Chapter 10
"I know you want no part of.I know you don't feel comfortable around any of us but Aunt Sheridan. But Chad.you ARE a member of the family. You're MY brother. My father's son. You need to be there."
Chad laid his headphones down and tapped on the window to get Mitch's attention. "Could you get someone to cover for me, Mitch?" He smiled when Mitch gave him a thumbs up sign. Then turned back to Amanda.
"Me? I may be a member of the family. But I have no part in it. And frankly.I don't want a part. Family
don't treat their own the way that bastard did."
Amanda's jaw clenched. "You can't blame ALL of us for Grandfather's sins forever. We didn't take you away from your mother. We didn't keep your true identity from you all those years."
"Yeah," Chad sighed. "I know.but.he cost me so much. Do you have any idea how many lives he screwed up? I grew up not knowing who my parents were. Not knowing I had a brother. Sisters. Can you imagine not knowing who you are?"
Amanda's clear blue eyes clouded with sympathy, and she wanted so much to reach out. But she didn't.
Chad's eyes caught the motion. And he sighed. "You can't do it, can you? Your words say one thing, but your actions.I guess the saying is true. They speak louder than words." He watched her regal form as she walked to the door slowly.
She paused with her hand on the doorknob.
Chad waited.
"You can't get those years back, Chad. You can't undo the damage. But the future.it's yours for the taking. Just remember that."
Chad groaned when she disappeared from sight. She was right. Dammit.she was right. He scribbled a hasty note to Mitch. And took off after her.
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She studied her reflection in the mirror.
The diamond studs sparkled in her ears.
The pale peachy tones of her dress shimmered under the lights.
Her olive complexion was flawless.
Perfect. She had to look perfect. She WAS going to win her husband's heart back tonight. And they'd make a fresh start. One without lies.
She slipped her lipstick back in her handbag and snapped it shut.
Wolf nuzzled her hand with his cold, wet nose.
Her laughter was lighthearted as she locked the door behind her. Things would work out. The way they were supposed to be. Fate or not.
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"Danielle.sweetie. Are you cold?" Sheridan asked. Coming up behind her daughter and rubbing her arms briskly with her own.
Danielle tipped her dark head back and smiled at her mother. "Just a little."
"This house always was cold," Pilar said softly.
In more ways than one, Luis thought as he fell into step behind the maid.
Danielle felt her mother stiffen as they passed the library. That was his place.
"They're outside, Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald. The gazebo."
"Thank you," Sheridan said sincerely.
Danielle closed her eyes when she felt the warmth of the dying sun on her face.
Luis tried to ignore his misgivings when Adam Crane spoke.
"Aunt Sheridan.so happy you could make it."
The man was a fake if he ever saw one.
"And this must be Danielle. My dear.you're every bit as beautiful as your own mother."
Danielle smiled uneasily at the compliment. Why did she get the feeling her cousin Adam meant not a word he said?
"No, she isn't."
Danielle studied the young blond curiously.
Lauren's hazel eyes twinkled, and she winked at Sheridan. "She's even more beautiful."
"Lauren! You're home!"
Lauren squeezed her aunt tightly.
"Just in time it seems," she said soberly. "Hey you!" she smiled at Danielle. "I wasn't kidding. You're gorgeous, Kid. Think you can give me a few pointers?"
Danielle giggled and took her cousin's outreached arm. "It's all in the genes."
"Mijo," Pilar uttered softly. A gentle hand on her son's arm. "Watch over her. And protect her. I.don't trust him blindly," she said. Glancing at Adam. Luis smiled reassuringly at his mother before she tried to catch up to her former charge and her granddaughter.
Sheridan felt a chill go up her spine when her nephew smiled at her.
Luis hugged her closer, and she was grateful for the contact.
Adam stood up. To attention.
That could only mean one of two things. And Sheridan hoped beyond hope her father was far, far away from Harmony.
Amanda looked tired. Worried as she spoke.
But the weariness fell away. Forgotten as Chad took his place by her side.
The meeting was in session.
"I know you want no part of.I know you don't feel comfortable around any of us but Aunt Sheridan. But Chad.you ARE a member of the family. You're MY brother. My father's son. You need to be there."
Chad laid his headphones down and tapped on the window to get Mitch's attention. "Could you get someone to cover for me, Mitch?" He smiled when Mitch gave him a thumbs up sign. Then turned back to Amanda.
"Me? I may be a member of the family. But I have no part in it. And frankly.I don't want a part. Family
don't treat their own the way that bastard did."
Amanda's jaw clenched. "You can't blame ALL of us for Grandfather's sins forever. We didn't take you away from your mother. We didn't keep your true identity from you all those years."
"Yeah," Chad sighed. "I know.but.he cost me so much. Do you have any idea how many lives he screwed up? I grew up not knowing who my parents were. Not knowing I had a brother. Sisters. Can you imagine not knowing who you are?"
Amanda's clear blue eyes clouded with sympathy, and she wanted so much to reach out. But she didn't.
Chad's eyes caught the motion. And he sighed. "You can't do it, can you? Your words say one thing, but your actions.I guess the saying is true. They speak louder than words." He watched her regal form as she walked to the door slowly.
She paused with her hand on the doorknob.
Chad waited.
"You can't get those years back, Chad. You can't undo the damage. But the future.it's yours for the taking. Just remember that."
Chad groaned when she disappeared from sight. She was right. Dammit.she was right. He scribbled a hasty note to Mitch. And took off after her.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
She studied her reflection in the mirror.
The diamond studs sparkled in her ears.
The pale peachy tones of her dress shimmered under the lights.
Her olive complexion was flawless.
Perfect. She had to look perfect. She WAS going to win her husband's heart back tonight. And they'd make a fresh start. One without lies.
She slipped her lipstick back in her handbag and snapped it shut.
Wolf nuzzled her hand with his cold, wet nose.
Her laughter was lighthearted as she locked the door behind her. Things would work out. The way they were supposed to be. Fate or not.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
"Danielle.sweetie. Are you cold?" Sheridan asked. Coming up behind her daughter and rubbing her arms briskly with her own.
Danielle tipped her dark head back and smiled at her mother. "Just a little."
"This house always was cold," Pilar said softly.
In more ways than one, Luis thought as he fell into step behind the maid.
Danielle felt her mother stiffen as they passed the library. That was his place.
"They're outside, Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald. The gazebo."
"Thank you," Sheridan said sincerely.
Danielle closed her eyes when she felt the warmth of the dying sun on her face.
Luis tried to ignore his misgivings when Adam Crane spoke.
"Aunt Sheridan.so happy you could make it."
The man was a fake if he ever saw one.
"And this must be Danielle. My dear.you're every bit as beautiful as your own mother."
Danielle smiled uneasily at the compliment. Why did she get the feeling her cousin Adam meant not a word he said?
"No, she isn't."
Danielle studied the young blond curiously.
Lauren's hazel eyes twinkled, and she winked at Sheridan. "She's even more beautiful."
"Lauren! You're home!"
Lauren squeezed her aunt tightly.
"Just in time it seems," she said soberly. "Hey you!" she smiled at Danielle. "I wasn't kidding. You're gorgeous, Kid. Think you can give me a few pointers?"
Danielle giggled and took her cousin's outreached arm. "It's all in the genes."
"Mijo," Pilar uttered softly. A gentle hand on her son's arm. "Watch over her. And protect her. I.don't trust him blindly," she said. Glancing at Adam. Luis smiled reassuringly at his mother before she tried to catch up to her former charge and her granddaughter.
Sheridan felt a chill go up her spine when her nephew smiled at her.
Luis hugged her closer, and she was grateful for the contact.
Adam stood up. To attention.
That could only mean one of two things. And Sheridan hoped beyond hope her father was far, far away from Harmony.
Amanda looked tired. Worried as she spoke.
But the weariness fell away. Forgotten as Chad took his place by her side.
The meeting was in session.