a huge lump of emotion welled inside Savannah’s throat. She might have her issues with Zach, but to hear others talk about him in such glowing terms was a delight. For so long, he’d been the bad boy of Midnight, and now not only was he the police chief, but he’d also gained the town’s respect.
“Zach is a fine and honorable man.” As she said the words, she realized she actually meant them. How good it felt to say something nice about the man for a change. She’d spent way too many years either ignoring his existence or hating him. In her heart, she had always known that Zach had the kind of character most people could only dream about.
“Being a war hero certainly helped him get the job.”
“Zach’s a war hero?”
Lamont nodded, eager to share all he knew. For the next half hour, Savannah was glued to her seat as he related what he knew about Zach’s time in the military. Not allowing herself to find out anything about him for the last ten years had left her with a hunger to know as much as possible.
“My heavens, Lamont, we’ve got to be going if we’re going to get to the dentist’s office at eleven.”
In a flurry of movements, both Nesta and Lamont hugged her again and practically ran toward the door. Savannah followed behind them. The Kilgores were known to be sticklers for being on time.
They were driving away when Nesta stuck her head out the window and said, “Forgot to tell you. Come for dinner …” She looked back at her husband and said something, then turned back to Savannah. “Thursday night. Lamont’s getting a fancy new grill.”
Before she could answer yes or no, the car roared away. About to close the door, she caught her breath as two more cars appeared in her driveway. She’d been spotted. No way could she pretend not to be home. Huffing out a sigh, she watched as two women she had gone to school with got out of their cars, both waving at her as if they were the oldest of friends. Which was curious, since they’d barely acknowledged her existence back then. No doubt about it, visiting time in Midnight had definitely started.
CHAPTER
TWELVE
Two hours later, Savannah locked the door and closed the plantation blinds on the first floor. She had sat through depositions involving gruesome crimes that had been more pleasant than the visit she’d just had with Sylvia Johnston and Carrie Long. Within five minutes of their arrival, she had realized they were here for only one reason—to determine if she had come back to Midnight for Zach.
Not that they’d asked her outright if she was still interested in her old boyfriend. She almost wished they had, since that might have shortened their visit. Instead they talked around the subject.
Pride or just plain stubbornness had kept her from revealing any of her thoughts about Zach. Sylvia and Carrie’s frustration had been obvious. Savannah had ruthlessly used their frustration against them, and she now knew much more about Zach. When the women had left, they’d looked suitably confused, realizing they’d learned nothing new from Savannah.
That was it for today. She was through entertaining. With the blinds pulled, anyone who stopped by would assume she wasn’t at home. She’d been up for hours and all she had to show for it was a stomach roiling from too many sweets, a throbbing headache, and way more information than she’d ever wanted on the citizens of Midnight. With the exception of what she’d learned about Zach.
He was a war hero. That didn’t surprise Savannah. How many times had she marveled at how protective and caring he was when they were dating? Zach was a born protector. It was completely in keeping with his personality to have saved lives while he was in the service. That was one of the biggest reasons she had held on to hope for so long. No way would he leave her like that. He was too good, too honorable … too caring. Savannah pushed aside that old familiar pain.
As mayor, Lamont had information about the new police chief that others might not know. He’d said Zach didn’t like to talk about his experience in the army but that he had been an Army Ranger and had both a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
A Purple Heart. That meant that Zach had been wounded. That knowledge hurt much more than Savannah wanted it to.
And thanks to Sylvia and