Ch.13

The first thing she noticed when her eyes fluttered open was the huge pain she felt in the back of her head where she had fallen.

She reached back, happy not to feel any blood.

~ What am I doing on the ground? ~ She wondered.

Then she saw him.

Luis.

She jerked up, terrified.

"Teresa, are you ok?"

"Who are you?" she whispered.

"Teresa, I know this is a shock-"

"NO! You cant be Luis…Luis is dead, he died 2 years ago…"

"It was all a set up Teresa," he said sadly.

She didn't understand.

"I was at the hospital when they said you were dead."

"I wasn't even taken to that hospital Sis…it was all a lie."

She stood up, backing away from him.

"I don't believe you."

He sighed, frustrated.

"What can I say or do to make you believe me? It's me Teresa…you're brother…go on; ask me something…ask me anything. Something only I would know."

She stared at him, unable to speak.

He stood there, trying to think of something to say that would convincer her.

"You have a scar on your knee from when I pushed you out of the top bunk at the Crane cottage when we were little." He said,

Her eyes shone with tears.

He continued.

"Papa was going to come and tuck us in. he said whoever was the quietest and most ready for bed would get a special treat. You climbed on to the top bunk with me and I got mad…I wanted Papa to give me the surprise…so I pushed you off."

She edged closer to him.

"You stared crying…Mama ran in and yelled at me for picking on you. You were scared because your knee was bleeding. Papa ended up giving you the treat to stop your crying…I cant remember what it was though…"

She smiled.

"It was a little plastic harmonica," she said laughing.

"That's right!" Luis said excitedly. "I got so mad at you because I wanted it for myself. Everytime you would try to play it I would storm off in a jealous rage!"

They both laughed.

"Oh Luis!" she said running to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck as tight as she could.

"I can't believe it's really you," she cried.

They held each other for a few moments. Teresa pulled back.

"What will Mama think when she knows you're here? And Sheridan? Oh poor Sheridan…"

He closed his eyes.

"They can't know I'm here Teresa," he said.

She gasped.

"I don't understand any of this Luis…I'm starting to think that I've gone crazy."

He chuckled.

"You're not crazy Teresa."

"Well will you please explain all of this to me?"

His face grew serious.

"I'll tell you everything."