Chapter 51
January had melted into February, and though Kay's absence still hurt.the hurt had slowly started to shift from the raw, desperate pain to a more muted version-a lingering ache. Life plodded along, but with none of the usual ordinariness. Not that life in Harmony had ever been commonplace before. But it was even more different somehow with everything happening seemingly without a plan, and people coming together, reconnecting as they recognized the reality and brevity of life for what it was, Pilar thought silently as she wheeled the grocery cart through the aisles. Joshua was perched in the seat in front of her, his short legs dangling and kicking back and forth in the air as he gnawed on the cookie in his left hand. He was getting crumbs everywhere, and she knew he was probably ruining his appetite for dinner, but none of that concerned Pilar as she filled the cart with items both for her son's household and her own. What concerned her was taking care of her son and grandsons. And making sure they at least had the requirements to be well-fed and well-taken care of when they weren't under her roof even if Miguel hadn't quite figured how to master that challenge yet on his own. Her children were grown, but she'd never stop being their mother.
She pushed the cart down the aisles, holding her tongue in check and politely thanked the well-wishers offering their condolences a month late. She smiled tightly at them as they cast sympathetic glances on her unsuspecting grandson, their whispers low but not silent to her ears as they lamented his deafness. Joshua's dark eyes watched her, and she leaned her cheek into his crumb-filled palm when he reached it out, kissing it and making him smile. Her smile was bittersweet as she rubbed the same cheek against his dark head affectionately and whispered his name against his temple. She continued pushing the cart, more slowly, as she contemplated something that had crossed her mind more times than she could count the past month-Joshua's aborted surgery. She knew Miguel hadn't given it much thought lately, that his mind was full with other, simpler things that seemed to take so much out of him. But it was time. Past time, really. She was going to say something to him about it tonight when he and MJ came for dinner. She knew Kay wouldn't have let it go like this.
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"Mommy," Ali said as she wandered into the kitchen, "I want to help." Sheridan's hands paused over the vegetables in the sink, and she turned to Ali with a smile, rubbing her damp hands on a dishtowel. "Come here," she beckoned with her index finger. Ali did as she asked, giggling when Sheridan scooped her up in her arms, grunting softly with the effort, and deposited her on the kitchen counter beside the sink. "Mommy," Ali scolded, remembering her daddy's warnings not to let Mommy pick up anything heavy when he wasn't around, no matter how stubborn she was about it. "Don't tell, Daddy," Sheridan requested, kissing the tip of Ali's cute nose. "You're light as a feather anyway," she said, her blue eyes betraying the truth-Ali was too light. She practically swam in a pair of blue jeans that were already small, and her ribs were prominent beneath Sheridan's fingertips as rest her hands across the breadth of Ali's tiny waist. Sheridan smiled as she felt Ali's little arms wrap around her shoulders, and the two of them just held on to each other for several minutes. Until a surprised voice asked a very pertinent question. "Ali Lopez-Fitzgerald, how on earth did you get up there?"
Sparkling blue eyes met sparkling blue eyes, and Ali couldn't speak for the giggles that escaped her lips as she tried to tell Theresa she'd somehow made it on top of the kitchen counter on her own with no stool in sight. Theresa couldn't help but laugh when she saw Ali's crossed fingers, and she shook her head lightly at them both in disapproval, dark waves of hair tumbling over her shoulders. "Sheridan, you know better," she chided, her brown eyes seeking out the swell of Sheridan's belly. "You too, Ali. It's not good for the baby for your mommy to be picking you up much anymore." Ali hung her head, the bill of the purple baseball cap Jake had presented to her with her name embroidered across the front a couple of weeks ago hiding her eyes from view. "I just wanted to help, Aunt Theresa," Ali mumbled, her blue eyes still shying away from Theresa's intent gaze when Theresa lifted her chin with her fingers. "Okay," Theresa sighed. "I promise I won't tell Luis if you two will let me help too." "Thank you, Aunt Theresa!" Ali cried gratefully, flinging her arms around Theresa's neck in a quick hug. Sheridan smiled at them both, returning to her earlier task of rinsing the vegetables.
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Chad grinned as he watched Cristian chase Max in circles, stumbling every few steps and sinking into snow banks sometimes as deep as his knees. Each time that happened, Cristian managed to save himself, with a little help from the eager golden retriever, before Chad could offer a hand. Chad had to admire the kid's determination, and when he complimented Cristian, he had to chuckle at the kid's slightly embarrassed blush. He guessed he'd be prone to blushing too if he spent as much time with the Hank and Gwen's twin daughters as the little guy did. Those two were just too much. Constantly in a tug of war these days over Cristian's attention. He gave it ten more years, though, before it got really interesting. "Hey, Little Man," Chad called. "Don't you think it's about time we went inside? I bet Max would like to curl up in front of that fireplace and take a nice long nap." Cristian grabbed the retriever's collar and gave it a firm tug as he started trudging back to Chad's side. "Are you cold, Uncle Chad?" Cristian asked quizzically, deciding 'Uncle Chad' DID sound better than 'Cousin Chad' even if it wasn't exactly true. Chad chuckled, both in surprise at being called 'Uncle' and the kid figuring out his main reason for wanting to go inside. He was sure he was going to freeze his under-clothed ass off if they stayed outside too much longer. "Yeah," Chad grinned. "You got me, Little Man. I'm C-O-L-D. What are we waiting for? Race you," Chad challenged. "You're on," Cristian told him with twinkling brown eyes. "Come on, Max. I know we can beat Uncle Chad."
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Cristian giggled raucously as Chad struggled to climb to his feet after stepping into a particularly nasty snow bank and taking a nose dive that had had him spread-eagled for several stunned seconds before he even made a move to get up. It wasn't as easy as it looked, Chad discovered, grinning despite himself when Max tugged at his sleeve with his teeth. The dog tried, but pulling a five year-old out of the snow and a man his age had to be worlds apart in difference. It didn't help matters any that Chad found himself too weak with laughter to make a substantial effort to move. He heard the slamming of a car door, and the crunching of boots on snow that followed leading to his prone body and gave Abby a wicked grin the moment her hand grasped his. "Thanks, H-C," Abby rolled her hazel eyes down at him from her sprawled position on his chest with a wry grin. "You just ruined my designer duds." "H-C?" Chad inquired. "What the." Abby tossed her tawny hair off her shoulders and pushed herself to a kneeling position with her hand still on his chest. Chad sat up, giving her faded jeans and the gray sweatshirt that looked to be extra-extra large on her petite frame an incredulous look. "Designer duds, huh?" "Only the finest for dinner at Casa de Lo-Fitz," Abby answered with a wink in Cristian's direction. "What do you think, H-C? Think we can try this again, or are you go all cutesy on me and yank me down into the snow again? You know.if you wanted a hug, all you had to do was ask," she teased, offering him a hand after she'd scrambled to her feet once more. Chad took her hand, hauling himself upright and shocking the hell out of her when he sprinted toward the front door, Cristian and Max in hot pursuit. "Damn," she grumbled under her breath as she arrived at the front door a couple minutes later, craning her head around to glance at the seat of her pants. "My ass is wet."
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Shane lowered his copy of the Harmony Herald and peered across the Book Café at what had to be this establishment's most frequent customer-or rather, visitor, disregarding him, of course. He'd crossed paths with Ivy Crane countless times since her spontaneous offer to be his unofficial Harmony tour guide that night several weeks ago. But it had taken a little bit of digging to find out her full name. Abby'd given him the Cliff Notes version of Ivy Crane's illustrious life, and he found himself increasingly fascinated with each new detail that he discovered. To say the Lady of the House of Crane intrigued him was an understatement. He also-quite superficially, he admitted to himself-found her a very beautiful woman in a town full of beautiful women. He lay his newspaper down, observing her and her son from afar. "Mr. Stone." He jerked his hazel eyes away from Ivy and smiled up at Beth as she refilled his coffee. "Thanks. Call me, Shane. Mr. Stone sounds.just call me Shane," he requested again. Beth smiled easily at him, and he noticed her brown eyes straying to his discarded newspaper, open at the classifieds. "I'm sorry," she apologized sheepishly when he caught her staring. "Are you looking for anything in particular? Maybe I can help." "No, I.maybe you can," he said, smiling back at her. "You know anyone willing to hire another suit?"
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"So," Sheridan began softly, watching Abby's expression carefully as she helped her set the dining room table. "Your brother's staying in Harmony. How do you feel about that?" "The pain in the ass is only staying to keep tabs on me," Abby muttered, tucking a stubborn strand of tawny hair behind her ear. "Is that so?" Sheridan smirked, arching a golden brow at her friend. "You betcha," Abby answered. "But it's odd. I don't really mind that much. He'd be kind of nice to have around if he didn't persist in scaring every man with an ounce of interest in me for a 100-mile radius away." Sheridan laughed, straightening the napkins beside each plate and absently arranging the silverware. "He hasn't frightened the one that counts away, has he?" Abby raised surprised hazel eyes to Sheridan's understanding blue eyes. "No," she said, releasing a pent-up breath. "I'm doing a bang-up job of scaring the hell out of that man on my own," she answered, grateful for the distraction from Sheridan's perplexed expression when Luis strolled into the dining room and unceremoniously pulled Sheridan into his arms for a long, slow kiss that had Abby blushing slightly in embarrassment when she wasn't turning green with envy. "God, you two make me sick," she rolled her eyes in mock disgust at them. "Get a room. Not this room," she hastily added. "Luis, can't you keep your hands to yourself? You already knocked her up. Geez.some people." "Jealous?" Luis teased, wiggling his dark brows in her direction. "Hardly," Abby scoffed, sauntering out of the room and into the living room. "I remember well how much of a stubborn ass you can be. Dinner's served," they heard her announce just seconds later. "Come and get it." "I have the oddest urge to moo in response," Sheridan giggled against Luis's neck. Luis grinned, kneading some of the tension out of the muscles of her lower back before sliding his arms back around her front and cupping his hands against her belly. "Hey, Baby Girl," he whispered, resting his forehead against his wife's forehead. "Daddy's home."
Chapter 52
Dinner was over, Theresa and Chad were in the kitchen doing the dishes as a favor to Sheridan and an effort to keep her off her feet, and Luis was lounging on the sofa watching his son excitedly describe every last detail of his ultrasound experience to Abby, who lay curled up on her side with Cristian resting against her hip. Max lifted his head from his paws every few minutes to gaze adoringly at Abby and thump his tail, and Luis had to grin when Abby rolled her hazel eyes in exasperation and scratched behind the retriever's ears. "Dumb dog," she muttered under her breath. But Max was the least of her problems tonight, Luis thought with an ill-concealed chuckle. For some inexplicable reason, one of Miss Priss's demon progeny had adopted their resident clown, following her around like.well, like Max. At least Max had an excuse though. He WAS a dog. Lucky, the ironically named kitten, had already caused Abby to trip over her own feet twice and collide with Chad once more. The kitten was currently thoroughly entertaining itself in the loose curtain of Abby's tawny hair. 'DAMNED CAT!" Abby yelled, scrambling to her feet when the kitten changed tactics and orchestrated a surprise pounce directly at her face. "I mean darn," she sputtered when Cristian stared up at her with wide brown eyes. "Darned cat," she grumbled, shaking her leg when Lucky tried to scale her jeans leg. "What the hell is going on here? Am I releasing some kind of pheromones only your pets can detect?"
Luis rumbled with laughter, and Cristian just looked confused for a few moments until he reverted back to his ultrasound chatter. "Hey, Abby," he said, giving Abby's sweatshirt sleeve a tug. "Want to see my baby? The doctor gave me a video so I could watch it and see what she looks like again whenever I wanted to." "Sure, Kiddo," Abby grinned affably. "But do you mind if we sit on the sofa with your dad? I'm not as young as I used to be." "At least you don't look as old as Sara and Emily's grandma," Cristian's voice was muted as he ducked down to dig out the ultrasound tape. "Who said anything about old?" Abby scoffed, hazel eyes twinkling. "Are you kidding? Booby's old enough to be MY grandmother," Abby said, scrunching up her nose and sticking her tongue out at Max when he ambled across the room and plopped down at her feet. "Her name's Booby?" Cristian asked, a perplexed expression on his face to rival his earlier confusion. "Did I say 'Booby'?" Abby flapped her hand in the air, tucking her feet beneath her. "Becky. Her name's Becky." The television came alive with a grainy image that had Cristian grinning like the proud big brother he couldn't wait to be. Luis glanced at Abby out of the corner of his eye, finding her strangely quiet as they watched the image on the television while Cristian narrated. "Hey," he covered her hand with his. "Abby? Are you okay? I know you can't tell much, but you're looking at a beautiful little lady. She's going to cry the first time she sees you too, Aunt Abby." Abby swallowed hard, rolled her hazel eyes at him as she pulled her hand away, and forced a sarcastic comment past the apparent lump in her throat, "It's a Kodak moment, thank you. I want some popcorn. Cristian, you want popcorn? Aunt Abby.you better believe it," she grumbled under her breath, walking toward the kitchen. Lucky pouncing after her.
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MJ slid his arms around his grandpa, hugging him tightly in goodbye and kissing his cheek. His dark eyes watched his grandpa's hands at work, zipping up his parka. Doubling his red scarf loosely around his neck. Reaching up to pat him affectionately on the head as he whispered, "Goodnight, Lad." MJ's eyes wandered around the small living room, landing on his brother's still form. Joshua was cuddled under a blanket on the sofa, his thumb in his mouth. Dad and Grandma were talking about something, arguing it almost looked like, glancing down at his little brother from time to time. MJ sighed heavily, crossing the living room and stopping beside his dad. "Dad," he grabbed his dad's hand, giving it a gentle but insistent tug. "You said Joshua was coming home with us tonight. You said, Dad. You promised." MJ frowned when his dad shook his hand free, leaning down to smooth Joshua's dark bangs from his forehead gently. "Not tonight, MJ." "But Dad." MJ whined. "Tomorrow," his dad promised. "He's already asleep, and we shouldn't wake him up. We'll get him tomorrow, MJ." "Yeah right," MJ mumbled. Like his dad's promises meant much anymore. MJ crossed his arms over his chest and waited sullenly near the front door. He let his grandma kiss him goodnight without complaint, but when his dad tried to grab his hand as they left the house, he shrugged away from him.
"What were you and Grandma fighting about?" he asked, dark eyes closing in on his dad's face in the dark interior of their car as they drove away. His dad's jaw twitched when he asked that, and MJ knew he'd made him a little angry with his remark. "Grandma and I weren't fighting," his dad answered him. "Do you have your seat belt on? I shouldn't have let you sit in the front seat," he frowned, turning his blinker on. "I don't want to sit in the back by myself," MJ protested. "I was going to sit in the back with Joshua. He was supposed to come home with us, Dad. You promised." MJ kicked up at the dashboard with his snow-covered boots. "I told you.I didn't want to wake him up. He was asleep." "You're just saying that," MJ scowled. "Mom wouldn't leave him at Grandma's all the time. Mom wouldn't lie and say it was because he was asleep." "MJ! That's enough!" his dad barked. "I didn't lie." "Yes, you did," MJ shot back indignantly. "You did, and you were fighting with Grandma about his surgery. You don't want him to have it. Why, Dad? Why?" MJ practically screamed. "Take me back to Grandma's," he demanded. "I don't want to stay with you. Take me back to my brother." MJ refused to meet his dad's stare. Not even when he slammed the car into reverse on the deserted street and turned the car around. Somebody had to teach his dad a lesson.
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The bubbles in the tub almost swallowed Ali's tiny body up, Sheridan thought, swallowing past the lump in her throat as she stared at her baby girl's reflection in the mirror opposite the tub. With the loss of much of her golden hair, Ali was self-conscious in front of her lately. She still allowed her in the bathroom with her during her baths, but she liked it better if Sheridan didn't watch her. So.Ali took her favored bubble baths, still singing her made-up songs, and still chattering away like a little bird to her mommy's listening ear. But Sheridan leaned back against a mountain of pillows Ali always thoughtfully remembered for her placed against the porcelain tub and watched her little girl without her knowledge, all the while playing the part of a type of confessor as Ali shared her innermost secrets with her. "Mommy?" "Yeah, Baby?" Sheridan said softly, watching Ali's face in the mirror's reflection, the way her blue eyes grew so wistful, and her hands would drift to her head and gingerly rub over the soft strands still there. "Do you miss stuff?" Ali murmured. "What kind of stuff?" Sheridan asked, aching to kiss the thin, translucent eyelids that hid the blue eyes she adored so much and gather her fragile little daughter into her arms and wish away all her pain and all the terrible things that had EVER happened to her. Her lips managed a tiny smile when Ali shrugged her slim shoulders in the bubbles, despite the fact that she wasn't supposed to be able to see her, "Stuff," she whispered.
Sheridan watched Ali scoop a handful of bubbles in her palms and blow at them gently. The bubbles floated in the air, some making wet circles on the tile floor on contact, others escaping into Ali's bedroom and beyond. "Ballet," Ali said suddenly. "I miss ballet, Mommy. I didn't get to be in the recital," she lamented. "I'm sure Daddy and Cristian would love for you to dance for them. Just as much as I would." Ali shifted, pulling her knees up and resting her chin on them, and bubbles and water splashed over the sides of the tub. Sheridan thought she heard her whisper, "It wouldn't be the same," but she remained silent, letting Ali voice her thoughts. "I miss school, Mommy. My teacher and my friends. I don't get to see Jake at recess anymore. Ms. Kinsay probably gave my seat next to Lissy away." Sheridan smiled as she thought of Ali's attachment to Jake. "Jake still comes to see you all the time," she reminded Ali. "And I'm sure Ms. Kinsay is saving that seat for you until you get better." Ali seemed relieved by her answer, but Sheridan was horrified when gazed into the mirror she saw Ali's chin quiver and tears well in her blue eyes. "AliCat? Sweetie?" "I miss Daddy telling me my hair's pretty," Ali admitted tearfully, "and you braiding it for me at night, and.oh Mommy," she gulped, trying to hold back the sobs that threatened to escape. "I'm ugly, Mommy. My hair's ugly, and Daddy's never going to think I'm pretty again." Sheridan turned around without another moment's hesitation and pulled Ali's soapy body close, cradling the back of her skull in her hands as she pressed kisses to her sweet-smelling skin. "No. No, Sweetie. You're beautiful. The most beautiful little girl to me in the entire world, and Daddy thinks so, and Cristian, and so does Jake. You're beautiful, Baby. Inside and out," she told Ali in a strangled voice. "Shh. Shh. It's going to be okay. Mommy promises, Angel."
Chapter 53
Theresa returned her toothbrush to its rightful place, turned off the bathroom's bright light, and wandered back into the bedroom with her long dark hair piled on top of her head and the sleeves of Chad's robe rolled up to her elbows. She giggled at the picture in front of her. Chad lay sprawled across the bed, white sheets tangled around his waist and a gray ball of fur curled up on his bare chest. Chad cracked one dark eye open, smirking at her in thinly veiled amusement. "I was in the middle of giving her the house rules when she decided to make my chest her bed." Theresa's smile was bright as she shed the too-big robe and crawled under the covers, scooting next to Chad and resting her dark head in the crook of his arm. "And you're letting her get away with it? Chad," Theresa chided teasingly, curling her fingers up beneath the kitten's chin and scratching. "You're such a push-over," she giggled.
"Hey," Chad defended his actions. "It's Smoky's first night in a new place, and she doesn't have Mama Priss breathing down her neck. Do you really want me to lock her up in the bathroom? I've heard the stories, and that's just not the way to go," he told Theresa with a grin. "Luis exaggerates," Theresa said, propping herself up on her elbow and gazing down at his smiling face. "Miss Priss is NOT the Devil's spawn." She trailed her fingertips across Chad's chin and leaned down to press a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. "Smoky can sleep with us tonight, but then you're going to have to make a choice. Me or her," she challenged, brown eyes sparkling down at him. "Oh that's easy," Chad answered immediately, a devilish sparkle lighting up his own dark eyes. "I'm sure the couch is comfortable for someone with legs so short," he deadpanned. "Chad!"
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Pilar pulled MJ's sweater over his dark head, reaching for the pajamas laid across the bed next to her. MJ lifted his arms, helping her slip the pajama top into place, then he pushed his jeans down his hips and stepped out of them. He glanced down at the Spiderman pants skimming his ankles and frowned. "They're too little, Grandma." "You're growing," Pilar answered with a small, bittersweet smile. "Out of everything," she added, cupping his baby-soft cheek in the palm of her hand. "This weekend I'll take you and Joshua shopping for new clothes if you like." "Mom used to do that," MJ mumbled, dark eyes focusing on the floor beneath his bare feet. He let his grandma gather him into her arms, and Pilar rest her chin atop his head, her eyes bright with unshed tears. "You miss your mom, don't you?" she murmured, stroking her hands down MJ's back in gentle, calming motions. She felt him nod his head against her neck, and the tell-tale moisture of tears against her skin. "It's okay to miss her, Mijo," she told him. "You don't have to pretend."
MJ stiffened, leaving her arms, and Pilar was shocked to see no more tears in his eyes. "MJ?" she questioned, helping him turn the blankets back and crawl into bed beside his already sleeping brother. "Dad said Aunt Jessica's taking me and Joshua for the weekend. She and Myles have to go home soon. Faith already went home with Uncle Reese 'cause she had to go back to school." Pilar tucked the blankets securely around both of her grandsons and smiled down at MJ as she combed his short, short hair back from his forehead. "I'll talk to your father, and we'll plan something soon," she whispered, her smile faltering when she witnessed the way MJ's dark eyes seemed to close her out at the mention of Miguel. "Sleep, Mijo. Rest. We have to get up early tomorrow. You need some clean clothes for school." MJ stayed silent, turning onto his side and draping his arm across Joshua's waist. She turned the light in the closet on and left the door partially open, her eyes drifting around the room one last time before she pulled the door shut behind her. Miguel didn't look up as she walked into the living room, too intent on pouring over the latest research and details concerning Joshua's surgery. She sighed softly and slipped away. Thanks to HIS son, HER son was on the right track again, and she sent up a prayer of thanks to God.
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Abby let herself into the apartment with a tired sigh, toeing off her snow- slicked boots just inside the door. She flexed her toes inside the soggy pair of socks adorning her aching feet and hopped along on one foot while trying to get rid of the damned things. Not only did her feet hurt like hell for some reason, they were cold as friggin' ice. " golly !" she swore loudly when she stubbed her toe on the corner of the end table, glaring when a light flickered on in the kitchen, and she saw Nick smirking at her. "What are you laughing at?" she muttered, hobbling toward the light. And him. Gloriously bare-chested and glistening with sweat. "It's all your fault, you know. Why can't you work out with the lights ON?" she asked, somehow finding the strength not to do something royally stupid. Like finding out if his lightly tanned skin tasted like salt. The sweat and all. God, she groaned inwardly. It's sweat, Abby. Grimy, gross sweat. Shouldn't there be an "EWW" inserted in there somewhere instead of the utterly insane urge to treat him like a human popsicle? And WHY are you salivating over a man who left you cold weeks ago and has been pushing you away ever since? "That end table's still in the same place it was last week when you backed into it and trashed the lamp," Nick reminded her with a grin. "Smartass," she said, sticking her tongue out at him. "Coffee," she muttered, shivering lightly. "Make me some before I." "Before you what?" Nick teased, gray eyes laughing down at her. "Just make me the damned coffee," Abby warned, hopping onto the kitchen counter so she could look him in the eyes, "you don't want to find out."
Nick complied with her wishes with a small smile, and Abby leaned her tawny head back against the cabinets and closed her hazel eyes. She mentally cursed herself for not partaking of the prime opportunity to stare at Nick's cute ass in what she assumed were the gray sweatpants that'd originally gone with the sweatshirt she refused to give back to him. Hell no, she thought, the corners of her mouth twitching as she raised sluggish eyelids to watch him reaching one long, muscled arm up to grab two coffee mugs out of the cupboards opposite her. If he wanted the sweatshirt back, he was going to have to take it back. Don't fool yourself, Abby. If Gray Eyes asked for the shirt right now, you'd yank it over your head and toss it at him. Then ask him if he wanted the boring little white bra underneath it too. Wait a minute.Abby discreetly peeked down the front of the shirt and did a silent cheer for throwing on her black lacy bra today. Gray Eyes wouldn't even have to ask. She'd give him a two for one deal. That thought made her cheeks flush slightly, and her hazel eyes were bright as they came into contact with gray. "Your coffee," Nick handed her the steaming mug with a nod of his head, and her hazel eyes stayed locked on him as she wrapped her hands around the mug and sipped the scalding black liquid. "Thank yo.Dammit!" she winced as a cramp seized her foot.
Nick took the mug from her hands, setting it down on the counter beside his own mug and taking another step closer. Abby unconsciously opened her legs to let him crowd closer, and she let her head fall against his shoulder as she heard his voice, low and soothing against her ear. "Cramp?" he questioned quietly, running his hand down her thigh then along the back of her denim-encased calf. Abby moaned softly when she felt his fingers pressing into the arch of her foot. She slumped further into him in total relaxation as he continued his massage. "You're good at this. Better than good. Care to give me a full body massage?" she teased half-heartedly, groaning as the last of the tension started to seep out of her aching muscles and was rapidly replaced with sparks of pleasure as she felt his other hand push her hair aside and knead the muscles at the base of her neck. The man was turning her into a liquified sack of mush beneath his fingertips, and she was having a hard time remembering the disappointment she'd felt when he kept her at arm's length following her drunken attempt to seduce him-again. A blurring line in the sand was all that prevented them from leaving their almost friends status in the dust and becoming lovers, and Nick redefined that line every chance he got while Abby wanted to all but obliterate it.
That not-so-little desire reared its stubborn head again, and Abby slid her arms around his waist, rubbing her cheek against his sweat-cooled chest. A smile quirked up her lips as she heard his heartbeat change cadence, speeding up and thudding more forcefully beneath her ear. It was her heart's turn to jump when she felt his hand slowly traveling up her leg and pausing at her hip, his thumb pushing the soft gray material of the sweatshirt she wore up and caressing her side as his hand flattened against the small of her back. Abby turned her head to nuzzle Nick's bare chest with her nose as her hands slipped down to his hips, thumbs hooking underneath the waistband of his sweatpants and digging into the soft skin she found as she pulled him closer. Her tawny hair fell loosely about her face, tickling Nick's skin and making him shiver. He jerked when he felt the moisture of her open mouth against his neck. Abby's tongue snaked along the underside of his jaw, indulging in her favored way to drive the man and herself crazy, and Nick's entire body shuddered beneath her touch. The hand at the base of her neck tensed then relaxed, flying up to the base of her skull and tangling her hair in its fingers. Abby didn't have time to do much more than drop her mouth open in surprise before Nick pulled her mouth to his in a kiss that went from gentle and playful teasing to hard, wet, and passionate in two seconds flat. Her arms went around Nick's neck effortlessly, and she drove her fingers through his dark hair, moaning appreciatively into his mouth. God, could the man kiss was her one running thought, but her wonderment was quickly overshadowed by the instinctual need for oxygen, and she tore her mouth from his breathlessly. She blinked in bewilderment as Nick's hands closed around her arms, disentangling them from his neck and lowering them to her sides, and that residual bit of hurt flared back up in her hazel eyes as he stepped away from her with an apologetic and wholly infuriating "Abby" leaving his lips. "Abby," he repeated. "We can't.I'." "Don't," Abby shook her head in warning. "Don't you dare say it." Nick stared unblinkingly into her hazel eyes, watching the gold flecks fade away to nothing only to be replaced by hardened hazel. "We just can't.," he released in a quick breath. And just as quickly, he was sucking in a harsh breath of pain as her slap cracked against his jaw. Abby jumped down from the counter and swept past Nick without another word, cradling her stinging palm close to her chest as unwelcome, angry tears pricked at her eyes. "BASTARD!" she yelled as she kicked her bedroom door shut and locked it. "Damned bastard," she cried, ripping his sweatshirt over her head and flinging it across the room. She was finished throwing herself at him. If he ever got his head out of his own ass and decided that yes, they COULD.it was going to be his move. And she wasn't above forcing a little groveling.
Chapter 54
Luis bent at the waist, smoothing reverent fingertips across his wife's parted lips. When Sheridan's lips curved upward gently in her sleep, he smiled down at her, stroking her blond hair back from her face and letting his lips linger against her forehead. "Luis," she sighed, her hand seeking and finding his, twining their fingers together and resting them against the swell of her belly. "It's early," she murmured, blue eyes blinking open in the soft yellow glow from the open bathroom door. "You're not in your uniform," she stated, brows creasing in confusion. Luis brought their joined hands to his mouth and pressed a tiny kiss across her knuckles. Sheridan opened her hand, cupping his jaw in her palm and drawing his mouth down to hers for a sweet, brushing of lips against each other, and when they drew apart, she was fully awake, staring up at him expectantly.
"I took the day off," Luis explained, tracing his thumb along the lines in Sheridan's palm. "I have a date with someone very special," he whispered softly. "Think you and Cristian can handle a whole day without us?" he asked teasingly as he watched comprehension dawn in her beautiful, sleepy blue eyes. "It'll be tough, but I think we'll survive. Just barely," she retorted, smiling into his kiss. "Just in case, I asked Mama to check on you guys later." "Luis," Sheridan groaned. "I'm having a baby. I'm not THE baby." Luis chuckled, shaking his head at her stubborn need for independence. "For my piece of mind," he said, effectively shutting her up. "Go back to sleep. It's early still. We won't leave without saying goodbye," he promised. Sheridan nodded her head in approval and shifted into a more comfortable position on her side. "You better not," she warned him.
Luis crept into Ali's room, tenderness in his touch and his eyes as he lifted one of Ali's tiny hands to his face and nuzzled her palm. "Ali.AliCat, wake up. It's Daddy," he whispered, smiling when those brilliant blue eyes he loved so dearly blinked open sleepily, and his little daughter smiled at him, slipping both her arms around his neck and nestling her head in the crease of his neck. "Daddy," Ali breathed. Luis slipped one big hand beneath the back of Ali's pink satin pajama top and rubbed her back in soothing, rhythmic motions, much as he had when she was just a tiny baby. His motions stilled as he felt the prominent ridges of her spine, and his voice wasn't as strong as he would have liked or as cheerful when he said, "Wake up, AliCat. Daddy's got a surprise waiting for you." "A surprise?" Ali questioned, a tinge of excitement creeping into her voice. Luis loved the way her blue eyes sparkled when she was happy. "A surprise," he grinned. "Just for you." "Oh, Daddy," Ali cried, curling her arms around his waist happily. "I love it! I love you." "I love you too, AliCat. We need to hurry and get you dressed or we'll miss the first part of my surprise."
Luis carefully slipped the light pink sweater Ali had chosen over her head, then knelt at her feet to help tie the laces of her amusingly small black boots. He had her parka zipped up, and her hands fitted into her fuzzy white mittens, ready to go, when he noticed the stricken expression on Ali's face. "AliCat?" Luis questioned gently. "What is it?" Ali studied her reflection in the vanity mirror in front of her and raised a mittened hand to the baby blue scarf that covered her head. "They'll know, Daddy. I don't like it when they whisper and stare. I can't go," her voice fell to a barely audible whisper as she refused to meet his eyes. Luis lifted Ali's quivering chin with his forefinger and made her meet his eyes in the reflection of the mirror as he raised his hands to her head and gently removed the scarf. "Daddy, don't!" Ali cried, her eyes shying away shamefully. "Don't look, Daddy," she pleaded tearfully. "I'm ugly." Luis heart squeezed painfully in his chest at her tears and wholehearted belief in her words even though Sheridan had warned him of this.
"Look at me, Ali. AliCat." Tears shimmering in her blue eyes, Ali raised her head to meet her daddy's eyes in the mirror. Luis brushed his knuckles along Ali's silky damp cheek and let them trail down her neck to the curve of her shoulder. "Ali," he whispered. "Your eyes and Mommy's eyes are my favorite shade of blue," Luis revealed, and Ali pressed her cheek against his shoulder. "I think you have the cutest little nose I've ever seen," he teased, surprising her with a quick kiss to its tip. "Nothing makes me happier than making you smile that magical smile of yours," he told her sincerely, moving his hand from her shoulder and sliding it down until it rested over her heart. "And what's inside here.AliCat, you have one of the most beautiful and loving hearts. Everything about you, even your tiny pink-painted toes," Luis gave her a small smile, "is something I love. Something I find beautiful because you're you."
A shaky breath escaped Ali's lips, and her blue eyes filled with yet more tears as Luis pressed his lips to the crown of her head with its sparse covering of golden strands. "And this.don't be ashamed of this. Don't be ashamed or ever think you're ugly again, Ali, because you're wrong. This isn't ugly, AliCat. This is something beautiful. Maybe even the most beautiful. Do you know why?" Ali shook her head 'no', her blue eyes intent on her daddy's face in the reflection of the vanity mirror. "This shows how much extraordinary spirit you have. How much love and determination there is in you to leave this scary cancer behind and stick around for me and Mommy, Cristian and the baby. It's proof that you're just as stubborn as your mommy," he teased, earning a tiny, flickering smile from her. "This," he rubbed his cheek against the side of her head gently, "this shows everyone how much of a fighter you are. This is beautiful to me, AliCat," he told her, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Because it's a part of you, and it shows me your heart." He reached for a new scarf, and found his arms filled instead with his crying little daughter. They held each other for the longest time until Luis heard Ali's soft whisper near his ear. "Thank you, Daddy." He pulled back and smiled into her wet blue eyes, caressing her cheeks with his thumbs, and answered her with a heartfelt "You're welcome. Let's go give Mommy and Cristian their goodbye kisses, okay?" he said, standing up and holding out his hand. Ali took it without hesitation, a beautiful smile lighting up her adorable face. "Okay, Daddy," she breathed. And they walked out of the room. Hand in hand.
Chapter 55
The dappled gray mare's hooves sank into the snow with every step, and Ali squealed as the horse surged forward, its feet plunging into a deep bank of snow. Luis nudged his heels into the mare's sides, prodding her on, deeper and deeper into the winter wonderland the Crane estate had become. Daybreak was dawning in pale hues of pink and orange over the horizon, and his little daughter and he weren't going to make their appointment if they didn't hurry. Ali's laughter was sweet music to his ears, and he leaned forward to nuzzle her chilled temple as he tapped the reins lightly against the mare's neck. He smiled as he felt the flutter of her lashes against the underside of his jaw when she tipped her head up and tried to kiss him on the cheek, a fresh wave of giggles escaping her lips when she caught him on the chin instead. "Daddy, watch out!" Ali called, pointing out a low branch looming ahead, and Luis ducked, the branch still grazing the top of his head and raining snow all over his shoulders and in his dark hair. Luis shook his head to dislodge the clinging flakes, almost laughing.
Ali was quite the little equestrian, and as such, maybe she should be the one in the driver's seat. But that wouldn't leave much room for him, would it? Besides.there wasn't any challenge he wouldn't gladly accept, and it wasn't like he'd NEVER been on a horse before. He could hear Sheridan's teasing voice in his head, and picture the sparkle in her blue eyes as she shook her head at him, saying, "You have to be good at everything, don't you Luis? You? Riding?" The things he wouldn't do for his Ali, he thought with an easy smile, a smile that grew into a full-fledged grin as they cleared the hushed quietness of the avenue of trees and overlooked a vista that was breathtaking in its magnificent color and scope. "It's beautiful, Daddy," Ali breathed in awe, as the pinks and oranges seemed to deepen then burn away with the morning sun before their very eyes. "It's a brand-new day, AliCat," he murmured against her ear, admiring the open ocean stretching for miles ahead of them. And they were going to make the most of it.
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Ivy held the mug of coffee to her lips, smiling as she watched Luis sweep Ali out of the saddle and hug her tightly before letting her feet touch the snow-covered ground. One of the stable hands took the horse's reins, but he made no move to return the mare to her stall, instead she saw him reach into his pocket and drop something into Ali's small, mittened hand. Sugar cubes, she realized a moment later, watching the horse's lips nuzzle Ali's palm. Just from the expression on Ali's face, she could tell the little girl was giggling, and her heart warmed at the sight. Ali's happiness was something she'd helped safeguard all those years ago when Sheridan hadn't been there. Stopping hadn't even crossed her mind with Sheridan's miraculous reappearance in their lives. Ali was important to her. Just as important as she'd ever been. Now even more so, Ivy realized, because color would be a little less bright without her, and there'd always be a missing puzzle piece. She let her eyes close and said a silent prayer for Ali's well-being, wondering idly which Guardian Angel would hear her plea.
Muted footsteps reached her ears, and Ivy turned around, clutching her satin robe closed, to see Beth descending the winding staircase. Ivy bit back a smile when the younger woman's eyes refused to meet hers, and she willed the awkwardness hanging in the air between them to pass quickly. "He adores her," she stated softly, turning her attention back to the scene outside the French doors. Beth sidled up next to her, her hands stilling their self-conscious motions across the rumpled fabric of her blouse, and she murmured, "It would devastate him.if she." "I know," Ivy answered grimly, smiling tightly as she watched Ali's creamy beret fall victim to the dappled gray mare's search for more sugar cubes, drifting to the snow below, and the ensuing brief tug-of-war between one very determined little girl and an equally stubborn mammal of the four-legged variety. It would likely devastate them all.
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"Sara! Hank!" Gwen's voice rose a couple octaves in irritation when she saw her pre-schooler sprawled in front of the blaring television in a chocolate milk-stained yellow tank top and her underwear, her chin-length brown hair a tangled mess, and milk dribbling down her chin as she shoveled Cocoa Puffs into her mouth. "Hi, Mom," Sara mumbled, almost zombie-like as she kept her brown eyes glued ahead at the frightening image of some cartoon Gwen didn't recognize. "Sara, where is your dad? What about Emily and Jake?" "Kitchen," Sara answered in an almost listless voice. "Bennett!" Gwen gasped as she rounded the corner into the kitchen, discovering its war-zone appearance. "What the he.what on earth is going on here?" she amended her question with one glance in Emily's direction.
Hank grinned, giving her a quick wink. "February is the month of luuuuurrvvve," he said in a deadly serious voice. Gwen rolled her eyes, smirking when she saw the devilish twinkle in his brown eyes. "Yeah?" she prodded him for a better explanation. "A token of my appreciation for you being crazy enough to say 'I do'," he said, taking the oven mitt off of his hand and tossing it onto the kitchen counter so he could grab her wrist and pull her close. Gwen snorted when he started to nuzzle her neck and whisper silly words into her ear in a terrible, fake French accent. "Valentine's starts early this year," Hank said, pulling back to look into her eyes and tuck a loose strand of blond hair behind her ear. "We need something to celebrate, and your staying power is as good as any," he cracked. "The way I figure it.if you can stay married to ME for more than a day, I can cook and clean and be Superman for a week." Gwen's golden brown eyes canvassed the (un)natural disaster area that used to be her kitchen, Emily's pancake syrup covered face, and back to her husband. "God, Bennett.how do I put up with you?" she laughed, kissing him soundly on the lips. "Oh great," Jake grumbled as he breezed through the kitchen, "if I wanted to see all this lovey-dovey crap, I could go to Ali's." "He- Man Woman Hater!" Hank teased his son as Jake backed out of the kitchen door. "Get in the Valentine's spirit, Little Buddy."
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Noah rest a steadying hand at the small of his mother's back as she stepped forward to take Joshua into her arms. Noah's silver eyes studied the child closely. The dark, intelligent eyes drew him in, and for a moment, it was almost like looking into his little sister's eyes. He looked up, away from the nephew he knew too little about, and into the anxious dark eyes of Pilar Lopez-Fitzgerald. She was worried, he could tell. More worried about MJ and Joshua and Miguel than she would admit to them, knowing how much unease his mother was already suffering. His mother seemed not to notice, though, focused as she was on the boy in her arms and MJ's solemn face as he delivered his goodbyes, disappointed that he HAD to go to school.
Noah noted the slight slump in MJ's shoulders as Pilar led him outside and back into the cold, crisp February air, and it took Myles's insistent tug on his hand a few minutes later to remind him where he was and who he was with in the Book Café. "Unca Noah," Myles whined. "I gotta go baffoom," the little boy informed him, squirming and crossing his legs together. "Noah.could you." Noah took Joshua from his mom's hands and let him slide down his legs to stand on his own two feet. "Sure, Mom," Noah said, already en route to the restrooms when his mom took him off-guard with an impromptu hug. "Thank you, Noah. I see Luis and Ali. I think I'll go say hi while you're gone." Noah glanced toward the front of the Book Café to see a tiny, fragile-looking little girl in Luis's arms accept a blueberry muffin from Beth with a smile almost too big for her adorable face and nodded his head. "Come on, guys," he said, trusting both boys to follow. He was almost halfway to the bathroom with Myles hot on his heels before he noticed Joshua's absence. Noah stalked back across the room and scooped the little boy up in his arms, causing Joshua to smile, and he felt a funny little tug in his heart that he hadn't felt for a really long time.
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Abby tucked Mr. Homan's chart underneath her arm and ducked into the women's restroom. She waved to a young nurse she recognized and wandered to the far corner of the bathroom. She lay the chart beneath her arm on the counter and reached forward to turn the tap on. The water was cool and invigorating against her skin, but when she blinked open her hazel eyes and stared into the mirror and her reflection beneath the harsh fluorescent bulbs, she swore softly at her appearance. "You look.like.hell," she muttered, shooting a glare to the woman eyeing her warily a couple of sinks down. "Didn't your mother ever teach you it's not polite to stare? What? Do I have a booger on my face?" The woman's mouth dropped open in an odd hybrid of horror/amusement, and Abby's lips twisted into a wry smile as she watched the woman skitter off. She turned her attention back to the emergency at hand. "God, Abby," she spoke to her tired-looking reflection with the braided tawny pigtails and almost make-up free face. "You don't just look like hell. You look like shit," she sighed, tugging unconsciously at the off-white turtleneck she wore. "So much for him making the next move. He's going to take one look and run for the hills," she groaned softly, whirling on her heels when the door creaked open and suddenly, she wasn't alone anymore. She was face to face with a very concerned Katie.
Abby folded her chart close to her chest. "Look.Katie.I don't want to talk about it." Katie's hand shot out to grab Abby's arm as she passed, and Abby shrugged it off. Katie held up her hands in surrender. "Abby, I'm sorry. I'm just.I'm worried about both of you. Nick." ".is a bastard," Abby cut her off, taking another step toward the door, "and I'm so pissed at the man, I could slap him all over again. So it's a good thing he's not working today, isn't it Katie?" A smile creeped up on Katie's face, and Abby found herself smiling back. Her first genuine smile of the day. "Men can be such dumbasses, can't they?" Katie laughed, walking past Abby and holding the door open for her. Abby laughed with her in agreement, stepping out into the hall. "They don't know what's good for them," Katie trailed off, her eyes shifting ahead of them. Abby's hazel eyes left Katie's face, following her line of vision down the hall and landing on Nick's handsome face. Dammit! Why did the man have to give Jackass a whole new sexy appeal? "No, they don't. They don't know what's good for them at all," she whispered.
January had melted into February, and though Kay's absence still hurt.the hurt had slowly started to shift from the raw, desperate pain to a more muted version-a lingering ache. Life plodded along, but with none of the usual ordinariness. Not that life in Harmony had ever been commonplace before. But it was even more different somehow with everything happening seemingly without a plan, and people coming together, reconnecting as they recognized the reality and brevity of life for what it was, Pilar thought silently as she wheeled the grocery cart through the aisles. Joshua was perched in the seat in front of her, his short legs dangling and kicking back and forth in the air as he gnawed on the cookie in his left hand. He was getting crumbs everywhere, and she knew he was probably ruining his appetite for dinner, but none of that concerned Pilar as she filled the cart with items both for her son's household and her own. What concerned her was taking care of her son and grandsons. And making sure they at least had the requirements to be well-fed and well-taken care of when they weren't under her roof even if Miguel hadn't quite figured how to master that challenge yet on his own. Her children were grown, but she'd never stop being their mother.
She pushed the cart down the aisles, holding her tongue in check and politely thanked the well-wishers offering their condolences a month late. She smiled tightly at them as they cast sympathetic glances on her unsuspecting grandson, their whispers low but not silent to her ears as they lamented his deafness. Joshua's dark eyes watched her, and she leaned her cheek into his crumb-filled palm when he reached it out, kissing it and making him smile. Her smile was bittersweet as she rubbed the same cheek against his dark head affectionately and whispered his name against his temple. She continued pushing the cart, more slowly, as she contemplated something that had crossed her mind more times than she could count the past month-Joshua's aborted surgery. She knew Miguel hadn't given it much thought lately, that his mind was full with other, simpler things that seemed to take so much out of him. But it was time. Past time, really. She was going to say something to him about it tonight when he and MJ came for dinner. She knew Kay wouldn't have let it go like this.
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"Mommy," Ali said as she wandered into the kitchen, "I want to help." Sheridan's hands paused over the vegetables in the sink, and she turned to Ali with a smile, rubbing her damp hands on a dishtowel. "Come here," she beckoned with her index finger. Ali did as she asked, giggling when Sheridan scooped her up in her arms, grunting softly with the effort, and deposited her on the kitchen counter beside the sink. "Mommy," Ali scolded, remembering her daddy's warnings not to let Mommy pick up anything heavy when he wasn't around, no matter how stubborn she was about it. "Don't tell, Daddy," Sheridan requested, kissing the tip of Ali's cute nose. "You're light as a feather anyway," she said, her blue eyes betraying the truth-Ali was too light. She practically swam in a pair of blue jeans that were already small, and her ribs were prominent beneath Sheridan's fingertips as rest her hands across the breadth of Ali's tiny waist. Sheridan smiled as she felt Ali's little arms wrap around her shoulders, and the two of them just held on to each other for several minutes. Until a surprised voice asked a very pertinent question. "Ali Lopez-Fitzgerald, how on earth did you get up there?"
Sparkling blue eyes met sparkling blue eyes, and Ali couldn't speak for the giggles that escaped her lips as she tried to tell Theresa she'd somehow made it on top of the kitchen counter on her own with no stool in sight. Theresa couldn't help but laugh when she saw Ali's crossed fingers, and she shook her head lightly at them both in disapproval, dark waves of hair tumbling over her shoulders. "Sheridan, you know better," she chided, her brown eyes seeking out the swell of Sheridan's belly. "You too, Ali. It's not good for the baby for your mommy to be picking you up much anymore." Ali hung her head, the bill of the purple baseball cap Jake had presented to her with her name embroidered across the front a couple of weeks ago hiding her eyes from view. "I just wanted to help, Aunt Theresa," Ali mumbled, her blue eyes still shying away from Theresa's intent gaze when Theresa lifted her chin with her fingers. "Okay," Theresa sighed. "I promise I won't tell Luis if you two will let me help too." "Thank you, Aunt Theresa!" Ali cried gratefully, flinging her arms around Theresa's neck in a quick hug. Sheridan smiled at them both, returning to her earlier task of rinsing the vegetables.
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Chad grinned as he watched Cristian chase Max in circles, stumbling every few steps and sinking into snow banks sometimes as deep as his knees. Each time that happened, Cristian managed to save himself, with a little help from the eager golden retriever, before Chad could offer a hand. Chad had to admire the kid's determination, and when he complimented Cristian, he had to chuckle at the kid's slightly embarrassed blush. He guessed he'd be prone to blushing too if he spent as much time with the Hank and Gwen's twin daughters as the little guy did. Those two were just too much. Constantly in a tug of war these days over Cristian's attention. He gave it ten more years, though, before it got really interesting. "Hey, Little Man," Chad called. "Don't you think it's about time we went inside? I bet Max would like to curl up in front of that fireplace and take a nice long nap." Cristian grabbed the retriever's collar and gave it a firm tug as he started trudging back to Chad's side. "Are you cold, Uncle Chad?" Cristian asked quizzically, deciding 'Uncle Chad' DID sound better than 'Cousin Chad' even if it wasn't exactly true. Chad chuckled, both in surprise at being called 'Uncle' and the kid figuring out his main reason for wanting to go inside. He was sure he was going to freeze his under-clothed ass off if they stayed outside too much longer. "Yeah," Chad grinned. "You got me, Little Man. I'm C-O-L-D. What are we waiting for? Race you," Chad challenged. "You're on," Cristian told him with twinkling brown eyes. "Come on, Max. I know we can beat Uncle Chad."
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Cristian giggled raucously as Chad struggled to climb to his feet after stepping into a particularly nasty snow bank and taking a nose dive that had had him spread-eagled for several stunned seconds before he even made a move to get up. It wasn't as easy as it looked, Chad discovered, grinning despite himself when Max tugged at his sleeve with his teeth. The dog tried, but pulling a five year-old out of the snow and a man his age had to be worlds apart in difference. It didn't help matters any that Chad found himself too weak with laughter to make a substantial effort to move. He heard the slamming of a car door, and the crunching of boots on snow that followed leading to his prone body and gave Abby a wicked grin the moment her hand grasped his. "Thanks, H-C," Abby rolled her hazel eyes down at him from her sprawled position on his chest with a wry grin. "You just ruined my designer duds." "H-C?" Chad inquired. "What the." Abby tossed her tawny hair off her shoulders and pushed herself to a kneeling position with her hand still on his chest. Chad sat up, giving her faded jeans and the gray sweatshirt that looked to be extra-extra large on her petite frame an incredulous look. "Designer duds, huh?" "Only the finest for dinner at Casa de Lo-Fitz," Abby answered with a wink in Cristian's direction. "What do you think, H-C? Think we can try this again, or are you go all cutesy on me and yank me down into the snow again? You know.if you wanted a hug, all you had to do was ask," she teased, offering him a hand after she'd scrambled to her feet once more. Chad took her hand, hauling himself upright and shocking the hell out of her when he sprinted toward the front door, Cristian and Max in hot pursuit. "Damn," she grumbled under her breath as she arrived at the front door a couple minutes later, craning her head around to glance at the seat of her pants. "My ass is wet."
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Shane lowered his copy of the Harmony Herald and peered across the Book Café at what had to be this establishment's most frequent customer-or rather, visitor, disregarding him, of course. He'd crossed paths with Ivy Crane countless times since her spontaneous offer to be his unofficial Harmony tour guide that night several weeks ago. But it had taken a little bit of digging to find out her full name. Abby'd given him the Cliff Notes version of Ivy Crane's illustrious life, and he found himself increasingly fascinated with each new detail that he discovered. To say the Lady of the House of Crane intrigued him was an understatement. He also-quite superficially, he admitted to himself-found her a very beautiful woman in a town full of beautiful women. He lay his newspaper down, observing her and her son from afar. "Mr. Stone." He jerked his hazel eyes away from Ivy and smiled up at Beth as she refilled his coffee. "Thanks. Call me, Shane. Mr. Stone sounds.just call me Shane," he requested again. Beth smiled easily at him, and he noticed her brown eyes straying to his discarded newspaper, open at the classifieds. "I'm sorry," she apologized sheepishly when he caught her staring. "Are you looking for anything in particular? Maybe I can help." "No, I.maybe you can," he said, smiling back at her. "You know anyone willing to hire another suit?"
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"So," Sheridan began softly, watching Abby's expression carefully as she helped her set the dining room table. "Your brother's staying in Harmony. How do you feel about that?" "The pain in the ass is only staying to keep tabs on me," Abby muttered, tucking a stubborn strand of tawny hair behind her ear. "Is that so?" Sheridan smirked, arching a golden brow at her friend. "You betcha," Abby answered. "But it's odd. I don't really mind that much. He'd be kind of nice to have around if he didn't persist in scaring every man with an ounce of interest in me for a 100-mile radius away." Sheridan laughed, straightening the napkins beside each plate and absently arranging the silverware. "He hasn't frightened the one that counts away, has he?" Abby raised surprised hazel eyes to Sheridan's understanding blue eyes. "No," she said, releasing a pent-up breath. "I'm doing a bang-up job of scaring the hell out of that man on my own," she answered, grateful for the distraction from Sheridan's perplexed expression when Luis strolled into the dining room and unceremoniously pulled Sheridan into his arms for a long, slow kiss that had Abby blushing slightly in embarrassment when she wasn't turning green with envy. "God, you two make me sick," she rolled her eyes in mock disgust at them. "Get a room. Not this room," she hastily added. "Luis, can't you keep your hands to yourself? You already knocked her up. Geez.some people." "Jealous?" Luis teased, wiggling his dark brows in her direction. "Hardly," Abby scoffed, sauntering out of the room and into the living room. "I remember well how much of a stubborn ass you can be. Dinner's served," they heard her announce just seconds later. "Come and get it." "I have the oddest urge to moo in response," Sheridan giggled against Luis's neck. Luis grinned, kneading some of the tension out of the muscles of her lower back before sliding his arms back around her front and cupping his hands against her belly. "Hey, Baby Girl," he whispered, resting his forehead against his wife's forehead. "Daddy's home."
Chapter 52
Dinner was over, Theresa and Chad were in the kitchen doing the dishes as a favor to Sheridan and an effort to keep her off her feet, and Luis was lounging on the sofa watching his son excitedly describe every last detail of his ultrasound experience to Abby, who lay curled up on her side with Cristian resting against her hip. Max lifted his head from his paws every few minutes to gaze adoringly at Abby and thump his tail, and Luis had to grin when Abby rolled her hazel eyes in exasperation and scratched behind the retriever's ears. "Dumb dog," she muttered under her breath. But Max was the least of her problems tonight, Luis thought with an ill-concealed chuckle. For some inexplicable reason, one of Miss Priss's demon progeny had adopted their resident clown, following her around like.well, like Max. At least Max had an excuse though. He WAS a dog. Lucky, the ironically named kitten, had already caused Abby to trip over her own feet twice and collide with Chad once more. The kitten was currently thoroughly entertaining itself in the loose curtain of Abby's tawny hair. 'DAMNED CAT!" Abby yelled, scrambling to her feet when the kitten changed tactics and orchestrated a surprise pounce directly at her face. "I mean darn," she sputtered when Cristian stared up at her with wide brown eyes. "Darned cat," she grumbled, shaking her leg when Lucky tried to scale her jeans leg. "What the hell is going on here? Am I releasing some kind of pheromones only your pets can detect?"
Luis rumbled with laughter, and Cristian just looked confused for a few moments until he reverted back to his ultrasound chatter. "Hey, Abby," he said, giving Abby's sweatshirt sleeve a tug. "Want to see my baby? The doctor gave me a video so I could watch it and see what she looks like again whenever I wanted to." "Sure, Kiddo," Abby grinned affably. "But do you mind if we sit on the sofa with your dad? I'm not as young as I used to be." "At least you don't look as old as Sara and Emily's grandma," Cristian's voice was muted as he ducked down to dig out the ultrasound tape. "Who said anything about old?" Abby scoffed, hazel eyes twinkling. "Are you kidding? Booby's old enough to be MY grandmother," Abby said, scrunching up her nose and sticking her tongue out at Max when he ambled across the room and plopped down at her feet. "Her name's Booby?" Cristian asked, a perplexed expression on his face to rival his earlier confusion. "Did I say 'Booby'?" Abby flapped her hand in the air, tucking her feet beneath her. "Becky. Her name's Becky." The television came alive with a grainy image that had Cristian grinning like the proud big brother he couldn't wait to be. Luis glanced at Abby out of the corner of his eye, finding her strangely quiet as they watched the image on the television while Cristian narrated. "Hey," he covered her hand with his. "Abby? Are you okay? I know you can't tell much, but you're looking at a beautiful little lady. She's going to cry the first time she sees you too, Aunt Abby." Abby swallowed hard, rolled her hazel eyes at him as she pulled her hand away, and forced a sarcastic comment past the apparent lump in her throat, "It's a Kodak moment, thank you. I want some popcorn. Cristian, you want popcorn? Aunt Abby.you better believe it," she grumbled under her breath, walking toward the kitchen. Lucky pouncing after her.
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MJ slid his arms around his grandpa, hugging him tightly in goodbye and kissing his cheek. His dark eyes watched his grandpa's hands at work, zipping up his parka. Doubling his red scarf loosely around his neck. Reaching up to pat him affectionately on the head as he whispered, "Goodnight, Lad." MJ's eyes wandered around the small living room, landing on his brother's still form. Joshua was cuddled under a blanket on the sofa, his thumb in his mouth. Dad and Grandma were talking about something, arguing it almost looked like, glancing down at his little brother from time to time. MJ sighed heavily, crossing the living room and stopping beside his dad. "Dad," he grabbed his dad's hand, giving it a gentle but insistent tug. "You said Joshua was coming home with us tonight. You said, Dad. You promised." MJ frowned when his dad shook his hand free, leaning down to smooth Joshua's dark bangs from his forehead gently. "Not tonight, MJ." "But Dad." MJ whined. "Tomorrow," his dad promised. "He's already asleep, and we shouldn't wake him up. We'll get him tomorrow, MJ." "Yeah right," MJ mumbled. Like his dad's promises meant much anymore. MJ crossed his arms over his chest and waited sullenly near the front door. He let his grandma kiss him goodnight without complaint, but when his dad tried to grab his hand as they left the house, he shrugged away from him.
"What were you and Grandma fighting about?" he asked, dark eyes closing in on his dad's face in the dark interior of their car as they drove away. His dad's jaw twitched when he asked that, and MJ knew he'd made him a little angry with his remark. "Grandma and I weren't fighting," his dad answered him. "Do you have your seat belt on? I shouldn't have let you sit in the front seat," he frowned, turning his blinker on. "I don't want to sit in the back by myself," MJ protested. "I was going to sit in the back with Joshua. He was supposed to come home with us, Dad. You promised." MJ kicked up at the dashboard with his snow-covered boots. "I told you.I didn't want to wake him up. He was asleep." "You're just saying that," MJ scowled. "Mom wouldn't leave him at Grandma's all the time. Mom wouldn't lie and say it was because he was asleep." "MJ! That's enough!" his dad barked. "I didn't lie." "Yes, you did," MJ shot back indignantly. "You did, and you were fighting with Grandma about his surgery. You don't want him to have it. Why, Dad? Why?" MJ practically screamed. "Take me back to Grandma's," he demanded. "I don't want to stay with you. Take me back to my brother." MJ refused to meet his dad's stare. Not even when he slammed the car into reverse on the deserted street and turned the car around. Somebody had to teach his dad a lesson.
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The bubbles in the tub almost swallowed Ali's tiny body up, Sheridan thought, swallowing past the lump in her throat as she stared at her baby girl's reflection in the mirror opposite the tub. With the loss of much of her golden hair, Ali was self-conscious in front of her lately. She still allowed her in the bathroom with her during her baths, but she liked it better if Sheridan didn't watch her. So.Ali took her favored bubble baths, still singing her made-up songs, and still chattering away like a little bird to her mommy's listening ear. But Sheridan leaned back against a mountain of pillows Ali always thoughtfully remembered for her placed against the porcelain tub and watched her little girl without her knowledge, all the while playing the part of a type of confessor as Ali shared her innermost secrets with her. "Mommy?" "Yeah, Baby?" Sheridan said softly, watching Ali's face in the mirror's reflection, the way her blue eyes grew so wistful, and her hands would drift to her head and gingerly rub over the soft strands still there. "Do you miss stuff?" Ali murmured. "What kind of stuff?" Sheridan asked, aching to kiss the thin, translucent eyelids that hid the blue eyes she adored so much and gather her fragile little daughter into her arms and wish away all her pain and all the terrible things that had EVER happened to her. Her lips managed a tiny smile when Ali shrugged her slim shoulders in the bubbles, despite the fact that she wasn't supposed to be able to see her, "Stuff," she whispered.
Sheridan watched Ali scoop a handful of bubbles in her palms and blow at them gently. The bubbles floated in the air, some making wet circles on the tile floor on contact, others escaping into Ali's bedroom and beyond. "Ballet," Ali said suddenly. "I miss ballet, Mommy. I didn't get to be in the recital," she lamented. "I'm sure Daddy and Cristian would love for you to dance for them. Just as much as I would." Ali shifted, pulling her knees up and resting her chin on them, and bubbles and water splashed over the sides of the tub. Sheridan thought she heard her whisper, "It wouldn't be the same," but she remained silent, letting Ali voice her thoughts. "I miss school, Mommy. My teacher and my friends. I don't get to see Jake at recess anymore. Ms. Kinsay probably gave my seat next to Lissy away." Sheridan smiled as she thought of Ali's attachment to Jake. "Jake still comes to see you all the time," she reminded Ali. "And I'm sure Ms. Kinsay is saving that seat for you until you get better." Ali seemed relieved by her answer, but Sheridan was horrified when gazed into the mirror she saw Ali's chin quiver and tears well in her blue eyes. "AliCat? Sweetie?" "I miss Daddy telling me my hair's pretty," Ali admitted tearfully, "and you braiding it for me at night, and.oh Mommy," she gulped, trying to hold back the sobs that threatened to escape. "I'm ugly, Mommy. My hair's ugly, and Daddy's never going to think I'm pretty again." Sheridan turned around without another moment's hesitation and pulled Ali's soapy body close, cradling the back of her skull in her hands as she pressed kisses to her sweet-smelling skin. "No. No, Sweetie. You're beautiful. The most beautiful little girl to me in the entire world, and Daddy thinks so, and Cristian, and so does Jake. You're beautiful, Baby. Inside and out," she told Ali in a strangled voice. "Shh. Shh. It's going to be okay. Mommy promises, Angel."
Chapter 53
Theresa returned her toothbrush to its rightful place, turned off the bathroom's bright light, and wandered back into the bedroom with her long dark hair piled on top of her head and the sleeves of Chad's robe rolled up to her elbows. She giggled at the picture in front of her. Chad lay sprawled across the bed, white sheets tangled around his waist and a gray ball of fur curled up on his bare chest. Chad cracked one dark eye open, smirking at her in thinly veiled amusement. "I was in the middle of giving her the house rules when she decided to make my chest her bed." Theresa's smile was bright as she shed the too-big robe and crawled under the covers, scooting next to Chad and resting her dark head in the crook of his arm. "And you're letting her get away with it? Chad," Theresa chided teasingly, curling her fingers up beneath the kitten's chin and scratching. "You're such a push-over," she giggled.
"Hey," Chad defended his actions. "It's Smoky's first night in a new place, and she doesn't have Mama Priss breathing down her neck. Do you really want me to lock her up in the bathroom? I've heard the stories, and that's just not the way to go," he told Theresa with a grin. "Luis exaggerates," Theresa said, propping herself up on her elbow and gazing down at his smiling face. "Miss Priss is NOT the Devil's spawn." She trailed her fingertips across Chad's chin and leaned down to press a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. "Smoky can sleep with us tonight, but then you're going to have to make a choice. Me or her," she challenged, brown eyes sparkling down at him. "Oh that's easy," Chad answered immediately, a devilish sparkle lighting up his own dark eyes. "I'm sure the couch is comfortable for someone with legs so short," he deadpanned. "Chad!"
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Pilar pulled MJ's sweater over his dark head, reaching for the pajamas laid across the bed next to her. MJ lifted his arms, helping her slip the pajama top into place, then he pushed his jeans down his hips and stepped out of them. He glanced down at the Spiderman pants skimming his ankles and frowned. "They're too little, Grandma." "You're growing," Pilar answered with a small, bittersweet smile. "Out of everything," she added, cupping his baby-soft cheek in the palm of her hand. "This weekend I'll take you and Joshua shopping for new clothes if you like." "Mom used to do that," MJ mumbled, dark eyes focusing on the floor beneath his bare feet. He let his grandma gather him into her arms, and Pilar rest her chin atop his head, her eyes bright with unshed tears. "You miss your mom, don't you?" she murmured, stroking her hands down MJ's back in gentle, calming motions. She felt him nod his head against her neck, and the tell-tale moisture of tears against her skin. "It's okay to miss her, Mijo," she told him. "You don't have to pretend."
MJ stiffened, leaving her arms, and Pilar was shocked to see no more tears in his eyes. "MJ?" she questioned, helping him turn the blankets back and crawl into bed beside his already sleeping brother. "Dad said Aunt Jessica's taking me and Joshua for the weekend. She and Myles have to go home soon. Faith already went home with Uncle Reese 'cause she had to go back to school." Pilar tucked the blankets securely around both of her grandsons and smiled down at MJ as she combed his short, short hair back from his forehead. "I'll talk to your father, and we'll plan something soon," she whispered, her smile faltering when she witnessed the way MJ's dark eyes seemed to close her out at the mention of Miguel. "Sleep, Mijo. Rest. We have to get up early tomorrow. You need some clean clothes for school." MJ stayed silent, turning onto his side and draping his arm across Joshua's waist. She turned the light in the closet on and left the door partially open, her eyes drifting around the room one last time before she pulled the door shut behind her. Miguel didn't look up as she walked into the living room, too intent on pouring over the latest research and details concerning Joshua's surgery. She sighed softly and slipped away. Thanks to HIS son, HER son was on the right track again, and she sent up a prayer of thanks to God.
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Abby let herself into the apartment with a tired sigh, toeing off her snow- slicked boots just inside the door. She flexed her toes inside the soggy pair of socks adorning her aching feet and hopped along on one foot while trying to get rid of the damned things. Not only did her feet hurt like hell for some reason, they were cold as friggin' ice. " golly !" she swore loudly when she stubbed her toe on the corner of the end table, glaring when a light flickered on in the kitchen, and she saw Nick smirking at her. "What are you laughing at?" she muttered, hobbling toward the light. And him. Gloriously bare-chested and glistening with sweat. "It's all your fault, you know. Why can't you work out with the lights ON?" she asked, somehow finding the strength not to do something royally stupid. Like finding out if his lightly tanned skin tasted like salt. The sweat and all. God, she groaned inwardly. It's sweat, Abby. Grimy, gross sweat. Shouldn't there be an "EWW" inserted in there somewhere instead of the utterly insane urge to treat him like a human popsicle? And WHY are you salivating over a man who left you cold weeks ago and has been pushing you away ever since? "That end table's still in the same place it was last week when you backed into it and trashed the lamp," Nick reminded her with a grin. "Smartass," she said, sticking her tongue out at him. "Coffee," she muttered, shivering lightly. "Make me some before I." "Before you what?" Nick teased, gray eyes laughing down at her. "Just make me the damned coffee," Abby warned, hopping onto the kitchen counter so she could look him in the eyes, "you don't want to find out."
Nick complied with her wishes with a small smile, and Abby leaned her tawny head back against the cabinets and closed her hazel eyes. She mentally cursed herself for not partaking of the prime opportunity to stare at Nick's cute ass in what she assumed were the gray sweatpants that'd originally gone with the sweatshirt she refused to give back to him. Hell no, she thought, the corners of her mouth twitching as she raised sluggish eyelids to watch him reaching one long, muscled arm up to grab two coffee mugs out of the cupboards opposite her. If he wanted the sweatshirt back, he was going to have to take it back. Don't fool yourself, Abby. If Gray Eyes asked for the shirt right now, you'd yank it over your head and toss it at him. Then ask him if he wanted the boring little white bra underneath it too. Wait a minute.Abby discreetly peeked down the front of the shirt and did a silent cheer for throwing on her black lacy bra today. Gray Eyes wouldn't even have to ask. She'd give him a two for one deal. That thought made her cheeks flush slightly, and her hazel eyes were bright as they came into contact with gray. "Your coffee," Nick handed her the steaming mug with a nod of his head, and her hazel eyes stayed locked on him as she wrapped her hands around the mug and sipped the scalding black liquid. "Thank yo.Dammit!" she winced as a cramp seized her foot.
Nick took the mug from her hands, setting it down on the counter beside his own mug and taking another step closer. Abby unconsciously opened her legs to let him crowd closer, and she let her head fall against his shoulder as she heard his voice, low and soothing against her ear. "Cramp?" he questioned quietly, running his hand down her thigh then along the back of her denim-encased calf. Abby moaned softly when she felt his fingers pressing into the arch of her foot. She slumped further into him in total relaxation as he continued his massage. "You're good at this. Better than good. Care to give me a full body massage?" she teased half-heartedly, groaning as the last of the tension started to seep out of her aching muscles and was rapidly replaced with sparks of pleasure as she felt his other hand push her hair aside and knead the muscles at the base of her neck. The man was turning her into a liquified sack of mush beneath his fingertips, and she was having a hard time remembering the disappointment she'd felt when he kept her at arm's length following her drunken attempt to seduce him-again. A blurring line in the sand was all that prevented them from leaving their almost friends status in the dust and becoming lovers, and Nick redefined that line every chance he got while Abby wanted to all but obliterate it.
That not-so-little desire reared its stubborn head again, and Abby slid her arms around his waist, rubbing her cheek against his sweat-cooled chest. A smile quirked up her lips as she heard his heartbeat change cadence, speeding up and thudding more forcefully beneath her ear. It was her heart's turn to jump when she felt his hand slowly traveling up her leg and pausing at her hip, his thumb pushing the soft gray material of the sweatshirt she wore up and caressing her side as his hand flattened against the small of her back. Abby turned her head to nuzzle Nick's bare chest with her nose as her hands slipped down to his hips, thumbs hooking underneath the waistband of his sweatpants and digging into the soft skin she found as she pulled him closer. Her tawny hair fell loosely about her face, tickling Nick's skin and making him shiver. He jerked when he felt the moisture of her open mouth against his neck. Abby's tongue snaked along the underside of his jaw, indulging in her favored way to drive the man and herself crazy, and Nick's entire body shuddered beneath her touch. The hand at the base of her neck tensed then relaxed, flying up to the base of her skull and tangling her hair in its fingers. Abby didn't have time to do much more than drop her mouth open in surprise before Nick pulled her mouth to his in a kiss that went from gentle and playful teasing to hard, wet, and passionate in two seconds flat. Her arms went around Nick's neck effortlessly, and she drove her fingers through his dark hair, moaning appreciatively into his mouth. God, could the man kiss was her one running thought, but her wonderment was quickly overshadowed by the instinctual need for oxygen, and she tore her mouth from his breathlessly. She blinked in bewilderment as Nick's hands closed around her arms, disentangling them from his neck and lowering them to her sides, and that residual bit of hurt flared back up in her hazel eyes as he stepped away from her with an apologetic and wholly infuriating "Abby" leaving his lips. "Abby," he repeated. "We can't.I'." "Don't," Abby shook her head in warning. "Don't you dare say it." Nick stared unblinkingly into her hazel eyes, watching the gold flecks fade away to nothing only to be replaced by hardened hazel. "We just can't.," he released in a quick breath. And just as quickly, he was sucking in a harsh breath of pain as her slap cracked against his jaw. Abby jumped down from the counter and swept past Nick without another word, cradling her stinging palm close to her chest as unwelcome, angry tears pricked at her eyes. "BASTARD!" she yelled as she kicked her bedroom door shut and locked it. "Damned bastard," she cried, ripping his sweatshirt over her head and flinging it across the room. She was finished throwing herself at him. If he ever got his head out of his own ass and decided that yes, they COULD.it was going to be his move. And she wasn't above forcing a little groveling.
Chapter 54
Luis bent at the waist, smoothing reverent fingertips across his wife's parted lips. When Sheridan's lips curved upward gently in her sleep, he smiled down at her, stroking her blond hair back from her face and letting his lips linger against her forehead. "Luis," she sighed, her hand seeking and finding his, twining their fingers together and resting them against the swell of her belly. "It's early," she murmured, blue eyes blinking open in the soft yellow glow from the open bathroom door. "You're not in your uniform," she stated, brows creasing in confusion. Luis brought their joined hands to his mouth and pressed a tiny kiss across her knuckles. Sheridan opened her hand, cupping his jaw in her palm and drawing his mouth down to hers for a sweet, brushing of lips against each other, and when they drew apart, she was fully awake, staring up at him expectantly.
"I took the day off," Luis explained, tracing his thumb along the lines in Sheridan's palm. "I have a date with someone very special," he whispered softly. "Think you and Cristian can handle a whole day without us?" he asked teasingly as he watched comprehension dawn in her beautiful, sleepy blue eyes. "It'll be tough, but I think we'll survive. Just barely," she retorted, smiling into his kiss. "Just in case, I asked Mama to check on you guys later." "Luis," Sheridan groaned. "I'm having a baby. I'm not THE baby." Luis chuckled, shaking his head at her stubborn need for independence. "For my piece of mind," he said, effectively shutting her up. "Go back to sleep. It's early still. We won't leave without saying goodbye," he promised. Sheridan nodded her head in approval and shifted into a more comfortable position on her side. "You better not," she warned him.
Luis crept into Ali's room, tenderness in his touch and his eyes as he lifted one of Ali's tiny hands to his face and nuzzled her palm. "Ali.AliCat, wake up. It's Daddy," he whispered, smiling when those brilliant blue eyes he loved so dearly blinked open sleepily, and his little daughter smiled at him, slipping both her arms around his neck and nestling her head in the crease of his neck. "Daddy," Ali breathed. Luis slipped one big hand beneath the back of Ali's pink satin pajama top and rubbed her back in soothing, rhythmic motions, much as he had when she was just a tiny baby. His motions stilled as he felt the prominent ridges of her spine, and his voice wasn't as strong as he would have liked or as cheerful when he said, "Wake up, AliCat. Daddy's got a surprise waiting for you." "A surprise?" Ali questioned, a tinge of excitement creeping into her voice. Luis loved the way her blue eyes sparkled when she was happy. "A surprise," he grinned. "Just for you." "Oh, Daddy," Ali cried, curling her arms around his waist happily. "I love it! I love you." "I love you too, AliCat. We need to hurry and get you dressed or we'll miss the first part of my surprise."
Luis carefully slipped the light pink sweater Ali had chosen over her head, then knelt at her feet to help tie the laces of her amusingly small black boots. He had her parka zipped up, and her hands fitted into her fuzzy white mittens, ready to go, when he noticed the stricken expression on Ali's face. "AliCat?" Luis questioned gently. "What is it?" Ali studied her reflection in the vanity mirror in front of her and raised a mittened hand to the baby blue scarf that covered her head. "They'll know, Daddy. I don't like it when they whisper and stare. I can't go," her voice fell to a barely audible whisper as she refused to meet his eyes. Luis lifted Ali's quivering chin with his forefinger and made her meet his eyes in the reflection of the mirror as he raised his hands to her head and gently removed the scarf. "Daddy, don't!" Ali cried, her eyes shying away shamefully. "Don't look, Daddy," she pleaded tearfully. "I'm ugly." Luis heart squeezed painfully in his chest at her tears and wholehearted belief in her words even though Sheridan had warned him of this.
"Look at me, Ali. AliCat." Tears shimmering in her blue eyes, Ali raised her head to meet her daddy's eyes in the mirror. Luis brushed his knuckles along Ali's silky damp cheek and let them trail down her neck to the curve of her shoulder. "Ali," he whispered. "Your eyes and Mommy's eyes are my favorite shade of blue," Luis revealed, and Ali pressed her cheek against his shoulder. "I think you have the cutest little nose I've ever seen," he teased, surprising her with a quick kiss to its tip. "Nothing makes me happier than making you smile that magical smile of yours," he told her sincerely, moving his hand from her shoulder and sliding it down until it rested over her heart. "And what's inside here.AliCat, you have one of the most beautiful and loving hearts. Everything about you, even your tiny pink-painted toes," Luis gave her a small smile, "is something I love. Something I find beautiful because you're you."
A shaky breath escaped Ali's lips, and her blue eyes filled with yet more tears as Luis pressed his lips to the crown of her head with its sparse covering of golden strands. "And this.don't be ashamed of this. Don't be ashamed or ever think you're ugly again, Ali, because you're wrong. This isn't ugly, AliCat. This is something beautiful. Maybe even the most beautiful. Do you know why?" Ali shook her head 'no', her blue eyes intent on her daddy's face in the reflection of the vanity mirror. "This shows how much extraordinary spirit you have. How much love and determination there is in you to leave this scary cancer behind and stick around for me and Mommy, Cristian and the baby. It's proof that you're just as stubborn as your mommy," he teased, earning a tiny, flickering smile from her. "This," he rubbed his cheek against the side of her head gently, "this shows everyone how much of a fighter you are. This is beautiful to me, AliCat," he told her, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Because it's a part of you, and it shows me your heart." He reached for a new scarf, and found his arms filled instead with his crying little daughter. They held each other for the longest time until Luis heard Ali's soft whisper near his ear. "Thank you, Daddy." He pulled back and smiled into her wet blue eyes, caressing her cheeks with his thumbs, and answered her with a heartfelt "You're welcome. Let's go give Mommy and Cristian their goodbye kisses, okay?" he said, standing up and holding out his hand. Ali took it without hesitation, a beautiful smile lighting up her adorable face. "Okay, Daddy," she breathed. And they walked out of the room. Hand in hand.
Chapter 55
The dappled gray mare's hooves sank into the snow with every step, and Ali squealed as the horse surged forward, its feet plunging into a deep bank of snow. Luis nudged his heels into the mare's sides, prodding her on, deeper and deeper into the winter wonderland the Crane estate had become. Daybreak was dawning in pale hues of pink and orange over the horizon, and his little daughter and he weren't going to make their appointment if they didn't hurry. Ali's laughter was sweet music to his ears, and he leaned forward to nuzzle her chilled temple as he tapped the reins lightly against the mare's neck. He smiled as he felt the flutter of her lashes against the underside of his jaw when she tipped her head up and tried to kiss him on the cheek, a fresh wave of giggles escaping her lips when she caught him on the chin instead. "Daddy, watch out!" Ali called, pointing out a low branch looming ahead, and Luis ducked, the branch still grazing the top of his head and raining snow all over his shoulders and in his dark hair. Luis shook his head to dislodge the clinging flakes, almost laughing.
Ali was quite the little equestrian, and as such, maybe she should be the one in the driver's seat. But that wouldn't leave much room for him, would it? Besides.there wasn't any challenge he wouldn't gladly accept, and it wasn't like he'd NEVER been on a horse before. He could hear Sheridan's teasing voice in his head, and picture the sparkle in her blue eyes as she shook her head at him, saying, "You have to be good at everything, don't you Luis? You? Riding?" The things he wouldn't do for his Ali, he thought with an easy smile, a smile that grew into a full-fledged grin as they cleared the hushed quietness of the avenue of trees and overlooked a vista that was breathtaking in its magnificent color and scope. "It's beautiful, Daddy," Ali breathed in awe, as the pinks and oranges seemed to deepen then burn away with the morning sun before their very eyes. "It's a brand-new day, AliCat," he murmured against her ear, admiring the open ocean stretching for miles ahead of them. And they were going to make the most of it.
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Ivy held the mug of coffee to her lips, smiling as she watched Luis sweep Ali out of the saddle and hug her tightly before letting her feet touch the snow-covered ground. One of the stable hands took the horse's reins, but he made no move to return the mare to her stall, instead she saw him reach into his pocket and drop something into Ali's small, mittened hand. Sugar cubes, she realized a moment later, watching the horse's lips nuzzle Ali's palm. Just from the expression on Ali's face, she could tell the little girl was giggling, and her heart warmed at the sight. Ali's happiness was something she'd helped safeguard all those years ago when Sheridan hadn't been there. Stopping hadn't even crossed her mind with Sheridan's miraculous reappearance in their lives. Ali was important to her. Just as important as she'd ever been. Now even more so, Ivy realized, because color would be a little less bright without her, and there'd always be a missing puzzle piece. She let her eyes close and said a silent prayer for Ali's well-being, wondering idly which Guardian Angel would hear her plea.
Muted footsteps reached her ears, and Ivy turned around, clutching her satin robe closed, to see Beth descending the winding staircase. Ivy bit back a smile when the younger woman's eyes refused to meet hers, and she willed the awkwardness hanging in the air between them to pass quickly. "He adores her," she stated softly, turning her attention back to the scene outside the French doors. Beth sidled up next to her, her hands stilling their self-conscious motions across the rumpled fabric of her blouse, and she murmured, "It would devastate him.if she." "I know," Ivy answered grimly, smiling tightly as she watched Ali's creamy beret fall victim to the dappled gray mare's search for more sugar cubes, drifting to the snow below, and the ensuing brief tug-of-war between one very determined little girl and an equally stubborn mammal of the four-legged variety. It would likely devastate them all.
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"Sara! Hank!" Gwen's voice rose a couple octaves in irritation when she saw her pre-schooler sprawled in front of the blaring television in a chocolate milk-stained yellow tank top and her underwear, her chin-length brown hair a tangled mess, and milk dribbling down her chin as she shoveled Cocoa Puffs into her mouth. "Hi, Mom," Sara mumbled, almost zombie-like as she kept her brown eyes glued ahead at the frightening image of some cartoon Gwen didn't recognize. "Sara, where is your dad? What about Emily and Jake?" "Kitchen," Sara answered in an almost listless voice. "Bennett!" Gwen gasped as she rounded the corner into the kitchen, discovering its war-zone appearance. "What the he.what on earth is going on here?" she amended her question with one glance in Emily's direction.
Hank grinned, giving her a quick wink. "February is the month of luuuuurrvvve," he said in a deadly serious voice. Gwen rolled her eyes, smirking when she saw the devilish twinkle in his brown eyes. "Yeah?" she prodded him for a better explanation. "A token of my appreciation for you being crazy enough to say 'I do'," he said, taking the oven mitt off of his hand and tossing it onto the kitchen counter so he could grab her wrist and pull her close. Gwen snorted when he started to nuzzle her neck and whisper silly words into her ear in a terrible, fake French accent. "Valentine's starts early this year," Hank said, pulling back to look into her eyes and tuck a loose strand of blond hair behind her ear. "We need something to celebrate, and your staying power is as good as any," he cracked. "The way I figure it.if you can stay married to ME for more than a day, I can cook and clean and be Superman for a week." Gwen's golden brown eyes canvassed the (un)natural disaster area that used to be her kitchen, Emily's pancake syrup covered face, and back to her husband. "God, Bennett.how do I put up with you?" she laughed, kissing him soundly on the lips. "Oh great," Jake grumbled as he breezed through the kitchen, "if I wanted to see all this lovey-dovey crap, I could go to Ali's." "He- Man Woman Hater!" Hank teased his son as Jake backed out of the kitchen door. "Get in the Valentine's spirit, Little Buddy."
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Noah rest a steadying hand at the small of his mother's back as she stepped forward to take Joshua into her arms. Noah's silver eyes studied the child closely. The dark, intelligent eyes drew him in, and for a moment, it was almost like looking into his little sister's eyes. He looked up, away from the nephew he knew too little about, and into the anxious dark eyes of Pilar Lopez-Fitzgerald. She was worried, he could tell. More worried about MJ and Joshua and Miguel than she would admit to them, knowing how much unease his mother was already suffering. His mother seemed not to notice, though, focused as she was on the boy in her arms and MJ's solemn face as he delivered his goodbyes, disappointed that he HAD to go to school.
Noah noted the slight slump in MJ's shoulders as Pilar led him outside and back into the cold, crisp February air, and it took Myles's insistent tug on his hand a few minutes later to remind him where he was and who he was with in the Book Café. "Unca Noah," Myles whined. "I gotta go baffoom," the little boy informed him, squirming and crossing his legs together. "Noah.could you." Noah took Joshua from his mom's hands and let him slide down his legs to stand on his own two feet. "Sure, Mom," Noah said, already en route to the restrooms when his mom took him off-guard with an impromptu hug. "Thank you, Noah. I see Luis and Ali. I think I'll go say hi while you're gone." Noah glanced toward the front of the Book Café to see a tiny, fragile-looking little girl in Luis's arms accept a blueberry muffin from Beth with a smile almost too big for her adorable face and nodded his head. "Come on, guys," he said, trusting both boys to follow. He was almost halfway to the bathroom with Myles hot on his heels before he noticed Joshua's absence. Noah stalked back across the room and scooped the little boy up in his arms, causing Joshua to smile, and he felt a funny little tug in his heart that he hadn't felt for a really long time.
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Abby tucked Mr. Homan's chart underneath her arm and ducked into the women's restroom. She waved to a young nurse she recognized and wandered to the far corner of the bathroom. She lay the chart beneath her arm on the counter and reached forward to turn the tap on. The water was cool and invigorating against her skin, but when she blinked open her hazel eyes and stared into the mirror and her reflection beneath the harsh fluorescent bulbs, she swore softly at her appearance. "You look.like.hell," she muttered, shooting a glare to the woman eyeing her warily a couple of sinks down. "Didn't your mother ever teach you it's not polite to stare? What? Do I have a booger on my face?" The woman's mouth dropped open in an odd hybrid of horror/amusement, and Abby's lips twisted into a wry smile as she watched the woman skitter off. She turned her attention back to the emergency at hand. "God, Abby," she spoke to her tired-looking reflection with the braided tawny pigtails and almost make-up free face. "You don't just look like hell. You look like shit," she sighed, tugging unconsciously at the off-white turtleneck she wore. "So much for him making the next move. He's going to take one look and run for the hills," she groaned softly, whirling on her heels when the door creaked open and suddenly, she wasn't alone anymore. She was face to face with a very concerned Katie.
Abby folded her chart close to her chest. "Look.Katie.I don't want to talk about it." Katie's hand shot out to grab Abby's arm as she passed, and Abby shrugged it off. Katie held up her hands in surrender. "Abby, I'm sorry. I'm just.I'm worried about both of you. Nick." ".is a bastard," Abby cut her off, taking another step toward the door, "and I'm so pissed at the man, I could slap him all over again. So it's a good thing he's not working today, isn't it Katie?" A smile creeped up on Katie's face, and Abby found herself smiling back. Her first genuine smile of the day. "Men can be such dumbasses, can't they?" Katie laughed, walking past Abby and holding the door open for her. Abby laughed with her in agreement, stepping out into the hall. "They don't know what's good for them," Katie trailed off, her eyes shifting ahead of them. Abby's hazel eyes left Katie's face, following her line of vision down the hall and landing on Nick's handsome face. Dammit! Why did the man have to give Jackass a whole new sexy appeal? "No, they don't. They don't know what's good for them at all," she whispered.