by Gold, Kristi
She immediately recognized Reggie Wilkins, one of her father’s closest friends, and came to her feet to give him a hug. “It’s so good to see you, Reggie.”
He looked a bit uncomfortable when she let him go. “Same here, Miss Savannah.”
She gestured toward the bench behind her. “Have a seat and tell me what you’ve been up to.”
He hesitated for a moment and scanned the area as if seeking approval. At one time someone might have objected if he joined her, before the racial dividing line had somewhat dissolved due to one unifying factor among the citizens of Placid—poverty.
After Reggie removed his hat and claimed the spot beside her, Savannah laid a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry we didn’t have more time to talk at the funeral. And I’m so, so sorry about Etta. She was one of my favorite teachers.”
His eyes dimmed from recognizable sorrow over the loss of his wife. “You know, Miss Savannah, it was tough to watch her go, but she’s in a better place now, waiting for me.”
She would do well to rely on that wisdom when it came to her own father. “How are the kids?” she asked. “Aside from all grown up.”
Finally, his smile reappeared, as bright as the sun beating down on the sidewalk. “R.J.’s got a fancy business degree and he’s in Atlanta workin’ in a bank, if you can imagine that. He got his ’rithmetic skills from his mama. And Lila, she’s at the university in ’Bama for the third year. She’s going to be a physical therapist. They’ve both done me proud, just like you did your daddy proud.”
And like her, Reggie’s children had made a life elsewhere. “So it’s just you living out at the farm? That must be lonely.”
He shook his head. “No, ma’am, I ain’t at the farm no more. I’m living in town now. Mr. Wainwright called in my note because I didn’t have the money to pay.”
The thought of Wainwright ripping a man’s home right out from under him made Savannah sick. “You lost the entire farm, even your house?”
“Yes, ma’am, I did. R.J.’s tryin’ to get me to come to Georgia, but my kin helped build this town. They’re all laid to rest in the old cemetery on the county road, and so is my Etta, and I can’t leave my Etta. So I reckon this is where I’ll be buried, too. That’s only fittin’.”
Savannah still couldn’t fathom the power Placid had over someone’s decision to remain there, even when they had no real reason to stay. “What are you doing to make a living?”
He shrugged. “Some odd jobs here and there, but I work mostly for Mr. Sam. He hires a lot of down-and-out people around these parts when he can. He’s a good man, just like his daddy.”
Clearly Sam had earned a stellar reputation among the townsfolk. “I’m glad to know you’re getting by. But I’m not too thrilled to hear that Edwin Wainwright seems to be putting people out of their homes faster than a bullet.”
“He is, and he’s not going to be done till he buys up all the property. Folks here are dirt poor and they don’t always understand what they’re signing when they borrow from him. Before they know it, they ain’t got the money and they ain’t got a place to live.”
“Sounds to me like this town could use some legal help.” Someone to take on Wainwright and beat him at his own game. That certainly explained the previous pleas for her to set up shop.
“Yes, ma’am, we sure could use the help. People can’t afford to go all the way to Jackson when they’re in trouble. Bo Hudson and young Kyle Parker are about to sign on with Wainwright’s bank even though I tried to warn them away. If you could look over some of their paperwork, I’m sure they’d be mighty appreciative of that.”
If only she had the means and time to help. “Unfortunately, I’m not licensed to practice in the state of Mississippi.” Exactly what she’d told Jess during their meeting. “But I’ll definitely do some research and see if I can come up with an attorney who’d be willing to meet with you in Placid.”
“We’d be much obliged, Miss Savannah.” He rose from the bench and smiled down on her. “Now I best be gettin’ over to the church’s dunkin’ booth for my shift.”
Savannah returned his smile. “A dunking booth, huh? Too bad we can’t put Wainwright in there. You’d raise enough money to put up one fine steeple.”
They shared a laugh before Reggie added, “Maybe we’ll be seein’ each other again soon.”
“I’m leaving in a few days.” Saying the words gave her an odd and unexpected sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“But you’ll see if you can find someone to help us before you go?”
Reggie sounded so hopeful, Savannah couldn’t refuse even if she wanted to, which she didn’t. “I’ll see what I can do, but it could take some time.”
This time, his smile held all the sadness in the world. “That’s okay. Most people around here got nothin’ but time because they sure don’t have much else.”
And they had no one to turn to when the going got tough, Savannah realized as she told Reggie goodbye.
She had a fleeting thought that she could apply for a Mississippi license and come back every few months to provide legal aid to Placid’s less fortunate. Come back to what? The house had been sold and she certainly couldn’t stay with Jess considering her marital problems. Rachel and Matt were expecting a baby and the last thing they needed was a guest. She’d be a fool to ask Sam, even though Jim and Gracie would surely welcome her into their home.
The whole concept wasn’t the least bit practical. Surely she could find someone willing to take on a David-and-Goliath cause pro bono. She’d work on that later. Right now she needed to find Sam and Jamie.
On that thought, Savannah craned her neck to locate the booth where father and daughter had been only a few minutes ago. They happened to be standing not too far away, conversing with some blonde who had her back turned to the bench.
When Sam touched the lady’s shoulder in a gesture that looked way too intimate, Savannah experienced a little nip of jealousy—until a nice-looking guy dressed in golf attire walked up and put his arm around the unknown woman.
She could be polite and join the group, or she could remain seated and wait for her companions to find her. Since she’d spent all day baking in the sun and probably looked like something a rat dragged in because the cat wouldn’t touch it, she chose to stay in the same spot.
After she heard Jamie shout her name, Savannah looked up to see the little girl heading her way, holding hands with the mystery woman, who happened to be pregnant…and of all people, Sam’s ex-wife.
CHAPTER TWELVE
SAVANNAH MAINTAINED A strong grip on the edge of the bench to keep from bolting, while Darlene looked just as reluctant to come face-to-face with her former competition for Sam’s affections.
On the other hand, Jamie beamed like a headlight over the prospect of introducing two presumed strangers. “This is my mom,” she said as soon as they arrived at Savannah’s erstwhile sanctuary. “Mommy, this is Daddy’s old girlfriend, Savannah.”
Chagrin threatened to freeze Savannah like an ice cube to the wooden slats, but proper etiquette dictated she stand and mind her manners. Yet “Hi” was all she could muster at the moment.
“It’s good to see you again, Savannah,” Darlene said with questionable genuineness.
Jamie’s delight was etched all over her adorable face. “You two know each other?”
“Yes,” Savannah and Darlene answered simultaneously.
“Did you go to school together?” Jamie asked.
“No,” Darlene jumped in without giving Savannah a chance to respond. “I went to school in Brewster, where your Nanny and Grandpa Clements live.”
“And I went to Placid High with your dad,” Savannah added.
“We were rivals.” Darlene’s cheeks turned slightly red. “In football.”
Savannah tried on a smile. “So I guess you could say we’ve known each other for a good fifteen years.” Some of them not so good, particularly the last year of their official acquaintance.
&nb
sp; “Jamie,” Sam called, drawing the trio’s attention. “Let’s go ride.”
Savannah was somewhat perplexed over Sam’s laissez-faire attitude. Most men would have run interference between the ex-wife and former girlfriend for fear of eventual retribution. Then again, she was no longer his girlfriend, and Darlene wasn’t his wife, so why would it matter?
Jamie gave Savannah’s hand a yank to garner her attention. “Are you gonna ride the tilt-a-girl with me and Daddy?”
Darlene laughed. “What ride is that, honey?”
Jamie wrinkled her nose. “You know, Mommy. The one that tilts the girls while it’s spinning around.”
Savannah couldn’t help but grin. “I know that one well, and no thanks. It makes me kind of queasy.”
“What about you, Mommy?” Jamie asked.
Darlene patted her belly. “I don’t want to make your brother sick, so I guess I’ll sit this one out.”
Jamie lifted her chin in indignation. “I’ll just go ride with my two daddies, who don’t get sick.” She then sprinted off in the direction of Sam and the stepfather without looking back.
Feeling somewhat generous, Savannah reclaimed her place on the bench and gestured toward the empty space beside her. “Have a seat.”
Seeming somewhat self-conscious, Darlene complied, and for a few uncomfortable moments they didn’t exchange a word.
Savannah made the first move to break the dialogue impasse. “Kind of awkward, isn’t it?”
“Just a tad.”
Small talk would probably make a weird situation somewhat better. “I take it that was your husband with Sam.”
She nodded. “Brent. He’s a family law attorney in Memphis.”
Too bad he didn’t reside in Mississippi, otherwise Savannah would have approached him about helping out the townsfolk. “Interesting. Where did the two of you meet?”
“He’s a partner in the firm that represented me during the divorce.” Darlene sent Savannah a sheepish smile. “Oddly enough, when one man walked out of my life, another walked in.”
She probably shouldn’t ask, yet she couldn’t help but wonder if Sam’s version of the split had been accurate. “The divorce was Sam’s idea?”
“Actually, it was mutual. The marriage died of natural causes. No drama to speak of. Just enough indifference to fill a football stadium.”
Exactly how Sam had described it. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Darlene shrugged. “It’s hard to keep a marriage afloat when your husband is still pining away for someone from his past.”
Savannah didn’t care to travel down that rocky road, yet she felt the need to set the record straight. “If you’re referring to me, I highly doubt Sam gave me much thought after I left.”
“He gave you a lot of thought. It’s obvious he still does.” She raised both hands, palms pointed at Savannah, as if in surrender. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not blaming you at all. I’m only stating the facts, although Sam would be hard-pressed to admit it. But a woman has instincts about these things.”
Instincts aside, Savannah had a difficult time believing it. “You know how it is. Sometimes people just want what they can’t have. Or maybe what they imagined they wanted.”
Darlene gave her a meaningful look. “Sometimes people love someone so much that no one else can live up to the ideal, real or imagined.”
Savannah frankly didn’t think that was the case with Sam. He still wanted her—he’d demonstrated that last night—but on a purely physical level. Maybe that’s all it had ever been. “Regardless, I’m really sorry it didn’t work out with the two of you. But at least you had a beautiful child together.” The child she’d wanted to have with Sam someday, and she hoped she hadn’t revealed her envy through her wistful tone.
“Yes, I’ll give you that. I don’t know what I’d do without Jamie. And sometimes…” Darlene laid a gentle hand on her abdomen. “Sometimes I worry I won’t love this little one as much, but then my mom swears I’ll have enough to go around. I suppose that’s true since she still loves my little brother, who is about as useless as boobs on a boar hog.”
Their laughter drew attention from a few passersby but Savannah didn’t care. She was pleased she could hold a civil conversation with Darlene and even share a good laugh. “Do you have a name for the baby yet?” she asked.
“We’ve been back and forth over the choices and we’ve come up with a few. I did tell Brent that we cannot name this child after his father.”
“What’s his name?”
“Baldric. It’s a family name. A really inconsiderate family’s name.”
Savannah definitely agreed with that. “You could go with my personal favorite, Beauregard. I dated someone by that name. Luckily, he went by Beau.”
Darlene grinned. “I think it has such a nice Southern ring to it.”
After they exchanged several more suspect male names, Darlene said, “Now that I think about it, Brent has two children from his previous marriage—fourteen-year-old Brianna and sixteen-year-old Blake. One more ‘B’ name and the ‘B’ hive will be too crowded to handle.”
Savannah hadn’t realized Darlene had such a great sense of humor, nor could she picture her as a stepmother. Before today, maybe an evil stepmother. “I’m sure you’ll come up with something nice and trendy.”
“I’m certainly going to try.”
They continued to casually converse, discussing old times and playing the “what happened to” game. They covered pranks executed on their respective high schools and how simple life had been back then, especially during the summer.
When Savannah glanced to her left to see Sam, Jamie and Brent approaching, she said, “The daredevils have returned.”
Darlene looked over her shoulder and waved toward the group before regarding Savannah again. “Hopefully they’re done with the carnival rides. I’m ready to get out of this heat.”
“I’m just glad we had this time to talk, Darlene,” Savannah said sincerely.
“I enjoyed it, too, Savannah. It’s a shame we didn’t know each other better in high school. I think we could have been friends.”
“I believe we could have been, too, if Sam hadn’t been in the mix.”
“You’re right,” Darlene said with a smile. “Leave it to a man to mess it up. But faults and all, Sam’s still a very good man.”
“I know.” Little by little, Savannah had begun to realize that, through Reggie’s revelations and Sam’s interaction with his daughter. She also couldn’t discount that he’d obviously helped her father during his final years.
Darlene stood and stretched, both hands braced on the small of her back. “That being said, good or not, I think we both agree that most men, even Sam and my current dear husband, regress to cave-dwelling tendencies when it comes to their sex drives and keeping a bathroom clean.”
They exchanged another laugh before Brent arrived at the bench, frowning. “Are you ladies discussing us?”
Darlene popped a kiss on her husband’s cheek. “Aren’t we always?” She gestured toward Savannah. “This is Savannah Greer, Brent. She’s a high school friend.”
A dozen years ago, Savannah would have never accepted that claim. But now, things were different, proving that with adulthood came the realization teenagers could be awfully petty at times. She stood and took Brent’s offered hand for a shake. “It’s nice to meet you, Brent.”
“Same here,” he said. “This is probably the first time two legal eagles have graced the Placid festival grounds.”
“That could be front-page news tomorrow.” Which, as far as Savannah was concerned, was preferable to the Potter’s Pond incident showing up in the headlines.
Darlene hooked her arm through Brent’s. “We’ll see you all back at the farm. I need to get off my feet before they swell up like a toad.” She held out her hand to her daughter. “Are you coming with us, honey?”
Jamie shook her head. “I’m gonna go with Daddy and Savannah.”
“Okay,”
Darlene said. “But hurry up. Grandpa Jim is making his famous homemade ice cream and we don’t want it to melt before we have some.”
Jamie clapped her hands together and jumped up and down, her ponytail bouncing in time with her movement. “I love ice cream!”
“Calm down, Joe,” Sam said. “You’re going to cause an earthquake.”
“Hope to see you, too, Savannah,” Darlene said as she and Brent walked away.
Jamie clasped Savannah’s hand and gave it a jerk. “Are you gonna have some of Papaw’s ice cream, Savannah?”
Temptation came calling, but reality ruled. “I love your granddad’s ice cream, sweetie, but I have to get home. My mother’s leaving in a couple of days and I need to help her pack her things.” As well as corner her for that long-overdue conversation.
“Your mother’s going to be there,” Sam said, the first words he’d spoken directly to her since they’d arrived at the festival.
That was news to Savannah, and she wondered why he was just now telling her. Better still, why hadn’t her mother told her? Oh, yeah. They were all barely speaking. “Since when did this come about?”
“Since she called us this morning to say she wants to tell everyone goodbye before she leaves tomorrow.”
“You mean before she leaves on Monday.”
“She told Dad that Bill and May are coming early afternoon and they plan to head out tomorrow night.”
Which meant Savannah had little time to spare before her mother left town, taking the truth with her.
A THOUSAND MEMORIES RAN through Savannah’s mind as they gathered in the McBriars’ backyard for evening camaraderie after a long day. She loved these moments the most, when time seemed to suspend in the company of family and good friends.
Gracie and Darlene chatted about the latest small-town gossip while Jamie slept soundly in her grandfather’s lap. Amazingly Ruth had been engaged in a conversation with Brent and she’d actually laughed a time or two.
Savannah decided her mother looked more relaxed than she’d seen her in a while. She’d even dressed in casual white slacks and a sleeveless tailored pink blouse instead of her usual button-up shirt and proper below-the-knee skirt. Of course, Ruth had managed to remain hidden in her room while Savannah showered and changed, and then predictably walked to the McBriars’ without waiting for her daughter. Managing to avoid a confrontation could be the reason for stoic Ruth’s calm demeanor. But as far as Savannah was concerned, that confrontation would happen tonight, come hell or high water.