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“I should be getting home. I was heading toward Tybee Island. I was going to stay in one of the rooms tonight so I didn’t have to make the trek in the morning, but after what happened tonight, I think I’ll head home.”
Home. He knew she lived with her family at the Duvall estate. Everyone in Savannah knew the place. It was big and ornate and fit for royalty. Marc had never stepped foot inside, but he imagined it was fancier than anything he’d ever experienced in his life.
“Well, I could follow behind you in my car or we could get a bite to eat at Sam’s Diner.” Marc threw the suggestion out there. “I was on my way to get something to eat when I came across you. I haven’t eaten since lunchtime.” He patted his stomach.
Charlotte seemed to be considering his offer. She bit her lip. If she felt a smidgeon of what he did she was probably thinking that spending time alone with him might be dangerous. There was an obvious attraction flaring between them, even though neither one of them seemed inclined to address it. The fact remained—this attraction wasn’t going away. If anything, it was intensifying.
Marc held a hand to his chest. “I’m a little wounded here. I thought Sam’s Diner would be an easy sell.”
Charlotte’s face lit up. Some of the tightness in his chest eased up. He’d been so worried about her state of mind. It was great to see her coming back to life.
“I love Sam’s Diner. They have the best French fries in Savannah. Maybe in the whole state of Georgia.”
“That sounds like a yes,” Marc said, triumph rising up inside of him.
Marc could see the beginnings of a smile breaking out across her face. “Sounds like a plan,” she said. “I can follow you in my car.”
“That’ll work,” Marc said as he headed toward his car. He felt almost light and airy. Pretty amazing considering how he had been operating on pure adrenaline ever since he’d heard the loud horn blast and seen a man scampering away on the darkened road. He’d had no idea at first who he was helping out by his presence. He was firm on the idea that Charlotte had rescued herself. He’d just given her a boost.
Marc led the way to Sam’s Diner. Once he turned off Tea Tree Road, they were on a well-lit main drag. By car it wasn’t far, but it would have taken an eternity for Charlotte to walk the distance. Thank the dear Lord she hadn’t been walking down the deserted road when the man with the tinted windows had driven by. Lord knows what might have transpired. God had been with Charlotte tonight in her time of need. The thought gave Marc comfort. It would have been devastating if anything had happened to Charlotte. Not only for her family and friends, but for him as well. He allowed the thought to marinate in his mind as he pulled into the parking lot for Sam’s Diner.
Sam’s Diner had been a favorite dining destination for Marc ever since he was a teenager. All these years later and he still craved their chili fries and cheeseburgers. Marc opened Charlotte’s door for her and they walked side-by-side toward the entrance. Marc pulled the door open for Charlotte and led her to a booth by a window. The diner had a funky vibe with jukeboxes at every table.
The waitress—Kelly according to her name tag—came and presented them with menus then left to bring them waters.
Marc touched the jukebox. “My dad used to take me here on Sundays after church. Just the two of us. He wanted to do something special as a father-son bond. My sisters used to get upset about it, but he never budged an inch. He would always hand me a bunch of quarters and let me pick the music.” Marc let out a beleaguered sigh.
Charlotte met his gaze. He saw sympathy etched on her face. “How is your dad doing?”
Marc didn’t know how to even begin to answer the question. His father was fighting a battle he wasn’t going to win. Under the circumstances, he was doing okay, but on a grander scale Marc knew he was facing down his mortality. Every time Marc visited, his father would take him on a trip down memory lane. It was as if Lucien was trying to sear the memories to his son’s heart like a tattoo. Although Marc understood, it didn’t make it easy on any of them. Watching his father die was gut wrenching.
“He’s doing okay. It’s not easy to watch him slip away from us. Sometimes I feel so helpless. It’s the irony of life, I suppose. When we’re little our fathers do everything for us. Th
ey seem invincible. But now the roles are reversed. I’m the one who’s caring for him.” Marc crossed his hands in front of him. “I consider it an honor, but it breaks my heart.”
“It must be agonizing. I know it’s not the same thing at all, but my family dealt with grief when my cousin Rachel died. She was only five years old, so it was absolutely devastating for all of us.”
Marc felt shock ripple through him. “I don’t remember that at all. I’m sorry. If you don’t mind my asking, how did she die? An illness?”
“No,” Charlotte said. She took a deep breath. “She drowned while on vacation with my aunt and uncle and Luke. It was a tragic accident. The only good thing that emerged from it was Callie’s adoption.” She breathed in deeply. “Rachel was my best friend so the loss of her felt as if my heart had been ripped out of my chest. I vividly remember feeling threatened by the very idea of this new little girl coming into the Duvall family to replace Rachel, but in the end, Callie helped us all heal. And she had been very broken by her own losses, so she fit in quite well. It’s amazing how God puts people in our lives at the right time and season.”
“I’m sure your family made all the difference to Callie,” Marc said, feeling grateful for Charlotte sharing such personal information with him. “You changed her life just as much as she altered yours. All for the better.”
The waitress returned to their table with their drinks. Pencil in hand, she inquired as to whether they were ready to order.
“I always get the same thing,” Marc said. “I’ll have a double cheeseburger with a side of chili fries. And a cherry chocolate shake.”
Kelly wrote it down on her pad, then turned to Charlotte who was studiously regarding the menu. She bit her lip. “Mmm. I can’t decide between the bacon burger and the chicken Caesar wrap.” She closed her eyes and pointed her finger toward the menu. She opened her eyes and let out a laugh. “I guess it’ll be the bacon burger with a side of spicy fries.” She handed the menu back to Kelly. “And a cherry chocolate shake for me too. I haven’t had one in years.”
“I like your style,” Marc said as Kelly the waitress walked toward the kitchen with their order. “I’m pretty stoked you didn’t order a salad.”
“As if,” Charlotte said, scrunching her nose up.
“By the way, you’ve been pretty brave tonight. And if you need me to meet you at the police station tomorrow, I’m there.”
“Thanks. I don’t feel all that brave, but I’m pretty happy about not completely falling apart. And I should be fine tomorrow. Thanks for the offer though.”
He watched as Charlotte reached for her water and took a sip. She had more grace in her little finger than most people possessed in their entire bodies. Her movements were dainty. But Charlotte had shown him on several occasions her grit and pluck. He shuddered to think what might have happened on that road tonight. Marc didn’t believe in accidents. God had made sure he’d been on that road this evening. And he’d given Charlotte courage to beep her horn and scare him away.
