Chapter 6
"Mmm...Sheridan," Luis mumbled in his sleep. She giggled as she rolled onto her back and stared up at him.
"I wonder what he's dreaming about" She asked her self outloud.
"I was dreaming of you, me and hot, passionate love making" Luis told her, sitting up and leaning back against the headboard, bringing her close to him.
"Really? Well that's going to have to wait until later tonight because I want to go out." Sheridan said, getting up and gathering her things to go take a shower. She strutted her stuff all the way to the bathroom, making Luis aroused even more. He got out of bed and got dressed then brushed his teeth, not bothering to take a shower. Sheridan emerged half an hour later and entered the kitchen. She found Luis sitting at the table reading the newspaper.
"Did you have a nice shower, babe?" He asked, placing the paper on top of the table.
"I certainly did" Sheridan replied, plopping down in his lap. He leaned in to kiss her on her lips. A little while later he pulled away.
"Alright, let's get this day started" Luis announced. He entwined their fingers together and they left his apartment.
"So, where to first?" She asked, as they buckled up in his truck.
"I was thinking my parents place. I want them to know you're here. You know they adore you very much" Luis told her, and watched as she turned a light crimson color.
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"Mama? Papa?" Luis called from the front door.
"In the kitchen mijo" His mother called back.
"Hey, how about you walk into the kitchen and surprise her. My mother doesn't even expect you" Luis told his love in a low voice, so his mother wouldn't hear him.
"Ok" She walked ahead of him and entered the kitchen.
"Dios mijo! Sheridan, mija, you're back!" Pilar ran to her and hugged her tightly. Luis stood at the doorway watching the scene unfold. His father stood at the back door which lead to the patio.
"Yes, I'm back. Not for good though, I'm sorry. I missed you all so much!" Sheridan exclaimed, tears coming to her eyes. She hugged Pilar again then hugged Martin.
"We're so happy that you are back. I see Luis is happy also" Martin said as he watched his son wrap his arms around the petite blonde.
"Does your mother know your back, sweetheart?" Pilar asked, sitting down at the table. Gesturing everyone to do the same.
"No. No one knows I'm back yet. Only Hank and Luis do"
"Mija, I think you should go and see your mother. Have you heard the news yet?" Martin asked her.
"What news?"
"Sheridan, you're fathers dead. The rest should be explained by your mother" Martin told her.
"What! Oh my g-d, I have to see my mother right away. I'm sorry to cut this visit short. Luis, can you drive me to the estate"
"Yeah, sure baby. Mama, papa I'll be by later ok"
"Yes mijo, just take care of Sheridan. She's going to need you son" Luis listened to what his father said.
"Ok, bye" He said and followed Sheridan out to the car.
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"Sheridan!" Her mother exclaimed, running down the staircase.
"Mom, what happened?" She asked, noticing the swelled up bruise on her mothers face.
"Sheridan, we need to sit down and talk" Katherine told her daughter, almost ready to breakdown and cry.
"Hold one second. I just need to tell Luis that I'm going to be here for a while and to leave"
"Wait. Luis? I mean Luis, Luis?" Her mother asked.
"Yes, we found our way back to each other after all this time. I'll be right back"
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"Hey, I think I'm going to be a while. I'm sorry, but my mother needs me." Sheridan told him.
"Baby, I know your mother needs you. Ill come back later, alright"
"Ok. Luis..." She paused, waiting for him to look into her eyes.
"Yeah, babe"
"I love you so much!" Sheridan said softly and jumped in his arms. Hugging him so tightly, afraid to let him go.
"And I love you. Please don't ever forget that, ok. Now go be with your mother. Bye" They shared a short kiss and he left.
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Sheridan sat back down on the sofa beside her mother. They stared at each other for a while until Katherine spoke.
"I killed your father!" She cried. Sheridan just looked at her, wide-eyed, completely in shock. Her body went numb.
"You what?" Sheridan shrieked. "Darling, there's more to it"
"I want to hear it. Now!" She exclaimed through gritted teeth.
"Sheridan, I don't think...I'm not sure you should hear all this...I mean it's not necessary"
"You admitted you killed Alistair. I just need to know why. Please. You've always been honest with me
about everything. don't stop now." She begged, her piercing blue eyes pleading.
"He beat me and raped me. Sheridan, he did that so many times, for so many years, and I hid it. From you, Julian and even Pilar, who is my dearest friend. I was so embarrassed. I didn't want to live anymore. Finally I had enough. Yesterday he tried to force himself on me, not twice, but three times. First two times he gave up and let me be, then he came back for a third time. I didn't want him near me again. So I ran and he trapped me against the wall. I wouldn't give in and he slapped me hard a couple of times. Finally he gave up again. But instead of leaving the room he ran toward me and tackled me down and punched me in the face" Katherine finished and started bawling her eyes out.
"Mom, I'm so sorry" Sheridan whispered, wiping the tears away from her face. She hugged her mother.
"It was my fault. I should've left when he first started"
"When did he first starting hurting you?" Sheridan asked.
"When you left for California. He blamed me for you leaving. He didn't want you to become a model. And I encouraged it, so I was to blame. But if it meant your happiness sweetie, I'd get beaten everyday. I didn't care about myself as long as you were truly happy." She told Sheridan.
"Mom, I'm so sorry. So truly sorry" Fresh tears were starting to spill.
"It's alright. Payback is a b!tch! Revenge is sweet. Always remember that darling. The burial is already set. He's being sent to hell in a $200 box and dressed in raggy clothes." Katherine just laughed, and so did her daughter.
"Oh my, you didn't"
"Oh you wanna bet I didn't? Come on, it's time to celebrate. Let's go get Luis and we'll all go out for drinks. It's time for a celebration"
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The next morning Luis and Sheridan were rolling around in bed, making love.
"Mmm...I love you, baby" He whispered against her lips as he cupped her face in his large hands.
"I love you too" She smiled up at him. He fell to her side, exhausted and sweaty. She looked at him and giggled, pulling the sheet to her chest.
"Making love to you only gets better and better"
"I know, Luis" she sighed in contentment, kissing his chest.
"Luis, promise me something"
"Anything Sher, just name it" He quickly said, noticing the tone in her voice.
"Promise me that you'll never hurt me, physically or emotionally, and that you'll never hurt our kids" She said, looking into his eyes, searching his soul. He caressed her cheek softly and pressed a kiss to her temple.
"I promise Sheridan. I'd never hurt you or our children, I promise"
"Thank you. I need to take a shower and start getting ready." Sheridan slipped put of bed and walked to the bathroom.
"Where you going?" She peeked her head out from the bathroom.
"I'm having lunch with my mother and your mother." She told him, unwrapping the sheet from her body. Before she stepped in the shower, she stood in front of the mirror and gave herself a quick breast exam. She felt a spot and gasped, almost crying in fear. A lump. Oh god, that lump was never there before. Her heart suddenly dropped.
"Luis!" He heard her scream and ran to her. He watched her body, it was trembling.
"What's the matter?" Luis asked, putting his arm around her. She couldn't bear to look at him, she just held her hand to the spot on her breast. "Baby, come on you're scaring me"
"Luis...I have a lump..." She couldn't finish the rest because she broke down in his arms.
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"Eve, I found a lump in my left breast. I'm so scared right now. Breast cancer runs in my family. First my grandmother had it and then my mother." She told the doctor.
"Everything's going to be alright. Can you lay on your back please, so I can do a full exam" After she did the exam she had Sheridan go downstairs for a mammogram.
"Sheridan, doctor Russell did find a lump in your left breast, so now we just need to check for something else. We don't want to scare you, but we have to check if the lump is cancerous" Doctor Stanford told her.
"Luis, I'm so scared. Please don't leave me, please" Sheridan begged, clinging to him.
"Alright miss Crane, we're all ready for you"
"I need Luis to come with me. Please, I can't leave him. I need him with me"
"I'm sorry, but it's against hospital rules"
"Sher, everything will be fine alright sweetheart. I love you" He kissed her softly on the lips. While she went in with the doctor he sat in the waiting room and prayed she didn't have cancer.
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"Sher, hunny, relax. I mean no news is good news, right? How about you go get a drink with my mother and your mother? In fact I'm going to call them right now" He said, picking up the phone. She just sat there, dazed and confused. "Sheridan, they're gonna come here and pick you up ok. Now go change, sweetie" Fifteen minutes later Sheridan left to get a drink with Pilar and Katherine. They went down to a Restaurant/Lounge.
"I'd like a cosmopolitan, please" Sheridan said.
"I'd like a mudslide" Pilar said, pulling out the money from her wallet
"And I'd like a Long Island Ice Tea, please. Thank you" The three women found a small table outside and waited for their drinks. Pilar and Katherine noticed the look on Sheridan's face.
"Sheridan, are you pregnant?" Her mother asked bluntly, which caught her full attention. Sheridan looked at Katherine and started laughing.
"No, mother, I'm not pregnant. I just don't feel well right now" She answered, sighing when she saw the bartender walking over to them with their drinks. A couple of minutes later Sheridan's cell began ringing.
"Hello"
"Sheridan, hi this is Dr. Stanford. I have the results" He told her.
"Alright, tell me"
"Sheridan..."