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Jess tapped a perfect nail on the tabletop. “You don’t get a vote.”
Pierre kept his eyes on Savannah. “I wasn’t talking to you.”
Savannah cleared her throat and swallowed. “The committee’s vote was unanimous.”
Pierre’s face went white and then red. He half rose, planted his palms on the table, and glared at Jess. “You did this! You set this whole thing up!”
She regarded him with icy calm. “I wanted to sue you personally and have the process server deliver the papers in the middle of the night. You can thank your daughter for preventing that.”
Pierre jabbed a finger at Jess. “This is not over!”
Jess’s smile was pure venom. “No. No, it’s not.”
***
The sound of jazz echoed from down the street, and the scent of beignets floated from Petit Charms below Hez’s condo. Savannah glanced around the balcony with awe at the romantic space he’d created for dinner. A white linen cloth covered the iron table and candles flickered in the dim light. There were even cushions on the hard chairs.
She turned to smile at him as he came through the sliding glass door. “I’m so glad it’s warm enough to eat outside. What a surprise to see all this.”
He set a tureen beside the salad on the table. “I thought you needed a reward for the rough waters you faced this week.”
She picked up a blue-and-white plate. “Are these your grandmother’s? I wasn’t sure what happened to them.”
“I found them in the garage at my place in Birmingham. I’d forgotten about them.”
Back then he’d forgotten a lot of important things in their lives. She set the plate back in place. “I’ve always loved them.”
He held out the chair for her, and she settled in it. “I remember.”
She caught the aroma of shellfish. “Shrimp bisque?”
He nodded and sat in the chair next to her. “I haven’t made it in a while, but there are some things you never forget.”
She saw other unforgotten things in his eyes: his love for her and their life together, his commitment to make amends, and his regret for all that had led them to this point. Those same things crowded her chest as well. She speared the blackenedsalmon Caesar salad with its homemade dressing and savored the hit of heat on her tongue. “I haven’t had this since...”
“Since we separated,” he finished for her. “I’ve lived mostly on takeout, and it felt good to be creative in the kitchen.” He aimed a smile her way. “I’m so proud of how you handled your dad over the Extension School exit. It had to have been hard confronting him with how he’s fleeced TGU.”
“I felt a little like David facing Goliath, but I didn’t back down. Whenever I wanted to waver, I took a quick peek at your face and reminded myself how rock solid your evidence was. People like my dad think they’ll never get caught, and when I saw your expression, I remembered how much evil you’ve taken down in your career. You’re a good example.”
His smile faltered. “Not in everything.” He lifted the lid of the matching blue-and-white tureen and grasped the ladle. “I found the North Sea shrimp you love. Save room, though. I made mint chocolate chip ice cream.”
She eyed the champagne flutes. Did she dare ask what he planned to put in them? A bottle of something waited on ice in the wine bucket on the other side of the table. She couldn’t read the label. If he pulled out a bottle of sparkling wine, how would she handle it? He couldn’t drink, of course, but what if he offered her a glass? She moistened her lips. “You’re spoiling me.”
“I plan to do that for the rest of our lives.” He reached for the bottle in the wine bucket. “It’s sparkling water with a hint of citrus. I think you’ll like it.” He filled their flutes.
Relief made her lightheaded, and she took her drink and sipped it. “Delicious.” And not alcoholic. Was she always going to be on edge, wondering if he was secretly drinking? The thought of tiptoeing around the topic forever depressed her.
His hand went into his pocket and he fiddled with something, and there was something in his expression she couldn’t quite read. Fear? Hope? He removed his hand and picked up his spoon again.
She reached for her spoon and savored the bisque. “Jess’s rage with Dad practically suffocated us all in that meeting room. I wish I knew how to bring peace between them.”
“Pierre will never apologize. Men like him never take the blame for their actions, so it’s unlikely there can be any resolution.”
“Jess could forgive him even if he doesn’t apologize. Her hatred is destroying her life.”
“Forgiveness is hard.” He reached across the table and took her hand. His thumb made lazy circles on her palm. “I don’t take your forgiveness for granted. I don’t deserve it, but I’m thankful for it.”
His touch made her forget the delicious food. “And I’m thankful for yours. Not everyone gets a second chance like we have.”