Return of the Runaway Bride (2 page)

Immediately she reached up and began pulling at the pins that held the headpiece in place.

"Savanna, stop that," her mother demanded.

The two of them engaged in what would have been a comical bout, as one plucked out hairpins and the other tried to snatch the pins and put them back into place. But there was nothing funny about the despair pushing Savanna to the brink of hysteria.

"Mother!"
Frustrated by the game, Savanna stood so quickly the chair toppled over.

Mrs. Langford scowled. "You're being silly, Savanna. This is nothing but an attack of pre-wedding jitters." She stooped down and picked up the pins that had fallen to the floor. "It's usually the groom who gets cold feet."

"I cannot do this." Savanna's unflinching gaze made it evident that she was utterly serious.

Mrs. Langford stood and planted her hands on her trim hips. "The minister has arrived. The guests are assembled. Everyone is waiting for the bride's entrance." She cocked her head. "The bride is
you
, Savanna."

Savanna swallowed and tipped up her chin a fraction. "I need to talk to Danny."

Mrs. Langford's lips pursed so tightly that they paled under her sheer lipstick. After a long, tense
moment, she said, "All right. I'll go find him. I only hope he can talk some sense into you."

After the door closed firmly, leaving her alone with her doubts and questions, Savanna wondered what on earth she was going to say to Danny. How could she explain her feelings? How could she make him understand when she didn't understand herself?

Fear and confusion gripped her with an icy hand and she buried her face in her open palms. "What are you doing?" she murmured.

There was a soft knock at the door.
"Savanna?"

A familiar
warmth rippled through her at the sound of Danny's deep, rich voice.

"Danny!" Her urgent whisper was nearly choked off by a sob as she pulled open the door.

The very sight of him calmed her and she drank in the comfort his presence never failed to give. The smile that tilted his lips gave her strength and she tried valiantly to return a smile of her own.

"You're beautiful," he said. "But with all the superstition about bad luck, are you sure it's safe for me to see you before the ceremony?"

His jesting tone told her that he didn't realize the extent of her emotional state. Maybe it was better that he didn't know the turmoil she was feeling. What she needed to do was explain to him in clear, logical terms the chaos that was twisting around in her brain. The contradiction in terms nearly made her laugh aloud. Instead she took a deep breath.

"Danny," she began. It hurt to say his name, knowing what she was about to tell him. "I'm afraid I can't do this."

He took her hands in his and held them securely. The feel of his skin on hers was stirring. All she
wanted to do was drift deeper into his protective embrace. No, her mind screamed. Not now.

"Savanna, everything's going to be all right. You'll see, as soon as we..."

His voice trailed off as she began to shake her head. She pulled her hands from his grasp and stepped back. She couldn't touch him and think clearly at the same time.

"You don't understand," she said. "I'm afraid."

"I know you are."

She saw his dark eyes fill with compassion and love.

God, why can't I get this right? 'Afraid' wasn't the word she'd meant to say. Anxiety swept through her, settling in the pit of her stomach where it churned, slowly and steadily.

"Listen," he said, "I'll go down and tell everyone that we need some time." He reached out and gently cupped her elbow. "Say, an hour? That will give us time to talk." He chuckled.
"Time for us to gather up your courage."

"But-"

"It's okay," he told her. "Dad can break open the champagne early. There'll be no harm in that, now will there?" He gave her a charming, lopsided grin.

Hope budded like a rose inside Savanna. Looking at Danny so confident and assured, she wondered how she had ever doubted that he couldn't make everything right.

He went over and
uprighted
the chair, leading her with him. "Now you sit down and relax." He settled her in the seat, leaned close and caressed her cheek with his strong, smooth fingers. "It's going to be all right, Savanna. I promise."

His lips were warm and moist as he pressed them against hers. "I'll be right back with a glass of bubbly." He grinned. "And then I'll remind you of all those dreams we made. That'll ease your nerves." He kissed her softly on the mouth.

When Savanna was alone she sat in the warm cocoon of security in which Danny had left her wrapped. She didn't need to worry. Everything was going to be just fine, perfect even.

Those two tiny words sent an icy prickle chasing up her spine. The shadowy cloud of apprehension that descended was thick enough to smother her.

"Oh, God!"
The words ripped from her throat like a torturing claw as she ran toward her closet and wrenched out the suitcase she'd so carefully packed for her two week honeymoon.

She snatched the bridal veil from her head, barely wincing as the pins snagged then pulled free from her hair. She reached behind her to rip at the back of her gown, and a dozen dainty pearl buttons bounced soundlessly on the plush carpet.

Chapter One

Six years later

Welcome to Fulton, Virginia. The wooden sign was weathered, but the letters were bright with fresh paint. Savanna had been in high school when the town council had voted to create the quaint welcome area with its cheery greeting and evergreen shrubs. She remembered that the Ladies' Auxiliary had always been responsible for manicuring the mound, and the crimson begonias and deep purple petunias were proof that the Ladies were still taking the job seriously.

As she crossed the town limit, Savanna released one hand from the steering wheel and reached up to massage her neck. Ever since she'd decided to return to her hometown, trepidation had coiled inside her tighter and tighter. It had been six years since she'd left behind everything important in her life, her friends, her family, the man she loved.

"No," she murmured, refusing to dwell on unpleasant thoughts. There would be plenty of time to deal with all that. In fact, that's exactly why she had returned to Fulton. But for the moment, Savanna wanted to enjoy her homecoming, savor the sights and sounds of the town in which she'd spent her youth. The place she'd missed so desperately.

As she passed familiar scenes, the Bowl-A-
Rama
,
Garvy's
Service Station and Bob's Barber Shop with its red-and-white swirled column still spinning, the long years melted away until it could have been just yesterday that she'd driven out of town as if the hounds of hell were on her scent.

Savanna stopped at the red light and closed her eyes. She shivered in spite of the warm, southern sun as icy doubt brought cold, realistic questions. Would the folks in town be happy to see her? Would they welcome her with open arms? Or turn their backs on her because of "the big scandal," as Savanna had come to name that episode of her life? The older residents worried her most, the ones whose memories were sure to be razor sharp and as clear as the lenses in their reading glasses.

And how would Daniel and Susan Walsh respond to her return? Would they see her long enough for her to explain her reasons for running away from marrying their son? They had to, Savanna thought. They simply had to.

Danny flashed into her mind and a band of apprehension tightened across her chest. How on earth was she ever going to face him? How was she going to make him understand what
…

"Please stop." She spoke the words loud and clear. All these questions would drive her insane. Take one problem at a time, Savanna, she told herself.

She crossed the intersection and caught sight of Watson's
Kwik
-E Mart. "E for efficient.
E for economical.
And don't forget
Kwik
." Mr. Watson had come up with the marketing campaign all on his own, and he'd kept a copy of the neatly cut-out newspaper ad tacked behind the checkout counter.

On impulse, Savanna made a
sharp left into the parking lot and turned off the car's engine. The lesson of facing her problems head-on was one Savanna had learned quickly after leaving Fulton. If she wanted answers to her anxious questions...

"There's no better time to find out than right now," she said. She got out of her car and walked toward the shop's entrance. Inhaling deeply, she thrust back her shoulders and pushed open the glass door.

Miz
Ida, as all the neighborhood children had called the spirited, energetic woman, was busy at the counter with a customer. Savanna picked up a plastic basket and began scanning the shelves of groceries.

She put a box of tea bags in the basket and glanced toward the counter. Savanna fondly recalled Ida Watson as the town gossip, the one person who knew everything about everyone.

Would the woman even recognize her? Savanna wondered. Or would she be forced to go through the embarrassing task of introducing herself? Don't be silly, she chided. Of course
Miz
Ida would remember her. Hadn't she slipped Savanna about a million cinnamon jawbreakers over the years? Besides, Savanna's mother was certain to have told
Miz
Ida of her daughter's impending return. And if Ida knew, then probably everyone in town knew too.

Actually, Savanna hoped to glean from Ida some impression of how others in town would greet her. If anyone could tell her what to expect,
Miz
Ida could.

Ida's gossip, so far as Savanna could remember, had never been malicious, simply matter-of-fact. And the woman's softhearted nature might compel her to keep the sticky questions concerning Savanna's past to a minimum.

Ha, I should be so lucky, Savanna thought as she chose a quart container of skim milk and tucked it in her basket beside a small brick of cheddar cheese.

"Savanna?"
The voice behind her was uncertain.

Startled, Savanna turned. And then she smiled.

"Savanna Langford!"
Ida threw her wiry arms around Savanna and gave her a warm hug. "It's so good to see you. You look lovely.
Just lovely."

"Well, thank you,
Miz
Ida," Savanna said. "You look wonderful too."

"Fit as a fiddle, I'm happy to say." Ida's eyes glittered with pride. "I don't suffer from bursitis, arthritis or any of those old-
fogey
ailments. I'm so
healthy,
this store's been open every day but Christmas for the past twenty-three years." Ida chuckled. "Oh, I did close down one Saturday last year for
Chrissy's
wedding."

"Your daughter got married?" Savanna asked.

"Finally did it.
Caught herself a pharmacist from Richmond.
I hated to see her move away, but she's happy as a bear cub in a honey factory and that's all that counts." Ida took the plastic basket from Savanna, moved up the short aisle and set it on the counter.
"But enough about me and mine.
I want to hear all about you."

"Well," Savanna said. "I'm back."

"I can sure see that. I was right happy to hear that you bought the house when your parents retired south. I hated to see them go, but you know how they longed for that sunny climate." Ida shook her head. "I don't see how they stand all that heat,
myself
. But your mother called me last week, and she was just bubbling. Told me all about how you'd be
comin
' this week." Planting a fist on her hip, Ida continued,
"Like I said, I'm glad you bought the house. It would have been awful to see it go to strangers."