Chapter 22
The Crane Mansion was a hotbed of activity the next morning. Caterers bustled about. Silver trays of hor d'oevres in their gloved hands. Photographers snapped pictures of all the guests arriving in their stately cars. The women wearing their fancy gowns and sophisticated hats to protect their delicate milky skin from the sun's bright rays. Roses of every color imaginable were everywhere. She'd think it beautiful. If she weren't marrying Colin. If she were marrying Luis, she realized with a sigh. Dropping the lace curtain back into place and whirling around on her heels.
The silk gown's skirts rustled softly as she walked slowly across the room. To stand in front of the floor-length mirror. Pilar's brown eyes shone with unshed tears as she clasped the diamond necklace around her neck. And Sheridan felt the weight of it nestle against the hollow of her throat. Ivy's blue green gaze was proud. Yet sad. As hard as she had tried, it still looked like this wedding was going to go off without a hitch. Gwen sashayed over to Sheridan in her pale pink gown. "He'll come," she whispered in Sheridan's ear. "I know he'll come."
Sheridan fitted the matching diamond earrings in her lobes and studied her reflection. Her dour expression. Her dull blue eyes. A girl's wedding day was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life. Why did she feel as if she were attending her own funeral? Two dark-haired little girls watched her every movement shyly. Pilar's daughters. Luis's sisters. Paloma and Theresa. The smaller of the two wore a dreamy smile on her pretty face. Twirling a long dark strand of her hair around her index finger. She looked up to the older girl with luminous chocolate eyes. "Isn't she pretty, Loma? I'm going to be even more beautiful when I marry Ethan," Sheridan thought she heard her whisper and forgot all her sadness momentarily. An airy laugh escaping her pink lips.
Pilar's brown eyes narrowed as she noticed the two children, and she hurried over to them. Ushering them out of the room. The older girl tugged mightily on the other one's hand before she finally succeeded in pulling her outside. "But Mama," they could hear her protests echo down the hall. "I want to watch. Why can't I watch? Mama." "No, Theresita. You will go back down to the kitchen with Paloma. Do as I say," Pilar's voice warned sternly. And a moment later, she slipped back inside the bedroom. "They didn't have to leave," Sheridan spoke in a soft whisper.
The old Grandfather clock in the hallway chimed the hour, and the smile on Sheridan's face faltered with the realization the minutes were ticking by. "Oh," Gwen chewed on her lip nervously. "We have to hurry. It's almost time. And we haven't even done the whole something borrowed, something new bit." Sheridan pulled up the skirts of her dress. To reveal a blue garter. "Something old," Ivy murmured. Fingering the diamonds at Sheridan's throat. "This necklace was your mother's, Sheridan. She'd be so proud if she could see you." Sheridan's blue eyes filled with tears. "Damn," Ivy swore. "But she wouldn't stand for this. She should be marrying your son, Pilar. Not that prick downstairs." "Mrs. Crane," Pilar shook her head. Her brown eyes fixed on Sheridan. Obviously very much in distress.
"Mija," Pilar smiled gently at Sheridan. Cupping her silky cheek in her palm before removing her hand to take the cross necklace she wore from her neck. "Wear this." she said tearfully. Pinning the tiny cross under the dress's neckline. ".and remember, God is watching out for you. I love you, Mija," she said. Pressing her lips against Sheridan's forehead tenderly. "What about something new?" Gwen panicked at Ethan's knock and mumbled reminder at the door. Sheridan raised a hand to her ears. "A gift from Father," she choked. Suddenly running to the window. Her blue eyes scanning the horizon for his figure. Where was he? Wasn't he going to come? The strains of music played by the orchestra floated in the air. And the guests waited expectantly.
"Sheridan," Ivy caught her hand as she walked toward the door after Gwen and Pilar. "I'm so sorry, Darling. I tried finding Luis. But he's nowhere to be found. I thought for sure." "It's okay," Sheridan tried to smile. "You did the best you could." Ivy hugged her quickly. Ran a motherly hand over her golden curls. Making sure none were out of place. Then disappeared out the bedroom door. Just like Gwen and Pilar before her. Her father appeared before her. Appraising her with cool blue eyes. He held out his arm to her. Her blue eyes searched his face, his eyes for any sign of humanity, and she took his arm with a sigh. Not a word passed forth from her lips.
"Smile for the cameras," he ordered as they approached the length of the carpeted aisle. "They're all watching you. Us, Sheridan. You cannot jeopardize our family's fortune or future for something as silly as love. Money. That's all that's worth anything. They love us for our money." She blinked back the tears stinging the corners of her eyes as the opening notes of "The Wedding March" began to play. Somehow, someway she managed to put one foot in front of the other. And then she was standing by his side. And the priest was reading from his Bible. His words sounded so far away. His face blurred through her tears. Her throat closed up on her, and she couldn't breathe.
Alistair nodded his head at the attendant standing just out of sight. A malevolent smile playing on his lips. Any minute now.any minute now his daughter would break her promise to him. Only she didn't know it yet. His jaw set in a hard line as he watched her visibly cringe at Colin's touch. Trembling. In disgust? In fear? Hopefully, the guests would think it butterflies. Nerves. One look at his indignant daughter-in-law, and he knew she held no such delusions. He watched his grandson Ethan's young betrothed. Clasping and unclasping her bouquet of flowers nervously.
"She is lovely, isn't she, Father?" Julian said in a fit of conscience. One of his rare moments of lucidity. "Mother would hate this. She's too young," Julian sighed miserably. "Am I supposed to believe you actually care about your sister, Julian?" Alistair hissed through clenched teeth. Fake smile intact. Julian tugged at the tie at his neck. "She's my sister, Father. Of course, I care. What kind of a human being would I be if I didn't?" "Me," Alistair said simply. And Julian looked at him in disbelief. "Pay attention, Son. The fireworks are about to begin," he smiled evilly.
".can show just cause, speak now. Or forever hold your peace," the priest barely finished uttering before a voice spoke loud and clear from the back. And heads turned. Gasps of surprise tearing from their lips. Ivy's face broke out into a full-fledged smile when she lay eyes on Luis. Gwen couldn't hide her joy for Sheridan. "I told you so," she whispered. "Sheridan.turn around. He's here. He came to rescue you from the creep." Colin scowled at the young girl but looked unperturbed at Luis's appearance. In fact, he wore a rather odd smile, Ivy thought. Watching him with a growing feeling of worry as Luis raced up the aisle. Grabbing Sheridan by the hand.
All ears hung on his every word as he framed her face with his big, dark hands and looked deep into her shimmering blue eyes. "I'm sorry it took me so long to get to you," he apologized. And Sheridan's chin quivered at the sweetness of his words. The soulful look in his brown eyes. "You can't marry him, Princess." Sheridan gripped his forearms. Tilting her golden head to the side. Rubbing her damp cheek against his palm. "You can't marry him because **I** love you, Princess. I love YOU, Sheridan Crane." "You love me?" Sheridan cried. "I love you," Luis smiled. Filled with happiness. "Sorry it took almost losing you to make me realize it. Don't marry him. Marry me," he said in a hopeful voice. Tears streamed down Sheridan's cheeks as she stared into Luis's brown eyes. Until Colin's hateful voice jarred them both back to reality. "I'm afraid that's impossible, Lopez-Fitzgerald," he announced with a smug smile. His gray eyes searching out Alistair's formidable figure in the audience. Luis pulled Sheridan close. A protective arm around her waist as her father delivered words that nearly brought him to his knees.
"You're too late, Luis. My daughter's already married."
The Crane Mansion was a hotbed of activity the next morning. Caterers bustled about. Silver trays of hor d'oevres in their gloved hands. Photographers snapped pictures of all the guests arriving in their stately cars. The women wearing their fancy gowns and sophisticated hats to protect their delicate milky skin from the sun's bright rays. Roses of every color imaginable were everywhere. She'd think it beautiful. If she weren't marrying Colin. If she were marrying Luis, she realized with a sigh. Dropping the lace curtain back into place and whirling around on her heels.
The silk gown's skirts rustled softly as she walked slowly across the room. To stand in front of the floor-length mirror. Pilar's brown eyes shone with unshed tears as she clasped the diamond necklace around her neck. And Sheridan felt the weight of it nestle against the hollow of her throat. Ivy's blue green gaze was proud. Yet sad. As hard as she had tried, it still looked like this wedding was going to go off without a hitch. Gwen sashayed over to Sheridan in her pale pink gown. "He'll come," she whispered in Sheridan's ear. "I know he'll come."
Sheridan fitted the matching diamond earrings in her lobes and studied her reflection. Her dour expression. Her dull blue eyes. A girl's wedding day was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life. Why did she feel as if she were attending her own funeral? Two dark-haired little girls watched her every movement shyly. Pilar's daughters. Luis's sisters. Paloma and Theresa. The smaller of the two wore a dreamy smile on her pretty face. Twirling a long dark strand of her hair around her index finger. She looked up to the older girl with luminous chocolate eyes. "Isn't she pretty, Loma? I'm going to be even more beautiful when I marry Ethan," Sheridan thought she heard her whisper and forgot all her sadness momentarily. An airy laugh escaping her pink lips.
Pilar's brown eyes narrowed as she noticed the two children, and she hurried over to them. Ushering them out of the room. The older girl tugged mightily on the other one's hand before she finally succeeded in pulling her outside. "But Mama," they could hear her protests echo down the hall. "I want to watch. Why can't I watch? Mama." "No, Theresita. You will go back down to the kitchen with Paloma. Do as I say," Pilar's voice warned sternly. And a moment later, she slipped back inside the bedroom. "They didn't have to leave," Sheridan spoke in a soft whisper.
The old Grandfather clock in the hallway chimed the hour, and the smile on Sheridan's face faltered with the realization the minutes were ticking by. "Oh," Gwen chewed on her lip nervously. "We have to hurry. It's almost time. And we haven't even done the whole something borrowed, something new bit." Sheridan pulled up the skirts of her dress. To reveal a blue garter. "Something old," Ivy murmured. Fingering the diamonds at Sheridan's throat. "This necklace was your mother's, Sheridan. She'd be so proud if she could see you." Sheridan's blue eyes filled with tears. "Damn," Ivy swore. "But she wouldn't stand for this. She should be marrying your son, Pilar. Not that prick downstairs." "Mrs. Crane," Pilar shook her head. Her brown eyes fixed on Sheridan. Obviously very much in distress.
"Mija," Pilar smiled gently at Sheridan. Cupping her silky cheek in her palm before removing her hand to take the cross necklace she wore from her neck. "Wear this." she said tearfully. Pinning the tiny cross under the dress's neckline. ".and remember, God is watching out for you. I love you, Mija," she said. Pressing her lips against Sheridan's forehead tenderly. "What about something new?" Gwen panicked at Ethan's knock and mumbled reminder at the door. Sheridan raised a hand to her ears. "A gift from Father," she choked. Suddenly running to the window. Her blue eyes scanning the horizon for his figure. Where was he? Wasn't he going to come? The strains of music played by the orchestra floated in the air. And the guests waited expectantly.
"Sheridan," Ivy caught her hand as she walked toward the door after Gwen and Pilar. "I'm so sorry, Darling. I tried finding Luis. But he's nowhere to be found. I thought for sure." "It's okay," Sheridan tried to smile. "You did the best you could." Ivy hugged her quickly. Ran a motherly hand over her golden curls. Making sure none were out of place. Then disappeared out the bedroom door. Just like Gwen and Pilar before her. Her father appeared before her. Appraising her with cool blue eyes. He held out his arm to her. Her blue eyes searched his face, his eyes for any sign of humanity, and she took his arm with a sigh. Not a word passed forth from her lips.
"Smile for the cameras," he ordered as they approached the length of the carpeted aisle. "They're all watching you. Us, Sheridan. You cannot jeopardize our family's fortune or future for something as silly as love. Money. That's all that's worth anything. They love us for our money." She blinked back the tears stinging the corners of her eyes as the opening notes of "The Wedding March" began to play. Somehow, someway she managed to put one foot in front of the other. And then she was standing by his side. And the priest was reading from his Bible. His words sounded so far away. His face blurred through her tears. Her throat closed up on her, and she couldn't breathe.
Alistair nodded his head at the attendant standing just out of sight. A malevolent smile playing on his lips. Any minute now.any minute now his daughter would break her promise to him. Only she didn't know it yet. His jaw set in a hard line as he watched her visibly cringe at Colin's touch. Trembling. In disgust? In fear? Hopefully, the guests would think it butterflies. Nerves. One look at his indignant daughter-in-law, and he knew she held no such delusions. He watched his grandson Ethan's young betrothed. Clasping and unclasping her bouquet of flowers nervously.
"She is lovely, isn't she, Father?" Julian said in a fit of conscience. One of his rare moments of lucidity. "Mother would hate this. She's too young," Julian sighed miserably. "Am I supposed to believe you actually care about your sister, Julian?" Alistair hissed through clenched teeth. Fake smile intact. Julian tugged at the tie at his neck. "She's my sister, Father. Of course, I care. What kind of a human being would I be if I didn't?" "Me," Alistair said simply. And Julian looked at him in disbelief. "Pay attention, Son. The fireworks are about to begin," he smiled evilly.
".can show just cause, speak now. Or forever hold your peace," the priest barely finished uttering before a voice spoke loud and clear from the back. And heads turned. Gasps of surprise tearing from their lips. Ivy's face broke out into a full-fledged smile when she lay eyes on Luis. Gwen couldn't hide her joy for Sheridan. "I told you so," she whispered. "Sheridan.turn around. He's here. He came to rescue you from the creep." Colin scowled at the young girl but looked unperturbed at Luis's appearance. In fact, he wore a rather odd smile, Ivy thought. Watching him with a growing feeling of worry as Luis raced up the aisle. Grabbing Sheridan by the hand.
All ears hung on his every word as he framed her face with his big, dark hands and looked deep into her shimmering blue eyes. "I'm sorry it took me so long to get to you," he apologized. And Sheridan's chin quivered at the sweetness of his words. The soulful look in his brown eyes. "You can't marry him, Princess." Sheridan gripped his forearms. Tilting her golden head to the side. Rubbing her damp cheek against his palm. "You can't marry him because **I** love you, Princess. I love YOU, Sheridan Crane." "You love me?" Sheridan cried. "I love you," Luis smiled. Filled with happiness. "Sorry it took almost losing you to make me realize it. Don't marry him. Marry me," he said in a hopeful voice. Tears streamed down Sheridan's cheeks as she stared into Luis's brown eyes. Until Colin's hateful voice jarred them both back to reality. "I'm afraid that's impossible, Lopez-Fitzgerald," he announced with a smug smile. His gray eyes searching out Alistair's formidable figure in the audience. Luis pulled Sheridan close. A protective arm around her waist as her father delivered words that nearly brought him to his knees.
"You're too late, Luis. My daughter's already married."