“Six months,” repeated Ajei.“She’s covering it well but she won’t be able to for long.I’ll make sure that the comms boys know to keep an extra eye on her for sure.”
“Thank you, Ajei.And don’t tell Sor.He’d just drive up there and drag her back.”Ajei nodded, hugging the younger woman.
“Maybe that’s what she needs, honey.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Saylor wrote often to her Aunt Nell and Uncle Sor.She liked old-fashioned letters, handwritten with emotion and love.They didn’t tell her that her parents continued to contact them on a regular basis.They claimed they were worried for her but Sor and Nell knew it was a lie and if they found the girl, they’d drag her back to their prison.
Instead, they told them that she’d taken a job overseas and was happy in her life.But in his heart, Sor knew they didn’t believe them.
It was just a few short weeks later that Remington came home.He’d barely set his bags down when he was knocking on Nell and Sor’s door.
“Afternoon, sir.”
“Remington, it’s nice to have you home,” said Sor with a sad expression.He knew this would hit the young man hard.
“Yes, sir.Is Saylor here?She wasn’t in her assigned cottage,” he frowned.“Is she working?”
“Remington, she left, son.She said she needed to think about some things and she moved.”
“Moved?Where?Sorry, sir but this is important.Where did she move to?”Nell stepped forward smiling at the young man.
“I’m glad you’re asking that question.It tells me that Saylor was wrong and you do care for her.”Remington tilted his head with a questioning expression.“Remington, she had no idea how you felt and when she didn’t hear from you, she thought you’d changed your mind about her.”
“Of course I care for her,” he said staring at them like they’d lost their minds.“I love her.”
“Did you tell her that?” asked Nell.
“Well, no.Not yet.I mean, I didn’t want to say anything until I knew I was home for good.God, please tell me where she is,” he begged.
“I’m going to tell you, Remington because I believe the two of you should be together and quite frankly, I’m worried her family will find her and it will not end well.”Remington tried to be patient but he was bouncing from one foot to the other.“She didn’t tell me this but a woman knows.She’s pregnant, honey.It coincides with the time y’all were together.”
“I-I was her first.I know it would be mine,” he said stammering.
“She’d be almost eight months by now.She’s living in a small townhouse in Indianapolis near the hospital.She was going to have the baby on her own.Raise it on her own.”Nell handed him a slip of paper with an address on it.He turned to see his father, JB, and grandfather, Joseph.
“Like hell she will.She’ll be coming back here with me.One way or another.Dad?Grandpa?I need a ride.A fast ride.”
“The jet is waiting on the runway for you.Bring her home.Gently,” said Joseph.“Don’t terrify her.And for God’s sake, tell her how you feel.”
The entire way to Indianapolis Remington paced the length of the jet.Evie turned at one point and told him if he didn’t sit, she’d do a barrel roll and make him sit.
“I don’t know why she left,” he said shaking his head.
“Bullshit!Did you tell her that you love her?Did you ask her to wait for you?Did you tell her she was you one and only, honey?” asked Evie.
“No.Like I said I didn’t want to make promises before I was out of the service and free to come home.”
“Remington, telling a woman that you love her gives her the hope that you’ll return.If you don’t tell her anything, she has nothing to hold onto.Plus, Saylor is very inexperienced with men.She doesn’t understand how they think, especially the men at Belle Fleur.”
“I can’t lose her, Evie.”His face was so sad Evie just wanted to wrap him in a big hug.It reminded her of his grandfather, Joseph, before Julia saved him.
“You won’t honey.Just don’t go all neanderthal on her.Be sweet, tell her how you feel.Don’t force her to do anything she doesn’t want to do.”
“Right.Don’t force her.”
He kept repeating that phrase to himself over and over again knowing he was going to force her to return with him.But repeating it wasn’t doing any good.How could she not have known that he loved her?The way he made love to her, the way he held her should have told her everything.
