if you knock her ex-husband’s head off.”
“I’m not about to do anything stupid like that,” he promised as he climbed into his Caddy. He gave Rocky a little smile as he pulled out of his parking space. “I’ve grown up some.”
“So has she,” she yelled after him.
By the time he got to the Kountry Kitchen, Rocky and her ex were gone.
He looked for her at the theater. But she wasn’t there. The work crew was making good progress on the structural reinforcements needed in the auditorium. Zeph was doing amazing work repairing and restoring the woodwork in the lobby. The old place was going to rise from the ashes, quite literally, and he was happy about that.
Earnest Brooks would be proud of him.
He headed home, relieved when he found Savannah’s Honda in the driveway and no sign of the ex-husband. The time had come to confess his feelings. Hell, he was sort of inspired by Bill and Hettie. Maybe he should run off with Savannah, too. That would put the ex at bay.
Of course, if they did that, they’d have to bring Todd along, because it would be dirty pool to run off with Todd’s momma without making sure the kid didn’t have any deep-seated objections.
So, okay, they couldn’t run off. But they would figure something out. He was feeling almost optimistic as he took the porch steps two at a time.
He didn’t find Savannah in the kitchen. Miriam was in the parlor, watching a soap opera, and didn’t exactly know where Savannah was. Hell, Aunt Mim didn’t sometimes know where her own self was these days. His optimism slipped a little.
He climbed the stairs and found Savannah in her bedroom. She was standing by the bay window staring out at the big live oak in the front. Her gaze was a little unfocused. She looked tired and sad.
His heart twisted in his chest. No one had to tell him he was a day late and a dollar short. While he’d been thinking things through, everything had changed.
She turned from the window with an expression on her face that might have been a smile. But it wasn’t happy. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, and then moved to the doorway he’d come through, and then down to the carpet.
He braced himself. She said nothing. But he could read the words on her face. She was going to say good-bye. Like every damn person in his life, she was going to leave.
But it was costing her. At least he could see that in her face. She hesitated as if she didn’t want to say the words. As if she wanted to spare him the pain.
And then a big tear escaped her eye and rolled down her cheek, and he had to stop himself from crossing the room and holding her tight and speaking of love.
He couldn’t do that. Not now. It was hard enough without laying himself open. God help him, he wanted to lock the door and keep her inside.
But he couldn’t. He had never been able to keep the people he loved from saying good-bye. He wasn’t good enough, or strong enough, or important enough to hold them.
“You’re going.” It wasn’t a question. He didn’t need to ask.
She brushed the tear away from her cheek. “I have to.”
He didn’t ask why. He didn’t need to know why. It didn’t matter anyway. People always left. There was always a good reason why someone couldn’t stay. And the only way to survive a thing like this was to pretend it didn’t matter.
He shrugged. “Well, the highway runs right through town, princess, and you know the way. It’s probably just as well. Hell, that theater project was a big money pit.”
She snuffled back her tears. “You told me that at the beginning, but I wouldn’t listen. And now I know that all the money came from you. And it was all about Hettie.”
“Honey, Hettie has—”
“I know about Hettie and Bill. But that’s beside the point. I can’t take your money.”
“Is that the reason you’re going? Because of the money? If that’s the reason, then you’re being dumb.” His heart knew a moment’s reprieve.
“That’s not the reason I’m going.”
“Oh.”
“I have to go. Greg wants to spend time with Todd. He’s promised. And I have a visitation agreement with him that gives him the right to see Todd every other weekend. He says that if I stay here, I’ll have to fly Todd to Maryland. Even if I wanted to fight him