Chapter Twenty-Five:
Luis checked the rear-view mirror for the upteenth time. He couldn't believe it. She was alive. He had his wife back. Ali had her mother back. Sheridan was alive and breathing. And at this very moment, listening attentively to Ali's excited chatter. Ali had talked non-stop. Hardly stopping for a breath since they left Boston. He looked at them. Together as they should be. He couldn't erase the goofy grin that adorned his face. It felt like a permanent fixture.
Not even his disappointment over not being able to meet and thank the man who had saved Sheridan's life three years ago could dampen his spirits. They'd driven to the small town. Driven to the cabin in the woods. To let Sheridan say her final goodbyes. Luis was struck by how close she had been all those years ago. In a little hospital not too far from the winding road where the accident occurred.
The cabin was empty. No one there. Only a note. Addressed to Jenny. Sheridan had opened it. Reading it slowly before folding it back up. A single tear slipping down her cheek. He'd wanted to take her into his arms. Comfort her. But he didn't want to frighten her. Make her uncomfortable by rushing things. He understood she needed time. To recover her memories. All of them. He was willing to give her all the time she needed. They left the cabin behind them. To return home. To Harmony.
He smiled as their home came into view. Squeezed his mother's outstretched hand. "We're almost home, Mommy!" Ali sounded. "I can't wait to show you my room!" His mother laughed softly. He stopped the car and breathed deeply before opening the door and getting out. He grabbed his giggling daughter in his arms and set her on her feet. Then took Sheridan's hand and helped her out of the car.
He looked into her blue eyes. She was nervous. "It'll be okay," he whispered. "I'll be with you. Every step of the way." She gave him a small, grateful smile. Told him "Thank you." And held on as he led her inside. She barely had a moment to catch her breath before Ali grabbed her hand. Dragging her off to her bedroom. "AliCat, slow down, baby," he yelled. Only to have it fall on deaf ears.
"Luis. Mijo," his mother said. "I'm going to go home. Give you and Sheridan and Ali some time alone.
I'm so happy for you son," she said. Hugging him goodbye. "Tell Sheridan I said goodbye. I'll see her and Ali soon. Okay?" "I will, Mama," he said. Kissing her cheek. Walking her to the door. He watched her. Made sure she made it to her car safely before shutting the door behind her. Closing his eyes as he leaned against it and thanked God for bringing Sheridan back to them.
He walked silently to Ali's room. Following the sound of their laughter. He stood in the doorway watching them. Mother and daughter were having a tea party. Wearing identical hats. They were all smiles. His heart was so full of love for them at that moment. He was sure it would burst. "Daddy!" Ali called. Noticing him spying on them. "Come have a tea party with us." He looked to Sheridan. Gazing into her eyes. Looking for an answer. And finding one. "Come on, Luis," she said almost shyly. Blue eyes twinkling with amusement. Just like Ali's.
So he did. And they had a wonderful time. After their tea party, Ali demanded a story. Just like every night. But this time, she looked to her mother. Smiling sweetly. "Goodnight Daddy," she said as he kissed her forehead and ruffled her blond hair. "I love you." He turned to Sheridan. Wanting to kiss her so badly. Like those nights so long ago. He leaned in. His lips drawing ever closer to hers. His heart pounding. Her breath almost stopping. Meeting her blue eyes and staring into them. He closed his eyes and kissed her softly on the cheek. "Goodnight," he breathed.
He listened from their bedroom to the sound of her voice as she read to their daughter. The tale more magical. More enthralling than ever. He listened. His heart in his throat. He hoped to never wake up from this beautiful dream. Never to wake up and have it all disappear. Have her gone from their lives again. He smiled tenderly hearing Ali's sweet voice. "I love you, Mommy." Hearing Sheridan a moment later. "I love you, too." And when he checked in on them some time later finding them fast asleep and snuggled in each other's arms, he hoped that if this were a dream, it would never end. He had his life back, he thought as he covered them both with a blanket. He said one last quiet goodnight, one last 'I love you' to them both and turned the light off. His whole life.
Luis checked the rear-view mirror for the upteenth time. He couldn't believe it. She was alive. He had his wife back. Ali had her mother back. Sheridan was alive and breathing. And at this very moment, listening attentively to Ali's excited chatter. Ali had talked non-stop. Hardly stopping for a breath since they left Boston. He looked at them. Together as they should be. He couldn't erase the goofy grin that adorned his face. It felt like a permanent fixture.
Not even his disappointment over not being able to meet and thank the man who had saved Sheridan's life three years ago could dampen his spirits. They'd driven to the small town. Driven to the cabin in the woods. To let Sheridan say her final goodbyes. Luis was struck by how close she had been all those years ago. In a little hospital not too far from the winding road where the accident occurred.
The cabin was empty. No one there. Only a note. Addressed to Jenny. Sheridan had opened it. Reading it slowly before folding it back up. A single tear slipping down her cheek. He'd wanted to take her into his arms. Comfort her. But he didn't want to frighten her. Make her uncomfortable by rushing things. He understood she needed time. To recover her memories. All of them. He was willing to give her all the time she needed. They left the cabin behind them. To return home. To Harmony.
He smiled as their home came into view. Squeezed his mother's outstretched hand. "We're almost home, Mommy!" Ali sounded. "I can't wait to show you my room!" His mother laughed softly. He stopped the car and breathed deeply before opening the door and getting out. He grabbed his giggling daughter in his arms and set her on her feet. Then took Sheridan's hand and helped her out of the car.
He looked into her blue eyes. She was nervous. "It'll be okay," he whispered. "I'll be with you. Every step of the way." She gave him a small, grateful smile. Told him "Thank you." And held on as he led her inside. She barely had a moment to catch her breath before Ali grabbed her hand. Dragging her off to her bedroom. "AliCat, slow down, baby," he yelled. Only to have it fall on deaf ears.
"Luis. Mijo," his mother said. "I'm going to go home. Give you and Sheridan and Ali some time alone.
I'm so happy for you son," she said. Hugging him goodbye. "Tell Sheridan I said goodbye. I'll see her and Ali soon. Okay?" "I will, Mama," he said. Kissing her cheek. Walking her to the door. He watched her. Made sure she made it to her car safely before shutting the door behind her. Closing his eyes as he leaned against it and thanked God for bringing Sheridan back to them.
He walked silently to Ali's room. Following the sound of their laughter. He stood in the doorway watching them. Mother and daughter were having a tea party. Wearing identical hats. They were all smiles. His heart was so full of love for them at that moment. He was sure it would burst. "Daddy!" Ali called. Noticing him spying on them. "Come have a tea party with us." He looked to Sheridan. Gazing into her eyes. Looking for an answer. And finding one. "Come on, Luis," she said almost shyly. Blue eyes twinkling with amusement. Just like Ali's.
So he did. And they had a wonderful time. After their tea party, Ali demanded a story. Just like every night. But this time, she looked to her mother. Smiling sweetly. "Goodnight Daddy," she said as he kissed her forehead and ruffled her blond hair. "I love you." He turned to Sheridan. Wanting to kiss her so badly. Like those nights so long ago. He leaned in. His lips drawing ever closer to hers. His heart pounding. Her breath almost stopping. Meeting her blue eyes and staring into them. He closed his eyes and kissed her softly on the cheek. "Goodnight," he breathed.
He listened from their bedroom to the sound of her voice as she read to their daughter. The tale more magical. More enthralling than ever. He listened. His heart in his throat. He hoped to never wake up from this beautiful dream. Never to wake up and have it all disappear. Have her gone from their lives again. He smiled tenderly hearing Ali's sweet voice. "I love you, Mommy." Hearing Sheridan a moment later. "I love you, too." And when he checked in on them some time later finding them fast asleep and snuggled in each other's arms, he hoped that if this were a dream, it would never end. He had his life back, he thought as he covered them both with a blanket. He said one last quiet goodnight, one last 'I love you' to them both and turned the light off. His whole life.