Southern Lights

by Danielle Steel

  Harvard declined her as well. Savannah hadn’t been in love with it either. The school seemed too big and scary to her.

  Brown had wait-listed her, and congratulated her on her good work. She was a little disappointed by that. Brown was her second choice.

  That left Princeton, George Washington, and Duke. She opened Duke next and got in. The three women in the living room of the suite let out a cheer. They hugged each other, Savannah was grinning, and they sat down again. She had a school. A good one.

  “Why do I feel like I’m at the Academy Awards? And for best picture …,” Muriel said as Savannah giggled, even more nervous than she had been before. She opened GW next. Another yes. She had two schools now. And the last one was the one she wanted most. Princeton. The envelope seemed slim. They had probably turned her down. She sat holding it in her hands. “Will you open it, for God’s sake?” Muriel prodded her. “I can’t stand the suspense.”

  “Neither can I,” Alexa admitted. But this was Savannah’s show. She had worked hard for this and waited a long time to know. Her applications had been sent in three months before. She ever so slowly tore open the last envelope, agonizingly, and carefully unfolded the letter. She closed her eyes for an instant, and then read it, jumped to her feet, and let out a scream.

  “I got in! I got in! Oh my God! I got in!” she shouted as she danced around the room, and both her mother and grandmother cried. They were on their feet in a minute hugging her. “I’m going to Princeton,” she chortled, and then remembered instantly that Turner would be disappointed when she didn’t accept Duke. He had gotten in and was going there. But they could visit each other. Princeton was her dream. She wasn’t giving that up for a boy, not even one as nice as Turner.

  The excitement in the room was overwhelming. Alexa opened the champagne, while Savannah went to call her father. He had known Alexa was bringing the letters, and he was anxious to know too.

  He picked up his cell phone at the house. “Stanford, Harvard no, Brown wait-list, yes GW, Duke, and …Princeton!” she screamed into the phone, and he grinned broadly. “I’m going to Princeton, Daddy!” Like Turner, he would have preferred Duke, but he was partial to southern schools. And Princeton was very impressive. All her choices were. She had aimed high and done well. He was very proud of her.

  “Congratulations! Let’s celebrate tomorrow night. I’ll take everyone to dinner. Congratulations, sweetheart. I’m so proud of you!” She thanked him and went back to her mother and grandmother then. They sat talking about it for ages, and then went out to dinner at Savannah’s favorite restaurant. It was noisy and friendly and full of college students. Most of her friends had heard about their colleges that week, and true to her word, Julianne hadn’t applied and was taking a break year, but was a little sorry now. She felt left out, so Savannah didn’t call her and rub it in. But she called Turner before they left the hotel, and he was thrilled for her, although disappointed she didn’t want to go to Duke with him. But he knew how much Princeton meant to her, and he promised to come and visit her as often as he could, and she vowed to do the same.

  It was a wonderful night, and Savannah still looked ecstatic as they walked back to the hotel. Her grandmother was enjoying the city. She had always liked it when she visited Alexa there when she and Tom were married. She thought it had a huge amount of charm. They sat and talked for an hour before they all went to bed, still excited by Savannah’s great news. And the next morning Travis called to congratulate her, and so did Daisy. She wanted to know if she could visit Savannah at Princeton, and her older sister said of course she could. Henry called her after that and was thrilled, although he said he was hurt she wasn’t going to his alma mater, and asked to speak to her mother after that. He and Alexa chatted for a few minutes, and Alexa was smiling when she handed Savannah the phone. Everyone had called. And her grandmother Beaumont was next. She told her she should have gone to a southern school, but if she was going to a Yankee school, Princeton would do very well.

  “Isn’t that all men?” Eugenie asked, somewhat confused.

  “It used to be,” Savannah answered. “Not anymore.”

  “What’s the world coming to,” Eugenie said, smiling on her end of the line, and then said that she would like to come to tea to see Savannah’s mother and grandmother at the hotel that afternoon. Savannah was stunned. She said she was sure they’d be delighted, and thanked her grandmother for making the effort. “I’ll have your father bring me.” She suggested four o’clock. Savannah hung up, and hoped her mother wouldn’t object to the visit.

  “I think that’s very sweet of her,” Alexa said nicely, with a somewhat reserved tone. This was the woman who had orchestrated her downfall ten years before, and destroyed her life, but she was Savannah’s grandmother, and she was willing to be gracious about it. Alexa was determined to make the effort for her daughter, and her own mother was proud of her. Alexa said she had seen Tom, she supposed she could see his mother, although she didn’t have warm feelings about her.

  “Thanks, Mom,” Savannah said gratefully. She knew what a huge gesture it was for her grandmother Beaumont to come out. She very seldom left her house anymore. She was old enough to be her other grandmother’s mother.

  They continued to celebrate all day, and went to the spa together. Muriel loved it, and got her hair and nails done after a massage. They were all back in the suite at three-thirty to dress to meet Mrs. Beaumont for tea at four.

  She arrived promptly with Tom. Savannah was excited to see her, Muriel greeted her cordially, and Alexa looked tense. Grandmother Beaumont walked straight to Alexa first.

  “I owe you an apology, Alexa.” She stood resting on her cane and looked straight into Alexa’s eyes with a serious expression. “I ruined your life, and my son’s. No apology will ever cover that. But I want you to know that I’m aware of it and I’ll answer to my Maker for it one day. But you have a wonderful daughter, and I love her very much.” Alexa thanked her quietly and embraced her graciously. It was true, an apology would never make up for her marriage. But at least she had the grace and the courage to acknowledge what she’d done. Tom stood behind her looking embarrassed, and didn’t meet Alexa’s eyes.

  And after that, it was pure celebration. Alexa showed Grandmother Beaumont the brochure of Princeton. It was a beautiful school and campus, and Savannah could hardly wait to get there. She had called several of her New York friends that morning, and e-mailed others. And two of her friends were going to Princeton. She was planning to room with one. They had it all worked out.

  Tom’s mother stayed for an hour, and then he took her home. It had been a big outing for her, especially after her recent flu, which had left her feeling weak. She embraced Alexa as she left, and congratulated her again on Savannah.

  Tom reminded them all on the way out that he would meet them at the restaurant at eight, and Daisy, Travis, and Scarlette would be with him, and Turner was coming too. Eight of them to celebrate Savannah’s acceptance to Princeton. He dropped his mother off then, and went home. And when he got there, he went to look for Luisa, and invited her again to come with them. Her face was set in hard lines. It was a familiar look to him.

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Tom. I’m not having dinner with her.” She meant Alexa, which he knew. “And I don’t care where Savannah got into school. She’s not my child. What’s more, I’m sure Alexa doesn’t want to see me either. I wouldn’t in her shoes.”

  “You may be right,” he conceded. “But you could at least participate somehow. You’ve done everything you could to avoid Savannah since she got here, and make her feel unwelcome. She’s my daughter.”

  “But not mine,” Luisa said again. She looked somber, and sad. “I don’t want her here. You knew that and brought her here anyway.”

  “I had no choice. You don’t have to make it as difficult as possible for everyone, Luisa. She’s not going to hurt you, and neither is her mother. They don’t want anything from you, or even from me.”

  “T
hey already have it,” she said sadly. “Alexa has had you for the last eleven years. You never left her, Tom.” He was stunned by what she said.

  “What are you talking about? I left her eleven years ago, for you, and Daisy. I left her so we could get remarried. I never saw her again, or even spoke to her until February of this year.” Luisa nodded. She believed that, and checked up on him often. In her mind trust did not exclude supervision.

  “And you never stopped loving her either. I knew it every time I looked at you, and the way you looked at me. I thought I could steal you from her, and you’d forget about her. You never did. You never loved me, Tom. You wanted me back to get even with Thornton, because I left you for him. Your ego was hurt, not your heart. Alexa has always had your heart.” Tom didn’t say a word when she said it. He couldn’t deny it. It was true. And they both knew it, and so did Alexa, even though she didn’t want him. “You never stopped loving her, and now you love her child, who looks just like her.”

  “Savannah is her own person,” he defended.

  “You had lunch with Alexa the last time she was here.”

  “Yes, I did.” She always knew everything he did. “We share a daughter.”

  “And what else?”

  “Nothing. She doesn’t want me,” he said grimly. This was not a conversation he wanted to have with his wife.

  “Did you ask her?”

  “No. But I’m not happy, and you know it. You’ve been hard on me for years. You got me, and then for some reason I don’t understand, you’ve been punishing me ever since.”

  “Because I knew you still loved her. You never loved me.”

  “But I stayed with you. That must count for something. Loyalty at least.” But they both knew he wasn’t loyal. He had proved it to Alexa. He was weak. That was different, and Luisa knew it, and so did he.

  “I don’t know why you stay,” Luisa said to him, honest for the first time in years, maybe ever. “For Daisy maybe. Out of laziness. Because your mother told you to. Even your mother has turned on me.” She knew about the visit to Alexa and her mother that afternoon. Tom had told her. “You turned on me when you brought Savannah here. You have no respect for me at all.”

  “It’s hard to respect a woman who is so angry, and so often mean, Luisa. Think about it. You’re not even nice to Daisy, your own daughter. You walked out on our boys. And on me. It’s hard to forget those things. So now what do we do? Hate each other for the next forty years, or give it up, or just limp along? It would be nice if we could at least be friends. You don’t have to come tonight. And you’re right, you probably shouldn’t. It would be awkward for both of you, and Savannah. She’s very protective of her mother.”

  “So are you.”

  “No. I feel guilty. That’s different. I didn’t protect her when I should have. From you. I cheated on her, and slept with you, and I got you pregnant. For all I know you did it on purpose.” She didn’t answer one way or the other, which told him what he knew anyway. “I let you and my mother manipulate me. But I didn’t protect her for a second, and she was my wife then, not you. But I did it. And you’re my wife now. It would be nice if you’d act like one, once in a while, and not as though you hate me. We created this mess together. It was what you wanted. You got it. Why don’t we make the best of it, or at least try to? It’s going to be a very sad, lonely life for both of us if we don’t.” Everything he had said was true.

  “I’ll feel better when Savannah leaves,” she said quietly. “We can start then.”

  “Whatever you want,” he said with obvious disappointment, and a few minutes later, he left, without seeing her again. She stayed upstairs in her room. They had both been shaken by the conversation. Luisa never reached out to him, or even tried to be kind. It was just who she was. And their marriage was a disaster as a result, for both of them. And probably always would be, he realized now. And Luisa would do nothing different when Savannah left. His punishment fit the crime.

  The dinner at FIG for Savannah was lively and fun. Travis had a little too much to drink and was very funny, telling stories from his college days at UVA, which was something of a party school. Scarlette was adorable to Savannah, and they talked about the wedding. Daisy was all excited and loved Savannah’s mother and grandmother, who were younger and much more fun than her own. And Turner looked adoringly at Savannah throughout dinner and sat next to her holding her hand under the table. And at one moment Tom and Alexa’s eyes met across the table and the years faded away. Whatever had happened between them, they were both proud of their daughter, and this was a very special day. It was a lovely evening for all of them. They were the last to leave the restaurant, and it had been a perfect celebration for Savannah. Her dreams had come true, she was surrounded by people who loved her, and this was just the beginning. And for the entire evening, no one had even thought about Luisa, not even Tom. She was at home, alone, hating them all.

  Chapter 16

  Alexa sat next to her mother on the flight home. The whole weekend had been festive and fun, and Muriel was glad she had gone with her, particularly for the opening of the envelopes when Savannah found out she’d gotten into Princeton. It was an unforgettable moment for them all.

  But Muriel also noticed something different now about Alexa. She wasn’t as angry, or bitter, and seemed more at peace. Her mother suspected that having to go back to Charleston had done her good. She had faced all the demons of her past. Tom, his mother, Luisa. They seemed to have shrunk over time. She knew that Alexa’s marriage was still a huge loss to her. But when you saw who Tom really was, how weak and self-serving, maybe she hadn’t lost so much after all. She hoped Alexa knew that, and had seen it better now. He was a very selfish man, and the only reason he wanted Alexa back was because it hadn’t worked out with Luisa. If it had, he’d have had no regrets at all. Muriel thought he had gotten what he deserved, a woman who respected him as little as he respected himself. As Alexa had been recently, she was reminded of Ashley in Gone with the Wind. What her daughter needed now was Rhett Butler. She just hoped she’d find him one day. She had a right to some happiness after all these hard, lonely years. And she had done a great job with her daughter. That job was over now too. Savannah was all grown up and running. Her life had begun.

  And best of all was Savannah, glowing with all that lay ahead. Muriel thought her boyfriend in Charleston was a very nice boy. She wondered if the romance would last when Savannah went to Princeton and he went to Duke. Those things were always hard to predict. Some early romances lasted. Some didn’t. Time would tell.

  Muriel looked over at her daughter as they flew toward New York, and Alexa was sound asleep. It had been an emotional weekend for them all.

  Savannah still had two big events ahead in the months to come. She would be attending graduation with her class in Charleston, and would then come back for the one at her school in New York. She was going to catch up with her friends again, just in time to say goodbye. And Turner had promised to come up. That was going to be fun for Savannah too. Her father still wasn’t coming, since he would be at her Charleston graduation, and he felt New York was her mother’s turf and he didn’t want to intrude. Savannah was fine with that. But first, her mother had to get through the trial. And then Savannah could come home. She was ready. Charleston had been great. She had gotten a father, sister, two brothers, and fallen in love. But New York and her mom were still home to her.

  Alexa didn’t think she would be able to go back to Charleston again until after the trial. There was too much going on now, but Savannah understood. The final crunch was on.

  The morning after their Charleston weekend, Alexa was in her office at seven. She had gotten up at five to read some material she needed to prepare for the trial, and motions that the public defender had submitted to the judge.

  The public defender had filed a motion to dismiss the case, which was so ridiculous it was laughable. No judge was going to grant it, but she filed it anyway, pro forma. She owed it to her client
to try. And she had filed a Sandoval motion as well, to prevent Alexa from cross-examining Quentin on his prior convictions. She had a shot at winning that, but Alexa didn’t really care. The evidence against him in this case was so damning, and the crimes so heinous, that the earlier fraud and robbery charges he’d been convicted for were almost irrelevant, and certainly not pertinent to this case, although the fact that he had prior convictions would certainly tell a jury what kind of man he was.

  Both motions were being decided on that morning in chambers. Alexa objected to them, and the judge dismissed them both. The public defender walked back into court looking glum.

  “So much for that,” Jack muttered under his breath as he and Sam followed Alexa out of court with a member of the FBI elite Serial Crime Unit, which had helped them investigate and prepare the case. The motions had been routine, and the judge looked impatient that the public defender had filed them. There was no sympathy for Luke Quentin in court, and there would be even less from a jury. Alexa had all their evidence and expert witnesses lined up. The prosecution was airtight.

  Alexa went to see Judy Dunning that afternoon.

  “Sorry about the motions,” Alexa said pleasantly, trying to sound sympathetic, although she wasn’t.

  “I think the judge was being unreasonable about the Sandoval,” Judy complained. “The jury doesn’t need to know he was convicted of fraud and robbery to try this case.” Alexa didn’t comment but just nodded. She had come to see her to try to convince her again to get her client to plead guilty and avoid a trial.

  “I can’t offer him a deal in a case like this,” Alexa said honestly, “but he may get better treatment in prison if he’s reasonable now. A trial is just going to be a circus, and a jury will convict. You have to know that. There’s so much evidence against him, I must have twenty boxes of it in my office. Judy, talk to him. No one needs the grief.” The public defender had even tried to challenge the warrant the DA had gotten to allow Jack and Charlie to search his hotel room initially, but that had held up too, so the incriminating evidence they had gotten was admissible in court.