Chapter Four:
She heard the bells tinkle announcing a new arrival , but she didn't turn around. Julie could get it. She was busy. She grew annoyed when she heard someone clearing their throat. Couldn't they see she was busy? If she ignored them, surely they would go to someone else. Please let them go to someone else. She had so much work to do.
But they didn't. A throat cleared again, and she heard soft, barely contained laughter. They were getting a kick out of this. Well, she was going to give whoever it was a piece of her mind. With that thought, she whipped around prepared for war. And all her anger and ire fled as she met three pairs of very amused eyes.
"You look so funny," Ali giggled from her father's arms. A smile spread over her face as she took in her twinkling blue eyes and cute little grin. "Oh, you. How could I be mad at you. Now your daddy here. That's another story. Luis, why did you guys sneak up on me? And Theresa. Why did you let them?"
Theresa laughed and said, "You know my brother. Nobody's going to change his mind." Except one person, Beth thought as she tucked a loose strand of brown hair behind her ear. "So Luis. Ali. Theresa. What brings you guys by?" "Blueberry muffins!" Ali squealed. "Okay, your wish is my command, Miss Ali. Why don't you guys go find a place to sit, and I'll bring your muffins to you in just a little bit."
She watched them as they ate the muffins, laughing and talking. Just enjoying themselves. Or so it seemed. To someone who didn't know him, Luis seemed to be perfectly happy. But it was obvious to her and anyone else who had ever loved or cared about him that wasn't true exactly. He was coping. But he missed her so much. His sadness on this the anniversary of her death was plain as day to her. She was glad he had his sister and his adorable little daughter to help him through the tough times.
She was so focused on the picture in front of her she didn't hear Hank come up behind her. She jumped when he asked, "So. How's he doing?" Glancing back to where Theresa, Ali, and Luis sat, she said, "He's handling it pretty well. Putting up a good front. But he still misses her, Hank. It's finally sunk in just how much he loved, no loves, her. I never thought I'd live to see the day when I would wish Sheridan was here, laughing and having a good time with him. Enjoying their beautiful daughter. It's so sad. She'll never see Ali grow up, have her first boyfriend, get married, have her first baby. They didn't deserve this, Hank. Neither one of them. Why couldn't they be happy?"
She looked into his brown eyes and saw the same feelings that were threatening to overwhelm her at this moment. "I don't know, Beth. I don't know." She was grateful for his hug. "Thanks, Hank. I really needed that. You're such a good friend to me." She kissed his cheek and left without another word. He smiled at her retreating figure as she climbed the steps to her apartment. Then he joined his friends. Greeted by Ali's squeals of "Uncle Hank!"
She heard the bells tinkle announcing a new arrival , but she didn't turn around. Julie could get it. She was busy. She grew annoyed when she heard someone clearing their throat. Couldn't they see she was busy? If she ignored them, surely they would go to someone else. Please let them go to someone else. She had so much work to do.
But they didn't. A throat cleared again, and she heard soft, barely contained laughter. They were getting a kick out of this. Well, she was going to give whoever it was a piece of her mind. With that thought, she whipped around prepared for war. And all her anger and ire fled as she met three pairs of very amused eyes.
"You look so funny," Ali giggled from her father's arms. A smile spread over her face as she took in her twinkling blue eyes and cute little grin. "Oh, you. How could I be mad at you. Now your daddy here. That's another story. Luis, why did you guys sneak up on me? And Theresa. Why did you let them?"
Theresa laughed and said, "You know my brother. Nobody's going to change his mind." Except one person, Beth thought as she tucked a loose strand of brown hair behind her ear. "So Luis. Ali. Theresa. What brings you guys by?" "Blueberry muffins!" Ali squealed. "Okay, your wish is my command, Miss Ali. Why don't you guys go find a place to sit, and I'll bring your muffins to you in just a little bit."
She watched them as they ate the muffins, laughing and talking. Just enjoying themselves. Or so it seemed. To someone who didn't know him, Luis seemed to be perfectly happy. But it was obvious to her and anyone else who had ever loved or cared about him that wasn't true exactly. He was coping. But he missed her so much. His sadness on this the anniversary of her death was plain as day to her. She was glad he had his sister and his adorable little daughter to help him through the tough times.
She was so focused on the picture in front of her she didn't hear Hank come up behind her. She jumped when he asked, "So. How's he doing?" Glancing back to where Theresa, Ali, and Luis sat, she said, "He's handling it pretty well. Putting up a good front. But he still misses her, Hank. It's finally sunk in just how much he loved, no loves, her. I never thought I'd live to see the day when I would wish Sheridan was here, laughing and having a good time with him. Enjoying their beautiful daughter. It's so sad. She'll never see Ali grow up, have her first boyfriend, get married, have her first baby. They didn't deserve this, Hank. Neither one of them. Why couldn't they be happy?"
She looked into his brown eyes and saw the same feelings that were threatening to overwhelm her at this moment. "I don't know, Beth. I don't know." She was grateful for his hug. "Thanks, Hank. I really needed that. You're such a good friend to me." She kissed his cheek and left without another word. He smiled at her retreating figure as she climbed the steps to her apartment. Then he joined his friends. Greeted by Ali's squeals of "Uncle Hank!"