Patrick
I am so sorry that I lied to you. Quite simply, I dreaded telling you about my past because I knew when I did, it would be over between us. And I enjoyed you so much. I hate that you found out the way you did, I am so embarrassed that I could just die. But thank you for sending Revel Lee and the police to save me. I owe you so much, perhaps my life.
You are wonderful and I will never, ever forget you. Take care of yourself, and I will continue to pray for you every day.
Goodbye
Savannah
This time when she hit send, she knew it was for the last time and afterwards, she doubled up in pain. She had only known him for a short time, but elt like forever. Lying back, she pulled the afghan over herself and turned her face into the couch. She tried not to cry. Revel would return in a moment, and she didn’t want him to be witness to her heartbreak. But she wasn’t successful. The tears began to flow, unbidden.
“Savannah.”
Damn! Savannah bit her bottom lip and willed herself to calm down. Sitting up, she swiped at her eyes and readied herself to take the bowl of gumbo. Instead, Revel sat the computer in her lap and she was face to face with Patrick. “Hey, Baby.”
Savannah just wanted to hide. Picking the laptop up, she started to hand it back to Revel. “I can’t talk right now.”
“Savannah!” Patrick’s voice was both commanding and pleading, it tore at her heart strings. “Please, Baby. Just listen to me.”
“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be in the kitchen. Talk to him!” Revel ordered and left.
She sat the computer in her lap and let her eyes focus on Patrick. He looked so dear. But he also looked worried. “Is something wrong?” She couldn’t help but ask.
“Yea, something’s wrong,” he answered. “My best girl got attacked by some maniac and I’m all the way across the world from her.”
“You saved me.” His best girl? She hadn’t missed that, but she couldn’t see how it could be true.
“Why are you crying? Are you hurting somewhere?” He put his hand up to the screen and she placed hers over it.
“My head hurts a little, but that’s not why I’m crying.”
“Are you crying because of that email you just sent me?” Patrick would have given anything to take her in his arms. Her pain just wrapped itself around his heart and squeezed it so hard he wanted to pound that idiot who hurt her into the ground.
“Yes, it was hard to tell you goodbye.”
“It didn’t work, did it? I’m still here. And I’m not going anywhere.” She ducked her head and Patrick whispered, “Baby, look at me.” When she did, he leaned in closer. “Savannah, why didn’t you just tell me? Do you really think it would have made a difference to me?”
“But, I’m a Carville baby. It’s always made a difference in how people treat me. Everyone is horrified of leprosy and knowing that I’ve been exposed by birth just scares people. They’re afraid I’m contagious or contaminated. They don’t understand.”
“I do.”
Savannah stared at him.
He could see the hope in her eyes.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m trained to deal with many different scenarios in the Marines. One of the things that I’m prepared to do is deal with victims of disease. I know how they’re contracted and I know what the risks are. And you, my sweet baby, were in no way affected by the unfortunate circumstances of your birth. Leprosy isn’t passed from mother to child during gestation or delivery. That’s a proven scientific fact. And how many medical exams have you passed during your years in foster care? As many as I have in the military, I bet.”
He understood.
“So, you don’t think I’m dirty?”
Patrick blew out a hard breath. “Savannah, my love, I think you’re as pure as the driven snow. And I can’t wait to kiss you and make love to you.”
His frankness caused a hot blush to bloom on her cheeks. “Patrick – how? How can we feel this way about each other so fast?”
He noticed that she didn’t try and deny the attraction; she just wanted to hear his explanation. So he gave it to her. “We’re connected, Baby. Our lives are woven together in ways we can’t even understand. You had the fortune teller’s words, but I had something much more specific.”
“What?” She was hanging on his every word.
“Do you remember me telling you about that old well at Evermore? The one that was dug by the slaves?” She nodded her head. “When I was thirteen years old, on Halloween night, Selma Smith’s nieces were insistent about looking down that old well to see the face of their future husbands. I moved the cover for them and stood by while they peered into the well. They didn’t see anything, but the waters became disturbed and it scared them. I stepped up to see what was going on and the waters stilled and when they did – I saw you. You looked at me and smiled and I lost my heart. I went back and sketched you and I’ve been looking for you ever since. Can you imagine how I felt when I turned around and looked into your eyes? I recognized you as soon as you smiled. I’ve always called you Destiny. Now that I know your name, you’re my Savannah, but you’re still my Destiny.”
By the time he was through talking Savannah was crying in earnest. “Oh Patrick, come home! I need you so.”
It was all Patrick could do to stay seated. He wanted to crawl through the
