Chapter 22
The serenity of their new home usually soothed Savannah, but she couldn’t sit on the sofa and relax. She stood at the picture
window looking out at Mobile Bay. The waves were huge today, battering their bit of land and foaming over the weathered boards
of the pier. Simon should be here with them. He’d be chattering away and talking to Cody like he was a person. He’d want to
go out after the waves subsided and search for shells. He’d be calling for her to make him fish and chips or one of his other
favorite meals.
The house wasn’t home without him. She started pacing again.
Hez set aside his yellow pad of paper and patted the sofa beside him. “Sit down, babe.” Even after three days his voice was
still hoarse. “You’re going to wear the finish off our floors.”
She sighed and dropped onto the cushion beside him. His throat was a swollen mass of black and purple. She’d never forget
the sight of his face as Hornbrook choked the life out of him. He put his arm around her, and she leaned against him. “You
don’t think they’re coming back, do you?”
He pressed his lips against her temple. “I hope they are. Simon is due back to us tomorrow. Michael knows we get him on the weekends.”
“Like he cares what the laws says.” She reached for her phone on the coffee table. “I’m going to call Simon.”
Her nephew picked up immediately. “Hi, Aunt Savannah. How’s Cody? I’m amped to see him.”
She’d never been so glad to hear her nephew’s voice, and he seemed happy. “He’s eager to see you, buddy. What time are you
coming home?”
“Pawpaw is dropping me off at eight. Can you fix pancakes?”
They were back in the country. She closed her eyes and exhaled with relief. “You bet.”
“Bussin’.” A man’s voice spoke in the background. “We’re leaving for dinner, um, and Pawpaw said to remind you that Uncle
Hez can’t be there . . .” Simon’s voice trailed off. “That’s crazy. The judge shouldn’t have done that.”
Savannah bit her lip. “Have fun at dinner, and I’ll see you in the morning.” She tossed the phone onto the table, but she
wanted to hit something. “They’re in town and Michael said to remind us you can’t be here.”
Hez’s smile fell away. “That’s not something I’m likely to forget.”
“This can’t go on, Hez. Simon wants to see you. We need to figure out a way to make peace between us all. It’s what’s best
for Simon.”
“I’ve been thinking about that too. Michael cashed in a lot of chips on the rescue, and there’s emotion in that grizzled heart of his.
He really loves Simon. I thought he only wanted him because he hates us, but he showed me I was wrong.
Yeah, he’s a bayou crime boss, but we owe him.
” Hez pulled her close against his side and nuzzled her neck.
“I owe him. If not for his connections and determination, you and Simon would be fish food.”
She kissed him, soaking in his scent. “Don’t remind me of that. I’ll never see the ocean the same again.” She started to kiss
him again, then bolted upright. “Wait a minute. What about that money meant for the neonatal unit, the funds my dad diverted
into his trust fund?”
He gave her a quizzical look. “What does that have to do with Simon?”
“If we’re going to make peace with Michael and his family, maybe we can start by righting an old wrong. The Willards donated
millions to build that center in memory of Winona, and Dad basically stole it. Can we get it back?”
“Nice try, but the statute of limitations has run. He got away with the theft. Besides, Pierre’s trust doesn’t have much in
it after the Justice Chamber and Jess finished cutting off his illicit income streams.”
Hearing her sister’s name was sweet torment. No one mentioned her much, and Savannah wished she could talk over the current
dilemma with Jess. But her heart knew what Jess would say. “We have the funds to build it anyway. We’ll finish Legare Hall
and do some maintenance, and there will still be money left over to do the right thing. It’s right for TGU and right for Simon
and the Willards. And it just might rebuild some bridges that were burned down a long time ago.”
“Are you sure, babe? That’s a lot of money. And you wanted to be married in the chapel on campus. You’ll have to focus your
efforts on the new unit.”
“We can get married on the beach. I’ll get to work on making arrangements. I have a lot to make up for. I’m going to call Helen.” Savannah reached for her phone again, and her hand trembled as she placed the call.
“Savannah?” Helen’s voice was cautious. “What do you want?”
At least the Willard matriarch hadn’t hung up on her. “Helen, I was going through some old journals and discovered what my
dad did to you, how he stole money meant for a neonatal unit in memory of your daughter. I’m so sorry, and I want to make
amends. I’m going to build it.”
“Y-you’re going to build the unit? Is this some kind of joke?”
“I wouldn’t joke about something like that. I’m ashamed of what my dad did, and I want to do the right thing. We’ll name it
after your daughter and pray we save women in the same circumstances.”
Silence answered her. Savannah pulled the phone back and looked at the screen. They were still connected. “Helen?”
“I don’t believe you,” the older woman spat out. “This is some kind of trick to get access to Simon, isn’t it? I know the
games you Legares play, but I’m not stupid.”
This time when the phone went dead, no one was on the other end.
Hez switched off the power washer and stood back to survey the results.
The cobblestone patio and firepit seemed fresh and new after he’d blasted away the years of grime.
Once the sea breeze blew away the dampness, he would put out the new Adirondack chairs and matching table.
It would be the perfect spot for a romantic dinner as they watched the sun set over Mobile Bay.
He’d spent the weekend working so he didn’t miss Savannah and Simon so much.
He hadn’t seen his nephew in over a week, not since the rescue.
Savannah had to spend the afternoon at the university, but she’d promised to be back by seven. It would be their last evening
together for a few days because Michael was dropping off Simon at Savannah's cottage in the morning, so Hez wanted to make
it a little special. He had shrimp bisque and crab cakes ready to go on the stove and in the oven, plus Savannah’s favorite
garden salad in the fridge.
He smiled at the thought of her coming home and seeing dinner—or no, she’d smell it first. She’d walk in the door, catch the
scent of cooking seafood, and light up with a smile that would make those gorgeous green eyes dance. It would be a perfect
evening.
A vehicle turned into the driveway. Hez frowned. Savannah wouldn’t be back for over an hour and the deep-throated engine didn’t
sound like her Civic. He walked around the side of the house and saw a black Denali.
The cab opened and Michael stepped out. He spotted Hez and walked over, carrying a thick envelope in one hand. “How’s the
shoulder healing?”
“Fine. I’ll have an interesting scar, but that’s all. What can I do for you?”
Michael looked him in the eye. “It’s time to end this fight over Simon. It’s not good for anyone.”
Hez’s brows went up. Maybe Savannah’s olive branch had worked. “I agree. What did you have in mind?”
“After what happened with Hornbrook, you should withdraw your adoption petition.”
Hez shook his head. “No way.”
Michael pressed his mouth into a thin line and blew out through his nose. “Simon could have died, Hez. And this isn’t the
first near miss. Or the second. He’s in danger whenever he’s around you or Savannah.”
“Hornbrook was the danger, not us.”
Michael nodded toward the water. “Did Hornbrook let Simon almost drown out there?”
Hez winced internally at the memory. “We’re keeping him away from water, just like the judge ordered. If you want to discuss
some sort of shared custody, we’ll be flexible. But we won’t give up Simon. We love him and we won’t let him go. His mother—your
own daughter—wanted Savannah to raise him. Why won’t you respect Jess’s wishes?”
“Keep her name out of your mouth!” A vein stood out on Michael’s neck. He tapped the envelope against his jeans. “You’ve got
more at stake here than custody of Simon. A lot more.”
Hez was glad he’d started carrying his Glock whenever he was out here. “What exactly do you mean?”
Michael held out the envelope. “I know you’ve worked very hard to repair your relationship with Savannah. It would be a shame
to throw away all that.”
Hez opened the envelope. It contained a stack of pictures of Martine and him.
The first showed them at the beach—she carried her shoes in one hand and had her other arm around him.
His arm curled around her waist. In the second they sat very close to each other at the Seabreeze Saloon, and he had a half-empty mojito in front of him.
The third picture was also from the Seabreeze and showed her kissing his cheek.
The next photos showed him pulling into the Campbell Motel, Martine holding his hand and taking him into the room, and—
Hez gasped. “These are fake!”
Michael grinned. “There’s security camera video from the bar and motel corroborating those pictures.”
“Not those last ones!” The pieces clicked into place. “You’re Martine’s mysterious client. You’ve been using her to set me
up.”
Michael sighed. “Face the facts, Hez. If you and Savannah keep trying to take away my grandson, these are going to come out
in court. It can’t be in Simon’s best interests to have parents whose marriage is on the rocks before it even begins.”
Hez threw the pictures on the ground and thrust a finger in Michael’s face. “You’re not going to blackmail me!”
Michael’s right hand went to his hip, pulling back his jacket. A pearl-handled pistol hung at his belt. “Careful.”
Every muscle in Hez’s body trembled with rage. He wanted to smash in Michael’s face or even pull his own gun and see just
how fast Michael could draw—but the rational part of his brain kept his hands at his sides. He glared at Michael. “Get off
my property, pond scum.”
Michael chuckled and stepped back slowly toward his truck. He opened the door and got in, then turned back to Hez. “Do the
smart thing, Counsel.” He shut the door and drove away.