Chapter 23
Terror.
That's what she felt as the darkness swallowed her up.
She clawed at the rope around her ankle futilely. Desperate to stop her descent.
Help me, her mind screamed. Someone help me.
The anchor was heavy.
Her chest hurt.
She couldn't hold her breath much longer.
Her dark hair swirled around her like a halo.
This is it, she thought.
I'm going to die down here.
How pathetic.
Her life.it didn't amount to much.
Too many years wasted on a man that didn't love her.
God help me, she prayed.
I'm drowning, she realized.
If it weren't so damn sad, she'd laugh at the tiny little bubbles escaping her nose.
Tiny little bubbles turned into bigger bubbles as her lungs gave out, and she took gulping breaths.
Sea water never tasted too hot.
She smiled as she watched her lifeless body float toward the light.
Heaven.
Funny, she always knew she was going to Hell...
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"Come on, Kay. Breathe. Breathe," a voice urged.
His lips covered hers, and her chest rose with his gentle breaths into her lungs.
"Breathe," he demanded. Sweeping her wet black hair from her pale face.
What's happening to me?
Salt water burned her throat, and she started choking.
There was a smile in his voice. "That's it," he said. Turning her over on her side. "That's more like it."
She gasped for air. "Chad? What happened?"
Chad's chocolate eyes looked puzzled. "Hell if I know. I turned the corner just in time to see you take a nose dive off the side of the boat. Are you okay, Kay?"
"What kind of question is that?" she snapped. "Of course, I'm not okay.
How did you get me out?" she asked. For the first time she realized he was
dripping wet.
His pocket knife gleamed when he held it up. "Never knew that thing would come in so handy."
She pushed him away. Struggling to sit up on her own. "My head's killing me," she moaned.
"I imagine it would," he smirked. Fitting his hands beneath her arms and hauling her to her feet.
She wobbled unsteadily for a few seconds. All sense of equilibrium lost. "Thank you, Chad. You can go now. I'm fi.I'm fin."
"That's what I thought," Chad said as he caught her in his arms. "Fine. Yeah, you're fine alright," he groaned as he hefted her up against him. "Can't even stand on your own two feet. You ain't going nowhere on those," he muttered as he stepped off the deck of the Amazing Grace.
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"Whitney! Are you okay?" Paloma asked in a concerned voice.
Noah searched for a broom to sweep up the mess.
Whitney's hands shook as Paloma stared into her eyes. "I.I'm fine, Paloma. I don't know what came over me," she laughed nervously.
Paloma squeezed Whitney's hands reassuringly. "It's just not your week," Paloma smiled gently. "We all have bad days sometimes. It seems like it's been a bad WEEK for everybody."
"Really?" Whitney asked. Looking down at their joined hands.
"I already told you about Theresa's troubles. But Luis and Sheridan are having a tough time of it, too."
Whitney smiled sadly. "I feel so bad for them. Especially Sheridan. Losing a baby like that."
Paloma's brown eyes teared up again. "Losing a child is one thing. But the way Andrew died.it devastated them. They've never really been the same."
She knew what that felt like. Never really being the same. "I'll replace the glass," Whitney offered.
Paloma's laughter tinkled from her lips. "Don't worry about. I'm just glad you're okay."
"You ARE okay, Whitney?" Noah asked.
The look in his blue eyes unnerved her.
"I'm okay," she laughed it off. "Paloma," she changed the subject. "That movie you wanted to see is at the Multiplex. Why don't you and Noah go?"
"Sounds like a good idea to me," Noah grinned affably. "Come on, Loma. Maybe we can salvage this rotten day yet."
Paloma's brown eyes sparkled. "I don't know, Noah. What if."
"Take my cell," Whitney handed the phone over to her.
"See? No excuses," Noah said.
"Okay," Paloma smiled. "But I have to get ready."
"What are you waiting for?" Noah shooed her away. "I don't have all night."
"Yeah," Paloma said. "All those hot dates you got lined up."
"Would you just go?" Noah rolled his eyes.
"Thanks Whitney!"
"Yeah, thanks," Noah smiled at her.
"You're welcome," she whispered.
It was the least she could do.
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"You're a good friend," she whispered.
Her auburn hair tickled his nose. "Gwen."
"No, Hank. I mean it. You're a good friend. Anybody else would have been long gone by now. Everyone else is. Except you. And Sheridan." But Sheridan has her own problems now.
What she said was true. "Thank you," he murmured against her hair.
"This feels.strange," she laughed softly.
"What?" he grinned into her amused blue eyes. "Us? Being civil to each other? Or me holding you? I can stop if you want me to," he said. Relaxing his hold on her.
"No!" Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. "I mean.don't. It feels nice. Strange, yes. But nice," she smiled shyly.
Gwen shy? He chuckled. "Thanks. I think."
"You're welcome," she laughed.
"You should do that more often. Laugh, I mean."
She quirked her brows at him. "Why?"
"You have a nice laugh, that's all," he admitted. "Geez. Does there have to be a reason for everything?"
"No. I guess not," she conceded. Staring into his brown eyes.
"What?" he tipped her chin up with his index finger. "Do I have something in my teeth?"
She smirked and rolled her eyes. Growing serious when tucked her hair behind her ear. "Hank? What are you doing?" she asked in a hushed voice.
Do something! Stop me, please. Forget what's going on with Grace. What was going on with him? "I'm not sure," he said. Threading his fingers through her hair and pulling her closer.
Gwen's hands slid up his chest to his shoulders. "Hank, I."
"Shh," he whispered.
And she met his lips with a sigh. Her hands clutched at his shirt as his mouth moved against hers in a sweet kiss.
"Gwen.I'm so."
Her mouth sought his again. Silencing him. Momentarily at least.
"Gwen," he panted. Resting his forehead against hers. "We need to stop. Right now. This isn't us."
Her blue eyes darkened. And her hands fell from his shoulders as she climbed off of him. "You're right," she said softly. Turning her back to him. "This isn't us. You can't stand me. I can't stand you. Right?"
"Gwen," he grabbed her hand. Pulling her back down on the sofa beside him. "Listen to me. That's not what I meant. You know it."
She removed her hand from his and rose once more. Standing tall. "I think you should leave, Hank."
"No," he shook his head. Trying.wanting her to understand. "Not like this."
Her blue eyes brimmed with angry tears. "Just leave Bennett!" she demanded. "I can't."
"Okay," he relented. "I'll go now. But this conversation is not over."
"That's what you think," Gwen whispered to herself after the door shut behind him.
It wasn't going to happen again.
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"Lauren, dear," Ivy smiled. "You didn't have to."
"Mother," Lauren squeezed Ivy's hand. "Grandfather and Adam are the only ones that feel like celebrating. Adam said Aunt Sheridan's not coming. I'd rather be with you," she said. Handing Ivy a tub of popcorn.
"What's this movie about anyway?" Ivy asked curiously. Popping a kernel of popcorn into her mouth.
"I'm not sure," Lauren admitted. "But it's gotten rave reviews. And it has cute guys," she laughed.
Ivy's blue green eyes sparkled at her, and she arched a golden brow. "How cute?"
"Too die for sexy," Lauren squealed. Tugging on her hand. "We're going to miss it if we don't hurry."
"Lauren," Ivy protested as her daughter pulled her through the throng of theater-goers. "They're only previews."
Lauren rolled her eyes. "Sometimes they're better than the movie. Seriously, Mother. We won't get a good seat. Come on."
Ivy laughed. "Okay. What have you gotten me into?"
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"Amanda? Has Aunt Sheridan arrived yet?" Adam asked. Lifting the brandy decanter and pouring himself a glass. "For that matter.has Father arrived yet?"
Amanda's blue eyes narrowed. "Luis hit you. What makes you think they're coming? No one else has."
That's okay, Adam thought. Grandfather wanted it to be a PRIVATE party. "She'll come. She won't be able to stop herself. Look what the cat dragged in," he muttered under his breath. "Dear Lord. Would you look at that cheap suit? Luis! So happy to see you," he greeted.
Luis glared at him and slipped a protective arm around Sheridan's waist.
"Aunt Sheridan.you didn't have to come," Amanda sighed.
"I know," Sheridan answered. Her blue eyes watching Adam cautiously. "I needed to."
Amanda turned to her brother. "Adam.what the hell are you and Grandfather up to? I'm warning you," she hissed. "If you try something."
"Where are all the guests?" Luis asked suspiciously.
"They couldn't come," Adam sighed. "I'm afraid it's just going to be us. Family."
"Sheridan," Luis held her hands in his. "I don't like this. We still have time to leave before."
"No, we don't," Sheridan said in a tremulous voice. "He's here, Luis."
"Father!" Adam exclaimed with false joy. "Welcome home!"
"I second that emotion," a voice filled the room.
A collective gasp went around the room as Alistair Crane emerged from the shadows.
"Now the 'party' begins," Adam whispered in his sister's ear.
And Amanda felt dread wash over her in waves.
Something was going to happen.
She just didn't know what.
Terror.
That's what she felt as the darkness swallowed her up.
She clawed at the rope around her ankle futilely. Desperate to stop her descent.
Help me, her mind screamed. Someone help me.
The anchor was heavy.
Her chest hurt.
She couldn't hold her breath much longer.
Her dark hair swirled around her like a halo.
This is it, she thought.
I'm going to die down here.
How pathetic.
Her life.it didn't amount to much.
Too many years wasted on a man that didn't love her.
God help me, she prayed.
I'm drowning, she realized.
If it weren't so damn sad, she'd laugh at the tiny little bubbles escaping her nose.
Tiny little bubbles turned into bigger bubbles as her lungs gave out, and she took gulping breaths.
Sea water never tasted too hot.
She smiled as she watched her lifeless body float toward the light.
Heaven.
Funny, she always knew she was going to Hell...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Come on, Kay. Breathe. Breathe," a voice urged.
His lips covered hers, and her chest rose with his gentle breaths into her lungs.
"Breathe," he demanded. Sweeping her wet black hair from her pale face.
What's happening to me?
Salt water burned her throat, and she started choking.
There was a smile in his voice. "That's it," he said. Turning her over on her side. "That's more like it."
She gasped for air. "Chad? What happened?"
Chad's chocolate eyes looked puzzled. "Hell if I know. I turned the corner just in time to see you take a nose dive off the side of the boat. Are you okay, Kay?"
"What kind of question is that?" she snapped. "Of course, I'm not okay.
How did you get me out?" she asked. For the first time she realized he was
dripping wet.
His pocket knife gleamed when he held it up. "Never knew that thing would come in so handy."
She pushed him away. Struggling to sit up on her own. "My head's killing me," she moaned.
"I imagine it would," he smirked. Fitting his hands beneath her arms and hauling her to her feet.
She wobbled unsteadily for a few seconds. All sense of equilibrium lost. "Thank you, Chad. You can go now. I'm fi.I'm fin."
"That's what I thought," Chad said as he caught her in his arms. "Fine. Yeah, you're fine alright," he groaned as he hefted her up against him. "Can't even stand on your own two feet. You ain't going nowhere on those," he muttered as he stepped off the deck of the Amazing Grace.
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"Whitney! Are you okay?" Paloma asked in a concerned voice.
Noah searched for a broom to sweep up the mess.
Whitney's hands shook as Paloma stared into her eyes. "I.I'm fine, Paloma. I don't know what came over me," she laughed nervously.
Paloma squeezed Whitney's hands reassuringly. "It's just not your week," Paloma smiled gently. "We all have bad days sometimes. It seems like it's been a bad WEEK for everybody."
"Really?" Whitney asked. Looking down at their joined hands.
"I already told you about Theresa's troubles. But Luis and Sheridan are having a tough time of it, too."
Whitney smiled sadly. "I feel so bad for them. Especially Sheridan. Losing a baby like that."
Paloma's brown eyes teared up again. "Losing a child is one thing. But the way Andrew died.it devastated them. They've never really been the same."
She knew what that felt like. Never really being the same. "I'll replace the glass," Whitney offered.
Paloma's laughter tinkled from her lips. "Don't worry about. I'm just glad you're okay."
"You ARE okay, Whitney?" Noah asked.
The look in his blue eyes unnerved her.
"I'm okay," she laughed it off. "Paloma," she changed the subject. "That movie you wanted to see is at the Multiplex. Why don't you and Noah go?"
"Sounds like a good idea to me," Noah grinned affably. "Come on, Loma. Maybe we can salvage this rotten day yet."
Paloma's brown eyes sparkled. "I don't know, Noah. What if."
"Take my cell," Whitney handed the phone over to her.
"See? No excuses," Noah said.
"Okay," Paloma smiled. "But I have to get ready."
"What are you waiting for?" Noah shooed her away. "I don't have all night."
"Yeah," Paloma said. "All those hot dates you got lined up."
"Would you just go?" Noah rolled his eyes.
"Thanks Whitney!"
"Yeah, thanks," Noah smiled at her.
"You're welcome," she whispered.
It was the least she could do.
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"You're a good friend," she whispered.
Her auburn hair tickled his nose. "Gwen."
"No, Hank. I mean it. You're a good friend. Anybody else would have been long gone by now. Everyone else is. Except you. And Sheridan." But Sheridan has her own problems now.
What she said was true. "Thank you," he murmured against her hair.
"This feels.strange," she laughed softly.
"What?" he grinned into her amused blue eyes. "Us? Being civil to each other? Or me holding you? I can stop if you want me to," he said. Relaxing his hold on her.
"No!" Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. "I mean.don't. It feels nice. Strange, yes. But nice," she smiled shyly.
Gwen shy? He chuckled. "Thanks. I think."
"You're welcome," she laughed.
"You should do that more often. Laugh, I mean."
She quirked her brows at him. "Why?"
"You have a nice laugh, that's all," he admitted. "Geez. Does there have to be a reason for everything?"
"No. I guess not," she conceded. Staring into his brown eyes.
"What?" he tipped her chin up with his index finger. "Do I have something in my teeth?"
She smirked and rolled her eyes. Growing serious when tucked her hair behind her ear. "Hank? What are you doing?" she asked in a hushed voice.
Do something! Stop me, please. Forget what's going on with Grace. What was going on with him? "I'm not sure," he said. Threading his fingers through her hair and pulling her closer.
Gwen's hands slid up his chest to his shoulders. "Hank, I."
"Shh," he whispered.
And she met his lips with a sigh. Her hands clutched at his shirt as his mouth moved against hers in a sweet kiss.
"Gwen.I'm so."
Her mouth sought his again. Silencing him. Momentarily at least.
"Gwen," he panted. Resting his forehead against hers. "We need to stop. Right now. This isn't us."
Her blue eyes darkened. And her hands fell from his shoulders as she climbed off of him. "You're right," she said softly. Turning her back to him. "This isn't us. You can't stand me. I can't stand you. Right?"
"Gwen," he grabbed her hand. Pulling her back down on the sofa beside him. "Listen to me. That's not what I meant. You know it."
She removed her hand from his and rose once more. Standing tall. "I think you should leave, Hank."
"No," he shook his head. Trying.wanting her to understand. "Not like this."
Her blue eyes brimmed with angry tears. "Just leave Bennett!" she demanded. "I can't."
"Okay," he relented. "I'll go now. But this conversation is not over."
"That's what you think," Gwen whispered to herself after the door shut behind him.
It wasn't going to happen again.
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"Lauren, dear," Ivy smiled. "You didn't have to."
"Mother," Lauren squeezed Ivy's hand. "Grandfather and Adam are the only ones that feel like celebrating. Adam said Aunt Sheridan's not coming. I'd rather be with you," she said. Handing Ivy a tub of popcorn.
"What's this movie about anyway?" Ivy asked curiously. Popping a kernel of popcorn into her mouth.
"I'm not sure," Lauren admitted. "But it's gotten rave reviews. And it has cute guys," she laughed.
Ivy's blue green eyes sparkled at her, and she arched a golden brow. "How cute?"
"Too die for sexy," Lauren squealed. Tugging on her hand. "We're going to miss it if we don't hurry."
"Lauren," Ivy protested as her daughter pulled her through the throng of theater-goers. "They're only previews."
Lauren rolled her eyes. "Sometimes they're better than the movie. Seriously, Mother. We won't get a good seat. Come on."
Ivy laughed. "Okay. What have you gotten me into?"
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"Amanda? Has Aunt Sheridan arrived yet?" Adam asked. Lifting the brandy decanter and pouring himself a glass. "For that matter.has Father arrived yet?"
Amanda's blue eyes narrowed. "Luis hit you. What makes you think they're coming? No one else has."
That's okay, Adam thought. Grandfather wanted it to be a PRIVATE party. "She'll come. She won't be able to stop herself. Look what the cat dragged in," he muttered under his breath. "Dear Lord. Would you look at that cheap suit? Luis! So happy to see you," he greeted.
Luis glared at him and slipped a protective arm around Sheridan's waist.
"Aunt Sheridan.you didn't have to come," Amanda sighed.
"I know," Sheridan answered. Her blue eyes watching Adam cautiously. "I needed to."
Amanda turned to her brother. "Adam.what the hell are you and Grandfather up to? I'm warning you," she hissed. "If you try something."
"Where are all the guests?" Luis asked suspiciously.
"They couldn't come," Adam sighed. "I'm afraid it's just going to be us. Family."
"Sheridan," Luis held her hands in his. "I don't like this. We still have time to leave before."
"No, we don't," Sheridan said in a tremulous voice. "He's here, Luis."
"Father!" Adam exclaimed with false joy. "Welcome home!"
"I second that emotion," a voice filled the room.
A collective gasp went around the room as Alistair Crane emerged from the shadows.
"Now the 'party' begins," Adam whispered in his sister's ear.
And Amanda felt dread wash over her in waves.
Something was going to happen.
She just didn't know what.