Chapter Twenty-Two Savannah
| Twenty-Two |
Savannah
Savannah thought she would feel different.
After the minister had pronounced them husband and wife, a little thrill ran through her, but then it was over, and the rest of the day seemed like any other.
She wished she could have had someone that she cared about there, but she obviously couldn’t invite anyone from her old life.
She and Bennett were on their way to a restaurant to celebrate.
She wondered if he and Poppy had had a bigger celebration.
There were no other photos besides the one she’d found in his nightstand, so she had no idea whether there’d been a reception.
She was his wife now. Why was she thinking of Poppy?
They got out of his car and walked to the front door of Ristorante Lucia.
A woman greeted Bennett by name and led them to a table in the back.
A bottle of champagne was chilling in a bucket next to their table.
Bennett held her chair out for her as she sat, then took his seat across from her. A waiter came over.
“May I pour you each a glass of champagne?”
Bennett nodded. “Thank you. My wife and I would love some.”
My wife. She loved the way that sounded.
The waiter paused, a surprised look on his face, then uttered a “Congratulations” to them both. After filling their glasses halfway, he returned the bottle of champagne to the ice bucket and withdrew.
“Do you know him?” Savannah asked.
“Poppy and I used to come here a lot. Why?”
Poppy again. Why would he choose to bring Savannah here on their wedding night? She swallowed her annoyance. “He just seemed surprised when you referred to me as your wife.”
Bennett shrugged. “Forget him.” He raised his glass. “To our future. Thank you for making me the happiest man in the world.”
Savannah clinked her glass against his. “To our future.”
She took a sip and tried to relax. Soft candlelight lit the room, and she gazed at Bennett across from her, his eyes full of love.
Only a few weeks ago she’d been living alone, her future uncertain.
Now she had an entirely different one laid out before her with the man she’d idolized. It still felt like a dream.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Bennett said.
“I was thinking how happy I am. In my wildest imagination I never imagined we’d meet and fall in love. It’s like a fairy tale.”
“Fairy tales often turn dark. Let’s call ours a love story instead.”
She laughed. “Yes, a love story, then.”
“I can’t wait to finish this dinner and make love to my wife.” He took another sip. “I hope you’re not too disappointed that we can’t take our honeymoon until May. If I’m going to hit my deadline I have to hunker down.”
“It’s fine. Paris in May will be better. It would be cold there now.” She’d never been out of the country, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Yes, it will be lovely in May, and we’ll enjoy it all the more having waited. But don’t worry, no writing this weekend. I want to spend it losing myself in you.”
The waiter came over to take their order. Before Savannah could speak, Bennett ordered branzino for both of them. She looked at him in surprise. She didn’t want to start a quarrel, but she was annoyed that he hadn’t let her choose for herself.
“Why did you order for me?” she asked when the waiter had walked away.
“Darling, I’m sorry. You’ve never been here before and I wanted you to have the best thing on the menu. I know you’ll enjoy it.”
Her eyes widened. “I guess it’s a good thing I like fish.”
His face clouded. “Forgive me for trying to be nice. I’ll just call the waiter back.”
She didn’t want to fight. “No, no. It’s fine. It’s sweet. Thank you.” It was thoughtful and sweet.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, placing it in front of her.
“What’s this?”
“We got married so fast that I didn’t have time to get you an engagement ring.”
She snapped the lid open. “Wow! It’s…beautiful.” It was beautiful, and big. An emerald-cut solitaire. She was no expert, but it looked to be at least ten carats.
“Try it on.”
She pulled it from the box and slid it on her finger. It fit perfectly. She held out her hand to look at it. It was stunning. “I wish I’d done my nails,” she joked.
“It looks perfect on you.”
She looked at the ring again and then it hit her.
The picture of Bennett and Poppy. Her hand on his chest. Savannah was almost certain she had been wearing the exact same ring.
But it couldn’t be. Surely, he wouldn’t give her the same ring that he’d given to Poppy.
And wouldn’t it have been on her finger when she had fallen off the boat?