"How could I have done this, Mom?" Whitney sobbed against Eve's chest. "Daddy's devoted his entire life to making me a tennis star. How could I let him down like this?"

Hope and strength rising within her, Eve leaned back and raised Whitney's chin. "Whitney, I want you to listen to me: You're allowed to have your own hopes and dreams. From the moment you were born, your father and I have been nothing but proud of you—nothing could ever change that."

"But . . . but what if Daddy doesn't ever accept this?" Whitney hiccupped. "What if he never gets over it?"

"Your father loves you," Eve reassured her. "It may take him some time to come to terms with this—but he only wants the best for you."

"Do . . . do you really believe that, Mom?"

Eve embraced her daughter. "Yes, I do, Whitney."

Whitney snuggled in closer to her.

"How . . . how can you be so supportive of me?" Whitney sobbed. "After the way I treated you?"

"You have nothing to apologize for," Eve said, a lump lodging in her throat.

"Yes, Mom—I do." Whitney tightened her embrace around her mother. "I could have been more understanding when your past with Julian came out. I could have tried to see your side, too."

"Whitney, I know that when my past came out, it upended your entire life." Her heart lifting, Eve blinked back tears. "You were just doing the best you could in a difficult situation—I can't blame you for that."

"You were just trying to do your best in a tough situation, too," Whitney whispered, her voice cracking. "I'm sorry it took me so long to see that, Mom—I'm so sorry for everything."


"Eve?"

Eve's heart jumped, her eyes flying up at the sound of Luis's voice.

"We've been looking all over for you." Luis smiled as he walked up with Sheridan. "We stopped at The Book Café on our way to your house—Chad told us you might be here."

"Yes—I'm sorry I haven't been picking up my phone." Her eyes glistening, Eve squeezed Whitney again. "I've been a little distracted."

Tears welling in her own eyes, Sheridan smiled at Luis and then at Eve. "We can see that."

Luis kissed Sheridan's cheek, his smile growing wider as he turned back to Eve. "I think you'll be happy with what I found out."

"Does . . . does that mean you have the news I've been waiting for?" Eve asked, her heart leaping as Whitney squeezed her tighter. "Did Wilkes's story really match Mike's?"

"Yes, it did," Luis said. "Once we got Wilkes talking, he spilled everything—how Alistair hired him to find someone to dispose of your son—and what that man ultimately did once he started having second thoughts."

His eyes sparkling, Luis curled his fingers around Sheridan's belly. "I think we've found him, Eve—I think we've found your son."


"So Wilkes's story really matched Mike's?" Julian's voice filled with disbelief, his shock permeating through the foyer of the Crane mansion.

"Yes, it did." Smiling through her tears, Eve slipped one arm around Whitney's waist. "There's a good chance that Mike is our son."

"That's . . . that's wonderful," Julian stammered. "I almost can't believe it."

"Neither can I," Eve said, her smile stretching from ear to ear, "but I'm almost certain a DNA test will confirm it."

Julian looked at Luis and Sheridan. "Do you think Mike will agree to take one?"

"I don't see why not," Sheridan smiled. "He's been trying to find his parents."

"Still, finding out the circumstances behind his alleged birth and abduction might be very difficult for him . . ." Julian's brow creased. "What if he wants no part of any of this?"

Eve's stomach knotted. "You may be right about that—what if this is all too overwhelming for him?"

"What if I call Mike?" Luis suggested. "What if I tell him that I think I know who his mother and father are and see how he wants to take it from there?"

"That might work . . ." Eve's voice strained with pain. "But what if he doesn't want anything to do with us?"

Her eyes glistening, Whitney squeezed Eve tighter. "Then I'll find him and tell him how stupid he's being."

"Oh, Whitney," Eve cried, kissing the top of her daughter's head. "Whitney, I love you so much."