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As they walked up Whitaker toward Jones Street, it gave him a chance to cool off. “There are hundreds of houses and buildings worthy of me pointing out. But I’ve narrowed it down to my favorite dozen.”
“Oh, yeah? I can’t wait to see what you have planned.”
He put his free hand on the small of her back. “You know the phrase ‘keeping up with the Joneses,’ right? They say it originated right here on Jones Street. They say it’s supposed to be the most beautiful street in Savannah.”
“I’ve heard that.” She smiled as she narrowed her eyes at him. “Is it true?”
“Look around. What do you think?”
“It’s pretty. In an understated way. Not grand and flashy like some of the mansions on the squares.”
“Exactly. They say Jones Street doesn’t house attractions as much as the street is an attraction in itself.”
“I have to admit,” Elle said looking around in wonder, “as much as I love the Forsyth and all that it means to our family, sometimes I wouldn’t mind trading my portion for a cozy house of my own...some place like Jones Street.”
“Even with the Forsyth right around the corner? Could you really live here knowing your family home was in someone else’s hands?”
“Probably not. But you can’t blame a girl for wanting a life of her own. That’s what I was trying to build in Atlanta.”
“Sometimes fate has its own plans for you,” he said.
“That’s what my mother is trying to come to terms with right now.” She sipped her champagne. “Gigi has announced her retirement, but Mom isn’t sure she wants her turn at running the inn. She seems to think fate is tempting her to travel.”
They walked up Abercorn Street toward Lafayette Square.
“What does that mean for the inn? Can anyone else step in and help out?”
“We’re trying to figure that out. We don’t have other family. It’s been a point of pride that the Forsyth Galloway Inn has always been run by the women on Gigi’s side of the family. She had a sister, our aunt Gertie, but she never had children. She’s gone now. It’s all come down to us. Jane is in New York, Kate has built a career doing hair...
“I’m really bummed because of what transpired between Mom and Gigi. Gigi announced her plans to retire and Mom says she’s going to the Galápagos and will talk about what’s happening with the inn when she gets back. I don’t know how long I will be here to help out.”
His gut knotted. She was still talking about leaving. When it seemed like they were making progress, she wanted to go. But something told him to listen, not to interject.
“I can understand where both of them are coming from. You never had the pleasure of meeting my father, Fred.
“He and my mother divorced when my sisters and I were little. Not too long after that, Fred took my mom to court and tried to claim half the Forsyth as a marital asset.”
“I’ll bet Gigi didn’t think much of that,” Daniel said.
“No, she didn’t. Neither did my mom. Fred ended up losing the case because the Forsyth was in Gigi’s name. It cost my mom a whole lot of money and even more heartache. He really kind of wrecked her life. Ever since then, Mom has been pretty subdued. Sometimes it even seems like she’s doubted her own judgment. Because of that she’s been cautious. Suddenly, she’s waking up and feeling like life has passed her by and she wants to make up for lost time. She says she’s afraid running the inn will keep her from the life she wants to lead. She says the thought of being tied to the inn feels like a prison sentence. But, at the same time, she acknowledges that Gigi should be able to retire.”
“You know, everything could be solved and everyone would be happy if you would move back and take over the Forsyth,” he said.
Elle’s eyes clouded. “Everyone but me. I wouldn’t mind being back in Savannah, but I’m not sure I want to be tied down to the inn. It’s a huge commitment.”
He wondered if she was talking about relationships, too. Was she still closing herself off after what happened with Roger? A brush with something like that would make a person skittish, but it was almost masochistic to play it so safe that future relationships were cut off before they could even begin. He’d gone through something similar after losing his wife. When you love deeply, you open yourself up to potentially big hurt.
