"Martin . . ." Tears sprang to Pilar's eyes.

"Mi amor . . ." Martin breathed, his eyes locking on hers. "Oh, Pilar, how I've missed you."

Pilar's hand flew up to her mouth.

Her husband—her Martin. He had finally returned. He had finally come back to her.

Pilar trembled, her eyes welling with tears. "I've prayed for this moment every single night."

Martin's voice choked with emotion. "Then what are you doing all the way over there?"

"Oh, Martin! ¡Mi amor!" Pilar cried, flying into his arms.

Martin tightened his arms around her and breathed in the scent of her skin. "Pilar, I love you so much."

Joy burst through Pilar's chest. "Oh, Martin," she sighed, every color in his hospital room growing more vibrant. "Oh, Martin, I love you, too."


Luis poked his head in through the door of his father's room and then quickly pulled it out.

"Come on, Luis. Let's go in!" Theresa said, squeezing his wrist.

"Theresa, they're making out."

Sheridan chuckled as she saw her husband turn several shades of red. "Come on, Luis. How do you think you were born?"

Luis groaned. "I don't need that mental picture, Sheridan."

"Maybe not," Sheridan smiled. "But I still think we should knock." Sheridan smiled back at Theresa, who squeezed her hand. "Theresa did come all the way over here in her wedding dress to see him."

"I just couldn't wait to see Papa," Theresa smiled with excitement, beaming up at Ethan.

"Yes, and we wanted to make sure you were okay, too, Sheridan," Miguel added. "We heard you had a fall."

"Thank you, Miguel. I did." Sheridan's eyes fell. "I did, but I'm okay."

"We're glad," Ethan said, laying one hand on her shoulder. "You really gave us a scare, Sheridan."

"I know," Sheridan admitted softly, reaching out for her husband's hand. "Especially Luis." Sheridan sniffled and turned her head to Ethan. "I'm so sorry for ruining your wedding."

Ethan knelt down beside her wheelchair. "You didn't ruin anything, Sheridan. I just want you to feel better."

"That's what I keep telling her." Luis smiled softly at his wife and dug his free hand into his pocket.

"Will you two stop worrying about me?" Sheridan pursed her lips. "I'm going to get through this—I promise."

Sheridan looked up at Luis and cradled her belly with her free hand, a tear slipping from her eye. "I have two very good reasons to . . ."

Luis gave her a soft smile. "Speaking of the other reason, how is our little munchkin princess doing?"

"Princess?" Theresa's eyes lit up with excitement. "You're having a baby girl?"

"Yes, sis, we are." Luis studied Theresa's face. "Don't you be getting any crazy ideas, though. She's not even going to be allowed near makeup until she's at least sixteen."

"Oh, Luis, you're such a worrywart." Theresa gave him a playful shove. "Watching you raise a daughter is going to be all sorts of fun." Theresa grinned at Sheridan. "I assume you're going to overrule Luis and allow her to date before she's thirty-two."

Sheridan chuckled as she took in the horrified look on Luis's face. "You know what? I don't think now is the time to discuss this."

"Okay, if you insist, Sheridan." Theresa grinned at Luis. "But I'm not even close to being done with him."

Sheridan laughed and intertwined her fingers through her husband's. "Come on, Luis," she said, smiling softly at him. "Let's go see your father."


Martin and Pilar were so engrossed in each other that they didn't even hear the door open.

Luis cleared his throat.

Martin and Pilar jumped apart.

"Oh, mijo, it's just you." Pilar turned fifty shades of red—only regaining her composure as she watched Luis wheel Sheridan into the room. "How are you feeling, Sheridan?"

"Much better, thank you." Sheridan reached up behind her shoulder and squeezed Luis's hand. "I think the more important question here, though, is how are you doing?" Sheridan's eyes wandered over to Martin's, and she gave him a soft smile. "It's so good to see you awake, Mr. Fitzgerald."

"It's good to be awake." Martin smiled at his daughter-in-law and then at his wife, pulling Pilar in tight against his chest. "I feel like I've been waiting for this moment forever."

"So have we, Papa," Luis smiled, a tear coming to his eye. "So have we."

Crossing the room to his father's bed, Luis sat down beside him, tears slipping down his face as his father leaned forward and embraced him.

"It's okay, son," Martin whispered. "I'm back for good this time." Martin patted Luis's back, like he'd done when Luis was a little boy. "You've grown into such a fine young man, Luis. I'm so proud of you."

Luis smiled and took a deep breath in, wiping the tears from his eyes as he straightened his back. "Yeah, well, I think there are two other people you'll be proud of, and they're standing right out there."

Luis blinked back tears as he turned toward the door to Martin's room.

"Miguel?" Martin gasped, as his youngest son stepped into the room. "I haven't seen you since you were a toddler." Martin looked Miguel up and down. "Just look at you—you're all grown up now."

"I am, Papa." Miguel gave him a smile.

"Well get over here, then," Martin grinned. "Give your old man a hug."

Luis moved aside as Miguel strode over to the bed and pulled his father into a tight embrace. "I've missed you so much, Papa," Miguel choked out, tears streaming from his eyes.

"I've missed you, too, Miguel." Martin looked around the room. "I've missed all of you so very much."

"Even me, Papa?" Theresa asked, as she stepped through the doorway.

"Theresa?" Martin's mouth fell open at the sight of his eldest daughter. "My God, you're such a beauty."

"Oh, Papa," Theresa cried. "Mama always knew you'd come back to us."

"And just in time for some very important events, I see." Martin smiled. "I know Luis and Sheridan are having a baby, but, Theresa, did you just get married?"

"I did, Papa!" Theresa replied, flying into his arms. "I wish you could have been there. But having you back right now—it's the best wedding present I could have gotten."

Tears pooled in Martin's eyes as he held his little girl. "I can't believe this. Last time I saw you, you still had skinned knees." Martin ran his fingers through her hair. "Are you really a married woman?"

"I am, Papa." Theresa looked back at the doorway and smiled as Ethan walked into the room. "Papa, I'd like you to meet my husband, Ethan . . ."

"Crane?" Martin raised his brows.

"Winthrop," Ethan chimed in. "It's a long story." Ethan crossed the room and shook Martin's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Fitzgerald. I've heard so much about you."

"Ethan, please, call me Martin." Martin glanced over at Sheridan. "You, too, Sheridan."

Sheridan nodded and smiled; Luis squeezed her shoulder.

Martin shook his head and grinned. "I can't get over this. Two of my children already married and to two Cranes, no less." Martin smiled at Ethan and Sheridan. "I remember seeing you two playing on the estate as children. Who would have ever thought that sweet little girl and friendly little boy would grow up to be my children's spouses?"

Pilar smiled softly at Sheridan. "I couldn't have picked better spouses for our children if I had hand-picked them myself."

Sheridan blushed and tucked her hands beneath her thighs; Luis massaged her back.

"Sheridan has a hard time taking compliments," Luis said, smiling softly at her. "Plus, every time the name Crane is mentioned in this town, it's usually met with hatred."

"Including by you," Theresa said, nudging him playfully with her elbow. "Papa, did you know that when Luis and Sheridan first met, he ticketed and arrested her?"

"What?" Martin asked.

Sheridan let out a soft chuckle. "It's okay. He was just doing his job, and I was speeding."

Luis crossed his arms in front of his chest and smiled. "I'm glad you finally admit that."

Sheridan's mouth twisted up in a smile. "Yeah, well, don't get a big head about it, or I might make you have this baby for me."

Luis chuckled and rubbed his chin. "We certainly have come a long way, haven't we?" Luis beamed down at his wife.

"We have, Luis." Sheridan glanced around the room. "We all have."

Everyone smiled quietly for a moment, just taking in one another.

"We are a lucky, lucky family," Pilar said quietly.

"We are, Mama," Theresa agreed, putting one arm up around her mother as the entire Lopez-Fitzgerald family gathered around Martin for a group hug. "We are really blessed."