Had that really just happened?
A burst of joy escaped from Eve's lips as she collapsed against the steering wheel of her car; her face broke into a smile.
Had she really just helped Whitney fight for the right to follow her dreams? Had they really been successful at it?
Yes, TC loved his daughters more than anything. She had always known that.
But to get him to listen to Whitney's own thoughts on her future—to get him to actually listen to them—it was a miracle she'd never seen coming.
Maybe she should have, though. Maybe she should have given him more credit.
Maybe she should have started speaking her own truth years ago.
Maybe if she had had the courage—had seen the value in using her own voice—things would be different right now.
She couldn't go back.
She could never go back.
But she could start making different choices right now.
For so long, she had let other people steer the course of her life.
Maybe it was time to take back the wheel from everyone else—to take back the driver's seat.
"What if I screwed up everything, Luis?"
Luis glanced over at Sheridan as they continued down the highway and threaded his fingers through hers. "Don't worry, Sheridan—you did fine. Mike just needs a little time to think about all of this."
"But what if I scared him off by telling him about everything that happened?"
Luis squeezed her hand and focused his eyes back on the road. "You were only telling him the truth."
"But what if he never agrees to talk to Eve and Julian?" Sheridan fretted. "Maybe we should have insisted that he speak with them."
Maneuvering the car into the right lane, Luis pulled into a small rest stop. Parking in the first spot he could find, he put on the brake, turned to Sheridan, and cupped her cheek. "He's told us himself that he's not ready for that."
"I know." Frowning, Sheridan glanced down and caressed her belly. "But what if he's never ready, Luis? What if Eve and Julian never get their son back? What if they lose him for good?"
"Hey, hey . . ." Luis lifted her chin. "That's not going to happen, Sheridan."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I don't know—but I am." Luis smiled at her, his eyes twinkling. "And I'm usually the one who worries about everything."
"Yes, you are." Her brow creasing, Sheridan laughed. "What's so different about this?"
A wisp of tranquility dissipated through Luis's chest. "I can't explain it, but, somehow, I know—everything's going to be okay."
"Julian!" Eve threw her arms around him. "I'm so glad that you're still in the office—I've been looking all over for you."
A smile inched up Julian's face. "I'd be anywhere you need me to be, Eve. But what's gotten into you?"
"I'm just so happy." Eve leaned back and smiled at him. "For the first time in my life, I helped Whitney stand up to her father about something that's important to her—and TC actually listened to us."
"That's wonderful." Julian's eyes shined at hers. "I'm so happy for you."
"I'm happy for me, too," Eve said. "I feel like I can do anything."
"You can—of course you can." Julian furrowed his brow. "As far as I'm concerned, there's never been any question about that."
"Maybe not for you," Eve said. "But I've always felt like I needed to shrink myself somehow—just to accommodate other people's needs."
"I hate that you've felt that way . . ."
"So do I, but I'm through with operating like that," Eve said. "I've never felt as good as I did earlier when I helped Whitney stand up for what she truly wanted."
"She's lucky to have you as a mother," Julian smiled.
"I'm the one who's lucky to have her." Eve's eyes sparkled. "After seeing her speak up for what's in her heart, I knew I had to do the same."
Julian's heart skipped a beat. "And what . . . what is in your heart? What is it that you want to say?"
"That I love you." Eve blinked back tears. "That I love you with my entire heart, Julian—that I want to be with you . . . if that's something that you still want . . ."
His heartbeat accelerating, Julian embraced her. "Of course I want that, Eve."
"I was hoping that you did, but I didn't want to assume anything," Eve said.
"You're not assuming anything." Tightening his arms around her, Julian breathed in her scent. "I will never stop loving you."
Her eyes glistening, Eve leaned back and smiled at him. "Oh, Julian—I feel the same way."
"But what if Whitney gets upset about our being together?" Julian asked. "I mean, I know Simone has accepted our situation for what it is, but Whitney's seemed to have a really hard time with it."
"She's coming around," Eve said. "And I have every confidence that she'll keep doing that now that she understands just how important it is to be true to the person she is."
"I . . . I don't know what to say." Julian's voice caught in his throat. "I'm so glad things are turning around—I've dreamed of this day for so long."
"So have I." Eve's eyes sparkled at his. "I love you, Julian. I love you with my entire heart."
"I love you, too, Eve." Julian's heart pounded as their lips drew closer together. "I love you so much."
