Love Will Find a Way
Chapter 4
Sheridan was pulling things out of her drawers and putting them into her suitcase. She had to leave. NOW. She didn't know where she was going, but that didn't matter. All that mattered is that Luis didn't know where she was. Tears were streaming down her face, for she realized she couldn't be with him. //He was the only man who loved me for myself. Why did he have to be the son of the man I killed?//
"Sheridan?"
Her nephew was standing there. "Ethan," she said, wiping her eyes. "What... what are you doing here?"
"I just came by to check on you... What's wrong?" he asked, giving his aunt a hug. "And why are you packing? Where are you going?"
"Ethan, don't ask questions right now, okay? Just... I'll call you when I get there --"
"Where are you going, Sheridan?"
"I... I don't know yet, Ethan. All I know is that I have to get out of here."
"Why?"
"Two words: Martin Fitzgerald."
"You still don't think you killed him, do you, Sheridan?"
"No."
"Then why are you leaving?"
"Because I'm positive I killed him, Ethan! God... why did it have to be him?" she said, her thoughts turning back to Luis. "Anyone but Luis' father. He'll... he hate me for the rest of his life!" She started to sob, and Ethan hugged her.
"Sheridan, what does this have to do with you and Luis?"
"Can't you see, Ethan? We can't be together. He'll find out eventually that I killed his father and..." She started to cry harder.
"So... I was right?"
"Yes! You were right, okay? I have fallen for Luis. I love him, Ethan."
"Whoa, Sheridan, I think you're a little too desperate."
"No, I'm serious. Don't... don't ask now, okay?" Sheridan had finished packing and closed her suitcase. "Tell Luis, if he comes, that there's a note for him here, okay?"
"Sheridan, can't I convince you to stay? How do you know you killed the real Martin Fitzgerald?"
"Ethan, for the last time, please, don't ask, just let me go. For all our sakes." Sheridan rushed to find a pen and paper.
"I can't help it if I want to know where my favorite aunt is going, and why she's leaving," Ethan said.
"Ethan!" He was taken aback. "I'm sorry, Sheridan, I didn't know..."
"No, I'm sorry. I just... I don't want to talk, okay? I'll call you from wherever I am when I get there... just not now, okay?"
"Okay. I think I'll leave you alone now. 'Bye, Sheridan," Ethan said. "Can I just ask something?"
"Ethan..." Sheridan said, exasperated.
"Are you coming back?"
"I... I don't know. Just... I have to think, okay? I promise, I'll be okay."
"Okay, Sheridan." He hugged his aunt extra hard. "I love you, Sheridan."
"I love you too, Ethan. I'll miss you." Ethan took one last look at his aunt and walked out the door.
"Just one more thing before I go," Sheridan said to herself. She picked up a pen, found some paper, and began to write.
//Dear
Luis:
I'm so sorry we had to say goodbye this way, but I had to leave. If you don't
know already, you should soon. I'm sorry; I didn't mean to do it. Don't try to
find me; I don't know where I'm going. I just want you to know that I love you;
I've always loved you, I just didn't know it... I hope we'll meet again,
somewhere, someday.
Love always,
Sheridan//
Sheridan picked up a picture of her and Luis, held it close, and kissed it. "Goodbye, Luis." She took the picture and put it in her pocket. Then she picked up her suitcase, opened the door, took one last look at her cottage, and left.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Luis ran into the police station. "Sam?" he said, finding the Chief of Police. "You paged me?"
"Yes. We know who the killer is."
"Well, tell me... Whoever it is, they're going to pay. For Mama's misery, for my siblings' lives without a father..."
"Are you sure you want to hear this?"
"Yes! Come on, Sam, just tell me."
"All right." Sam took a deep breath. "It was... Sheridan Crane."