Our Last Chance - Chapter 3 (Julian, Eve, Sheridan and Luis)
by pip
 
 

CORRECTION OF ERROR in the last chapter: I reversed the blood type letters in one paragraph. People who are informed on this topic will recognize this error. This is the corrected paragraph:
Eve said, “One of the tests I ran showed the baby’s blood type. That isn’t always meaningful, but in this case, it was. The baby is type A, and Sheridan is type O. I checked Antonio’s hospital records, and he’s type O, same as Sheridan. Even before I checked Luis’s records, I knew that he would be A, just like his son.”

Short explanation: Mother type O and father type O will have type O child. Technically, Luis could be type A or AB and father an A child with an O mother. If anyone wants to read more about this, here is the web address for a blood type calculator. http://www.biology.arizona.edu/human_bio/problem_sets/blood_types/btcalcA_popup.html

I want to thank Janine / SheridanLF74 who sent me a helpful email about this. I had not noticed that I’d reversed the blood type letters. It’s wonderful to post on a board that has a community of writers like Janine who look out for other writers and the readers too. Janine wanted to help me, but she was also concerned that a student might read this and be confused by it someday in a biology class. Lord help you if any of you are thinking about this fanfic in class. Sincere thanks to Janine and everyone who reads in spite of the errors. pip
 
 

Last chapter ended with “Sheridan, you’re in labor.” His voice was matter of fact, belying his tension."
 

Our Last Chance – Chapter 3

“No, I’m not. This is a lower backache, and it comes and goes. Really, it’s nothing,” Sheridan insisted.

“Comes and goes?” Luis cocked his eyebrow at her. Who was she kidding?

Sheridan tensed and spoke firmly, “The baby isn’t due yet. I am not in la - bor.” She ground out the last word as another spasm gripped her lower back.

Luis watched her face tense, watched her brace her hand to her back. He said, “Right,” as he rose from the bedding and headed to the door.

“Where are you going?” Sheridan shrilled.

“Well, Miss ‘I’m-not-in-labor,’ before you tell me you’re not even pregnant, I’m going back to my SUV at the end of the driveway. I left my cell phone in it.”

“You’re leaving me alone to go make phone calls?” she asked shakily.

Luis studied her face. Did she have any idea how ridiculous she sounded? Patiently, he explained, “I thought it might be nice to have the phone in the cabin in case we wanted to place some calls. Maybe to Dr. Russell. Of course, you aren’t in labor. So, that’s not likely.” He grinned at Sheridan.

She flared at his sarcasm. “Get your phone, damn it. Don’t stand there gawking!” Luis could irritate the hell out of her. It was that know-it-all attitude that he pulled. Sheridan was so close to panic that she chose to focus on irritation. Damn him. He knew she was in labor before she did. Well, she wasn’t telling him, but when that last pain spread across her back, she knew it too.

Luis shrugged and moved to the door, pulling on his jacket. This was going to be a long haul. If she was testy now, wait ‘til she hit the transition phase of labor. This was turning out to be one hell of a morning. He gave Sheridan one instruction before he headed out. “Stay here.”

She tossed her head. “What no skiing today? I love to ski on fresh powder.”

Luis rolled his eyes. “You’re a riot.” Neither one laughed. The seriousness of what they faced slammed both of them. Their eyes locked.

Luis lowered his head and forged out into the snow that had drifted against the door. He knew there was a good chance that he’d be delivering Sheridan’s baby. If her labor was slow, he might be able to get help to the cabin in time. As he pushed toward the vehicle, he decided that he wouldn’t try to take Sheridan to the SUV and drive her back to Harmony. Too many things could go wrong if he brought her out of the cabin.

--------
“Julian, it’s Eve. I can’t reach Luis. He doesn’t answer his cell.”

“He will. There are points on that mountain road where the signal fades. But, I’ve made calls on my cell phone from the cabin. You’ll be able to reach him there.”

“He left hours ago. He should be there by now.”

Calmly, Julian assured her. “Maybe he turned his phone off. If there’s a problem, Luis will call.”

Eve said, “I have to reach him before he returns Sheridan to Antonio. Julian, you don’t know the whole story. Sheridan left Harmony because she couldn’t take the tug of war between Antonio and Luis anymore. She loves Luis, but she decided not to leave Antonio until after the baby was born. If Antonio turned out to be the father, she would still love Luis, but she wanted to know what she was choosing before she made the final decision.”

Julian knew his sister’s passion for Luis. Confounded, he asked, “She’d stay with Antonio even though her heart is with Luis?”

“It’s about the child, Julian. A child is a bond that can’t be ignored.”

Julian thought of his son with Eve. “I understand.”

“Sheridan wanted desperately for the child to be Luis’s. I’ll try his cell again.”

After they hung up, Julian stood for a long time with the phone in his hand. Eve’s compassion for Sheridan struck him full force. He pressed his fingertips to his forehead begging, ‘God, forgive me.’ If Eve knew what he’d done to Sheridan, his own sister, she’d never forgive him. Nothing would redeem him. Redemption, as unattainable as love. He wallowed in his guilt.
 

When Luis opened the truck’s door, his phone was ringing. “Lopez-Fitzgerald.”

“Luis, thank God, I reached you. How’s Sheridan?” Eve inquired.

“She’s is labor,” he spoke tersely.

A groan escaped Eve’s lips and her hand tightened on the phone. What else could go wrong for this couple? “How far apart are her contractions?”

“I haven’t timed them yet. Listen, she’s in the cabin, and I came out to the road to get my phone from the SUV. I think there’s time to get help up here. The roads are slow, but I got through.”

Eve said without hesitation, “I’ll come to her.”

Luis cautioned, “You’re going to need TC to drive you up here in a four-wheel drive. That’s the only way you’ll make it.”

“TC isn’t here. I’ll have to get someone else.”

Why would TC be away during a blizzard? Luis asked, “Where’s TC?”

Eve explained, “He left several days ago, before the storm, for an Anger Management Seminar in Boston.” (Cut me some slack, dear readers, I can’t write straight sometimes.)

After ending the call to Luis, Eve never thought to call Sam or anyone else. Instinctively, she turned to Julian. In less than twenty minutes, Julian commandeered a Hummer from Crane security and met Eve. When she hopped in beside Julian, she began to thank him profusely. “I can’t thank you enough, Julian. I ...”

He cut her off. “Eve, what kind of man would I be if I wouldn’t do everything I could to help my own sister.”

Eve studied her clasped hands in her lap. It wasn’t easy to meld the two Julian Cranes into one man.

Julian didn’t wait for her to comment. He continued, “I’d do anything to help you, Eve, even if my sister weren’t part of this.”

Eve covered her thoughts by saying, “It’s just that I hate to ask anyone to go out on roads like this.”

They rode in silence for a long while. Julian didn’t need conversation. To be near her, to come to her aid - this might be as good as it gets. Finally, he spoke. “Does TC know that we’re together?”

Horrified by the thought, Eve stated, “We are not together, Julian. You are driving me to deliver your sister’s baby. That’s all.”

“May I ask why your husband isn’t driving you?”

“If you have to know, he’s in Boston.” She paused and then told the rest. “He’s at an Anger Management Seminar.”

Julian chortled, but covered his mouth and feigned a cough. Eve sliced her eyes at him. “I know what you’re thinking, Julian.” Then she warned him, “Not a word about TC.”

Julian pondered TC and anger management. He furrowed his brow. Had TC ever been violent with Eve? He had to know. Quietly he asked, “Has he ever directed his anger at you?”

Defending her husband, Eve insisted, “No, of course not, TC loves me.”

Not thinking clearly, Julian replied, “If he ever laid a hand on you, I’d kill him.”

Eve’s eyes grew large. “Julian, you’re as bad as he is. The threats, always the threats. I don’t want to hear any more of that from either of you.”

Julian felt no remorse. He’d kill TC if he ever harmed Eve.

Eve wondered how two men so different could be so similar. No, they weren’t alike at all. TC raged like a bull. His anger was mindless. Julian’s comment was somehow different. He only wanted to protect her. If he ever did murder, it would be with forethought. That chilled her to the bone and she shivered.

Julian noticed. “Shall I turn the heat higher?”

“No,” she answered. There it was again. That concern for her. Julian’s thoughtfulness moved Eve. In Harmony, with TC near, she’d always been on edge with Julian. Now, with Harmony and TC in the distance, Eve exhaled deeply and relaxed. Julian’s protective presence was comforting. For a moment, she basked in it, reveled in it.

Julian heard her sigh and his tension eased. Eve’s power over him awed him. Just the change of her breathing affected him.

Eve dug her cell phone out of her bag. “I need to call Luis.”

Luis answered as he shoved the cabin door opened. “Yeah.”

“Luis, we’re on our way.”

“Who’s driving?”

She hesitated and looked askance at Julian. “Julian. We’re in one of those things that looks like a tank.”

“That’s great. You’ll make a lot better time than I did.” He had to laugh aloud. Leave it to Julian Crane to turn up a Hummer. This is one time he could appreciate the man’s extravagance.

“How’s Sheridan?” Eve asked.

Sheridan came to Luis at the door. He handed the phone to her so he could get out of his coat. “It’s Eve.”

“Dr. Russell?”

“Have you timed your contractions, Sheridan?”

“I think they’re about five minutes apart. Sometimes they’re irregular and break longer.”

Eve said, “That’s good. I want you to relax. We have plenty of time. Julian and I will be there in time. Sheridan, don’t eat anything. A few ice chips if you need water, but no food. Now, hold the phone where you and Luis can both hear this. I have news for both of you.” Eve could hear Sheridan murmur to Luis. “Are you both there?”

“Yes.”

“One of the tests we did showed the baby’s blood type. Based on the hospital records, Luis is the father,” Eve explained.

Luis and Sheridan reacted in unison. Both closed their eyes and thanked God. Then their eyes met over the phone, and Sheridan’s filled with tears as Luis pulled her closer to him. He whispered to Eve, “Thank you.” He pushed the END button.

Eve slipped her phone back into her bag. Their joy brought tears to her eyes. She heard Julian clear his throat. Glancing at him, she knew that he felt it too. She smiled sadly. Was she the only one who knew this side of this man?