"Do you really think that's possible?" Julian asked. "Do you think Fancy, Pretty, and Fox would even give me another chance?"
"Of course they will." Sheridan rubbed her belly. "All children want to be loved by their parents."
"Yes, well, we most certainly did." Julian bowed his head and chuckled.
Sheridan furrowed her brow. "Do you remember that time I tried to make Father's office 'pretty' for him? When he saw the mess I made, he completely lost it."
"Yes, I remember that," Julian laughed. "If I recall, you were only five."
"Unfortunately, my age didn't factor into Father's punishment . . ."
Julian's expression sobered. "He locked you in one of the rooms in the basement, didn't he?"
"Yes, he did." Sheridan tightened her fingers around her belly. "I was frightened half to death until you came downstairs and found me sitting there."
"We decided to build a fort together," Julian recalled. "Between the cardboard boxes and linens stored in the room, we created quite an impressive structure."
"It's too bad we kept knocking it down," Sheridan laughed, her body relaxing. "I think we got too ambitious when we decided to add that second story."
"Well, we're Cranes," Julian smiled. "We go big or go home."
"It did end up being a great afternoon," Sheridan smiled. "At least until Father got wind of what we were doing . . ."
"Ah, yes." Julian rubbed his chin. "I thought he was going to blow a gasket when he found us. He berated me for weeks after that."
"We grew up in a pretty messed-up house, didn't we?" Sheridan laughed.
"Yes, we did." Julian nodded and laughed softly. "And yet we've never discussed it before."
"That is kind of crazy," Sheridan smiled.
Julian looked at her. "Talking about this feels good."
"It does feel good to talk about some of this stuff with someone who can commiserate." Sheridan laughed softly. "I mean, talking to my therapist is definitely helping me, too, but it's not like she can relate."
"Lucky for her," Julian smirked, his expression sobering once again. "How is therapy going for you?" he asked, his focus sharpening. "Are you happy that you decided to do it?"
"I am." Sheridan smiled softly and shifted in her seat. "Just today, she helped me realize that I was only able to find real love after I broke some of my childhood patterns."
"What do you mean?" Julian's brow creased. "Luis chased you for quite some time before you gave in to him. I should know—I was there—doing everything I could to stop him."
"Then you may also remember that he really didn't start pursuing me in earnest until you pulled that first imposter trick and I fled to Paris." Sheridan's eyes twinkled. "I never thought I'd ever say this, but thank you for doing that."
"You're really thanking me?" Julian's voice filled with disbelief. "Sheridan, are you feeling all right?"
"Besides the fact that sitting down is getting really uncomfortable for me?" Sheridan smirked and adjusted the pillow behind her back. "I'm doing just fine. I was just thinking about what I realized earlier—that Luis really didn't start chasing me until I finally put myself first and broke up with him."
"Sheridan, that's ridiculous," Julian laughed. "Luis turned down a huge bribe and promotion for you."
"Maybe," Sheridan said. "But that's also just the man he is—good and honorable to his core."
Sheridan smiled down at her belly. "In fact, if you hadn't pulled out all the stops to break us up, maybe I wouldn't be pregnant right now. Maybe I would have pushed Luis away by trying too hard to please him. Maybe I would have broken us up."
"Hmm . . ." Julian rubbed his chin. "I have a hard time believing that's true. That being said, though, I never thought of that as a tactic . . . of just letting you be . . ."
"I hate to say this, but it might have worked out for you," Sheridan said. "Look at my miserable track record with men."
"And you think that's because of your relationship with Father?" Julian studied her.
"Well, it does make sense that I'd keep repeating the same patterns," Sheridan said, "—that I'd keep desperately trying to find love."
"Yes, I suppose it does." Julian furrowed his brow. "Did your therapist say that it's possible to break these patterns?"
"Yes," Sheridan smiled, tears welling in her eyes. "She said that part of me already had."
