Sheridan sighed as Luis came up behind her, cupped his hands under her belly, and gently lifted it up. "Oh, Luis, that feels amazing. Do you think we can just stay like this for the next few days?"

Luis laughed and pressed a kiss to her shoulder. "Only four more days until your due date, Sher."

"I know—in theory," Sheridan laughed. "I can't wait for her to be born."

Luis smiled and kissed her cheek. "At least she's not kicking your rib cage as much anymore."

"You're right—and it is wonderful to be able to breathe again." Sheridan sighed and rubbed one hand over her belly. "I can't believe I'm not even dilated a little bit yet, though. I feel like I'm balancing a bowling ball between my legs."

"I'm sorry." Luis squeezed her. "I know you're miserable, Sheridan."

"It's okay." Sheridan waddled over to the couch, supporting her back as she lowered herself down onto its edge. "I think I'm just getting overwhelmed right now with everything that's going on—I can't believe our daughter's going to be here in just a few more days."

"I can't wait to meet her." Smiling softly, Luis knelt down in front of Sheridan and stroked her cheek. "Just let me know if there's anything I can do to make you more comfortable."

"Why do you have to be so sweet?" Sheridan laughed. "I can't even get angry with you for putting me in this position in the first place."

Luis laughed and cupped her face. "I love you, Sheridan."

"I love you, too, Luis. I can't believe your mother did this five times, though." Rubbing the small of her back, Sheridan curled her other hand around her belly. "What on earth was she thinking?"

Luis chuckled. "Speaking of my mother, my father called earlier. He set the date for the vow renewal. He's hoping to do it on November 16th."

"Oh, that would be wonderful." Sheridan's face lit up with a smile. "I still can't get over all the love everyone in your family has for each other. Being a part of that in some small way—it's all I've ever wanted."

"Well, you're definitely a part of it." Luis tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his eyes twinkling at hers. "My family loves you as much as I do."

Sheridan's eyes glistened at his. "Oh, Luis, I love all of you so much."

"And just think—in just a few days, our family is going to get even bigger," Luis smiled.

"Yes." Sheridan groaned and massaged the sides of her belly. "That's if she ever decides to come out."

"She will." Laughing, Luis stroked Sheridan's cheek. "In the meantime, why don't we stop by the mansion and go for a swim in the indoor pool? That should help relieve some of the pressure you're feeling—at least for a little bit."

Sheridan readjusted her position on the couch. "I think that's a wonderful idea. You may have to help me get into my swimsuit, though. I'm not sure I can do that by myself at this point."

Luis chuckled and pulled out his phone. "You've got it, Sher—let me just call your brother and let him know that we're coming over."

Luis's cell phone rang.

Luis glanced down and flipped it open. "Julian? I was just about to call you."

Luis frowned as he listened to Julian; his brows shot straight up. "Wait . . . what? When did this happen? Have you talked to Hal or Sam?"

Sheridan's head snapped up. "Luis, what is it?"

Luis rubbed the back of his neck, his body visibly tensing. "It's your father." His brow creasing with worry, Luis looked at her. "He's regained consciousness. The police are going to move him today."


Hank looked at the candles and roses he had scattered around Gwen's apartment.

Today was going to go well.

It had to go well.

He loved this woman more than life itself—he would do anything to be with her.

"Relax, Hank," he told himself. "You've got everything under control. Gwen is going to love the ring and your proposal—and she's going to say 'yes.'"

Was she, though? Hank looked down at the velvet box he was holding. Was this ring really going to be enough?

Was Gwen going to like it, or was she going to feel cheated out of a larger, more expensive ring? Deep down inside, would she really wish for a future with a man who could afford something better—who hadn't made all of the mistakes he had made?

Hank grabbed his phone. Maybe he could get ahold of Luis and Sheridan. Maybe they could help him fix this. Maybe they could help him cancel the arrangements he had made before his plan was set in motion.

Fumbling with his phone, Hank lost his grip on the ring box, sending it flying onto the end table, knocking some candles and a book Gwen had been reading to the floor.

Couldn't he do anything right?

Stuffing the phone back into his pocket, Hank crossed the room, picked up the book, and started to clean up the mess he had made.

A photo slipped out of the book—Hank picked it up.

Gwen's laughing face beamed back at him, her eyes sparkling at his as he wiped some hot chocolate from her nose.

Grace had captured the moment on film during Harmony's annual tree-lighting ceremony.

But he had been the one who had made Gwen laugh like that.

He was the one who—despite his past misguided choices and current financial struggles—had made Gwen smile like that.


Gwen hummed to herself as she strolled back into her office. This day couldn't get any better if it tried. She couldn't believe how well her interview with Virginia's son had gone—that he wanted her to come in for another meeting with his executive leadership team—that he hadn't even heard of her father.

Speaking of her father, he had been amazing about the whole thing. She was so happy she had talked to him about this months ago—that she hadn't sprung anything on him today. She knew that, on some level, he was sad, but that didn't change the fact that he supported her one hundred percent. That he was a true parent to her in every sense of the word.

She couldn't wait to tell Hank about her day—to spend the night celebrating with him.

What had she done to deserve so much happiness? Could all of her recent good luck mean that she was finally turning her life around—that she had actually been granted a clean slate?

With all of her heart, Gwen hoped that was true.

She could never go back to being the person she had been becoming after Ethan first broke up with her—could never squeeze herself back into that box.

Life nowadays was filled with happiness and ease—and a freedom she could honestly say she'd never felt.

Still humming to herself, Gwen caught sight of the card on her desk. Picking it up, she opened it, her smile growing even wider.

SHMILY: Meet me at the place where you made me feel like a kid again—where we popped some balloons, played a few games, and shared a lot of laughter.

Excitement bubbling up within her, Gwen hugged the note to her chest. "What are you up to, Hank Bennett?"


Eve glanced over at the calendar on her desk and wrote the date on her patient's chart. Had it really been three weeks since Luis and Sheridan had talked to Mike about taking a DNA test? Why hadn't he contacted them yet?

She had to calm down. Everything was going to be okay. Hadn't the last few weeks proven that?

She almost couldn't believe how well everything had fallen into place—how much easier it was to be with Julian now that Whitney had started to accept their being together.

It was almost as if, by making a slight deviation from her regular path, she had suddenly improved the entire course of her life.

Things were going to go that way with Mike. He was going to come around, too. He was going to agree to take a DNA test—and to build a relationship with them.

After all, the universe wouldn't be so cruel as to dangle a potential relationship like this in front of her and Julian, only to rip it away.

She had faith. She had to have faith. She had to trust that everything was eventually going to work itself out.

If Mike didn't come around soon, maybe she could try to reach out to him—but, first, she had to allow him the time and the space to wrap his head around all of this—to deal with it in his own way.

A knock sounded at the door.

Eve's heart leapt in her chest.

"Eve?" TC poked his head into her office.

"TC?" Eve inhaled, her heartbeat steadying.

TC nodded, his eyes settling on the framed pictures of Whitney and Simone she kept on top of her desk. "Eve, we need to talk."