can convince her to let Chloe spend the summer with you. You’d deliver her to London safe and sound in the fall, just before school starts. Maybe you can get her again around Christmastime or spring break.”
“That won’t work,” Edward said emphatically. “I need to see her at least once a week. And besides, we have a custody plan that says I get her every week. She can’t just wake up one morning and decide she wants to move to the other side of the earth.”
“Well, if you’re not in agreement with the move, then Savannah must file a petition for relocation with the court. The family court judge will take into consideration what’s in the best interest of the child. Stuff like how Chloe’s relationship with you will be impacted if she takes her away. Also, how the move will impact her mental, physical and emotional development.”
“Okay.”
“And whether or not the relationship with you can be preserved...kind of like the arrangement that I suggested in the beginning.”
“Can’t be preserved,” Edward said.
“Then once she files, we have a short deadline to object to the move,” Jack said. “I’ll get the paperwork started as soon as I return to my office so we’ll be ready.”
“You’re a lifesaver, man.” Edward smiled. Exhaled.
“We’ll have to contend with a court hearing. Maybe even a trial, if it goes that far.” Jack sipped on his ice water. “Are you up for that?”
“What choice do I have?” Edward said. “I’m up for it if she is. She started this whole thing.”
“I’m just asking, because I know it’s been a long, hard road for you and Savannah in the past. I was just wondering if you’re willing to go down that road again.”
“I don’t want to fight with Savannah again. It was a painful time.”
“I remember. I was right there with you.”
“Yes, you were. You’ve been a great friend.”
“I just hate to see you go through that again. And you two have finally gotten this co-parenting thing down.”
“Right. We have.”
“You’ve made it through some tough times. Not to mention that whole bogus engagement thing Savannah had with her corny boss.” Jack grinned. “If you can make it through that, you can make it through anything.”
“Don’t remind me of that fool.”
Jack laughed. “You were so jealous.”
“I wasn’t jealous!”
“You were beyond jealous. I knew then that you were still in love with that woman.”
“What?” Edward denied Jack’s claims. “I’m not in love with her. I do love her in a family sort of way...kind of like I love my sisters.”
“Yeah, I don’t think you love Savannah like you love your sisters.” Jack laughed. “But if that’s your story...”
“That’s my story.” Edward laughed, too. “And I’m sticking with it.”
“Maybe you should just move to London, too,” Jack said.
“Go to hell!” said Edward.
“I’m only kidding, bro. I know this is a serious situation for you.” Jack wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin. “Let me see what we can work out. Perhaps we won’t have to go to court at all.”
“That would be great.”
Savannah had surprised him with the divorce. She’d claimed that she needed to get away and had gone to Georgia for a lengthy visit with her father. After several long weeks, instead of returning to their home in Florida as Edward had anticipated, Savannah had decided to stay in Georgia with her father. Soon she’d had Edward served and completely caught him off guard. And if divorcing him wasn’t enough, she asked for alimony and child support. She wanted the family home and asked that he continue to pay the mortgage until she was gainfully employed. He wouldn’t be blindsided by her again.
In fact, when he was done reading Savannah her rights, she wouldn’t know what hit her.
Savannah was young when she married Edward. Her pregnancy had been difficult, and Edward had insisted that she stay home with Chloe for her first two years.
“I’ll take care of us,” he’d said.
“What about my career? My goals?” she’d argued. “I have dreams, too.”
“Give me time. When I’m mayor, you can go back to work.”
It was too much for Savannah. She’d become invisible to him. He’d stopped coming home at a decent hour. She was alone more times than not, and she’d become lonely. She’d even suspected that Edward and his campaign manager, Quinn, were more than friends. She’d cried too many tears. Begged Edward for a reprieve.
“I can’t focus when you’re on my back all the time,” he’d complained.
Finally, her father convinced her to come to Georgia for a visit. “You and the baby,” he’d said. “That way you can figure things out.”
Savannah, Georgia, had been her home for most of her life. She was named after the city with cobblestone streets and Spanish moss hanging from ancient trees. Her father, a decorated officer in the military, had retired there—it was his home. He’d met Savannah’s mother while stationed in Germany. Nyle Carrington had taken the train from London to Germany for a weekend getaway with girlfriends, and returned to her home in London engaged to a US soldier. They dated for a short time, and soon, Frank Carrington’s wife-to-be was pregnant with their new bundle of joy. When Savannah was two, her father’s tour of duty was over, and the couple moved to his home in Georgia. Nyle found life difficult in the States, and soon returned to London, leaving Frank behind to raise their toddler alone. She sent cards and gifts for birthdays and Christmas, and occasionally she returned for short visits. Each visit, she’d promise to stay. She’d fill Savannah’s head with stories of her home in London and promises that the next time she came, she’d take Savannah back to London with her. Instead, Savannah would awaken the next morning or return from school, only to find her mother gone again. By the time Savannah reached puberty, she’d given up any hope of having a normal relationship with her mother. She’d resolved that Nyle would never be a part of her life. And once she was an adult, she’d cut off all communication with her.
Until now.
Nyle was aging and needed Savannah in her life. She was remorseful and admitted that she hadn’t been the best mother. She wanted to meet her only grandchild and realized the importance of having Savannah and Chloe in her life now. Savannah by all rights could’ve turned her back on the woman who’d abandoned her, but the truth was, she needed Nyle, too. Her life had been incomplete for so long, and she was ready to be a whole person. She wanted Chloe to know her grandmother and to learn about the history and her family in London. She needed to give their relationship a chance.
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