by Tina Martin
Dorthea sighed heavily and shook her head, trying to process Savannah’s request, but was still having a difficult time doing so.
“How about we sit down over dinner and talk?” Alistair asked in a soft, easy tone.
“That’s fine, but only if Harding is welcome,” Savannah said. “If not, then there’s no need to discuss a thing.”
“Fine,” Alistair said. “And that’s if he wants to join us. We need to get to know him if he’s going to be a part of your life and our grandchild’s but the last time I talked to Harding, it didn’t go over so well.”
“Then I’ll run up and talk to him about it first. Be right back.”
Savannah wasted no time walking swiftly to the elevator and when she opened the door to their room, she saw Harding sitting on the bed dressed in a pair of jeans and a black button-up shirt. His long legs were outstretched, and he looked the way he always looked – irresistibly handsome.
Harding shot Savannah a corner smile. He promised to be ready for dinner this time. If he hadn’t already put on his clothes and shoes, he’d be tempted to snatch her in his arms and roll around on the bed again.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
She dropped her purse in a chair and asked, “Why do you think something’s wrong?”
“Because your cheeks are red and you have that look.”
“Okay, something is sort of wrong, but I think we can handle it. Together.”
Standing to his feet, Harding walked over to her, caressing her arms. “What is it, sweetheart?”
“My parents are here.”
His brows raised. “They are?”
“Yes. They are standing downstairs in the lobby waiting to talk to us over dinner. I told them I would go but only if you wanted to join me. Are you okay with it?”
“I am. When I last spoke to your father, I was irate. I think we could all use a good sit-down over some good food and get to know one another. They need to know how much I love you and that I’m not going anywhere.”
“And what if things get heated again?”
“Then we’ll handle it, but let’s try our best not to let it get to that point. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“I’ll try to be as calm and rational as I can be. I don’t care what they say or think about me, but I will not let them disrespect you.” He bent forward to take a kiss, then asked, “Are you going to change clothes?”
“Yes. Let me slip into my jeans and a pair of comfortable shoes.”
“Okay.”
After she changed, they headed down the elevator together. Hand in hand they exited the elevator to the lobby floor, then walked towards Alistair and Dorthea.
Alistair reached to shake Harding’s hand.
Despite the way their last meeting ended, Harding didn’t hesitate to accept his father-in-law’s handshake, looking the man in the eyes as he did so. “Mr. Ellsworth.”
The old man released his hand. “The last time we met, I was upset and said some things I shouldn’t have. I hope we can move on from here.”
“I’m willing to give it a shot,” Harding said. He glanced at Dorthea. Her arms were crossed. Apparently, she wasn’t so willing.
“We passed a family restaurant on the way here,” Alistair said. “What do you say we go there and get a bite to eat?”
“Let’s do it,” Harding said. Still holding Savannah’s hand, they followed her parents outside and into the parking lot. “Are you still okay with this?” Harding whispered to Savannah.
“I am, although mom doesn’t seem as open as dad does.”
“She’ll come around, and if not, we’ll still be okay.”
She glanced at him and smiled because she knew that was true.
* * *
At the restaurant, Harding pulled out a chair for Savannah. Alistair did the same for Dorthea, and she sat down cautiously, looking around like the modest restaurant didn’t suit her fancy.
It was Alistair’s idea that they order quickly to get the waitress out of their hair. That way, they could have the conversation they needed to have without too many interruptions.
“I never would’ve imagined that, when I hired you to do computer work for the firm, you’d be after my daughter, Harding,” Alistair said.
“Actually, he wasn’t after me, Dad. It was the opposite. I was after him.” Savannah leaned close to Harding and left a kiss on his cheek. “Harding didn’t come on to me. He was the perfect gentleman. I was the aggressor in the relationship. I know a good man when I see one.”
Dorthea’s jaw twitched like she was agitated, but then her eyes glistened. Was she upset to the point of tears? Did her daughter’s choice of a husband bother her that much?
“Let me help to put your mind at ease,” Harding said, looking at Dorthea. “I love your daughter very much. I’m not after her money, your money or anything of the sort. In fact, if you would like, I’ll sign a document stating that. I only want Savannah, my child that’s growing inside of her and any other future children we make together. That’s all I want, and I don’t need anyone’s permission for that. No one, and I mean no one will ever love your daughter as much as I do.”
Touched by his honesty, Dorthea blinked quickly to relieve the wetness that came to her eyes. She remembered back when she was in her daughter’s shoes and how her parents had wanted her to marry Alistair even though she was in love with someone else. Only she didn’t have the guts to stand up to her mother. She settled, married Alistair and grew to love him, eventually. Still, it had been rough in the beginning and there were many times she regretted that decision.
Savannah reached out and touched her mother’s arm. She’d never seen her moved to the point of tears.
Dorthea stood up and excused herself to the ladies room.
“I’ll go talk to her,” Savannah said. When she reached the restroom, she saw her mother dabbing her eyes with a dampened paper towel.
Catching of glimpse of Savannah through the mirror, Dorthea said, “I was a lot younger than you when my mother came to me and told me who I was going to marry.” She sniffled. “I will never forget that day. I’d just come home from a party with my girlfriends. I only went with them because I knew the guy I liked would be there. Anyway, as soon as I walked through the door, my mother looked at me and told me I couldn’t see him again. She said Alistair Ellsworth was the man I was to marry, and I didn’t even put up a fight. Whatever my mother said, I did. You…you’re different. You actually had the guts to stand up and fight for the man you loved. I wasn’t as strong as you. I married a man I didn’t love to satisfy my parents.” Dorthea dabbed her eyes again. “Over the years, I’ve learned to love your father but sometimes, I…I sit back and think about the life I could’ve had.” She shook her head.
“Mom, why didn’t you tell me any of this?”
“I didn’t want to. I didn’t want you to see me as weak. I wanted you to see me as accomplished. I wanted to be a role model for you, Savannah...wanted you to look up to me like I looked up to my mother, but maybe I looked up to her a little too much. Maybe if I hadn’t, I would’ve had the guts to stand up to her.”
“First of all, Mom, I don’t think you’re weak. You’re as tough as nails.”
Dorthea grinned a little through her sadness.
Savannah smiled, too. “Mom, I appreciate you being there for me and for wanting the best possible life for me, but you have to let me live it. I have to make my own mistakes, and trust me when I say, Harding isn’t a mistake. He’s a good man. Give him a chance. Get to know him and you’ll see that.”
“Okay. I’ll give it a try.”
Savannah leaned in and hugged her mother giving her a genuine, deep, fulfilling hug – one she couldn’t recall ever giving her before.
When they parted, Dorthea said, “I can’t believe my baby is having a baby. I’m going to be a grandmother.”
“Yes, you are,” Savannah said as she wiped tears away from her mother’s face using her thumbs. “I’m no
t showing yet, but in the next few months, I will be.”
“I’m sure you will, especially if you’re going to be anything like me when I was carrying you. You were a wiggly little thang, too. Even back then you were defying me.”
Savannah smiled warmly. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so close to her mother. It was a welcomed feeling. “I love you, Mom,” she said.
“I love you too, Savannah.”
The two embraced again, then Savannah said, “Come on. Let’s go back and sit with the guys. Harding and I have more news to share with you and dad.”
“Okay, dear.”
Harding looked up and saw the women approaching. He paid careful attention to Savannah’s facial expression, analyzing her to see if she was okay. Her eyes glistened, but he saw no signs that she’d been crying. When she smiled at him, he knew she was okay. Her mother, on the other hand, had a ball of tissue in her hand and had dabbed her eyes on the way to the table.
“Everything okay, Thea?” Alistair asked, looking at his wife as she sat down.
She sniffled. “Yes. I just had a good heart to heart with my daughter is all.” She glanced up at Harding and couldn’t find any words to say to him just yet.
Savannah looked at Harding and said, “I told Mom we had some news to share—you know—about our recent decision.”
“Yes.” Harding eased his arm around Savannah. “Savannah and I have decided to stay here in Asheville. We want to build a life here.”
Savannah softened the disappointed look on her mother’s face when she added, “It’s where we want to raise our children. I already have a job, and Harding is working a contract position here. Eventually, he’ll move his company here.”
Alistair nodded. “That’s going to be quite the undertaking isn’t it? Relocating to a new city and moving a business there, especially after you already have roots in Wilmington, is going to be harder than you think.”
“I know it’s going to be a lot of work, but I’m hoping my online presence will help me maintain clients. After all, that is how you found me.”
Alistair nodded.
“Are you okay, Mrs. Ellsworth?” Harding asked, disturbed by the tears she’d been constantly brushing from her eyes.
“Yes. I’m fine. I’m sad and happy at the same time. And just so you know, Mr. Harding Champion, I’m not too happy about you taking my daughter away. But at the same time, I want to thank you for being a good man to her. I can tell you truly love her and that’s the only thing that matters.”
Harding smiled, relieved. He found Savannah’s right hand with his left and said, “I can make this promise to the both of you. I will love and cherish your daughter for as long as I live.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” Alistair said.
“I want you to,” Harding replied. “There’s no other person more important in my life than this beautiful, amazing woman sitting next to me.”
The food arrived as Harding leaned over to press his lips to Savannah’s cheek. Then he whispered in her ear, “This is going a lot better than I expected it to.”
“Yes, and I’m so happy. They needed to know that you were here to stay and you’ve made that clear.”
“Good,” Harding said. “That was my goal tonight—for them to know I wasn’t going anywhere and to show them how much I love you.”
Savannah connected her gaze to his hazel, love-stricken eyes, then pressed her lips to his.
Chapter 44
Savannah’s parents flew out Friday morning. She and Harding were able to see them off before they drove to the office together.
“Do you think your mom will be okay?” Harding asked.
“Yeah. She’ll make it. I can’t tell you how relieved I am to see that she still has some emotions in that heart of hers. I think she’s actually coming around.”
“I think so, too.” Harding turned into the parking lot of The Champion Corporation. “At least we accomplished something as far as your parents are concerned. Now, we can really focus on us.” He found a parking space then shut off the car, turning to the right to look at her.
She smiled. “What?”
“I can’t believe we’re actually doing this. We’re together and starting our lives.”
“We are,” Savannah said leaning over to give him a morning kiss.
“Now, let’s start our workday before my half-brothers fire us.”
She laughed. “I doubt that will be a problem. I don’t know them that well, but they’re good people.”
“I agree.” He leaned towards her and took a long kiss. When he turned her lips loose, he said, “Okay. That should hold me for an hour or so. Let’s go.”
* * *
Later that evening, Savannah and Harding showed up for dinner at Dante’s house. From the looks of the cars in the driveway, they were the last to arrive. The front door was already open and they could see through the glass storm door that the lights were on and the family was gathering in the dining room. Letting themselves inside, greeted by soft music and the smell of rich spices, Savannah said, “Hello.”
“Savannah,” Emily called out, walking over to give her a hug. She embraced Harding, too.
Then the guys – Dante, Desmond and Dimitrius came out to greet them, slapping hands with Harding and inviting them into the dining room.
“The food is ready,” Dante said. “We were just waiting on you guys.”
“Oh, well, let’s eat,” Savannah said. She pulled out a chair next to Grace’s high chair. Harding gripped the back of her chair until she made herself comfortable. Then he sat in the chair next to her.
Halfway through dinner, Desmond got up from his seat and filled everyone’s wine glasses with grape juice.
Sherita grinned. “What are you doing, Des?”
“I’m preparing for a toast. Since we have two women who are carrying little Champion babies, I figured everyone could settle for grape juice as a substitute for champagne.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet of you,” Savannah told him.
“It is,” Melanie said. “Boy, Sherita, I tell you…you’ve sure done a number on this bad boy.”
Amused, Desmond raised his brows and said, “Bad boy?”
“Yeah, she had it right,” Dimitrius said, cosigning for his wife. “Before Sherita, you were zipping all through these streets on that Ducati like you were invincible.”
Savannah and Harding chuckled along with the rest of the family.
“I still zip through the streets. I’m just more careful now because I have a family and responsibilities. I have two beautiful children to think about. Then, there’s my bombshell of a wife who I can’t keep my hands off of.” He leaned down and left a kiss on Sherita’s temple. Standing tall again, he tapped his glass with a fork and said, “Attention please.”
“You already have everyone’s attention after pouring that grape juice,” Dimitrius teased.
Desmond cleared his throat and continued, “Now, that I have everyone’s attention, I would like to say an official welcome to Savannah as a full-timer at The Champion Corporation. She’s officially survived her first week.”
Dante started an applause that grew around the table. Even Grace and Ezra were clapping as they sat happily in their high chairs, next to each other, of course.
“Thank y’all,” Savannah said.
Desmond took a squirmy Celeste out of her high chair, holding her securely with his left arm then continued, “We hope this will mean many more years to come.”
“I hope so, too,” Savannah said.
Harding then stood up to say, “While we’re on the topic of our future, I would like to express my appreciation to all of you and your hospitality over these last two weeks. I know we have a long way to go in getting acquainted with each other but I truly appreciate how you’ve made me, Savannah, and when they were here, my brother and sisters feel welcome. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, man,” Dimitrius said along with Dante and Desmond.
&n
bsp; “And, since I’m standing, I have an announcement to make,” Harding said. “Savannah and I have decided to make Asheville our new home.”
“Yay!” Emily said, nearly jumping out of her seat.
“That’s wonderful,” Melanie said. “I’m so excited.”
“Me, too!” Sherita said.
Harding continued, “Granted, it’s going to be difficult for me to relocate here and reestablish everything I’ve built back home in Wilmington, but—”
“Um…don’t mean to cut you off there, bruh,” Dimitrius said, “But we—Desmond, Dante and myself—talked about what we could do to assist in the event you and Savannah decided to settle down here. We know you take pride in running your business, so to assist you with your transition, we would like to offer you a long-term temporary position at TCC until you get your business off the ground.”
“And, we found out about the charity you support to help single mothers in your community, so we’ve added them to our list of charities that we support on a yearly basis,” Desmond said.
Dante added, “And to help you reestablish your business in Asheville, we are going to handle your marketing and relaunch, website design, PR campaign—all of that—free of charge.”
“But you get paid thousands, if not millions, of dollars to do those things,” Harding said. “You mean to tell me you’ll do this for free?”
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s already done,” Desmond said.
Still standing, Harding closed his eyes, overwhelmed with gratitude by his half-brothers’ generosity.
Savannah stood up and wrapped her arms around him.
“Wow. I—I don’t—” Harding found himself at a loss for words.
Savannah rubbed his back.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve this,” he said.
