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Callie let out a laugh. “Something tells me you’re going to shed a bunch of tears on your wedding day. And I’ll be right there to remind you of how beautiful it is to shed happy tears.” Callie pointed to the clock hanging above the stove. “I hate to say it, but we should head out to the airport.”
Within the hour they had arrived at the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport. When they drove up, Mac insisted on being dropped off curb-side rather than have Callie park in the lot and deal with all the traffic congestion. Callie got out of the car in slow motion. Perhaps if she moved really slowly, she thought, this difficult moment could be stretched out.
She heaved a tremendous sigh as she reached the curb and watched as Mac easily pulled out his travel bags. He slung one over his shoulder and held the other in his hand.
Mac reached out and tweaked her nose with his free hand, just as he had done when they were kids. Callie tried to smile, but tears sprang to her eyes.
“Hey, what’s with the waterworks?” Mac asked, his voice sounding crestfallen.
“Every time you leave, I feel as if my insides are going to crack wide open.”
She covered her face with her hands and began to sob. Mac reached for her and enveloped her in a huge hug. “Shh, Callie. We’ll be together again.” He gently pushed her away and examined her face. Mac reached out and brushed aside her tears. “Remember. You promised to come to Breeze Point and meet the Donahue clan. They’re dying to meet you. Plus, my wedding wouldn’t be the same without you there.”
Callie let out a low chuckle. “After all the things you’ve told me about your brothers, I can’t wait to get a glimpse of them. And their lovely wives. I just hope that I remember everyone’s names. Oh…and your parents. I love them all already.”
“All things to look forward to,” he said. “Until we meet again.”
“Thanks for coming, Mac. Really. Truly.” She stood on her tippy toes and reached up to give him a hug. Mac picked her up so she was off the ground. Callie’s laughter rang out like a carefree child.
“Gotta go before I miss this flight,” Mac said as he let go of her and picked up his duffle bags. “See ya later, gator.”
“In a while, crocodile,” she called out after him as he walked into the terminal. Once he was inside he turned around and waved at her, bringing back a host of memories from back in the day. Callie took a deep, steadying breath as he turned around and disappeared from sight. She prayed that one day it wouldn’t hurt so badly to have Mac walking away from her.
**
Making her way through the next few days wasn’t easy for Callie. She missed Mac as much as one would miss their right arm. Thankfully, they had skyped twice and talked by cellphone a few times. She had also spoken with Delilah, who had asked her to be a part of her bridal party. Callie thought the gesture was sweet and heartwarming. Of course she had said an enthusiastic yes to Delilah’s question. An end of summer wedding would be stunning.
She also had her new cottage to finish settling into, as well as a few pieces of furniture to find a place for. She had also been scouring the Internet and the newspaper for job openings. Gone were the days of receiving an allowance from her father and doing volunteer work during the day. Volunteering was wonderful, especially with the charities she was affiliated with—Make a Wish Foundation, The Teen Suicide Alliance and various homeless shelters located in Savannah. They were all worthy causes. But at the present time she needed an income.
When Callie walked into her foyer she noticed that an envelope had been slipped under her door. Filled with curiosity, she bent down and picked it up, immediately noticing the quality of the grey envelope and the familiar, precise handwriting on the front. She would know Miss Hattie’s handwriting anywhere. She slit the envelope open with her nail then pulled out the cream-colored note tucked inside.
Dear Callie.
It would be lovely if you could join me for a proper English tea this afternoon at 4 o’clock sharp. There are a few things I would love to discuss with you. Love, Hattie
Once again she found herself smiling at Miss Hattie’s thoughtfulness. She knew without a single doubt that this invitation had come due to the fact that Hattie and Pearl knew she was missing her brother. She let out a sigh. How wonderful it was to have friends who cared deeply about your happiness. A sudden sense of longing pierced her. How she missed Charlotte, Hope, Fancy and Morgan. The circle of friendship amongst the girls was at its best when it was all six of them. What could she do to mend the friendships and to encourage all the girls to come together? All her efforts so far had been in vain. The situation was so very complicated. She understood what had caused Fancy to splinter away from the group—heartache and a feeling of betrayal. But once Fancy had left Savannah, all the other ties had come undone. It had been like ripples on a lake.
Callie called over to the house and spoke to Pearl in order to confirm her attendance at the tea party. For the fun of it, she decided to dress up in one of her prettiest, most romantic summer dresses. The dress swept all the way down to her ankles and was a shade of pale pink. It had three quarter sleeves and was airy and light. She paired it with blush colored heels and a simple pearl necklace. She felt perfectly dressed for an afternoon tea party at Savannah House.
At five minutes to four, Callie got in her car and drove down the lane to Savannah House. She walked up to the front door and rang the bell, noticing additional signs of wear and tear on the walkway and the doorframe. Had Miss Hattie simply given up on the place or were there financial reasons as to why she had closed the resort and allowed the place to slide? As the sole heiress to the Alexander fortune, Hattie Alexander had been bequeathed a fortune upon her parent’s death. Callie couldn’t imagine, knowing how savvy Miss Hattie had always been about money matters, that things had gone so awry.
When the door opened up, she felt her heart lurch to see Jax standing in the doorway. A huge grin was etched on his too-gorgeous-for-his-own-good face.
“J-Jax. What are you doing here?” She fumbled to even muster a greeting. Lately, her thoughts had drifted far too often to Jax. She hoped it wasn’t written all over her face.
“I might ask you the same question. Miss Hattie invited me to tea like she always does. I thought I was the guest of honor, but I suppose I’m wrong now that you’ve arrived.” He made a motion with his hand and waved her in. “Don’t just stand in the doorway, Callie. Miss Hattie is very particular about her tea time and it’s four o’clock on the dot.”
Huh? Jax was a regular guest at Savannah House? Since when had Jax become such an expert on Miss Hattie and her habits? Clearly their relationship was tighter than she was aware of.
As soon as she walked inside, her nose began twitching at the heavenly aroma that had drifted toward them. It smelled like something had just come out of the oven. Something mouth-watering and delicious.
“You look very pretty today,” Jax sai
d in a low voice. She looked up at him, noticing the glint of male appreciation in his ice-blue eyes. “But then again, you always look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, suddenly feeling way more flustered than seemed reasonable. She had known Jax for over twenty years. Why was she suddenly tripping all over herself in his presence? And why was he sending her looks filled with interest? She needed to stop overthinking things. Jax was a notorious flirt and he loved to shake things up. No doubt he was simply playing with her.
He held out his arm and she reluctantly looped hers through his. Like a gallant gentleman from a bygone era, he led her down the hall into the purple parlor. As soon as they entered, Callie caught sight of Pearl and Miss Hattie seated at a small, mahogany colored table. It was a smaller table than the one in the more formal, larger-sized parlor they had sat down at the other day. This room was much more of an intimate setting for tea.
