SHERIDAN'S SECRET

chapter fourteen

 Hank was really knocking himself out at work trying to get ahead according to Julian, and Sheridan couldn't get over how much everyone loved him.  Julian had even invited the two of them to dinner that night, and  Pilar was there helping Sheridan get things in order for the dinner party.  They were celebrating Hank's new promotion.  Even though he had only been with Crane Industries less than a month, Julian felt that he had been overqualified for his original position, and wanted him to have something more challenging, he told Sheridan.  With the holidays approaching and the new year right around the corner,  Julian said he wanted  Hank to be acquainted with everything ahead of time  in case there were any changes or problems then.  Sheridan was glad that she had not chosen to involve herself with the family business.  She was happy to be helping the community with her work at the youth center where she had decided to stay and help the young women.  In fact, she had quite a workout that day with the basketball team, and was hoping to get a second wind before Hank got there for the celebration. 

Pilar was going on and on about how happy she was that Hank was doing so well, and what a great guy he was.  "You two seem to be made for each other.  I am so happy that you have finally found a man like Hank!  He really cares about you.  And I am so happy that your family approves.  How long has it been since you were telling me you were so lonely, and you were afraid you would never find love? "   She walked over to Sheridan and picked up her hands.  "This is what I have always wanted for you, Sheridan.  You are happy, are you not?"   Pilar was beginning to feel a little guilty, wondering whether Sheridan was really as happy as everyone was hoping she would be. 

"I guess so, Pilar."  Sheridan seemed depressed.  I don't know any more.  It's just that everything is happening so fast.  I think right now the happiest part  of my life is the time I spend at the youth center.  Isn't that funny...I hated the idea of working there when I started, and now it brings me the most joy, the most fun.   I just can't explain it,  Pilar.  It's like I'm really needed there.  And your son has been an absolute angel.  It's hard for me to think of when he and I didn't get along...seems like an eternity since he was such a bear to be around.  Now, we're like one big happy family.  And I guess I'm Momma Bear!"  They both laughed, and  Sheridan sat down on the couch.  "Seriously, Pilar, we have so much fun.  It's not like a job at all.  Luis is so great with those kids and such an inspiration to me.  He really is a good man.  I don't know why I didn't see that from the start when everyone else was telling me about him.  But I do now, that's for sure.  I really do.  You're a great mother Pilar, to have raised a son like Luis.  I see now why you're so proud of him."

"Yes, I am.  And I am so happy that the two of you are finally getting along.  I'm sure Hank is happy too. "   Pilar couldn't help noticing how Sheridan sparkled  so much more when she spoke of Luis instead of Hank like she'd expected. 

 Sheridan assured Pilar that Hank was happy about everything and mustered up the energy to get up and get a quick shower before dinner, while Pilar straightened the cottage.  The dinner went as well  as could be expected considering  the forced alliances, with Ivy and Julian lavishing praise on Hank, and Hank lavishing praise on Sheridan. 

But inside, Julian was seething about the way he'd been tricked into letting Hank get the better of him. He was secretly plotting to get rid of both Hank and Sheridan any way he could at this point with Ivy and Allistar knowing as little as possible.  On the other hand, Hank was ready to get rid of this born again cretin posing as heir to his woman's fortune. He too was looking for a way to create a little accident involving at least Julian and possibly Ivy too. 

But it was to everyone's advantage for Sheridan to remain  in the dark about everything at this point.  Hank was fully aware that if she knew her real brother was on that island, she would do anything and everything to help him and that she would completely freak out to know that she had been fooled about killing that intruder and knowing everything that had been done to keep the secret.  If he could convince her to marry him, and  if he could get rid of at least this character posing as her brother, he could  reunite the families and tell her it was all the doings of the imposter.   Hopefully  it would salvage her relationship with Ivy and Pilar who were duped by him and Allistar.  He could make a deal with Allistar too if he needed to, or maybe Allistar could just stay away like he'd done for so long anyway.  Certainly no one had missed him.  

 The man posing as Julian Crane all these years knew basically the same thing, and he had a lot more to lose than Hank.  If he could get Sheridan to move back to Paris, great.  Otherwise, he had no choice but to find a way to eliminate both Sheridan and Hank.  It was the only way for him to remain in the position he was in.  It was all a matter of who could get to Sheridan first.  

 Actually, Joel Bonnett', alias Julian Crane was already up to no good.  After talking to his friends in Paris and trying to find a plan to get Sheridan back there, he was made aware of the situation Sheridan had created with her past love, Jean Luc.  French mafia were looking for her, and were now aware that Mr. Bonnett' was involved in her disappearance.  This was all he needed after being blackmailed by Hank.  Now, he wondered how fast he could get her over there and just let them do the dirty work, and he had to work fast before he became more involved himself.  The last thing he wanted to deal with was the French mafia.  He had to find a way to keep them away from Harmony, and Sheridan was his bait.  If he could convince them that she had left Harmony, that would be great, but how?  The more he thought about it, the more he was convinced that both Sheridan and Hank would have to be eliminated.  

In Paris, Jean Luc's old partners were fully aware of Sheridan's whereabouts, and had orders to get rid her as soon as possible.  In fact, there was a lot of embarrassment about how she got away the first time.  They did not want to take the chance of having her identify them at some point in the future, and they were making plans to come to Harmony to do their work.  Poor Sheridan was being chased down like an animal and being betrayed by nearly everyone she knew and loved.  The only person who was really trying help her was the man she had once said she despised, Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald, and little did he know what he was up against. The forces of evil in Harmony were indeed at work.

   CHAPTER FIFTEEN

 When Pilar got home, Luis was just getting there too and said he had worked late trying to find something on Joel Bonnett' , the man who was posing as Julian Crane. He told Pilar all about how the man had a criminal record with the FBI and was wanted for embezzlement before he disappeared.  He had files open in most wanted and missing persons, and Luis was concerned for Sheridan's safety and also worried about Hank's involvement with the family.  When he told his mother about how it was bothering him, she had mixed feelings.   Luis seemed to really care what happened to Sheridan, and she wondered if it was right to push Sheridan into Hank's arms when Sheridan and Luis were obviously showing so much interest in one another.  

Pilar had been seeing the signs for some time, the passionate dislike at the beginning followed by the passionate regret and rebirth of their relationship.  But she also kept remembering Hank's threats to uncover all her dark secrets and thought about the embarrassment he had said it would bring to Luis, the humiliation of being the son of a criminal and how it would wreck his career and their lives.  She felt dejected, depressed, helpless.  She wanted to turn to her son for help, but she was afraid, so she suffered in her silence, listening and lighting the candles as Luis spoke of the woman she knew he loved.  Did he know...she wondered, but thought not.  

 The next day at the youth center, Luis and Sheridan were planning a costume party for the holidays which was to take place the next night. Hank was helping as much as he could, and thinking maybe this would be a great time to propose to Sheridan. He figured if her asked her now, they could set a date soon and announce their engagement during the Christmas season, really make it official.  He was a little worried that it might take him a while to talk her into it, but he knew she was ripe for companionship, and she trusted him.  All he could do was give it his best shot, and what better time than during a romantic costume party.  He planned to dress as a knight in shining armor, and she was a princess, so it would be perfect.   Getting down on one knee might be a little difficult, but he would think of something.  

Sheridan was decorating and chatting about the evening with Hank half listening, half making his own private plan  for the big event.  He wondered if she knew what was in store.  She seemed really cheery, coming up with all sorts of things to do for the kids.  She would make a good wife, he thought.  All he had to do was tie up a few loose ends, and they would have the perfect life together.  

 Luis was tying up some loose ends of his own.  There was so much to do getting ready for the party, and he was swamped with paperwork from the various sponsors. It took a lot of planning and money to put something this nice together for the kids. Luis was  embarrassed that he really didn't have the money to get anything too elaborate for his own costume, so he didn't tell  anyone that his mother was helping him come up with something mix and  match, and he actually didn't know how it would turn out. He just didn't have much time these days trying to find out information about the imposter, working late at the police station and doing as much as he could at the youth center.  He was glad that Hank was there for Sheridan, and couldn't get it out of his head about Hank's plans to propose.  Of course, he had known from the beginning that Hank was after her, and that her money was the main attraction, but what could he do?  He certainly couldn't betray his friend.  Hank had said that he planned to make himself the perfect husband for Sheridan, and why not?  Luis had never seen a marriage that worked anyhow, so why should this one be considered any worse?  At least Hank was devoted to the idea of being Mr. Sheridan Crane, he laughed thinking about how bossy Sheridan could be as he listened to the two of them bickering about decorations in the gym.  Hank was so full of bull!

" Bull, hey that's a great idea," he thought.  "I could pull out some of my old tango stuff and make a sort of matador costume. "  He imagined himself dressed as a matador whipping his cape around as Hank and Sheridan  playfully darted through his mad dance, Sheridan getting a lot bigger 'ole than Hank!  

When Luis got home, Pilar agreed to help him with the matador costume.  The next day it was ready just in time for the party.   Actually it consisted of a tango costume with a cape, wide brim toreador hat, pants, vest and mask, all in black.  Luis looked fantastic!  He couldn't help remembering the first time he saw Sheridan having fun at his mother's birthday party.  She was quite the dancer, better than he had ever imagined.  Why couldn't he have really broken the ice between them that night?  Maybe things would have been different.  But what was he thinking!  He stopped himself just before the memory of  the smell of her skin against his face captivated him, her hair, her eyes, the summer heat melding their bodies.  He couldn't help thinking of the night they danced the magical tango. 

When he got to the youth center, Sheridan and Hank were already there, laughing and talking.  "I think I'm going to ask her tonight, Luis."  Hank took his friend aside.  " God, I'm so nervous  and hot in this tin outfit, I feel like  that movie, "If I only had a brain," you know,  I'd know what to say to her."

"That was the scarecrow, Hank, " Luis laughed, "Anyway I thought you were the knight in shining armor, and she was your princess."

"Oh yeah," Hank remembered, "that tin guy needed a heart".  He was fidgeting around in his costume wondering where Sheridan had gone. "I'm going to find Sheridan, Buddy.  You're right, heart, I will pledge her my heart".  Hank  spoke the words like he was the sole performer onstage and tried to leave with  a flourish, but the costume was so bulky, he stumbled off looking and sounding like a dump truck full of aluminum cans. 

It was entirely comical for Luis, watching Hank clank around trying to act cool. Then the cop brain clicked in, "The tin guy needed a heart, hmm, I wonder if that was some kind of Freudian slip.  Maybe Hank wasn't the love struck guy he wanted everyone to think he was.  Maybe he didn't have the one thing a woman like Sheridan would need, a heart! "  Luis adjusted his hat and mask, and decided to try to stay out of Hank's business, then headed off to have some fun and distraction. 

 Suddenly, the crowd was louder, laughing, shouting, and the clatter and noise told him Hank was involved.  Luis went around the side of the building, and sure enough, there was Hank, like an upside down turtle, stuck on his back, squirming around in his armor and trying to get up off the ground.  As people were trying to hoist him up, they ended up toppling over too, and the result was a bunch of people laughing so hard they were too weak to help him. Sheridan was standing off to the side when Luis, supercop to the rescue arrived on the scene.  

 With a black mask covering most of his face, and the full black cape and hat, Luis was not easy to recognize. He pulled Hank to his feet, and Sheridan came forward to thank him, not realizing it was Luis, then stood frozen.  She couldn't believe her eyes. It was exactly like her dream, the man in black, tall,  dark, mysterious, and, oh my God, not Hank.  Sheridan  recognized him immediately, as the dream replayed in her mind.  She would never forget the way he held her in his arms, comforting her.  "I'll always love you, no matter what."  She could hear his voice, soft and low as he whispered in her ear and held her tightly against his jet black cloak.  The dark and mysterious image of the man  of her dreams was emblazoned on her soul, the man unlike any other man she had ever known, the man  she now realized was Luis,  Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald, her fiancee's best friend.  

Yes, Hank had proposed, and she had accepted, reluctantly at first, but he was quite the talker, and she had relented thinking this was the man she could trust and grow to love, the man who had protected her  and cared about her no matter what.  He fell on his face when she finally said yes. And now this.  

"Thanks, Luis,"  Hank shuffled around trying to compose himself.  "I'm such a klutz, it takes a real friend to help haul a heap of metal like this." 

"I'm always here for you, no matter what", Luis stood smiling at Hank  who was standing next to Sheridan now.  

It was practically word for word dialogue from her dream.   As soon as Luis said it, Sheridan felt helpless. "That's him, I know it.  I've heard him.  I know that's the man in my dream, my man in black.  I always wondered who he was, and now, there is no doubt at all.  How could I have thought it was Hank?   My God, Luis, why did you wait so long?  Why didn't you come to me sooner? "  She turned to leave.

"Just a minute, princess, I think you owe me one." Luis  swept his cape around and offered his hand to Sheridan . "I believe that's our tango they're playing."  

Sheridan stood there still stunned and Hank broke in, "I guess it would be okay if my future best man  dances with my future wife."

The silence was deafening.  Luis and Sheridan stood  facing one another, their eyes fixed  in a look of desperation.  Finally, Luis was able to muster up a smile.  "Then, it's congratulations, fair lady, and now may I have this dance?"  

Sheridan took Luis' hand, and smiling over at Hank for approval left for the dance floor.  Hank said he was getting out of his costume and into something more practical, and Luis and Sheridan were alone at last.  As the music played, the heat grew more intense between them.  Every movement,  deliberate and strong, Luis snapped Sheridan across the floor and back into his arms, holding her tightly , their eyes locked in mysterious wonder.  Sheridan looked gorgeous, her golden hair wrapped in the thin pale pink scarf that tied her princess hat.  A plunging jeweled neckline was cut low and her milky white skin  glowed with just the slightest perspiration as they danced the dance of love.  A heavenly goddess, she swayed into his arms leaning back, his head followed her every move.  And then, the music ended, face to face, the warmth radiated from their bodies , Luis wrapped his cape around her waist and pulled her even closer.  It was all he could do to keep from kissing her, "God what was he thinking?"  And Sheridan was sure that she could never live her life without the fiery passion she now knew could exist between a man and a woman. 

 A slow song blended softly into the room, and the light dimmed with a giant crystal ball spinning  and sparkling, throwing out  it's tiny drops of light to dance among the crowd.  Luis stood staring at Sheridan, "Shall we?"  Still holding her firm against his hard body, Luis and Sheridan danced slowly, silently savoring the moment.  Sheridan closed her eyes and rested her head on Luis' shoulder.  She wondered if anyone was looking at them, if anyone could feel the lust permeating the  air around them.  And Luis was wondering  something too, wondering how he would ever be able to stop holding her when the music finally ended.  It took all his strength to keep his passion for her from showing. How would either of them ever forget this night!

               click bead for chapter 16

I hope you like it so far!  Sadly, the end is near, but I think you will enjoy it-a wild mix of humor and intrigue!  I always like to hear from you! 

Happy Halloween!

Ghost Dance Gif:

E-mail the creator: Kevin Sullivan kevdebin@atlnet.com
Creator's Web Site: Free Grafix by kevdebin & 3rd Shift GIFs