After retrieving his things from the library, Case quickly moved toward the front door. He swung his gaze toward Fancy. She was still standing at the bottom of the spiral staircase, her gaze trained on him. He didn’t know whether he was imagining it or not, but Fancy’s eyes were filled with an expression that looked a lot like longing.
**
Once again, it seemed as if Case was walking away from her. She couldn’t even pretend anymore that it didn’t hurt like crazy. She sucked in a deep breath. Focus on the future. On Savannah House. Make new dreams that don’t involve your ex-fiancé.
“I guess we didn’t help anything, did we?” Hope asked, her expression contrite.
“Umm, no,” Fancy snapped. “Didn’t you see Case’s face? It looked like a thunder cloud. He was not amused in the slightest bit.”
Callie made a face. “I feel badly about it now. It seemed like such a good idea when we were hatching the plot.”
Olivia looked at Callie and shook her head. “I told you it wasn’t a good idea, but no one wanted to listen to common sense.”
“Did the two of you manage to talk at all?” Morgan asked.
“Yes, we did talk,” Fancy admitted. “But it solved nothing. It didn’t help. Not a single bit. For your information, Case hates me just as much—if not more—than he ever did. So thank you for that humiliating exercise in futility.”
“We’re sorry, Fancy,” Charlotte said. “We just feel so powerless to help you.”
Fancy glared at her best friends. “Listen very carefully. The next time you want to help me, don’t hatch a plot that ends up making me look like a complete and utter fool. Just stay out of it!”
Fancy glared at her five friends. She knew from their expressions that they were apologetic, but it really had been humiliating. Case had insinuated that she was a part of the scheme. And even though she had vehemently denied it, there was no telling what Case chose to believe. His current attitude toward her seemed to be skeptical at best.
Olivia placed her arm around her. “Don’t walk away from us angry. Morgan made a nice lunch for us all. When it comes right down to it, we’ve agreed to be friends for life. Regardless of bumps in the road, we’re going to stick together and present a united front. Let’s go sit down for lunch.”
Suddenly, all of Fancy’s anger faded away. What good did it do to hold on to her fury? The past had shown her that it did nothing other than eat a person up inside. It created division and separation and a world of loneliness. She had no intention of going back down that road. These women were her forever friends, and she knew that their presence in her life made her world richer—and better. She was a stronger, more enriched woman for having known them.
“Lunch sounds divine,” Fancy said, gifting Olivia with a huge smile.
Morgan looped her arm through hers and began leading the group toward the dining room. Every time she entered this room Fancy wanted to shout out loud with a chorus of Hallelujahs. This room had always been beautiful, but over the years it had lost a little bit of its shine. After redecorating and painting the walls a lovely shade of robin’s egg blue, the dining room now had a more modern, stately appeal. The heavy draperies were gone, replaced by cream colored, light ones.
“You really outdid yourself in this room,” Callie raved. “Don’t be surprised if our clients want to hire you to redecorate their own houses.”
Fancy waved her hand at Callie. “You’re too kind,” she said, flattered at the notion that guests might want to use her services. In the back of her mind Fancy had been thinking of creating a small interior design company. It was only the germ of an idea, but she was working in her spare time to see if it would be viable in her off-hours from working at Savannah House. Although she had never thought of herself as smart or talented, she was beginning to realize that God had gifted her with a special talent. And she didn’t want to squander it.
“It’s truth, not kindness,” Hope piped up. She reached down and picked up Ella and rocked her on her hip. “You’re talented, Fancy. And pretty soon everyone in Savannah is going to know it.”
Fancy’s face flushed. She wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about it. Flattered, yet afraid. For so long she had been told by Mama that she was only one thing. Pretty. It was the one thing of which she’d always been certain. Was it possible that she was more than that? That her value wasn’t just her pearly white teeth, blonde hair, sky blue eyes and a perfect, model’s figure?
But surely God wouldn’t be leading her in this direction if He didn’t want her to explore the talents he’d bestowed on her? That would be a sin. And being creative made her feel joyful and upbeat. For so long she’d been depressed and sad.
As the six sat down at the table, they joined hands and blessed the food Morgan had prepared with a prayer. Hope had placed Ella in a little playpen at the end of the table. They could hear the sounds of her joyfully playing with her rattle. The smell of down home cooking wafted in the air, serving as a reminder of the delicious fare their guests would be treated to during their stay at Savannah House.
Crab cakes. Kale salad. Cornbread. Corn chowder soup. Fancy couldn’t remember being treated to such a delectable meal.
“Morgan, I think you’re going to be known as a culinary rock star when Savannah House opens. This meal is killer,” Fancy said as she raised a spoonful of corn chowder up to her mouth. It was so good Fancy wanted to let out a moan of approval. If it didn’t fall into the category of bad manners she would do it in a heartbeat.
“Amen,” Charlotte said. “I can’t believe you’re still single. They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
Everyone laughed heartily at Charlotte’s teasing. Fancy watched Morgan’s expression waver for a moment before she plastered a smile on her face. Morgan caught her watching her and began to fidget in her seat uncomfortably. Fancy had a funny feeling—and not for the first time about Morgan. Had she met someone in Paris? Or had she left Savannah so unexpectedly because of a man? A love affair gone wrong? Had someone stolen her heart?
“If only it were that easy,” Morgan quipped, earning herself a round of laughter.
“Love is hard,” Fancy said. She quirked her mouth. “Too hard.”
“It’s hard,” Callie conceded. “But well worth the struggle if you find the right person to walk through life with.”
“Spoken like a true newlywed,” Hope said in a low voice. “I’d love to give Ella a family one day.”
“I can’t wait to get married,” Charlotte said in a wistful voice. “Just knowing that I’m marrying my other half will be so comforting. To know that no matter what he’ll have my back and I’ll have his—” Her voice faded away. There was such hope in her voice that it made Fancy’s heart clench.
Olivia reached out and squeezed Charlotte’s hand. As always, Charlotte was the dreamer, the one who believed in the goodness of everyone and that dreams really did come true. Fancy believed in those things too, but she now knew the dark side of the dream. Happy endings didn’t always come your way, even when you found your Prince Charming. Sometimes your life exploded all around you when you least expected it, leaving you to pick up the shattered pieces. Fancy knew she didn’t have any of the answers about love. The one thing she did know for certain was that if she ever found it again, she would hold on to it for all she was worth.
“Life goes on. Even when your heart is breaking, life doesn’t stop so you can catch your breath. You just have to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving.” Case Duvall
Chapter Three
Case navigated his car through the congested downtown Savannah area. Even on a weeknight, there was traffic. He loved the energy of the city—the unique southern vibe of his hometown. It pulsed with liveliness and romance. Whether he was walking in the historic district amongst all the stately mansions or strolling along the Riverwalk, he felt as if he was planted right where he belonged. The Spanish moss draped Oak trees. The horse-drawn carriages. The amazing e
ating establishments. There was no place on earth Case Duvall would rather live in the entire world. Savannah flowed in his blood. Its charm captivated him.
At the moment he was en route to a supper club with Meryl.
“I’m so excited about this jazz band,” Meryl gushed. “It’s quite a treat for me to go out on the town on a weeknight.”
Case smiled over at his date. Meryl was always so agreeable and pleasant. He was beginning to wonder if it was one big act. No matter what he said or suggested, Meryl was always one hundred percent agreeable. It was a clear departure from the Meryl he’d grown up with. That version of Meryl had been a sour puss and a bully. Fancy had always been her target of choice.
He felt his chest tighten at the thought of Fancy. As a child she’d been as pretty and picture perfect as any little girl could be. Although he’d been in the grade above her, everyone had known Francine “Fancy” Tolliver. With her blonde ringlets, cornflower blue eyes and stylish clothes, she’d been the girl all the boys had been crushing on. Although he’d tried to resist her charms, once high school had arrived, Case had been smitten. Like the rest of his peers. It wasn’t until his senior year that they’d started dating. He’d been reluctant since she’d been one of his sister’s best friends. It had almost felt too close for comfort, but resisting the allure of Fancy Tolliver had proved to be impossible.
Even when they had gone their separate ways during college, Fancy had always been in the forefront of his mind. And she’d told him that one day they would get married. She’d been positive about it. After graduation he’d come back to Savannah to find that Fancy had dropped out of college and was working as a model for local companies. He’d been driven back into her orbit like a moth to a flame. They had taken up where they’d left off. Five years later he’d proposed to her in a magical, romantic way right down by the waterfront in front of the river boats. Through tears and shouts of surprise, Fancy had joyfully agreed to become his wife. It had been the single best moment of his life.
His family had been thrilled about the prospect of Fancy becoming Mrs. Case Duvall. Likewise, Fancy’s parents, June and Barrett, had been over the moon about their engagement. Everything had seemed so perfect.
As if on auto-pilot he drove toward downtown Savannah, quickly finding a parking spot near the supper club. He felt slightly guilty about thinking so deeply about Fancy when he was on a date with another woman. It wasn’t as if he could control his thoughts! If he could, he’d make sure to keep Fancy out of them.
As soon as he parked, Case stepped out of his sleek Mercedes and quickly moved toward the passenger side of the vehicle. He opened the door and reached for Meryl’s hand to help her out. As Meryl stepped out she brushed up against his chest. She looked up at him expectantly. Some instinct told him that she wanted a kiss. Although they had kissed several times, Case had to admit that he’d felt nothing romantic or stirring about kissing Meryl. That simple fact made him wonder about a myriad of things. Meryl was attractive and pleasant. She could hold her own in a conversation and she never complained. She seemed to be a God-fearing woman who wanted the same things in life as he did—a partner to walk through life with, a house full of kids, a wonderful relationship with the Lord and a nice house to fill up with family and friends.
Yet he still didn’t have any romantic feelings toward her. Maybe the chemistry just wasn’t there.
Maybe you can’t fall for one woman because you’re still in love with Fancy.
He let loose with an involuntary groan. He took her hand and began walking with her down River Street. His stomach twisted as they passed by the site of his proposal to Fancy. If a million years passed by, he wasn’t sure that he could ever walk past the River Walk and not think about that monumental moment. Or the joy etched on Fancy’s face when he’d asked her to be his bride.
Meryl swung her gaze toward him. “Is everything okay?” she asked, her face creased with worry.
“Sure. I’m good. I was just thinking about a huge mistake I made. It’s fine though,” he said. “The situation has been handled.” Fancy had been a huge mistake. Throughout their relationship he’d made excuses for her impulsive and immature decisions. The times she’d been vain and selfish he’d ignored it. On the few occasions when he had called her out, she’d used tears to win him over. Each time he’d felt guilty about saying anything to upset her since she was a kind and sensitive woman. He had been head over heels in love with her. And now he had to wonder if she’d really ever loved him.
The sounds of jazz music blared from inside the supper club. Case tapped his fingers to the music, enjoying the lively beats. He held the door open for Meryl and they stepped inside the dimly lit club before being whisked to a table close to the stage. After perusing the menu, they ordered their meals, along with a bottle of white wine. Case looked around the club, taking in the festive atmosphere and the sharply dressed clientele. He stuffed down a pang of longing for simpler times when this place had been his haven.
There were memories everywhere. Sometimes it felt as if Fancy was in the very air he breathed. He couldn’t stop living or enjoying or appreciating the things he loved simply because life hadn’t gone according to plan. He loved jazz music. Always had, always would. And tonight he was going to have a good time with Meryl. He needed to put Fancy in the past where she belonged.
The waiter came and took their dinner order. Case ordered the shrimp jambalaya while Meryl chose the crab cakes and wild rice. Case selected a fine bottle of champagne for them to enjoy. He wanted to celebrate tonight. He was stepping out on a limb and embracing his independence. Part of that meant he was no longer harboring any dreams of reconciling with Fancy. It just wasn’t possible. He wasn’t a man who could deal with such massive betrayal. Loving someone didn’t mean you should be played for a chump.
As the lively music flowed over him, Case felt slightly guilty about Meryl. He prayed that she wasn’t getting any grand ideas about the two of them. He was just having fun at the moment and getting over a failed engagement. It would be a long time before he was ready for anything serious. At some point he needed to let Meryl know how he felt. It was only fair to be completely honest with her.
“Enjoying it?” Case asked Meryl, leaning toward her so she could hear him above the music.
“Very much so,” Meryl said with a smile.
Case moved his arm on the table, inadvertently knocking his fork to the ground. He bent down and picked it up, then cast a quick glance around for their server.
“I’m going to look for our waiter so I can get a new fork,” Case said, standing up and placing his napkin on the table. “I’ll be right back.” Meryl nodded agreeably. Case stuffed down a slight feeling of annoyance. For once he would enjoy seeing Meryl express some emotion other than placid agreeableness. Once again he wondered if this was her true self or if she was playing a role for him.
Stop it, he chided himself. You’re just looking for a way for this relationship to crash and burn so you can go back to mooning over Fancy.
As Case moved towards the back of the club and walked outside to the hallway, he stopped abruptly in his tracks. Coming toward him down the hall was a man he’d hoped to never cross paths with again. Tall and dark-haired with olive skin, this man represented everything that Case despised in this world. Treachery. Disingenuousness. Deceit.
He felt anger surge up inside of him. Marc Cabron. The instrument of his misery. The man who’d become involved with his fiancé. The man who’d fallen in love with her.
“Case.” Marc’s eyes widened at the sight of him and he uttered his name in a clipped tone. He stopped right in front of Case and eyed him warily.
Case nodded. “I thought you’d left Savannah.”
“I did. But I came back for family reasons. My father is ill. He needs me.” Marc shrugged. “I know you and Fancy won’t want to run into me, but I imagine the two of you have gotten past everything. I heard you two got married.”
Case resisted the urge to slu
g him. Fury almost blinded him. “What game are you playing at, Marc?”
A baffled expression came over Marc’s face. “What are you talking about?”
He glared at Marc. “Fancy and I most certainly didn’t get married. We broke up Marc, right after you hightailed it out of town.”
Marc let out an agonized sound. He raised his hand to his jaw. “Oh no. Case. I-I don’t know what to say. I’ve been traveling out of the country for the last two years. My family for obvious reasons didn’t bring up the subject. But, I promise you, someone did pass that on to me.”
“It’s probably best that you say nothing, considering what went down in the past.” He ground out the words as if they were dust in his mouth. Did Marc seriously think there was anything he could ever say to make things right?
“I was under the impression that the two of you were working through it,” Marc said.
“We didn’t. We couldn’t,” Case snapped. He wasn’t about to stand here and pour his heart out to Marc. As if he even cared about the mess he’d helped create. His words just sounded like lip service. If Marc had ever possessed a shred of honor, he wouldn’t have gone after his woman in the first place.
Please, God. Let me walk away from this without losing my cool. I’ve worked so hard to get past these feelings of anger, and now, it feels like I’m right back at square one. Give me the strength to not sink down to his level.
“I know you’re skeptical of me. And you have more reasons than not to feel that way, but I’m a changed man. I’ve done the work I need to do on myself. I’ve worked hard to be worthy of God’s forgiveness and His grace.” Marc’s features were creased with strain. “That might sound like a bunch of bull to you, but it’s true and honest.”
Case grunted. “Honest?” He shook his head. “What do you know about honesty?”
Marc bowed his head. “You have every right to bash me. The truth is, I had feelings for her. At the time they seemed so real. It felt so powerful. I know you could probably care less about what I was going through, but my fiancée had recently died of leukemia. That’s not an excuse. But I was lonely and reeling and trying to hold on to anything as a life preserver. I latched on to Fancy, who was connecting with me as an old friend from high school. I know now that my feelings for Fancy were just a band aid. And the point is, my feelings were my feelings. She didn’t feel the same way as I did.”
The Last Kiss (Secrets of Savannah Book 3) Page 5
