Southern Lights: A Novel

He decided to brave it then and see what happened. She knew that he saw Savannah a few times a year. She never asked about her, and Tom didn’t comment. As far as his mother was concerned, that chapter of their history was closed, though not as much as she thought.

“I took Savannah skiing.” Eugenie said nothing.

“How’s Daisy?” It was her way of saying not to go there.

“She’s fine. Having fun at school.” And then he decided, in a rare show of bravery, not to beat around the bush. “Mother, Savannah is here.” For a moment, his mother said nothing, and then she looked him dead in the eye, and he returned her gaze.

“What do you mean, ‘here’? In Charleston?” He nodded, and she looked instantly disapproving. “What a terrible thing to do to Luisa! How could you do that?”

“I had no choice. Her mother is the prosecutor in a murder trial in New York, and the defendant was threatening Savannah. Her mother was afraid her life was in danger, and wanted her out of New York. We had nowhere else to send her.” There was a long silence as his mother thought it over.

“Why is she handling cases like that? That’s no job for a woman.” She knew that Alexa’s mother was a lawyer too, but she had been a divorce lawyer, which was different, and then a judge. She wasn’t prosecuting murderers and putting her family in danger.

“She went to law school after the divorce, and she works in the district attorney’s office. It’s a very respectable job.”

“Not for a woman,” his mother said tartly, and clamped her mouth shut. She looked like a nutcracker when she did. She had been a pretty woman in her youth, but that was long gone. She was too thin now, and had a face like a hawk with hooded eyelids and a sharp nose. Her lips were set in a thin line, which meant she wasn’t happy. It was a while before she spoke again, while Tom waited, and wondered if he should leave. If she didn’t want to see Savannah, he wasn’t going to insist. His mother only did what she wanted. That had always been the case. “How long is she staying?” she finally fired at him through narrowed eyes.

“Until May or June, after the trial.” Her eyes flew open when he answered.

“Luisa must be very upset.” She hadn’t said a word about it, but they hadn’t talked in several days.

“That’s an understatement. She’s ready to kill me. But Savannah is a very sweet girl.” His mother said nothing. “She’s my daughter,” he added. “I can’t just treat her as though I owe her nothing. It’s not right. I never should have let Luisa talk me into keeping her away from Charleston and only seeing her in New York. She’s part of my life too, or she should be, and she hasn’t been for more than ten years.”

“It’s too upsetting for Luisa to have her here.” Eugenie hadn’t wanted him keeping any ties to Alexa, any more than Luisa did. She knew how much Tom had loved her, and she didn’t want him going back to her. Luisa was his wife. And after her “little mistake,” as his mother called it, Luisa had come back. His mother wanted it to stay that way. Luisa was a good southern girl from Charleston. Alexa was a stranger, from a totally different world. She didn’t belong here. And neither did her daughter. But Savannah was Tom’s too. She didn’t want to admit that.

“Luisa will have to put up with it till after the trial,” Tom said firmly. “She owes Alexa that. Alexa took care of the boys for seven years, while Luisa was in Texas. Three months now won’t kill her.” But she might kill him. It looked likely.

“What’s she like?” his mother asked him. “How old is she now?” It seemed like a hundred years since they had left.

“She’s seventeen, beautiful, sweet, polite, kind, gentle, smart. She looks like her mother.” His mother’s mouth shrank into a thin line again, and he decided to give up. “You don’t have to see her, Mother. I wasn’t going to ask. I knew how you’d feel about it. But Savannah suggested it last night, so I thought I’d mention it to you. I’ll just tell her you don’t see visitors anymore.” His mother said nothing, and he got up to leave and gently stroked her hair. He was a loving son, and had always been devoted and respectful, and obeyed her commands. He bent to kiss her cheek then, and she looked at him with steely eyes.

“Bring her to tea on Sunday” was all she said, picked up her book, and began reading again. And without another word, he walked quietly off the porch and drove away. Savannah had gotten her wish. And Luisa would have another fit. He was used to it. She didn’t scare him anymore. Savannah’s visit had given him something back he lost a long time ago. Courage.

Chapter 10

When Alexa got to her office the next morning, she had a message from Joe McCarthy, the district attorney, to come and see him immediately. It sounded important. She went straight to his office, and his secretary waved her in. Joe was sitting at his desk, and Jack was with him. It looked like something had happened. Both men looked concerned. It didn’t look good to her.