Chapter Fifty-Two Savannah
| Fifty-Two |
Savannah
Savannah’s sleep was fitful, and she woke up exhausted, even though she had turned in so early. Finn was curled up at the foot of the bed but as soon as he realized she was awake, he moved toward her and rested his head on her arm.
“Okay, I’m up,” she said. “Let’s go.” He jumped down and she moaned as she crawled out of bed and followed him downstairs.
She opened the back door for him and moved in slow motion toward the coffee machine and popped in a K-cup.
Grabbing her mug, she poured some cream into it.
She stared out the window at the vast woods behind the house, the feeling of isolation once again overtaking her.
Finn, seeming to sense her mood, came back inside and nudged her hand with his nose.
She petted his head, then returned to the table and sat back down.
She needed to talk to Henri. See what he knew about Poppy’s relationship with Bennett.
After a moment of indecision, she grabbed her phone and sent a text to Isabel.
S: Can you give me Henri’s phone number
Seconds later her text tone sounded with the number.
I: Everything ok? Want to meet again?
Savannah’s hand hovered over the screen. Then she typed:
S: Not yet. I’ll be in touch.
Isabel replied with a thumbs-up.
It was still early. She’d wait another hour, until nine, and call him. She fed Finn then made another cup of coffee.
The clock chimed nine and, taking a deep breath, she picked up her phone and input Henri’s number. It rang four times and went to voicemail. He probably figured it was a spam call.
“Hi, Henri. This is Savannah, Bennett Bryson’s wife. We met briefly at the Mast. I was hoping we could talk. Please call me.” Hopefully he’d get back to her. She had to know what he had wanted to warn her about. Her phone rang and she saw that it was a FaceTime call from Bennett. She answered.
“Morning,” she said, forcing a smile onto her face as his filled the screen.
“Good morning. How are you?”
“Fine, getting my day started. How’re things there?”
He made a face. “Exhausting. But only a few more stops and I’ll be back home. How’s the book coming?”
Since meeting Isabel, she hadn’t touched it. “Slow going. You know how it is.”
“And Finn? How’s my boy?”
Hearing his name, Finn walked over from the corner and nudged Savannah with his nose. She laughed. “He’s right here. He’s become my shadow. Not that I’m complaining. He’s good company.” She pointed the phone at the dog.
“Hey, buddy. I’ll be home soon.”
Finn’s tail wagged at the sound of Bennett’s voice.
“How’s it going there?” she asked. “Are you able to get any writing done in between your appearances?”
He nodded. “Yes. It’s been all work and no play for me.”
“Well, then I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t tag along,” she said.
“I just want to get it behind me and get back to you. I miss you.”
After they ended the call, Savannah felt herself missing him too, despite her suspicions.
A feeling of dread wound its way through her body.
Was she actually considering even for a moment that Bennett had hurt these women?
What kind of wife was she if she was? The kind that marries a man she’s only known for a month, a little voice answered.
She had to be smart. Think like her main character.
Facts: Two women engaged to Bennett had broken up with him abruptly by text.
Why? He was rich, smart, and handsome. Why would both women suddenly up and leave him?
And one left her medicine. Her very-important-to-her-health medicine.
Both hadn’t been seen since. Then there was Poppy.
Married less than a year and suddenly dead after telling her best friend she had discovered something nefarious about him.
Either Bennett had very bad luck or he was the bad luck.
There really wasn’t any in-between. And one thing was for damn sure.
She wasn’t going to end up dead or missing.
But on the other hand, she wasn’t going to throw away her new life on the basis of rumors and supposition.
She grabbed her purse and the paper with Devon’s father’s address and left. She would take a chance and show up at his door. Pretend to be an old friend of Devon’s. She’d spent enough time studying her Facebook that she could pull it off. She had to find out the truth before Bennett came home.