Many of the articles simply presented the facts, with no real new information from what Savanna already knew. But there were a few editorial pieces, and a handful of others, that made it clear the development was a poorly planned environmental and architectural nightmare. Aside from the eighteen-story hotel obstructing much of the view that lakefront homeowners prized, there was the likelihood of destroying the ecosystem of the dunes in Carson, as well as a good twenty miles north and south, up and down the coastline. One article cited wildlife studies that estimated nearly a quarter of the area’s bird and amphibian population and sea life would be affected, with beach erosion and loss of habitat. No more Carson fishing trade.
And then there was the question of access. Just as Sydney had said, Better Living Properties had submitted a proposal for a restructured Carson Main Street, which involved raising the speed limit to fifty miles per hour through town, with an adjacent parallel service drive zoned for the current twenty miles per hour as a method of still allowing for local residential traffic. The service drive would run behind the pretty storefront area that currently made up Main Street. Savanna could hardly imagine what would happen to Carson’s small businesses in light of the expansion. Small shops like Fancy Tails would never survive. The Carson City Park would be obliterated, replaced by a triple round-about for tourist traffic.
Savanna sat back and rubbed her eyes. Why on earth wasn’t the Allegan County paper reporting any of these things? She leaned forward again and opened the search bar, clicking through the last several Allegan County articles. Every single one painted the proposed development in a rosy light, praising the benefits, which all boiled down to one thing: an enormous boost to tourism not just for Carson, but Allegan County in general. Which, Savanna supposed, was a good thing. But not at the cost of everything she loved about Carson. Heck, everything every Carson resident loved about this town.
She was struck by an idea. What if the newspaper was owned by Better Living Properties? Or by the company that owned them? How would she even find out if that was true?
She squinted at the screen, scanning for information related to sources cited, people quoted, and byline. The byline for this Allegan County article on the screen read: Landon King, Senior Journalist.
She clicked back to the previous article, checking. Landon King. The two before that were written by a Byron Kolczyk, and then a few previous to that by Landon King again.
It made sense. King himself had told her he was usually the assigned reporter for Carson area happenings. So him being the reporting journalist on the Better Living plan might not be strange at all. She bit her lip and typed “Landon King, Senior Journalist” into the search bar.
Dozens and dozens of articles populated her screen, and she groaned. There must be over a hundred. She scrolled down, catching articles on literally everything, from two orange kittens stuck in a willow tree in Grand Pier, to a spotlight on the three-time winner of Allegan County’s annual spelling bee, and going back at least ten years. She glanced at the clock in the bottom righthand corner of the screen and nearly jumped out of her chair. She’d completely lost track of time! It was almost one p.m. She was supposed to be at Aidan’s house in an hour.
Savanna hurried to the front desk, planning to ask Mrs. Lyle if she could print the articles on her list, but the woman was nowhere to be found. The help desk was unmanned. Ugh. The librarian was likely off helping someone, but the timing was terrible. Savanna would have to come back another time to get what she needed.
By the time she made it home, she was racing the clock. This morning, she’d thrown on jeans and the red T-shirt she’d gotten at her most recent off-Broadway musical, Be More Chill, now a permanent favorite, and rushed to the library with a granola bar and coffee. She’d had every intention of allowing plenty of prep time before needing to leave for Aidan’s and the pool party. Now, she dropped her purse at the front door and sprinted down the hall toward the bathroom, Fonzie galloping alongside her, thinking it was a fun game.
She took the fastest shower of her life, and then ate up a huge chunk of her remaining time trying on swimsuits and hating every single one. Perhaps the pool portion of the party would be mostly meant for the children? One could hope. She stuck her tongue out at her reflection, deciding there was no good choice, and settled on a black one-piece with gold accents. Luckily, it was halter style, which would work well underneath the black-and-white sundress she planned to wear.
Savanna flipped her head upside down and yanked a brush through wet brown waves, and popped on delicate gold earrings that complemented her gold compass necklace. She crossed the hall and sat at Sydney’s vanity, applying light makeup and dropping a red tint lip gloss into the pocket of her dress. Dresses with pockets were the best. She took a deep breath and peered at her reflection. Good enough. She used a few pumps of Sydney’s fancy cupcake-smelling lotion on her bare arms, then carried her strappy black sandals to the front door. It was ten minutes to two.
Savanna scooped up her dog and gave him a hug, setting out food and refilling his water bowl. “Be good, Fonzie!”
She easily found Aidan’s house from the directions he’d given her; he and Mollie were playing in the front yard with Jersey. She joined them, bending to give Jersey pats and ear scratches. When she straightened up, Aidan was staring at her.
“Savanna, hi. You look beautiful.” His body jerked as Jersey yanked at the Frisbee in his hand, obviously impatient with the pause in their game.
“Throw it, Daddy!” Mollie yelled from the other side of the lawn.
Aidan laughed and tossed the plastic disc, and Jersey took a running leap, catching it midair.
“Wow! Good boy! Oh, is it my turn now?” Savanna giggled as Jersey bumped her in the thigh with the Frisbee in his mouth. “You have to let go if you want me to throw it, goofball.”
Her throw went sideways, but the dog still snatched it up, panting around the toy.
“All right,” Aidan said. “He’ll do this for hours. Mol, would you please take him inside and we’ll go?”
Aidan slung a glittery purple beach bag over one shoulder as they stood in the driveway, waiting for Mollie. She tried not to stare at his legs; she’d only ever seen him in jeans or long pants. Bare below the knee in white denim shorts, Aidan’s muscled legs were a shade paler than his arms.
He caught her looking. “I know. Looks like I work in a hospital or something,” he joked. “They don’t see a lot of sun.”
Savanna shook her head. “Sorry. That’s not what I was thinking.” She was embarrassed. She’d been paying more attention to his general firm build than his skin, but wasn’t about to say that. His navy-blue polo shirt stretched across his chest nicely, and she noted a yellow-and-black bumblebee pinned just below his collar. “Nice touch,” she said, pointing to the bee.
“Wait, you’ll see.” He watched as the front door snapped shut and Mollie approached them. Now Savanna noticed she wore a white-and-navy sundress, matching her dad’s color scheme. Her blond hair was clipped back on each side with yellow-and-black bumblebee barrettes.
Warm little tingles zinged through Savanna’s chest. She felt like a privileged insider in Aidan and Mollie’s special accessory tradition. “I love your little bees, Mollie. And the one you chose for your dad.”
“Thank you.” Mollie skipped ahead of them on the sidewalk. “Come on!”
The little girl stopped and waited for them to catch up at what must be Elaina Jenson’s front walk. The driveway was filled with cars, and several were parked in front of the house in the street. A teenage girl answered the door, motioning them through the house. “Everyone’s out back—my mom’s at the grill.” She could only be Elaina’s daughter; the resemblance was striking.
“Aidan!” Elaina Jenson came toward them on the patio. “And Savanna!” She leaned in and gave Savanna a quick hug. “It’s good to see you!”
She felt instan
t relief. Elaina seemed genuinely pleased she was there. “Thank you for having me.”
“I’m so glad you came. You’ll find a few familiar faces here…you’ll have to give me your number before you leave. I lost my staff directory right after we got it last fall,” she said, smiling. She turned her attention to Aidan momentarily, frowning. “Should we call you Dr. Gallager here? You’ve probably seen half these people in your clinic.”
“It doesn’t matter. Aidan is fine. Do you need any help with anything?”
“I don’t think so,” she said. “Food will be ready soon. Help yourself to drinks at the tiki hut, and feel free to cool off if you’d like.” Elaina turned and gestured at a small, thatch roofed drink station set up in the driveway, decorated with straw and huge flowers to match the overall theme of the party. A large oval pool took up much of the backyard, surrounded by gatherings of parents in deck chairs and a lot of little faces Savanna recognized, plus a couple of teachers from school. Soft rock music played from somewhere near the pool.
Jack Carson came out of the house, carrying a platter of burgers ready to be cooked. “Hey there!” He and Aidan shook hands, and he gave Savanna a one-armed hug around her shoulders before turning to set the plate at the grill. “How great to see you two!”
Savanna hadn’t realized Jack and Elaina were friends, but it didn’t surprise her. They were two of the nicest faculty at Carson Elementary.
“Oh, Jack, the Millers are here.” Elaina placed a hand on his arm as she looked through the open door into her house. “They brought more chairs. Would you mind helping carry them in?”
“No problem. Here, watch the grill.” He handed Elaina the spatula and planted a kiss on her lips before stepping back into the house.
Savanna’s eyes widened.
Elaina leaned in toward her. “I know!”
“You’re…You and Jack are a thing?”
Elaina nodded. She was beaming. “Isn’t it crazy?”
Savanna shook her head. “No! Oh my, it’s fantastic. Good for you. Both of you!”
“It just happened. I’ve been trying to send him signals for months. But you know Jack. He can be a little…”
“In his own head?” Savanna supplied.
“Yes, that’s it. He’s really great.” Elaina’s eyes held a dreamy, faraway look. The scent of burning hot dogs wafted to them, and she whipped around, swinging the spatula. “No! Gotta go.”
Savanna took Aidan’s hand, squeezing it and looking up at him. “So cool. Did you know?”
“Sure. I told you,” he said, lowering his voice and bending so only she could hear him. “I’m up on all the town gossip. It’s a hazard of working in the clinic. They started dating last week.”
“I’m so happy for them.” Savanna loved the idea of Jack with a partner; he could be such a loner. She was glad Elaina’s signals had finally been successful.
That evening, as the crowd began to thin, Savanna and Aidan sat poolside watching Mollie, Carter, and a handful of other kids still splashing and playing. The sky over the trees in Elaina’s backyard was streaked with pinks and oranges, and the air was balmy. Aidan’s arm was draped along the back of the swing where they sat, and Savanna leaned comfortably against it.
Aidan’s phone buzzed against her thigh, startling her. He shifted and pulled the phone from his pocket. A number with an area code Savanna didn’t recognize flashed on the screen. Aidan hit the button on the side and dropped it on the canvas seat next to him.
“You don’t need to get that?” She was curious.
“They can leave a message.”
The phone buzzed again, as the caller apparently did leave a message. And then it began ringing again. Aidan groaned.
Savanna waited, watching him. It was his phone, his business, but it must be urgent.
He picked it up, showing the same number on the screen. “I have to take this. I’ll be back.” He stood, putting the phone to his ear as he walked away from her.
He moved to the far corner of the backyard, leaning on the gate with one elbow while he dealt with whomever was calling. Savanna assumed it must be work. But that area code worried her. Was that a New York area code? Probably silly to assume. Everyone had cell phones now, and area codes were often tied to a person’s origin. Even Britt had an out-of-state area code, from California, but he’d lived in Lansing for years. Savanna bit her lip, watching Aidan and trying not to look like she was. She did make sure to keep one eye on Mollie in the water in front of her as well, though there were still several parents also policing the pool.
Aidan’s call had ended now, but he remained alone in the driveway by the gate, stock still, his head tilted back and one hand at the back of his neck. Savanna’s stomach suddenly hurt. Something was wrong. She was on her feet and moving across the lawn before she even decided to do so.
She stopped a couple of feet away from him. “Aidan?”
Those lines between his brows were back, and his posture was rigid.
“What’s wrong?” She kept her voice quiet.
“That was the hospital.”
Savanna’s heart lurched, and she forgot for a moment that the call hadn’t come from a local number. She only thought of Yvonne. She stared up at Aidan, holding her breath, afraid to ask.
“I have to go back. My boss was just brought in by ambulance. He’s had a massive heart attack.” He focused on Savanna, and now she understood that the look in his eyes wasn’t anger, it was grief. Or fear. “It’s called a widow maker. They’re working to stabilize him, but he needs me. Henry’s wife will only let me do the surgery. I’ve got to get a flight out tonight.”
New York. His boss in New York. As it registered, she remembered a piece of what he’d told her from his past. “Your original boss, the one who hired you after your residency?” She recalled Aidan saying the man was the reason he’d agreed to help out at the New York hospital this past year. Aidan spoke about him almost like a father figure.
He nodded, dropping his hand.
Savanna stepped into him and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. “I’m so sorry. Tell me what I can do.”
He hugged her back, not speaking.
She was sure his mind was reeling. Could he even get a flight tonight? She loosened her hold and tipped her head back, facing him. “He’ll be all right. You’ll get there in time. Let’s go. I’ll get Mollie.” She started to pull away from him, but he held on.
“I don’t want to leave.” He brushed a strand of hair back from her temple, his hand slowing in mid-air as he hesitated, his gaze moving from her eyes to her mouth. And then he leaned down and kissed her.
Savanna kissed him back, feeling her heartbeat in her throat. Aidan’s warm, soft lips, his clean, spicy scent, his strong embrace overwhelmed her, and she felt like she was falling and soaring at once.
They were knocked off balance suddenly, and Savanna felt clammy, wet little arms on the bare skin of her back as Mollie hugged the two of them, giggling wildly. The girl shrieked and let go, veering off toward the grass as Carter chased her.
Savanna burst out laughing, and Aidan shook his head. He was fighting a smile and losing. She shrugged helplessly.
She reached up and briefly touched his cheek, feeling light scruff under her fingertips. “You have to go. It’s okay.”
“I’ll miss you,” Aidan said. His lips were near her ear and sent little shivers down her spine that had nothing to do with the damp hug-assault seconds earlier.
Chapter Twenty-One
Savanna’s feet weren’t entirely back on earth yet when Skylar arrived Sunday morning to take her and Sydney for a visit with Chef Joe Fratelli.
Last night at Elaina’s, she’d helped Aidan get Mollie home, dried off, and into pajamas while he threw together a small suitcase and arranged a car to the airport. Within twenty minutes of the call from New York, Aidan was
dashing out the front door as Finn was walking in. By the time Savanna left, Finn had Mollie set up on the couch with popcorn, juice box, and The Princess Bride playing on television. Jersey was settled against the girl’s side, mooching snacks, and Finn promised to have Mollie up and ready for church tomorrow when her grandparents came to get her.
Savanna had one foot out the door when Mollie called her back.
“Ms. Shepherd? You can hug me goodbye if you want.”
Savanna instantly complied, leaning down and giving Mollie a hug. “Enjoy your movie. It’s one of my favorites.”
“You should stay and watch!”
Savanna laughed, glancing at Finn. He was kicked back in Aidan’s leather recliner, Mollie’s pink stuffed unicorn next to him, popcorn bowl in his lap, looking comfy and relaxed and not at all like the hip, edgy guy she’d seen last night at Giuseppe’s. She had a feeling he’d been with Sydney again when Aidan had texted him to come home ASAP. “That’s okay, you guys have fun. Fonzie’s waiting for me, remember?”
As she pulled the front door closed behind her, she heard Mollie and her Uncle Finn both crack up at something onscreen. He didn’t seem as bad as Aidan made him sound.
Savanna arrived home at Sydney’s on autopilot. During the short drive, she replayed those few brief moments with Aidan over and over in her head—the way he’d looked at her, his lips on hers, one warm hand in the middle of her back, gentle yet firm. It was bittersweet, sandwiched between his intense worry over his friend and Mollie’s interruption. Even so, it sent tingles zinging through her just thinking about it.
Sydney was on the couch when she came into the house, but Savanna wasn’t quite ready to share what had happened. Not yet. For now, it was just hers.
On the drive to Chef Joe’s house, Savanna sat in Skylar’s passenger seat with Sydney nearly hanging over the front seat, chattering to them both. Sydney said, “What I really want to know is why Savanna won’t talk about what happened last night.”
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