Chapter Fourteen
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have Annie here?” Charli asked. “Or Callie?”
Savannah shook her head and turned from looking at her reflection in the mirror on the closet door. “I can’t tell them. The truth, I mean. What Mason does— Well, you know, I can’t tell anyone and they’d want to know why we’re suddenly getting married when the last time I talked to either of them we hadn’t done more than kiss.”
“I know, but they’re your friends and—”
“And so are you. A friend I trust and respect and someone I know I can count on. And someone who understands why this is happening.”
“Do I?” Charli took a seat on the bed and regarded Savannah with a solemn expression. “I know what you and Mason said. That it’s to protect you and Tommy should anything happen to him, but honey, we’re not stupid women. He works for the CIA and they can just as easily protect the two of you without a marriage license. So, what’s the real truth?”
“That’s all I know. I swear. Mason just asked me to trust him. And…
“And?”
“And said that maybe when he gets back, we can work on making it real and permanent.”
Charli was quiet for a bit, then nodded. “Is that what you want?”
“More than anything.” Savannah crossed the room and sat down beside Charli. “I’m not going to go into details, but you know most of my story. My nearly loveless marriage and the nastiness with my grandfather and my dad going to prison. But there’s something else. I had a child once. A daughter, Melody. She died of SIDS when she was eight weeks old and it nearly killed me.
“I was terrified when Mason first moved in here, afraid to let myself care about Tommy for fear that Mason would leave and my heart would be broken. But he stayed and I fell in love. With both. And now I can finally admit that to myself, along with the fact that more than anything in the world I want to be Tommy’s mother and Mason’s wife, to be a family with them. I’d give up everything I have for that, Charli. Every dime.”
“Then you’re doing the right thing and I’m going to pray that this marriage ends up lasting a lifetime. And…” Charli stood and offered Savannah a hand. “You are a breathtakingly beautiful bride.”
“Really?” Savannah let Charli pull her to her feet and turn her to face the mirror.
Savannah had chosen a dress that she’d bought years ago and couldn’t bear to part with. White and flowing, it had layers on the skirt, all different lengths to create an elaborate handkerchief hem. The top was an off the shoulder peasant style, only fitted through the torso, coming to a point below her waist. It was stitched with white iridescent thread in a random pattern that caught the light and sparkled.
“I do.” Charli smiled.
“Thank you for being here with me.” Savannah turned to face her friend.
“I’m honored. So, want me to go check and see if the groom is ready?”
“Yes, please.”
“Be right back.”
Savannah watched Charli leave and then looked again at her reflection. Was she about to take a step that might lead to her dream come true, or what she setting herself up for the worst heartbreak imaginable?
*****
Mason sat down to put on socks and shoes. Grady sat across the room, holding Tommy who was gnawing one of Grady’s knuckles and making a bunch of satisfied little grunts.
“You sure about this?” Grady asked.
Mason looked up briefly. “Were you? When you asked Charli?”
“I was. But that’s not the question on the table. Are you sure?”
“I want to protect her and Tommy and if we—”
“Brother, don’t even try. You and I both know you can make sure her rights are protected without marrying her. So, let’s try this again. Are you sure?”
Mason sat up to look at his friend. No point in being anything but honest with a man like Grady. “No, but it’s what I want.”
“Why?”
There was the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question, and the one that demanded he answer with words he’d never spoken. It was nearly as daunting as staring down the barrel of a gun.
“Because I love her.”
Grady grinned. “There. That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“You have no idea,” Mason said as he stood, then recanted. “No, it wasn’t. I do. I didn’t ever expect it, but she’s—everything.”
“And have you told her that?”
Mason realized that he’d made a huge mistake. He’d spoken of protecting her and the possibility of building on what they had when he returned, but he’d never spoken directly of his feelings for Savannah.
“I’ll be back.”
He opened the door and nearly collided with Charli. “Hey, where’s the fire?” she asked as he rushed by.
“I have to talk to Savannah.”
Mason didn’t think to knock; he just burst into Savannah’s room. She turned from where she stood in front of a mirror that hung on the closet door and it was as if all the oxygen had suddenly been sucked from the room. That’s how totally she took his breath.
It took him several seconds to recover and even then, he felt a little stunned. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
She smiled and blushed. “You don’t have to say—”
He was in front of her, his hands holding her face and his lips claiming hers before she could finish the sentence. When the kiss ended, he knelt on one knee, took her hand, and looked up at her.
“Savannah, you’re the most beautiful, exciting, smart, and compassionate woman I’ve ever known and I’m crazy in love with you. Will you marry me? For real. Be my wife, and Tommy’s mom? I promise it will last and I’ll make you happy.”
“Really? Not just so we’re protected if—”
“No. For real. Marry me because you love me.”
“That I can do. Under one condition.”
He hated the anxiety that sprang to life at her answer. “What?”
“Come home to us. Promise me. Alive and well, you’ll come home.”
Mason was shocked at the wave of pure happiness that washed through him. He stood, still holding her hands and lifted them to his lips. “I promise.”
“Then let’s get married.”
Mason smiled and gave her a quick kiss. “They’ll be here any minute.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
He left the room, closed the door behind him, and then leaned back against it. His emotions were in an uproar now. He’d always heard that falling in love changed you forever and wondered if the change he and Savannah were about to experience would be one that enriched their lives or set them on a path to unhappiness.
Maybe this was all insane. Was this all too fast? Were they fooling themselves and just in the midst of the heat of attraction phase that would soon cool and leave them with nothing but uncomfortable silence?
He’d never been in love before, so he had no benchmark with which to compare. What if he was wrong? Even as the questioned assailed him, he knew it was too late for them. They’d committed to a path and had to stick to it. Mason could only hope that they ended up being lucky. He hoped that he could keep his promise and come home safe and that when he did, they’d realize their love wasn’t just a flash in the pan but something real and enduring.
*****
When she rose from his embrace to sit and look at the clock, he pulled her back down. Neither of them had slept, which was fine with him. It was their one night together as husband and wife before he left.
Mason had never been a man given to pillow talk, or even sharing his history with a woman. Heck, he wasn’t someone who even shared his true thoughts. Except with Savannah. Through the night he’d revealed his entire history to her, let her see behind the mask.
And miraculously it had not sent her running.
“So, you speak how many languages?” she asked quietly.
“Seven fluently, ten passably.”
“Wow. No one would guess that you’re a spy.”
“I think that’s the goal, honey.”
“Yes, but…” She rolled over to sit astride his body, letting her fingers drift over his chest and torso as she talked. “It’s such an—an unusual thing. And a dangerous one. Why would you want to do that?”
He considered his answer for a moment. “If you were with the government, my answer would be because I want to serve my country. And that is a strong component, but mainly the reason I was attracted to the opportunity was the danger factor. How many people get a chance to be an honest to God spy? I was young, something of a thrill junkie, and had no attachments. It was a perfect fit.”
“But you quit. Why?”
“I told you. I broke my back.”
“But then they called you back. If you’re not cleared for active duty or whatever you call it, then how can they call you back?”
“Because you’re never really out, and in this case, it’s more important than my injury.”
“I know. I do get it, but…” Her hands stilled and her gaze locked with his. “I’m scared.”
“Don’t be.”
“I can’t help it. I just found you. You’re my dream come true and now you’re leaving and I’m scared— I’m—”A little sob broke into her words and he pulled her down on top of him, holding her tightly as she softly cried.
“I’ll come back,” he whispered and hoped he was not telling a lie.
“I love you, Mason.” Her whisper was almost too soft to be heard.
“I love you, Savannah, and I’m coming home and we’ll be a family.”
“You promise?”
“I do.”
“Will you please love me again?”
That was a request he was glad to fill. Darkness faded into dawn and they greeted it in one another’s arms, trying to hold on to the last few minutes before it was time for him to go.
Which came all too soon.