Carlita grabbed her cell phone off the counter.
Mercedes reached for her mother’s phone. “Let me take a picture of you and Pete with the roses.”
Pete moved in next to Carlita and placed a light arm around her shoulder. Her pulse kicked up a notch as she felt the warmth of his hand on her arm. He moved in even closer, and her heart went from pitter-patter to hammering in her chest. It was so loud, she was certain he could hear it.
Mercedes snapped a couple pictures of the smiling couple before handing the phone to her mother. “Should I wait up?” she teased.
“Aren’t you and Sam going out tonight?” Saturday night was date night for Mercedes and Sam, typically consisting of an evening spent in the popular and touristy City Market district, only a few short blocks from Walton Square.
“No. He’s booked for a special tour tonight. We’re gonna go out tomorrow night instead.”
“It must be important for him to book an evening tour on date night.”
“I guess so. He wouldn’t tell me anything about it. He said he was sworn to secrecy.” Mercedes leaned her hip against the counter. “Autumn and I are going to the movies. There’s a new chick flick we want to see.”
Pete helped Carlita slip her jacket on. “Tis a nice night for an evening out.”
“Have fun.” Mercedes followed them to the door, and after they left, quietly closed it behind them.
“Where are we going now?” Carlita asked.
“To the alley.”
“The alley?”
“You’ll see.”
Pete held the door and offered his hand as he helped Carlita step off the stoop. The couple made small talk about the weather, Pete’s pirate ship venture, and area restaurants that had recently opened. All the while in the back of her mind, she wondered why they hadn’t left yet.
The back door to the apartment eased open. Sam Ivey emerged, looking dapper dressed in his striped seersucker suit. He coaxed Sadie, his pup, out behind him. “Hello, Carlita, Pete.”
“Good evening, Sam.” A mischievous grin spread across Pete’s face.
“It’s the perfect weather for an evening tour.” Sam placed his signature straw hat on top of his head and gave it a light tap.
“Yes, it is. We were just agreeing what a beautiful evening it is.” Carlita bent down to pat Sadie’s head. “Sam and Sadie’s Savannah Tours in action. Mercedes told us you had a very important tour this evening.”
“I do. Sadie and I are raring to go.”
Pete winked at Sam and extended his arm to Carlita. “Well…shall we get on with our date?”
“I’m ready.” Carlita slipped her arm in Pete’s arm, and the trio began walking down the alley. She shot her tenant a puzzled glance. “We’re going in the same direction?”
“I believe we are,” Sam said.
They reached the stop sign at the corner, waiting for a car to pass before continuing to the next block. The more they walked, the more confused Carlita became. “You still haven’t told me where we’re going.”
“On a tour,” Pete explained. “We’re going on a tour of Historic Savannah.”
Carlita abruptly stopped, her eyes narrowing. “You. Sam is our surprise date!”
The smile on Pete’s face widened. “Yes. You once told me you had never taken a proper tour of our lovely city. I thought it was a great idea for our first official date, and I managed to hire the best tour guide in Savannah.”
“I can’t disagree with you there,” Carlita said. “Well, then. Carry on, Sam and Sadie. I can’t wait to find out more about my home.”
Chapter 21
We’ll start our tour in the Riverfront District at the city’s most famous hotel.”
“The Marshall House,” Pete guessed.
“Correct. Marshall House was built in the eighteen hundreds. It was once used as a hospital for Union soldiers and twice during the yellow fever epidemic.”
They slowed when they reached the exterior of the four-story hotel. Sam set Sadie on the sidewalk, and she began to explore as far as her leash would allow.
While Sadie scoped out her surroundings, Sam explained that the hotel underwent extensive renovations in the late nineties, with great efforts taken to ensure the hallmarks of the historic hotel were preserved.
“Those that couldn’t be preserved were painstakingly recreated. We aren’t going in, but when you get a chance, it’s worth taking the time to check out the inside. Many of the wood floors are the original hardwoods, along with wood-burning fireplaces, exterior brick walls, and several clawfoot tubs dating back to eighteen eighty.”
“It’s beautiful.” Carlita peered up at the iron veranda.
They finished walking along the Riverfront District, stopping when they reached the Congregation Mickve Israel.
“This is the third oldest Jewish synagogue in the United States. The synagogue contains a 15th Century Torah, the first five books of the Bible, and is the oldest Torah in North America. The synagogue also houses a collection of letters from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and several other presidents.”
“Fascinating,” Carlita murmured. “I didn’t realize I knew so little about Savannah’s history.”
“It would take weeks to give you a tour of the entire city. I learn new information all of the time, sometimes from my guests.”
They cut through the City Market, making their way to the other end of the bustling square.
“At one time, there were twenty-four squares, but now there are only twenty-two. The most famous are the ones with the fountains. The Forrest Gump movie put Savannah on the map, as well as the book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” Sam told them he highly
