Till The End Of Time (Secrets of Savannah Book 1) Page 14

  Callie reached out and tugged at her arm. “Fancy, you’re being stubborn about this whole thing. You have no proof that any one of us betrayed you by telling Case about Marc…and even if one of us did, you’re taking it out on all five of us. That’s not fair.”

  Fancy’s blue eyes pooled with tears. “I confided in the five of you. No one else! It stands to reason that one of you betrayed me. I lost everything because of it.”

  “No!” Morgan said in a raised voice. All eyes were suddenly focused on her. She slashed her hand through the air. “Enough! You lost Case because you were running around on him. That wasn’t our fault. And no matter how many times you try to blame us, it’s not going to stick. You have to hold yourself accountable so you can move forward. Because until you do…you’re only going to be stuck.”

  Fancy’s mouth hung open. Her blue eyes were awash in tears. Her lips were trembling. The grand air she’d been carrying around with her dissolved. She resembled a beautiful, broken doll.

  Morgan moved toward Fancy and wrapped her arms gently around her. “I didn’t say that to hurt you, but you’ve been careening around like an out of control train. It’s been more than eighteen months, Fancy. Aren’t you tired of being angry?”

  Fancy raised her hands and covered her face. She burst into tears. She began speaking through her sobs. “Of course I’m tired. I miss you all. And I miss living here in Savannah. And most of all, I miss Case. But I’ve been so angry about how the bottom fell out of my world. I’ve just felt so lost.”

  “And here we thought you were living it up in New York City, living the life of a top model,” Callie said. “All that glitters isn’t gold, huh?”

  Fancy scoffed. “Are you kidding? The modeling world is cutthroat and cold. I’ve never been more miserable in my life. Which is why I came back here as soon as I received the call from Attorney Mayhew. I just didn’t know how to face all of you.”

  “You never have to worry about that,” Charlotte crooned as she reached out and hugged Fancy. “No matter what, we’re always going to provide sheltering arms for each other. That’s what true friends do for one another.”

  “Yes!” Olivia said. “We’re going to put all of this in the vault, lock it and throw away the key. We’re never going to dwell on the past.”

  Fancy cried and sniffled and swiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. “I-Is there still room for me at Savannah House? I told Attorney Mayhew I wanted you guys to buy me out, but that’s not true. I want to come home,” she said with a sob.

  By now everyone was sobbing with the exception of Attorney Mayhew who was rolling his eyes and muttering under his breath.

  Callie placed her arms around Fancy and held her tight. “You’re already home, Fancy. The minute you stepped into Savannah, you were already home.”

  “I always feel we’re at our very best when we’re all together. Six is such a lovely number.”

  Olivia Renault

  Chapter Nine

  The next week passed in a flurry of activity. With Fancy back in the fold, it seemed as if everyone was walking on egg shells trying to restore the friendships that had been so strained for the past year and a half. They had established a fragile peace. No one dared to bring up the fact that sooner or later Fancy was bound to run into Case. Callie knew her cousin didn’t want anything to do with his ex-fiancé. In his estimation, he had been badly burned by her once before. Case Duvall wasn’t the type to forgive and forget. And although they were all curious about the identity of Ella’s father, no one had the courage to ask Hope outright. And Morgan…Callie still had the feeling that something had caused her to flee from Savannah, although she had no idea what it might be.

  The girls were all having lunch at Pearl’s house where Morgan had grown up. Since she had just returned to town, Morgan had arranged to stay with her mother until she could find a permanent place to live. Once they fixed up Savannah House, it was possible that Morgan and Hope could live there in one of the available rooms.

  Pearl had cooked them an amazing meal—fried chicken, potato salad, corn, kale and baked bread. Callie’s stomach did flip flops at the sight of the spread. Pearl had arranged for them to sit out on the patio so they could enjoy the mild summer weather. A pitcher of lemonade added the perfect touch to the meal.

  Callie enjoyed the light mood at lunch. It was the perfect distraction for her from thoughts of Jax. All night she had tossed and turned, wondering when she would see him again. Pondering whether she should apologize to him and try to make amends. There was no point in doing so unless she was going to get real with him. He had made it quite clear that the next move was hers to make. She couldn’t go to him unless she was willing to go the distance. It wouldn’t be fair to seek Jax out unless she was willing to tell him she loved him.

  Why was it so difficult for her to tell him her truths? Reaching out for love shouldn’t be so scary. Had she been so damaged by the past that she would never be able to accept Jax’s love or profess her own to him? It was hard for her to lay her feelings on the line. She felt paralyzed with fear about having a heart to heart conversation with him. It made her feel vulnerable. Somehow she had to find a way to get past it. Every day it was becoming more and more clear to her—a life without Jax in it would be unbearable.

  “What are you daydreaming about over there?” Olivia asked, waving her hand from across the table. “You’re a million miles away from Savannah.”

  The rest of the girls laughed.

  “Sorry. I haven’t been sleeping well,” Callie admitted. “These past few weeks have been filled with chaos.”

  “Tell me about it,” Hope moaned. “Ella doesn’t seem to know day from night. I can’t wait to get a full night’s sleep one of these days.” She cast a quick glance at her daughter who was sleeping like a log in her playpen. Ella looked like sweetness and light, although Callie knew from listening to Hope’s stories that she could be a little bear at times.

  “I’ve always wanted a house filled with children,” Fancy said in a wistful voice.

  “You’ll have them,” Morgan said, patting her on the hand with encouragement.

  Callie’s phone began vibrating next to her from the bottom of her purse. Over and over again it rang until she was forced to take a look at it. Her mother’s number showed up on the caller ID, time after time. As she was holding her phone, it began buzzing again. It was her mother calling her. Again. Knowing she couldn’t ignore another call, she excused herself from the table and picked up.

  “Mom. What is it? Why do you keep calling me? I told you that I needed some space for a while.” Callie hated to sound so curt, but she needed her boundaries to be respected until she could heal and sort everything out. Why couldn’t her mother just understand that?

  “Callie!” Her mother’s voice sounded like a wounded animal.

  A chill shot straight through her. “Mama. What is it?”

  “It’s Luke. There’s been an accident. He’s in a coma and you have to come to Memorial Hospital right now. They’re not sure he’s going to make it.”

  “Oh no! I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Callie gripped the phone tightly in her hand and pressed her eyes closed. She began to pray as she had never prayed before.

  Dear Lord. Please protect Luke. Heal him, Lord. In your divine wisdom, please show him mercy. Bring him back to us, Lord.

  In a daze she walked back out to the patio. Olivia jumped up from her seat and reached her side in seconds. “Callie. What’s wrong? You’re as pale as a ghost.”

  “It’s Luke,” she said in a stilted voice. “He’s been in an accident. It’s very serious.” Olivia steadied her as she began to sway. Suddenly, she felt a wave of dizziness grip her.

  “No!” Morgan called out, raising her hands to her face. She began breathing heavily with tears running down her face. Pearl sent her daughter a surprised glance. Hope put her arms around Morgan to console her.

  “Let me drive you to the hospital,” Olivia volunteered. “An
d Fancy can drive your car behind us. I don’t think you should be driving at a time like this.”

  Callie nodded. She wasn’t about to argue the point. Fear held her in its grip. Luke—her sweet, gentle brother was in a coma. He might die. She might never get the chance to speak to him again. What had happened? She hadn’t even asked her mother the details.

  “Can we go now? I need to be with him,” Callie said, as little hiccup-cries began to consume her. Olivia reached for Callie’s purse and led her toward the front door.

  Callie turned to Olivia. “Is Morgan okay? I didn’t even know she was that close to Luke.”

  Olivia shrugged. “I didn’t either, but she’s clearly broken up about it.”

  Although it wasn’t a pressing matter at the moment, Callie felt confused about Morgan’s reaction. Although her friends cared about her brother, none of them had reacted like Morgan. She seemed to be coming apart at the seams.

  With Fancy following behind them in Callie’s car, Olivia and Callie headed to Memorial Hospital. Callie practically jumped from the car the moment they arrived. Olivia and Fancy rushed inside with her, accompanying her to the family waiting room on the fifth floor. The moment they walked in to the room, they spotted Callie’s parents sitting together with their arms around each other. Callie choked back a sob. They looked so desperate. So completely and utterly lost. She wasn’t used to seeing her parents looking anything other than strong and regal.

  “Callie!” The sound of her mother’s wail caused goose bumps to pop up on her arms. Before she knew it, her mother had enveloped her in the world’s tightest hug. Callie could hardly breathe. She could feel her mother’s body heaving against her. The sound of her sniffling tugged at her heart strings.

  Her father stood there, looking awkward and disconnected. His complexion appeared ashen. “There’s been no update since your mother called you. He’s still in critical condition.” He shut his eyes and shuddered. “I need to go find the chapel and pray.” Lionel staggered out of the room, resembling a shattered man.

  “I’ll go sit with your father,” Olivia volunteered. “He shouldn’t be alone at a time like this.”

  Callie appreciated her best friend’s gesture. She and Olivia had grown up in each other’s pockets. Olivia had always adored her father. And vice versa.

  “Why don’t I go get some sodas and something to nibble on,” Fancy suggested, earning a grateful smile from Davinia.

  Callie wet her lips. Her throat felt dry. “Mama, what happened to Luke? You said there was an accident.”

  Davinia pulled out a tissue from her purse and blew loudly into it. “He was hit by a car, Callie. Luke was crossing Broughton Street during his lunch hour and someone mowed him down. It was a hit and run. They didn’t even stop to make sure he was all right. The police have said the driver must have been going at least fifty miles an hour.” She began to sob again. “If he had been going any faster Luke would be dead right now.”

  “How could someone just drive away and leave him like that?” Callie asked. Anger rose up inside her at the notion that any human being could be so heartless.

  “I surely don’t know,” Davinia murmured. “I’ve already lost a child. My sweet Kate. I don’t want to ever go through that nightmare again, Callie.” Her mother was tightly gripping her hand. Her makeup was smeared all over her face due to her crying. “If it wasn’t for adopting you, I’m not sure I would have made it through that dark time.”

  “We’re not going to lose him,” Callie said in a fierce tone. “Luke is strong. He’s a fighter. He’s got lots of life left in him yet.” Callie hoped her words turned out to be true. She couldn’t imagine how painful it would be for her parents to lose another child. Just the thought of losing Luke was terrifying. As much as Mac was the link to her early years, Luke was the one who had shepherded her through her childhood and teen years. To lose him would be as devastating as the loss of Mac all those years ago.

  For the next hour, Callie sat with her mother in the family room while Fancy fussed over them. Olivia came back after a bit stating that her father wanted to stay put in the chapel.

  “Would you guys mind staying with my mom for a bit? I have a call I’d like to make.”

  “Of course,” Olivia said. “That’s what we’re here for.”

  “Go make your call,” Fancy ordered her. “We’ll take care of her.”

  Once she was in a private area she pulled out her cell phone and dialed Mac’s number.

  “Hey, sis,” Mac said, picking up on the second ring. “What’s shaking in good ole Savannah?”

  “Mac!” She could hear her voice cracking. All of a sudden she couldn’t force the words out.

  “Baby girl, what’s wrong?” Mac asked. “You sound like you’ve been crying.”

  “I-it’s Luke,” she said, her voice quivering. “He’s been in a terrible accident. He’s in a coma.”

  “Callie. That’s terrible news,” Mac said. “What are the doctors saying? Are they giving you a prognosis?”

  “Nothing yet. I’m scared. Really, truly petrified. And to make the situation worse there’s the tension with my parents and…I’ve had the worst blow up with Jax. Everything is falling apart,” she wailed.

  “Hey, don’t cry. For now, focus on your brother getting better. Luke is going to pull through this. Why don’t we do the things we can do to help the situation. Think positively. And pray, Callie. And tell your friends to pray. From everything you’ve told me about him, he’s strong. And well loved. He’s got everything to live for.”

  “He does,” Callie said, feeling invigorated by Mac’s words. He sounded so certain. So full of conviction. That type of positivity was downright contagious. It was okay for her to be frightened, but she wasn’t giving up on Luke’s recovery. Not by a long shot.

  “Let me know if you need me to fly out there. I’ll be there in a heartbeat,” Mac vowed.

  “I know you would, Mac. And I’ll keep you posted on his condition. In the meanwhile, please pray for him.”

  “Of course. Luke was your big brother when I couldn’t be. He protected you, loved you and guided you. For those reasons he’s always going to hold a special place in my heart. All the Donahues will be praying for him. That’s a promise.”

  “I love you, Mac,” Callie said, realizing for the first time that she’d never had a problem saying those words to Mac…or Luke. Maybe she could tell Jax how she felt after all.

  “Love you more,” Mac said, promising to call her later on before he hung up.

  Once again she felt blessed to have Mac back in her life. He had promised to always be there for her, no matter what. And she knew in her heart and soul he always would be. And she planned to do the same for him. To the moon and back.

  She walked into the waiting room carrying a cup of coffee from the vending machine. Even if it tasted awful it was hot and would provide a jolt of caffeine that she desperately needed at the moment. Callie looked around the waiting room for her mother and the girls, wondering where they had gone. She placed her coffee down on an end table.

  Had there been an update regarding Luke’s condition? No, they would have come to find her to tell her the news. Perhaps they had taken her for a little stroll around this wing of the hospital. She wasn’t going to fret about it. With Olivia and Fancy at the helm, she knew her mother was in good hands. As for her father, she was beginning to worry about him spending so much time by himself in the hospital chapel.

  Suddenly, Jax was standing there, looking way more handsome than she could wrap her head around at the moment. He must have come straight from work, she imagined. He was wearing a charcoal colored suit with a pink shirt. A pink and grey tie tied it all together.

  Her heart leaped at the sight of him. A little sigh escaped her lips. She struggled against an impulse to throw herself into his arms. She’d been missing him so terribly. She swallowed past the lump in her throat. What could she say to make things right? How did she make the necessary apology to smo
oth things over?

  Instead of saying something…anything…she stood there like a lump staring at him.

  He held up his hands. “Don’t worry. I’m not here to plead my case with you. I received the message loud and clear the other day. You think I’m in collusion with your father. I just came to check on Luke’s condition.”

  At the mention of her brother’s name she began to cry. She couldn’t help it. The thought of losing Luke was terrifying. “H-He’s in a coma. Someone ran him down with their car and took off. He’s critical.” She swiped away her tears, wishing she wasn’t such a weeping willow.

  Jax ran his hand through his dark mane. He looked dazed. “I can’t believe it. I just saw him earlier at work.” He clenched his jaw, lending his appearance a forbidding quality. “When they catch this person, and I know they will, I want a front row seat at the trial and sentencing.”

  “Me too,” she said in a soft voice.

  Jax shifted from one foot to the other. “I’m going to take off. I know this is an area for family. I just wanted to check in,” Jax said, his face as hard as granite.

  “Don’t go,” she blurted out.

  “What? Did you say something?” Jax asked, turning back around to face her.

  “I said don’t go,” she said in a louder voice.

  They locked gazes. Jax’s blue eyes flickered with something that resembled hope.

  “Why?” His simple question floated in the air between them.

  She took a deep breath. “Because…I need you here with me. I was wrong, Jax. Wrong to suggest that you could ever be anything but what you are. Good and honest and true. I’m ashamed that I lashed out at you. If I could take it back I would. But I was caught off guard when I saw you there at Attorney Mayhew’s office. Inheriting Savannah House feels like a fresh new start for me, and it felt like I was being sandbagged.”

  Jax’s jaw trembled. “I would never do that to you.”

  “I know that.” She slapped her palm to her forehead. “I was a fool. And I didn’t act right and I know that I blew it with you…with us. You probably don’t want anything to do with me anymore, but I want you to know how I feel.” She was beginning to babble but she couldn’t help herself. Jax was standing here and it was her chance to tell him how sorry she was and how she loved him. But his face looked stern, as if he didn’t really care what she had to say.