Savannah pulled herself together and drove forward when the gate was fully open.That was the past.She didn’t need to relive it.Her mom was long gone.All that mattered now was that Sadie, Josh, and Harvey had become more like family to her than her own had ever been.
She parked in front of the garage and skirted the edge of the pool on her way to Harvey’s guest house around the back.She’d been worried about him when he told her he was selling the nursery and garden center – that place had been his life for longer than she’d been alive.But it had turned out to be a great move for him.Sadie and Dom had invited him to live here with them.And when their new house was built – down on the waterfront right next door to Damon and Jo – Harvey would move there with them, too.
He’d shown her the plans – he’d get a place of his own next to the pool again, and Dom had helped him design a greenhouse that was attached, with a door from his kitchen leading straight into it.She loved that for him.She’d hated the idea that, after the nursery sold, he wouldn’t be able to pursue his passion anymore.
She wasn’t surprised to hear the TV blaring loudly as she approached the door.Nor was she surprised that, although there was no way he should have heard her coming, Harvey was there to greet her by the time she reached it.
“I had a feeling Taryn might send you with it.”
“I’m glad she did.I haven’t seen you in a little while.How are you doing?”
Harvey reached for the bag with a grin.“Not as good as I will be when I get that salmon.”
She handed the bags over with a laugh.“There you go.I won’t keep you – I’ll let you go enjoy your dinner.”
He reached out to grip her arm.“Aye, but we’ll catch up soon, you and me.You’re right; it’s been too long since we did.I enjoyed it when you were staying at my house.”He chuckled.“Even if I did have to throw myself down the stairs to get you there.”
“I enjoyed it too, you know that.And I miss you.But this is way better for you, isn’t it?”She looked around.Sadie and Dom’s house was big and beautiful.It sat up in the foothills, right at the top of the development at Four Mile Creek, with an amazing view of the lake.It was only a rental, but the house they were building down by the water was going to be just as nice from what she could tell.
“It is.I fell on my feet here, and I don’t mind admitting it.”His bushy eyebrows drew together.“How about you, though?You keep saying that you’re okay over there in town.But I’ve seen that one you’re living with.She’s a strange bird if you ask me – all them tattoos, and her hair’s a different color every time you see her.”He shook his head.“And it’s never the color of hair.”
“I’ve told you before, you’ll love her once you get to know her.I think the two of you might even have a lot in common – if you can get past the surface differences.”
“Maybe you’re right.But what matters is that you’re okay – are you?”
“I am, promise.I should get back to work, Harvey, and you should get your dinner while it’s still hot.How about we meet up for lunch or coffee or something soon?”
He made a face.“How about you come over here for coffee or lunch or something – that way we can have a good old chat and not worry about who’s listening.”
She laughed.“Sounds like a plan to me – I’d love that.And if you let me know what you want, I’ll pick it up from wherever on the way.”
“You’re a good ’un.And since you’re on the clock, I’ll wait till then to ask what’s going on with you and Jakey.”
Her gaze flew up to meet his, and his raspy laugh filled the air.“He hasn’t said nothing, so I’ll just have to see if I can get you to crack first.”
“What makes you think there’s anything to tell?”
“I’m old, not stupid, Savannah – you know that.And besides, Troy Landon told me how glad he was that you were there with Jake the other night.”
She raised her eyebrows, totally lost.“What’s Troy Landon got to do with anything?”
“Thought you’d have figured that out – he’s Cara’s dad.”
“Oh!I thought she looked familiar, and she talked about coming into the diner, but I didn’t click.”
Harvey shrugged.“If it wasn’t Troy, word would’ve still gotten out somehow.But go on – get back to work.Neither of us wants to get on the wrong side of Taryn, and I reckon she’s more likely to blame me than you if you’re late getting back.Just take this thought with you; Jake’s a good lad.More than that, he’s a decent man, and it’s about time you had one of them in your life.”
Savannah nodded; she didn’t know what to say.But then it hit her.“I already have a couple of decent men in my life – I have you.And before you tell me that you’re an old coot and don’t count, you totally do.And if you say anything about being too old to count, then I’ll remind you that I have Josh, too.He’s always been in my life, and you can’t tell me that he’s not a good man.”
“I’d never say it, but you know what I mean.You need a good man of your own, and I reckon Jake could be him.But we’re not arguing about it.I’m going back to my TV, and you’re going back to work.Call me when you know what day you can come for lunch.”
With that, he turned around and went back inside.Savannah smiled to herself as she headed back to her car.She loved that old man to pieces.
~ ~ ~
When Jake arrived at the gym on Saturday morning, he was surprised to find it empty.It might be the weekend, but there were usually a couple of his dad’s friends in here early.He grinned and went to the front desk to turn on the radio.
Guardian Fitness was his favorite gym ever.The keypad on the door meant he could come in whenever he liked.He often came late at night when the place was empty, and he enjoyed that.But whenever there were other people here, they were his kind of people.Even apart from his dad and all the other former military guys, the younger crowd was good people too.
