Chapter12
Northwest of Manhattan, in a village called Ossining on the banks of the Hudson River, stood Sing Sing maximum security prison. Behind the guard towers, the fences, and the walls, locked safely in a small cell, a man sat on the bare bones of a bunk.
The cell was dark and dank. It had seen better, newer days. It had seen other prisoners, but not for five years. For five years, it had been the constant residence of the man who was sitting on the cot. He was a heavy set man; every part of his body looked round. His gut was round, his neck, his face, his hands, and his fat fingers. Everything was round. Even the bald spot at the top of his head, in the shape of a horseshoe, was rounded. From the edge of the horseshoe shape, black tufts of hair seemed to stick out in different directions.
His dark, beady eyes stared straight ahead as he sat on his cot, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. He was gazing at the notch marks on the wall opposite him. He had counted them, over and over again. Many times. Each day, there was one more notch to count. His thin mouth was set in a grim line, and his round pudgy eyes were narrowed in contemplation. There were one thousand, eight hundred, and twenty-five notches. One for every single day of the five years he had sat rotting in the cell. He hated them. They were wasted time. Lost time. Time stolen away from him.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor, and the man’s eyes shifted—nothing else—only his eyes, from the wall with the notch marks to the cell door. He waited and breathed in and breathed back out again quietly. The footsteps grew louder, and the sound of keys on a keychain rattled in time with the cadence of the footsteps. Two feet in shining, black shoes came to a stop at his cell door. The fat man raised his eyes and set them on the uniformed guard standing on the other side of the bars.
“Well, Rosetti,” the guard said in a level tone. “You made parole. You’re out of here.” He unlocked the cell door and opened it, blocking the newly opened space with his body.
The fat man named Vincent Rosetti stood up and stretched his back a little as he turned slowly and faced the guard in silence.
“There’s no telling what the rest of these inmates are going to do now that you’re going to be gone,” the guard said with some uncertainty as he stepped back out of the cell door frame, leaving the space vacant.
Rosetti lifted his chin defiantly. “They’re going to do whatever I tell them to do, no matter where I am. Walls do not a prison make. No, prisons are in the mind, and that’s why I run this place. It’s why I’ll continue to be running this place after I leave, no matter where I go.”
He walked out of the cell and stood beside the guard as the guard closed the door with a loud clang that echoed like distant thunder up and down the hollow corridor. “Where are you going to go?” the guard asked, looking over at the prisoner.
Vincent Rosetti stood in the center of the hall, looking directly ahead, all the way down to the vanishing point at the end of it. He was not looking at the distant door and his freedom beyond it. His mind was focused on something else.
“I’m going to go see the man who put me in here alone,” he answered in a stony voice. “I’m going to make sure that justice is done this time.”
They began to walk down the corridor, and the guard spoke in a quieter voice. “Don’t get caught, Vincent, or you’ll wind up back here behind those bars again.”
Vincent said nothing. He only walked the great length of the hall, and then he passed through the door at the end and through several more doors until he passed through the gate and stepped out into the world as a free man.
***
Saturday came, and Savannah was a bundle of nerves and excitement. She was up and out of bed earlier than usual for a weekend. She spent a good deal of time on her hair and makeup, and at last, she pulled on the pretty dress that she’d chosen a few days before with her friends.
When Lucas came to pick her up, she felt ready, or at least, as ready as she would ever be. She was relieved when he grinned and nodded his approval of her appearance when she opened the door to him.
“You look beautiful,” he told her with a smile as he leaned forward and reached for her to fold her into his arms and kiss her. He only kissed her once, gently, and then leaned back. “You know I would kiss you more than that, but I don’t want to smudge your makeup. It’s perfect.” He gave her a wink, and she felt butterflies dancing in her stomach.
Taking his arm, she walked with him to the elevator and then to the car, and with every step that she took, she felt as if she was coming closer and closer to judgment day. Lucas, sensing her anxiety, put on some light music in the car and talked with her about little things that he hoped would distract her.
Nothing distracted her from what was at the forefront of her thoughts, but she did smile and pretend that everything was fine. He lifted her hand to his mouth while they were driving and kissed her fingers, giving her a big smile.
He drove them a long while and finally pulled into a parking lot and helped her from the car. The parking lot was filled with luxury cars in varying makes and models, and she thought to herself that the value of the cars alone that she was looking at was more money than she would ever see or have in her lifetime. Lucas wrapped an arm around her and kissed her cheek softly, grinning at her.
“Don’t worry. This is going to be wonderful.”
She could see that he was excited about it and looking forward to it. She hoped with everything in her that she wouldn’t disappoint or embarrass him. She was going to try her best, but she had to admit that she wasn’t feeling her best. She knew that it was a big deal for him. She knew that he was looking forward to it.
“When was the last time you took a girl to meet your family?” she asked him with trepidation, not really sure that she wanted the answer to the question she’d asked him.
He looked over at her and tilted his head thoughtfully. “Actually, come to think of it now, I’ve never brought a girl home, so to speak. My family knew the girls I dated in high school and college because I dated within our social circles. When I was in the military, I didn’t date, and when I came back from the military, I dated but I didn’t bring anyone to meet them. I haven’t been with anyone I wanted my family to meet until now.”
Savannah felt sick, and she knew that the feeling had made its way to her face, and he could see it as clear as day. She tightened her grip on his hand and looked at him with wide eyes. He saw her worry and hugged her again, speaking quietly to her as he held her in his arms.
“They’re going to love you. Please don’t worry about it. Come on.” He gave her a wink and a smile, and they left the car.
They walked to the grassy area beside the field, where the garden party was set up so that everyone seated at the tables could have a decent view of the match. Lucas surveyed the crowds of people, all of them dressed in finery and looking picture perfect, and he hunted for his family.
After a few moments, he nodded his head and smiled. “Ah! There they are.” He took her hand in his, and she told herself over and over again not to squeeze his hand too tightly as they made their way through the crowd to the big, round table where his family was sitting.
“People are staring at me,” she whispered as she looked all around her. There were women and men all around, some standing and talking, others sitting at tables and in chairs, chatting, drinking, and laughing. Everyone seemed at ease – all of them dressed so well, and all of them enjoying the pleasant sunny weather and the company of their friends and business associates. She had never felt so out of place in her life, but she promised herself that she would stay and that she would do her very best to show Lucas’ family just why he had chosen to bring her to them.
“They’re staring because you are stunning, and I’ve never brought a woman around these people that they didn’t already know.” He lifted his chin and his hand and waved to his family, who had just looked up and noticed him.
Savannah’s stomach tied in a knot. She put a smile on her face and hoped with everything in her that it would reach her eyes. She wondered as she looked at them, watching them look at her, if she could ever fit into their circles and their lifestyle.
They approached the table and stopped at the edge of it, standing there as Lucas pulled his sunglasses off and placed his hand on Savannah’s back. There were four people seated at the table. An older gentleman who was as trimmed and polished as any gentleman she had ever seen in a movie or a magazine. There was a man who looked just a little older than Lucas. He was speaking on his phone and nodding as he looked up at Lucas and Savannah. Then there was a young woman and a young man who looked to be the same age as her, sitting next to each other, and looking as different as two people could look in the same family.
“Everyone, this is Savannah Carson. Savannah, this is my father, Carter Carrington,” he indicated the older gentleman, who rose from his seat and reached his hand out to Savannah to shake her hand. “This is my older brother, Pierce,” he continued. Pierce set his phone down and gave her a nod and a smile, shaking her hand.
“It’s very nice to meet you,” Pierce said sincerely. “I’m so sorry; I’m on a call just now.” He went back to the call with a wave and a smile at her. He didn’t look like Lucas; he had blonde hair and blue eyes as light as the summer sky. She knew right then that she liked him. He might be busy, but he was nice.
Lucas turned to the younger couple then. “This is my younger brother, Ryder, and this is his twin, my sister, Camilla.” He introduced them, and they didn’t stand, but they leaned forward and shook her hand.
Ryder had pitch black hair and bright blue eyes the same shade as Pierce’s. Camilla had Pierce’s same coloring: blonde hair that hung in thick waves around her neck and shoulders and bright, sky blue eyes set in her pale, lovely face. Ryder had a drink in his hand, and he looked around disinterestedly and took a long pull off of it. Camilla smiled up at Savannah and indicated the seat beside her.
“Won’t you sit down, please?” she offered sweetly. “Luke has told us so much about you. I’m glad to get to finally meet you. Do you know, he brought home about a dozen pieces of your artwork? It’s all up in his wing. He just loves it. I do, too; it’s so beautiful.”
“Thank you!” Savannah said with a smile as she felt a wave of deep gratitude wash through her for the kindness that Camilla was showing her. She turned a little and looked over at Lucas. “Luke?” she said in a soft voice with a slight smile.
He shrugged. “She decided to give me that nickname when she got into her early teenage years and thought that everyone she cared about should have a pet name. Mine happened to stick, and I haven’t been able to get rid of it since.” He laughed and waved his hand slightly.
Ryder slammed the last of his drink back and set the glass down sharply on the table. He looked less than thrilled to be at the event, and Savannah got the distinct impression that he was not present of his own accord and that his attendance was mandatory, possibly ruled by his father.
She looked away from Ryder and saw that Pierce was walking a few steps from the table to continue his phone call without disturbing anyone. Then her eyes fell on Carter, Lucas’ father, and she saw that he had been watching her the entire time. Her stomach twisted all over again as his cool gaze took her in. She could feel just from his look that he was sizing her up.
Carter leaned toward her slightly and spoke in a clear voice. “Would you indulge us, please, and tell us a little about yourself?”
Savannah wasn’t entirely sure where to start. Her hands were folded in her lap, and she felt Lucas set his hand on her back and give her back a little rub of encouragement. Taking a deep breath, she answered his father’s question.
“I’m an artist. I work at a gallery on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan,” she began, not entirely sure where to go from there.
He nodded. “What about your family? Where are they? What do they do?” he dug deeper, and she felt her heartbeat quicken under his steady gaze.
She cleared her throat a little. “Well, my parents have passed on, unfortunately, but my grandmother is still with me, and she lives in Atlanta. I go see her at holidays,” she added, wondering just how much she should share.
Carter studied her quietly and then looked at Lucas. “Son, would you mind terribly, getting us another round of drinks? I’d like to talk with Miss Carson on my own.” He stood up, and Lucas sighed quietly and stood, offering his hand to Savannah to help her to her feet. She made herself smile and wished with everything in her that she could go on the drink run with Lucas, but she knew that it wasn’t at all possible.
Lucas leaned over and kissed her cheek, taking the opportunity to whisper into her ear that she would be fine, and he told her to just be herself. She gave him a smile and a nod as he left, giving her hand one last squeeze as he strode away.
Carter came around the table and stopped beside Savannah. Ryder chose that moment to stand up and give one last disgusted look around them at the event. “That’s it. I’ve had it. I’ve done my duty and made a showing. You had a full hand of Carrington’s here today, father. I have other things to do.”
He leaned over and kissed Camilla’s cheek and then looked over at Savannah. He gave her a heartfelt smile, and she found that she was surprised by it. It was genuine. “I was glad to meet you. Lucas thinks a lot of you, and that’s a high watermark to reach,” he said with a half-smile. With that, he turned and practically vanished into the crowd; Savannah knew that she wasn’t going to see him again for the rest of the event.
She looked back at Carter then, and he nodded toward an area where there weren’t many people. “Let’s walk, shall we? I’d like to talk with you.”
Giving him a nod and a smile, she followed him as he walked tall and proud, and silently at first to the deserted area, and then he turned toward her, and she saw the expression in his eyes change.