Sheridan blinked back tears. "You really think I have a beautiful heart, Luis?"

"Of course I do." Luis kissed her cheek. "You are one of the most kind and compassionate people I've ever met."

"I don't know about that." Sheridan's eyes fell to the floor. "I mean, I try to be kind to everyone . . ."

Luis tightened his embrace around her. "You do more than try, Sheridan." Luis lifted her chin and nudged her until she looked back into the mirror again. "Just look at how you stood beside Ethan when he found out that he wasn't a Crane. No one else in your family did."

"But I did that because I love Ethan," Sheridan protested, her eyes flitting over her reflection. "I didn't want him to get kicked out of the family—to lose everyone he loved."

"I know you care about Ethan, but you still wouldn't have taken on your family for him if you didn't have a good heart," Luis insisted. "Ethan's lucky to have you in his life—that you are the person you are."

"And you really think that the person I am is enough to raise our daughter?" Sheridan asked, her eyes flying up to his.

"Sheridan, if our daughter had been there the night Ethan found out that he's Sam's son, who is the only person she would have seen standing up for him?" Luis asked her. "Who was the only person who promised to always consider him family—no matter what his last name was?"

Sheridan's eyes inched back over to meet their reflection, a bubble of warmth catching in her chest.

Fresh tears springing to her eyes, Sheridan's voice caught in her throat. "That person was me, Luis."


Gwen smiled as Hank backed them up to the door of her apartment, kissing her every step of the way.

"Hank, we're going to trip on something if you don't watch where we're going," she laughed.

"I promise—I won't let you fall, Gwen."

Gwen looked at him. "You wouldn't—would you?"

"No, of course not," Hank said. "You're the most amazing woman I've ever met."

Tears sprang to Gwen's eyes. "You really mean that, don't you?"

Hank tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Of course I mean it, Gwen."

Gwen smiled at him, her eyes glistening. "You make me feel like I'm actually worth something."

Hank tilted his forehead against hers. "You're worth everything, Gwen."


Luis cuddled Sheridan under his arm as they walked into the restaurant. "Are you sure you're up for this?"

"Yes, I am." Sheridan smiled at him. "I don't know why, but I feel a little bit lighter, Luis."

Luis squeezed her against him and kissed her head. "I'm happy to hear that. You deserve to be happy, Sheridan."

"Well, I don't know about that, but I'm trying to believe it . . ."

Luis stopped and turned her to face him. "That's all I want for you, Sheridan."

"Well, look—if it isn't the two lovebirds?" Julian cleared his throat as he and Eve approached Luis and Sheridan. "I hope we didn't keep you waiting."

"No, not at all." Luis looked over at them. "We were just about to give the hostess our name."

"Well, why don't we let the ladies take care of that while you and I get some drinks for the table, Luis?" Julian suggested.

"That works for me," Luis responded, turning to his wife. "I'm guessing you want some sparkling water?"

Sheridan smiled at him. "That sounds wonderful. Although I can't wait until I can have wine again."

"That time will be here before you know it," Luis grinned.

"Yes, and until then, you have a designated driver," Sheridan smiled. "So, if I were you, I'd enjoy it."

Luis winked at her. "There's nothing about you that I don't enjoy, Sher."

Sheridan blushed as he walked away. Turning to Eve, she laid one hand on Eve's shoulder. "Eve, how are you holding up?"

Eve turned to Sheridan, her eyes swimming with tears. "I've definitely had better days than this one." Eve fidgeted with her purse. "Reliving the pain of losing my son . . . it was hard enough when it happened. Now, to know he could be alive, out there in any sort of situation . . . I know he might be a grown man by now, but it doesn't make it any easier."

Sheridan rubbed Eve's back. "I hope that you and Julian find him very soon."

"I just hope that if he's out there somewhere, that he wants to know us." Eve let out a small cry. "What's wrong with me? What kind of mother doesn't even sense when her baby's in danger?"

"Eve, who on earth would ever suspect that their baby was about to be kidnapped from the hospital? You had just given birth; you were all drugged up—my monster of a father was probably the last thing you were thinking about." Sheridan's eyes implored Eve's. "You were as much as a victim in this as your son was, Eve."

"That's what Julian keeps telling me." Eve rubbed her head. "I just can't shake this feeling that I'm a horrible mother."

"Eve, that's just not true." Sheridan squeezed Eve's hand. "I've seen enough of Whitney and Simone to know they have good heads on their shoulders. They didn't get that from nowhere, Eve."

Eve hung her head. "Whitney and Simone aren't talking to me, Sheridan."

"Oh, Eve, I'm so sorry," Sheridan breathed.

Fighting back tears, Eve closed her eyes and took a deep breath in.

"You know, Eve," Sheridan said softly. "I'll never forget how you made me feel that day at the park. That afternoon was the first time I felt like I mattered to someone besides my mother."

Eve opened her eyes and gave Sheridan a small, but grateful, smile. "I would have been lucky to have you as a sister-in-law, Sheridan."

Sheridan's heart swelled. "I would have been lucky to have you as an older sister, Eve."

Eve rubbed her nose, her eyes falling to the floor. "Thank you for saying that, Sheridan, but not everyone in my life thinks they're lucky to have me."

Sheridan's heart and face fell. "Whitney and Simone will come around, Eve—how could they not with you as their mother?"

"Oh, Sheridan, they're so angry at me," Eve cried.

"Maybe so, but they still love you, Eve . . ."

"Oh, Sheridan, I hope that's true."

"I know it is, Eve," Sheridan insisted. "A little girl never stops loving her mother."

"You're thinking about Katherine, aren't you?" Eve asked.

Sheridan nodded and frowned, inching her fingers around the swell of her belly. "I just wish she were here with me right now."

"I know you do, sweetie." Eve smiled softly and squeezed Sheridan's free hand. "But you're going to get through this—and we're going to find her. You're not alone in this, Sheridan."

Sheridan's eyes welled with tears, her heart lifting as she returned Eve's gesture of comfort. "Neither are you, Eve."