Heart 0f Mine (Secrets 0f Savannah Book 6) Read online

  Heart of Mine

  Belle Calhoune

  Secrets of Savannah: Six best friends who have known each other their entire lives. Once as thick as thieves, the friendships among the girls have been splintered by life events, secrets and deceptions. Now, brought together again by an inheritance of an historic Bed & Breakfast on Tybee Island, the women must set aside their differences in order to restore their beloved Savannah House. As each woman finds her special talent and develops it through the renovation of the inn, they also find romance—each of them with an unforgettable hero.

  Hope Matthews is a beautiful and caring woman who has centered her life around her baby daughter, Ella. Although she was born and bred in Savannah, Hope fled her hometown in order to hide her pregnancy from her family and friends. When Hope discovers her mentor Miss Hattie Montgomery bequeathed the historic resort, Savannah House, to her and a group of friends, she returns to Savannah. As she immerses herself in her new life as one of the co-owners of a bed and breakfast, Hope keeps secret the circumstances of Ella’s birth and the betrayal that shattered her heart and destroyed her belief in love. When Grayson Holloway, a man who claims to be Miss Hattie’s heir, shows up on Tybee Island, Hope’s heart begins to come back to life.

  Grayson Holloway is a talented illustrator and author who arrives in Savannah seeking answers about his heritage and links to Hattie Alexander, the former owner of the legendary Savannah House bed and breakfast. Grayson believes he is the grandson of Miss Hattie and that she gave his father up for adoption as a newborn. Fueled by his own dysfunctional upbringing and tensions with his own father, Grayson finds peace in the knowledge that he’s connected to the illustrious Alexander family. When he meets single mother, Hope Matthews, he feels an instant connection to the dark-haired beauty.

  Can Grayson show Hope he’s a man who can safeguard her heart?

  Table of Contents

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Epilogue

  About the Author:

  Belle Calhoune is a bestselling author of Christian romance. She lives in Connecticut with her college sweetheart husband and two beautiful girls. A huge lover of dogs, Belle has two of her own—a toy poodle and a chocolate lab. One of the major perks of being a writer is the ability to work in her pajamas. When she’s not creating love stories, Belle loves to travel, spend time in Cape Cod, read and watch classic films.

  Copyright 2016 by Belle Calhoune

  All Rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher and author, except where permitted by law.

  Cover by Elizabeth Mackey

  http://www.elizabethmackeygraphics.com/

  Dedication: This is dedicated to all the readers who have expressed their love for the ladies of Savannah. This one is for you.

  Dear Reader,

  Thanks for joining me in this conclusion to the Secrets of Savannah series. I’m letting out a sigh as I bid the ladies of Savannah a fond farewell. I honestly love them all. Their friendship is so special and wonderful and inspiring. And despite their past differences, they are all committed to the tight bonds of their friendships. Friendship is such a special gift in our lives. If we have one or two loyal, loving friends in our lives, it will surely sustain us for the rest of our days.

  Secrets. They have reared their ugly heads throughout the series. One of the major secrets in this book relates to Miss Hattie Alexander, the matriarch of Savannah House and benefactor to Callie, Olivia, Charlotte, Hope, Fancy and Morgan. In this final book, Miss Hattie’s secrets will come tumbling out of the closest. In the process, the series will come full circle. I planted a few seeds in Book One that will crop up in Book Six. With this book, everything will come full circle and the past will be reconciled with the present.

  This isn’t farewell. I’m planning to have the ladies of Savannah pop up in another series—the Donahue cousins of Pelican Bay. So stay tuned!

  Blessings,

  Belle

  Secrets of Savannah Series:

  Book One: Till the End of Time

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017L5ZPCE

  Book Two: A Moment in the Moonlight

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AARG24A

  Book Three: The Last Kiss

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C1WIPAG

  Book Four: For Love Alone (Morgan and Luke)

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GEE5Q8G

  Book Five: Falling in Love (Charlotte and Marc)

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYTVT4N

  Seven Brides, Seven Brothers Series:

  Book One: The Way Home

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KTCBXSC

  Book Two: Still the One

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M0EUU22

  Book Three: Until You Loved Me

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N15TPFC

  Book Four: Love Me Tender

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OFAVB1I

  Book Five: If only in my dreams

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R6U2PZK

  Book Six: Baby It’s You

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VZ3FCB8

  Book Seven: When A Man Loves A Woman

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011J6ZTE0

  PREQUEL: WHEN YOU BELIEVE

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T52CK1G

  Prologue

  April 1942

  Hattie Alexander let out a sigh as she opened up the front door to Savannah House and plopped herself down on the chaise in the parlor. She was thoroughly exhausted. Not that she was griping. She was doing her very best to serve the war effort on the Home Front. She had stood on her feet all day collecting scrap metal, aluminum cans and rubber, all of which would be recycled to make armaments. It was nothing, she realized, in comparison to the sacrifices of all the brave soldiers fighting an enemy across the world.

  Life as she’d known it had changed forever. It was as if all the sunshine had been stamped out by sooty black clouds. Food, gas and even clothing items such as stockings were being rationed. Everyone received ration stamps which allowed them to buy a certain number of items such as meat, sugar, chocolate, tea. There was so much uncertainty, mostly for the brave soldiers fighting for the USA.

  More than anything, Hattie missed Samuel. It felt as if a huge chunk of her was missing. If he was here in Savannah right now, Hattie thought she could withstand all of these deprivations with a smile on her face. If Samuel was here, she wouldn’t feel so afraid. The future—their future—hung in the balance. There was so much uncertainty surrounding what was coming. What would the future look like?

  Come back to me, Sam. Please come back to me. The words were her daily mantra. She thought perhaps if she said it over and over again Sam would hear her. God would hear her pleas and send him back to her loving arms. She’d written him dozens of letters but she had only received a handful back. But with each word he wrote to her, Sam was imprinting himself even more indelibly on her heart.

  My one true love. His words were always romantic and soaring. Right before he’d left, Samuel had given her a diamond ring and they had become engaged. Every day she held tightly to their dreams, counting the days until they would be face to face again.

 
A heavy knock sounded on the front door. Hope didn’t want to be uncharitable, but she hoped it wasn’t a neighbor begging for their limited food and goods. Her parents were generous to a fault and they never said no, even when it meant they would do without. Her mother had gotten so thin as of late. Hattie stood up and smoothed down her dress. She would just have to deal with it herself. Be strong, she reminded herself. But kind as well.

  Hattie quickly made her way toward the front door and wrenched it open. She sucked in a deep breath as she looked up into the eyes of a tall, broad man dressed in a military uniform. On instinct, Hattie tried to close the door. She knew what was coming. She’d heard of it, seen it, known it was a possibility from the moment Samuel had gone to war.

  “Miss Alexander. I have a telegram for you.” He held out an envelope. The somber tone of his voice and his expression foreshadowed the contents of the envelope.

  As if in a daze, Hattie ripped it open with her finger. The words blurred on the page.

  The Secretary of war desires me to express his deep regret that your fiancé, second lieutenant Samuel Blythewood, has been killed in action over Germany.

  Hattie felt her knees giving out beneath her. The telegram floated to the hardwood floor. Pain ricocheted through her as she hit the floor. She let out a mournful cry.

  “No. Please, God. No. Not Samuel. Not my love.”

  Footsteps sounded in the hallway. She felt strong arms embracing her and the lilting sound of her mother’s voice. “Hattie. Hattie. What’s happened?” Over and over she screamed out Samuel’s name until she heard the rustling sound of her mother picking up the telegram and reading it out loud. Suddenly, her mother’s voice trailed off. Her mother let out a moan and began hugging her. “Oh my poor, Hattie. I’m so sorry. I’m so terribly sorry.”

  Hattie awoke hours later, knowing she must have passed out. For a few moments she thought she might have dreamt about the telegram and Sam’s death. But the low rumble of her parents’ voices downstairs served as a harsh reminder. They wouldn’t be here on a normal Wednesday. They would be engaged in town helping out with the war effort. Despair settled over her as the realization hit her once again. Samuel was gone forever. He would never kiss her lips again. He would never take her hand in his and walk with her in the moonlight. She would never again hear declarations of love tumbling off his lips.

  Suddenly, the world was a very dark place.

  Weeks passed during which Hattie couldn’t even get out of bed. She barely ate. All she could do was wonder what might have been. She became ill, throwing up every morning until it dawned on her she was expecting a child. The knowledge hit her like a sledge hammer pounding her heart. She and Samuel had shared an intimate moment when he was home on leave. It had been fueled by desperation and despair and the love they both sensed might come to an end at any moment. Shame crept over her. How in the world was she going to tell her parents? How was she going to raise Samuel’s child in a world that looked down upon out of wedlock babies? Not to mention how she would be disgraced. Another part of her spirit soared. She would have a part of Samuel that lived on. Thrived. Drew breath. The miracle of life was being bestowed upon her. Gratitude burst inside her at the notion that she would be a mother.

  For the next six months, Hattie kept her secret. She traveled to a neighboring town, and using a fake name, received medical care. Largely due to stress, she had only gained fifteen pounds. One month before her baby was due, Hattie’s secret exploded. Hattie was getting changed in her bedroom when her mother entered without knocking. Her mother’s cry of outrage upon spying Hattie’s belly could be heard throughout the house. That evening, a family meeting was called during which her parents peppered her with questions about her “delicate condition.”

  “How far along are you?” her mother asked, clutching a handkerchief in her hand.

  “Eight months,” she’d answered, trying not to cry at the disappointed expressions etched on her parents’ faces.

  “Your mother and I have this all figured out. We’re going to tell everyone you’ve contracted polio and that our house is under quarantine. In two weeks or so we’ll travel to Florida where you’ll deliver the baby. No will know us there and you can give the child up for adoption.” Her father’s voice was crisp and no-nonsense.

  “I don’t want to give up my baby! Samuel’s baby!” she’d cried out.

  “You have no choice.” Her mother’s voice had been firm.

  “Do you want a life of disgrace for your child?” her father had barked. “Illegitimate. Fatherless. Dismissed. Disregarded. Think, Hattie! Don’t you owe your child much better than that? Not to mention yourself!”

  Hattie’s mind whirled with the possibilities. Couldn’t she earn a living somehow and raise her child with love and commitment? She was smart. With her parents’ help she could pull it off.

  “If you help me I can—” she began.

  “It’s not possible,” her mother said in a raised voice. “Don’t you see? Once the war is over we want to continue to run Savannah House. Don’t you understand? People could shun us! They might refuse to come here.”

  Hattie wasn’t sure she recognized her parents at the moment. Suddenly, all they seemed to care about were their reputations. What about her? And her unborn child?

  “Mama, it’s not as if it’s never been done before. People give birth to children without being married. I loved Samuel. We were engaged to be married!” Hattie explained.

  “Well, shame on Samuel for not marrying you before he compromised your virtue,” her father scolded in a thunderous voice. His face was full of anger. Veins popped on his forehead. He clutched his chest and stumbled. Her mother cried out and led her father toward the divan. For a moment Hattie felt frightened. He looked as if he might have a heart attack. She would never forgive herself if something happened to him because of the stress of her pregnancy. Her father’s health was already precarious due to a minor heart attack a year ago.

  “Daddy!” Hattie raced to his side. His eyes were closed as he laid back on the divan. His face appeared flushed.

  “How are we going to withstand the scandal?” her father asked. He began to sob. Sweat gathered on his forehead. His breathing was shallow.

  Her mother sent her a pleading look. Hattie’s heart felt as if it might shatter. She knew what her mother was asking her to do. She had to make a choice. Her baby or her parents. And without her parents’ help, Hattie knew she wouldn’t be able to raise a child. Not while the country was at war and resources were severely limited.

  “Please, Hattie. For your father’s sake, say you’ll give the baby up,” her mother begged.

  “I’ll place the baby with a wonderful family,” she said, gripping her father’s hand tightly.

  She knew her parents loved her dearly, but all they could see was their own fear and the possibility of being shunned by Savannah society. They couldn’t see past it. As a result, she had been forced to make a decision that might haunt her for the remainder of her life.

  A month passed by during which time Hattie traveled with her parents to a small town in Florida. A few weeks later Hattie’s water broke. After twenty hours of labor, Hattie gave birth to a seven-pound baby boy at Sacred Heart Hospital. The moment she gazed into her son’s beautiful brown eyes, Hattie fell in love. She cradled her son at her breast, and even though she had been told not to nurse him, she couldn’t resist. And she named him, even though it wasn’t official. Patrick. Her sweet, dear Patrick.

  Four days later, she was discharged from the hospital. Without her son. She had signed papers giving him up to a family from Virginia. Hattie had signed the papers before Patrick was born. And now, she’d changed her mind.

  On her first day home she told her parents that she wanted her son back. The family from Virginia wasn’t supposed to pick him up until the weekend. She still had three days to get him back.

  “We’ve already been down this road, Hattie. It’s not feasible to think you can raise a child,”
her mother said in a stern voice.

  “I can get a job. I can raise my baby alone. And I can move to another state where no one knows me or my story. I can say I’m a war widow.”

  “And live on what?” her father roared. “We’re not going to finance this. It’s out of the question.”

  “How can you be so selfish?” Her mother asked. “There are so many families out there who will give you your son everything he needs for a wonderful, blessed life.”

  “But they won’t be me. Don’t you understand? They won’t be his mother.” Hattie knew her parents might never understand her desire to raise her son. But at this moment it didn’t matter. In the morning she would return to the hospital and bring Patrick home with her. And then she would find a way to live independently from her parents and raise her son with all the love and care in the world. She needed to go back and get her baby. She’d thought giving him up for adoption was the answer. But it wasn’t.

  Bright and early the next morning, Hattie made her way to Sacred Heart Hospital—a fifteen-minute drive from the large home her parents had rented in Middleton, Florida. She drove herself to the hospital, borrowing a truck from the gardener and promising to be back by early afternoon.

  When she rushed into the hospital to the newborn wing, Hattie raced to the glass partition to get a peek at Patrick. Her heart swelled as she saw all the little babies in their cradles. Her eyes scanned the rows of babies. Where was he? She began to panic before reminding herself that the hospital could be running tests on him or feeding him.

  She raced to the nurse’s station. Frantic, she pounded her fists on the counter.

  “I don’t see my baby. I need to find him. Patrick Alexander. Where’s my baby?”

  The nurse’s eyes widened. She began clenching her jaw. “Miss Alexander. He’s gone. The adoptive family came to pick him up early.”

  She shook her head as a scream rose up within her throat. “No. That’s not possible. I still have two whole days. They said three days and it’s been just one. Not even.”