve so much more . . . a real mother . . . not someone whose only talent is hurting everyone she loves."
Sheridan wandered closer to the water, her eyes never leaving her belly. "Luis will be a wonderful father, though. He'll make sure you're taken care of." Sheridan cradled her abdomen. "I hope for your sake that you're a boy because Luis is already the best role model you could ask for. I may not know much about raising children, but I do know this—you'll be proud he is your father."
Sheridan choked back a sob, another rush of tears flooding her eyes, blinding her to what was in front of her. Reaching down to grip the rail but grasping at air, she felt her heel hit a patch of black ice—felt her legs fly out from underneath her.
"Mama, have you seen Sheridan?" Luis ran one hand through his hair, his gaze darting about the room. "I thought she came over here to talk to you when the DJ accidentally made that announcement."
"No, mijo, I haven't. I was talking with Grace and Sam." Pilar hugged her arms to her chest and glanced behind her. "Maybe she went to the ladies' room. Do you want me to go check?"
"Yeah, that would be great." Luis took a deep breath in as his mother rushed off.
"Luis, don't worry. I'm sure Sheridan will be fine." Grace touched his arm. "Maybe she just stepped outside to get some fresh air."
"I already checked out there." Luis hung his head. "I'm worried about her, Grace. Ever since we came back with Papa, she hasn't been the same. No matter how many times I tell her she's not to blame for what happened, she can't seem to stop torturing herself over it."
"Because Martin got shot after rescuing her from Alistair?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, among other things."
"Luis, Sheridan's a strong woman." Sam put one hand on Luis's shoulder. "She's going to survive this."
"I know that, and you know that, Sam, but does Sheridan?" Luis threw his hands up into the air. "I can't shake this gut feeling that she's in some sort of trouble right now."
"Like the ones you've had before?" Sam raised his brows.
"Yeah, exactly like those."
Pilar rushed up to Luis. "Mijo, Sheridan's not in the bathroom. Can you think of anywhere else she might be?"
"No, Mama. I already checked outside." Luis grabbed his phone on its first ring and flipped it open. "Lopez-Fitzgerald here."
"Luis, it's Gwen."
"Gwen?"
"I'm here with Sheridan, down on the docks."
Luis's face paled at Gwen's next words.
"She's unconscious, Luis. She slipped and hit her head."
