Southern Exposure (Southern Desires Series Book 2)

by Jeannette Winters

  Mr. Fitzgerald raised a brow. “Your loan is paid in full. That’s why I’ve been calling you so you could come and pick up this document.”

  Paid in full. No way is that possible. She knew she hadn’t won the lottery and hadn’t made a payment in more than a year. How could it be paid—? “Mr. Fitzgerald, we both know I didn’t do this. Not that I wouldn’t have, but I financially couldn’t.”

  He smiled at her and gave an understanding nod. “Yes, ma’am, I know.”

  “Please tell me.” She could tell by the look on his face he wanted to. All he needed was a little push. Using her southern charm she looked at him with her green eyes pleadingly. “I won’t be able to stay here any longer unless I know who was so kind to me and why.”

  It worked. “Mark Collins. Although, it was supposed to be an anonymous donation, but that kind of money had to be transferred. Therefore, I know his name.” Mark? My Mark?

  “Why would he do that?” Hannah asked softly, but it was meant for only her to hear.

  “That, my dear, is something I cannot answer.”

  Those were things she was adding to her ever-growing I don’t understand Mark Collins list. Everything he did was amazingly kind and sweet. But none of it made any sense. His actions when he left did not match everything else. Which one is the real Mark Collins? It was going to require deep thought and also a face-to-face conversation with that man. If I ever see him again.

  “Never mind . . . thank you, Mr. Fitzgerald. Thank you for coming all the way out here to deliver this to me.”

  Before he left the porch, she was in the house looking for her cell phone. Why is it when I’m looking for something in a rush, it’s never where I think it is?

  Hannah searched the entire house. She wanted to call Mark and give him a piece of her mind. It was bad enough he remodeled her entire house without talking to her but to pay off her mortgage too? She should’ve asked when exactly the loan was paid off. Was it before or after Texas? Did he feel guilty for having sex with her and not calling afterward? Because if that was the case it only made her feel cheap. What she shared with him that night was special beyond words. She fell in love with him when she thought he had nothing, and they would have nothing together.

  I almost wish he did have nothing. This would’ve been much simpler. He and I would probably be together now. Instead, he is God knows where and for all I know, never coming back.

  Hannah threw herself on her bed, face first. Even good news doesn’t feel good anymore. I need to stop this pity party I’m in and get back to Providence. The biopsy is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, and I’m not going to miss it.

  She heard her phone ring. It was close, but she couldn’t see it. Listening carefully, she shook her head as she realized where it was. Reaching under the covers, she pulled it out and answered on the next ring. It was from a restricted number. Normally she avoided answering those calls as they were collections calls.

  “Hello.”

  “Hannah. It’s Mark.” The line had so much static she could barely hear him.

  Her heart skipped a beat, and she wished she could teleport through the phone to be with him. Problem is I don’t even know where that is.

  “I can hear you.”

  “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  She hadn’t heard from him since he’d left about ten days ago. Now he wants to come back and what, talk? Hannah wasn’t going to be at the house tomorrow. She was leaving at dawn to catch a plane to Rhode Island. She’d promised Bailey she’d be there for her biopsy, and she wasn’t going to change plans.

  “I won’t be here.”

  “Hannah. I need to talk to you. Just be there.”

  The line went dead before she could respond. Her heart was being pulled in two directions. But she knew she needed to go to Providence and be with Bailey. She already came back to Savannah to work things out with Mark. He didn’t have time for her then, and now, she didn’t have time for him. Maybe that’s a sign. Our timing is always off. It’s not meant to be.

  She couldn’t bring herself to put the phone down. Deep within her she’d hoped it would ring again. But it didn’t. Hannah wasn’t sure what to say if they did talk. Her feelings for him hadn’t changed, but she’d learned things that had brought out a different level of emotions. She was still angry he took all control away from her. His heart may have been in the right place, but that didn’t give him the right to do it. It made me feel as though he thought I need taking care of. I’m not a child. Life may have thrown me some curveballs, but that doesn’t mean I’m incapable of taking care of myself.

  The phone disconnecting was a good thing. At least for her. She decided to pack for her early morning flight. There was no way she could take her negative attitude with her. Bailey needed love and support right now, and that is exactly what she was going to get.

  As she pulled out her suitcase from her closet, a box that was tucked away on the shelf fell to the floor. It was not one she’d seen before. It was an old cigar box, and she knew no one who smoked them.

  She lifted the lid. It was filled to the top with paper. Bringing the box with her, she sat on the bed and started to go through it.

  She opened the first envelope very carefully as the paper was very brittle. Her eyes widened at what she saw. It was a love letter from her mother to her father. Why didn’t I know about these?

  Hannah often wondered what her mother was like. Her father had told her stories, but it wasn’t the same. As she read the letters, it was like her mother was coming alive for the first time. She was a strong woman who knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to say it. She was bold and confident. I’m neither.

  As she continued reading, she realized her mother embraced life like no other woman she’d met. Well, maybe Sissie. She’s full of life too. You have to be to own a saloon in Texas, and Mom had to live all the way out here with no one around but Dad.

  The letters showed her a different picture. They hadn’t seen each other all the time. That was strange because as far as she knew both her parents were home together, but her mother continued to write, “As I count the nights, I count the ways I’ll greet you,” at the end of each letter.

  But growing up, her father never traveled. He worked in town, but that was as far as she knew he traveled. Actually, I went away every summer. I’ve no idea what he did then. Did he travel for work?

  The more letters she read the closer she felt to her mother, and it was evident her father traveled for months at a time, working on an offshore oil rig. Why didn’t he tell me? Is that why he sent me away every summer? So he could earn enough money in three months to support us the rest of the year?

  It left her feeling loved more than before. Raising a daughter all on his own must’ve been difficult, but never letting her know what he faced and the sacrifices he made would’ve been very challenging. Until her father became ill, she had no clue how much it took to maintain this house. And if her father had taken all his time off and had gone to work on the oil rig, that explained why the house had deteriorated so badly. He probably started projects with hopes of one day finishing them.

  I don’t want to live my life filled with “one day I will” I want my life filled with yesterdays and todays.

  She remembered another quote from her mother’s letter. “One moment in your arms is like capturing a lifetime of happiness.” No wonder my dad never remarried. He and Mom had something so sweet, so special; I wish for that someday.

  Through the letters, she found something she would carry with her always: true love was something neither distance nor time could steal away, and it lasts long after a person is gone.

  Carefully she packed each letter back inside the box. Her father never used this room, so she had no idea how they came to be there. Although she wasn’t fond of cleaning, she knew she’d emptied out that closet several times over the years. Actually, I had to when I downsized, getting ready to move out. There is no way I missed this. And how did I miss them all my life?


  She held it to her chest and squeezed her eyes shut. Thanks, Mom. Somehow you knew I needed this now.

  Getting off the bed, she placed the old cigar box back on the closet shelf. She didn’t close the door immediately as she wasn’t sure if it was going to disappear as magically as it appeared. Even if they do, I’ll carry Mom’s words with me always. Just as Dad did all those years.

  After reading them, she knew she needed to find time for Mark. Yes, there were things she wasn’t happy about, but if she didn’t give him a chance to explain then she wasn’t close to being the person her mother had been. Thanks, Mom. You set the bar. I hope I don’t fall flat on my face reaching for it.

  Her plans weren’t going to change, though. Tomorrow was Bailey’s big day, and she was going to be there, no matter what. This BFF isn’t going to let you down. I promised I’d be there, and I will be. You’re not alone, Bailey. No matter what, I’m here for you.

  As though her ears were ringing, Bailey called at that very moment.

  “Hi, Bailey. I was just thinking of you.”

  “Thinking how are you going to be able to pull yourself away from the hunk, Mark, to come back to Providence?” Bailey teased.

  If only you knew. But now is not the time to talk to you about it. “I’ll manage.” She needed to get the subject back to something that wouldn’t require lying. “My plane is scheduled to land at nine a.m. I should be at your apartment by ten.”

  “Yeah. About that. They called and rescheduled me.”

  “No problem. You just tell me when and I’ll be there.” Hannah didn’t care if they put it off one day or a month, as long as the results were positive.

  “Actually, they asked me to be at the hospital at five tomorrow morning. The doctor decided to do a surgical biopsy so they can see right away what we’re dealing with and if needed, they can—”

  “I’ll be there. I’ll have to meet you at the hospital, Bailey, but I’ll be there.”

  “Hannah. I already checked. There are no flights coming in tonight. I promise I’ll call you as soon as I get out.” She heard Bailey’s voice trying to be strong, but there was a tremble in her voice that normally wasn’t there.

  “Bailey Tasca. I love you dearly, now shut up and trust me. I’ll be there before you go into surgery. Understood?”

  There was a pause, and she heard sniffles over the line. God, I wish I could hug you right now. I never should’ve left you. No one should have to face this alone. And there’s no way I’m going to let you.

  “Okay, Hannah. I’ll see you in the morning. Love you, girlfriend.”

  Bailey hung up before Hannah could say she loved her too. Hannah looked at her watch. It was almost eleven in the morning. She googled the driving directions. It would take approximately fifteen hours unless she hit traffic. I can do this. I have to do this. She needs me. And God, I need her.

  She’d been in the process of carefully packing for her trip, but now she grabbed things out of her drawer, not caring if they matched or not. She lifted her mattress and pulled out the emergency cash she’d hidden away. It wasn’t much, but it would pay her gas and the road tolls.

  Good thing I don’t have time to stop as I don’t have any money for a hotel. Hannah made a strong pot of coffee, threw it into a thermos, and packed her car. There was no time to waste if she was going to keep her promise.

  As she sped down her driveway, she looked in her rearview mirror at her home. Yes. That’s home. I’ll be back. And with any luck, I’ll be back to stay.

  The drive was long and painful. At times her eyes burned from lack of sleep, and she thought she wouldn’t make it. But once she hit traffic in New York she woke right up. Even in the middle of the night, the highway was busy. She was grateful she’d made it through before rush hour had hit or she never would make it to the hospital in time. As it was, she’d pulled into the parking garage only fifteen minutes before Bailey was supposed to go in.

  She was running through the hallway asking everyone she met for directions. I have to let her know I’m here. She can’t go in thinking she’s alone.

  “Ma’am. You can’t go in there,” a heavyset nurse called from behind the desk.

  “I need to see my friend. I promised her I would be here. I have to let her know.”

  The woman asked, “What’s your friend’s name?”

  “Bailey Tasca.”

  She nodded. “Are you Hannah?”

  “Yes. Hannah Entwistle. Can I see her?”

  The nurse shook her head. “Sorry, but they already took her down.”

  “I have to. I promised her.”

  “She told me you’d be here, and asked me to give you this envelope when you got here. She said for you to hold on to it until she was out of surgery.”

  The nurse handed her an envelope. Hannah opened it, and the necklace she’d given Bailey just before she left for Savannah was inside. A tear rolled down her cheek. Bailey knew that she’d be there, and this was her way of letting her know that.

  “Thank you.”

  The nurse smiled. “Miss Tasca also put you down for her contact. The doctor will be out to talk to you once he has any information.” She pointed to the coffee machine and the waiting room. “Go have a seat. You look exhausted.”

  That doesn’t come close to how I feel. But sleep is not something I can do. I need to see Bailey. Once I know she’s okay, I’ll sleep.

  She took a seat and held the necklace tightly in her hand. Her eyes were closed, but only so she could concentrate on positive thoughts for her friend. The doctor will come out soon and tell me you are okay. Then I’m stealing my friend and taking her back to Savannah with me where she and I can finally relax and reminisce.

  Mark panicked when he pulled up in his Jeep and Hannah was nowhere to be found. She wasn’t the type of woman to be out in the middle of the night. He did what anyone with his technical ability would do. He turned on the tracker for Hannah’s iPhone. He’d meant to turn it off once the scumbag in the upstairs apartment was gone, but he hadn’t seen her since that day. It was a good thing because it had come in handy.

  What he hadn’t expected was to find out she was in New York and heading northeast. He had tried calling her, but it went to voice mail.

  He dialed Don.

  “Not calling me for another vacation so soon, are you?”

  Mark didn’t have time for Don’s jokes. He needed to figure out where Hannah was headed. “Do you have Bailey’s number?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “Give it to me,” Mark ordered.

  Don stopped him right away. “Check yourself, Mark. You’re not talking to your men on your team.”

  He was right. Normally he took time off between returning stateside and talking with others. But this was a short get-in-get-out mission that only required him to be gone days, not months. Either way, it probably wasn’t wise for him to be reaching out to Hannah so soon, but he couldn’t help himself. He needed to see her. If the connection hadn’t been so bad on the plane when he was flying over the Atlantic, he would’ve started the conversation then. But what needed to be said couldn’t be said on a phone. Or at least it shouldn’t. There’d been too much left unsaid that day. She’d told him she loved him, and he’d said nothing back. I was such an asshole. I deserve her not speaking to me, but I have to try. I owe her a response. Damn. I owe her so much more than that.

  He was disgusted by his actions. Yes, he needed to get out of there quickly, but what would five minutes have meant? He left her there to see the blood and hear the details from Don. He could only imagine how that went over. Don was a good friend, but Hannah was a delicate flower. He should’ve taken care of his own business. Made sure she was okay before leaving. Damn, I was relieved when Don emailed me, advising he’d had the walls in that living room repainted and new flooring put down. He’d done so much already, but I know he wasn’t doing it for me, he did it for Hannah. And that’s the reason I know he’ll give me the information. For Hannah.
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  But he thought he’d be back for a day before leaving. However, his commander had other plans since he’d broken protocol. Even though he took out the bad guys, that didn’t mean what he did was right. And the Navy had no problem reminding him of that.

  “Hannah’s not here, Don. I need to know if she’s on her way to see Bailey. It looks like she’s driving through New York and headed northeast. Where does Bailey live?”

  “Rhode Island. And don’t tell me you’re pulling the same shit you did on your sister on Hannah. Trust me. It won’t go over well. Women don’t like being spied on.”

  “Rhode Island. Damn.”

  “Where are you now?”

  “Georgia. At Hannah’s.”

  “Great. I’m in the air now. Just left the Florida Keys an hour ago. Want a lift?”

  Fuck yeah. “I’ll meet you at the airport.”

  “I’ll let the pilot know. Besides, I wouldn’t mind seeing that sweet young thing again myself. Oh, before you bite my head off, I’m talking about Bailey.”

  Don’t worry, Don. I know you’re not that stupid.

  Mark threw his Jeep in reverse and broke every traffic law there was to get to the airport. He wanted to make sure he caught up with Hannah before she decided to go off the grid.

  As soon as Don’s jet touched down, he was on the runway and boarding before the pilot had a chance to file his new flight plan.

  “What time will we arrive?”

  Don checked with the pilot. “Be on the ground by six. That is if she is stopping in Rhode Island.”

  His gut was telling him that’s where she was going. The gut never lies. “She’ll be there.”

  During the flight, Don updated Mark with how Hannah had taken the news on the renovations.

  “So you’re saying she was happy?”

  “I’m saying she was shocked. You might want to keep a bit of distance between the two of you until you iron out a few things.”

  He didn’t care if she kicked, scratched, or bit him. He had every intention of pulling her into his arms and telling her he loved her the moment he saw her.