by Tina Martin
He picked up his phone and dialed Zoya’s number.
“Yeee-yellow,” she answered instead of saying a basic hello.
“Hey, Zoe. What are you up to?”
“About to meet up with Amira and Savannah for dinner.”
So, Savannah is still in town.
“And you have some explaining to do, Harding.”
His lips quirked up. “Do I?”
“Um, yeah. You do because I find it mighty strange that you didn’t tell us Savannah was coming for a visit, almost like you didn’t know.”
Harding could visualize his sister’s squinted eyes. “You don’t need to know everything, Zoe,” he said, but he was quite certain Savannah would open up to them tonight about some things. He didn’t know how much she would tell them, but she would definitely say something. She trusted his sisters like they were her very own family.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” she replied.
He cracked a smile. “Then I’m sure I’ll be talking to you later.”
“You can bet on it.”
“Bye, Zoe.”
“Bye.”
He hung up the phone, relieved that Savannah was okay. At least he knew she’d be in good hands tonight. Now, for other pressing business…
He scrolled through the contacts in his phone until he came across Dante’s number. Quickly dialing it, he waited.
“Dante Champion,” he answered.
“Hey, Dante. This is—”
“Harding,” Dante finished saying, recognizing Harding’s voice. “I didn’t think you were going to call, man.”
“I had to get some affairs in order. I’m sure you know how busy life can get.”
“All too well,” Dante said. “And I’m expecting my second child soon…can’t remember if I told you that or not.”
“Congrats, man,” Harding heard himself say. He’d always dreamed of Savannah having his child. But that’s all it ever amounted to. Dreams. She said she wanted children, but with her line of work, he never saw how she would make time for a pregnancy. A baby.
“Thank you. We’re excited,” Dante told him.
“The last time we talked, we were discussing the possibility of a meet and greet. Is that still doable?”
“It is. You’re not having second thoughts about it, are you?” Dante questioned.
“No. I’m looking forward to it, but my mother had expressed a little disappointment behind it.”
“I can imagine it must be hard for her.”
“It is. She says she’s okay with it now but she probably won’t be involved with the meet and greet.”
“That’s completely understandable. What about Mordecai, Zoya and Amira? Are they on board?”
“Wow. You remembered their names.”
“Of course. They’re my family. You’ll learn pretty quickly that family is of the utmost importance to me, and while I had a difficult time wrapping my head around your claims of being related to me in the beginning, now, I know the truth. You and your family are my family, and I can’t wait to meet everyone. When can we make it happen?”
“I figured we could discuss some dates, and I’ll take it back to my tribe and you take it back to yours.”
“All right. What would be more convenient for you?” Dante asked. “Would it work better if we travel closer to you or meet somewhere in between?”
“I think we will be okay heading your way,” Harding said.
“Perfect. We have plenty of room to accommodate the family.”
“We wouldn’t impose on you like that. We can get hotel rooms.”
“Nonsense,” Dante said. “You’ll stay with us. Now, let’s get a date in mind. What about this weekend? Can you see if that’ll work for everyone?”
“This weekend?” Harding asked, thinking it wouldn’t be enough notice for everyone to drop what they were doing to plan a weekend trip to Asheville.
“You all could leave Friday and stay until Sunday or Monday. Whatever’s convenient.”
“Okay. I’ll get with the family and let you know something tomorrow afternoon,” Harding said.
“All right, man. I’ll be looking forward to your call.”
After he hung up the phone, Harding blew a breath. Now he had to reach out to Mordecai, Amira and Zoya to see if they would be down for a weekend trip to meet their half-brothers.
Chapter 11
Amira and Zoya sat at a small, square-shaped table in Le Bistro watching as Savannah switched her way to the table. Leave it up to Savannah to request to go to a ritzy place like this with overpriced appetizers and entrees that didn’t sound appetizing. She had a taste for bland, expensive food like she had an eye for high-priced clothes, shoes and handbags.
“Well, well, well,” Amira said, as Savannah pulled out a chair. “Look who snuck into town without telling a single soul.”
“Then invited us out to dinner and show up,” Zoya glanced at her watch. “Twenty minutes late.”
Savannah laughed it off. “Hey, ladies.”
“Don’t hey ladies us,” Zoya said. “Why are you rolling into town in stealth mode? No one knew you were coming.”
“I know. I know. It was a last minute decision.”
“Really?” Zoya said with narrowed eyes, “Because something is a lil’ fishy, and I’m not talking about those nasty-smelling crab cakes ol’ boy is struggling to eat to the left of me.”
Amira glanced over at the man and laughed.
Savannah laughed, too. “Whatever, Zoe. You think everything is suspicious.”
“She has a point, Zoe.”
“Oh, whatever,” Zoya said. “Anyway, Savannah, how long are you staying?”
“Um…don’t know yet. I haven’t decided.”
“Hmm…” Zoya said, tapping her fingertips on the table.
Savannah smiled, trying to keep up the front that everything was legit. The women were already skeptical of her visit. She didn’t want to stir the pot even further.
“Savannah, don’t pay Zoe no mind.”
“Yeah. Don’t pay me no mind as I sit and wonder why you have on a wedding ring.”
Savannah looked at her hand. Busted! She’d forgotten to take it off after she’d stopped by Harding’s office this morning. “Um…okay, I may as well tell you what’s going on. Ah, me and your brother are married.” And since she anticipated the follow-up questions that were sure to come, she continued, “We got married a year ago. We had a small, beach ceremony with just the two of us and the minister, of course.”
“And you didn’t think that maybe your family wanted to be involved in this?” Amira questioned. “I’m going to wring Harding’s neck.”
“Amira, settle down. There’s an even bigger issue here,” Zoya said. “Savannah, if you and Harding are married and have been married for a year, why are you still living in Charleston?”
“Because I haven’t told my parents that Harding and I are married. I’ve basically been sneaking around seeing him. When he comes to see me, he doesn’t actually come to Charleston. We meet a hotel in Hilton Head.”
“Why?” Amira asked.
“Because I can’t risk my parents seeing us together. They have my entire life laid out for me and if I don’t play by their rules, I lose everything.”
“You’d rather lose my brother, instead?” Zoya said, slightly offended.
“No. That’s why I’m here, but Harding doesn’t have much to say to me.”
“Do you blame him?” Zoya snapped.
Savannah grimaced, thinking about how irritated Harding was when she last saw him earlier this morning. For a man who claimed he’d love her to the ends of the earth, he sure was quick to flip the switch and hate her just as equally. “No, I don’t blame him and I also understand why he broke up with me.”
“Broke up with you!” Zoya and Amira said together, one just as shocked as the other.
“Yes. It’s extremely complicated, and I probably shouldn’t have told you all of this, but you were bound to find
out sooner or later, especially you, Zoya.” She took a breather then said, “I came here to make things right with your brother. I do love him.”
“Then you need to do more convincing of that with him instead of us. Harding is the most loveable person I know,” Amira said, “But you screw him over and you’ll instantly become his worst enemy. From the way it sounds, you’ve already screwed him over.”
“Okay, Amira,” Zoya said trying to calm her sister down. “I think Savannah realizes that. That’s why you’re here, right Savannah?”
“Yes. I need to convince Harding he’s number one in my life.”
Looking at her phone, Zoya said, “Shoot. Looks like your timing might be off, Savannah. I just got a text from Harding. He wants to know if this Friday is enough notice for us to meet with our half-brothers, Amira.”
Savannah’s eyebrows raised. “Half-brothers?”
“Oh, he didn’t tell you about that, huh?” Zoya asked. “A couple of months ago, Harding went to Asheville and met our half-brothers. There’s three of them.”
“Wow,” Savannah said, feeling more distant than ever from Harding. She could feel the separation happening already. He wasn’t talking to her anymore. Wasn’t confiding in her about anything related to his family, and now she found out he had some half brothers that he was actively trying to become acquainted with.
“He said this Friday…like two days from now?” Amira asked.
“Yep. Two days from now.”
“What kind of notice is that?”
“You know how anxious Harding is to make this happen,” Zoya said.
“Yeah. All right. Tell him it’s fine with me,” Amira said.
“And tell him it’s fine with me, too,” Savannah added.
Zoya looked at her sideways. “Savannah, if Harding didn’t bother telling you about our half-brothers, I doubt very seriously that he wants you to be involved in this process.”
“Well, that’s too bad,” she said crossing her legs. “I’m going to be involved. I’m still his wife.”
“Okay. If you say so,” Zoya said, texting Harding back and adding on Savannah’s response as well.
Less than a minute later, Savannah’s phone was ringing.
“Hmm…wonder who that could be?” Amira said facetiously.
Savannah stood up when she saw Harding’s name on the display and said, “I’ll be right back.” Smiling, she passed through the entrance doors of the restaurant and answered, “Hello.”
“Not sure what kind of stunt you’re trying to pull, Savannah, but—”
“Why didn’t you tell me about your half-brothers?”
“Because it’s none of your concern. I don’t know if you think this is a game or what but listen to me very closely. We are over.”
“No, we’re not.”
He sighed and said, “We are. Go back home to your wonderful life with mommy and daddy. You have a good one there without me. That’s why you’re in no hurry to change it. You have everything you want there.”
“I don’t have you.”
“You don’t need me. You’ve made that clear, and I would appreciate it if you would leave my sisters out of our twisted business.”
“And I would appreciate it if you would sit down and talk to me like a rational adult—like a man who claimed to love me. Who married me.”
“Did you really just say, rational adult? The thirty-two-year-old woman who still takes orders from her parents is implying I’m not a rational adult?”
Savannah sighed heavily.
After a long pause, he said, “Leave my sisters out of this,” and then he hung up the phone.
“Hello. Hello?” When she was sure he’d hung up on her, she dialed him back, but he didn’t answer. She slid her phone back inside of her purse and headed back to the table where she told Amira and Zoya, “I’m not feeling so good all of a sudden. I’m going to go.”
“Go where?” Amira asked.
“Back to my hotel. I’ll see y’all later.” Savannah quickly walked to her car and sat there with her eyes closed trying to compose herself from the sinking feeling that she wouldn’t be able to get through to Harding this time. She pulled in a breath and began the drive to her hotel and when she was there, she took a long shower hoping it would help to relax her.
It hadn’t.
Her head still pounded and the Tylenol she took hadn’t kicked in just yet. All she could do was lie down on the bed and think about better times, like when she and Harding actually enjoyed each other’s company. When they would go on dates, even after they married.
She didn’t want to lose Harding. She knew she had to fight for her husband and if that meant her family’s disapproval, then so be it.
Chapter 12
Sitting behind his desk again wrapping up a long, hectic day, Harding dialed Mordecai. He’d gotten confirmation from Amira and Zoya that they could leave for Asheville on Friday. Now, he needed to see if his brother’s schedule would allow him to break free this weekend.
“Yo, what’s up, Harding?” he answered, sounding out of breath.
“Hey, man. Didn’t think you were going to answer.”
“I wasn’t. It’s arm day. I’m pumping iron.”
“Then I’ll get right to the point. I don’t know if the girls have said anything to you yet, but—”
“Oh, Zoe had plenty to say,” Mordecai said cutting him off. “I didn’t know you and Savannah were broken up. When we last discussed it, I thought you were intent on working things out with her.”
Harding shook his head. That’s not what he had in mind to talk about. Just how much had Savannah told his sisters last night? Jeez. “That’s not why I’m calling you. Did Zoya happen to mention anything about us meeting with our half-brothers this weekend?”
“She did, and yes, I’m free. I don’t have any sessions this weekend,” he told him. As a personal trainer, even if he did have clients, he could easily reschedule. “Now, let’s get back to Savannah. What’s going on, Harding?”
“That’s between me and Savannah, don’t you think?”
“Nope,” Mordecai said. He chuckled. “Okay, maybe it is but I feel like she’s a part of this family. Besides, we’ve already had a talk about your dilemma. No need to keep everything to yourself now. I know how much you love the girl so go ahead and get it off of your chest. Are you and Savannah really getting a divorce?”
“It could come down to it. I’ve scheduled an appointment with a lawyer next week.”
“Dang. What happened, man?”
“It’s not working out how I’d hoped.”
“Huh?”
“The long distance, the family drama—”
“Man, forget her parents,” Mordecai interrupted to say.
“How can I when they are the crux of our problem? Savannah has a lot at stake when it comes to us.”
“Like what?”
Harding blew a long breath and rubbed a hand across his head. “Nothing. I’m done talking about it. I’ll let you know about further plans for the meet and greet.” He hung up the phone and held his head. His brother was right. Savannah was a part of the family. Of his family. He just wasn’t a part of hers. While he felt like he didn’t owe anyone an explanation regarding his breakup with Savannah, in a way, he realized that he did.
She fit well with his side of the family – not bad for a man who had no intention of getting married in the first place. But a woman as beautiful and brilliant as Savannah could make a man change his mind easily. Just yesterday, he had to resist snatching her into his arms. She was his perfect woman – the one woman who made him break his own rules and eat his words. What exactly was he supposed to do without her? Start over? That wasn’t the answer. Who would he start over with? Any woman he would even attempt to date would be subpar compared to Savannah, and he’d be a fool if he tried to convince himself otherwise. Savannah was it for him, and he secretly hoped she believed the same about him. That she would fight for him.
He glance
d at the clock on his computer screen. It was time for him to go but he wasn’t eager to go home. He hadn’t received any updates on Savannah’s whereabouts today and he, for some reason, thought she’d come back here to his office again as she had done the day prior. As time ticked on, that possibility was becoming more and more unlikely.
Before leaving his office, he called Dante back and told him they were all heading to Asheville on Friday. Dante had stated that they would figure out the accommodations once everyone arrived. That left them with a full day to pack for the weekend trip.
Harding smiled, thinking about the effort he put forth to make this all happen, something he hadn’t told Savannah about. He wanted to tell her, but they would only see each other once or twice a month and they were usually all over each other and didn’t talk much in detail about anything. Whenever they did talk, it would mostly be about her court cases, her parents and anything else going on in her world. Sometimes, he got the feeling that she avoided certain subjects in hopes he wouldn’t bring up their living arrangements. Now, she knew where he stood on matters. The fate of their marriage rested solely in her hands.
Chapter 13
Thursday morning on her way home to Charleston, Savannah had a clear cut goal in mind – a purpose – and she knew what the outcome would be when she finally told her parents about her secret life. That’s why she drove straight to her condo and packed her shoes, clothes and items of importance. She stuffed everything in the trunk and backseat of her car. Her parents could blackmail her by taking the condo since it was in their name, but they couldn’t take her car. Her father had tried to buy a car for her but she insisted upon buying her own car and having the car in her name. Now, she was glad she’d done so.
Parked outside of her parent’s house, she sat there for a moment, staring at the wedding ring on her finger, immediately feeling sadness in her heart for all the times she’d taken it off to hide her marriage from them. The ring was special to her. It represented her bond to the man she loved. She wouldn’t take it off again.
