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She shook her head. “I have to know what he’s thinking. He said to let him know when I was ready to talk. I’m going to tell him to meet me at Ella’s grave tomorrow morning.”
* * *
Hez stood at Ella’s grave with Savannah beside him. But he also stood at a crossroads all alone. If he stayed on the path he’d followed for the last two months, he would leave for Birmingham in less than two weeks. His contract at TGU ended in three days when he handed in his final grades. His lease ended eight days after that. And his marriage had ended yesterday. Everything he had planned to do here would be finished soon.
When Savannah heard about the decree, her white face and stricken green eyes had been his only hint of her feelings. Was she waiting for him to make a move—or was she relieved this had happened? Maybe those moments on the boat had been pure fear of dying.
Winter had turned the grass gray-brown, relieved only by a splash of color from the flowers Savannah brought. The little stuffed puppy he had left seemed cold and forlorn.
The inscription on Ella’s headstone caught his gaze: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” After his last visit to the cemetery, he had read the passage in Luke that it came from, so he now understood that Jesus had been talking about storing up treasure in heaven. Blake had told him it had nothing to do with his money but his actions. And Hez had no idea how that worked. Not yet. Blake had promised to help explain it, and Hez realized he was finally ready to listen, to maybe accept that God might forgive him. It seemed impossible, but what if it was true?
Jess paid him almost half a million dollars for representing her, so he now had enough seed money to start the Justice Chamber basically anywhere he wanted. Jimmy had even offered to let Hez use a couple of empty offices at Little & Associates, provided Hez was willing to consult for the firm in his spare time. It seemed like the ideal setup, except . . .
There was that crossroad. Or there might be a crossroad anyway. He needed to find out.
He cleared his throat. “Everything went wrong that day, and it kept going wrong for a lot of days after that. And it was my fault.” He looked from the grave to Savannah. “I-I’m sorry.”
She took his hand in hers. “You don’t need to keep apologizing. It could have happened to anyone.”
“But it didn’t just happen—I let it happen because I was focused on my work instead of our little girl.”
“You’ve changed. I see it every day.”
“Have I? I’ve tried, but just the other day, Simon ran off when I was watching him. You noticed, but I didn’t. I even ignored your texts saying that you were going after him. What if he had died?” He shook his head. “I love you, Savannah, but is that enough?”
She squeezed his hand. “It’s enough for me.”
The tenderness in her eyes overwhelmed him. His vision blurred and he stared down at Ella’s grave. “It wasn’t last time—and that still lies between us, doesn’t it? I hid behind bottles and briefs until you couldn’t take it anymore and left. How do we know that won’t happen again?”
“But look at us now! You’re not hiding and I’m not leaving. I’ve forgiven you, Hez. God has forgiven you. You don’t have to keep carrying around the guilt of the past. Just let it go. You can have a fresh start.”
He wanted to believe that, wanted it with all his heart. But he knew himself too well. “What if I mess up that fresh start, Savannah? What if I hurt you again?”
“Then I’ll forgive you again. As many times as I have to. And you’ll forgive me. I’m not perfect, you know.” She took his other hand and turned him to face her. “Hez, you have a second chance. Right here. Right now. Are you going to take it?”
Something in him broke. It felt like a dozen steel chains snapping at once, or a dam collapsing and flooding a desert with life-giving water. He pulled her into his arms and she nestled against his chest. “Yes,” he whispered in her ear. “Yes.”
Boo Radley roared from down by Tupelo Pond, and she smiled as she looked up at him. “I think that old gator just gave you your marching orders.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “It’s time you kissed me properly.”
Chapter 41
This was the most activity in Jess’s mansion Savannah had ever seen. With Jess and Simon’s help, she’d decorated two live Christmas trees in white twinkle lights and blue ornaments, and they reflected back the joy she felt inside. The scent of pine and cinnamon mingled with the aroma of cranberry-brie appetizers that a waiter had just carried past. The many gifts for Simon were nestled under the main tree, and small gifts for everyone in attendance stood under the other tree.
People thronged the massive living room and spilled into the dining and kitchen areas. Through the large windows and patio doors that opened onto the deck, the beautiful golds and reds of sunset settled into her heart. Everything was as it should be. She’d even finished her book, so she could enjoy the holidays without edits and research hanging over her. She spotted Hez by the fireplace talking to Hope, Jane, Nora, and Augusta, and she headed that way.
When she reached them, Hez took her hand and pulled her into the circle of his arm. His blue eyes crinkled in a loving smile. “Jane says I can stay in the condo as long as I like.”
“I thought she wouldn’t mind.” Savannah leaned her head against his chest as his hand settled around her waist. “Where’s that little cutie pie of yours, Jane?”
She gestured toward the smaller tree with the gifts. “Will and Reid have their hands full keeping Dolly out of the presents. We made the mistake of letting her open one today, and she wants a-l-l the packages.”
Savannah turned her head that way and saw Will scoop up the little girl, who was dressed in a pink princess dress. “She’s so darling.” She felt only a faint stab of pain at the sight of Dolly’s delight. It was as it should be. Ella was somewhere in heaven enjoying herself too.
Will was a strapping, broad-shouldered young man now, and he easily lifted his little sister to his shoulders while Reid watched with a smile. Dolly squealed and tugged on her brother’s dark hair.
Simon had been Will’s shadow all evening, and it felt good to see her nephew settle into life here. Once she’d been released from jail, Jess had said nothing more about sending him back to boarding school, and the two were already building a better relationship.
Hez’s hold at Savannah’s waist tightened, and his gaze lingered on the women clustered around them. “I want to thank all of you for working to find the true killer. Once a person is caught in the system, not every police department keeps digging for the truth. None of you discounted what we brought to you. Thanks to your desire for the truth, Jess is free to live her life with her son.”
