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I rolled my eyes at him. “How convenient!” I exclaimed, walking off toward the sitting room, hearing Josh chuckle behindme.
“And I didn’t even have to use the magic tongue!” he called out after me. I shook my head and kept on walking, a small smile pulling on mylips.
“Dude, that sounds like something I do not want to know about!” Brody shouted, and I heard both Mason and Joshlaugh.
The girls night was perfect. We all had freshly painted nails, toes and fingers, and although we didn’t watch Mr. Grey, the threat of watching it kept the guys tucked away in the den, which was what we preferred. Even my dad had been banished from the sittingroom.
The rain stopped after about an hour and we thought the storm had passed, only for thunder and lightning to start up. Worried about the horses, I decided to head over to the stables to check that they were all okay. I knew Marley in particular wasn’t keen on the thunder. Both my mom and Libby offered to come with me, but I insisted that I would be fine. I grabbed an umbrella from the basket in the hall in case the rain started again and made my way down the porch steps and over to thestables.
The ranch was well lit and as I glanced down the path that led to the cottage, I saw a woman standing in the small front garden. Frowning, I narrowed my eyes to try to see who it was, but she was too far away. Looking toward where the cars were parked, I noticed a car that I recognized as Grace’s. Apprehension built in my stomach as I wondered what she wanted. I debated going to find Josh but decided against it, making my way toward thecottage.
“Grace,” I called out, watching as she turned to look at me. “Is everything okay?” I couldn’t move very quickly and she waited until I reached her before speaking. As she opened her mouth to speak, a huge clap of thunder sounded and we both jumped. “Let’s go inside,” I said, reaching under the flower pot for the sparekey.
Opening the door, I flicked the light switch only to realize the electricity was out. “Shit! The storm must have knocked the power out. I’ve got some candles in the kitchen, wait here,” I told her, maneuvering through the sitting room, trying not to bump into anything. Finding the candles under the sink, I quickly lit a couple and carried them back into the sitting room. “Is everything okay?” I asked again, motioning for her to sit down. Ignoring my offer to sit, she began pacing the smallroom.
“No Savannah, everything is not okay. I think you know by now that I’m not happy about you andJosh.”
I nodded and put the candles in the holders on the mantle. “Yes Grace, I think you’ve made that perfectly clear,” I replied, trying not to soundrude.
“I think you should break things off with him,” she said as she stopped pacing and looked me directly in the eyes. At that moment, there was another huge clap of thunder followed immediately by a flash oflightning.
“And why would I do that?” I asked, anger bubbling insideme.
“Anyone can see that you’re taking advantage of him! I’m the only one who’s willing to stand up and sayit.”
I stared at her in shock. “How am I taking advantage of him? The last time I checked, he was a grown man who could make his own decisions. I’m not forcing him to be withme.”
She pointed at my stomach. “That!” she spat. “That’s how you’re taking advantageof
him. You don’t love him, you just want a father for your baby. He can’t have children, and suddenly here you are, pregnant by God knows who, and in swoops my son to save theday.”
“That’s not true, I’ve loved himsince—”
“Since you were 15,” she screamed, interrupting me. “I know Savannah, I’ve heard it all before. Funny how you say you’re in love with him but you managed to go out and sleep with a bunch of men and not know which one of them got you pregnant—that doesn’t sound like the actions of someone in love tome.”
“He loves me,” I told her weakly, not able to argue when she’d pointed out the truth; I had gone out and slept with a bunch ofmen.
“He loves the idea of you Savannah,” she said, her voice softening. “He doesn’t love you. Let him go—he’ll only end up resenting you in a few years when he’s trapped in a loveless marriage.” Before I could respond, I heard screaming and commotion outside. Moving toward the door, I swung it open and gasped. “I’m not finished yet Savannah!” Grace yelled, grabbing myarm.
“The stables are on fire!” I screamed at her, yanking my arm free from her hold and running as fast as I could up the path. I saw my mom and Libby standing outside and I heard my mom scream my name. Libby’s arms were around her, holding her back from the flames. “They think I’m in there,” I mumbled to myself as I tried to run faster. “Mom!” I cried. “Mom!” I watched as she heard me calling her and turned in mydirection.
“Savannah, thank God,” she cried, pulling out of Libby’s arms and rushing toward me. Throwing her arms around me, she held me tightly. “We thought you were inside,” she said on asob.
“I’m fine, I was at the cottage with Grace,” I assured her. “I’m fine,” I repeated, pulling away from her and looking into her scaredeyes.
“Oh God, Josh and Brody,” she yelled, turning back toward the stables, which were now engulfed inflames.
“Where are they Mom?” I cried, already knowing what she was going tosay.
She shook her head, her eyes not meeting mine. “They’re…they’re inside, looking for you,” she whispered before turning to look back at thestables.
“No!” I cried, running blindly toward the burning building. This couldn’t be happening. Josh and Brody couldn’t be inside there—no one could survive that. I felt a pair of arms wrap around me from behind, stopping me from getting anycloser.
“Savannah, no!” Mason shouted, holding meback.
“Let me go Mason, I need to get to Josh!” I shouted, fighting againsthim.
“The fire department is on the way Sav, they’ll get him,” Mason said gently, trying to reassureme.
