Epilogue

Years lapsed into decades. When Sheridan and Luis celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary, both Alistair Crane and Pilar had been gone for years. Eve’s husband TC passed away a few months before the Lopez-Fitzgerald’s anniversary.

When Alistair died, he bequeathed Crane Enterprises to the three sons of his daughter Sheridan. The will did not provide for any children that might come after Alistair’s death. Luis and Julian held joint control of the corporation until the twenty-first birthday of each of Luis’s sons. One-third control would pass to each son on that birthday until the three men equally shared Crane.

One afternoon soon after LJ assumed his position at Crane, Julian sat in his office and waited for LJ. LJ had told his uncle that he wanted to hire a new corporate attorney. LJ said this attorney had twenty years of experience in corporate law, but he neglected to mention that he was also valedictorian of his law school class. LJ was bringing the man to meet Julian. When they entered Julian’s office, Julian came face to face with his son. Julian had had several mild heart attacks in recent years. The shock was too much for him and he collapsed. Before he was lifted onto an ER stretcher, he grasped LJ’s hand. “I need Dr. Russell.”

Kneeling beside him, LJ answered, “She’s retired.” He thought that Uncle Julian wanted Eve as his doctor.

Julian knew he was dying. “Tell her our son is alive.”

LJ would have assumed that his uncle was delirious, but he knew the story of his birth. His uncle had gotten Dr. Russell through a blizzard just in time. He had no idea what connection they might have.

Julian whispered, “Please, LJ, you are my last chance to tell her.” Julian had planned to tell Eve after TC died, but he’d heard that Whitney and Simone were visiting her. He would never intrude on her time with her daughters. Julian died before he reached the hospital.

But, LJ told Luis the story. Luis quizzed him carefully on every detail. He asked, “Tell me again who was in the office with you when Julian collapsed.” LJ explained about the new attorney. Luis considered the possibility that Julian and Eve had a son. Did the new attorney fit into their story?

The reading of Julian’s will answered his question. Julian wrote this will after TC died. All of Julian’s worldly possessions passed to Eve Russell unless she preceded him in death. If she were no longer living, everything Julian owned passed to the attorney who LJ brought into Julian’s office that day. Luis and Sheridan sat with Eve at the reading of the will. Luis leaned close to Eve and repeated LJ’s story. Eve’s tears flowed.
 

The next day Sheridan took Eve to visit Julian’s grave. By then, Eve had met her son. Eve explained to Sheridan. “No one knew Julian. He would never have endangered my marriage. Our son was successful, and he chose not to interfere in his life. He made self-less choices, and we didn’t know.”

Sheridan answered, “He protected my marriage, too. I don’t know if Luis could have survived Alistair’s interference at the very beginning. Julian helped Luis deal with it.”

Later Sheridan drove Eve home with her. When they entered the cottage, Eve said, “This room hasn’t changed in all these years.”

Sheridan replied, “We’ve added on in every direction, but Luis and I won’t change this room.” She turned slowly, scanning the room. “If these walls could talk...all the lies were told in this room.” Her eyes met Eve’s. Sheridan said, “We’ve all lived extravagant lies.”

Eve asked, “You and Luis?”

Sheridan said, “Yes, I lived the lies. For one, Alistair told me several years ago about your son with Julian. He was afraid Julian would take his secret to his grave and no one would ever know. A month ago, I saw an article about your son in a business magazine. I showed it to LJ and suggested that this man would be a fine addition to the Crane team.”

Eve gasped. Then she said, “And there’s one more lie.”

Sheridan smiled faintly, “Yes, the one you helped us cover when you put your spin on my hypnosis results. I did murder Martin Fitzgerald. I was a frightened child, and it was an accident. But, my father believed that Julian did it. When he came into the room that night, Julian had taken the letter opener from me. He was standing over Martin’s body with the dagger in his hands. Julian didn’t deny it. My father probably wouldn’t have believed him. This was the deed that Alistair used to control Julian all his life.”

Eve said, “Julian never let on.”

“No, Julian lived the lies the same as we did, Eve. Once we were in, there was no going back.”

Eve asked, “Does Luis know?”

Sheridan nodded. “Yes.”

Sheridan stood face to face with Eve. “Surprised?”

“Astonished!”

“Love is the truth that makes the lies livable,” Sheridan explained. A child’s cry came from the bedroom. “Katherine is waking from her nap.” Sheridan left the room and returned with Katherine.

The blond-haired, blue-eyed child amazed Eve. She looked so much like Sheridan. Eve commented, “She’s the only one of your children I didn’t deliver.”

Sheridan said, “You only delivered boys to me. Lucky for me, you retired so I finally had my daughter.” The two women laughed together.

Eve said, “She must have been a shock.”

Sheridan said, “I never imagined I was pregnant. It was several months after Alistair died.”

Eve teased, “You never did figure out where babies come from.”

“Well, there was quite a gap between our boys and her. When I was expecting Katherine, Luis said it was our last chance for a girl. Did you know that used to be my nick-name for Julian?”

Remembering Julian, Eve smiled wistfully, and repeated, “Last Chance.”

That night Sheridan sat down beside Luis on the sofa in the cottage. He put his arm around her shoulders. “When you talked to Eve, did all the secrets come out?”

Sheridan answered, “All but one.”

Luis looked askance at her. Then he said very casually, “You didn’t tell her that you’re pregnant again.”

Sheridan shoved his shoulder. “You knew?”

“I know you, Sheridan.”

She said, “This is called a change of life baby.”

“Each child changed our lives.”

Sheridan inhaled deeply and asked, “If this is a boy, what would you say if I said, ‘Let’s name him Julian.’”

Luis answered quickly, “I’d say I’m prayin’ for a girl.”