Chapter Sixteen Savannah
| Sixteen |
Savannah
Savannah tapped her foot nervously as she waited for Marion.
Bennett had caved just as she’d hoped he would.
They would be married in the small community church in Bedford in a few weeks.
Her parents had never been religious, but he didn’t need to know that.
Finally, Marion breezed past, giving Savannah a quick wave and rushing to her office.
“Late for a Zoom,” she called behind her back before shutting the office door.
Savannah busied herself with administrative work, doing her best to distract herself until Marion’s meeting was finished. Finally, her door opened, and she emerged.
“You wanted to talk?”
Savannah nodded. “Can we go in your office?”
“Sure.”
She shut the door behind her and took a seat in front of Marion’s desk.
“I have some news. I’m moving. As much as I’ve loved working here, I need to give my notice.”
Marion’s eyes widened. “Oh no! I didn’t know you were leaving the city. Is everything okay?”
Savannah cleared her throat and looked down at the floor, inhaling deeply. She looked up.
“Yes, more than okay. Good news, actually. I’m getting married.”
“Married! Congratulations! I didn’t even know you were seeing anyone. Who’s the lucky guy?”
She hadn’t told Marion that Bennett had stayed for the past month to be with her. May as well plunge in, she thought. “Bennett Bryson.”
Marion stared at her. “What?”
Savannah shrugged. “He didn’t want me to say anything, but he stayed after the conference. He’s been here all month, and we’ve been seeing each other.”
Marion didn’t speak for a long moment, her expression impossible to read. “I must admit, I’m speechless. I mean, I knew the two of you had had dinner at the conference, but I thought he’d left. Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I wasn’t sure if it was going anywhere. But here we are.”
“It’s so fast. Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
Savannah felt her back go up. “Yes. We love each other. I’d hoped you would be happy for me.”
Marion sighed. “Of course. You caught me off guard, that’s all. I want to be happy for you, but Savannah, you’ve known him for such a short time. Are you really going to uproot your entire life so quickly?”
“I know it sounds crazy. But we’ve been together almost every night talking for hours. And we feel like we’re soulmates.” She laughed. “We sound like a pair of romance writers. But seriously, I’ve never felt this way before.”
“When’s the big day?”
“A few weeks. We’re just doing something small.”
“I wish you the best. I’ll miss you! Promise me when you finish your book, you’ll send it to me.”
She smiled. “Of course. Who else?”
“Bedford is going to be a big change from the city.”
“I know. But it looks like such a charming town. The perfect place for me to buckle down and get this novel finished.” She paused, hesitant to ask the next question, but then spoke. “Marion, did you know his first wife?”
“No, I never met her.” Marion tilted her head. “I still remember when he called to tell me he was getting married. I didn’t even know he was dating anyone.”
She thought of Molly’s comments at the conference. “I heard some people talking about rumors that her death wasn’t an accident. There’s even a Reddit thread about it. Of course, I don’t believe it, but did you ever hear anything about that?”
Marion took off her reading glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. She looked at Savannah.
“People are cruel. They say things. Bennett’s been with me for ten years now.
After he married Poppy, he was the happiest I’d ever seen him.
There’s no way he would have ever hurt her.
” Marion leaned back in her chair looking up at the ceiling.
She shook her head and looked at Savannah. “I feel like I need to caution you.”
“About what?”
“Bennett’s very solitary. He works long hours, sometimes eighteen-hour days.
Before Poppy, he was engaged. Twice.” She shook her head.
“They both left him, I’m sure in large part because of his work habits.
It can be very lonely with him cooped up all day and living in a small town where you don’t know anyone.
Poppy was an artist; she was as obsessed with her work as Bennett was with his.
I’d just hate to see you give everything up and then be unhappy. ”
Savannah’s mind was racing. He’d been engaged before Poppy? Twice? Why had he never mentioned it?