CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Savannah sat at the desk in her home office. She had just finished putting together the projections for Duncan. For the past few weeks, she had dumped herself into her work and her kids. Unfortunately, Thomas was paying her more attention than she cared to acknowledge. His phone calls were a few minutes too long. He kept asking her if she was okay. He lingered whenever he brought the boys home.

She could hear the door open and her kids in the other room. Kenneth had come over to take them out for the day. Apparently, they were home. She stood up, stretched and went to greet them.

“I can’t tell you how much of a lifesaver you’ve been. I wish I could pay you.” Savannah hugged her brother-in-law.

“Hush girl.” He handed over a bag of goodies. “We went to a carnival. They should sleep well tonight.” He kissed the heads of Jake and Nicholas before leaving out the door. Nicholas ran over to Savannah and pressed his face against her leg.

“Mommy!”

She reached down and scooped him, blowing into his neck. His boisterous laughter filling the room. It had been a while since she had done that, and she could tell that he missed it. Jake watched, a huge grin on his face. Savannah put Nicky down and tickled Jake. When Nicholas jumped on her back, she rolled over and both of them landed on her. The boys were pinning her down and didn’t even let her up when the doorbell rang. After a few minutes of struggling, she managed to drag herself, the boys having wrapped themselves around her legs, to the door.

Duncan Clarke was standing there, his eyebrows raised. “Did we interrupt something?” Duncan and Isabella stared at the madness that greeted them at the door.

“No. No. Izzy! Hey!” Savannah reached for the little girl and squeezed her. When she put Izzy down, the boys squeaked and squealed as they chased her into their room. Savannah tried to contain her chuckles as she fixed her clothes. “Good to see you. I just finished the projections.”

“Good. Let’s take a look.” Duncan followed Savannah into the living room. He sat on the couch while she grabbed the papers from her office.

“Now I took it five years out. And here are the sketches for your new store in Atlanta. I’ll have the campaign images for you by next week.”

Duncan reached for the folder and put his glasses on. “These numbers look good. And I like the sketches. I will probably get started on the store in Georgia next year. I have a lot to do so far with the new business you’re bringing me. Not that I’m complaining.” He paused.

Savannah knew him well enough to know when something was up. And she also knew him well enough to know what or who it was usually about.

“I know Duncan.”

He looked flabbergasted. “What?! I didn’t say anything.”

“You did actually. It’s all over your face and in your silence. But I know.”

“I had such high hopes for you two. I have never seen him like this with anyone. Don’t make that face. I tell you that because it is true. Anyway, I have to call him. Sandra sent some papers in the mail about custody and suing him for Izzy. I’m sure he’s going to want to know about that ASAP. Take care of yourself Savannah.” It took him a few moments to wrangle Izzy and he was out the door.

Jake and Nicholas stumbled out of their bedroom moments later. Savannah decided that sandwiches were in order and pulled out the turkey and cheese. After settling them down to eat, she tried to focus on the presentation she needed to prepare for her new client. But after doodling a stick person for ten minutes, she pushed the papers to the side.

“How was the carnival?” She sat across from her sons. Nicholas, as usual, was terrorizing his food, mashing up the bread and meat into a ball before shoveling it in his mouth. He ate like his father. Jake was a more meticulous eater, preferring to nibble at his food until it was gone, or he was full.

“It was so much fun! We played games and got on the big rides. Uncle Kenneth was going to buy us a guinea pig.”

“A guinea pig? Really? That’s cool.” She lied. The last thing she wanted in her house was a pet. Least of all a rodent.

“Hey Nicky!” Savannah called to her toddler who stopped rolling his food long enough to emit a shriek of excitement before continuing to demolish his food.

“So, this weekend coming up is your weekend to see your dad. Are you excited?”

“Yeah.” Jake looked down at his plate. “He’s always on the phone. And sometimes we have to stay with Ms. Angie.”

Savannah tensed at the name of the woman Thomas had chosen to be with. She chose her next words carefully, not wanting to project her feelings onto her son. “Do you like Ms. Angie?”

“She’s ok. She’s not funny like you Mommy.” Jake beamed. “Her knock-knock jokes don’t work.”

The rest of the day flew by in a blur. The kids had eaten dinner and taken baths. She tucked them both in and read a bedtime story. By the time she got to the part where David was running down the street naked, they were both snoring.

She was sitting on her bed, legs nestled under her blankets, skin tingling from the hot shower moments before. The phone was lying next to her side and the computer was on the other. The withdrawals had nearly driven her insane. At times she pulled up his number and stared at it, hoping that somehow, someway she could will it to ring. Or dial for her. Her wastebasket was full of drafts of letters that she tried to write. They ranged from the apologetic to the rambling to the emotionally distant letter. No words could explain the craziness that was going on in her body.

Besides, he probably wouldn’t even read it. The last thing she wanted was to get it back unopened. Nothing screamed rejection like an envelope with the very large “return to sender” stamped on it. ‘Ironic,’ she thought because it was the fate of just about every letter Dwight had sent to her. Leaving the phone at her side, she pulled her computer on her lap. She jumped when the phone shrilled to life.

“Yes!” She called into the phone.

“Are you all right? What are you screaming for?” Kim’s voice filled the receiver.

Savannah’s chest deflated and she sat back against her pillows. “I’m fine.” She stammered.

“Just call him. Sheesh. So stubborn. You love him. That’s all you need to say.” Kim paused. “How long has it been?”

“About a week. I only found out a few days ago. He sent a note.” Savannah had never imagined that there would be a complete ending for her and Dwight. But when she received a notice in the mail that his forwarding address was in Seattle, it stung. They were finally over.

“That was your chance. When you read the note, you were supposed to contact him and tell him you want him back. Did he send anything with the note?”

“No. Just the note. Anyway, why are you calling?”

“I’m having a small get together at my house. Nothing fancy. Since you haven’t been out of the house lately, you better come to this. Your sons are losing their color because they aren’t getting any sun.” Kim laughed into the phone. “Saturday.”

“The boys will be with their father. But I’ll come.”

“You better. I’m not mom but I just want you to be happy, okay?”

Savannah noted the slight break in her sister’s voice and felt the tears welling up in the corners of her own eyes. She quickly dismissed Kim and reached for the napkins on her nightstand. ‘Stupid Kim.’ She murmured before turning off the lights in her room.