“Okay, kiddo. You can hang out with Mommy today. I have to go to my office and pack my things. And I just need for you to behave. Okay?”
“Okay,” she said. “Are we going to see Daddy today, too?”
“I don’t think so, honey. I’m sure your dad has to work.”
“Can we see him after he gets off work?”
Savannah sighed. How was she going to avoid Edward for an entire week? “We’ll see.”
* * *
Maia stood in the doorway of Savannah’s office. A tight blue dress hugged her ample hips.
“So...we’re back from the islands.”
“Yes, we are.”
“And did we have a good time?”
“We did indeed.”
“Did we get some of that big, fat, sexy...”
“Maia! Chloe’s here.”
Chloe popped up from behind her mother’s desk, a Barbie doll in her hand.
“Damn, I didn’t even see her over there.” Maia covered her mouth. “Hi, sweetheart. How are you?”
“Hi, Maia.” Chloe waved.
“That’s a cute little Barbie you have there.” Maia smiled sheepishly. “What’s her name?”
Chloe shrugged. “Barbie.”
Savannah dug into her purse for some change, pulled out four quarters.
“Baby, why don’t you run down the hall and get something out of the vending machine. Let Mommy talk to Maia.” She handed Chloe the change.
“Okay.” Chloe left the office and closed the door behind her.
“I’m headed to London this weekend,” Savannah whispered.
“What?” Maia said. “What about your text message? You said that you and what’s his name had found love again...or some nonsense. And you were considering putting London on hold for a while.”
“That was before.”
“What happened?”
“We weren’t back in the country two hours and that tramp was already at his house, in his bed.”
“What!” Maia’s eyes grew large as she eased her behind into the chair across from Savannah’s desk. “How do you know?”
“Her car was parked in front of his house. Plus I called him, and she answered his cell phone. Said that he was in the shower and the two of them were about to go to bed together.”
“She was lying!”
“She wasn’t lying.”
“She has wanted him since the beginning of time. You know that. She would do anything to get rid of you and get her claws into him.”
“I, um...” Savannah hadn’t considered that Quinn might be lying. But how did she have access to his phone? And more importantly, why was he in the shower while she was there? She didn’t care anymore. She’d cried herself to sleep the night before, and she didn’t have any more tears for Edward Talbot. It was time to get down to the business at hand. “I need you to take Chloe for me.”
“What!”
“Just for a few weeks. Just until the end of the school year and until I get settled in London.”
“Savannah, are you insane? I don’t know anything about taking care of a five-year-old.”
“You just have to make sure she gets to school every day. Feed her and put her to bed every night. Chloe’s easy to care for and she knows our routine very well.”
“And what happens when her father calls and demands to see her?” Maia asked. “Savannah, why don’t you just leave her with Edward for a while...at least until you get settled?”
“I don’t know.”
“He’ll take better care of her than I will. Trust me. I don’t even have pets or plants, for Christ’s sake!”
Savannah plopped down in her leather chair. This wasn’t going to be as easy as she thought. But Maia had a point. Edward was good with Chloe. He would take great care of her, at least until the end of the school year. And once she got settled in London with Nyle, she’d come back for her daughter.
The door opened and Chloe came back in.
“I might give him a chance,” said Savannah.
“How about giving him a chance to explain, too.” Maia stood, headed for the door.
“Now you’re on his side?”
“Never,” Maia said. “But you should at least hear his side of the story.”
“Now you’re pushing it.”
“Am I?” Maia asked. “Check in with me before you leave.”
“I will.”
Savannah continued to place pictures and other personal items into the cardboard box. Leaving was proving to be much harder than she’d anticipated.
Chapter 17
Edward refused to leave Savannah’s house until he saw her pull up. He’d been worried sick, wondering if she and Chloe were okay. He’d been calling her cell phone and work phone for two days, and so far she hadn’t picked up and hadn’t returned one single call. He saw her sedan in his rearview mirror as she crept down the street. She pulled into the driveway and he stepped out of the car. He went to his trunk and grabbed the black leather luggage that belonged to her.
He stood on the lawn, his arms folded across his chest, waited for her to get out of the car. Chloe wasn’t in the car, and his heart beat rapidly. Where was his daughter?
“Hey.” He frowned, although a feeling of relief rushed over him. At least she was unharmed, but he was still a bit angry that he hadn’t heard from her and she hadn’t returned any of his calls or text messages. “Where’s Chloe?”
“She’s having a playdate with one of the little girls from our church.” She grabbed a box from the front seat of her car.
“Let me carry that for you.”
“I got it. Thanks.”
“I brought your bag. We got the two mixed up the other night.” He grabbed the bag by its handle.
“I know.”
“Is something wrong here?”
“You tell me.”
“I’ve been calling you for the past two days, and you haven’t picked up, haven’t returned any of my calls,” he said. “What’s going on?”
“I’ve been busy.” She placed the box on the ground and opened her front door.
“Why aren’t you using the garage?”
“The garage door opener went out last week.”
“It’s not safe. You should be pulling into the garage instead of going in through the front door,” he stated as he followed her into the house. “I’ll fix it.”
“It’s okay. I won’t be here long anyway. Leaving for London very soon.”
“What? When were you going to tell me?”
“I wasn’t.” She set the box down at the edge of the stairs, went to the corner and grabbed his luggage by the handle and wheeled it toward him. “But then I realized that I need your help. Chloe’s got a few more weeks of school left...”
“Six weeks,” Edward added.
“Anyway, I don’t want to pull her out of school. So I’d like for you to take her, just for a few weeks until school’s out and I get settled. Find a place...”
“Why are you leaving? I thought...” He chose his words carefully. “I thought you might reconsider after...”
“After what, Edward? After you made me believe that we could really have a future together?”
“We can have a future together,” he insisted.
Had she figured it out? That in the beginning, his intentions had been to romance her into staying?
“We can’t have a future!” She raised her voice. “Not when you’re still seeing other people and sleeping with them! I’m not into casual sex, and I won’t be your side chick.”
“What in the hell are you talking about, Savannah?”
“I’m talking about Quinn.”
“Not that again.”
“
Yes, that again!” She looked at him in disgust. “So, for your information, I’m not interested in a future with you, Edward Talbot. I am fine with my life...just the way it is. The only thing I need from you is a father for my child. I need for you to care for her until I come back for her in a few weeks.”
“I haven’t given you permission to take her away,” said Edward.
“I don’t need your damn permission! If I wanted to, I’d take her in the middle of the night without your knowledge. But I’m being respectful here,” she stated.
“We have joint custody, so you do need my permission!” he exclaimed.
“We’re going to London, with or without your blessing.”
“And how will you obtain a passport for her? With the help of the criminal who texted your phone while we were in the Bahamas?”
“Were you spying on me? Sneaking around, checking my phone?”
“Answer the question. Is that what your plans are?”
“No. You’ll sign the application. You and I will both sign the application,” she said.
“What makes you so certain that I will?”
“Would you really deny your daughter the opportunity to live with her mother? She would be miserable without me, and you know it. No one can take care of Chloe better than me. Of course, you’re her father, but a girl shouldn’t be without her mother. I know that firsthand!”
It was true and he knew it. Savannah had grown up without her mother, and it had nearly destroyed her. She’d never been a whole person, and he’d always felt bad for her. He didn’t want that for Chloe.
“When are you planning to leave?” he asked.
“End of the week,” she said.
It felt as if the wind had left his soul. “End of the week?”
“Friday evening. And I’ll be back to get her the minute that school’s out. I should be settled by then.”
“And once you come back for her, and the two of you are settled in London, how will I see Chloe?”
“I’ll send her to you on breaks and during the summer. Not Christmas. I need her during the Christmas holidays. But you can have any other holidays you want.”
Edward felt deep sadness and an aching in his heart. What had caused Savannah’s sudden change of heart? He was sure when they had returned from the Bahamas that her intentions had been to stay in Florida. They were supposed to be engaged by the end of the week, not moving to London. This was all wrong.
“Fine.” His voice cracked and he tightened his jaw. He wouldn’t show her his emotions. He would shield his hurt and anger. “Will you sell the house?”
“Yes. I have the card for that real estate agent that we met with before. I’ll get in contact with her.”
“I’ll work with her to get it on the market. She can call me for showings and such.”
“Thank you.” She remained in her professional mode. “That will help me quite a bit. Not to have to worry about that.”
“I’ll continue to pay the mortgage until it sells.” He looked around at the home they’d built from the ground up.
“That’s very generous, Edward. And I appreciate everything that you do for Chloe.”
“And for you, Savannah. I do them for you as well. I love you both.” There. He’d said it. He loved her. He walked toward the door, felt like he couldn’t breathe. He stood there for a moment, his shoulders sunken. He felt defeated, but the words he was about to speak would be the hardest ones he ever had to say. “I don’t know what happened between Sunday and today, but I’m sorry for whatever it was. And I hope that you’ll be very happy in London. I won’t give you any trouble about taking Chloe. As long as I can still see her during breaks and holidays, as you’ve promised.”
“You’ll see her. We can go before a judge and get it in writing.”
“I’ll have Jack draw something up,” he stated.
“Fine.”
He grabbed his luggage, walked out while he was still able. Headed straight for his car and didn’t turn around. He popped the trunk and tossed the bag inside. Slid into the driver’s seat, started the car and sat there for a moment. He was numb. Felt as though he couldn’t move. He grabbed the steering wheel tightly and shook it. He glanced at her door. She’d already closed it.
He drove to Jupiter Beach and pulled into the lot. He needed some air, to breathe, to think. Still wearing slacks and dress shoes, he got out of the car. He didn’t even bother to remove his expensive tan-and-brown loafers. He walked through the sand and didn’t care. He didn’t care that he smelled rain, or that thunder roared and lightning flashed across the sky. Beachgoers were packing up their things and heading for their cars. People were pulling their Jet Skis in from the ocean.
A few raindrops pattered against his face. He kept walking until the sky opened and a flood of rain poured over him. He didn’t care. He needed to cry, and this was the perfect time to do it. This way the trace of his tears could be concealed by the raindrops. And he did it. He cried. Long and hard.
Chapter 18
Trying to reconnect with Edward had been a mistake. For Savannah, there had always been a void in her life that only Nyle could fill. Reconnecting with her mother was something that she needed. London was also the perfect place to nurture her career in fashion design. She and Edward had connected in the Bahamas, but she wasn’t willing to change her plans. Not this time. It was time for her career and her own plans. As hard a decision as it was to leave Chloe, she didn’t have many choices. She wasn’t certain of her own future in London, and wouldn’t bring Chloe along until she had some level of stability. She vowed that once she found a job in fashion and a place, she’d come back for her daughter. And she didn’t have a huge window of time; six weeks would fly by.
Before Savannah boarded her flight to London, tears streamed down her face. She stared out the window as she waited for them to announce that they were boarding, rain pouring down outside. It had rained all week, and she wondered if it was washing away her past, giving her a fresh start. She wanted to be excited about her venture, but the truth was, she was sad. Leaving Chloe had been brutal, and watching her daughter cry as she pulled away in a cab had been pure torture. She only hoped that she could manage without her.
She knew that Edward was a good father, but he’d never had Chloe on his own. Though it was only temporary, there would be sacrifices that Edward would have to make, and she wasn’t sure that he would be able to make them—ones that he hadn’t made in their marriage. He would have to get his priorities in order. She wasn’t so sure that Edward could manage that. But deep in her heart, she hoped that he could—for their daughter’s sake.
Once she was situated in the leather seat on the plane, she knew there was no turning back. It was real. In about fourteen hours, with a two-hour layover in Atlanta, she’d be there. She’d be knocking on her mother’s door and staring into her eyes. She hoped they would bond quickly, and that it wouldn’t be too awkward. She hoped to be employed soon and living on her own. Thanks to Edward’s paying her mortgage since the divorce, she had been able to save up a nice little nest egg—one that would get her through until she was able to land a new job. And not just any job. She wanted to work at one of those London fashion design companies that she’d only read about in magazines. She had gained a great deal of experience in the fashion industry since working for Jarrod. Her resume was polished and she was ready to take the industry by storm.
She placed her phone on airplane mode, leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes. Whispered a little prayer for safe travels.
“First time in the UK?” asked the handsome man in the seat next to hers.
“I was there when I was a baby. I don’t remember it, though,” she said.
“Business or pleasure?” he asked in his British accent.
“A little of both.”
&nbs
p; “How long are you staying?”
He was full of questions, she thought.
“Indefinitely,” she said. “I’m relocating.”
“Well, welcome home,” he held his hand out to her. “I’m Rolf.”
“Savannah.” She shook his hand.
“Already found a place to stay?” he asked.
“With my mother,” she said.
“Ooh. Mommy dearest. My condolences.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. Your mother is probably a very sweet woman and easy to live with.” He laughed. “Mine, on the other hand...a piece of work.”
“I don’t really know my mother,” she said. “Long story.”
“Well, if you find yourself in the market for a place to stay, I have a two-bedroom flat for rent in South Kensington. You can walk to museums. Seven minutes to the Tube...”
“The Tube?”
“The rail station,” he said, handing her a business card. “I usually rent it out short-term, but I’m open to a long-term renter. Give me a call if you’d like to see it.”
“Thanks. But I think I’ll be okay.” She slid the card into a pocket on her cell phone case.
“Great. Let’s hope.” Rolf gave Savannah a gentle smile and then plugged his earbuds into his ears, began to listen to music on his iPad.
Savannah opened the photo gallery on her phone. Looked at pictures of Chloe. She’d only been away from her daughter a short time and already had separation anxiety. She didn’t know how she’d make it through the next few weeks without her. The pilot finally leveled the plane and Savannah relaxed in her seat. She reached into her leather backpack and pulled out the romance novel she’d packed for the trip. Romance was definitely not on her mind, but she needed something to help pass the time. Before the second chapter, she’d already begun to doze.
Nyle was supposed to pick her up at the airport, but left a text message that something had come up. She gave instructions on how to get to her place, and to go ahead and take care of the taxi—she’d be reimbursed the moment she arrived. The Peugeot E7’s engine hummed at the curb of Heathrow Airport, and Savannah slid into the backseat of the black cab. She gave the driver Nyle’s address and relaxed on the right side of the car behind him. He glanced at her in the rearview mirror, his face expressionless. She looked away and took in the picturesque views of the city.
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