Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
He stroked my hand gently. This was worse than a fly landing on my hand. I felt as though I was being touched by a reptile.
“Well? Will you follow through on the plan? Stick it out with him for a few more weeks, figure out what he’s working on and get it to me, so we stop him once and for all. Hopefully this time he stays down. I get my revenge for him trying to put me out of business, you get your revenge for him breaking your heart again. Do we have a deal?”
I looked at him, amazed. How had I not seen Robert’s true colors all this time? I was grateful that there had always been something that kept me from going beyond friendship with him. He was wicked and devious to the core.
“Savvie?”
“Yes?”
“Do we have a deal?”
“Yes. We have a deal.”
He patted my hand. “Good girl.”
The meal went by in a blur. Finally, we said our goodbyes and I was in my car heading home. As I thought about everything that had transpired, I was grateful for the fact that I had come to my senses in time. My phone jarred me out of my thoughts as it rang. I tapped the screen of the dashboard to activate the Bluetooth call feature.
“Hey, Mom!”
“Are you busy right now?”
“I’m actually heading home. Is everything all right?”
“How far away are you from me?”
“Ah… maybe fifteen minutes.”
“Good. Could you be a dear and swing by here, please?”
My heart skipped a beat. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Just come. Please.”
Without another word she hung up. My heart began to race. She had not sounded as if she was in pain or anything, but to be summoned so suddenly was not normal.
I switched lanes and headed in the direction of her house with my foot heavy on the gas pedal. Exactly ten minutes later, I parked in her driveway. At least I was not being met with ambulances. I raced inside.
“Mom! Where are you?”
“On the back porch, darling.”
I raced through the house and came to a grinding halt at the scene before me.
There was a trail of red rose petals leading from the doorway to the table that was set up on the porch. A huge heart had been formed by the petals around the table and on top of it sat a sign with the words, Will you marry me?
Benny stood behind my mother, his arms draped loosely around her waist. She was beaming and had her left hand outstretched. There was no mistaking the engagement ring on her finger.
I looked from him to her, then back at him. He took my mother’s hand and walked towards me. Tears suddenly filled my eyes and I clapped my hand over my mouth. My mother hugged me tightly, matching tears glittering in her eyes.
I hugged her back. “I’m so happy for you, Mom. You deserve this. You really do.”
She laughed and sobbed at the same time as she looked over at Benny.
“I told you she would approve.”
I pulled back laughing and wiping at my damp cheeks. I looked from one to the other.
“I knew there was something going on between you two. I just knew it.”
“Honestly, Savannah, there wasn’t anything. This fella plays his cards close to his chest, you know.”
“And your mother played clueless too. I’m a shy guy but heck I must have dropped enough sweet crumbs to lead Hansel and Gretel back home. And still she pretended not to notice. I do thank you for your approval, Savannah. It means the world to us. I know I can never replace your father…”
“And I would never ask you to do that. I am genuinely happy for you both Benny. I couldn’t have asked for a better man for my mother, after my father, of course.”
“Will you be my maid of honor, darling?” Mom asked, her cheeks tinged with red.
“Of course. I would be offended if you asked anyone else and I would have had to disown you.”
Mom just laughed.
“And I’d like to ask Max to be my best man, if that’s okay with you.” Benny looked at me with a hesitant smile.
“Max?” My eyebrows went up. “That’s an unexpected choice.”
“He and Benny have built quite a rapport and bond, you know. He’s been to see me a couple of times and they’ve hit it off quite well.”
“But if that would make you uncomfortable in any way…” Benny started. I could see the disappointment in his eyes and hear it in his voice.
“I don’t have a problem with Max being your best man. Not at all. Ask him.” I smiled at both of them.
“Sure?” Mom asked.
“I guess if we’re sharing good news, now is as good a time to share mine. Max and I worked things out and we’ve decided to give our relationship a new start.”