My Baby’s Gone, Chapter 14

Luis stood at the docks, looking out at the water. Julian’s words haunted his thoughts.

“Why did you remotely trust Alistair when he said that your baby with Sheridan had died?”

The thing is, Luis didn’t have an answer. And, that scared him. What was Julian trying to tell him? Could it be? Could their child be alive? Is that why Sheridan refuses to accept that their child is dead, because it’s not?

Luis thought some more about what Julian had told him, and didn’t even realize that he was being called until he felt a hand vigorously shake his arm. He turned around.

” I had a run-in with Julian earlier.”

Pilar rolled her eyes. “ What? Was he harassing you about Sheridan?”

” Actually, no. Julian assures me that he supports all my efforts where Sheridan is concerned. I don’t know if I believe him, but that’s not what upset me.”

” Luis. I know that you never wanted your child with Sheridan to be dead, but what would be the odds that a child could survive going underwater.”

” But, what if the baby wasn’t in the car?”

” Luis..”

” Mama, how could one person have kidnapped Sheridan? How could one person have kept her hostage all that time? I…I was too close to the story. Now that I look at it…if it had been anyone else, I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. “

” Then why wouldn’t the woman tell you about her accomplice?”

” That I don’t know. But, Sheridan has been locked up because the doctor says that she has to ‘get past’ losing our child. How can she ‘get past’ it if she feels in her soul that our child is ALIVE? Oh my God, Mama. Alistair has been waiting for an opportunity like this. Sheridan would never declare her child to be dead if she believes it’s alive. And, he knows that, and is using it AGAINST her!”

” Luis…you are reading a lot into a few words from Julian Crane.”

” But, if there’s anyone that would know WHY someone should be suspicious of Alistair Crane, it’s Julian.”

” You can’t go around telling this to anyone else, Luis. Antonio already has forbidden you from seeing Sheridan. If you go talking about this..”

” I know, Mama. I know. I have to keep this to myself. You can’t tell ANYONE, Mama.”

Fox and Whitney stood outside, taking in the view.

“ Looks wonderful.”, Whitney said.

Fox looking at Whitney. “ Absolutely beautiful.”

Whitney turned to see Fox staring at her. “ Have you had a good time, or did the college crowd bore you?”

” I was with you. You could never bore me.”

Whitney smiled. “ I think some of the older girls were jealous. They knew who you were.”

” I was the lucky one. After all, I was with you.”

“ You…you’re being so nice. I know that you would rather be with Theresa. I’m glad that you’ve been such a dear friend.”

Fox came closer to Whitney. He cupped her face and pulled her in for a passionate kiss.

“ I don’t want to be your friend.”, Fox told her, then pulled her in for another passionate kiss.

Whitney responded by pulling Fox in for a kiss. As he slipped his tongue into her mouth, Whitney felt her body begin to burn. Nothing else mattered in the world except for being here with him. When she pulled away from Fox, she felt dizzy. She looked at him, but really didn’t understand where she was. How could he make her feel this way?

Julian sat in the Library. He thought about the conversation he had with Luis. He couldn’t tell Luis about his plans for Sheridan. He knew Luis didn’t trust him, and he couldn’t work with someone he didn’t trust.

” Yes, Pookie. It’s your neglected fiancé.”

” Rebecca, I have things on my mind.”

” Well, I have thing on mine, Julian. Like getting married.”

” Rebecca, I have responsibilities. “

” Like what?”

” Crane Industries, Sheridan.”

” Julian, please. Alistair still runs Crane Industries, and since when did you give a damn about Sheridan?”

” I love my sister!!”

” Julian, this is me, remember? The woman who KNOWS that you tried to KILL Sheridan, not once, but TWICE! So spare me. “

” Rebecca..”

” Pookie, tonight is your lucky night.”

” What do you mean?”

” Judge Reilly will be over in 15 minutes. We’re getting married!”

Julian rubbed his temples. “ Fine.”

It was the longest fifteen minutes of his life. Judge Reilly and Gwen arrived at the Crane Mansion at the same time. They pulled Phyllis the maid into the Library for the ceremony. Julian couldn’t believe he was saying the words, but in less than 10 minutes, he and Rebecca were man and wife.

” We got married, Rebecca. You have the money and the title. I never promised you anything else. Hump Judge Reilly, the milkman, the butler and the poolboy for all I care. But, don’t expect for us to share a bed anytime soon!”

” Julian, what’s gotten into you!”

Before Rebecca could finish her sentence, Julian was over to her and had grabbed her arm. “ You know what I’m capable of, my dear wife, after all, it’s what you used to blackmail me. Don’t EVER, and I mean EVER disparage Eve to me- EVER! You WON’T live to regret it.”