Right Where We Belong (Silver Springs #4)(59)

Savanna hadn’t expected this. “You’re inviting me to eat with your family? Your mother and your wife and...Gavin?”

“Yes. As well as my youngest brother, who goes to New Horizons. Sometimes another of our brothers shows up, too. He goes to San Diego State and can make the drive in about three and a half hours, if traffic isn’t bad.”

“How nice of you.”

“My mother would’ve asked Gavin to invite you, but I was with her when the subject came up, so I figured I’d do the honors, since I’m the first one here. It can be a challenge to acclimate to a new area, and we want you to feel welcome.”

It wasn’t easy for Savanna to get to know anyone, since she wasn’t putting the kids in school until the fall, didn’t have a job and didn’t belong to a church. She felt like she could easily go undiscovered by the community until fall—a relief in one sense but probably not so good in another. Complete isolation had its own drawbacks.

“I hope you’re free that day,” he said.

“I am and I’d love to come.” She’d made good progress moving in, was down to the outside cleanup, and she’d have that squared away by then. She still had plenty of work for contractors, but it would feel good to get out and be with other people—people who hadn’t been part of her life with Gordon and had no preexisting ideas of who she was or should be. “What time?”

“Three? That’ll give the kids a couple of hours to swim during the hottest part of the day.”

“They’ll be so excited. Thank you. And please thank your mother.”

“I will. You can ride to the ranch with Gavin. Or you can drive yourself, if you prefer.” He lifted his phone. “Would you like me to text you the address?”

“Sure.” She gave him her number and watched as he typed the information.

“Cora and I will look forward to seeing you and the kids Sunday after next, then,” he said, and sent it.

She smiled as he gave her a farewell nod and strode off.

“Who was that?” Alia asked as she and Branson came out of his bedroom, where they’d been putting together his train set.

“Gavin’s brother.”

“What’d he want?”

“To invite us to a swim party and barbecue a week from this Sunday. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”

Alia’s eyes widened. “He has a pool?”

“The party’s at his mother’s house. I’m guessing she does.”

“Yay!” As her children began to dance around, Savanna couldn’t help feeling some anticipation, too. She didn’t have a decent swimsuit—couldn’t remember the last time she’d needed one—so she’d have to check the shops in town, but even that felt exciting.

She was smiling as she went back to finish the last of what she hoped to get done before supper. And she was smiling when her phone buzzed, indicating she had a new message. Since she’d been hoping to hear from Gavin, to have the opportunity to invite him over, she looked down with some anticipation. But as soon as she saw the number on her screen, she felt her smile wilt. It was yet another text from Dorothy.

How dare you cheat on Gordon after all he’s been through! As far as I’m concerned, that’s it. I’m coming for you. You won’t know exactly when, but I’m going to make you sorry. And that’s a promise.





17

Heather studied Scott, trying to gauge whether or not her ex-boyfriend was simply trying to upset her. After staying late at school with another teacher to get ready for a joint project they were planning to do between classes, she’d stopped by his place to pick up the last of her things.

“You’re lying,” she said as they glared at each other in the middle of his living room.

His smug expression undermined her confidence, despite the conviction with which she’d spoken. “You think so? Because I wasn’t the only one at the park. Ask Johnny Coontz. He saw Gavin with those kids, too.”

Johnny worked with Scott and often went to the same park to have lunch, so it made sense. But...

“It couldn’t have been Gavin,” she said. “He was at New Horizons all day.” He’d called her when he was driving home and told her as much. She’d asked how his day had gone, and he’d indicated that it had been nothing out of the ordinary.

“I know who Gavin is!” Scott snapped, incredulous that she’d continue to deny what she’d heard. But he’d misinterpreted her reaction. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe what he said; it was that she didn’t want it to be true. “I spoke to him,” he added. “Saw him and the kids up close.”

“So...what was he doing there?” And why hadn’t he told her about babysitting when she’d asked him what his day had been like?

“I told you! He was helping his new neighbor.” He arched his eyebrows to give his next statement more meaning. “A divorcée who just moved in. He tried to act like it wasn’t anything. But that’s what made me feel like it was. I saw him playing with that little boy and girl, got the impression they mattered to him.”

Heather curled her fingernails into her palms. “Of course they matter to him. Gavin’s good with kids. All kids,” she clarified. But it was difficult not to allow her hand to go to her stomach. She felt nauseous. She’d fought so long and hard to win Gavin’s love, and every time it seemed as though she was finally getting somewhere with him, he slipped through her fingertips again. She couldn’t allow that to happen this time. She was carrying a child, for God’s sake. She did not want to become a strapped and lonely single mother, another cliché. Without someone around to help, she’d hardly be able to leave the house. That wasn’t the future she anticipated for herself.