He kisses my palm. “I love you, too.”
“How about we blow off the salad, we get dressed, and we go to the grocery store together. We’ll find a place close by. I’ll be there with you, and if something happens, we’ll come straight back to the apartment. Okay?”
He gives my hand a squeeze. “You’re too good to be true. You know that, right?”
“I was thinking the same thing about you,” I admit.
The trip to the grocery store is uneventful for Fletcher. He does fine, and I see his confidence beginning to build. After we unload the groceries, I ask him if he’s up for an outing to a local pub. He says he’d like to give it a try, especially since we’d worked up such a big appetite with our bedroom antics and our shopping trip. I blush slightly.
“Can we take the bike?” I ask, unsure of whether I’m pushing too hard or not.
Fletcher smiles. “Of course.”
Again, he does perfectly fine while we’re eating out, and again, I see his confidence level grow. I beam with pride because I feel like the luckiest woman in the world. Savannah Mason has overcome, and her prize is the jackpot to end all jackpots. If I had any friends to call, I’d be bragging to all of them. Life absolutely can’t get any better. But, then it does.
Fletcher doesn’t drive us back to the apartment once we finish supper. Instead, we take a ride through some of the less congested streets and neighborhoods. I love being on the back of the bike, and I smile as pleasant memories of my dad come back to me. I fully believe he’s responsible for leading me to Fletcher. Seriously, what are the odds that some random customer would want to meet with me because he likes the way I sound? There is no way in hell I would normally touch something like that, but my gut kept telling me that something was different about this guy. Seeing Dad’s bike is what sealed the deal. I’d have never agreed to meet with him if it weren’t for that picture. If it was you, thank you for sending me the sign, Dad. I feel a little silly at first, but then I remember that Molly believes in signs, too. Maybe it’s something that a lot of people believe in? Oh well, I’m on my way to becoming a believer.
He stops the bike at a beautiful, tree-filled park, and we follow a path around the pond to a large gazebo that overlooks the water. He stands behind me, his arms draped over my shoulders, as we breathe in the fresh night air. It’s so peaceful and quiet that we spend the first few minutes soaking it in. “Savannah?” he softly whispers in my ear.
“Hmmmm,”
“Marry me.”
I quickly turn around. “What? Fletcher…”
His finger touches my lip. “Shhhh. I don’t need an answer today. I know what I want, and I want to spend the rest of my life loving you. I’m not trying to pressure you. We haven’t known each other very long, and to others it may seem foolish and rushed, but sometimes things don’t have to follow the norm. Sometimes you just know what you know, and you have to jump in with both feet. That’s how I feel. You might feel completely different, and I respect that. So, every single day, I’m going to ask you to marry me, and you can say no every single time I do, but one day… one day, you’re going to say yes. We’re meant to be together, Savannah. I feel it with every ounce of my being.”
“You’re right because I feel it, too. Fletcher, you don’t need to ask me more than once. I want to marry you. This always sounded so corny to me when I heard it in the movies, but I understand it now—you complete me. I’m whole when I’m with you.”
“Aww, baby, I love you so much!” He takes my face in his palms and kisses me with passion and fervor. “I love you. I love you. I love you,” he whispers over and over again.
Lizzy and Ben are back from their honeymoon, and this payback is going to be so fun! They’re still living in Lizzy’s apartment, and I have the key. Ben’s car is nowhere in sight as I pull into the parking lot. Perfect! I let myself in, like I’ve done a hundred times before. “Oh, Lizzy Lou! Guess what!” I yell.
“Savannah?” she asks, running from the bedroom wearing only a half closed bath robe.
“Please tell me that Ben isn’t here. I’m so sorry if I interrupted something,” I ramble.
“No, he’s not here. The only thing you interrupted is the shower I’m about to take. Come on, I have the water running. You can keep me company while I’m in there.”
“Wait,” I insist, “this isn’t news I can give to you while you’re showering.”
“What are you talking about? Is everything okay?”
“Everything is wonderful! Great! Magnificent!”
Lizzy plops onto the sofa. “Oh, dear. It’s happened. You’ve snapped.”
I laugh. “No! I haven’t snapped. I buried the past, and I’m starting fresh. Life is beautiful, and it’s a gift.”
Lizzy gives me an uncertain look. “Fletcher Reilly must have one huge...”
“Lizzy!” I snap. “Well, he does, but that’s not what this is all about, and I guess you really didn’t need to know that either…”
Lizzy smiles broadly. “You’ve been getting some of the good stuff. Fletcher’s got a big wiener. Fletcher’s got a big wiener. And he knows how to use it,” Lizzy playfully sings.
“Will you cut it out? Listen to me, please.”
“Okay, fine,” she says, shaking her head and shrugging her shoulders. “Lay it on me.”
“I’m going to marry him. He asked me, and I said yes. Lizzy, I’m going to do this. I’m really going to do it.”
Lizzy begins to cry. “I’m so happy for you. Savannah, if only you knew how much I worried about you. How sad I was that you weren’t allowing yourself to experience happiness. How heartbroken I was that you felt destined to be alone. This is such a relief, and I’m thrilled!”
“There’s more.”
“More?” she asks, swiping away at her tears.
“I enrolled in nursing school. I start next week.”
“What! Are you kidding me? Savannah, I’m so proud of you! You’re going to make a great nurse.”
“Thank you.” I give her a huge hug.
“My shower!” Lizzy squeals, breaking the embrace to dash towards the bathroom. She sticks her hand inside the shower and frowns. “It’s cold. Oh well, that means I get to hear more of your story while I’m waiting for it to heat back up. Sit! Do you want some coffee?”
“Sure,” I agree while reclaiming my seat on the sofa. Lizzy busies herself with getting out the mugs and such, so I go on with my story.
“So many good things have happened to me since Fletcher came into my life. I can talk about Lucas without bursting into tears. I’ve forgiven my mother for her evil ways…”
Lizzy cuts me off. “Forgiven her? Savannah, she’s the reason you’re without a father. She was a horrid woman who regularly abused you. How can you forgive her?”
“I said that I forgive her, but I’ll never forget what she did. I still haven’t told Fletcher about that yet.”
“You haven’t? Frankly, I’m surprised he didn’t hear about it with all of the news coverage it received.”
“He was probably away during that time. Plus, why would he remember? The case is memorable to those involved, or maybe to a few who actually remember the event. Not many remember the names and details.”
Lizzy shrugs her shoulders. “I guess. So when’s the wedding?’
“I don’t know. We haven’t discussed any of that.”
“Any chance it might be happening soon? Like before Ben and I leave for Dallas?”
“Lizzy! Just because you and Ben had an overnight engagement doesn’t mean everyone else does, too. Some people stay engaged for years before marriage.”
“Please don’t tell me that you want to wait years,” she says, handing me a coffee mug.
“No, I don’t,” I say giggling.
“You giggled! I still can’t get used to that. I love it.”
“Stop.”
“Seriously, Savannah. You’re like a whole different person. Not that the person you were before was terrible or a
nything, it’s just that you were…”
“Boring?”
“Yes! And…”
“Depressing?”
“Somewhat. And…”
“Distant?”
“Yes! I loved the old you, but I adore the new you so much more.”
“Thank you,” I say with a playful smile before sipping from the mug.
“So, wedding date. Wedding date. Wed. Ding. Date. What’s a good date?”
“Lizzy, I told you that we haven’t even discussed it yet.”
“Oh, you’re so cute. Dear, you set the plans, and he follows. It’s your day to be a princess. He’s just lucky he gets to be there. It’s completely your day.”
“No. It’s our wedding, like for the two of us, so it’s our day.”
She holds up her index finger, takes her phone from the coffee table, and manipulates the screen. “Hey, Fletcher. This is Lizzy.”
“What! You called him?” I say in an exaggerated whisper while grabbing at the phone. Lizzy’s arm reach is much greater than mine, so she’s able to keep me at bay with her free hand. “No, hang up.”
“Fletcher, Savannah’s here, and I just heard the news! Congratulations! Now, will you answer a question? Your wedding, is it Savannah’s show, or is it the both of yours to plan? ...What? You want it to be everything Savannah’s ever dreamed of?” She holds her hand over the microphone. “See, he got the memo, and he’s a dude.” She removes her hand. “Yeah, so I’m talking to her about dates, and she’s not sure what kind of timeline we’re, I mean you’re, dealing with.” She pauses briefly. “You’d marry her tomorrow if she were up to it? You’re a good man, Fletcher Reilly. I hear lots of good things about you, especially about your…”
I snatch the phone from Lizzy because I don’t even want to know what she was going to say. It’s a fifty-fifty chance it will be obscene, and those odds are too great for me. “Hi, Fletcher. Hey. I hope that my deranged friend didn’t scare the hell out of you.”
I hear him laughing. “I’m not scared in the least. Bring it on. I’m ready whenever you are.”
“Be careful what you say. She’ll have the entire wedding planned, and we’ll be hitched by the end of the week.”
“I fail to see the problem with that.”
“Fletcher, we only just became engaged last night.”
“Stop. Take a breath and quit comparing our lives to others. What do you want to do?”
“You’re right. We both know that this is right, and this is exactly what we want. Fletcher, let’s go get our marriage license right now. I want to be Mrs. Reilly by the weekend.”
“You’ve got it. I’ll meet you at the courthouse. I’m putting on my shoes right now.”
“Are we really doing this?”
Lizzy’s squealing and clapping her hands.
“We are. Let’s get it all lined up. I’ll see you in a little while.”
“Okay. See you soon. I love you, Fletcher.”
“I love you too, Savannah.”
I end the call. “Lizzy, sorry to leave like this, but I’m meeting Fletcher at the courthouse.”
She jumps up and down, hugging me tightly as I make my way to the door.
“Let me know if you want to use the lake house for the ceremony!” she yells as I’m turning the corner to leave the building. I throw her a quick wave.
I’m on the way to the courthouse to get a marriage license. Two months ago, I’d have laughed at the idea. Lizzy’s right. I am a much different person than I used to be, and it’s a great thing. I smile when I see Fletcher, arms crossed as he props against his bike. He wears a nicely fitted white shirt, blue jeans that hug his thick thighs, and aviator-style sunglasses. I notice that his tattoos just barely poke out from underneath the short sleeves, while his scruffy beard and disheveled hair make him simply irresistible to me.
I feel unbelievably lucky and special when he opens the door for me, takes my arm in his, and guides me up the steps of the courthouse. He stops at the Clerk of Court’s door to give me a brief kiss. “Are you sure? There’s no pressure. We can wait as long as you want before we do this,” Fletcher says.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Let’s do this.”
Chapter Twelve
We’re at my apartment tonight; I curl in my favorite spot on the bed while pondering a few things. Fletcher snuggles up behind me.
“What’s on your mind?” he asks, pulling me close to his body.
“Just thinking.”
“About good things or bad things?”
“Both,” I answer truthfully.
“Well, start with the bad, and we’ll end with the good.”
“Lizzy and I were talking earlier, and it made me realize that you don’t know what happened to my parents.”
“I figured you’d tell me when you were ready. I assumed a car accident. Am I right?”
I shake my head. “A car accident might have been easier to handle.”
He sits up, and the sheet pools around his midsection. “What happened, Savannah?”
I roll to face him, but I don’t sit up. “You pretty much know the history—dad was gone offshore a lot, mom was gone when he was gone, I was at Lizzy or Grampy’s, but mostly home alone. Right?”
“Yes.”
“I moved out to live with Paul as soon as we graduated high school. I didn’t want to see my mother anymore, even if it was just random meetings every few weeks or so. Once I left, she started bringing her boyfriends to the house. Dad came home early from a hitch to surprise her, which was rare because he never left work early.” I start to pick at my thumbnail. “Whenever Dad ended a hitch, he’d faithfully call me when he landed at the heliport to let me know his flight made it safely. A lot of helicopters crash out in the Gulf, and the weather turns on a dime. He knew I worried, so he’d always call.
“’Hey, Savannah! I made it in a little early. Perfect flying weather. Come by for dinner tomorrow night, okay. There’s something I want to tell you,’” Dad said to me.
“I hated going over there, but seeing my dad countered having to deal with her. When I got there, all the lights were off, which I found strange, but essentially I shrugged it off. My first thought was that Dad had forgotten about the arrangements he’d made with me and that they’d gone out to dinner or something. I checked in the garage, and both cars were there. That’s when I knew that something was wrong. I flipped on all the lights, searching the house for any trace of them. When I opened the bedroom door, and I was instantly sick. Three bloody bodies…”
“You don’t have to go on,” Fletcher says softly.
“I’m okay. You need to know. I called the police, and the house was buzzing with people for what felt like an eternity. I just sat in the corner, praying to be invisible. I didn’t want to talk to anyone, I didn’t want sympathy; I just wanted to be left the hell alone. But, it didn’t happen. Interview after interview. They wanted to know if I had touched anything. If I knew what happened. If I knew why the third person was in the room with them. I answered what I could, and then I went off to mourn the loss of my father.”
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” Fletcher says.
“It’s another reason I resent her. The third body was the guy she was screwing when my dad walked in on them. The loser had a gun in his pants and pulled it on my dad before he had a chance to fight back. After that, he shot my mom, and finally, himself. It was all over the news for a while, but the attention slowly diverted to other news stories.”
“I see why you resent your mom. I can’t say that I blame you.”
I nod. “Lizzy had a fit when I told her that I’ve forgiven my mom. I tried explaining to her that there’s a difference between forgiving and forgetting. I’ll never forget, but if I don’t let go of some of the hatred, it only hurts me, not her.”
“Sounds like a good thing for you to do. Your mother robbed you of your peace for nearly your entire life. The best revenge is for you to be happy.”
&nb
sp; “I never really thought of it that way. My happiness has a dual purpose; it brings peace to my dad, and it shows my mom that she didn’t ruin me.”
Fletcher smiles while lying beside me again. “Exactly.”
“Fletcher, do you believe in signs?”
“What kind of signs?” he asks, gently kissing my shoulders.
“Molly told me she believes that Brody gives her signs to let her know he’s around and watching over her.”
“She did?” Fletcher asks. “Like what?”
“Like she said when she cries really hard, sometimes a stuffed bear he gave her will fall from the shelf and land on top of her like it’s giving her a hug. There were some other things she mentioned, too.”
“Hmmm. Interesting,” Fletcher says.
“So, do you believe?”
“Why do you ask?’
“Because I think my dad sent me a sign about you. If it weren’t for that picture of you with the bike, our conversation would have ended at the Pole Co. console.”
“My handsome looks and charming smile weren’t enough to win me a date? I’m crushed.”
“I’m sorry to hurt your ego, but you wouldn’t have had a shot. However, I will admit that I found you very attractive. What was it about me? You couldn’t see me, and I’m sure you’ve made hundreds of calls to customer service lines. What made you want to meet me?”
“You made me laugh.”
“I made you laugh. What if I’d been a seventy year old woman with blue hair and ten grandkids?”
“Then I’d have treated you to a nice dinner as a thank you and sent you on your way.”
I laugh. “I love you.”
“You’d better. You’re supposed to be marrying me soon. Speaking of, we have some things we need to figure out.”
“Like what?”
“Like, whose apartment are we going to live in? We really don’t need two. And where is this wedding ceremony supposed to take place?”
“I already know that.”
Yours Always Page 15
