Eve smiled at Sheridan as they walked up to Pilar's house. "I still can't believe your due date is getting so close, Sheridan. It seems like just yesterday that you and Luis were denying that you had feelings for each other . . . that neither of you could see what everyone else could."

"You all did know we loved each other long before we did." Sheridan laughed and caressed her belly. "Who would have ever thought back then that I'd be having his baby one day?"

"I just wish that Hal would make some progress on finding the man who kidnapped my son with Julian," Eve said, "—that we would get a miracle, too."

Sheridan stopped and turned to Eve. "These last few weeks must have seemed incredibly long to you."

Eve sighed and laughed softly. "My entire life has felt long to me."

Sheridan frowned and squeezed Eve's arm. "I'm praying that we hear from Hal soon."

"I know you are, and I appreciate it." Eve swallowed hard and gave Sheridan a soft smile. "I just need to try to focus on happier things today. Like taking Pilar out for a celebratory retirement brunch . . ."

"No one deserves to retire early more than she does . . ." Sheridan agreed.

Eve cleared her throat and rang the doorbell. "Well, let's go in then, shall we?"

Pilar opened the door on the first ring.

"Pilar!" Sheridan hugged her.

Pilar squeezed her back and ushered her inside. "Please, mija—come in."

Pilar moved to greet Eve.

Sheridan stepped into the house.

"Surprise!"

"Oh my goodness!" Sheridan gasped, her hand flying to her heart as she took in the smiling faces of her family and friends. "I thought this was a surprise for Pilar."

Eve stepped into the house behind Sheridan and smiled at Pilar. "That's what she wanted you to think."

"I don't know what to say . . ." Tears springing to her eyes, Sheridan glanced at the baby shower decorations and turned back to Pilar. "Thank you so much for doing this, Pilar. I'm really at a loss for words."

Pilar smiled and hugged Sheridan. "You're very welcome, mija. But I didn't do this alone—a few of us planned it together."

Sheridan looked up and found her mother, Paloma, Theresa, and Gwen smiling at her. Theresa and Gwen were even calmly and peacefully standing next to each other—who knew she would ever see this day?

Moving from Pilar's embrace to her mother's, happiness swelled in Sheridan's chest. "I'm so happy you're here for this, Mother."

Katherine squeezed her tightly and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Darling, so am I."

Beaming from the inside out, Sheridan slid down the line to Paloma and Theresa and embraced both of them. "Thank you, both, so much."

"We're so glad you're our sister," Theresa said.

Another tear sprang to Sheridan's eye. "I've always wanted sisters—I'm so lucky to have you both."

Looking up from Theresa and Paloma's embrace, Sheridan locked eyes with Gwen.

Giving Theresa and Paloma one last smile, she moved down the line and embraced her best friend. "Gwen, thank you for doing this," she whispered, her voice thickening with emotion. "I know this couldn't have been easy for you."

"I'd do anything for you, Sheridan—even work with Theresa." Gwen laughed softly. "Besides, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Theresa and I are both still alive, aren't we?"

"Thank goodness for that." Sheridan laughed and leaned back. "I'm really glad you're here."

Clasping Sheridan's hands, Gwen smiled at her. "I wouldn't be anywhere else."


Eve glanced across the room and saw Theresa nudging Whitney toward her.

Grace followed her gaze and rubbed Eve's back. "I thought things were getting better between you and Whitney."

"They are." Eve hugged her arms to her chest. "But I think it's still going to take time."

"She'll come around." Grace squeezed Eve's shoulder. "Both of our daughters will."

"How are things going with Kay?" Eve asked.

Grace sighed. "Like you said, they're getting better, but we're taking it day by day." Grace nodded at Simone, who was starting to make her way over to them. "In the meantime, Eve, I think someone else wants to talk to you."

Eve's eyes flew to Simone's.

"I think I'm going to go catch up with Gwen." Grace squeezed Eve's arm. "I'll leave you and Simone alone—give you a little mother-daughter time."


Katherine smiled softly as she watched Pilar and Paloma from across the room—and then Eve and Simone. "It's so nice to see all of these mothers and daughters enjoying each other's company."

Sheridan followed her gaze and slipped one arm around her mother's waist. "Yes, it is. I just hope things get better between Eve and Whitney, too. I think Eve and Julian's past was as big a shock to Eve's family as it was to the rest of us . . ."

"I wish I could have done more for Julian back then . . ." Katherine smiled sadly ". . . that I could have done more to protect you."

"You're here now, and that's what counts, Mother."

Katherine smiled and kissed the top of her daughter's head. "Oh, Sheridan, I love you."

"I love you, too, Mother." Sheridan smiled at Katherine as Gwen and Grace approached them.

Grace smiled at Katherine and Gwen. "You ladies really did a wonderful job with this shower."

"They did, didn't they?" Sheridan squeezed her mother's waist. "I'm so lucky to have them all in my life."

Katherine smiled adoringly at her daughter. "We're all lucky to have you."

"I still can't believe Luis managed to keep this shower a secret from you," Gwen laughed. "Hank and I were sure he was going to slip."

"Speaking of Uncle Hank," Kay said as she strolled up to the group, "when are we going to be throwing you a shower, Gwen? The bridal kind—I mean."

"Kay!" Grace gasped.

"No, it's okay," Gwen chuckled. "I think your uncle Hank and I still have a little ways to go before we get to anything like that."

"But you do want to marry him one day, right?" Kay asked, her eyebrows raised.

Gwen blushed.

"I knew it!" Kay exclaimed.

"All I know is that—if we do get married—I don't want him to propose before he's ready," Gwen said. "I've had enough wishy-washiness in my life—I want him to be sure."

"I think he's more ready than you realize," Kay grinned.

Sheridan bit back a smile.

"Sheridan looks like she knows something," Kay observed.

"I know nothing," Sheridan protested. "Gwen . . . why . . . why don't you come with me? I see an old friend of my mother's that I want you to meet."

Gwen's eyes opened wide as Sheridan dragged her off. Did Sheridan really know something? Was Hank going to propose?

Truth be told, Gwen hadn't even allowed herself to think about marriage over the past few months. But just the thought of marrying Hank—of starting a family with him—it was making her heart race in a way it never had with Ethan.

Could this really be happening? Had she actually found the love of her life? Did he feel the same way? For the life of her, Gwen couldn't suppress a rush of excitement from sweeping through her body—or the flicker of happiness sparking in her chest.


"This is a really nice shower, Mom," Whitney said softly.

Eve looked up from hugging Simone.

"Whitney . . ." Tears sprang to Eve's eyes.

"I just wanted to tell you how nice everything is," Whitney said. "It was obviously put together with love."

"Yes, well, I really had nothing to do with it," Eve said. "Pilar, Katherine, Gwen, Theresa, and Paloma planned it. I just got Sheridan here."

Whitney glanced over at Sheridan and then turned back to her mother and sister. "You've really gotten close to her, haven't you, Mom? Is that because she's Julian's sister?"

"I've always had a soft spot for Sheridan," Eve admitted, "and, yes, that's probably partially why our friendship began. But that doesn't mean I don't like her for her own merits—or that I care any less about you two girls."

Simone squeezed Eve tightly.

Whitney bit down on her lip and nodded. "I understand that, Mom."

Eve inched her fingers over to Whitney's and gave them a gentle squeeze. "I never wanted to hurt you, Whitney."

"I know." Whitney swallowed a lump in her throat. "I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around all of this—but I'm trying to understand."


"Oh, Mother, this is exquisite," Sheridan gasped, as she opened her last gift. Sheridan lifted up a christening gown and held it out for everyone to see.

"It was yours when you were little, my darling," Katherine beamed at her. "Pilar helped me find it the other day. It was buried in the attic."

"What a special gift . . ." Grace smiled and put one arm around Kay. "Maybe one day I'll be giving yours to you, Kay."

Kay looked at her mother. "That . . . that would be nice, Mom."

Gwen smiled as she watched Grace and Kay share an embrace. She knew they still had a long way to go, but, still . . . she had helped. Maybe she'd be part of their family one day. Maybe she'd share in that love.

"Come on, everybody," Theresa squealed. "It's time to take some pictures." Her eyes dancing with excitement, Theresa ushered her mother and Katherine to the front of the room. "First, let's get the two grandmothers with their granddaughter-to-be."

Sheridan smiled as Pilar and Katherine both wrapped their arms around her back and rested their other hands on her belly. "Part of me still can't believe this is happening, Mother," Sheridan whispered right after Theresa snapped the picture. "Part of me still can't believe that you're here . . . that you're really sharing this moment with me."

Katherine blinked back a tear. "I've missed so many important moments in your life, Sheridan. I'm so glad I'm here for this." Katherine leaned around Sheridan and smiled at Pilar. "Thank you so much for being there for her when she was growing up, Pilar. I know how much you mean to Sheridan—it makes my heart feel a little better knowing that she's always had you."

Pilar smiled at Sheridan and then over at Katherine. "Your daughter is a wonderful person, Katherine—she's very special to me."

"Oh, Pilar." Sheridan rested her head on Pilar's shoulder. "You're very special to me, too."

"I love you, mija," Pilar smiled.

Her eyes watering, Sheridan choked up. "I love you, too, Pilar."

Her own eyes glistening, Pilar smiled, turned to Theresa, and waved her and Paloma in. "Here, Theresita, give me the camera. I want to get a picture of all of my girls."

Theresa smiled and waltzed over to Sheridan, linking her arm through her sister-in-law's.

"¡Dios mío! Wait for me!" Paloma scurried up to Theresa and Sheridan.

Theresa smoothed her dress over the barely visible mound of her belly and smiled at Sheridan. "Isn't this special?" she said. "It's the first cousins picture together."

"You're right," Sheridan laughed. "I didn't think of that, but, yes, I guess it is."

Paloma snuggled in closer to Theresa and Sheridan as Pilar snapped the picture.

"Before we finish, let's get one of my granddaughter and her godmother," Pilar suggested, turning back to smile at Gwen.

"Pilar . . . are you sure? I know this is a family thing, and I don't want to interrupt . . ." Gwen said.

"Gwen!" Sheridan laughed, waving her over. "Please, just come here!"

Gwen smiled softly and walked over to Sheridan. Both women wrapped their arms around one another and smiled for the camera.

"Thank you again for being here today, Gwen—and for helping plan this party."

"Thank you for asking me to be your daughter's godmother," Gwen smiled. "I couldn't have asked for a better honor."


Sheridan, Eve, Grace, and Gwen were standing around laughing, finishing up their cake, when Luis, Sam, and Hank walked in. Sheridan smiled as she saw Julian, Ethan, Miguel, and Martin follow them in, Miguel pushing Martin's wheelchair.

"Ooh," Grace smiled, glancing back at the men. "I think this shower has just gone coed."

"I think you're right, Grace," Sheridan smiled, snuggling into Luis's embrace as he slipped his arms around her.

"So, were you surprised, Sher?" Luis smiled and nuzzled his nose against her cheek. "Did you enjoy yourself?"

"Yes, Luis, I did." Sheridan's lips curled up in a smile. "I can't believe you managed to keep this a secret from me, though."

Luis grinned and laughed. "Believe me—it wasn't easy!"

Sam and Hank both laughed as they slipped their arms around Grace and Gwen. Sam grinned and looked at Luis. "That's an understatement if I've ever heard one."

Luis grinned at Sam and then looked over at Eve and tugged at her hand. "Listen, Eve, before I get involved in all the party festivities, there's something I need to talk to you about. Let's get Julian, too."

Eve's eyes filled with hope.

"Follow me." Luis led Eve into the kitchen.

Sheridan grabbed Julian and followed them in, with Katherine hot on their heels.

Julian raised his eyebrows. "Luis, what is this all about?"

Luis's eyes darted back and forth between Julian and Eve. "I heard from Hal. He wants me to come down to Washington," Luis smiled. "He's found and apprehended our friend Wilkes."