Chapter Seventeen:
Luis quietly slipped away. A wistful look on his face. He had a nephew. A beautiful new nephew. Certainly cause for celebration. And he was happy. For his brother. For Kay. Sam and Grace. Mama was so proud to have a grandson. He felt guilty for not totally focusing on the happy event. So he told Mama to say his goodbyes for him. And slipped out the door.
Only to run into Eve. Who wore a strangely similar look on her face. The moment was bittersweet for her, too. He didn't know why. He didn't know how he knew. He just knew. Maybe it was something in her voice when she said his name. Looking past him into the hospital room then quickly meeting his gaze again. "Luis."
"Good to see you, Eve. I'd like to talk to you more, but there's some things I have to do," he said as he brushed by her. "Bye, Luis," she called after him. But he was already gone. Heading out the hospital doors. Heading home. Heading to her.
He reached the Crane Mansion. In one piece. A miracle, really, considering he didn't remember leaving the hospital. Didn't remember the drive. Memories of Sheridan assaulted him. Memories that would not stop. Not that he wanted them to. He'd never wish that.
Sheridan. Telling him she was pregnant. Looking worried but so excited at the same time. The look of pure happiness in her blue eyes as he'd whooped for joy. Twirled her around and around. Then set her down. Afraid her may have hurt her. The baby. Her soft laughter as she reassured him she was fine.
Her mortification as her belly grew. And grew. She'd never looked more beautiful. More radiant. And he'd told her so. She'd scoffed at him in disbelief then tears would spring to her beautiful blue eyes. Realizing he meant every word. Her giggles as he kissed her tummy--their baby-- goodnight. Every night. The look of absolute joy and adoration as she first held their daughter in her arms. Their Ali.
Why did God have to take her away from him? When she finally knew real, true love and happiness. Why did He do that to her? To Ali? To him? He didn't know if he'd ever be able to comprehend it all. He just knew Ali helped him survive. The beautiful little angel now asleep in the passenger seat beside him kept him alive.
He stopped the car in their driveway and went over to the other side of the car to get his daughter out. Ali sighed sweetly in her sleep but didn't wake as he let them in their house and carried her back to his bedroom. His and her mother's. Only snuggled closer. Content in his arms. Tonight she wasn't leaving his sight. His arms. Not for a moment. He fell asleep with her clutched in them. Almost fearful she would vanish. Be a figment of his imagination.
As exhaustion stole over him, a leather-bound book fell from his hands. Hitting the floor with a thud. Open to the page that brought tears but also comfort to his eyes. Sheridan's voice echoed off the walls, resounded in his dreams as he slept.
"One person doesn't deserve to be this happy. As happy as I am. Married to the most wonderful man in the world. And carrying his child inside of me. A precious little baby."
"We're going to be parents. I can't believe it. The baby kicked for the first time today. The look of awe on Luis's face was priceless. This man, this man I love with all my heart and soul, is going to make the most wonderful Daddy. I'm not too sure of myself as a mother, but with Luis by my side, I feel I can do anything. He's going to be the most perfect father for our baby. Our baby girl. Our gift from heaven."
Luis quietly slipped away. A wistful look on his face. He had a nephew. A beautiful new nephew. Certainly cause for celebration. And he was happy. For his brother. For Kay. Sam and Grace. Mama was so proud to have a grandson. He felt guilty for not totally focusing on the happy event. So he told Mama to say his goodbyes for him. And slipped out the door.
Only to run into Eve. Who wore a strangely similar look on her face. The moment was bittersweet for her, too. He didn't know why. He didn't know how he knew. He just knew. Maybe it was something in her voice when she said his name. Looking past him into the hospital room then quickly meeting his gaze again. "Luis."
"Good to see you, Eve. I'd like to talk to you more, but there's some things I have to do," he said as he brushed by her. "Bye, Luis," she called after him. But he was already gone. Heading out the hospital doors. Heading home. Heading to her.
He reached the Crane Mansion. In one piece. A miracle, really, considering he didn't remember leaving the hospital. Didn't remember the drive. Memories of Sheridan assaulted him. Memories that would not stop. Not that he wanted them to. He'd never wish that.
Sheridan. Telling him she was pregnant. Looking worried but so excited at the same time. The look of pure happiness in her blue eyes as he'd whooped for joy. Twirled her around and around. Then set her down. Afraid her may have hurt her. The baby. Her soft laughter as she reassured him she was fine.
Her mortification as her belly grew. And grew. She'd never looked more beautiful. More radiant. And he'd told her so. She'd scoffed at him in disbelief then tears would spring to her beautiful blue eyes. Realizing he meant every word. Her giggles as he kissed her tummy--their baby-- goodnight. Every night. The look of absolute joy and adoration as she first held their daughter in her arms. Their Ali.
Why did God have to take her away from him? When she finally knew real, true love and happiness. Why did He do that to her? To Ali? To him? He didn't know if he'd ever be able to comprehend it all. He just knew Ali helped him survive. The beautiful little angel now asleep in the passenger seat beside him kept him alive.
He stopped the car in their driveway and went over to the other side of the car to get his daughter out. Ali sighed sweetly in her sleep but didn't wake as he let them in their house and carried her back to his bedroom. His and her mother's. Only snuggled closer. Content in his arms. Tonight she wasn't leaving his sight. His arms. Not for a moment. He fell asleep with her clutched in them. Almost fearful she would vanish. Be a figment of his imagination.
As exhaustion stole over him, a leather-bound book fell from his hands. Hitting the floor with a thud. Open to the page that brought tears but also comfort to his eyes. Sheridan's voice echoed off the walls, resounded in his dreams as he slept.
"One person doesn't deserve to be this happy. As happy as I am. Married to the most wonderful man in the world. And carrying his child inside of me. A precious little baby."
"We're going to be parents. I can't believe it. The baby kicked for the first time today. The look of awe on Luis's face was priceless. This man, this man I love with all my heart and soul, is going to make the most wonderful Daddy. I'm not too sure of myself as a mother, but with Luis by my side, I feel I can do anything. He's going to be the most perfect father for our baby. Our baby girl. Our gift from heaven."