Part Four
"Do you have everything?" Luis asked. Running a hand over Catherine's glossy dark curls. The gigantic Tweety Bird beach towel dwarfed her tiny figure. Orange floaties were on her tanned arms. She even had Teddy. "Catherine," Sheridan shook her head. "Sweetie…don't you think Teddy should sit this trip out?" Catherine's green eyes grew wide. "Oh no! Teddy just has to go." Luis grasped Sheridan's arm. "Yeah, Sheri. He HAS to go," he grinned. "Okay," Sheridan relented. "YAY!" Catherine squealed. "Merci, Sheri. Merci." Sheridan smiled when Catherine placed a very loud kiss on Teddy's fuzzy forehead. Catherine skipped out the front door. "Don't you know? Teddy's our guardian angel." Sheridan's blue eyes misted over as she remembered that night once more. "Maybe he is," she whispered. Pulling her beach bag onto her shoulder. "Got your swim trunks on, Luis?" "Who says I'm not wearing speedos?" Luis teased. "Gotcha!" he laughed at her shocked expression.
Catherine waved at the gatekeeper as Luis's jeep crawled up the winding road leading to the Crane Mansion. "Sheri? Will Ethan and Gwen be there? Will Uncle Julian?" "Uncle Julian?" Luis mouthed with a tickled grin. "Luis," Sheridan rolled her eyes. "We can still go to the public pool if you want to." "Sheri," Catherine said. "Why didn't we go to the beach? You promised me." Sheridan turned around in her seat to face the little girl. "Well…a pool's better for your first swimming lesson, don't you think Luis?" Luis nodded his head. "But the Crane pool," he muttered under his breath. "Luis…are you sure you're okay with this?" Luis linked his fingers with hers. "Sheridan," he said seriously. "We're going to MAKE this work. I can put up with Julian's snobbery for a few hours. Besides…I plan to be around. So I can't avoid your family forever." Sheridan squeezed his hand. "Sheri! We're here! Oh my goodness! Sheri! It's so big! We won't get lost, will we?"
"Mijo! What are you doing here?" Pilar exclaimed in utter surprise when she opened the door. Sheridan slid her arm in his. "I invited him, Pilar. We're giving Catherine swimming lessons today." Pilar's dark eyes lit on the tiny emerald-eyed child hugging her son's leg shyly. "You must be Catherine," she smiled. Kneeling down to Catherine's level. "Luis has told me so much about you." Catherine's green eyes twinkled. "He said you're a very special little girl." Pilar didn't miss the look of total adoration Catherine gave her son. The feeling was entirely mutual, too. She smiled slightly. She'd be seeing a lot of this little girl. She was sure. "Pilar," Sheridan smiled brightly. "Where are Ethan and Gwen?" "They're waiting at the pool for you," Ivy announced. And Catherine's pink, pouty mouth fell open. "Sheridan," Ivy gushed. "She's darling." Luis lifted Catherine in his arms. "I'm Ivy," she said. Cupping Catherine's silky cheek. "You'll have to visit me," she smiled. "Sheri?" Catherine questioned. Sheridan nodded her consent. "Oui! I'd like that. Very much," Catherine whispered.
"Catherine! Don't run! It's not safe!" Sheridan called. As Catherine disappeared around the corner. Dark curls flying. Luis laughed. If someone had told him a year ago that he would be a guest at the Crane Mansion…Sheridan's guest, no less…and that he'd be envisioning a future with the stubborn woman who had crashed into his police cruiser—twice, he would have never believed it. Sheridan caught him staring. "What? Too much sunscreen on my nose?" she blushed. "Luis." "Sheri! Sheri! Vite! Vite!" Sheridan giggled. "Let me guess. Hurry?" Luis held the pool gate open for her as she passed through. "Sheridan!" Gwen cried. Hugging her shoulders. "Aunt Sheridan," Ethan laughed "It's not fair to make her wait. Look at her. She's so excited." "Luis! Luis!" Catherine squealed. Tugging on Luis's arm impatiently. "I'm ready for my lesson now."
Luis stripped his tee-shirt off. Gwen's elbow connected solidly with Sheridan's ribs. "Slow, huh? Doll…I don't think you're going to last that long," she teased. This time Luis caught Sheridan staring. And winked. Gwen snickered. "100 bucks says you won't make it another week." "Gwen!" Sheridan gasped. "Some friend you are. Ye of little faith." Ethan grinned. "I'll take that bet and then some. 200 bucks!" Sheridan slapped her nephew on the chest. "And this is my family and friends speaking here." Catherine's delighted giggles permeated the air, and Sheridan's heart melted when she saw the two most important people in the world to her. Having the time of their lives. "Sheri! Sheri, aren't you getting in?" "Yeah, Sheri." Sheridan smirked at him. Her shorts and tee fell to the ground. At about the same time as Luis's jaw. "Isn't that against the law?" Luis breathed into her ear as she waded out to meet him halfway and Gwen enticed Catherine with a beach ball. "What?" she shrugged nonchalantly. Luis groaned as he stared into her deep blue eyes. Just how much longer was he going to be able to control himself?
Ethan snored loudly in the chaise by the pool, and Catherine giggled. Her hand over her mouth. Gwen rolled her eyes. "You should have heard him last night." "Ah!" Catherine squealed when Luis grabbed her up in his arms and jumped off the pool's edge. "Again! Again!" she sputtered. Blinking against the water dripping into her eyes. "Catherine," Sheridan smiled. "I think it's time we tried it without the floaties." Catherine's big green eyes grew worried, and she wrapped her arms around Luis's neck tightly. "I won't let go," Luis promised. Catherine held onto him trustingly as Sheridan pulled the slippery devices from her arms. "Ready?" "Oui." Luis lay Catherine on her back. His arms supporting her. "Relax, Sweetie," Sheridan encouraged. Brushing Catherine's wet curls from her face. "You can do it, Catherine!" Gwen called. "That's it," Luis laughed. "You're floating, Catherine." Catherine sent a dazzling smile his way. But when she realized Luis was no longer holding onto her…her smile disappeared.
"Luis," she pouted. Choking up the water she had just swallowed. "You promised." "He only let go for a second," Sheridan said softly. Rubbing Catherine's back comfortingly. Catherine hid her face in Sheridan's shoulder. Refusing to meet Luis's eyes. "Do you want to get out now?" "Oui," Catherine sniffled. "She'll be alright," Gwen reassured. "That little girl adores you. Someone else does, too," she said. Staring straight ahead. Watching Sheridan cradle Catherine's towel-clad little body close. "Don't hurt them, Luis," she said. Pinning him with her golden brown eyes. Luis stared back at her unflinchingly. "Never. They mean too much to me." Gwen smiled. "I'm glad we understand each other." Luis watched her swim away with strong strokes. Then his eyes met Sheridan's across the pool. Never.
Catherine finally forgave him. Even let him coax her back into the pool. Without the safety net of her orange floaties. Luis thought the swimming lesson was a great success. They said goodbye to Gwen and Ethan as the sun was fading in the sky. Catherine slept the entire drive home. Curled up in Sheri's arms, of course. She didn't even wake as they tucked her in her bed. Luis looked around the house in wonderment. And smiled at Theresa's scribbled note. Yeah…it was a good surprise. He walked Sheridan down the hall to her own bed. Goodnight was so hard to say. He knew his arms would feel empty tonight. But not for long, he thought as he kissed her. Gently, chastely, on the lips. Just a whisper of a kiss. Not for long. Sheridan leaned back against her closed bedroom door with a sigh and a hint of a smile on her lips. Slow seemed like an eternity. But nobody said it wasn't sweet.
"Do you have everything?" Luis asked. Running a hand over Catherine's glossy dark curls. The gigantic Tweety Bird beach towel dwarfed her tiny figure. Orange floaties were on her tanned arms. She even had Teddy. "Catherine," Sheridan shook her head. "Sweetie…don't you think Teddy should sit this trip out?" Catherine's green eyes grew wide. "Oh no! Teddy just has to go." Luis grasped Sheridan's arm. "Yeah, Sheri. He HAS to go," he grinned. "Okay," Sheridan relented. "YAY!" Catherine squealed. "Merci, Sheri. Merci." Sheridan smiled when Catherine placed a very loud kiss on Teddy's fuzzy forehead. Catherine skipped out the front door. "Don't you know? Teddy's our guardian angel." Sheridan's blue eyes misted over as she remembered that night once more. "Maybe he is," she whispered. Pulling her beach bag onto her shoulder. "Got your swim trunks on, Luis?" "Who says I'm not wearing speedos?" Luis teased. "Gotcha!" he laughed at her shocked expression.
Catherine waved at the gatekeeper as Luis's jeep crawled up the winding road leading to the Crane Mansion. "Sheri? Will Ethan and Gwen be there? Will Uncle Julian?" "Uncle Julian?" Luis mouthed with a tickled grin. "Luis," Sheridan rolled her eyes. "We can still go to the public pool if you want to." "Sheri," Catherine said. "Why didn't we go to the beach? You promised me." Sheridan turned around in her seat to face the little girl. "Well…a pool's better for your first swimming lesson, don't you think Luis?" Luis nodded his head. "But the Crane pool," he muttered under his breath. "Luis…are you sure you're okay with this?" Luis linked his fingers with hers. "Sheridan," he said seriously. "We're going to MAKE this work. I can put up with Julian's snobbery for a few hours. Besides…I plan to be around. So I can't avoid your family forever." Sheridan squeezed his hand. "Sheri! We're here! Oh my goodness! Sheri! It's so big! We won't get lost, will we?"
"Mijo! What are you doing here?" Pilar exclaimed in utter surprise when she opened the door. Sheridan slid her arm in his. "I invited him, Pilar. We're giving Catherine swimming lessons today." Pilar's dark eyes lit on the tiny emerald-eyed child hugging her son's leg shyly. "You must be Catherine," she smiled. Kneeling down to Catherine's level. "Luis has told me so much about you." Catherine's green eyes twinkled. "He said you're a very special little girl." Pilar didn't miss the look of total adoration Catherine gave her son. The feeling was entirely mutual, too. She smiled slightly. She'd be seeing a lot of this little girl. She was sure. "Pilar," Sheridan smiled brightly. "Where are Ethan and Gwen?" "They're waiting at the pool for you," Ivy announced. And Catherine's pink, pouty mouth fell open. "Sheridan," Ivy gushed. "She's darling." Luis lifted Catherine in his arms. "I'm Ivy," she said. Cupping Catherine's silky cheek. "You'll have to visit me," she smiled. "Sheri?" Catherine questioned. Sheridan nodded her consent. "Oui! I'd like that. Very much," Catherine whispered.
"Catherine! Don't run! It's not safe!" Sheridan called. As Catherine disappeared around the corner. Dark curls flying. Luis laughed. If someone had told him a year ago that he would be a guest at the Crane Mansion…Sheridan's guest, no less…and that he'd be envisioning a future with the stubborn woman who had crashed into his police cruiser—twice, he would have never believed it. Sheridan caught him staring. "What? Too much sunscreen on my nose?" she blushed. "Luis." "Sheri! Sheri! Vite! Vite!" Sheridan giggled. "Let me guess. Hurry?" Luis held the pool gate open for her as she passed through. "Sheridan!" Gwen cried. Hugging her shoulders. "Aunt Sheridan," Ethan laughed "It's not fair to make her wait. Look at her. She's so excited." "Luis! Luis!" Catherine squealed. Tugging on Luis's arm impatiently. "I'm ready for my lesson now."
Luis stripped his tee-shirt off. Gwen's elbow connected solidly with Sheridan's ribs. "Slow, huh? Doll…I don't think you're going to last that long," she teased. This time Luis caught Sheridan staring. And winked. Gwen snickered. "100 bucks says you won't make it another week." "Gwen!" Sheridan gasped. "Some friend you are. Ye of little faith." Ethan grinned. "I'll take that bet and then some. 200 bucks!" Sheridan slapped her nephew on the chest. "And this is my family and friends speaking here." Catherine's delighted giggles permeated the air, and Sheridan's heart melted when she saw the two most important people in the world to her. Having the time of their lives. "Sheri! Sheri, aren't you getting in?" "Yeah, Sheri." Sheridan smirked at him. Her shorts and tee fell to the ground. At about the same time as Luis's jaw. "Isn't that against the law?" Luis breathed into her ear as she waded out to meet him halfway and Gwen enticed Catherine with a beach ball. "What?" she shrugged nonchalantly. Luis groaned as he stared into her deep blue eyes. Just how much longer was he going to be able to control himself?
Ethan snored loudly in the chaise by the pool, and Catherine giggled. Her hand over her mouth. Gwen rolled her eyes. "You should have heard him last night." "Ah!" Catherine squealed when Luis grabbed her up in his arms and jumped off the pool's edge. "Again! Again!" she sputtered. Blinking against the water dripping into her eyes. "Catherine," Sheridan smiled. "I think it's time we tried it without the floaties." Catherine's big green eyes grew worried, and she wrapped her arms around Luis's neck tightly. "I won't let go," Luis promised. Catherine held onto him trustingly as Sheridan pulled the slippery devices from her arms. "Ready?" "Oui." Luis lay Catherine on her back. His arms supporting her. "Relax, Sweetie," Sheridan encouraged. Brushing Catherine's wet curls from her face. "You can do it, Catherine!" Gwen called. "That's it," Luis laughed. "You're floating, Catherine." Catherine sent a dazzling smile his way. But when she realized Luis was no longer holding onto her…her smile disappeared.
"Luis," she pouted. Choking up the water she had just swallowed. "You promised." "He only let go for a second," Sheridan said softly. Rubbing Catherine's back comfortingly. Catherine hid her face in Sheridan's shoulder. Refusing to meet Luis's eyes. "Do you want to get out now?" "Oui," Catherine sniffled. "She'll be alright," Gwen reassured. "That little girl adores you. Someone else does, too," she said. Staring straight ahead. Watching Sheridan cradle Catherine's towel-clad little body close. "Don't hurt them, Luis," she said. Pinning him with her golden brown eyes. Luis stared back at her unflinchingly. "Never. They mean too much to me." Gwen smiled. "I'm glad we understand each other." Luis watched her swim away with strong strokes. Then his eyes met Sheridan's across the pool. Never.
Catherine finally forgave him. Even let him coax her back into the pool. Without the safety net of her orange floaties. Luis thought the swimming lesson was a great success. They said goodbye to Gwen and Ethan as the sun was fading in the sky. Catherine slept the entire drive home. Curled up in Sheri's arms, of course. She didn't even wake as they tucked her in her bed. Luis looked around the house in wonderment. And smiled at Theresa's scribbled note. Yeah…it was a good surprise. He walked Sheridan down the hall to her own bed. Goodnight was so hard to say. He knew his arms would feel empty tonight. But not for long, he thought as he kissed her. Gently, chastely, on the lips. Just a whisper of a kiss. Not for long. Sheridan leaned back against her closed bedroom door with a sigh and a hint of a smile on her lips. Slow seemed like an eternity. But nobody said it wasn't sweet.