|
Epilogue: Someone Like You
Two weeks later, Sheridan sat on the couch in the Lopez-Fitzgerald
living room looking at the stack of boxes they had brought inside. Sighing, she couldn’t believe that she had finally
moved out of the Crane cottage. Despite her father’s passing, Sheridan decided the best way for her relationship
with Luis to work was for her to leave the Crane compound. Pilar had been more than willing to allow Sheridan,
as Luis’ fiancée and job, to move into the house and even share his room. She was a little reluctant on
the room issue, but finally gave in.
Sighing again, Sheridan wondered what they would do with all the things they had packed. Some of it had been a
little foolish to bring, like the dollhouse from the attic, but other parts were essential, like the book of fables
from her mother. Opening the box that contained her photo albums, Sheridan pulled the top one out.
"What are you doing, Sheridan?" Luis asked, entering the living room from the kitchen. "We’re going
to be late for the reading if you don’t get moving."
"Why do we have to go?" she asked. "I mean, I don’t want any of the Crane money, why do I need to
go and find out what he bequeathed me?"
"Because the lawyer refuses to read it without you present and his reading it exonerates me completely."
"Oh, yea," she sighed. "All right, I’ll go get dressed," she stood, fixing her bathrobe. "But
I’m doing this under protest, remember that."
"Yes dear," he smiled. "By the way, thanks for what you’re doing with the restaurant and everything."
Sheridan kissed her fiancé’s lips. "Luis, Pilar is like a mother to me. We both don’t want her working
at the mansion and I have plenty of money from my mother. Besides, we don’t have a Mexican restaurant in Harmony."
"Well, I still appreciate it baby."
"Remember that tonight," she winked and headed for the bedroom.
Luis grabbed the photo album and opened it to the first page. Katherine Crane stood beside her husband with Julian
between and slightly in front of them, his sister in his arms. Katherine was looking at the baby, as was Alistair,
thought Katherine was beaming and Alistair looked angry. Removing the photo, he read ‘Bringing Sheridan Home, April
28, 1973. Two days old.’
"She was adorable even then."
"Who was?" Sheridan joined him.
"You," he showed her the picture. "Ready to go?"
"Yea."
He placed the picture back into the album and put the album on the couch. "Come on, angel."
She took his hand and they went out into the March air. They walked hand in hand to the car and Luis opened her
door, helping her in. Running around to the other side, Luis climbed into the car and started the engine of his
SUV.
"So you’ll be twenty-eight this April," he smiled.
"She dated the damn picture, didn’t she?" Sheridan grumbled.
"Language, Sherry angel."
"Well, women are sensitive about their ages!" she pouted.
"Awww, I’m sorry angel."
"Not as sorry as you’re going to be," she flipped the radio on.
I've been searching a long time
For someone exactly like you
I've been traveling all around the world
Waiting for you to come through
Someone like you
To make it all worthwhile
Someone like you
To keep me satisfied
Someone exactly like you
Sheridan looked over at her fiancé. She had been
searching a terribly long time for someone like Luis. In fact, she had traveled three continents in her attempt
to find true love. Funny how she found it right in her own hometown. Sighing, she closed her eyes and listened
to the words of the song.
I've been traveling a hard road
Baby looking for someone exactly like you
I've been carrying this heavy load
Waiting for your light to some shining through
Someone like you
Could make it all worthwhile
Someone like you baby
To keep me satisfied
Someone exactly like you
Just like you
Luis glanced at his sleeping fiancée and grinned.
It had been a hard load to bear being the man of the house. It wasn’t easy to take all the responsibility upon
himself and remember to do the right thing all the time. Giving up college and all his dreams had been hard and
painful, but worth it to be with someone like Sheridan. He returned his gaze to the road and continued on to the
lawyer’s office.
Yeah baby
Just like you
And I've been doing some real soul-searching
Tryin' to find out where you're at
And I've been up and down this highway
To all kinds of foreign lands
Paris had been wonderful. She had seen some of the most
beautiful sights in the world. However, she had always been so terribly lonely. Even when she was with Jean Luc
she knew that something was missing. Now she knew it was love. She had never loved those other men; just as Luis
had never really loved the other women in his past. She remembered the men she had met in Spain and Switzerland…even
England. None showed her half of the love and respect that Luis showed her in one day. It was amazing to be loved
by him.
Someone like you
To make it all worthwhile
And someone like you
To keep me so satisfied
Someone exactly like you
Just like you
Someone like you
Could make it all worthwhile
Someone like you
Could keep me so satisfied
Someone exactly like you
Yes someone exactly like you
Just like you
I've been all around the world
Marching to the beat
Of a different drum
But then lately I realize
Maybe the best is yet to come
Someone just like you
Someone just like you
~*~ John Waite "Someone Like You"~*~
"We’re here angel," Luis parked the car.
Sheridan opened her eyes and sighed. "I wish we didn’t have to be here."
"But we do and we are. Now come on, let’s get this over with."
"Okay," she sighed.
The will had been read. Nothing had been a terrible surprise. Ethan inherited the empire, the compound, the foreign
homes, the boats…etc. Sheridan was given a substantial amount of money to survive on, though she and Luis were
bound to discuss that much later. Julian was left with some money, but none of the power he was so used to having.
"Finally," the lawyer looked at Ethan and Theresa and then Sheridan and Luis and lastly Julian and Ivy.
"Mr. Crane left behind a video message he wishes you all to hear." Hitting the play button, Alistair
appeared on the screen.
"Sheridan, Ethan, Julian," Alistair’s voice
was loud. "I assume you are all with your spouses or significant others. Ethan and Sheridan, you definitely
want the Lopez-Fitzgeralds to hear this. Julian, Ivy, don’t you dare move from your seats." He paused.
"I’ve decided to invoke my right to come clean posthumously. I’ve already spoken with the lawyers and they
guarantee that while Ethan will run the empire, I have seven years to return perfectly healthy before he becomes
complete and official heir to the Crane Empire. Therefore, be warned that a Crane may have many surprises in store
for anyone!"
Alistair continued to speak, revealing things to the group
settled before the TV. He made them swear to never reveal the information on the tape, reminding them all of the
terrible amount of power he had even in death…
[Author’s Note: Don’t be upset, Alistair’s secrets will
be revealed in future stories from me and everything will be explained. Hope you enjoyed it…sorry the ending is
such a cliffhanger. Look for story two "Spiritual Love" to hit boards soon!]
|
