Chapter 17

“Oh Mama this is so exciting!” Theresa said giddily. “This is the first shower I've ever been too!” Theresa arranged the silverware on the dining room table for the third time as she anxiously awaited for Sheridan's arrival.

“Of course I'd invite you Whitney” Pilar replied. She and Marianna were finishing covering all the hot dishes to keep the food warm until the group of ladies was ready to eat. “After all, you and Theresa got to know Sheridan well at the Youth Center.”

“Oh, this is going to be so much fun!” Tammy announced hopping up and down. “I can't believe the flower girl has so much to do. I get to hand Sheridan all the presents!”

“You certainly do have an important job” Whitney grinned. “Come on Tammy, let's go make sure everything at the gift table is in order.” Pilar smiled gratefully at Whitney. Tammy was a darling child but she was still only six years old.

“I'll get it Mama!” Theresa yelled as she bounded across the room to answer the front door. “Hello Mrs. Bennett” Theresa greeted. She then greeted Kay, Jessica and Charity who were all carrying gifts. Tammy and Whitney joined them at the door and helped relieve them of their burden. After all, Tammy took her responsibility very seriously and wanted to make sure the gift table was perfect. Simone seemed to come out of nowhere the minute Kay arrived. Kay was extremely grateful to be away from her new cousin and in the company of her best friend.

“Hi Mrs. Crane!” Theresa greeted. “I'm so happy you could make it today. Hi Gwen. It's nice to see you as well.” Theresa was nervous with Gwen there, but tried not to let it show.

“Miss Sheridan's shower? Not in a million years” she laughed. Once again Tammy was right there to help Ivy and Gwen with their gifts while Theresa escorted them into the living room and took their coats.

“From the sound of the chatter in the other room I'd say the gang's all here” Eve remarked as She and Pilar hurriedly rinsed the dishes. Once they'd finished they returned to the living room and greeted the new guests until the guest of honor arrived. It wasn't more than ten minutes later when a knocking was heard at the back door.

“She's here! Tammy shouted excitedly. “Sheridan's here!” Marianna took Tammy's hand and began giving instructions to them while Pilar excused herself and went back to the kitchen to answer the door.

Sheridan stood at the back door to the Lopez Fitzgerald kitchen waiting for someone to open it for her. Marianna had asked her to meet her there at 1:00 and it was precisely that time. She smiled to herself while waiting taking another glance inside the shopping bag she carried at her side. One of the items on Marianna's list for Sheridan was to make sure she had her Christmas shopping completed if possible. She reminded both she and Luis that the closer they came to the wedding the less time they would have for their normal Christmastime activities such as shopping. Sheridan took Marianna's advice to heart and while she and Luis did some shopping together the previous evening, she couldn't very well buy Luis' present with him at her side so she chose to wait until this morning while he was at work.

The door opened and Sheridan shifted her attention away from her purchase and towards Pilar who was standing there with a warm smile. “Welcome Sheridan” she said pulling her into a familial embrace.

“Hi Pilar” Sheridan returning Pilar's welcome, contentedly. Sheridan walked into the kitchen and her olfactory sense was greeted with the most wonderful aromas. “Mmm, Pilar this place smells heavenly. Whatever are you cooking?”

Luis poured over the folders on his desk hoping to finish the paperwork from his current caseload before leaving for California the next day. It was tedious work at best, the worst part of being a cop, but he didn't want anything left undone.

“Tell me about it” Luis said. “I still can't believe it. I have to tell you Sam, I have mixed feelings about all of this. We still don't know why he left. I hope he has a good reason for leaving the family the way he did.”

“It's also possible it has nothing to do with Papa's disappearance and Antonio was just a coward. He couldn't handle the pressure of helping Mama raise four kids.”

“I'll find him all right” Luis said. “I have no intention of coming back here without Antonio with me no matter what the reason. If it does turn out he ran away from his responsibilities as the oldest child then he needs to come back and face Mama and tell her that. If it turns out something happened to him, like the Cranes are responsible, then I'm going to make them pay for it.

“So Stan” Jay asked walking up to his desk. “What's next?” Jay was exhausted but she still had a way to go before her she was to get a break. What she wanted to do more than anything at this point was check her messages and see if Scott had left her one. She'd only had one chance to check her messages in the last few hours and so far there was nothing from him. She was slightly anxious, having half expected him to call her cell phone and he hadn't. She didn't have time to dwell on it too much however as work was keeping her too busy to worry too much.

Stan sighed. “Where to begin” Stan said throwing his hands in the air. “I have a list of things that need to be done. Why don't you… The phone on Stan's desk began to ring. “Hold on Jay, let me get this first” he said grimacing.

Jay shook her head. The phones at the station had been ringing non-stop for the past 24 hours. It amazed her how many people paid no attention to the emergency numbers that were being announced on every television and radio station in the area and continued to call the station.

“Beverly Hills PD, Stan speaking” Stan answered. Jay wondered if this was going to be a real call or another person calling to ask when their power was to be returned. Stan furrowed his brow as he listened to the person on the other end of the phone. Jay watched with interest, as Stan seemed visibly upset by this call.

“All right Michael, calm down” Stan said with authority. Have you tried his house?… Okay, how about his cell phone?… Hmm, okay, what about the store in San Diego?”

“Michael, I'm sure he's fine” Stan soothed. “I'll do a little nosing around here and see what I can find out for you, all right?… Listen, if you hear from him call me right away… Don't worry, I'll do the same… Good bye Michael.” Stan hung up the phone and looked Jay square in the eye. “Do you remember my buddy from the electronics store? The one who went to the game with us a few weeks ago?”

“That's right. You stayed and helped him pack up” Stan remembered. He hid the grin that wanted to surface. He cleared his throat and continued. “Well, that was his assistant manager and it seems as though Scott was supposed to open the store yesterday morning and he never showed up.”

“True enough” Stan readily agreed. “But he still hasn't shown up and it's a day later. Michael can't find him anywhere and he's worried. He has the store cleaned up and is ready to reopen but he needs Scott's okay. It's not like him to disappear like this.”

“So do I” Stan said, worry etched on his face. “Listen, Jay, I did have something else in mind for you but I'm changing my mind. If you don't mind, I'd like you to call around and see if you can locate Scott for me.” Stan began writing down what he knew about Scott and handed the slip of paper to Jay. Jay stared at the paper and barely heard Stan's next words. “Check the shelters, hospitals, morgue. You know the routine.”

“Good. I knew I could count on you” Stan said. His phone started ringing again and Jay made her exit as Stan busied himself with the next emergency. Jay headed straight for her office, her heart in her throat.

“SURPRISE!” A crowd of familiar faces shouted, smiles etched permanently on their faces. Sheridan looked around and saw the room filled with helium and Mylar balloons, colored streamers, a poster size picture of her and Luis, a table filled with beautifully wrapped gifts all with her name on them and a buffet table filled with the scrumptious looking foods.

Sheridan's eyes filled with tears of joy. She glanced from smiling face to smiling face and was completely overcome with emotion. Tammy immediately ran to Sheridan's side and she immediately embraced the young girl. “I can't believe you did this for me” she finally choked out.

She chuckled and nodded. “Thank you. Thank you all.” Sheridan hugged Marianna and Pilar tightly. Both woman knew, Pilar especially what this shower meant to her and were determined to make it a very special memory for her.

With Tammy at her side, Sheridan made her way around the room briefly chatting with everyone. Soon the group feasted on the smorgasbord that Pilar created with help from her friends and when everyone was sated, Sheridan was led to a special chair where she was to open all her gifts. Under Marianna's direction Tammy handed each gift to Sheridan. Pilar happily played secretary recording each present and whom it was from, Jessica operated the video camera while Theresa happily collected all the ribbons and bows intent on making a bouquet from them.

Sheridan was beyond words as she opened each and every gift. From Grace and the girls she received a crockpot, compilation of all of Grace's, Eve's and Pilar's favorite recipes bound in a handsome splatter resistant cookbook, a microwave oven and an IOU for cooking lessons.

Sheridan continued to open gifts. Luis' sister Paloma who couldn't join them sent a set of every day dishes, his Aunt Maria sent glasses and flatware and Pilar's brother Francisco's wife Cristina sent a set of Revereware.

“Wow! It looks like I'll be all set once I start those cooking lessons” Sheridan grinned. She was truly grateful for all of this since she and Luis would be completely starting from scratch.

“Thank you” Sheridan beamed at her little friend. Sheridan was having the time of her life. Many times in her life she'd had dozens of presents to open for her birthday and Christmas, but never did she have the warm feeling she had right now being surrounded by such wonderful people. A feeling of excitement washed over her as well as she continued unwrapping boxes. Inside each box so far was something she'd be sharing with Luis in their own home. The day was growing closer she realized and that thought alone was enough to keep her on cloud nine for sometime to come.

“Ivy!” Sheridan exclaimed in wondrous surprise. “They're wonderful!” she grinned, examining the place setting of Royal Dalton china. “I never even picked out a pattern” Sheridan exclaimed. “This is exactly what I would have chosen. How did you know?”

“They tried to keep it from me” Luis smiled, “but Sheridan was planning on going to the Youth Center today instead of my mother's house. She wanted to make sure everything was in order before we left. So when I called my mother to tell her she had no choice but to tell me. I convinced Sheridan to finish up some Christmas shopping this morning and then go to my mother's. I'd pick her up after I got out of here and we'd go to the Youth Center together.”

“Thanks!” Luis smiled. “Hey, Sam? I do have a question for you. You know that old house, the one down the street from me that everyone seems to think is haunted?”

“Yeah, I know the house” Sam said. “Halloween night we caught some kids trying to break into the place. They were going to open the windows and play some haunting music so the kids walking the streets trick or treating would be scared out of their minds. Can you believe they even had a projector with them and were planning on “making” ghosts appear to be flying around?”

Luis couldn't contain the smile that threatened to surface. “Well, I know the house isn't occupied right now and I was kind of hoping it would be up for sale. I checked on the computer and see that the house has never been changed out of the Pearson's names. Now I know they haven't lived there for many years and I also know a family lived there for a short time about two years ago.”

“I know” Luis smiled. “That's part of the reason we like it. Besides the fact it should have a good price on it, Sheridan and I will be able to work on the house together and turn it into a home of our own. We're going to need a place to stay when we get back from our honeymoon. Sheridan's father is cutting her off the minute we say I DO.”

“You don't have much time then” Sam said thoughtfully. “Let me ask around and see what I can find out for you. Maybe with a little luck I'll have something for you by the time you get back from California.”

“Thanks Sam” Luis replied, putting all the folders on his desk away. “I hope you find out something. I'd really like to see if we can get that house before the wedding.”

“Good enough.” Luis waved goodbye as he headed out the door of the Harmony Police station. Sam started thinking about that house and thought of a place to start tracking down its owner and decided now was as good a time as any to begin.

“If everyone would turn their attention to the television for a moment” Marianna directed. “Several of Sheridan's friends couldn't be here with us today so Pilar and I called them and asked them if they could make a short video of themselves so Sheridan could be watching it as she opened their gifts.”

The ladies in the room were abuzz talking about the fantastic idea. “Ladies, the best part of this is there are two people in this tape that Sheridan has yet to meet in person. So today she'll see her friends Baby Shuis and Godis for the first time.”

Sheridan's faced glowed. “This is the best idea I've ever heard” she laughed. Sheridan waited patiently as the tape was inserted into the VCR and began playing.

“KCGirl! How are you? I really wish I could be there in person. I'm really happy that you and Pezzhead are getting married. I had a feeling about the two of you!”

“I'm really looking forward to coming to Harmony for this wedding. This is so exciting, you know? So tell me, have you figured out which one of your internet pals this is yet?”

“If you guessed Godis, you're right~ I thought about saying hi sweetie and catching you off guard but I thought that would be unfair.” Godis giggled. “Okay, open up the present. I want to see the look on your face.”

Sheridan excitedly opened the corresponding present Tammy had handed her only to reveal his and hers very short black fine silk robes with tiny red hearts monogrammed with the names KC and Pezz. “Godis, they're simply gorgeous!” Sheridan said happily as she held the robes up for all to see.

“I hope you like them KC” Godis said. “I know you guys go more by Sheridan and Luis but I also know that you'll never forget you alter egos. Take care KC and I'll see you the 24th.”

“Hi Sheridan. It's your old pal and dressmaker Alexis. The time is getting close my friend. Are you excited yet?” Alexis laughed. “I know you are, every time we meet in Boston your excitement can not be contained. I'm sorry I can't be there in person, but things are absolutely crazy at the shop right now.”

Sheridan was already opening the gift Tammy handed her a moment ago. She was in awe when she saw a beautiful gift basket filled with exquisite bath and body lotions and oils, perfumed soaps, massaging oils and scented candles.

“Sheridan, I figured after all the stress from getting this wedding together, finding a new place to live, not to mention the holidays you'll deserve to pamper yourself a little.”

“Oh and Sheridan? Those massaging oils are for both men and women. I'm sure Luis wouldn't mind if you shared a little with him.” Alexis smiled mischievously while some of the ladies at the shower were giggling and others hooting. Sheridan's face turned scarlet from embarrassment. “I hope you're not blushing dear, after all you will be a married woman.”

“Sorry I couldn't make it, but with the kids and all one trip back East is about all I can swing in December. I hope you're having a great time at the shower honey. You'll have to email me and tell me all about it.”

“I will” Sheridan grinned as she opened the box from her friend. Inside the box was a beautiful pink satin and lace negligée suitable for a honeymoon in Spain. The ladies oohed and aahed at the gorgeous negligée.

Sheridan pulled out another small box that was wrapped in the same paper as the larger box she'd already opened. “What's in this Baby?” She asked with a curious grin.

“I know you're dying to open it sweetie, but trust me on this one, okay?” Baby Shuis winked. She then waved at the camera and blew Sheridan a kiss. “See you soon! I can't wait for this wedding! Bye now!”

Sheridan waved good-bye and then placed the box inside her purse. Theresa and Kay begged Sheridan to open the box now, but she held her ground and said she would open it later with Luis. Truthfully, she was a little nervous to have the contents of that box displayed in front of Pilar. She didn't know what it was, but if Baby wanted her to open it with Luis she could only imagine.

“Jordan!” Stan called as he approached her office door. Jay looked up and frowned when she saw Stan standing there waiting for a progress report. “What have you found out about Scott?”

“Nothing I'm afraid” Jay admitted. “I've called four hospitals, three emergency shelters and the county morgue and no one has a record of Scott Mayne being there.”

“I got voice mail when I called his house and left a message. When I called his cell phone I received an automated message stating the cell phone customer can not be reached at this time.”

“The four hospitals I called all have at least a half dozen John Does. They wouldn't give out any more information at this time about them. They say I'd have to come down there in person. They're positively swamped.”

“I will” Jay told him. Stan turned and left. Jay immediately picked up the phone again and dialed the next number on her list. She was more determined than ever to find Scott.

“I have every reason to believe he will be” the doctor said. “Then maybe he can tell us his name and we can contact his family. He's in much better shape than John Does numbers 1 and 7. I wish we could find their families soon.”

“Too many” the doctor frowned. “The phone lines are crazy. The operators have been instructed to have people searching for loved ones stop in and fill out a form. So far we've managed to identify four of them. This man here and the other two I mentioned are the only ones we have left.”

Tammy bounded over to Sheridan with three boxes in hand. They were each labeled with numbers 1, 2 or 3. “Jay, what have you done” Sheridan chuckled as she started opening box number one.

“The first box has some items that I had custom made for you and Luis” Jay said, as Sheridan pulled out two shirts and pairs of shorts. “Yep, it's a matching set. Made out of the same special absorbent material that I had Luis' batting cage fund raiser shirt made out of.”

“Thanks Jay” Sheridan blushed, remembering distinctly how Luis had looked in that shirt after he'd been in the batting cages for a while. “These are really nice.”

“I figure between the two of you, you can come up with something besides batting cage practice. Something so you can get all hot and sweaty so these outfits can do what they're designed to do - mold to your body.” Jay smiled sweetly at the camera, while the guests there that remembered how Luis looked in the batting cages tried unsuccessfully to stifle their laughs.

Sheridan immediately complied and opened the second box. A smile immediately adorned her face as she pulled out two huge rolls of tickets, the kind used for raffles or carnival events.

This time Sheridan really turned red as she remembered vividly the wad of tickets Luis had produced when she was manning the kissing booth at the Harmony festival last summer, courtesy of Jay of course. “Jay, this is perfect” Sheridan said, shaking her head in wonder. “Where do you come up with these ideas?”

“Oh, it reminds me of something all right” Sheridan laughed. Sheridan saw several of the ladies looking at her with quizzical expressions. “The first time Luis kissed me was at the kissing booth last summer. Jay bought him a dozen tickets to use while I was there.”

“Sheridan, you know I'm always available to help you and Luis out. But, in this case, I think that you and Luis are just going to have to decide all on you own, what each of you get, when you turn in the other tickets.”

“What?” Ivy said innocently. “Don't tell me you haven't been thinking about all the naughty little things you and that hunky cop fiancée of yours can do?”

Sheridan didn't know how to respond to that one. The truth was, she'd already formulated several ideas on how to use those tickets, but she wasn't about to admit that out loud.

“Darn! My time's running out. I've got to go back to work. Sorry. Wish I could have been there. I can't wait to see you both. Now hurry and open box # 3 ……. Bye.”

Sheridan turned her attention back to box number 3. She opened it carefully and revealed a set of 6 crystal heart-shaped candleholders, with Sheridan and Luis neatly engraved with the date December 24, 1999, their wedding day. “Oh! They're absolutely exquisite!” Sheridan said as she handled one of the candleholders.

Sheridan passed one of the candleholders around for everyone to see. “This has been an absolutely wonderful day” Sheridan said with a heartfelt smile. “I can't thank you all enough for this absolutely wonderful shower.”

“Thank you Pilar” Sheridan smiled accepting the packages she gave her. She opened the first box and found an absolutely beautiful antique leather bound family bible. The trim was hand painted as were the first few pages. The Lopez and Fitzgerald family trees were complete and Sheridan's name had been added right next to Luis' name as his wife.

Her eyes welled with tears upon seeing her name written next to that of her fiancée's. “Pilar, this is the most precious gift I've ever received” she cried, tears visible on her cheeks.

“I'm looking forward to the day we add a few more names under yours and Luis'” Pilar smiled. “Can you tell I am impatiently awaiting the arrival of a grandchild?”

Sheridan smiled at Theresa as she held the second box in her lap. “This one is heavy!” She grinned as she lifted the lid off the oversized box. As she pulled the tissue paper aside, Sheridan gasped. “Pilar!”

“I remember this!” Sheridan said excitedly as she glanced at one of the squares. “I had a dress made from the same material when I was a little girl. As a matter of fact, I think I ruined that dress playing one day and my father threw a fit. He told one of the staff to throw it out.”

Pilar chuckled. “Mija, that square is from that dress” Pilar said. “All of the squares are from something either you or Luis have owned or in some way holds a special memory for you.”

Sheridan was in shock. Every time she thought she couldn't be happier, something happened to change that. “Pilar, this is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”

“Look at this one Sheridan” Theresa said, walking over to the quilt. “This was from Luis' favorite PJ's when he was little and this one is from one of his jersey's in high school.”

“It was really nice of your mother to let us store all the shower gifts at her house” Sheridan said as she snuggled up close to Luis on the couch. He'd just built a roaring fire for the two of them.

“She sure did” Sheridan chuckled. Her cheeks were getting red just thinking about it. “Remember the shirt she had made for you last summer? The one that you looked so sexy in?”

“Oh yeah” Sheridan said seductively. She could picture him right now wearing that shirt. “Well, she got us matching shirts and shorts made out of the same material. She had a few suggestive comments to go along with it.”

“Let me show you what else she sent” Sheridan said excitedly. She jumped up and ran over to a bag she'd brought with her from Pilar's. From inside the bag, Sheridan pulled out the two rolls of tickets Jay sent. “The blue roll is for you and the red roll is for me” she grinned handing Luis the blue roll.

“We're supposed to wait until after the wedding to use them Luis” Sheridan giggled. Her heart was pounding wildly just from the looks she was receiving from Luis at the moment and she knew if he pursued the issue she'd eventually cave, just a little. “I'm going to put mine back in the bag” Sheridan said, moving away from Luis slightly and opening the bag to put her coupons back. Once she opened it she saw something she nearly forgot about.

“Okay” she said. Under the watchful eyes of Luis, Sheridan carefully undid the wrapping and pulled out another box. Her face went completely scarlet when she saw the picture on the box and she couldn't even look at Luis.

“Oh Sheridan” Luis said, his voice thick with desire, “I think you and I are going to have an awesome honeymoon.” Luis leaned in and began kissing the nape of Sheridan's neck, driving her wild.

“Come on Sheridan” Luis smirked devilishly. “Why don't you try them on? You know a preview for our honeymoon?” Luis knew Sheridan was embarrassed beyond words, but he really was enjoying the sweet torture he was bestowing upon her.

I saw these at the counter when I was shopping for your gift and couldn't resist. It was a pair just like these that helped conceived baby number two for me, LOL. I hope I didn't embarrass you too much. I got mine at my shower too but I opened mine with my mother in law there. Talk about embarrassing!

Even though Sheridan wasn't ready to display the gift from Baby Shuis, she really didn't want Luis to go. She reached into the bag and pulled out the tickets she received from Jay and ripped off a kiss coupon. “I know I said we should wait” Sheridan began, a twinkle in her eyes, “but I don't think it would hurt anything if I redeemed one of these tonight, do you?”

“And I love you Pezz” Sheridan returned with a brilliant smile. She caught his gaze for a moment and then closed her eyes as Luis' lips met hers in the most romantic kiss they'd shared to date.