Chapter 25
"And just what do you mean by that? What have I ever personally done to you? You know what? I'm not going to give you the time of day," Lauren fumed. Smoothing her hair into place with a glare. "Mother.if you don't mind, I."
"I think that would be best," Ivy anticipated her request.
Lauren blushed when the man down the aisle winked at her.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Noah," she heard a feminine voice sigh. "Why couldn't you just let her go?"
Lauren ignored him. Squaring her shoulders and walking toward the nearest exit.
"What's the matter? Can't take the heat? Afraid you can't handle the truth?"
Lauren whipped around. Hazel eyes flashing with red-hot anger. "What truth is that? Come on. Tell me. I'm dying to find out," she rolled her eyes, "what truth you know about me when you don't even know me. Was that too much of a tongue-twister for you? You know. You really should wipe that moronic expression off your face. It's so unbecoming," she said snidely.
"Oh god," Ivy groaned. Burying her face in her hands.
"Could you please move this 'discussion' someplace less.crowded," Paloma hissed. Brown eyes darting around the full theater.
"Who are you?" Lauren crossed her arms around her chest.
"Never mind who I am," Paloma shook her head. "Take this outside before we get kicked out."
"Oh my god! YOU," Lauren stared at Noah incredulously, "have a girlfriend?"
Noah looked dumbfounded for a second. "NO! I mean.Paloma's not my girlfriend. What's it to you anyway?" he demanded. Following Lauren and Ivy through the exit to the lobby outside.
Paloma tapped her foot impatiently.
"Oh puh-leaze! As if I care. I just felt sorry for her. That's all. She's obviously not too bright. Look at the company she's keeping," Lauren snarled.
"Lauren."
"Not now, Mother," Lauren waved Ivy off.
Paloma's brown eyes sparkled. With equal parts indignation and amusement.
"No offense," Lauren apologized, "but this guy's one of the biggest jerks I've ever met. How'd you get mixed up with him?"
"Paloma.you don't have to answer her. Don't give her the time of day," Noah bit out.
"Actually." Paloma smiled. Tucking her dark hair behind her ear. "He pushed my sister down in the sandbox, and I beat him up for it. We've been stuck together ever since."
Ivy hid her grin.
Lauren snickered and moved closer to Noah. "You let a little girl beat you up? How pathetic!"
"Yeah.go ahead and poke fun. Once a gentleman, always a gentleman. I'm a firm believer against hitting women."
"You wish," Lauren rolled her eyes. "Like pushing them down isn't just as bad. A gentleman?" she smirked. "If it strokes the good ole ego."
"You know what? I've had enough of this. Paloma.I'll make it up to you someday."
"What's the matter? Can't take the heat? You can't handle the truth!" Lauren yelled to his retreating form.
Ivy caught the sparkle in her daughter's hazel eyes as she regarded his retreating 'form' and smiled wickedly.
"Nice meeting you," Paloma waved goodbye with a smile. Scrambling to catch up with her ride.
"Ugh!" Lauren stomped her foot. "He just.he just."
"I know," Ivy laughed. Linking arms with her daughter. "Believe me, I know."
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"Mama? Are you home?"
"Miguel!" Pilar exclaimed in surprise. Hugging her son's neck.
"Uncle Miguel!" Matthew shouted gleefully. "I'm so glad you're here. Nana showed me some pictures from when you and Mama were little. Uncle Luis looked so funny in kindergarten," he giggled.
"Mama," Miguel smiled. "You promised."
Pilar's dark eyes shone with humor.
"It's not Nana's fault," Matthew piped up. "They fell on my head."
"What's that?" Miguel chuckled. Unable to stop the grin that took over his features.
"Well." Matthew explained. "I was playing in Uncle Luis's old room."
"Wait.I don't think I need to hear anymore," Miguel ruffled Matthew's dark hair affectionately. "I can imagine."
"Want to look at them with me?" Matthew asked with an engaging smile. "Please," he added.
"Okay," Miguel smiled.
"Alright," Matthew exclaimed. Jumping up and down in excitement. "They're in here," he called over his shoulder as he disappeared into the living room.
"Mijo," Pilar sighed in concern at the tired look in her son's brown eyes. "It'll do you good to remember old times."
"Uncle Miguel," Matthew asked curiously from his perch on the love seat. "How come Aunt Charity's not in any of these pictures? Who's the girl in all the pictures with you?"
Miguel took the first picture from Matthew's little hand and smiled at what he saw. Him and Kay. Dressed in identical baseball uniforms.
"A girl played on your baseball team?" Matthew crinkled his nose. "Who is she?"
Pilar took the picture from Miguel's hands and traced the image with a smile. "You know this girl, Matthew," she laughed. "She's Aunt Charity's cousin. Kay. She and Miguel were best friends when they were little. Inseparable."
"Best friends?"
"Best friends," Miguel told him. "We did everything together." Until Charity came, he thought to himself. A sudden wave of guilt washing over him. And then.it was like his friendship with Kay was forgotten.
"Why didn't you marry her?"
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Ethan paced back and forth. Silent. Glancing from time to time at his watch. Out the window.
"Ethan," Theresa said in exasperation. "Why won't you tell me anything? I thought you wanted to start over. Rebuild our marriage with honesty."
Ethan sighed and shoved his hands through his dark blond hair. "I do, Theresa. It's just.I don't know how to do this."
"Just do it," Theresa told him. "You're just delaying the inevitable. Talk to me."
Ethan stopped pacing and eased himself down in the armchair opposite her uncertainly. "Okay. What do you want to know?" he asked. His blue eyes staring at his feet.
"Why?" she blurted.
"That's a good question," Ethan sighed. "I still haven't figured that one out for myself. This is going to sound childish and selfish, and I don't want to hurt you anymore than I already have."
"Just spit it out, Ethan," she snapped impatiently. "Look. I'm sorry. I just.I never thought this would happen to us. I never believed you'd break our marriage vows."
"I never believed I would either," he said softly. But why was that, he wondered. It wasn't like he'd never had feelings for another woman when he was involved in a committed relationship before. Theresa was that OTHER woman. Why had she been so sure, so confident in the sanctity of their marriage? But this time.this time was supposed to be different. Forever. But hurt and distrust.the bottom line was he'd made a mistake. A colossal mistake all because he'd wanted to get back at her. For all the lies. For entering into this lifelong partnership blind. "I wanted to hurt you," he admitted shamefully. "I wanted to strike out at you in some way.a way that would make you as doubtful of your identity as I was mine."
"Ethan," Theresa wiped at the tears that fell freely from her brown eyes. "I don't understand. I."
"Lies, Theresa. Little lies. White lies. The big ones. They underminded who I am. You took away the only thing I've ever been sure of. My faith in you."
"I'm sorry," she cried. "I was young. Naïve. I told myself it was for your own good. Lies are easier than the truth. Especially a truth that you're afraid will tear your life apart. But Ethan.I don't want there to be anymore lies between us. I need."
A gentle rapping on the front door interrupted her words. Her thoughts.
She blinked away the tears as she saw her best friend appear in front of her. "Whitney? What are you doing here?"
Whitney clutched the purse at her side, and looked up at Ethan. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "I'm too.I'll just go and come back."
Ethan's blue eyes were full of sadness as he grasped her arm. "No, Whitney. Don't go."
"Ethan?" Theresa pleaded. "Whitney? What's going on here? Will somebody please tell me something?!"
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Scarred, reddened flesh assaulted his eyes, and the heavy stench of.
Cold blue eyes laughed at his astonishment.
"What's the matter, Sam?"
He shook his head in disbelief. Closed his eyes. Desperate to rid himself of the horrifying image.
"Sam? Are you okay?"
When he opened his eyes again.it was gone. "What? What did you say?"
Grace traced the lines of his palm. Blue eyes full of concern. "Are you okay?" she asked. Cupping his cheek with her free hand.
Sam shuddered at the coolness of her touch. "Grace.you're so cold. I should be the one asking YOU that question."
"I'm fine," she smiled. Standing on tiptoe to kiss his lips.
Sam's blue eyes shot open in surprise when she tangled her hands in his hair and deepened the kiss.
"Just relax, Sam," she whispered into his ear. "We're married," she laughed. "Don't be so shy around me."
His muscles tensed as ran her nails across his bare back. Down the dip of his spine.
Something wasn't right here. Something was definitely.different.
"Say you love me, Sam."
"Grace, I."
"Say you love me, dammit," she demanded with more urgency.
He grabbed her hands in his own and pushed them away. Pushed her away. "Grace.we're moving too fast here. We're." He sighed in relief and sent a thousand thank you's to God up above when the awkward moment was shattered by the shrill ringing of the telephone.
Her nails dug deep into her palms. Drawing blood.
"Eve.she what?! I'll be right there," he told her. Hanging up the phone abruptly. He bent down to grab his keys off the coffee table. "That was Eve. Kay was in some kind of an accident tonight. Chad took her to his apartment. I have to."
"Go, Sam," she said. "I'll wait here. So Jessica won't worry."
Sam shoved his wallet in his back pocket and stopped in front of her.
"Just go, Sam," she repeated softly.
The door clicked shut behind him, and seconds later the car roared to life.
And all gentleness disappeared from her demeanor.
"Damn that brat," she swore. Glaring at Kay's somber likeness before her in the picture frame on the wall. "What am I going to do about you?"
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"Come in, Julian," Alistair smiled evilly. Puffing on his cigar.
Adam perched on the edge of his grandfather's desk. His ankles crossed. "You were right, Grandfather. Aunt Sheridan is a weakling. She doesn't deserve the privilege of bearing the family name," he said smugly.
Julian stood stiffly in the background. His lips furling in disgust at the images in front of him.
"Turn up the volume, Boy," Alistair ordered.
Adam obliged with a devious smile on his lips. "That fool follows her everywhere. Aunt Sheridan cries, he's there to wipe her tears. He's forever saving her. And why?"
"He loves her," Julian muttered under his breath.
"Sheridan! Sheridan! Wait!" Luis cried desperately.
Amanda struggled to keep pace with him.
They rounded the corner of the Mansion together, and in the distance Luis saw her.
Alistair tapped his fingers boredly as he watched his daughter fall to her knees on the floor of the gazebo. Her body racked with sobs.
Sheridan's keening cry of "Andrew" brought tears to Julian's eyes, and he quickly looked away when he met Adam's hard brown gaze.
"Sheridan," Luis dropped to his knees beside her.
Amanda hung quietly in the background. Concern etched plainly on her face.
"Sheridan," Luis cried. Pulling her into his arms. "I'm so sorry. We never should have come. I never should have let you come," he whispered raggedly against her brow.
"It's all my fault," she sobbed. Clutching the material of his shirt in desperate handfuls. "It's all my fault. I left him there to die. I never should have left him, Luis. I never should have left him. I killed Andrew. I killed our son."
"That's right, dear Sheridan. You killed your own son," he laughed.
"Who leaves a three-year old child alone in a bathtub?" Adam rolled his eyes. "That's right, Aunt Sheridan. It's all your fault. Isn't it, Father? Father?" Adam looked around in confusion.
Alistair's icy blue eyes narrowed as he stared at the spot his son had stood in mere seconds earlier. Something was different about Julian. And he didn't like it one bit.
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"Mommy! Mommy!"
She shouldn't have done it. Shouldn't have screamed. That's why her mommy left him. That's why he died. Because of her.
Danielle closed her blue eyes against the flashing red lights of the ambulance. She couldn't bear this. It was too close. Too close to what had happened when.
"Daddy! Daddy!" she sobbed uncontrollably into the mouthpiece of the phone. "Daddy!"
"Danielle. Danielle, calm down for Daddy. Okay? Take a deep breath and tell Daddy what's wrong."
She wiped at her tears with shaky hands. Sniffling as she listened to his soothing voice.
The blood ran in little rivers down her hands.
She cried harder.
"Danielle.is it Mommy? Is Mommy hurt?"
She shook her head 'no.' But somewhere in the back of her mind, she realized her daddy couldn't see her. "N-N-N-o," she stammered.
Her daddy took a shaky breath on the other end of the line. "Is it Andrew, Baby? Is Andrew hurt?"
She closed her eyes against the images.
Her baby brother's lips were blue.
The bubbles in the tub were pink.
And her mommy's hands were covered in blood.
"Mommy was giving him a bath," she cried. "And I fell down the stairs."
"Danielle," Luis interrupted gently. "Where's Mommy now?"
"The bathroom," she sobbed.
"Where's Andrew?"
She could hear her mommy crying upstairs.
She felt a terrible pain in her chest. Dull and sharp at the same time.
"The bubbles were pink."
"Oh.oh my god," her daddy gasped. "Danielle.stay on the phone, Baby. Stay on the phone. Daddy's going to get some help. I'm going to give the phone to Sam. You remember Sam, don't you?"
Danielle nodded her head 'yes.' "Yeah."
"Talk to Sam, Baby. Daddy's on his way."
"Danielle. Danielle."
She'd seen the look in Aunt Charity's blue eyes before.
"Danielle.they're taking Tessa to the hospital. There's not enough room in the.do you think you'll be okay with Mrs. Reynolds until your parents get here?"
She nodded her head silently. "Aunt Charity? Is Tessa going to be okay?"
Charity's cornflower blue eyes teared up. "I don't know, Sweetie. I hope so," she cried. Kissing Danielle's temple. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"
Danielle looked up into Mrs. Reynolds's sympathetic green eyes. "Yeah," she said shakily.
The EMT's wheeled Tessa past. Her slender body looked so tiny. So frail.
Mommy screamed as they wheeled Andrew's stretcher out the front door.
The oxygen mask looked too big.
She'd never seen her daddy cry.
Until that day.
When they closed the ambulance's door behind them and sped away.
"Danielle?" Mrs. Reynolds's held out her arms as the ambulance raced Tessa to the hospital.
And she took comfort in the arms of a stranger.
"And just what do you mean by that? What have I ever personally done to you? You know what? I'm not going to give you the time of day," Lauren fumed. Smoothing her hair into place with a glare. "Mother.if you don't mind, I."
"I think that would be best," Ivy anticipated her request.
Lauren blushed when the man down the aisle winked at her.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Noah," she heard a feminine voice sigh. "Why couldn't you just let her go?"
Lauren ignored him. Squaring her shoulders and walking toward the nearest exit.
"What's the matter? Can't take the heat? Afraid you can't handle the truth?"
Lauren whipped around. Hazel eyes flashing with red-hot anger. "What truth is that? Come on. Tell me. I'm dying to find out," she rolled her eyes, "what truth you know about me when you don't even know me. Was that too much of a tongue-twister for you? You know. You really should wipe that moronic expression off your face. It's so unbecoming," she said snidely.
"Oh god," Ivy groaned. Burying her face in her hands.
"Could you please move this 'discussion' someplace less.crowded," Paloma hissed. Brown eyes darting around the full theater.
"Who are you?" Lauren crossed her arms around her chest.
"Never mind who I am," Paloma shook her head. "Take this outside before we get kicked out."
"Oh my god! YOU," Lauren stared at Noah incredulously, "have a girlfriend?"
Noah looked dumbfounded for a second. "NO! I mean.Paloma's not my girlfriend. What's it to you anyway?" he demanded. Following Lauren and Ivy through the exit to the lobby outside.
Paloma tapped her foot impatiently.
"Oh puh-leaze! As if I care. I just felt sorry for her. That's all. She's obviously not too bright. Look at the company she's keeping," Lauren snarled.
"Lauren."
"Not now, Mother," Lauren waved Ivy off.
Paloma's brown eyes sparkled. With equal parts indignation and amusement.
"No offense," Lauren apologized, "but this guy's one of the biggest jerks I've ever met. How'd you get mixed up with him?"
"Paloma.you don't have to answer her. Don't give her the time of day," Noah bit out.
"Actually." Paloma smiled. Tucking her dark hair behind her ear. "He pushed my sister down in the sandbox, and I beat him up for it. We've been stuck together ever since."
Ivy hid her grin.
Lauren snickered and moved closer to Noah. "You let a little girl beat you up? How pathetic!"
"Yeah.go ahead and poke fun. Once a gentleman, always a gentleman. I'm a firm believer against hitting women."
"You wish," Lauren rolled her eyes. "Like pushing them down isn't just as bad. A gentleman?" she smirked. "If it strokes the good ole ego."
"You know what? I've had enough of this. Paloma.I'll make it up to you someday."
"What's the matter? Can't take the heat? You can't handle the truth!" Lauren yelled to his retreating form.
Ivy caught the sparkle in her daughter's hazel eyes as she regarded his retreating 'form' and smiled wickedly.
"Nice meeting you," Paloma waved goodbye with a smile. Scrambling to catch up with her ride.
"Ugh!" Lauren stomped her foot. "He just.he just."
"I know," Ivy laughed. Linking arms with her daughter. "Believe me, I know."
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"Mama? Are you home?"
"Miguel!" Pilar exclaimed in surprise. Hugging her son's neck.
"Uncle Miguel!" Matthew shouted gleefully. "I'm so glad you're here. Nana showed me some pictures from when you and Mama were little. Uncle Luis looked so funny in kindergarten," he giggled.
"Mama," Miguel smiled. "You promised."
Pilar's dark eyes shone with humor.
"It's not Nana's fault," Matthew piped up. "They fell on my head."
"What's that?" Miguel chuckled. Unable to stop the grin that took over his features.
"Well." Matthew explained. "I was playing in Uncle Luis's old room."
"Wait.I don't think I need to hear anymore," Miguel ruffled Matthew's dark hair affectionately. "I can imagine."
"Want to look at them with me?" Matthew asked with an engaging smile. "Please," he added.
"Okay," Miguel smiled.
"Alright," Matthew exclaimed. Jumping up and down in excitement. "They're in here," he called over his shoulder as he disappeared into the living room.
"Mijo," Pilar sighed in concern at the tired look in her son's brown eyes. "It'll do you good to remember old times."
"Uncle Miguel," Matthew asked curiously from his perch on the love seat. "How come Aunt Charity's not in any of these pictures? Who's the girl in all the pictures with you?"
Miguel took the first picture from Matthew's little hand and smiled at what he saw. Him and Kay. Dressed in identical baseball uniforms.
"A girl played on your baseball team?" Matthew crinkled his nose. "Who is she?"
Pilar took the picture from Miguel's hands and traced the image with a smile. "You know this girl, Matthew," she laughed. "She's Aunt Charity's cousin. Kay. She and Miguel were best friends when they were little. Inseparable."
"Best friends?"
"Best friends," Miguel told him. "We did everything together." Until Charity came, he thought to himself. A sudden wave of guilt washing over him. And then.it was like his friendship with Kay was forgotten.
"Why didn't you marry her?"
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Ethan paced back and forth. Silent. Glancing from time to time at his watch. Out the window.
"Ethan," Theresa said in exasperation. "Why won't you tell me anything? I thought you wanted to start over. Rebuild our marriage with honesty."
Ethan sighed and shoved his hands through his dark blond hair. "I do, Theresa. It's just.I don't know how to do this."
"Just do it," Theresa told him. "You're just delaying the inevitable. Talk to me."
Ethan stopped pacing and eased himself down in the armchair opposite her uncertainly. "Okay. What do you want to know?" he asked. His blue eyes staring at his feet.
"Why?" she blurted.
"That's a good question," Ethan sighed. "I still haven't figured that one out for myself. This is going to sound childish and selfish, and I don't want to hurt you anymore than I already have."
"Just spit it out, Ethan," she snapped impatiently. "Look. I'm sorry. I just.I never thought this would happen to us. I never believed you'd break our marriage vows."
"I never believed I would either," he said softly. But why was that, he wondered. It wasn't like he'd never had feelings for another woman when he was involved in a committed relationship before. Theresa was that OTHER woman. Why had she been so sure, so confident in the sanctity of their marriage? But this time.this time was supposed to be different. Forever. But hurt and distrust.the bottom line was he'd made a mistake. A colossal mistake all because he'd wanted to get back at her. For all the lies. For entering into this lifelong partnership blind. "I wanted to hurt you," he admitted shamefully. "I wanted to strike out at you in some way.a way that would make you as doubtful of your identity as I was mine."
"Ethan," Theresa wiped at the tears that fell freely from her brown eyes. "I don't understand. I."
"Lies, Theresa. Little lies. White lies. The big ones. They underminded who I am. You took away the only thing I've ever been sure of. My faith in you."
"I'm sorry," she cried. "I was young. Naïve. I told myself it was for your own good. Lies are easier than the truth. Especially a truth that you're afraid will tear your life apart. But Ethan.I don't want there to be anymore lies between us. I need."
A gentle rapping on the front door interrupted her words. Her thoughts.
She blinked away the tears as she saw her best friend appear in front of her. "Whitney? What are you doing here?"
Whitney clutched the purse at her side, and looked up at Ethan. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "I'm too.I'll just go and come back."
Ethan's blue eyes were full of sadness as he grasped her arm. "No, Whitney. Don't go."
"Ethan?" Theresa pleaded. "Whitney? What's going on here? Will somebody please tell me something?!"
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Scarred, reddened flesh assaulted his eyes, and the heavy stench of.
Cold blue eyes laughed at his astonishment.
"What's the matter, Sam?"
He shook his head in disbelief. Closed his eyes. Desperate to rid himself of the horrifying image.
"Sam? Are you okay?"
When he opened his eyes again.it was gone. "What? What did you say?"
Grace traced the lines of his palm. Blue eyes full of concern. "Are you okay?" she asked. Cupping his cheek with her free hand.
Sam shuddered at the coolness of her touch. "Grace.you're so cold. I should be the one asking YOU that question."
"I'm fine," she smiled. Standing on tiptoe to kiss his lips.
Sam's blue eyes shot open in surprise when she tangled her hands in his hair and deepened the kiss.
"Just relax, Sam," she whispered into his ear. "We're married," she laughed. "Don't be so shy around me."
His muscles tensed as ran her nails across his bare back. Down the dip of his spine.
Something wasn't right here. Something was definitely.different.
"Say you love me, Sam."
"Grace, I."
"Say you love me, dammit," she demanded with more urgency.
He grabbed her hands in his own and pushed them away. Pushed her away. "Grace.we're moving too fast here. We're." He sighed in relief and sent a thousand thank you's to God up above when the awkward moment was shattered by the shrill ringing of the telephone.
Her nails dug deep into her palms. Drawing blood.
"Eve.she what?! I'll be right there," he told her. Hanging up the phone abruptly. He bent down to grab his keys off the coffee table. "That was Eve. Kay was in some kind of an accident tonight. Chad took her to his apartment. I have to."
"Go, Sam," she said. "I'll wait here. So Jessica won't worry."
Sam shoved his wallet in his back pocket and stopped in front of her.
"Just go, Sam," she repeated softly.
The door clicked shut behind him, and seconds later the car roared to life.
And all gentleness disappeared from her demeanor.
"Damn that brat," she swore. Glaring at Kay's somber likeness before her in the picture frame on the wall. "What am I going to do about you?"
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"Come in, Julian," Alistair smiled evilly. Puffing on his cigar.
Adam perched on the edge of his grandfather's desk. His ankles crossed. "You were right, Grandfather. Aunt Sheridan is a weakling. She doesn't deserve the privilege of bearing the family name," he said smugly.
Julian stood stiffly in the background. His lips furling in disgust at the images in front of him.
"Turn up the volume, Boy," Alistair ordered.
Adam obliged with a devious smile on his lips. "That fool follows her everywhere. Aunt Sheridan cries, he's there to wipe her tears. He's forever saving her. And why?"
"He loves her," Julian muttered under his breath.
"Sheridan! Sheridan! Wait!" Luis cried desperately.
Amanda struggled to keep pace with him.
They rounded the corner of the Mansion together, and in the distance Luis saw her.
Alistair tapped his fingers boredly as he watched his daughter fall to her knees on the floor of the gazebo. Her body racked with sobs.
Sheridan's keening cry of "Andrew" brought tears to Julian's eyes, and he quickly looked away when he met Adam's hard brown gaze.
"Sheridan," Luis dropped to his knees beside her.
Amanda hung quietly in the background. Concern etched plainly on her face.
"Sheridan," Luis cried. Pulling her into his arms. "I'm so sorry. We never should have come. I never should have let you come," he whispered raggedly against her brow.
"It's all my fault," she sobbed. Clutching the material of his shirt in desperate handfuls. "It's all my fault. I left him there to die. I never should have left him, Luis. I never should have left him. I killed Andrew. I killed our son."
"That's right, dear Sheridan. You killed your own son," he laughed.
"Who leaves a three-year old child alone in a bathtub?" Adam rolled his eyes. "That's right, Aunt Sheridan. It's all your fault. Isn't it, Father? Father?" Adam looked around in confusion.
Alistair's icy blue eyes narrowed as he stared at the spot his son had stood in mere seconds earlier. Something was different about Julian. And he didn't like it one bit.
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"Mommy! Mommy!"
She shouldn't have done it. Shouldn't have screamed. That's why her mommy left him. That's why he died. Because of her.
Danielle closed her blue eyes against the flashing red lights of the ambulance. She couldn't bear this. It was too close. Too close to what had happened when.
"Daddy! Daddy!" she sobbed uncontrollably into the mouthpiece of the phone. "Daddy!"
"Danielle. Danielle, calm down for Daddy. Okay? Take a deep breath and tell Daddy what's wrong."
She wiped at her tears with shaky hands. Sniffling as she listened to his soothing voice.
The blood ran in little rivers down her hands.
She cried harder.
"Danielle.is it Mommy? Is Mommy hurt?"
She shook her head 'no.' But somewhere in the back of her mind, she realized her daddy couldn't see her. "N-N-N-o," she stammered.
Her daddy took a shaky breath on the other end of the line. "Is it Andrew, Baby? Is Andrew hurt?"
She closed her eyes against the images.
Her baby brother's lips were blue.
The bubbles in the tub were pink.
And her mommy's hands were covered in blood.
"Mommy was giving him a bath," she cried. "And I fell down the stairs."
"Danielle," Luis interrupted gently. "Where's Mommy now?"
"The bathroom," she sobbed.
"Where's Andrew?"
She could hear her mommy crying upstairs.
She felt a terrible pain in her chest. Dull and sharp at the same time.
"The bubbles were pink."
"Oh.oh my god," her daddy gasped. "Danielle.stay on the phone, Baby. Stay on the phone. Daddy's going to get some help. I'm going to give the phone to Sam. You remember Sam, don't you?"
Danielle nodded her head 'yes.' "Yeah."
"Talk to Sam, Baby. Daddy's on his way."
"Danielle. Danielle."
She'd seen the look in Aunt Charity's blue eyes before.
"Danielle.they're taking Tessa to the hospital. There's not enough room in the.do you think you'll be okay with Mrs. Reynolds until your parents get here?"
She nodded her head silently. "Aunt Charity? Is Tessa going to be okay?"
Charity's cornflower blue eyes teared up. "I don't know, Sweetie. I hope so," she cried. Kissing Danielle's temple. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"
Danielle looked up into Mrs. Reynolds's sympathetic green eyes. "Yeah," she said shakily.
The EMT's wheeled Tessa past. Her slender body looked so tiny. So frail.
Mommy screamed as they wheeled Andrew's stretcher out the front door.
The oxygen mask looked too big.
She'd never seen her daddy cry.
Until that day.
When they closed the ambulance's door behind them and sped away.
"Danielle?" Mrs. Reynolds's held out her arms as the ambulance raced Tessa to the hospital.
And she took comfort in the arms of a stranger.