Disclaimer: I don't own the characters I write about (except for
Catherine…she's ALL mine!). They belong to JER and NBC.
The sequel to Tell Me Why. You might want to read that one first. Don't worry. It's pretty short, lol. It'll help you understand the basics.
Thanks for reading!
And as always…I'd LOVE to read what you thought.
Prologue
"Sheri? How much longer?" Sheridan smiled at Catherine's softly spoken question. "We're almost there." Catherine's green eyes shone with excitement, and Sheridan felt her heart soar at the welcome sight. Slowly but surely the little girl she knew and loved was returning to her. Two months ago…two months ago she wasn't sure if she existed anymore. Marie's death had broken her heart. And hers. She'd never forget the haunted look in Catherine's green eyes the night they found Marie…
Catherine still missed her mother. Sheridan was sure she'd always miss her mother. She knew she missed hers. But she made a promise to herself she would never let her forget Marie. Or how much she loved her. She couldn't replace Marie. She didn't want to try. All she could do was be there for Catherine. She sighed and took the papers out of her purse. The adoption papers. Catherine was legally hers.
"Will your family like me, Sheri?" Catherine whispered. "Like you?" Sheridan teased. Tickling Catherine's sides and making her squeal with delight. "They'll LOVE you. Especially Ivy and Ethan. And I know for a fact that Luis's mother and sister and brother can't wait to meet you." Catherine's green eyes sparkled hopefully. "I can't wait to see Luis," she said shyly. Neither can I, Sheridan thought with a smile. Neither can I.
"Sheri…read me the letter again," Catherine pleaded. Threading her tiny fingers through Sheridan's. "Again?" Sheridan laughed. "Don't you have that letter memorized by now?" Catherine giggled. "Sheri…" "Okay," Sheridan relented. Taking the letter from Catherine's hands. She carried that thing with her everywhere. The paper was faded and worn from so much handling. She cleared her voice and began reading. If she closed her eyes, she could hear his deep voice…
@@@
Catherine,
Your fuzzy friend says hello. :) We can't let his true identity be revealed, can we? Do you like to swim, Catherine? Maybe we could go to the beach sometime. Just you, me, and Sheri. If Sheri wants to. You're going to have to help me work on her, Catherine. Our friend Sheri is very stubborn. Theresa helped me paint your room yesterday. Now I don't know too much about little girls. But my l'il sis is sure you'll LOVE it. I hope so. And the new house, too. Are you going to invite me over? :) I miss you, Catherine (and Sheri, too—but don't let her know how much). See you soon, lovely Mademoiselle.
Love,
Your Monsieur
@@@
"Sheri," Catherine said worriedly. "I don't know how to swim." A smile threatened at the corners of her mouth as she caressed Catherine's silky cheek and reassured her. "I'll teach you how. And I'm sure Luis would love to help." Yes, Luis WOULD love to help, she realized. Sighing happily. There were still a lot of things to sort out between them. Yet she was nothing if not willing to give it her all. Just to have Luis in her and Catherine's lives. She just hoped he was willing to take things slowly. She loved him. Would that be enough to keep him around?
"I can't wait to see my new room," Catherine said softly. Looking out the plane's small window. "Tell me about the house again, Sheri. Please." "Well…," Sheridan smiled. Picturing it in her own mind. "Ethan said it's beautiful. And old. Very old. It needs a lot of work. But that's half the fun, isn't it Catherine?" Catherine's dark curls bounced as she nodded her head. "Your room's upstairs. Down the hall from mine. You know what? I'm sure we'll BOTH love it," she said. Tweaking Catherine's nose.
The flight attendant announced it was time for them to put on their seatbelts, and Catherine was practically buzzing with excitement. "We're almost there, Sheri." "Yes, sweetie." We're almost there. Catherine held her hand tightly as
the plane descended. And slowed to a stop. "Do you have everything?" she asked. Unbuckling Catherine's safety belt and taking her small hand. "This is it, Catherine. Are you ready?" "Oui," Catherine said with a nod of her head.
Sheridan's heart beat wildly in her chest as she scanned the crowd of people in the terminal. Where was he? She was sure he would be there. "Sheri," Catherine said nervously. Sheridan lifted Catherine in her arms and hugged her tight. "It's okay. Just a lot of people here. That's all." "Aunt Sheridan!" she heard a familiar voice call, and her blue eyes lit up at a sight for sore eyes. "Ethan!" Luis wasn't the only person she had missed. She missed the companionship she and her nephew shared. "You must be Catherine," Ethan grinned. "This is for you," he said. Catherine took the pink rose from his grasp and brought it up to her nose. Breathing in the sweet, fragrant scent. "Merci," she said shyly.
Sheridan's blue eyes still searched for him, and she sighed disappointedly when she didn't find him. Ethan smiled slightly as he asked, "You ready to get out of here? Charles is picking up your luggage." "Oh, Ethan," she said. Hugging him tight. "Let's go home." Ethan placed him hand on the small of her back and led her outside. Into the vibrant sun. Catherine took everything in. Asking questions the whole way home. "Sheri!" she exclaimed excitedly. Pointing in the distance. "Is that it?"
Ethan smiled at the little girl's reaction. Sheridan looked to him for confirmation. "Yes, Catherine. We're home," she beamed. Falling in love with the place at once. "Ethan…thank you." "I still don't understand why you can't just stay at the cottage anymore. But this place is definitely…you'll like it. I'm certain of that," he said. Taking her hand and helping her out of the car after it had slowed to a stop.
"Sheri," Catherine said anxiously. "May I…?" "Don't go too far," Sheridan smiled. Running a hand over Catherine's glossy dark curls. "And be careful." "Ethan," Sheridan said after Catherine's tiny figure disappeared into the house. "I have my reasons. Please respect them." "I do," he sighed. Hugging her close. In goodbye. "Are you not coming in?" she said. Somewhat disappointed. "You and Catherine need some time alone. To get settled. I'll be back later. I promise," he said. Opening the car door and getting in. "See you then," she called after him.
Watching until he was gone before she turned around with a smile. This was her home. Her and Catherine's home.
"Catherine! Catherine, where are you?" she yelled. Her voice echoing off the still rather bare walls. She would have to do something about that. Soon. She was growing more and more excited about the prospect of fixing up this place. Making it a real home. "Catherine!" she called. Still no answer, but she could hear the tinkling sound of her laughter in the air. She followed the sound. "Catherine…there you are," she finished in a whisper. Her heart pounding when their eyes met. "Luis," she breathed. "I thought…" "Welcome home," Luis greeted with a breathtaking smile. "We've been waiting for you," Catherine giggled. Kissing Luis's smooth shaven cheek with a sweet smile. "For a long time," Luis said as he took her hand in his and pulled her close. "Such a long time," he whispered softly. Brushing her hair back gently from her face and taking her in his arms. Happy tears filled her blue eyes as she listened to the comforting thud of his heartbeat. Home. She was finally home.
The sequel to Tell Me Why. You might want to read that one first. Don't worry. It's pretty short, lol. It'll help you understand the basics.
Thanks for reading!
And as always…I'd LOVE to read what you thought.
Prologue
"Sheri? How much longer?" Sheridan smiled at Catherine's softly spoken question. "We're almost there." Catherine's green eyes shone with excitement, and Sheridan felt her heart soar at the welcome sight. Slowly but surely the little girl she knew and loved was returning to her. Two months ago…two months ago she wasn't sure if she existed anymore. Marie's death had broken her heart. And hers. She'd never forget the haunted look in Catherine's green eyes the night they found Marie…
Catherine still missed her mother. Sheridan was sure she'd always miss her mother. She knew she missed hers. But she made a promise to herself she would never let her forget Marie. Or how much she loved her. She couldn't replace Marie. She didn't want to try. All she could do was be there for Catherine. She sighed and took the papers out of her purse. The adoption papers. Catherine was legally hers.
"Will your family like me, Sheri?" Catherine whispered. "Like you?" Sheridan teased. Tickling Catherine's sides and making her squeal with delight. "They'll LOVE you. Especially Ivy and Ethan. And I know for a fact that Luis's mother and sister and brother can't wait to meet you." Catherine's green eyes sparkled hopefully. "I can't wait to see Luis," she said shyly. Neither can I, Sheridan thought with a smile. Neither can I.
"Sheri…read me the letter again," Catherine pleaded. Threading her tiny fingers through Sheridan's. "Again?" Sheridan laughed. "Don't you have that letter memorized by now?" Catherine giggled. "Sheri…" "Okay," Sheridan relented. Taking the letter from Catherine's hands. She carried that thing with her everywhere. The paper was faded and worn from so much handling. She cleared her voice and began reading. If she closed her eyes, she could hear his deep voice…
@@@
Catherine,
Your fuzzy friend says hello. :) We can't let his true identity be revealed, can we? Do you like to swim, Catherine? Maybe we could go to the beach sometime. Just you, me, and Sheri. If Sheri wants to. You're going to have to help me work on her, Catherine. Our friend Sheri is very stubborn. Theresa helped me paint your room yesterday. Now I don't know too much about little girls. But my l'il sis is sure you'll LOVE it. I hope so. And the new house, too. Are you going to invite me over? :) I miss you, Catherine (and Sheri, too—but don't let her know how much). See you soon, lovely Mademoiselle.
Love,
Your Monsieur
@@@
"Sheri," Catherine said worriedly. "I don't know how to swim." A smile threatened at the corners of her mouth as she caressed Catherine's silky cheek and reassured her. "I'll teach you how. And I'm sure Luis would love to help." Yes, Luis WOULD love to help, she realized. Sighing happily. There were still a lot of things to sort out between them. Yet she was nothing if not willing to give it her all. Just to have Luis in her and Catherine's lives. She just hoped he was willing to take things slowly. She loved him. Would that be enough to keep him around?
"I can't wait to see my new room," Catherine said softly. Looking out the plane's small window. "Tell me about the house again, Sheri. Please." "Well…," Sheridan smiled. Picturing it in her own mind. "Ethan said it's beautiful. And old. Very old. It needs a lot of work. But that's half the fun, isn't it Catherine?" Catherine's dark curls bounced as she nodded her head. "Your room's upstairs. Down the hall from mine. You know what? I'm sure we'll BOTH love it," she said. Tweaking Catherine's nose.
The flight attendant announced it was time for them to put on their seatbelts, and Catherine was practically buzzing with excitement. "We're almost there, Sheri." "Yes, sweetie." We're almost there. Catherine held her hand tightly as
the plane descended. And slowed to a stop. "Do you have everything?" she asked. Unbuckling Catherine's safety belt and taking her small hand. "This is it, Catherine. Are you ready?" "Oui," Catherine said with a nod of her head.
Sheridan's heart beat wildly in her chest as she scanned the crowd of people in the terminal. Where was he? She was sure he would be there. "Sheri," Catherine said nervously. Sheridan lifted Catherine in her arms and hugged her tight. "It's okay. Just a lot of people here. That's all." "Aunt Sheridan!" she heard a familiar voice call, and her blue eyes lit up at a sight for sore eyes. "Ethan!" Luis wasn't the only person she had missed. She missed the companionship she and her nephew shared. "You must be Catherine," Ethan grinned. "This is for you," he said. Catherine took the pink rose from his grasp and brought it up to her nose. Breathing in the sweet, fragrant scent. "Merci," she said shyly.
Sheridan's blue eyes still searched for him, and she sighed disappointedly when she didn't find him. Ethan smiled slightly as he asked, "You ready to get out of here? Charles is picking up your luggage." "Oh, Ethan," she said. Hugging him tight. "Let's go home." Ethan placed him hand on the small of her back and led her outside. Into the vibrant sun. Catherine took everything in. Asking questions the whole way home. "Sheri!" she exclaimed excitedly. Pointing in the distance. "Is that it?"
Ethan smiled at the little girl's reaction. Sheridan looked to him for confirmation. "Yes, Catherine. We're home," she beamed. Falling in love with the place at once. "Ethan…thank you." "I still don't understand why you can't just stay at the cottage anymore. But this place is definitely…you'll like it. I'm certain of that," he said. Taking her hand and helping her out of the car after it had slowed to a stop.
"Sheri," Catherine said anxiously. "May I…?" "Don't go too far," Sheridan smiled. Running a hand over Catherine's glossy dark curls. "And be careful." "Ethan," Sheridan said after Catherine's tiny figure disappeared into the house. "I have my reasons. Please respect them." "I do," he sighed. Hugging her close. In goodbye. "Are you not coming in?" she said. Somewhat disappointed. "You and Catherine need some time alone. To get settled. I'll be back later. I promise," he said. Opening the car door and getting in. "See you then," she called after him.
Watching until he was gone before she turned around with a smile. This was her home. Her and Catherine's home.
"Catherine! Catherine, where are you?" she yelled. Her voice echoing off the still rather bare walls. She would have to do something about that. Soon. She was growing more and more excited about the prospect of fixing up this place. Making it a real home. "Catherine!" she called. Still no answer, but she could hear the tinkling sound of her laughter in the air. She followed the sound. "Catherine…there you are," she finished in a whisper. Her heart pounding when their eyes met. "Luis," she breathed. "I thought…" "Welcome home," Luis greeted with a breathtaking smile. "We've been waiting for you," Catherine giggled. Kissing Luis's smooth shaven cheek with a sweet smile. "For a long time," Luis said as he took her hand in his and pulled her close. "Such a long time," he whispered softly. Brushing her hair back gently from her face and taking her in his arms. Happy tears filled her blue eyes as she listened to the comforting thud of his heartbeat. Home. She was finally home.