“Since Aidan is stable, I thought I’d wait and go at noon.”
There it was again. She sensed him tense up ever so slightly. “Then that leaves plenty of time for a quick walk. I love Forsyth Park in the morning. Will you walk with me? It would do us both some good to get some fresh air. I can fill up a couple of to-go cups to take with us.”
She took down two travel mugs from the cupboard. He liked his coffee black. She remembered that from the hospital yesterday. So much had changed since yesterday. It felt like months. She knew his kiss, the feel of his lips on hers and his hands on her body, but there was so much more she didn’t know about this man.
Pouring a cup of coffee for a man in the morning suddenly seemed very intimate. For a moment the image of Daniel lying next to her in bed, naked and sleep-warmed as morning light streamed in through the window played out like a movie in her mind. Even though her better judgment screamed foul, she could not unsee—unfeel—this vision. Even though she knew it was futile because her time in Savannah was temporary. She was going back to Atlanta...eventually.
She tried to ignore the voice that said, Since you’re leaving...what could a fling hurt? Get him out of your system.
She blinked away the thought.
“I could definitely use a cup right now,” he said.
She poured the steaming liquid into two cups...naked in bed drinking coffee the morning after a night of good sex.
What would it be like to be with Daniel?
Stop.
Not going to happen.
Until it does.
They headed out the kitchen door and walked up Hall Street toward Forsyth Park. The light was that soft-filtered silver and liquid gold that streamed through the Spanish moss and dripped through the live oak branches making the park with its Christmas decorations look ethereal. It was pleasantly warm so they didn’t need jackets and just humid enough to make the breeze feel like a caress.
“This is my favorite time of day,” she said, breaking the silence when they reached Whitaker Street and paused for the burst of traffic to pass on the one-way street.
“It’s nice,” he said. “My office is in an old Victorian on the other side of the park. I like to run in the park before work. There’s a full bath so I can shower and get ready for the day. So, you’re an early morning person, too?”
“As a teacher, I don’t really have a choice.”
“Do you like teaching art?” Her gut tightened at the reminder that she no longer had a job teaching art. She steered him toward the Forsyth Park Garden of Fragrance, which was one of her favorite spots. Located on the west side of the park, a few yards away from the fountain, the fragrant garden was surrounded by walls on three sides with an ornate iron gate along the front.
“It’s...fun,” she said as she pushed open the iron gates and stepped inside.
“But?”
“But what?” She settled on the stone bench. Daniel sat beside her. His thigh touching hers.
“Your answer had a but on the end. It’s fun...but,” he said.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to. It was implied by your voice.”
“You’re perceptive. But the situation is a little complicated.”
“So, tell me about it,” he said. “I can handle complicated.”
She bit her bottom lip. “I’m sure you can, but that’s not why I asked you to walk with me.”
“Uh-oh. That sounds ominous.”
She smiled. “I’ll make a deal with you. If you’ll tell me why you don’t want to go to the hospital, I’ll tell you why my situation is complicated.”
He tensed again. His leg pulled away from hers as he focused on the rim of his cup. “What makes you think I don’t want to go to the hospital?”
“First of all, because you won’t look at me when we talk about Aidan and the hospital.”
He locked gazes with her. “I’m looking at you.”
He was afraid. She could see it in his eyes. She shifted so that she was turned toward him and her knee was touching his. “Mostly, because every time I’ve mentioned the hospital you look terrified, like you want to bolt.”
“Running isn’t how I handle things,” he said.
She wanted to challenge him and point out that his deciding to work this morning rather than being there with his brother had sure seemed like running. Or at the very least, avoidance. But she didn’t say it.
“Okay, maybe I’m reading you wrong,” she said, “but it seems to me that every time someone mentions the hospital, you look a little freaked out. It seems like you and your brother have a pretty good relationship. I’m trying to figure out why you don’t...”
Her words trailed off as his eyes searched her face. He looked a little panicked. She decided maybe she shouldn’t push it. Instead, she let the silence stretch between them for a moment.
“Just because I don’t spend every waking hour at his bedside doesn’t mean I don’t care.”
He sounded defensive. She really hadn’t meant to upset him.
“I’m not judging, Daniel. So, please don’t be angry.”
“I’m not angry.”
“If you’re not then will you hear me out?”
He nodded.
“Even though he’s in a coma, he might be able to hear your voice, or sense your presence. Knowing you’re there might make him stronger.”
He bent forward, placing his elbows on his knees, looking down, very much the same way he’d sat at the hospital. She prepared herself for him to get up and leave. So, she stayed as quiet and still as she could while he sat next to her.
“I don’t mean to not do right by Aidan,” he finally said. “It’s because hospitals aren’t my favorite place. Every time there’s been an emergency that involved a hospital, the odds have never turned out in my favor. The person I love has never come out alive. My folks were in a car wreck when I was going into my senior year of high school. They never made it out alive. My grandmother had a stroke and they couldn’t fix her. My wife had an aneurysm, but they couldn’t save her. Now Aidan is in there fighting for his life. He and Chloe are all the family I have left.”
He shrugged.
Wife? Daniel had been married? It was the first she’d heard of it, but it didn’t feel like the right time to ask him about it.
“I’m sorry.” She thought about reaching out and taking his hand. “I didn’t know that’s what it was about.”
“Did you think I didn’t feel like going?”
“No, Daniel. There was no judgment. I really didn’t know what it was about, but I could sense something.” She held up her hands. “No judgment, I promise. However, think about this. You not going to the hospital doesn’t change the fact that Aidan’s there. It’s such good news that he’s stabilizing, but you still need to talk to him. You need to go see him. If not for yourself, for Chloe. And, of course, if you need help with Chloe or someone to go with you to the hospital to help you through it—my family and I are here for you. I’m here for you.”
“Thanks, Elle. You’re lucky to have them—your family.” He curved his lips into a smile, but the sentiment didn’t reach his eyes.
She nodded.
“Your grandmother has always been good to me. She took in my family after the fire and now she’s making Chloe feel so safe and happy. All the years in between, she’s been decent and kind to me. She could see beyond the hooligan I might have been when I was a teenager to the person I’ve become. And it was because of her kindness that people in this community stopped trying to shut me out.”
“Gigi has always been a kind person,” Elle said, but it felt so inadequate.
And Daniel had been married.
“You’re a kind person, too, Elle.” he said. “I haven’t abandoned my brother. But the truth is, going in and holding constant vigil at
his bedside while he’s hooked up to tubes and machines is hard.”
“I’ll go with you.”
He nodded. “That might help. How about today when I take a lunch break?”
“You’ve got it.”
“Now you need to tell me about the complication that’s keeping you from loving your job.”
“I did make that deal, didn’t I?”
“You did.”
She sipped her coffee. It burned her lips because it was still a little too warm in the insulated mug.
“I didn’t know you’d been married.” The words fell out before she could stop them. She couldn’t make herself apologize for prying or say he didn’t have to talk about it. Even though she wanted to fill the silence that was hanging between them, she couldn’t say anything.
Finally, Daniel spoke. “I was married for seven months. Her name was Lana. She was...” He smiled a sad smile and shook his head. “She was electricity and sunshine and everything that was good. She kind of reminded me of you in a way.”
His admission took away Elle’s breath.
“You said it was an aneurysm?”
Daniel nodded. “Yep.”
“How long has it been?”
“Five years.”
“Daniel, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. It won’t bring her back. I mean, it sucks. All the way around. You love someone and in the blink of an eye they’re gone.”
His eyes glistened with unshed tears, but he didn’t look away from her.
Never had a man been so open and vulnerable with her.
She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t feel like she had the right. She’d never lost anyone she loved—not to death. The thought sent a cold shiver coursing through her.
Then Daniel did the most unexpected thing. He put his arm around her and held her close. It was almost as if he was comforting her, when it should’ve been the other way around.
“So, there you go. Lana’s one of the reasons I’ve changed. I’ve learned that life doesn’t give you many second chances. When it does, you better take it.”
He bent down and brushed her lips with a featherlight kiss. Then he said, “Now, it’s your turn. Tell me about your job. Why is it not fun anymore?”
“Oh. It seems so trivial after what you told me. So, no. Never mind.”
“A deal is a deal. In fact, I told you two things I don’t like to talk about. Your turn.”
“Okay.” She shrugged. His arm was still around her and she realized there was nowhere on earth she’d rather be. “The reason it’s not fun is I don’t have a job teaching art anymore. Thanks to lack of funding, they had to eliminate my position. The powers that be place art low on the priority list. So, there you go. Not fun.”
“Does that mean you’re staying in Savannah?”
“I don’t know. Uh, probably not. I mean, my life is in Atlanta. But I may have to go wherever I can find a job.”
“If it makes a difference,” he said, leaning closer and toying with a strand of her hair, “I’d love for you to stay. Will you give me a chance to try and talk you into moving back?”
His breath was hot on her temple. And her breath hitched as she sighed at the closeness.
Oh, how she wanted him in her personal space.
Then his lips skimmed her cheek, and Elle tilted back her head, looking up at him. His eyes were hungry and hooded, and the next thing she knew, his lips were brushing hers again.
This time, the kiss started slow and soft, then ignited into greedy hunger that made her part her lips and lean in to deepen it. Her stomach swooped and she fisted her hands into the back of his shirt, clinging to him as if her next breath depended on him.
They’d come so far—stolen kisses. Unfaithful grooms. Ruined weddings. Injured brothers. The only thing that mattered now was how well their bodies fitted together as he pulled her tighter and how well he seemed to be staking his claim, making a very convincing argument for her to stay. Maybe the old saying was true—when one door closes, another one opens. A better one. Because what could be better than these newly claimed feelings that were pouring out in this wordless confession?
He tasted like coffee and cinnamon and something exotic that held that familiar hint of yesteryear, only it was better now because it held the untainted promise of the future.
Oh, boy, she was in trouble.
* * *
True to her word, Elle went to the hospital with him every day.
When they arrived on the fourth day after Aidan’s accident, a nurse greeted them with good news. The swelling in Aidan’s brain was starting to go down. It didn’t mean he was completely out of the woods, but it did indicate that he was improving. Outwardly he didn’t look much different—same bruises and bandages, but Aidan’s doctors and nurses were hopeful.
Elle tried to bring a tabletop Christmas tree. Even though it was artificial, they wouldn’t allow it in the ICU. However, they did allow a framed picture of Chloe, which Daniel had taken from the living room at Aidan’s house.
As Elle and Daniel exited the hospital, the artificial tree tucked under his arm, he took her hand. The sun was hanging low in the sky and a warm promise seemed to float on the December Savannah breeze.
“I still think we should wait until after he wakes up for Chloe to see him,” Daniel said.
“How much longer do you think that will be?” Elle asked.
“The doctor isn’t sure, but all signs are pointing to a recovery. It shouldn’t be too much longer.”
Elle nodded. “You know what would be fun? I wanted to get Chloe an early Christmas present. I want to get her her own easel. I’d love to surprise her with one. She and I have been having so much fun painting. Would you be up for us taking her to the art supply store tonight? Maybe the three of us could grab some dinner beforehand?”
“Sounds like a plan.” What he was thinking was that he would go anywhere with her. Anywhere. The realization made his gut tighten and his body react. This thing between them was still so new. It felt like it had been maturing a lifetime, but at the same time it felt fragile. He had to tread lightly.
Even though they weren’t secretive about it—holding hands in public, kissing in the park—they had played it cool in front of her family and Chloe. Not for any specific reason—except that Elle had joked that she didn’t want to give Gigi the satisfaction of thinking her ham-handed attempts at matchmaking had worked. When they were at the Forsyth, of course, he was working with his crew and she was either interacting with guests or playing with Chloe. Had it only been a week since he’d seen her standing on that balcony?
“You know what I realized?” he said as they reached his truck.
“What?”
“I haven’t taken you out on a real date yet.”
“No, you haven’t, have you?”
He used his key fob to open the passenger-side door. Before he opened it for her, he said, “No, I haven’t. We need to fix that.”
“I’ll bet Gigi would watch Chloe for us.”
“And what are you going to tell her? About us, I mean?”
As she looked up into his eyes, the setting sun reflected the various shades of blue, green and silver in her irises. He thought if he could freeze this moment in time he would be happy and fulfilled—or so his heart said. His body begged to differ. His body wanted to claim her for its own. To unwrap her like she was the Christmas present he’d been waiting for all his life and hold her so that their naked bodies were so close it was hard to tell where he ended and she began...and then he would bury himself inside her—
“Tomorrow night, my sister Kate and I are having dinner with our mom and Gigi. I guess that would be a good time to let my family know that some things have changed between us.”
Chapter Eight
“Do pirates really live here, Uncle Daniel?” Ch
loe’s eyes were huge as she looked around the busy restaurant after the hostess seated her, Elle and him at their table at the famous Pirates’ House restaurant.
The guy dressed like a pirate trolling guests out in front of the place had done a good job setting the tone for this world-famous destination. He’d certainly grabbed Chloe’s attention.
“Sure, they do,” Daniel said. “The pirate who was talking to you outside lives here. It’s his house.”
The place was touristy and he normally didn’t go for something like this, but it seemed like a fun, family-friendly place that he and Elle could take Chloe before their trip to the art supply store to get her easel.
“Why does he let all these people inside his house?” Chloe asked. “They will eat all his food.”
Elle and Daniel laughed. “He has lots of food and he likes to share.” Elle pointed to the menu. “See all the different choices. What would you like to eat?”
“I’ll bet I can guess what you want to eat, matey,” Daniel said in his best pirate’s accent.
Chloe nodded and giggled as she hugged her stuffed white cat.
“I’ll bet you want a heaping kettle of catfish. Am I right?”
“Nooo!” Chloe said. “Guess again.”
“Shiver me timbers, then it has to be the jambalaya. Yeah, that’s what the little missy will be wanting. Bring her a big pot of jambalaya.”
“Nooo!” she laughed. “I don’t know what that is, silly.”
“The name is Black Beard to you, silly missy. Black Beard the pirate.”
“Your name isn’t Black Beard, it’s Uncle Daniel, and Princess Sweetie Pie wants chicken fingers. And French fries.”
“Ahhh, I don’t know, that be the dish that’s reserved only for the most special pirate princesses. Are ye a special pirate princess?”
“Yes, I am, and so is Princess Sweetie Pie.”
“Well, then, chicken fingers ye both shall have, but only if ye draw me a pretty picture.”
“I will!” Chloe plucked a purple crayon out of the small basket that the hostess had left on the table and started coloring the picture on the place mat.
A Down-Home Savannah Christmas Page 11