“I don’t think that’s it. Her purse is still here.” Julius said.
Bridgette didn’t like the sound of that, but she didn’t want Julius to know that she was beginning to panic. “Julius, Savannah has a million and one purses. Are you sure she didn’t just grab another one?”
“Well, I don’t think so. Her wallet and other personal belongings are still in the one I’ve seen her carrying around lately. It’s the lime green Michael something-other Ivy bought her for her thirtieth birthday last year. The one that matched one of their sorority colors,” Julius said. Bridgette knew which purse he was referring to because she’d made a snide remark about it in jest at the time since both of her sisters were members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
“Maybe she just took some cash out the wallet instead of having to use her credit card,” Bridgette said, unconvinced of her own words, but she had nothing else.
She ran through a list of places in her mind where her sister could be at that hour, but she came up with nothing because that was just something Savannah wasn’t prone to do. Now, if it was Ivy that would’ve been more believable since that was the lifestyle she’d always lived, but her baby sister—there was no way. Something was definitely wrong. Her sisterly instinct told her so.
“I doubt it. She never carries cash. And now that I know she’s not there with you and you haven’t heard anything from her, I’m worried. I’ve never known her to do anything like this,” Julius said, matching Bridgette’s sentiment. She could hear him tending to her niece in the background and she seemed to be getting less fussy.
“I know. So you don’t have any idea how long she’s been gone?” Bridgette asked, adjusting the silk bonnet on her head.
“No. Once I pass out, I usually don’t hear much of anything. Savannah always says that a tornado could swoop through the neighborhood and tear the roof off our house, and I’d still probably sleep through that.”
Normally, Bridgette would have found his comment funny, but the fact that her sister seemed to be missing wasn’t a laughing matter.
“I woke up to use the bathroom and I could hear Arianna crying from down the hall. And when I was done, it still hadn’t ceased, so I decided to go check thinking maybe Savannah had gone downstairs to the kitchen to fix her a bottle, but she was nowhere to be found. I don’t like this, Bridgette. Something’s not right here, and I need to go find her and make sure she’s okay,” he said.
“I agree. The boys are with Nick this weekend, so I can come over and stay with the baby. Give me about twenty minutes,” Bridgette said, already out of her bed and heading to her closet to find something she could throw on.
“Thanks, Bridgette,” he said, and she could hear the weariness in his voice as if he was already thinking the worst.
“Don’t worry, Julius. I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for this. You’ll find her and we’ll all probably be laughing about this later,” Bridgette said, praying that her words were true.
Chapter Fifty-Two
B
ridgette was feeding her niece a bottle when Julius returned a few hours later. She’d met him in the kitchen where he’d entered from the garage, praying her sister would be with him. When she wasn’t, Bridgette’s worry had turned into fear. What if something bad had happened to her sister? She glanced down at Arianna, sucking her bottle, her innocent brown eyes staring up at her. And that thought ripped at her heart. Savannah had been through too much to bring Arianna into this world not to be around to watch her grow up.
“I’ve looked everywhere and there’s no sign of her,” Julius said.
Bridgette noticed how worn-out he looked. “I was praying she’d just return home before you got back. Where in the world could she be?” she pondered.
“I don’t know, but I think I’m going to call the police. I’ve checked hospitals, the school where she works, grocery stores, every place I could think to look and I’ve had no luck. I’ve even been through her iPhone to see if I could find anything that might help,” said Julius. “There’s nothing.”
“Julius, I hate to ask this, but I’m just trying to understand what could’ve happened to my sister. Did you have an argument or something you’re not telling me about?”
Julius frowned. “What are you implying, Bridgette?”
“I’m just trying to figure out if there’s something we’re missing here. I’m not accusing you of anything sinister, but maybe she was upset about something and you hadn’t noticed,” said Bridgette. She removed Arianna’s empty bottle from her mouth and placed her on her chest to burp her.
“We haven’t argued about anything that would warrant her taking off in the middle of the night,” said Julius, and Bridgette noticed the edge in his voice.
She really wasn’t trying to upset him, but finding out where her sister could be was more important than his feelings. “Julius, I had to ask. None of this makes any sense. I’m worried about my sister and I pray that wherever she is, she returns safely.”
Julius took a seat at the kitchen island and buried his face in his hands. “Savannah, baby. Where are you, sweetheart?” he asked. Then, his cell phone buzzed. Julius reached down into the front pocket of his blue jeans and removed it.
“What’s up, DeShazo?” he asked the person on the other end.
Bridgette prayed it was some news regarding Savannah’s whereabouts.
“What? Why?” Julius asked. His brow was furrowed and Bridgette moved closer to the island.
“Who is that? Is it about Savannah?” Bridgette queried.
“I’ll be there in ten,” Julius said, already on his feet and heading to the front door before he could end his call.
“Julius, who was that?” Bridgette asked him again. Her voice now irritated. “Was that about my sister?”
“It was Winston. Savannah’s at his house. “I can’t explain it now, but can you look after Arianna a little while longer?”
Julius was out the door before Bridgette could answer him or get any answers for herself. She was confused and annoyed that Julius didn’t tell her where her sister was, but she was relieved that she’d been found.
Chapter Fifty-Three
S
avannah had been driving around Charlotte aimlessly for hours after leaving home early that morning. She didn’t have a specific destination, but she needed to be able to think clearly without the distractions that surrounded her at home. She’d finally ended up at Briar Oaks Elementary School, walking the empty halls and admiring the children’s artwork that adorned the walls. It felt good to be in the place that she’d always felt so much love and respect, unlike when she was at home.
She’d sat in her office and laid her head down on her desk, crying until she didn’t have any tears left. She didn’t recognize her own life anymore, and that scared her. This should’ve been one of the happiest times because the one thing she had always wanted, she now had—her beautiful daughter. But, she was feeling like she’d made a mistake. She didn’t feel like a mother, and she certainly hadn’t acted like one this morning.
Savannah had ignored her baby’s pleas to be comforted and abandoned her instead. Her daughter’s cries met her as she walked down the hall, her nursery just a few feet away, and followed her as she descended the stairs to the garage to get into her SUV. Arianna’s cries still haunted her as she sat in her office, and when she couldn’t silence them, she felt the need to escape—again. But this time, she had a clear destination.
“Savannah? What are you doing here? Is everything all right?” Heather DeShazo asked her when she opened her front door thirty minutes later. She looked at Savannah’s disheveled appearance and concern filled her face.
She’d thrown on a pair of black leggings, her sorority t-shirt and a pair of pink Tieks and her eyes were red and puffy from tears and exhaustion.
“I need to talk to you,” Savannah murmured.
“Sure. Come on in,” Heather said, stepping aside to let her enter the foyer. “What’s wrong, Savan
nah?” she asked, closing the door behind them.
“Are Winston and the children home?” Savannah queried, looking down the hall.
“Yes, but they’re all out by the pool. I was in the kitchen preparing lunch for later,” said Heather. “How’s Arianna? I’ve been meaning to come by and see her in person, but you know how busy we’ve been at the law office. I’m so happy everything worked out this time.”
Heather had been the attorney to handle their surrogacy arrangement, both times. She was the third partner at the law practice that Julius shared with her husband, Winston.
“Well, that’s what I need to talk to you about,” Savannah said, averting her eyes.
Heather studied her. “Okay, we can go into the study.” Her face was full of questions. “Can I get you anything?”
“No, thank you,” Savannah said as she followed her down the hall toward the study.
“Is everything okay with the baby, Savannah?” Heather asked when they were seated on the large, sectional in the study.
“No. I mean, yes. I guess. I don’t know, Heather. I’ve tried everything. I don’t know what else to do.” Savannah’s eyes filled with tears.
Heather placed a hand on her leg. “What’s wrong, Savannah? I know I’m your attorney, but I consider us friends as well. And we’re sorors, so more like sisters,” said Heather with concern in her eyes. “This doesn’t have to be official.”
“I can’t do this. It’s too hard,” Savannah said, sobbing now.
Heather scooted closer to her on the sectional and wrapped an arm around her to comfort her. “It’s okay, honey. Tell me what’s going on? What’s too hard?”
Savannah looked into Heather’s hazel eyes. She’d always reminded Savannah of a younger version of Vanessa Williams. “I’m not cut out to be Arianna’s mother. I can’t bond with her. She hates me.”
“Oh honey. Don’t say that. Every baby is different. I know because I’ve had three. You have to give it a little time. She’s only been here for about a week. She’s still adjusting just like you’re trying to. Trust me,” said Heather.
But, Savannah wasn’t convinced. “No. She hates me. She didn’t grow inside me, so she has no connection to me. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I made an awful mistake. I can’t keep her.”
“What do you mean you can’t keep her? What are you saying, Savannah?” Heather asked.
“I think I should put her up for an adoption.” Savannah’s declaration caused a look of surprise to register on Heather’s face.
“Why would you want do that?” Heather frowned.
“Because I’m a bad mother. I just abandoned my baby without a second thought. How could I do such a horrible thing?” Savannah sobbed. She was almost inconsolable as Heather tried to calm her down as she rubbed her back.
“What do you mean you abandoned her?” Heather asked.
“I just left her. She needed me and I left her.” That thought made Savannah cry harder.
She could still hear her baby crying, and she would never be able to forgive herself for how she’d treated her daughter. She didn’t deserve to be a mother for how she acted.
Chapter Fifty-Four
“S
avannah, sweetheart?”
Savannah’s head jerked in the direction of her husband’s voice. She was surprised to see him standing there.
“Julius, what are you doing here? How did you know I was here?”
Julius stood with his hands buried in the front pockets of his blue jeans. Savannah could tell that he was just as tired as she was. His eyes were just as red as hers.
“Winston called,” he said.
Heather looked just as surprised to see him as Savannah did. She rose from her seat. “I’ll give you two some time to talk.” She bent down and gave her a hug before leaving the study. She patted Julius on the shoulder before walking out.
Savannah wiped her tears with a tissue Heather had given her as Julius joined her on the sectional. He leaned over and placed a kiss on her forehead.
“Baby, I was so worried about you. When I woke up and couldn’t find you, I didn’t know what happened. I’ve been out of my mind all day looking for you. I’m so glad you’re okay,” Julius said.
Savannah saw the sadness in his eyes and it made her feel terrible.
“Julius, I’m not okay. I haven’t been for a while, even before the baby came. And now that she’s here, it’s only gotten more complicated for me.”
“Honey, I know you’re feeling overwhelmed, but we’re not putting our baby up for an adoption,” said Julius and Savannah was surprised by his words.
“How do you kn—?”
“Winston overheard you talking to Heather, and he called me.”
“Julius, I can’t do this by myself anymore. I’m not equipped to handle all of this on my own,” Savannah cried.
“I understand that now, sweetheart. And, I’m sorry that I haven’t been present as much as I should be. But, we’ll get through this together. We have a beautiful daughter that we’ve prayed about, and we owe it to her to try to be the best parents we possibly can be. She’s going to grow up loving you as much as I do. You’ll see,” Julius said, grabbing her hand and placing a kiss on it.
“I’m sorry that I just left. I feel awful.”
“Savannah, it’s okay, sweetheart. You’ve been through so much. I think it might be a good idea for us to go and talk to someone—a professional. Maybe you’re suffering from postpartum depression or something similar.”
Savannah frowned. “How could I be suffering from postpartum depression? I didn’t even give birth.”
“I don’t know, but something’s going on and we need to find out what it is,” said Julius.
Savannah was silent as she mulled over her husband’s words. Maybe he was right. She at least owed it to him and her baby girl to find out. God had blessed her with what she’d asked for, and she had to have faith that he would work everything out for the better.
Chapter Fifty-Five
Two years later…
S
avannah and Bridgette sat out on the beach, both of them stretched out in lounge chairs enjoying the view of the ocean and the twins, Dylan and Ryan, now eleven-years-old, splashing around in the water wearing their life vests.
“It’s amazing how fast they’re all growing. Time flies,” Savannah marveled at the children. Arianna, who was inside napping at the beach house was now two-years-old.
“I agree,” said Bridgette, flipping the page of her novel.
“Did you see that movie?” Savannah asked, from behind her sunglasses, pointing at the book.
“No. But, I saw Olivia Pope reading it when she was lying out on that island on that episode of Scandal when she’d run off with Jake. I bought it then, so you know how long ago that was, and I’m just now getting around to being able to read it,” said Bridgette.
“We should go get it at Redbox to watch after dinner. Ben Affleck played the husband. Gone Girl was a good movie,” said Savannah.
“Sounds like a good idea,” said Bridgette.
“What sounds like a good idea?” They both looked up as Ivy walked up from behind them.
“We’re talking about the movie, Gone Girl. Have you seen it?” Savannah asked.
“I read the book by Gillian Flynn and that was enough for me. That woman in that book was a special kind of crazy.”
They watched her ease down in her chair. She was four months pregnant and wearing a bikini.
“Are you feeling better?” Bridgette asked.
“I’m fine, considering I look like an overcooked Butterball turkey,” said Ivy.
“Oh stop it. I wish I looked that good when I was pregnant with the twins,” said Bridgette. “And I certainly wouldn’t have had the nerve to be parading around in a two-piece. Where they do that at?”
Savannah and Ivy laughed.
“Bridgette, you really need to stop watching all of those reality TV shows Fatima has got you hooked on,”
said Ivy. “You picking up too much of that ratchet lingo.”
“I really do,” Bridgette said, chuckling. “But, that’s my guilty pleasure.”
“Don’t I know it? I can’t get enough dark chocolate and red wine, of course. I sure wouldn’t mind a glass now,” said Ivy, licking her lips for effect.
“I’d swear you have stock invested in both,” Bridgette teased.
“ And speaking of chocolate, look at my Godiva chocolate drop out there looking like a GQ magazine centerfold,” Ivy marveled as she watched her husband and stepdaughter splashing around in the water. “Seems like I get pregnant every time I look at that man.”
They all laughed.
Ivy and Kean had been married for over a year now. They had a six-month old son, Elijah and now a daughter on the way.
When Ivy returned to Atlanta from Paris, deciding that living in Europe permanently wasn’t something she wanted because she’d really missed her family, she’d run into Kean again at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in baggage claim. He’d been returning from Philadelphia where she now resided with him and their son.
She’d finally revealed to him everything about the surrogacy while having drinks at one of the restaurant bars in the airport, and he cleared up for her what she’d been wondering about his relationship with Octavia. They were just good co-parents for their daughter and they took her out occasionally for them all to do things together. Their relationship was platonic, ironically like theirs had been for so long. Octavia was now married herself, and they all got together from time to time for couples night and family night with the children when they visited Atlanta to see Marley. Octavia explained that she didn’t want any more children and revealed that she had never planned to have Marley. Her and Ivy had become close over the past year.
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