"So, Hank, I understand that you're working at the youth center," Jonathan said, taking a sip of his drink.

"Yes, I'm serving as a co-director with Sheridan Crane," Hank stammered, his heart pounding. "I mean Sheridan Lopez-Fitzgerald." Hank took a deep breath in and then looked back up at Mr. Hotchkiss. "I'm going to be solely responsible for it for a few months when Sheridan has her baby."

Gwen placed her hand over Hank's and smiled. "You should see all of the programs Hank and Sheridan have implemented, Daddy. They've only been running the youth center for a short time, but they've already done so much for the community."

Jonathan rubbed his chin. "I heard that the Thanksgiving meal you served was quite a success."

"Yes, it was, sir."

"Please, let's dispense with the formalities." Jonathan turned to his daughter. "Would you give Hank and I a few moments alone to talk man to man?"

Hank's throat tightened.

"Ok . . . okay, Daddy." Gwen fixed her eyes on Hank, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Do you want me to stay?"

Hank loosened his tie and shook his head.

"I'll just go to the ladies' room," Gwen promised. "'ll be back in a few minutes."

Hank nodded at her, swallowed hard, and turned back to Mr. Hotchkiss.

Jonathan watched his daughter cross the room and then turned back to Hank. "Listen, Bennett, I know you're nervous. I've been in your shoes before." Jonathan folded his hands. "I only want to know one thing, though: How do you feel about my daughter?"

Hank's heart skipped a beat. "That . . . that's all you want to know?"

"Yes, Hank, it is." Jonathan bowed his head. "I'm sure you know this already, but my daughter has been through a lot. First with Ethan leaving her and then this business with her mother. Gwen is my only child, and she's very special to me . . ."

"She's special to me, too, sir," Hank jumped in. "More special than you know."

Jonathan considered this for a moment—and then leaned back and smiled.

"What is it?" Hank's heart raced. "Did I say something wrong?"

"Quite to the contrary," Jonathan said. "You said exactly what I wanted to hear."

"I love your daughter, sir. I promise you, I do . . ."

Jonathan smiled and folded his napkin. "I already know how much you've done for my daughter—how you tried to help her out of that tabloid mess, how you've stood by her through this ordeal with her mother. I just wanted to hear how much you love her from your own mouth to make sure I believed it." Jonathan frowned and shook his head. "I know what happened with Ethan Crane had nothing to do with you, Hank, but you have to understand that after what happened, I want to make sure that any man involved with my daughter takes good care of her heart."

"Of . . . of course, Mr. Hotchkiss," Hank stammered. "And I promise you—I will always take care of her. She's the most amazing woman I've ever met."

"I believe you, Hank," Jonathan smiled. "And I'm looking forward to getting to know you."

"You are?" Hank's heart stopped.

"I am," Jonathan replied. "I can already tell how much you love my daughter—that she's the only woman in your heart."


Sheridan smiled as she joined Pilar and Paloma on the couch. "Dinner is all set up. Please, help yourselves."

Pilar squeezed Paloma and then smiled at Sheridan. "Thank you so much, mija. Everything smells delicious."

Sheridan smiled sheepishly. "You can thank the caterer for that. Luis has been trying to teach me to cook, but I'm not making much real progress."

Pilar glanced over at Luis and smirked. "Well, I doubt my son has been the most patient teacher."

Sheridan laughed. "No, he really hasn't been."

"Do I hear you ladies poking fun at me?" His face lit up with happiness, Luis crossed the room to his mother, sister, and wife.

"Not at all, mijo," Pilar smiled. "I was just about to tell your wife how lucky you are to have her."

Luis's eyes twinkled at Sheridan's as he hooked his pinky through hers. "That I certainly am."

"Even though I can't cook?" Sheridan laughed.

Luis smiled and stroked her hair. "You have so many other wonderful qualities."

"Yes, she does." Pilar slipped her free arm around Sheridan. "You have one of the most beautiful hearts of anyone I've ever met."

Luis smiled. "I couldn't agree with you more."

Pilar squeezed Paloma and Sheridan and kissed the tops of their heads. "I'm so lucky to have you as one of my daughters, Sheridan." Pilar squeezed Paloma's arm. "I'm so blessed to have all of my girls."


"Eve . . . Eve, are you okay in there?"

"Julian?" Eve's heart stopped.

"Yes," he said through the door. "I'm sorry to bother you, but Sheridan and Luis are about to serve dinner, and you've been in there for a while . . ."

Eve's eyes flew up to the bathroom mirror. Her cheeks were stained with tears.

"I'll . . . I'll be right out," she stammered, turning on the faucets and splashing some water on her face. "I promise—I'll be right there."

"Eve . . ." Julian opened the door. "Eve, what's the matter?"

"Don't worry about it." Eve turned off the faucets and pushed past him. "I'll be fine."

"Well, you're certainly not fine right now." Julian stopped her. "Eve, tell me what's wrong."

Eve studied him for a second and then burst into a fresh set of tears.

"Oh, Eve . . ." Julian pulled her into his arms. "You know you can lean on me."

"That . . . that's just it, Julian." Eve gulped for air. "Maybe I've been leaning on you too much."

Julian leaned back. "What are you talking about, Eve? I'm happy to be here for you."

"But maybe I've been relying on that more than I should be." Eve's voice trembled. "Maybe I've been avoiding things I shouldn't be avoiding just because it's more comfortable to spend my free time with you."

"What things have you been avoiding?" Julian's voice filled with concern.

"Trying to repair my relationship with Whitney." Eve buried her head in her hands. "I don't know—maybe other things, too."

Julian's brow furrowed with concern. "Eve, what did TC say to you last night—I mean, besides the obvious?"

"Nothing I wasn't already thinking about myself," Eve said. "How the past you and I share has caused so many aftershocks—so much residual hurt . . ."

"TC didn't have to leave you," Julian said. "He chose to do that all on his own."

"Yes, but my girls . . ." Eve rubbed her head.

Julian frowned and rubbed her arms. ". . . are old enough to make up their minds on their own."

"Yes, and Whitney is furious at me—she has been for quite some time."

"Eve . . . Eve, look at me." Julian lifted her chin. "You've tried contacting Whitney over and over again. You've done everything you could."

"Have I?" Eve's voice cracked. "Have I even considered trying a different approach?"

"Please—don't be so hard on yourself," Julian said. "You've had a horrendous few months."

"Maybe, but you've helped me get my life back together, Julian." Eve glanced toward the living room, where Pilar, Paloma, and Sheridan were snuggled together on the couch. "Why?" she asked, her breath catching in her throat. "Why haven't I been helping myself?"


"So tell me," Gwen said, smiling at Hank as she slipped the key into her apartment door, "that wasn't as horrible as you thought it'd be, was it?"

Hank exhaled and laughed. "No, Gwen, it wasn't," he said, the tension in his shoulders evaporating, "—except for the part when your father almost made me piss in my pants."

Gwen laid one hand on Hank's chest and gave him a wry smile. "I'm sorry. I know Daddy can be intimidating when he wants to be."

A rush of warmth infusing his body, Hank's face lit up. "Yeah, well, he doesn't want anyone messing with his daughter. I can certainly understand that."

"He just wants to protect me because I'm his only daughter." Gwen wrapped her arms around Hank's neck.

"It's okay." His eyes twinkling at Gwen's, Hank nudged her nose. "Besides, he came around as soon as he realized how much I love you, so I think we have nothing to worry about."

"It's nice to have one of my parents on our side," Gwen smiled.

"It is." His smile growing, Hank tightened his arms around her and kicked open her apartment door. "It's good to know that my loving you counts for something with one of your parents."


Luis smiled as he watched Sheridan pad around the living room, cleaning up from the day's celebration. His pajamas were so big on her that they almost swallowed her up whole.

Sheridan looked up and smiled. "What is it, Luis?"

"I just love how adorable you look in my pj's," Luis grinned as he reached down to pick up another cup.

Sheridan smiled, glanced down, and smoothed the flannel top over her belly. "Yeah, well, I have a feeling that even these are not going to fit me for much longer."

Luis grinned and raised one brow. "Hey, I'm not opposed to sleeping in the nude."

Sheridan shook her head and grinned. "You're incorrigible, Luis."

Luis put down the trash bag he was holding and enveloped her in a hug. "I just love you, Sheridan." Luis kissed her, gazed down into her eyes, and rubbed the small of her back. "I have to say, what Mama said earlier tonight . . . it meant so much to me."

Sheridan buried her head in Luis's chest. "You mean when she called me one of her girls?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean." Luis pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I know Mama has always loved you like a daughter, but to hear her say that . . ."

"Oh, Luis, I know exactly what you mean." Sheridan looked up at Luis, her eyes brimming with tears. "Your mother has always made me feel like I'm important to her, but to be included like that with one of her actual daughters—it made me feel like I'm truly part of your family. That she loves me as much as she loves them. "

"Sheridan, she does." Luis squeezed Sheridan against him. "I don't think Mama could love you any more if she had carried you for nine months herself."

Sheridan smiled and nuzzled back up against Luis's chest. "I feel that love in my bones. I always felt so lost growing up without my mother, but now . . . I have two."


"Are you sure you don't want to join me for a nightcap?" Julian asked Eve as he pulled up in front of her house.

"Thank you," Eve replied. "But I'm going to have to pass tonight."

"Eve?" Julian stopped her as she started to step out of the car. "I know you're doubting yourself right now, but that doesn't change the fact that you're the most wonderful woman and mother I've ever met. Whitney's going to come around. If I have to, I'll talk to her myself."

"That's sweet of you, Julian, but I need to fix this on my own." Eve bowed her head. "I got my girls into this mess by hiding my past from them—I owe it to them to fix it myself."

Julian smiled sadly and squeezed her hand. "I understand. Just know if you need to talk about anything, I'm here for you, day or night."

"I know that." Eve's voice swelled with emotion. A tear spilling down her face, she leaned back into the car and kissed his cheek. "You're a wonderful man, Julian Crane."

Julian smiled softly at her as she stepped out of his car and started up the driveway, his heart sinking in his chest. "If you truly feel that way—then why do I feel like I'm losing you, Eve?"