"Do you think we have a chance of finding anything?" Eve asked Tina, her voice strained with pain.

"I certainly hope so," Tina said, typing some notes on her laptop. "Searches like these normally take a few weeks, but I'm putting in a rush order. In fact, I have a man who's heading over to the hospital records department right now, so I should have some sort of information for you by tomorrow morning at the latest."

"Thank you," Julian said. "I can't tell you how much we appreciate this."

"Yes," Eve added, her eyes pleading with Tina's. "Any information you could give us would be more than we have now. If you could even just give us a place to start, that would mean the world to us."

"I'll do everything I can, Dr. Russell," Tina said. "I can only imagine how painful it was for you to lose your baby."

"I barely even got to hold him," Eve cried, her entire body trembling. "I was told that he had died only a few hours after he'd been born."

Luis glanced at Sheridan and frowned at the way she was shaking—at the way she was clutching her belly.

"I'm not going to let Alistair touch her." Luis slipped his hand underneath hers. "I would give up my own life before I let him get near her."

"Please don't say that," Sheridan begged. "With my father pulling the strings, you know that could happen."

"Only it's not going to this time, Sheridan." Julian inched his fingers across the table and covered Eve's hand with his own. "Father's reign of terror—it's time for it to end."


Sheridan closed her eyes and relaxed back into the hot spray from the shower head. The steady massage of the water—it was just what she needed right now. If only it could make the rest of the world disappear for more than just a few seconds.

Tina was right. She had to find a way out of this.

The way she had been feeling lately—the way she'd always felt unloved—she'd never want her daughter to feel this unhappy or disposable—like there was no point to her existence.

Was Tina's suggestion worth pursuing? Could therapy really help? Given her past experiences with it, she had her doubts, but at least it was a concrete step.

She had to do something. She couldn't keep wandering around in a fog like this—not knowing where to start. Her daughter would be here before she knew it—she had to be strong for her.

It was possible, wasn't it? To find a way to persevere through the pain and come out stronger for it? Eve and Pilar had certainly both managed to rise above everything that happened to them thus far.

They were both so incredibly strong.

"How did they do it?" Sheridan whispered, leaning against the shower wall. "They've both been through so much."

The water beating down on her back, Sheridan cupped the small mound where her daughter lay. "I have figure that out," she breathed, her voice cracking. "I have to figure that out for you."


Gwen smiled as she looked over at the balloon-popping booth at Harmony's arcade. This was almost going to be too easy. She could beat Hank with her eyes closed.

Closing one eye, Gwen aimed her dart.

Hank tickled the side of her waist.

The dart went flying, landing on the edge of the booth.

"Hank!" Gwen squealed, bursting into laughter as she dodged his next attack. "I'm going to get you for that!"

"I'm counting on it," Hank laughed. Grabbing Gwen around her middle, Hank spun her around and kissed her.

Gwen smiled at him. "How on earth did you find this place?"

Hank grinned and wiggled his eyebrows. "It's where all the cool kids hung out."

"I can see why." Gwen eyes sparkled as she glanced around the arcade. "Thank you for taking me here. I haven't had this much fun since my father took me to the carnival when I was a little girl."

Hank shrugged his shoulders and smiled. "I thought a little fun might be in order—especially after everything that has happened lately."

"You're right," Gwen grinned. "This was just what I needed."

Hank bowed with a flourish of his hand. "Happy to be of service, my lady. It's good to see you smile."

Gwen hugged her arms to her chest. "When I'm with you, it's kind of hard not to."

Hank nudged her nose. "Yeah, well, that's what I'm here for. My sole goal in life is to make you laugh."

"I know that hasn't been an easy job lately." Gwen smiled at the ground. "But still, Hank, you managed to do it."

Hank grinned. "It was nothing, Gwen."

"No, Hank." Gwen laid her hands on his chest and beamed up at him. "It was everything."


Sheridan adjusted the belt on her robe as she slipped out of the bathroom.

Luis looked up and smiled. "How was your shower?"

"Good." Sheridan rubbed a towel over her head. "It's amazing how a little bit of water can make me feel human again."

"Yeah, well, you had a rough day," Luis said, rising to his feet. "It couldn't have been easy for you to listen to Eve and Julian tell their story to Tina." Luis shook his head. "It definitely wasn't easy for me."

"No, it wasn't." Sheridan averted her eyes to the floor. "It's still hard to swallow the fact that my own father is such a monster."

"Yeah, well, he's not going to touch us again—I promise you that." Luis took her hands in his. "Sher . . . what's the matter?"

Sheridan bit down on her lip.

"Do you want to talk about it, Sher?" Luis led her over to the bed and sat her down on it.

"No, Luis. I just need to be alone . . . to clear my head a bit."

"Okay." Luis let go of her hands. "Just let me know if you need me. I'll always be right here."

"Oh, Luis, what if I'm a horrible mother?" Sheridan burst into tears. "What if I can't teach our daughter to be confident in herself? What if I pass along all my insecurities and fears?"

"Hey, hey, hey . . ." Luis wrapped her up in his arms. "Where is all of this coming from?"

Sheridan sobbed against his chest.

"I thought you were excited to be a mother." Luis rubbed her back.

"I am, Luis." Sheridan laid her head against his chest, the steady beat of his heart calming her entire body. "I'm just terrified to have a little girl. I'm so afraid that I'm going to fail her from the second she is born. How can I teach her to be a strong and confident woman if I'm not even one myself?"

"Oh, Sher . . ." Luis pulled her in closer and kissed the top of her head. "I know your father has done a number on you, but you're strong enough to handle this."

"That's what Tina said." Sheridan bit down on her knuckle.

"What is it, Sher?"

"Luis . . . I'm thinking about seeing a therapist."

Luis leaned back and lifted her chin with his finger. "Sheridan, you're one of the most incredible women I've ever known—and I know you're going to be an incredible mother." Luis brushed a stray hair away from her face. "If you think a therapist can help you realize that, then I'm all for it."

"I . . . I know I've been scared in the past because of what happened to me as a child . . ."

"I know you have been." Luis stroked her cheek. "What made you change your mind?"

"Something Tina said . . ." Sheridan cradled her belly. "That I have a new motivation now." Sheridan's eyes rose up to meet her husband's. "She was right, Luis. How could I ever expect our daughter to work through any struggles she might have if I won't help myself? How could I ever hope that she'll know how to keep herself mentally healthy if I can't do that myself?"

"Sheridan, I know I've told you this before, but you are the bravest person I know." Luis squeezed her shoulders. "If anyone can get through this, it's you."

"When you say it like that, I almost can believe you, Luis."

"Well, believe it," Luis said. "It's true."

"You really think I can do this, Luis?" Sheridan's voice quieted.

Luis smiled gently at her and cupped her face in his hands. "I know you can, Sher."

"How can you be so sure?"

Luis stood her up and walked her over to the mirror. "Look yourself in the eyes, Sheridan. What do you see?"

"I can't, Luis." Sheridan averted her eyes to the floor.

"Please, Sheridan," Luis asked softly. "Please, do it for me?"

Sheridan's eyes inched back up to the mirror, darting away the second they met their reflection. Taking a deep breath in, she slowly inched them back over until they made a connection. "I don't know, Luis. . . . What do I see?"

Standing behind her, Luis wrapped his arms around her chest and touched his hands to her heart. "How about courage, strength, and compassion? Is that a good place to start?"

Sheridan bit down on her lip.

"I see the woman I married, Sheridan," Luis whispered softly in her ear. "I see her beautiful heart."