Page 19 of Christmas Wish
“I heard from Savannah. I spoke with her a few days ago. She said they were both fine.”
“Where is she?”
“She didn’t tell me, and the phone number didn’t register, so I don’t have any way of getting a hold of her.”
“When’s she coming back?” The headlights from the traffic below looked like the glow worms he used to buy at concerts when he was a teenager.
“I don’t think she is.” Mary’s voice quivered.
“She can’t just disappear with my son.” Anger flared up inside him, not from any fatherly love, but from the fact that Savannah was throwing him the middle finger in a big way, and no one did that shit to him.
“I know why Savannah left you.”
“She told you about the affair?” The falling snow blurred the twinkling lights from the skyscrapers.
“Yes, she did. I haven’t told Frank,” she whispered.
Of course she hadn’t; Frank would never understand. He was loyal to a sickening fault, and if that’s what Savannah wanted, she should’ve married the plumber next door. Bret was a Carlton—the men cheated on their devoted spouses. His dad’s numerous mistresses never meant that he didn’t love his mother.Mother knew Dad would never leave her. Why the fuck would he do that for a stacked bimbo?
“Bret?”
“I lost you for a second. Savannah seemed to have forgotten about me once Timmy was born.”
“I can’t believe that. You two were so much in love. I know having a child is a lot of work, but she always wanted to be a mother and have a big family.”
“Yes … well … here we are. She’ll get tired of her little tantrum and come home, especially when the money runs out.” Bret had promptly cancelled all her cards when he found out she’d left him.No matter what you tell others, baby, we both know you love the lifestyle my money afforded you. You don’t fool me for a fucking minute.
“Savannah said she’d call me again real soon and that she won’t be home for Christmas.” Another quiver—it was getting annoying.
Mother’s going to be livid. Fuck you, Savannah.“Try and get her to tell you where she is. I want to bring them back home where they belong.”
“Are you finished with the woman you were carrying on with?” Mary’s hushed voice irked him.
“Yes. It was just a fling—it didn’t mean anything.” And it didn’t, but Savannah just didn’t understand that.You’re the one who changed the dynamics, baby, then you got mad when it backfired.
“I’ll try and find out. Timmy needs both his parents. I can’t believe they won’t be here for Christmas.” This time a small sob filtered through the phone.
Enough!“I have to go. We’ll keep in touch.” Bret slid the phone in his pocket then pulled on his overcoat. He was meeting some buddies for dinner before they headed over to one of the exclusive gentlemen’s clubs. One of his friends’ girlfriends was a stripper at the club. Declan was crazy mad for the stripper, and Bret and his pals thought Declan was acting the fool to jeopardize his marriage and reputation by falling in love with his plaything. That was something Bret had never done. At the end of the day, he still loved Savannah.
Bret wrapped the cashmere scarf around his neck and walked out of the Ritz Carlton Hotel into the cold night air.
