SHERIDAN'S SECRET

chapter eighteen

The weeks passed by and Luis realized that Hank had still not taken care of his situation, and was still legally married to someone while Sheridan knew nothing about the charade.  He decided to take matters into his own hands.

It wasn't hard to locate the woman. Her name was Antoinette Harrington, and when Luis called on her, it was evident that she still had a great deal of money or at least she lived like she did.  She explained to him that her home had been in the family for generations. The beautiful, three story, white colonial manor occupied acres upon acres of Louisiana farmland and had once been the site of grand balls where southern society mingled while slaves served their every need.

 Outside, it was the picture of understated opulence.  It was almost two hundred years old and  stood in a clearing  surrounded by huge moss covered oak trees  that lined a path from the main road where the contrasting rice fields stretched across the flat horizon.  Luis was surprised by the mild November climate, and wondered how Hank could leave such a place of comfort and serenity.  Fluffy tailed squirrels scampered in a tall magnolia tree  near the house, and the air was still and cool, with just the sound of crickets chirping in the afternoon sun. The front porch was tall  and decorated with leafy, dark green ferns in hand painted  Chinese ceramic urns.  More ferns were  growing underneath the white wooden steps that led up to the front door made out of dark carved cherrywood and adorned with brass fixtures that appeared to be as old as the house itself.  The letter "H" was ornately engraved in the wood, both top and bottom. 

 Mrs. Harrington-Bennett welcomed him into the main sitting room  situated just beyond the front entrance which presented a view of a grand mahogany staircase  winding up and around out of sight.  He imagined  it provided entrance to the rooms surrounded by the long white balcony overlooking the front of the magnificent dwelling. Light streamed through the  heavily draped bay window  where traditional gold braided ties strained under the weight of the blood red velvet draperies which skimmed the dark wood floor. Luis couldn't put his finger on the smell, but it reminded him of something, and he felt lazy and at ease with his lovely hostess...sort of  a musty eucalyptus, he thought.  Old fashioned lace doilies were neatly placed on the arms and headrests of the  massive sofa and chairs, and old photographs and paintings covered the tables and walls.  The fireplace was clean with a log ready to blaze, and over the marble mantle hung a beautiful portrait of a young woman in a swing, two dogs playing beneath as she held a tiny bird up to set it free.   He wondered if it was Antoinette.

A maid brought in a tray with minted iced tea and cold shrimp and crab claws, and Antoinette thanked her.   Luis sipped the refreshing drink, and helped himself to the tasty shrimp dipped in tangy remoulade sauce.  The gulf coast seafood was delicious and a little different than what he'd been used to living on Harmony Bay.   Antoinette sat near an antique piano in a chair so huge, she seemed frail yet  dignified and resigned in her position as lonely mistress of the estate.    Dressed in a simple white blouse and dark skirt, she was a beautiful lady, tall and slender looking much younger than the photograph with soft blond hair framing her delicate southern features.  She spoke with a drawl and the polite manners of an aristocrat.   A gracious smile broke through as she sat back after squeezing a lemon over a crab claw and passing it to Luis.  "Oh yeah," he thought, "I could get used to this.

Antoinette told Luis the story of how Hank had worked for her as foreman, then odd jobs around the house, how she new he cared more about her money than anything else, but she had fallen in love .   Few new faces were seen in an area where families had lived for generations, and Hank's fresh face had been a welcome relief  after years of living alone, managing more than she could, and she had jumped at the change when it came along. She had just sold much of the surrounding land when Hank took off with the profits.  He had said he was going on a fishing trip, but only the abandoned boat was found, and at first, she thought he had drowned.  After hiring an investigator under the advice of the local police, she discovered he had been seen in South Carolina heading north, and that was all she knew.   The missing persons report was just a formality, but she said that she still had hopes of seeing him, perhaps even accepting his apology for what he had done.   At first, she was disappointed to hear Hank was involved with Sheridan, but after a few tears and some comforting words from Luis,  she agreed to help and accepted Luis invitation to come to Harmony for a little visit.  She said that she was sorry to hear that Hank had only gotten more devious, and that she didn't want to see someone else get hurt by him.

They talked a little more, Luis telling Antoinette all about life up north in Harmony, and what he did there.  She told him that she was the daughter of a French maid who had married her father after his first wife had died, how she had comforted him and how their love had crossed the boundaries of the classes, rich southern land baron and immigrant housekeeper.  There had been an age difference, but a deep love, and it was this that gave her hope that she and Hank could have a future together. 

Luis couldn't help thinking about how Sheridan's background was so different from his own.  "In France, it is nothing, my mama told me,"  Antoinette explained in her deep southern accent.  "When mama was a little girl, she dreamed of coming to America.  She worked as a galley maid on a steamer to get here and was all alone when they docked in Port Charles.  This area is full of French immigrants. That's the origin of the Cajun community, a mix of French with the blacks and whites who served the rich society after the civil war. Daddy's first wife met her and brought her here as a seamstress, but they actually became good friends.  Then after the first Mrs. Harrington passed on, well, mama and daddy got through it together.    My daddy was from a long line of wealthy white landowners, most of whom dallied with the kitchen help rather than marry them.  I guess I got a little bit of who I am from both of them.  I had the spirit of my daddy and the wishful heart of my mama.  Daddy would have tarred and feathered a fellow like Hank.  I'm just so grateful that he  never saw the fool his darlin' daughter made of herself."

 She stopped to study Luis and smiled again. "You certainly would never do anything so foolish, now would you hon."  She leaned over and touched Luis' hand.  "Somethin' tells me you're interested in more than just Hank and me, some kind of ulterior motive, I  do believe.  Like maybe, this little lady is more important to you than you want to say.  Am I right?" 

"She doesn't deserve what's happening to her."   Luis settled back in his chair and looked down.  He thought for a moment tapping the glass lightly with his middle finger and then looked back up. "I do care about her, Mrs. Harrington, um, I mean Bennett." 

Antoinette laughed, " Honey, call me Nettie, and please not Bennett.  "I'm going to help you and that little lady, so don't you worry about a thing.  You just keep an eye on her till I get there, you hear."       

Luis left with the idea that she would come to Harmony as soon as he gave her the go ahead.  A sad feeling came over him as he thought about her on the plane ride home.  Her world was so different from the world in Harmony. He pictured her sitting in front of him, head bowed, dabbing her eyes with the soft pink linen napkin and suddenly, the face of the woman in his imagination became the face of Sheridan, tear stained, reddened, drained of all feeling because of a man who falsely presented himself, Hank Bennett. Luis made a silent vow that Sheridan would never feel that pain.  He would make sure of that.  Luis slipped his hand into his jacket pocket and gripped tightly the medallion Sheridan had given him.  Valor, it meant something to him.

chapter nineteen

Everyone in Harmony was preparing for the Thanksgiving weekend.  Pilar and her family wanted to join other family members on the island after seeing to it that the Crane dinner party was underway, and Luis was expected to attend the Crane get together by formal invitation.   He had accepted and planned to bring a guest. 

Sheridan had gathered her courage and spoken to Hank when Luis was gone, telling him she needed a little more time  before  announcing about their wedding plans.  That was how she put it, saying  that she wanted to plan a separate party  for such a memorable event, maybe for New Year's.

  She was quite relieved and had accomplished giving herself a little more time to talk to Luis.  She wondered why she had seen so little of him lately, but her feelings hadn't changed.  Every night when her head hit the pillow, the fantasies would begin.  She  buried her face and imagined her head resting on his firm chest instead of the pillow. Ah, Luis, so tall, so muscular, his chiseled body holding her close, the dancing, the laughing, the way he looked at her as though  he would surely devour her with one kiss.  She could close her eyes and smell his scent, hear his voice, feel his touch. 

She wished that she didn't have to wait so long to talk to him, but he seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth .  He had taken a leave from the youth center, and one of the kids was filling in for him along with a little help from Hank.  Hank had seemed distracted by something, maybe the work at Crane Industries, she wasn't sure.  At least people were leaving her alone about her feelings.  They were all busy with their own lives, and she was glad about that.  She knew that Luis was bringing someone to the Thanksgiving dinner, and decided to find out as much as she could about that.  She hoped that he didn't have a woman in his life  because she knew that Luis was the type of guy who would never make a play for his best friend's girl.  Sheridan just wanted a chance to let him know about her doubts and take it from there.  She knew in her heart that once she was with him alone, in a safe place that she would be able to read between the lines concerning Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald's true feelings.  Once he knew that she was having second thoughts about Hank, he would have that certain twinkle in his eye  if he wanted a chance himself.  That was something he would never be able to hide from her.  She was counting on that. 

 Meanwhile, Hank was nervously wondering whether Luis had put aside his interest in Hank's marital situation.  He knew that if he had any contact with Antoinette Harrington, it could mean big trouble.  She still had the kind of friends and money to do things he didn't even want to  imagine, and he was afraid to let her know his whereabouts.  His people reading skills were still finely honed, and he had no idea how right he was.

 Back in Louisiana, In a seedy hotel, in a dark, smoke filled corridor, Antoinette Harrington hovered waiting for an old friend.  An elderly black man, stooped and carrying what looked like a duffel bag greeted her, and they spoke in broken French.  This was her courier, supplemental income.  She had diversified her holdings and was making a huge income by financing drugs brought over from France.  She and her partners were responsible for providing  opium and heroine to local dealers as well as drug firms who purchased the black market goods for illegal  testing procedures and production. Hank knew that she had many small business activities, but he had no idea she was involved in this.  As Antoinette instructed the man to bring the bag to her car, they walked along and she explained her situation.  Would he be able to help her get rid of someone-yes.  He had friends who did such things; he would contact them.  These people were already planning a trip to America, and a bonus job would be welcomed.  The conversation was over, and Hank's fate was determined.  Antoinette was through playing games.  She knew where he was, and she knew what had to be done.  She would show him what disappearing was all about.