Our Last Chance - Chapter 6 (Sheridan, Luis, Julian and Eve)
by pip
 
 

Our Last Chance – Chapter 6

LJ began to fuss and tensed his little body. Sheridan cooed to him. When he rooted against her breast, she instinctively knew what he needed. She turned toward the hearth moving him to that side. Looking over her shoulder at Luis, she asked, “Could you snuggled up and support my back?” Luis settled along side her, peering over her shoulder at LJ.

Sheridan raised her T-shirt and brushed her nipple across LJ’s mouth. Jolting her, his fussing stopped as he latched on to her. Luis chuckled at his son’s lusty initiative. He warmed as he watched his son suckle. The sight was sensuous as well as maternal.

For Sheridan, the sensation was delicious. She knew that it would be several days before her milk came in, but this was the first step for mother and child. The color rose in Sheridan’s cheeks as she self-consciously raised her eyes from LJ and turned her head to look over her shoulder at Luis. Luis smiled gently and encouraged her saying something that he’d said long ago. “You’re a natural.” Sheridan’s expression was serene. In a few minutes, she moved LJ to her other breast. Soon, mother and child slept.

Luis rose to add another log to the fire. It was late afternoon. As the sun dropped, the chill was returning to the cabin. Turning back to the room, he watched as Julian tucked a blanket around Eve who was napping on the sofa. Then, Julian approached Luis. He said, “The snow has stopped, but the roads are still a mess. Eve said she doesn’t want to move Sheridan until tomorrow.” Luis agreed. Julian said, “I believe there’s a bottle of brandy in the kitchen cupboard. Would you like to join me in a toast to your son?”

Luis narrowed his eyes at Julian. He would never trust the man, but he followed Julian to the kitchen. He did not intend to ask Julian for an explanation about Eve.

Julian poured a brandy for each of them and raised his glass. “To your son.” Luis sipped from his glass. Julian asked, “How do you plan to handle Antonio?”

“That’s none of your damn business.” Luis bristled.

Persisting, Julian asked, “He won’t bow out gracefully.”

Luis took another sip of the brandy. It warmed his throat and relaxed him. He let down his guard and said, “Sheridan called and told Antonio, before you got here.”

Julian met his eyes. “Of course, he already knew about the two of you.” He stated it matter-of-factly. Whereas Luis was honorable to a fault, Antonio was devious. Always had been.

Luis spat, “How did you figure that, Julian?”

“I might know your brother better than you do. He’ll fight you for her.”

“That’s not your problem, is it?”

Julian furrowed his brow and his eyes considered Luis.

Luis accused, “I’m sure you’re pleased about the situation. Enjoying it.”

Julian spoke candidly, “There was a time when that would have been true. I don’t deny it.”

Luis asked the question. “What’s changed?”

Julian gazed into his glass. Thinking of Eve, he said to himself more than to Luis, “Every story is a love story.” Julian didn’t meet Luis’s eyes.

Luis pushed off the counter and returned to the great room. He braced his forearm against the mantle and stared into the flames of the fire. Turning slowly, he looked down at Sheridan with one thought. My brother’s wife. Julian entered the room and his movement caught Luis’s attention. Luis raised his face, meeting Julian’s eyes across the room.

Julian saw it all. Brother against brother. Sheridan torn apart. He should have been delighted. He picked up his cell phone and returned to the kitchen. He called his attorney first and gave him everything he needed to ‘encourage’ Antonio to file for divorce immediately. He ran Antonio out of town once, and he would do it again. What Julian had on Antonio was a powerful prod if he chose to use it, and he so chose.

His next call was to Father Lonigan. Julian suggested that the church needed a new wing. Of course, he’d be happy to make a donation to cover the addition. Julian also explained that his attorney would bring Antonio to the church to apply formally for an annulment. This would be on Antonio’s way out of town. Antonio would declare that he had married Sheridan under false pretenses and that the marriage had never been consummated. Whatever the truth was, it wasn’t an issue for Julian. He had one purpose: Antonio would be out of their lives when Sheridan and Luis returned to Harmony. There would be a few papers for Sheridan to sign, and there would be a waiting period until the actions were final.

Julian knew that the worst fall out would be Alistair Crane’s reaction. Alistair preferred Antonio to Luis. Antonio was the brother he could manage. Julian set his shoulders back. He’d never gone against Alistair.

Eve came into the kitchen. She said, “I need to fix dinner.” Pausing, she studied Julian. Sensing something momentous, she tilted her head slightly. “What is it, Julian?”

“Antonio will be gone when we return.”

Eve was stunned. “He wouldn’t leave willingly.”

Julian answered her directly, “No, he wouldn’t.”

Eve nodded her understanding. Then she said, “Good, I’m glad.”

Julian locked his eyes on hers. They shared this belief. More often than not, the end justified the means. Lies and deception were their reality. And, Julian knew that when this interlude ended, Eve would go back to TC.
 
 
 
 

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